F-35 News. US concerned about a lack of exports.

via World Tribune.

WASHINGTON — The United States, alarmed by poor exports, plans to enable foreign allies to customize the Joint Strike Fighter.
Officials said the Defense Department has approved a proposal that would offer foreign countries the right to change mission data on the F-35 fighter-jet. They said the step could accommodate demands by foreign partners in the $1 trillion program for input in the aircraft’s mission computer.
We together, jointly, will build there the brains of the airplane for them,” JSF program manager Chris Bogdan said.
In a briefing in late October, Bogdan said military personnel from foreign clients would work in JSF facilities to develop individual software packages. He said data packages would be prepared for clients in two different regions, one of them believed to be the Middle East.
“In the future we will have many labs where our partners are going to do some of their own work,” Bogdan said.
The arrangement marked a revision of a decades-long policy of refusing to customize U.S. fighter-jets. Officials acknowledged increasing anger among JSF’s partners, particularly Britain, Italy and Turkey, over the Pentagon’s refusal to transfer technology for the F-35.
“They go to different places and they fight in different ways,” Bogdan said.
As a result, most of the JSF partners have refused to submit significant orders for the fifth-generation aircraft. So far, only Israel, not a partner in JSF, has ordered a squadron and plans to procure an additional squadron.

First we had talk of the program office floating the idea of allowing allies to do block buys of the airplane.  Now this.

I don't know whats going on behind closed doors but the desperation is getting thick enough to cut it with a knife.  2015 will be an interesting year for F-35 watchers.

Chinese Fire Support Frigate (Rocket).

All images and info via PLA Photo Blog.

China Navy renovated the frigate that was obsolete, fire support ship equipped with Tarenso rockets instead of anti-ship missile will be or have been enrolled

So they've done the common sense thing and simply taken an old frigate, added MLRS pods to it and re-designated it a fire support ship.  The only real issue (because I think its a great idea) is re-arming it at sea.  Against a proper target it could expend its "ready to fire" load in a few minutes.

Breaking! Russian tanks cross into Ukraine.

via Reuters.

(Reuters) - A column of 32 tanks, 16 howitzer artillery systems and trucks carrying ammunition and fighters has crossed into eastern Ukraine from Russia, the Kiev military said on Friday.
"The deployment continues of military equipment and Russian mercenaries to the front lines," spokesman Andriy Lysenko said in a televised briefing referring to Thursday's cross-border incursion.

Read the entire story here. 

US Navy Riverines wearing berets now?

Above you see a photo of what appears to be a re-enlistment ceremony for Coastal Riverine Squadron 4.  Congrats to the sailor and best wishes to him, his family and future.

What has me saying huh to the whole thing are the berets.  Is that now authorized in the Riverines?  Also notice the insignia on it.  Additionally check out the patches on their left shoulders.  "Don't tread on me" popularized by the Navy SEALs.

Despite being combined with Master at Arms for the port security mission it really looks like they're pushing real hard to be a quasi infantry force.  I don't know if I'll be watching them but they have peaked my interests.  I wonder what the end goal is.

Blast from the past. General Vaught saw the SEAL controversy coming...

More ABC US news | ABC Health News

The quote?

“Now I’m going to tell you, one of these days, if you keep publishing how you do this, the other guy’s going to be there ready for you, and you’re going to fly in and he’s going to shoot down every damn helicopter and kill every one of your SEALs. Now, watch it happen. Mark my words. Get the hell out of the media.."
LT GEN James Vaught

What kills me about this?

A couple of things.  First the way that the media laughed at the General.  Age confers wisdom, his service (exemplary no matter how you define it) DEMANDS respect..  He said nothing funny, was correct in his assessment and those bastards had the gall to laugh at him?  Each and every one of them needs to be throat punched.

Second.  McRaven started this.  He encouraged the spirit of SEALs covering the morning pages.  HE LED BY EXAMPLE!  Yet no one is saying it.

This is a culture problem and until they face it, correct and remove anyone that has engaged in it (meaning people that disclose secrets are punished to the fullest extent of the law) then we'll see this issue continue.

Go here to see the original story.

PLA Photo Bot on Twitter.

Interested in PLA armor developments in particular and their army in general?  Then take the time to check out the PLA Photo Bot on Twitter.

Here's the deal though.  Like the name says (and for some reason Asian websites dedicated to pics of a particular subject are more popular than they are here in the States) its primarily a photo site, but it does give a bit of info on the vehicles/aircraft/ships covered.

Sidenote 1.  The above render is of the ZBD-04.  Its being touted as the most powerful IFV in Chinese service and it appears that the Chinese EFV was simply a failed interim model.  More to come on this vehicle.  It seems that the other IFVs we've seen are aimed at the export market only.

