F-35 News. A note from a reader...

I got an interesting note from a reader of this blog and I thought I would share it....

Hi Sol,

I read an interesting article today on the F-35 software problems here: https://medium.com/war-is-boring/b6ae0dd4d0ee

For me, this was the first article that really touches on the main problem for the F-35. It isn't the hardware, it's the software. In fact, in the 21st century, most engineering problems are software related and not much to do with hardware.

The article made a misquotes the number of lines of code (LOC) for the F-35 at 8 million, but actually that's just for the battle management software. The total lines of code in the F-35 is approximately: 23 million.

To provide some quick related reference:
Space shuttle: 400K LOC
F-22 Raptor: 1.2 M LOC
Curiosity Rover: 5 M LOC
Boeing 787: 5.5 M LOC
F-35 Lightning II: 23 M LOC
Healthcare.gov: 400M LOC

Why is the F-35 software so much more complex than the F-22's? Mostly it's because of two features: Networking & Collaboration. But it's also due to poor code documentation, bureaucratic management, and multiple vendors. Ignoring whether those two features are useful, whenever these two words appear in a software development project, re-designs and delays occur. Go ask any software project managers with experience in government work and they will tell you the same thing.

But I think everybody knows which aircraft reigns supreme: the F-22. Simplicity really is the ultimate sophistication. The F-35 was born out of politics, its problems were compounded by politics, and its demise will be due to politics. Talk about a vicious cycle.

It was a mistake to close the F-22 assembly line. The correct choice should've been to produce more F-22s with cheaper materials (steel or aluminum vs composites) and sticking with the F/A-18 for carrier aviation until the F-22 could be naval-ized.



Volleyballer out

If the Volleyballer is even halfway right then my suspicion that we might never see this thing work as planned is spot on.

I can't wait for the "supporters" to attempt to refute this info.

Air Tractor AT-802U finally going into service...in Yemen!

Thanks for the article Steven!

via ARSTechnica...

Looking to get out of the business of secret drone strikes against Al Qaeda members and others in Yemen, the US is preparing to give the Yemeni Air Force its own, somewhat lower-tech equivalent of the Predator and Reaper for carrying out “targeted killing” operations. According to documents obtained by Buzzfeed’s Aram Roston, the US will provide a squadron of 10 aircraft originally designed as crop dusters, which are now equipped for a wholly different sort of reaping.The two aircraft manufacturers in contention for the Yemen Precision Strike Program are Air Tractorand Thrush Aircraft. The specs of the program call for two-crew member airplanes that are easy enough to fly that the Yemeni Air Force can quickly crew them up. The planes must also be able to carry surveillance and targeting sensors, ballistic armor to protect the crew from ground fire, and a load of weapons on six “hardpoints” on the wings.
While weapons are not part of the first round of deliveries, the ability to incorporate them is. The required weapons capabilities include the ability to launch or drop Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs. They should also be “capable of carrying/employing [a] .50 cal gun,” according to a US Central Command memo on the program published by Buzzfeed.
While Yemenis will fly the planes, Buzzfeed reports that an anonymous source said they will be paired with US Air Force personnel, either as pilots or weapons operators. The Air Force crew members will likely be from the Sixth Special Operations Squadron, a unit that specializes in training and “combat aviation advisory” operations.

This is something that hasn't been discussed enough and quite honestly SOCOM hasn't focused on enough.

Close Air Support in austere locations.

The A-10 was in my mind the perfect airplane to be paired with SOCOM but they never seemed interested.  Now that its being retired maybe now its SOCOM cool.  We'll see. 

Poland is activating its reserves?

If this is true then things are MUCH more dicey in Europe than we've been told...via The Week.com.uk...

NEXT time you take a tray of tea and custard creams to the nice gang of Polish builders renovating your semi, they may seem a little distracted and anxious. Ask them why, and they will answer that some of them have in the last few weeks received call-up papers as army reservists.

This happened to a friend of mine in London at the end of last week. At least 7,000 reservists have been recalled to the colours for immediate exercises lasting between 10 and 30 days.
They’re told by the Polish authorities that the call-ups are “routine”: but the men say they haven’t been asked before and they’re well aware of the growing alarm in Warsaw at President Putin’s aggression. Three weeks ago, their Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, called a press conference to warn that “the world stands on the brink of conflict, the consequences of which are not foreseen… Not everyone in Europe is aware of this situation.”

You can bet that Polish Intelligence services are all over the situation in the Ukraine.  You can also bet that the Poles wouldn't be doing this type of thing for shits and giggles.

Something bad is brewing and we're not getting it from our news media.

So where did I get this news?

From a prepper website called SHTF Plan.  If preparedness is part of your lifestyle check them out. 

AAV's prepare for exercise SSang Yong 2014...Vid by Capt. Caleb Eames

Is it my imagination or are US Marines conducting more exercises in S. Korea lately?

Seems like I'm seeing more activity than even before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I don't even know where to go to get the numbers but something is up.

Shit is real for military kids...

