AAV. US Army researchers make it safer.

The Emergency Egress Lighting System for the Marine Corps' Assault Amphibious Vehicle is designed to assist Marines when escaping an AAV in a submersible emergency. When the vehicle flips or goes underwater, a set of lights turn on to guide crew members to the exit hatches. The new system on the AAV is a modified version of the Emergency Egress Lighting System currently being used on the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

Read the story here.

Russia pulls out its Desert Eagle .50

Thanks for the article Matthew!



via Washington Times.

Russia will test launch a controversial missile over the next several weeks that U.S. officials say is raising new concerns about Moscow’s growing strategic nuclear arsenal and Russia’s potential violations of arms treaties.
The RS-26 missile is expected to be deployed with multiple supersonic, maneuvering warheads designed to defeat U.S. missile defenses in Europe, U.S. officials told Inside the Ring.
A House defense aide said the new missile appears to violate the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, based on recent tests and Russian statements that it is designed to thwart U.S. defenses. The treaty bans missiles with ranges of between 310 and 3,400 miles.
“The Russians are advertising this as a system capable of defeating U.S. missile defenses in Europe,” the aide said. “At the same time, the State Department is accepting Russia’s claim that this is an ICBM and doesn’t violate INF. It can’t be both.”

The desire by the current administration to denuclearize the US is making us vulnerable.  I can't even properly express my anger at this news.  Between actions by China and now Russia, we're shriveling up just like the "dick and his two balls" in the video above.  The bad news is that the Russians are holding the "Desert Eagle .50"...they just named it the RS-26. 

Blast from the past. CH-34 and Bullpup Missile via SOBCHAK SECURITY

Notice the canon pod near the cockpit?

Read about it here (you will need Google Translate).

RPAMS Can Am Commander SXS Tactical

I like the suspension upgrades, tires and rack system.  The seats are ok, but the Molle top is a bit too much.  But the fiberglass body that they bolted on is just nasty.  I would think SOCOM would want vehicles stripped down, not dressed up.

This video should scare the fuck outta the establishment...

First let me get a couple of things outta the way.

1.  This video is from Panteao Productions.  If you don't know who they are, they're real big into firearms training vids and 99% of the "big name" firearms trainers have videos that show them teaching their methods to anyone that wants to buy them.

2.  The premise of the video is that a team of Delta Force bubbas test a device and are transported back in time to the Battle of Alexander's Bridge (a famous civil war fight).

Having gotten that out the way this is why those people that are running this country are not reading the public sentiment.

This country is divided and becoming more so everyday.  I've been screaming on this blog that we're inches away from major disturbances hitting this nation and hitting it hard.  Quite honestly I know people that have enough weapons to make a small police department envious and they're training at least every weekend to become as proficient as possible.

Additionally I keep hearing people talk more and more about the great divide between city and country mouses (a poor analogy about people in the cities and out in the fly over states).

Long story short?  Panteao wouldn't have put out a video like this unless it was a money maker and if it would strike a cord with its audience.

I'll say it again.  The President, Congressmen and Government officials need to get over the business as usual approach to solving things.  The people are restless, they feel oppressed and flames are burning.  You might not see them but trust me, they're there.

A major firearms video producer is making a film about the civil war and thrusting modern day people into the setting.

Hmmmm.

Happy Dog! via Fitness World.

Marine Corps. Malaysia joins the club.

via Janes.