Sidenote 2.  Working on the translation problem and I remembered advise given before that I ignored at the time but turns out to be the answer.  Google translate handles Mandarin quite well but struggles with Japanese and Korean.  Babel Fish does it all with few problems.  Check them out to save yourself the frustration that I've been running into.

Chinese Air Force trains in Russia.

Photos via English Russia

Damn I miss San Diego! Boys will be boys!

Lets see.

If this goes like it once did, LEO's will drop charges, it'll get pushed over to the Marine Corps ... we'll see 30/30 and two months half pay.

Its cool...after all.  Boys will be boys!  Seriously though.  This needs to get handled ricky-tick quick.  Hopefully the only thing bruised are feelings and body parts.

Sidenote:  Pretty impressive ground and pound on the part of San Diego PD.  They must have upped their hand to hand training.  That was a text book mount he put on that Devil Pup.

This Navy SEAL "fame" incident will not end well.

via Daily Mail.

The Navy SEAL who shot Osama bin Laden dead in the special force's most famous operation can be named today.
The Navy hero is set to give a full interview to Fox News later this month and waive his anonymity but MailOnline has established that he is Rob O'Neill, a highly-decorated veteran who quit after 16 years service.
In an exclusive interview Rob's father, Tom O'Neill, tells MailOnline, 'People are asking if we are worried that ISIS will come and get us because Rob is going public. I say I'll paint a big target on my front door and say come and get us.'
Rob O'Neill, 38, is a former member of SEAL Team Six who has been portrayed on screen in Zero Dark Thirty, Captain Phillips and Lone Survivor.

You fuck with the bull, you get the horns.

Rob's father might have a lackadaisical attitude with regards to his personal protection and the issues that come with it, but he has done exactly what he brags about.  He painted a big target on his front door and ISIS is paying attention.

Yesterday I stated that any person can be found with just a bit of work and the proper resources and today the SEAL's father has been tracked down by the Daily Mail?

This will end badly.  The only thing we can hope is that the other SEALs and their families, that are trying to do things the right way don't end up in the cross-hairs because they had a teammate that couldn't keep his mouth shut.

Japanese MLRS training from the deck of an LST.

Google translate lets me down with these photos but from the way the vehicle is tied down, I'm assuming that this "MLRS training" is to actually fire the rockets from the deck of the ship.

Every arm chair Navy and Marine analyst should be cheering.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard this as a solution to the lack of naval guns.  I'll try and find out more.

Marine Personnel Carrier (aka ACV 1.1) Mission Profile via HQMC.

  Attachment 08 - Operational Mode Summary Mission Profile (OMS MP)

Highlights of the above document...

ACV Wargame

To develop the ACV MP, a wargame was conducted involving a representative group of subject matter experts (SMEs) who wargamed the individual scenarios to create the necessary details for tasks, events, duration and operating conditions. The participants had the opportunity to discuss their actions during each of the scenarios and their responses were collected. Once the tactical approach to the scenario was decided upon, the responses were focused on the time-phased representation of systems operation that is key to the OMS/MP. Refer to the ACV OMS/MP Wargame Final Report for further details.
Each of the scenarios had a number of lethality engagements that supported the description of how the ACV’s weapon system would be employed. Each engagement was executed with the ACVs having a mix of a stabilized remote weapons system (RWS) equipped with either a .50 caliber M2 or a 40 mm Mk19 MOD. The ACV platoon had an equal mix of the two weapons (ACV platoon with 21 vehicles 11 x .50 cal and 10 x Mk19). During the scenario discussions, the participants were presented a threat engagement and given the opportunity to discuss their actions during engagement and then their responses were collected. Once the tactical approach to the engagement was decided, the responses were focused on how the weapons system was employed and rounds fired.

So the AAV turret is being tossed and they're going with a RWS with either a fifty cal or 40mm.  Interesting.  I wonder if this is priming the AAV Battalions to go down to a two man crew?

Littoral Penetration Summary (Scenario 1)

The first scenario in the ACV mission is a littoral penetration. A company team (Co Tm) comprised of an infantry company, an ACV platoon, a light armored reconnaissance (LAR) platoon and a tank platoon is part of a larger joint task force. The Co Tm has been staged near a border of a threat nation. This scenario starts with the infantry company mounted on ACVs moving under the cover of darkness to a launch point and crossing the surf of an estuary that is part of a border with the threat nation. During this water movement, there is an engagement with two ‘technical’ vehicles from cliffs above the estuary. After a 3 NM movement, the ACVs cross through another surf zone into the threat nation. Upon landing, the ACVs move along the beach to the beach exit and establish an assembly area where infantry disembark and await link up with the LAR and tank platoon.

I'm still digesting this.  In the document "Statement of Work for the ACV" they include this blurb...