VBTP-MR in operation with the Brazilian 33rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion.

Many thanks to Lucas for the link!

It just occured to me.  Are we going to see a family of vehicle develop here?  It would seem a given that a Engineer, Command, Ambulance, Anti-Air, etc...version would be dedicated to lower the training and logistics cost for their Army and Marines while operating these vehicles.  Time to do a little research.

US lacks the ability to conduct successful amphibious assaults?!

via Washington Times (READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE)

“We have had a good return of our Marines back to the Asia-Pacific, particularly as the activities in the Middle East wind down in Afghanistan. … But the reality is, is that to get Marines around effectively, they require all types of lift. They require the big amphibious ships, but they also require connectors (meaning landing craft and other amphibious vehicles). The lift is the enabler that makes that happen, so we wouldn’t be able to [successfully carry out a contested amphibious assault without additional resources],” Adm. Locklear said, Stars and Stripes reported.
The admiral’s comments come only weeks after Capt. James Fannell, the chief of intelligence of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said that he believes China is training for war with Japan.
“[We] concluded that the PLA has been given the new task to be able to conduct a short sharp war to destroy Japanese forces in the East China Sea following with what can only be expected a seizure of the Senkakus or even a southern Ryukyu [islands] — as some of their academics say,” the captain said in February after witnessing “massive” Chinese military exercises in the Pacific.

I'm not at all surprised.

Amos has ignored his core responsibility to ensure that the USMC is capable of conducting its most important mission.

Amphibious Assault.

Additionally while he's pushed MARSOC, the Maritime Raid Force, Recon, SPMAGTF-Crisis Response and Marine Aviation he has ignored the needs of the Ground Combat Element.

A replacement of the AAV with a ACV and/or MPC?  Ignored....postponed...shit canned.

In its most basic form the AAV/ACV/MPC are more than personnel carriers.  The AAV/ACV also serve as SHIP TO SHORE CONNECTORS!

Amos has weakened the Marine Corps with his focus on the F-35, and Aviation at the expense of the GCE and his love affair with "Elite Units" inside the Elite Marine Corps.

Back in the Scribd camp...

I wrote an earlier blog post about trouble I was having with Scribd and the documents I have on their site.

Well ATS summed up the problem in total, I was just too raging to hear him...he said...

Solomon, you should actually respond and request that the government public domain material you have be white listed. This is less Scribd's fault and much more the sleazy biz practices of a company called 21st Century US Military Manuals which basically copies US Gov military manuals and adds some additional formatting. This is obviously causing the automated copyright infringement system issues. There really is no man in the loop system with these systems because it simply is not feasible.

He was spot on.

Some bastard or son of a bitches has slightly altered military manuals and copyrighted them as their own.

That's why my stuff was getting flagged.

They're aware and working on the problem which is good for them...and me.

SNAFU! Blog is back with Scribd.

Glad we worked it out.

Royal Navy Sea King Mk4 Helicopter Over Northern Norway (pics)

Keloid Trailer!

Z-10 landing on LST

Major thanks to Mr. T for the link.  Pics via Live Journal.

We've seen Chinese cargo and transport helicopters operating from their amphibious ships for quite awhile now.

What we haven't seen is the Z-10 heading to sea...until recently.

They're dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's when it comes to having a fully integrated amphibious assault force.  While the USMC is emphasizing MARSOC and the Maritime Raid Force (the Recon platoon assigned to an MEU), the Chinese are focusing on putting ashore a credible, powerful combined arms team.

It'll be interesting to see which concept proves correct when the inevitable happens.

Bill Sweetman goes out on a limb...A MUST READ...

Back in the days when I was a huge F-35 supporter, this latest by Bill Sweetman would have me frothing at the mouth preparing to slam him at every turn.  His latest proves that he's willing to go out on a limb and basically give critics the middle finger.

In this article he sings the virtues of the Gripen.  But I have to ask...What does the Gripen bring to the fight that the Advanced Super Hornet couldn't?  Why does the Gripen have him acting as such a fan but the ASH doesn't?

Read the article here, but the questions remain.

Forcas Terrestres takes a look at the VBTP-MR manufacturing process

Forcas Terrestres takes you through the the manufacturing process for the VBTP-MR.

Nicely done and concise.  I love the vehicle and remain impressed by how fast the Brazilians got it into service.  All pics from Forcas Terrestres and you can read the article here.

NASA proves again that its lost its mind.

The old timers must be losing their minds and throwing up all over their keyboards.

Back in the days of its glory, NASA was all about results and getting stuff done.  These days?  They hold votes on which space suit they should go with!  Below are the three models...

If you want to know why NASA and the US is behind in the space race.  If you want to know why NASA isn't capable of grabbing the imagination of the American people then I point to this as exhibit number two.

Long story short.  NASA should get back to doing space exploration and leave the crowd sourcing, social networking bullshit to the kids.

Read about this nonsense here and here.

