FoxTrot Alpha loves the Panhard Crab.

FoxTrot Alpha Blog really seems to like the Panhard Crab.

I'm not quite sold.  If we need an armored car, I tend to lean more toward the German Fennek, but TR makes a compelling argument.

Read it here.

F-35 Flies with Two Typhoons

Note:  Check out the size of the F-35!  Space on the USS America Class and Queen Elizabeth Class carriers is going to be at a premium!  Size alone will limit the number carried...even if it somehow makes it aboard ship.

Brazilian Police being shot with arrows during rioting!

Add Brazil to the list of nations on the brink....and yeah...its about the economy...again!

For those not paying attention here's a quick rundown.  Brazil is one of those BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) thats suppose to lead economic development into the future.

Its not quite working out that way though.

Brazil won the competitions to hold the World Cup Soccer matches and the Olympics, and these games were suppose to be their "coming out" party to celebrate their arrival on the world stage.

The problem?

It diverted funds from necessary domestic programs.  Infrastructure construction for the masses has been delayed and people have been forced out of slums to make room for development of venues for the games.  Additionally the economic slowdown which is looking more like at the very least a global recession has left Brazil's economy in shambles (much like our own).

The Brazilian people are pissed.

Read the story here.

SIDENOTE:  This reminds me of  an issue I wanted to post on (probably will in the future).  In an SHTF, or WORL situation will a bow or cross bow be the best weapons?  Check out some of the deer hunting bow heads.  They're vicious.  Add in the modern compound bows available today and killing a man with one would be beyond easy.  It would slice through a human like a hot knife through butter.  The indians might be onto something.

RG35 Motorised Infantry Vehicle(MIV)

BAE S. Africa has redesigned their RG35 and come up with the RG35MIV.

Specs are out there for all to see but I'm really interested in the thinking behind the redesign.  My contacts in BAE USA have hooked me up with the guys in S. Africa so more to come soon.

Consider this your warning order!

Egypt set to receive two Ambassador IV Class Fast Missile Boats...

via Janes.

The first two Ambassador IV-class fast missile craft to be built for Egypt in the United States by VT Halter Marine are being prepared for delivery.
The Pensacola News Journal reported that the two vessels were seen being loaded into a civilian transport ship in Pensacola Bay, Florida, on 25 May. It published a photograph of first-of-class S Ezzat (682), which was officially handed over to the Egyptian Navy on 19 November. The second Ambassador IV, F Zekry (683), was handed over in December.
Automatic Identification System (AIS) data shows that Combi Dock III (IMO: 9432828), a semi-submersible transport ship that is capable of carrying both 62 m vessels, is currently moored off Pensacola Naval Air Station.

The Israeli Navy is finally going to have some competition.

If Egypt goes rogue then they're going to have some real nice tech to attack our ally with.

Want a kick in the pants (yeah I'm repeating myself)?  The Ambassador class is 1500 tons lighter than the LCS but has at least twice (probably 3 times) more firepower. 

Has the knife culture finally arrived?

Everyone is ignoring the fact that the madman in California killed his first three victims with a knife.  What type of knife and how he pulled off such a feat is not talked about but it does make me wonder.

Has the knife culture finally arrived?  Don't get me wrong.  I don't say that in some form of celebration but more to the idea that we've been hearing warnings that illegal immigrants from S. America and Africa would bring with them cultural norms of using large (talking about machete sized) knives as the preferred weapons of choice when committing violence.

If what I fear is true, that it has arrived, then it will take a rethink in defensive tactics.

Knife fights are brutal.

The assailants like to get close.  The attacks are fast, with the attackers wanting to stab a victim as many times as possible before they can even react.  Think of it more like a prison or street fight and less (much less) a gun fight.

Distance is your friend in such an attack as is awareness.  How you could even begin to clock an assailant in a crowded area or in a big city is beyond me.  I really don't think you could.  Physical fitness becomes paramount. And if your assailant is bigger and stronger than you are then consider yourself up a serious creek.