Malaysia is to set up a marine corps and establish a naval base close to waters claimed by China, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said in a statement on 10 October.
According to the statement, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base will be established at Bintulu on the South China Sea (SCS) to protect the surrounding area and oil reserves.
Unstated by the minister is the base's proximity to James Shoal, which is 60 n miles away and was the location for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) exercises on 26 March that were the most recent example of China asserting its claims to most of the SCS.
Hishammuddin's description of the marine force only states that it will be established for amphibious operations, drawn from all three services and essential for security in the East Malaysian state of Sabah, where Sulu militants staged an incursion in February that was subsequently repelled by a military operation.
The statement did not give any further details but IHS Jane's understands that the marine corps proposal was planned before the Sulu incursion but has since been prioritised.
While the marines will be drawn from all three services, the bulk is expected to be drawn from one of the three parachute battalions of the 10th Parachute brigade, which will be redesignated as a marine battalion.
The 9th Royal Malay Regiment (para) and 8th Royal Ranger Regiment (para) have both conducted amphibious warfare training as a secondary mission, most recently in June during the CARAT exercise with the US Marine Corps (USMC) and subsequently in an amphibious landing exercise with French troops and the landing platform dock FNS Tonnerre .
The marines will be drawn from existing personnel because of a government cap on the number of armed forces personnel allowed on active duty.
The Ministry of Defence is yet to decide whether marines will fall under Malaysian Army or Royal Malaysian Navy control. Initial plans call for the unit to be an independent force under the control of the Malaysian Joint Force Headquarters until operational experience determines which service is better suited.
Malaysia is keen to draw on the USMC's expertise and has been in discussions with the United States (US) over support, training and expertise exchange. Malaysia has been without an amphibious naval platform since the loss of Newport-class landing ship-tank KD Sri Inderapura in an October 2009 fire.
Plans to obtain an LPD, with France offering a downsized Mistral design and South Korea offering a downsized Dokdo design, have been stalled due to budgetary constraints. The US has offered the LPD USS Denver , scheduled to be decommissioned from US service in 2014, to Malaysia on a hot transfer along with some equipment, which likely includes AAV-7 amphibious vehicles.
The US would welcome Malaysia's establishment of a marine force as current Pentagon regulations restrict the USMC to conducting exchanges and training with marine units of non-US treaty ally nations - an exception being in the case of multiservice exercises such as CARAT. Likewise, Malaysia has been keen to further develop joint amphibious training exercises and exchanges with the US but has been hampered by the absence of a marine force.
Other than equipment for the marines, the US has offered Malaysia surplus equipment from operations in Afghanistan, including infantry weapons and sights, night-vision goggles and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles.
The US is also offering the AH-1Z Super Cobra to meet Malaysia's requirement for an attack helicopter. While Boeing has been marketing the AH-64 Apache, the prospect of a purchase by Kuala Lumpur is unlikely due to Malaysia's disinclination to buy key military equipment in service with its neighbours: the Apache is in service with Singapore and on order by Indonesia.

Its ironic that while those in power seek to cut the size of our Marine Corps, nations world wide, especially in the pacific, are building Corps of their own.  Even more ironic is the fact that they're trying to build forces that resemble the US version of the breed (quite honestly, everyone tries to replicate the Marine Corps....the old guys knew what they were doing).

Saur-2. Romanian BTR Replacement Contender.

Thanks for the vid Alex!



WARNING!  TURN YOUR SPEAKERS TO OFF!!!!

The Romanians.  Great vehicles.  Lousy music (just teasing Alex...sorta).

F-35. Dutch Air Force essentially neutered because of it.

Thanks for the document Eric!

  Report Validation of the Policy Document in the Interests of the Netherlands

Read it and weep.

The Dutch Air Force is about to be out of the expeditionary fighter business because of the F-35.  According to the Dutch Air Force, they'll be able to deploy 4.  Yeah, count'em.  FOUR F-35s.  Unfortunately for the US and Dutch the problem doesn't stop there.  According to their Auditing Office, they'll in reality be able to deploy FEWER than the already miniscule 4 airplanes being talked about.

The F-35 Program Office can chest thump about lower prices but its beyond obvious that the death spiral is already here.  Don't believe me?  Go ask the Dutch.  They started with a desired buy of 85.  Now they're HOPING to get 37.  That's more than a 50% decrease in the planned buy.

The weird thing in all this is that the Dutch have been one of our more reliable allies (besides having hot nurses) but we treat them like an enemy with regards to this defense purchase .  By demanding that they participate in this program, and by not having the good sense to recommend that they pull out when prices went sideways, we've essential forced one of our good friends to the sidelines in the event of a major war.  They simply won't be able to contribute a credible fighter squadron if we asked.  Between training and home defense they just can't afford enough F-35's to meet an out of area commitment.  They shouldn't feel bad though, cause neither can we.