BMC Kirpi finally delivered to the Turkish Army.

via Chian.com

The TSK considers the Kirpi vehicles highly important for field operations. The threat of land mines associated with the ongoing civil war in Syria makes the Kirpi even more crucial. The Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) earlier fined BMC 7 million euros for not keeping its end of the deal. 
The Kirpi can hold a crew of 13 and has proven to be better than competing mine-resistant, armored vehicles due to its integrated seating system, which absorbs pressure generated by mine blasts. Moreover, it is equipped with run-flat tires and equipment that adjusts the air in the tires to deal with various surface conditions.

I highlighted the above section of the article because it points to something that everyone forgets.

Ergonomics saves lives.  Blast seats save lives.

The Turks are showing us two things that should trouble the current leaders of the pack when it comes to vehicle production.

1.  Despite there being very credible offerings on the market, they still chose to produce their own vehicle.

2.  Despite a lack of experience in producing MRAPS they were able to produce a capable vehicle.

More importantly even though the Kirpi took a long and tortured path to service, it still got there.  Despite all the naysayers, from my seat it looks like the Turks are cleaning up bad procurement practices while still moving forward.  We should do the same. 

The Unthinkable. Should the US Navy release the USMC from its carrier obligation?

Its time to think about the unthinkable.

Should the US Navy release the USMC from its carrier obligation?

I don't mean it to say that Marine pilots and crews won't be part of the carrier compliment...just that they'll fly and work on NAVY aircraft.

Why even contemplate this?

Well its simple.  The Navy is migrating away from the EA-6B toward the EA-18G.  The USMC is not.  The Navy is flying the FA-18E/F.  The USMC is not.  The USMC is all in on the F-35B/C.  The US Navy is not.

Quite honestly the Navy might benefit from the pilots and the maintenance personnel that comes with the attached squadrons but they see diminished returns once you factor in dissimilar aircraft and their supply needs.

Fewer aircraft carriers plays a role too.

Not as many flat tops need to be filled.

Does the USMC get anything out of this?  Not sure.  I do know that if we have designated squadrons to go aboard carrier and everyone else isn't that our pilots will be able to focus more closely on the close air support mission....fleet defense will be an add on to the their training syllabus, not something that is primary.

We'll see.  One thing is certain.  If the Wing is going to become "primary" in the USMC then we need to twist it, turn it and bend it toward the needs of the USMC.

If they want to be a "joint" enabler then they need to detach from the Marines and become part of the USAF.

Ending our relationship with Scribd...

Hey all.

What follows is one of about 75 e-mails that I received from Scribd...

Dear snafu-solomon-blogspot-com,
Scribd's automated copyright protection system identified a book in your Scribd account as a copy and a possible copyright infringement of a book distributed through Smashwords. As a result, Scribd has proactively disabled access to the copy of the book titled "Marine Corps Operations" (id: 25408427) in your account and will be replacing it with a version distributed through Smashwords.
Scribd has recently signed an agreement with Smashwords to offer many of their titles as part of our subscription reading service. As part of this agreement, we are removing all detected copies of the Smashwords books and replacing them with the Smashwords distributed version.
If you are the author of this book, you don't necessarily need to take any action: by default, your copy will simply be replaced by the Smashwords copy. If you would like to restore your version on Scribd, please forward this notification to copyright@scribd.com with a brief explanation of the situation. A member of our copyright team will review the matter, confirm your status as the author, and work with you to re-instate the content.
For more information about Scribd's relationship with Smashwords, please see this article: http://blog.smashwords.com/2013/12/smashwords-signs-distribution-agreement.html. For more information about Scribd.com's copyright policy in general, there are several articles available at http://www.scribd.com/copyright.
Best regards,

Long story short?

Scribd can suck a dick.

They're blacklisting open source materials?  Fuck them!  All I have on my Scribd account are Military Manuals, Govt Brochures, Weapons Brochures etc...

NOTHING COPYRIGHTED to an individual!!

If you enjoy my stuff then get it before midnight tomorrow.  I'm looking for a new home for my content and will give you the location once my migration is complete.

Oh and I gotta say it again.

FUCK SCRIBD! 

Norinco's latest offerings to the Chinese military

The Chinese are involved in an across the board arms buildup...including armored vehicles.  Of interest in the following pics?  The pedestal mounted anti-tank missile system, the Mobile Gun System (manned) and the modernized MBT.

Club K

Eric Palmer blog: Marketing video now makes real sense: This new and improved marketing video of the Rutech missile system in a shipping container.... ...takes on new meaning with a U.S. mili...

Korean AAV RWS turret (Samsung)

Stunning realization.

With the Japanese, S. Koreans, Brazilians, Thailand, Taiwan and Philippines either already operating or soon to operate the AAV.  With the undeniable fact that Asian corporations WILL provide upgrade packages to these vehicles...and with the continued delay in the ACV, MPC and AAV Upgrade....

The USMC might soon operate the most primitive version of this vehicle in the region.

Indecision and vacillation.  Display it at the Basic School and you drop in class.  Display it as Commandant and future Marines die.