Launching from Amphibious Ships Analysis

The Contractor shall perform an analysis of their vehicle design showing the capability of launching from amphibious ships identified in the ACV System Performance Specification.  The analysis shall include the sub-sections listed below.  The Contractor shall prepare and submit the Amphibious Ship Launching Capability Analysis in accordance with CDRL A066.

So while it was never war gamed, it does appear that they're looking for the future Marine Personnel Carrier (aka ACV 1.1---NOTE!  HQMC fix this naming nonsense!) will be at least analyzed in its ability to launch from amphibious ships.

Is this an actual requirement or a "like to have"?

Either way I want to thank the little bird that keeps dropping these crumbs on my window sill.  You can download and read the documents yourself here.

NOTE!  I stand by my earlier assessment that the USMC cannot afford these vehicles under current budget pressures.  The work you see above is simply "residual" effects from Amos' tenure as Commandant.  This was laid out and ready to go when Amos took office.  To see it suddenly appear now is nothing but legacy building.  Dunford will not be able to put his stamp on the Marine Corps...and this program for another 3 to 4 months.  You're witnessing program "inertia"...everyone is waiting to see what the "new" guy has to say, in the mean time the work goes on.

Israeli Ministers OPPOSE additional F-35 purchases.

Major Hat Tip to ELP Blog.

via Haaretz.

Several ministers, headed by Strategic and Intelligence Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz, strongly objected to purchasing more F-35 fighter jets at the ministerial committee for defense purchases’ meeting Wednesday.
The Defense Ministry and Israel Air Force submitted to the committee a proposal to buy a second squadron of the advanced fighter jets at the expected cost of some $4.5 billion.
Steinitz spearheaded the objection to buying 31 jets, which will be added to the 19 ordered in the first deal. Steinitz is in favor of buying numerous cheap missiles to be launched from the sea, surface and air, and for increasing the use of drones, thus reducing Israel’s dependence on manned aircraft.
The committee consists of 10 members headed by the prime minister, with Steinitz as his deputy. Steinitz is supported, as far as is known, by Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir, a retired IAF colonel and former chairman of Israel Aerospace Industries. Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and IAF commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel supported the purchase proposal in the committee.
The IAF is interested in buying a third F-35 squadron as well. Altogether the air force hopes to have 75 F-35 jets in three squadrons in the coming decade.
The deal’s opponents, who also cite the opinions of external experts such as former Defense Minister Moshe Arens, argue that in an era when myriads of rockets and missiles threaten IAF bases, Israel must not be wholly dependent on fighter jets.

Read the entire article here. 

What has me fired up is that we were deceived (again) by the F-35 program office.  They put out the word that the Israeli's were going to buy additional jets.

Now we hear that Ministers oppose that buy.  Either they know nothing about Israeli procurement procedures (not likely) or they knowingly put out false information to garner positive publicity for their program.

This is not criminal behavior but it is at best deceitful at worst an outright lie.  Yeah I know all is fair in love and procurement but we have been told over and over that this program is the most open in Pentagon history.

What else has the program office been deceitful/lying about?

This Navy SEAL just signed his own death warrant.

via Marine Corps Times.

BREAKING: Robert O'Neill has been identified by media reports as the SEAL Team 6 commando who fatally shot Osama bin Laden. O'Neill, 38, is a decorated combat vet whose full story is set to be aired in an upcoming Fox News interview:

Just plain fucking wow.

I've said that something is wrong with SEAL culture in the past.  McRaven set a bad tone and now this Robert O'Neill is following in his footsteps.

I wonder if this guy has actually payed attention to threat warnings.

Call me paranoid or a tin foil hat guy, but I would imagine that every radical Muslim worldwide will have this guy in their sights.  Every madman, maniac, wanna-be and publicity seeking psychopath.

What's worst?

He can be traced using open source materials.  No one is iron clad and if you have the time, resources and maybe a bit of cash you can be found.  So can the people that you're close to...including your family.

How does it get even worse than that?

Other Navy SEALs that chose to do it the right way are now also endangered...there families too.

He'd be lucky if the worst that happened is if he's charged with disclosing state secrets.  He wanted fame and fortune so bad that he signed his own death warrant. 

Photo Release: F-35C Lightning II completes first carrier launch

Armor Art. Panzerkampfwagen E-75 Standardpanzer

Y-20 hi-rez pics. via Chinese Military Review Blog.

Hate to say it but this plane is sexy...oh and make sure to follow that blogger.  They're one of the few English language Chinese military sites.

What is going on with increased Russian flights?

via Defense Media Network.

Ahead of the “election” held byseparatists in Eastern Ukraine on Sunday, Russia increased military air activity in European airspace, reflective of a 300 percent increase over 2013 in intercepts of Russian aircraft.
NATO detected four separate groups of aircraft exercising over the Baltics, the North Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean Oct. 28 and 29, according to a NATO report.