I'll research this a bit more but this is an alarming development.  Check out the pics below and remember.  The British Army musician was hacked to pieces in broad daylight and didn't even have time to resist.  The attackers used kitchen implements.  Is this coming to America? 

Sidenote:  The attackers in the pics below are from Nigeria.  I wonder if they had ties to the terrorist organization that kidnapped those girls?

Get ready for a dog & pony show in Libya...

via the NAVY Times...

The Navy warship USS Bataan has moved into the Mediterranean Sea and could be used, if needed, for any possible evacuation of American personnel from Libya.
U.S. defense officials say the Bataan, an amphibious assault ship, is not near Libya and isn’t expected to be positioned off its coast. It more likely will remain in the region, and could move or respond quickly if called.
State Department officials said Tuesday there are no plans for an evacuation at this time.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter by name.

I've been watching this slow boil for a couple of weeks now.  First we got word that the SPMAGTF-Crisis Response had moved closer to Libya for potential use in evacuations.

Now we're hearing that the USS Bataan is heading that way.

I fully expect to see a nice little dog & pony show in the coming weeks  mixed with screaming headlines of how the Administration moved to prevent another situation like the one that led to the ambassador getting killed, with a side show of Amos chest thumping that the SPMAGTF-CR proved its worth in a real life situation.

Its all bullshit of course.

With proper planning a crisis can be avoided.

If the situation warrants moving these assets to staging points then it warrants evacuating non-essential personnel today.  They're creating the conditions for a crisis instead of preventing one. 

ExtremV Multi-Purpose Articulated Tracked Vehicle

The Extrem V Multi-Purpose Articulated Tracked Vehicle is competing for the Candian Medium Marginal Terrain Vehicle Program.  Read about the issues from CASR Blog here.

Oshkosh M-ATV Light

The Oshkosh M-ATV Light is designed to rapidly transport operators across unimproved roads and rugged off-road terrain. The vehicle uses the Oshkosh TAK-4^®independent suspension system, which is the industry’s gold standard for off-road mobility for a full range of heavy, medium and light-duty tactical vehicles. The M-ATV Light features enhanced armour protection and an impressive power-to-weight ratio compared to previous generation special operations vehicles.   

Is this the sad truth about the Colonel Merna firing??? UPDATE!

Major hat tip to Suki Wolf for the tip...

When I first heard of the firing of Colonel Merna, my first thought was what the fuck just happened.

The guy is hardcore, rock solid and looks out for his men.

After the tip that SW sent me, I fear for the Marine Corps and wonder if it will ever be the same.  This from the MilitaryCorruption blog...

"At a party thrown by his headquarters staff, Merna, who was a bit tipsy, told one of his staff officers he 'acted gay.'
"Turns out, " one of our confidential informants reported, "the (deleted) is a homosexual, and reported the unforgiveable crime (of being annoyed by the truth) to the commanding general - who, in full PC-mode - fired Merna."

I thought I was politically incorrect.

I thought I had a raging hatred for Amos.

Well the above is true but Military Corruption takes it to another level!  Still though, I was simply pissed and didn't want to shake the trees to find out the real reason why this happened.

Not anymore.

If this is true then you're about to see unit cohesion, the relationships between the leaders and their men...all take a back seat to saving their career.

If this is true then the Marine Corps is in a death spiral that will take a generation to fix.

I'll get the real deal on this and let you know. 

UPDATE:  I've reached the sad conclusion that a whisper campaign has been launched against Colonel Merna.  Let me state this plainly and clearly.  Colonel Merna is a fine Marine Corps officer that represents the best of the Marine Corps.  If (and I say this with a huge dose of I don't give a fuck) he had an "oh shit" moment, then how could that turn into a career ender?  It shouldn't and if we consider the track record of the person that happens to be sitting in the Commandant's chair then his "alleged" mistake is extremely minor.  Amos has a command environment that is alienating everyone but the freaks, females and misfits of the Marine Corps.  Hate me if you like but I don't care.