AAV Upgrade saga continues. via Inside Defense.

Thanks for the link Lee!

via Inside Defense.

Air-Sea Battle Concept, Amphibious Vehicle Strategy Still In Development
The Marine Corps is developing an amphibious vehicle strategy that will play a role in the Pentagon's Air-Sea Battle concept, a service official said last week.
Either a new Amphibious Combat Vehicle or an upgraded Assault Amphibious Vehicle will fit into the Air-Sea Battle concept. How each vehicle fits into that concept is to be determined, Brig. Gen. Kevin Killea, commanding general of the service's warfighting laboratory, told Inside the Navy Oct. 10 after testifying before the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee.
As the ACV team prepares options for Marine Corps senior leadership, the service is leading an effort to upgrade its legacy amphibious vehicle.


"The upgrade to the AAV is very important to the Marine Corps. It's an old system, a very good system, it's served us well but certainly ACV or some upgrade to the AAV" is needed, Killea said.

Ya know.  Sometimes, Marines need to learn to just shut the fuck up.

They've been interviewed and talked about the AAV Upgrade/ACV/MPC for years now and not a damn thing has happened.  Quite honestly I consider this another of Amos' trial balloons, to gauge reaction to his idea of upgrading the AAV and renaming it ACV.

The reality is simple.  We have a capable MPC offering from BAE that can get the job done and will be better for the Corps in the long run.  Stop playing patty cake with the Army on a JLTV we can't afford and sole source a buy of HUMVEE upgrades from Textron/Granite.

But barring all that (assuming they won't) just stop talking about upgrading Marine Corps armor. 

We all know it isn't  priority for this aviation centric HQMC cabal, and the gnashing of teeth over the whole thing is embarrassing. 

Russia gets its Force Projection Ships.

via Navy Recognition.

Vladivostok, the first of two BPC-type vessels (LHD - Landing Helicopter Dock) on order from DCNS for the Russian Federation was floated out of its building dock at STX France's Saint-Nazaire shipyard on 15 October. The event was attended by senior officials representing the French and Russian navies and shipbuilding industries. The programme has proceeded as planned since the contract came into force in late 2011, with the vessels on schedule for delivery in late 2014 and late 2015 respectively.

Read the entire story here. 

Russia is finally making a move toward developing a real deal "Marine Corps" instead of "Naval Infantry" force.  Not only are they getting a modern LHD, but they're also putting on it several capable helicopter gunships, troop transports and are even adopting western style landing craft.

This is new capability.

This opens up new possibilities in the Pacific, Arctic and Persian Gulf.  Where once they could only send lightly equipped, though motorized Paratroopers or Spetsnaz, now they can send Naval Infantry that's evolving to a Marine Corps.

Royal Marines train at 29 Palms.

‘Flying Peons’ Marine M/Sgt Pilots Wallace ‘Tex’ Cavett & Andrew T. Taylor, April 1954

Thanks to Terrence for pointing me to this website!

A Naval Aviator M/Sgt???  Who knew!  Check out the website here.

Protein Ice Cream via Fitness World.

I hope you guys are subscribed to American Mercenary's website.  Good info on a variety of subjects but he's been killing it with his workout advice.  Meanwhile, I've been doing my thing in the gym and grinding on this no carb diet.  Its definitely paying off but the lust for something sweet continues.

I found the cure via Fitness World.  Check this out....

Most people think making protein ice cream is some kind of a complicated process. It's actually pretty easy, you don't even need an ice cream maker or any other fancy shit.

All you need is:

•1 Tub of 2% Greek Yogurt (500 grams)

•1/2 Cup of Whey Protein Powder

1. Get a big ass bowl, mix those 2 together until they're smooth and creamy.

2. Spread it all over the bowl to maximize surface area.

3. Throw it in the freezer for an hour.

4. Take it out and mix it again.

5. Back in the freezer for 30 min.

6. Release your inner fat kid.

Ghe-O Rescue Vehicle Vid.