“Clearly, they pose the potential risk of escalation. They also, quite frankly, could pose just a potential risk to civil aviation just in the sheer number of and size of and scope of these flights. So, they’re not exactly helpful.”
On Oct. 28, NATO tracked seven Russian combat aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft were detected at approximately 2:30 p.m. and included two MiG-31 Foxhound, two Su-34 Fullback, one Su-27 Flanker and two Su-24 Fencer fighter and strike aircraft, according to the report from SHAPE Public Affairs.
The Russian aircraft, flying over the Gulf of Finland, were intercepted by German Typhoon fighters from NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission. The Russian aircraft continued into the Baltic Sea and were subsequently intercepted and then handed off by Allied fighters from Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, which are not members of NATO. The Russian fighters continued to the Kaliningrad Oblast. The Russian aircraft in this incident had filed a flight plan with air traffic control authorities and were using transponders, but did not maintain radio contact with civilian air traffic control.

Hmm.

The Russian aircraft filed a flight plan and were using transponders.  On the face of it from my chair, these flights  don't appear particularly menacing.  But why are the Russians doing this?

My theories?

173rd Airborne conducting an emergency readiness exercise in Romania.

Increased US military activity in Europe.

I haven't posted much on this subject but the US military has dramatically increased its activity in Europe.  While our European partners (with the exception of Poland and other Eastern nations) have done little, the USMC has been seen storing armor in Scandinavian countries, the US Army sending Stryker and Heavy Armored Brigades close to Russia and even conducting emergency readiness exercises with the continents only real quick reaction force, the 173rd Airborne.  I haven't even touched on naval activities with a variety of ships operating close to the Russian coast and USMC personnel training with Romanians, Estonians and Georgia. 

Falling Oil Prices.

Many theories abound on this one.  Some believe that the Saudi's are attempting to push the Iranians over the edge because they depend so much on high oil prices.  Some believe that Russia is responding to manipulation of oil by the Saudi's with US assistance.  Others believe that the US is attempting to maintain itself as the global fiat currency.  What is fact?  Many African nations are dependent on high oil prices.  Many Middle Eastern countries are stable ONLY because of high oil prices.  Finally, Russia is also dependent.  If the Russians believe that the US is helping manipulate world wide oil prices to further punish their economy then this could turn nasty.

My take?

Quite honestly I just don't know.  I have seen presentations on both theories and they seem plausible.  But what should concern everyone and possibly tilts this toward the oil manipulation theory is that SecDef Hagel canceled a trip to the Pacific to handle a situation in the Middle East.  Rioting has been happening in Israel and a terror attack just occurred at a rail station in that country but that shouldn't rise high enough to kill his trip.  ISIS is marching on but nothing earth shattering (I say this gingerly...they're monsters that need to be bombed back to the stone ages where their beliefs come from)...so what is going on behind the scenes that caused the cancellation?  Unfortunately more to come I'm sure.

What is Blue Chromite 2014? Video by Cpl. Wes Lucko

Definition by JMB (he was good enough to give me a heads up before the video was posted)...

Blue Chromite began last year as Exercise CHROMITE. Conducted by 4th Marines, 3d MLG and 1 MAW. Intent is to provide enhanced training (amphib ops, air assault, etc) and improve MAGTF interoperability with UDP battalions on Okinawa. Supported by 7th Fleet this year as well. Should be annual unless crowded out by PACOM mandated events.

Time to add this to my calendar of annual exercises to watch.

Ooops...

They were wrong.

They were so wrong...lol...

Amphibious Combat Vehicle on life support?

A yellow bird landed on my window and passed along a bit of depressing information.

According to my source the Amphibious Combat Vehicle program is floundering.  

What exactly is the problem?  I have no idea..but consider this.  Do you remember all the wild gyrations that we witnessed in the last two years?  First the Marine Personnel Carrier program was canceled outright.  Then it was resurrected.  Then we saw HQMC rename the program and break it into two parts.  First the ACV 1.1 was basically the Marine Personnel Carrier with new wrapping and second we had the ACV 1.2 that was supposed to be the old EFV but this time it would work and be affordable.  Also remember the late interviews given by Amos as he was heading out the door.  I can't remember the source but I distinctly recall him suddenly claiming that funding was just not there.

This points to the procurement train wreck being even more devastating than even I imagined.  I spent yesterday afternoon trying to get in contact with the Program Office but they've been moved behind a fire wall, are no longer even listed on the PEO Land website and the e-mail address that I had to Manny Pacheco is no longer working (I don't even know if he's still the spokesman for the program).

The reality is stark.

Can we with good conscious continue to send Marines into combat in almost 50 year old AAVs?  If not then how do we fix this?