11th MEU Multi-objective Mechanized and Motorized Raid ...Photos by Gunnery Sgt. Rome M. Lazarus

Rebroadcast. ROTC Scholarship Opportunity...

I ran a piece here talking about an opportunity for a deserving guy or gal to win a ROTC scholarship from Ammoland.

Well I messed up because I was suppose to tell you good people that its still open but got sidetracked.

This is my mea culpa.  If you know of someone that might qualify, pass the info on to them.  As expensive as college is these days every cent helps.

The reaction to the California shooting? Expect forced mental health checks/gun confiscations...

The usual suspects are calling for even tougher gun control laws after it was found that in socialist California, the laws weren't able to prevent a shooting rampage.

The free United States...the South, the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains (parts of it) and a few Western states will never go for it.  Or if they do you can expect politicians to be fired regardless of party....

No.

What will happen is even more ominous.

If you make even a joking statement you can expect law enforcement to arrive at your door and place you in a mental health center and to confiscate your weapons.

No more talking to your wife and girlfriend...no more joking with your buddies.  If you happen to have a falling out with a confidant and they're truly evil they'll simply tell LEOs that you made threats or are a danger to yourself and off you go.

Why do I say this?

Because Sheriffs Deputies showed up for a welfare check and they did not deem him a danger.  I predict that the choice will be taken out of their hands and if a call is made then so will an arrest.

You've been warned.  Big Brother is here and he's recruited your friends and family to spy and report on you.

Japanese Ground Self Defense Capabilities Vid...

Note:  They seem to be highlighting the 1st Airborne Brigade in the vid.  

SOCOM gets put to the test. Counter Terrorism mission instead of Counter Insurgency...

via WGRZ.com

Obama also announced that he will decide soon on possible troop levels for a post-2014 residual force to be left in Afghanistan to keep training local security forces and conduct counterterrorism missions.

This is beyond interesting and to me will be the first real test of SOCOM.

Let me put this out there (and yes...let the incoming begin...) SOCOM has been skating.  More specifically we're seeing a duplication of effort for the simplest of all missions...and its not really a SOCOM mission.  Ya see they're concentrating on raids.

A Boy Scout Troop can do a raid if its planned well enough with fabulous ISR assets.

And that my friends is the rub.

Conventional Forces have been doing the hard thing.  Conducting counter insurgency ops...rebuilding schools...establishing relationships with the locals...patrolling areas to ensure stability.

Meanwhile Rangers, Special Forces, SEALs and MARSOC have all been doing raids, raids and nothing but raids.

A Counter Terrorism and Training mission should be a SOCOM only mission set.

Now we will learn everything we need to know about the organization.  Either they're actually about the work of Soldiering or doing the Marine thing...or they're just a bunch of pretty boys with nice toys.

If done logically this should be interesting...but I don't think we'll see it.  For all the arrogance and chest thumping, SOCOM members like to be real close to conventional forces.  This will be the time for SOCOM to put up or shut up.  Lets see if the Head Bull Frog steps up, refuses to ring the bell and pushes for Afghanistan 2015 to be a Special Ops Combatant Command...all SOCOM and nothing but SOCOM.

Sometimes there are no words....

Happy Memorial Day.

France turns hard right. Trouble is coming to Europe.

via The Guardian.

"The people have spoken. Our people demands one type of politics: they want French politics by the French, for the French, with the French. They don't want to be led any more from outside, to submit to laws," a clearly jubilant Le Pen told supporters.
"The sovereign people have proclaimed loud and clear ... that they want to take back their destiny into their own hands.
"We must build another Europe, a Europe of free and sovereign nations and freely decided cooperation. Tonight is a massive rejection of theEuropean Union.
"If Germany has become the economic heart of Europe, through the incompetence and weakness of our leaders, then France has been and will be the political heart of Europe. What is happening in France signals what will happen in all European countries; the return of the nation.
"To all those French who voted for us, I say that the battle for the greatness of France should unite us in the rediscovered love of our country."
Le Pen's father and party found Jean-Marie Le Pen called on the dissolution of the Assemblée Nationale and for the prime minister Manuel Valls to resign.
Valls described the result as a "shock" and a "political earthquake".
A meeting called by UMP head Jean-François Copé was reportedly tense, according to a source.