6 wars China is sure to fight. via Indian Defense Review.

If you want to read something chilling, then follow this link, read the story and consider the implications.  IDR says that the story originated in a pro China, Chinese news paper.  What does this mean for the US and its allies?  The Red Dragon is coming.  We have time to prepare but if this article is correct then time is rapidly running out.  Spoiler alert.  They claim that the first war (a reunification of Taiwan) will occur between 2020 and 2025.

We won't even be able to slow them down if we continue on our current trajectory militarily.  The Marine Corps will be fully "airborne" and not the balanced, middle weight, combined arms force it is today and will get slaughtered by Chinese Mechanized units.  Wow.  Who needs coffee when you have the internet.  This was an eye opener.

Make sure you read that article.

Boot via Gruntworks...

Scramble Aviation Art.

For some reason, Scramble magazine isn't as big in the states as other publications and that's a shame.  If you're into aviation, military aviation or commercial aviation then they're all over it.  I recently discovered their artwork section and it blew me away.  Check it out for yourself.

Marine Capt tries to save lives, ends up fighting for his career instead....

Good God!  What is happening to the Marine Corps?!  Chesty would have given this guy a medal.  Today we're seeing him about to be kicked out of the Corps.  Read the whole story here but a tidbit...

The Marine Corps has ordered a major to appear before a board of officers that could end his career for the way in which he warned deployed Marines in Afghanistan about a potential security threat.
Maj. Jason Brezler was called by Lt. Gen. Richard Mills, commanding general of Marine Corps Forces Reserve, to stand before a board of inquiry to determine if he should be tossed from the service for “substandard performance of duty and misconduct, or moral or professional dereliction,” according to an Aug. 30 memo that Mills sent the major. The scrutiny stems from the manner in which Brezler, a mobilized reservist, sent classified information about an Afghan police chief to Marines in the area......
Brezler warned about the police chief, Sarwar Jan, last year after receiving “an emergency request for information” from Marines with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., according to a July 11 letter from Rep. Peter King, R.-N.Y., to Commandant Gen. Jim Amos. Brezler “immediately told his fellow Marines what he knew about the peril they faced,” and realized afterward that he passed “imminent threat” information, classified as NATO Secret, over an unclassified computer network, King’s letter states.
Brezler, a New York City firefighter, reported his mistake to his chain of command, and subsequently received an adverse fitness report. His story was first reported by Marine Corps Times on Aug. 25, five days before he was ordered to appear before the BOI.
Despite Brezler’s warning, three Marines — Staff Sgt. Scott Dickinson, 29, Cpl. Richard Rivera, 20, and Lance Cpl. Gregory Buckley, 21 — were killed Aug. 10, 2012, by an alleged attacker who worked for Jan as a “tea boy,” an unpaid personal assistant. The teen reportedly opened fire on them with an assault rifle at a gym at Forward Operating Base Delhi in Helmand province. A fourth Marine, Staff Sgt. Cody Rhode, sustained five gunshot wounds, including one that shattered his elbow, according to a Marine Corps news release. They were all members of a police advisory team attached to 3/8.

One thing has me perturbed.  Why would information of this type be classified as NATO Secret?  Why would passing it along to a unit requesting it get a Marine Officer into hot water no matter how he passed it along?  The Marine Corps house is in disarray.  Time to fire 99% of the four stars and start over.

Rooivalk Attack Helicopter. The most powerful bird you've never heard about.

Why this video?  Why now?  Because the S. Africans have painted one white in anticipation of a UN mission in the DRC.

Africa is falling apart and it seems that the world wide epidemic of Islamic Extremism has more than a foothold on that continent.

Ordinarily I wouldn't give a damn, but I keep an eye on China and wonder what their reaction will be.  This could be the first big test of Chinese foreign policy when it comes to the third world.  Africa could be where China plays the interventionist card for the first time since its rise.

This bears watching.