OK. Shit just got real.

Read about this madness here.  The problem for me is that the Pentagon has become so politicized, the Joint Chief's so unworthy of trust, that I can't determine whether this is actually being caused by the sequester or if its just another administration stunt.

I'll have to ask some of the people that have a better view of Air Force matters whether or not this will affect their ability to respond to crisis but just on the surface this looks bad.  Real bad.

More to come I'm sure.

Navy Laser

The Laser Weapon System (LaWS) temporarily installed aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) in San Diego, Calif., is a technology demonstrator built by the Naval Sea Systems Command from commercial fiber solid state lasers, utilizing combination methods developed at the Naval Research Laboratory. U.S. Navy / John F. Williams

I read somewhere that they were working on a "blue-green" laser to work in Marine conditions....fog, heavy overcast, heavy moisture, sea spray, etc...

But if lasers are going to sea then the Chinese just got put in a hurt locker.  Every tactic that they've picked up from the Russians on how to destroy a Carrier Battle Group just got shit canned.

Pic of the day. Old Skool Harrier.

Combat Photography/Social Media. This changed everything for me.

Do you remember the above photo?

It changed everything for me when it came to censorship, social media and combat photography.

GySgt. Shane survived the action. Sgt Wells was shot in the femoral artery and bled out.

Killed in action.

And this photo is floating all over the web, on several terrorist websites as a means to provide their fighters encouragement and motivation...and its here now to prove my point.

Forgive me GySgt Shane and Sgt Wells, but this needs to be said.

In my opinion, Sgt Wells' family does not need to have this reminder of his sacrifice available for all to see (I don't know if this warrior had children but can you imagine the trauma that they could suffer if they turn 10 and start surfing the net in places that mommy doesn't want them to and they discover this pic of daddy?  I shudder at the thought)

There has to be an off switch.  Standards.  Lines that we won't cross.

NOTE:  This post will stay up, but after 24 hours the pic comes down and gets scrubbed from my blog and picasa photo album too.  

USMC Concepts and Programs 2013. Vehicle Modernization.

Thanks for the link Lee!

  USMC Concepts and Programs.  Vehicle Modernization. by snafu-solomon-blogspot-com

VBTP is the star of LAAD in Brazil.

Question.  Did you know that the trade show LAAD is going on right now in Brazil?  Did you know its the largest trade show of its kind in S. America?

Well if you didn't, you do now and fortunately for you Defense Update has a great article on what I consider the star of the show, the VBTP and how its being brought into service for Brazil.  Click here to read it for yourself.

HAVOC 8x8. A few guesses about what was done.

Thanks Michael for the 2011 Patria brochure.  It helped put pieces in place.

just out of curiosity.  what sea state do you think this is?

As noted above, the pics are from the 2011 Patria brochure.  Take a real close look at them and what do you notice right away?  The vehicle is riding much higher in the water than it did during images released by Lockheed Martin for its testing.  Two things possible.  The vehicle submitted to the Marine Corps is either heavier (which I believe...the blast requirements would almost force it to be) or a design change to make it "American" caused it to lose buoyancy, something I seriously doubt.

Next, look at the bow of the vehicle and compare it to pics of the current vehicle.  I'll wait.  Don't have one.  Ok, here ya go.

sorry for the fuzzy pic.  screen capture.

The swim vane changed from the amphibious version of the HAVOC, to the initial version presented to the Marine Corps and I believe it was changed again in this final testing.

If I'm right then the Lockheed vehicle just got its swim capabilities improved rather simply, and has got to be one of the favorites to win this contest.

A 30 ton wheeled amphibious armored personnel carrier.  I never would have thought it possible, but we might see these actually launching off the back of an amphib one day soon.

I still say its between Lockheed and BAE.  This is gonna get even better than I thought it could.  Two titans fighting for a Marine Corps contract that could...

*Cement Lockheed Martin in the Ground Combat Vehicle market and open the door to other programs globally...or....

*Basically put a lock on the US armored vehicle market for BAE and drive a dagger in the heart of General Dynamics which once dominated the space.

Big boy competition.  Ya gotta love it.

Evansville Police Department's new vehicles.

British - French Naval Cooperation.

HMS Argyll carried out a gunex with her French counterpart FS Henaff off the West Africa coast.

HMS Argyll’s helicopter, 365 flight’s mark 8 Lynx landed on the FS Mistral. The FS Henaff and HMS Argyll later steamed past the Mistral. 

HMS Argyll is scheduled to undertake a range of tasks across the Atlantic in support of British interests worldwide. Her tasking will see her support the counter narcotics effort in the West Africa region as well as providing reassurance to UK territories and partners worldwide. CROWN COPYRIGHT

The Sun Gun. Nazi Space Based Weapon.

via Wikipedia.

Later during World War II, a group of German scientists at a research centre in Hillersleben began to expand on Oberth’s idea of creating a superweapon that could utilize the sun's energy. This so-called "sun gun" would be part of a space station 5,100 miles above Earth. The scientists calculated that a huge reflector, made of metallic sodium and with an area of 3.5 square miles, could produce enough focused heat to make an ocean boil or burn a city.[1] After being questioned by Allied officers, the Germans claimed that the sun gun could be completed within 50 or 100 years

Absolutely ... weird and wonderful.  An interesting exercise would be to make a fictional world (if it hasn't already been done) where the Nazi's won the second world war and actually developed all these wonder weapons.  I'm curious as to how the world would have turned out...if it survived that is.