&

The FN has pledged to close France's borders to "stop the free movement of the Roma" and (foreign) delinquents as well as "cheap foreign labour", to ditch the euro and return to the franc, to end free trade agreements with America, and "to defend, in all circumstances, our values, our identity, our traditions and our way of life".

Read the entire article.

This is a telling development.  The Socialist (Democrat party in US lingo) were thoroughly trounced in this election.  The Center Right party (Republicans in US lingo) were also stomped.

I don't know how to characterize this except to say that the same issues that we've seen before are coming through for all to witness with these results...

You're seeing people frustrated by a lackluster economy.

People are pissed by what they see as outrageous regulation and a government that isn't responding to the needs of the people.

The issue is that hardcore right or left wing governments have historically been a prelude to conflict....either outright or economically.

THIS DEVELOPMENT DESERVES YOUR ATTENTION!

Sidenote:  Both of our political parties, the UN and the World Trade Organization...along with many of our allies...are desperately trying to prop up globalization.  This is further evidence that the scheme is breaking down.

Samsung Techwin sole bidder for Philippine AAV competition.

via ABS-CBN News.

MANILA, Philippines - Only one company joined last week's bidding for the purchase of eight brand new amphibious assault vehicles worth P2.5 billion for the Marines.
South Korean firm Samsung Techwin offered to supply the vehicles for P2.42 billion, lower by P76.5 million than the approved budget.
The Department of National Defense (DND) Bids and Awards Committee has declared the company as the “single calculated bidder” for the project.
However, Samsung Techwin cannot be declared the winning bidder until it hurdles the post-qualification phase to determine whether the supplier is capable of undertaking the project.
If Samsung Techwin wins the bidding, it is required to deliver the vehicles within 910 days upon opening of the letter of credit, which assures the supplier that the government will fulfill its obligations.
The bidding held last May 15 was the second time that the DND tried to look for suppliers for the vehicles.
The first bidding was held last November, but it failed because it did not attract any offer.
At that time, Samsung Techwin bought bid documents but did not submit an offer.
The amphibious assault vehicle acquisition project is one of the items to be bankrolled by the Revised Armed Forces Modernization Program contained in a law signed by President Aquino in 2012. – Alexis Romero

This seems off on so many levels...

BAE has performed refub work on former USMC AAVs for the Japanese military that brought them back to new condition.

Lockheed Martin Ground is interested in getting a piece of this pie and I'm sure they would have offered a competitive bid.

The same can be said for SAIC, especially in light of them winning part of the bid to do safety upgrades for USMC vehicles.

So why did the Philippines choose to buy what I assume are new vehicles when the Japanese and USMC have shown that surplus refurbished vehicles can still do well in the intended role (I say that tongue in cheek...its the best we have if we don't pick either the Havoc or SuperAV for our new Marine Personnel Carrier)?

The Philippine acquisition system.  A mystery wrapped in an enigma. 

T-50 (PAK-FA) Documentary.

Shit like this is why Tannerite is about to be a controlled item.

Everyday No Days Off blog found this vid.

Let me say right off.

If you think that the ATF and FBI don't have open source researchers for domestic "issues" then you're smoking crack.

If you think that this won't land on the desk of the anti-terrorism head cheese for the FBI then you're smoking crack.

If you think that some anti-gun nutjob isn't going to cream his pants when he sees this and pass it along to Fienstien then you're smoking crack.

If you have a need for this stuff take my advice.  GET IT NOW.  This will be labeled a dangerous substance and they'll yank it off the shelves before the announcement is made.  The idea of some whack job constructing an IED from this material is just too great for them to do otherwise.

And quite honestly I can't say that I blame them.  Some information/techniques are best left talked about among friends and not posted on YouTube.