More reading on the actual project can be found at the False Steps Blog...you should subscribe.

I want to know the debate.

I posted a video yesterday that was approved by the US Army and showed (not exactly "showed"...it more likely "implied" through sound) US Army Soldiers under fire and one/many being hit by RPG fire.

I said I had mixed feelings on the subject.

I still do.

But the author of the piece stated in the comments that he it was "an honor to write it and an honor to serve."

What a juvenile response.  No one's questioning his honor.  But someone's mother is gonna find that vid and recognize her son in pain.

All I'm questioning is whether this is a good idea or not, and what was the debate like before it was posted.

The liberals were so wrong about Star Wars Missile Defense.

Reagan was a visionary.  A futurist.  A great man ahead of his time.

Why?

Because while liberals in the west (including Great Britain) protested against the futuristic weapon system, he continued the program...albeit in bits and pieces but continued it he did.

What did they say about it at the time?  Via Wikipedia.

Senator Ted Kennedy describing the proposal as "reckless Star Wars schemes."[64] Some critics used that term derisively, implying it was an impractical science fiction fantasy. In addition, the American media's liberal use of the moniker (despite President Reagan's request that they use the program's official name) did much to damage the program's credibility.[65]

So where are we today?

We have Israel being able to keep its military from ripping apart the Palestinians because they're able to shoot down incoming missiles.

We have Japan and S. Korea being able to respond calmly to N. Korean provocations.  We have a system to protect Western Europe and our own homeland.

Star Wars was futuristic.  It was visionary.  And it can be credited with preventing at least two or three wars.

Reagan was Right. 

Bad joke. I'm just the messenger.

Has the US Army lost its mind? Graphic video.

**WARNING** This video is very graphic, and depicts men under fire at Operation Red Sand in Bala Murghab, Badghis Province, Afghanistan, April 4, 2011. This audio depicts the actual moment Army Sgt. Jeff Sheppard, Pfc Ben Bradley, Air Force Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Lee, and Navy K9 'Valdo' were wounded by an RPG.

NOTE:  What happened to the old rule that you never let a mother see her son in any light other than that which will bring them joy and pride?  I can't imagine how these men's relatives feel about hearing them scream in pain calling for a medic and then having that broadcast to the world.  I might delete this.  I have to chew on it a bit more.

US Army Tanks are no longer in Germany. The end of an era.

March 23, 2013 - One of the last Abrams remained in Germany is loaded aboard a train.Photo by Staff Sgt Alexander Burnett, 21st TSC Public Affairs.

Old Army Warhorses will tell you that in case of trouble in Europe or the Middle East, it'll take even longer to get heavy forces to the trouble spot.

Even older Warhorses will tell you stories of training outside of Stuttgart, Mannheim and on the plains of Germany....a few of the guys from the 11th ACR (if I remember my units correctly) can even tell you about cross border incidents with the East Germans...stories you won't find in the history books.

I said all that to say that the last US Army Abrams Main Battle Tank has left the European building.

It really is the end of an era. 

The F-35 Maneuverability Debate Is Over.

Sometimes an issue comes up and both sides provide compelling evidence.

Its easy to get wrapped around the axle..especially when the subject is outside your lane.

That's how I felt about the F-35 maneuverability debate.  I heard from the critics (you know who you are), that the F-35 was a dog, couldn't possibly handle anything outside of a crop duster in a dogfight and that our pilots were going to be at a severe disadvantage when facing enemy forces.

Then "Elements of Power" Blog put out an article that seems to have taken apart the critics arguments and not one contrary opinion has been voiced.  You can read his article here, but for me...especially in light of the facts that he put forward...this debate is now over.

The F-35 will be a winner.

Challengers and Warriors on the German Plain...

SuperAV at Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch.

The SuperAV is currently at Pendleton undergoing testing at the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch and I reached out to see how its going.

This is their statement.

BAE Systems’ MPC offering is currently being evaluated at Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch in Camp Pendleton. We look forward to discussing our performance and the next steps in the program once the evaluation is complete.

I'll hold them to that.  More to come.

Pic of the day. Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter.

The above pic from "The Dew Line" blog has got to be some of the best strategic marketing I've seen in a while.  Notice the Navy markings?  Not an exactly subtle hint to the Navy to skip the F-35 'cause Boeing has something awesome waiting for them.

Real slick.

Brazilian Marines are assembling a unique armored force.

sk-105 kurassier tank destroyer

Brazilian Marines are assembling a unique armored force that will rival many of the army forces in the region, should be more than capable in any peace keeping role and is laying the foundation for a formidable future force.

Currently they're ...

*  Updating their M-113's with the assistance of Israel Military Industries.
*  Acquiring 26 AAV-7's from USMC stocks that will be upgraded to the latest version...additionally their current fleet of 26 AAV's will also be upgraded to the same standard.
*  Acquiring 18 Piranha IIIC APC's.  These will complement the current inventory of 12 vehicles.
*  My personal favorite the SK-105 will be upgraded with a new fire control suite and turret stabilization system (I'm intrigued by this vehicle for the simple reason that its a light tank in a world that doesn't have them.  The weight savings, matched with its 105 mm gun in my mind makes it ideal for the Marine role...if heavier armor is needed then they can be augmented by Army units).

What's driving this modernization and enlargement?  The Brazilians are planning for a second Marine Fleet.

A force of 21,000 men has a respectable amount of armor attached.  I'm impressed.