F-35 News. Defense-Aerospace.com reports price decline a lie.

Hat tip to Peter for the article.

via D-A.

The average unit cost of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter continues to rise, despite claims by the program’s Joint Program Office and the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, that they are decreasing with each annual production lot.

The program office bases its claim of lower costs on just a few of the many contracts it awards for each lot, and disregards the others. When announcing the main LRIP Lot 6 and Lot 7 contracts on Sept 27, 2013, for example, the JPO stated that:

”This award increases the value of the aircraft and associated production efforts on the LRIP 6 contract to $4.4 billion ($3.7 billion awarded …[in]…December 2012 ….and $0.7 billion awarded today) ….for production of 36 aircraft, with average aircraft unit cost approximately 2.5 percent lower than LRIP 5 aircraft.”

In fact, the real LRIP Lot 6 unit cost ($ 215.5 million) is fully 5% higher than the Lot 5 unit cost ($205 million), according to our analysis of DoD contract data.

JPO’s claim of lower Lot 6 unit prices is based on the two contracts identified above whereas, in fact, it awarded 27 Lot 6 contracts between Feb 9, 2012 and 0ct 9, 2014. The total value of these contracts is $7,757.3 million (see Table 1), almost double the $4,400 million cited by JPO.

D-A.com makes a VERY compelling case in this article.  Its highly recommended reading.

I'm waiting for other media outlets to check this article (although I sense that it is spot on) but for General Bogdan shit just got real....

Regardless of the actions of your subordinates, the responsibility for decisions and their application falls on you. You must issue all orders in your name...via Marine Officer's Guide 1985 edition

Lets be clear.

The Marine Corps has fired Commanders for less.

If the Defense-Aerospace report is true then we're seeing dereliction of duty, public deception, malfeasance in office, theft of govt funds and bringing discredit to the armed force of the United States. 

Bogdan needs to be fired and the program canceled.

ACV News. Japan using AAVs as "reference" will build their own ACV?

via PressTV.

The United States is set to provide Japan with a number of amphibious vehicles amid tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over the disputed islands in the East China Sea.
A Defense Ministry official said on Monday that Japan plans to buy 52 amphibious vehicles through 2018, but it has not decided on a model yet, Stars and Stripes reported.
The military deal comes as the disputed islands, called Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese, have been a source of tension between Japan and China for decades.
Japan claimed to nationalize a part of the island chain by buying them back from private ownership.
Last year, China established an Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea, urging all military and commercial aircraft to inform the Chinese government before entering the region.
However, the United States and Japan violated the air zone several times after China’s declaration.
Japan and China have scrambled fighter jets over the islands during the past two years.
The Japanese government now wants to assemble a Marines-like unit within its Self-Defense Forces.
A spokesman from Japan’s Defense Ministry said the Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV-7) is among the country’s options.
“We have purchased four AAV-7s in fiscal 2013 and two AAV-7s in fiscal 2014 as samples for reference,” the unnamed spokesman said.
According to the spokesman, the Defense Ministry started reviewing options in April, but it has not decided on a model yet.
AGB/AGB

Why would a nation that that has a technologically advanced military and manufacturing base, is developing stealth fighters and is a leader in electronics put into service a vehicle that the Marines are looking to retire.

It never made sense.

But as a reference vehicle?  As a baseline model for desired capabilities?

Yeah.

The news that General Dynamics and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were teaming to enter the ACV contest now becomes clear.   What are the calculations here?  Does GD really believe that they need Mitsubishi's help with the ACV or have they done the math and realize that upgrades are the only thing coming from the USMC due to budget constraints and they're trying to tap into greener Japanese pastures for future work...while riding Mitsubishi's coat tails?

ACV News. General Dynamics teams with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries...

Thanks to Slowman for the tip.

Nikkei.com is reporting that General Dynamics and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are teaming up to work on the Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle.

The above pics illustrate what I believe is going on here.

Mitsubishi is currently developing a heavy wheeled 8x8 capable of carrying 11 soldiers.  Could they be working on an amphibious version of the same vehicle?  I don't know but if they're successful...even if the Marine Corps doesn't select it...then Mitsubishi should have a leg up on the obvious Japanese Self Defense Force's need for an ACV of their own.

Sidenote:  RPG cage and ERA blocks?  That's alot of add on weight to an already large vehicle!  A wheeled APC topping 40 tons?  Read Army Recognition's info on Mitsubishi's proposed APC here.

CMMG just revolutionized the AK.

I would love to get my hands on one of these to give it a whirl.  The concept seems good to me, I just wonder how it shoots...and if it shoots straight!

Note:  Think 1500 bucks is too much to pay for a rifle that is chambered for the AK round but has operating systems that mimic the AR-15?  Check out the pic below and tally up the costs to make it AR like....

"Cuda" Missile. What happened to it?

Elements of Power Blog wrote an article a year or so ago (I think) that covered the development of a new missile by Lockheed Martin called the "Cuda".

Since then I've heard absolutely nothing.

Why am I curious about it?  Well the thought of F/A-18's filled to the gills with the missile (how many could they carry...20?) is pretty exciting, my focus is on a mid-level player for ground based air defense.  Longer ranged than the Stinger but more mobile than the Patriot and able to keep up with maneuver forces...that's where I see a "Cuda" based ground system coming in.

I wonder what's going on with it.

Strykers in Afghanistan.

War is Boring posted an absolutely awesome article about Strykers in Afghanistan.  Read it here....the referenced book is below.

  Stryker Sin Afghanistan

F-35B's operating off Canberra LHD.

via The Diplomat.

The Canberras retain the essential capability of the “Juan Carlos I” design, including features that support the F-35B. They have air traffic control facilities for helicopter operations, which would support short take-off and vertical landing, although an additional lighting system may be required for bad weather operations. The F-35B wouldn’t require large “specialised” maintenance facilities to be built into the ship, although adaptation of existing spaces might be required. The Canberras have enough fuel to support F-35Bs, and large weapons magazines. Claims to the contrary are incorrect.
Flight-deck heating issues are consistently overstated. Heat-resistant coatings might be required, but are easily applied. Other measures such as a “creeping” vertical landing would further alleviate what’s already a minor issue.
The bottom line? Operating the F-35B from LHDs is technically feasible and well within the capability of the ADF. It wouldn’t be free, but nor would it break the bank.

Read the entire article here.

Not sure what to make of this article.  I do note that it was first published by the Australian think tank ASPI.  

RoK Marines amphibious training ops.

USMC F-35's aboard UK carriers...nope, but how about SPMAGTF's?

War is Boring has a take on USMC F-35's operating off UK carriers...

The Marines are open to the idea—and have been for a while. In early November, the Marine Corps published the 2015 edition of it its aviation plan. Twice in the plan, the Corps’ proposes to send its F-35s into combat aboard British carriers.
In a section about so-called “distributed operations,” wherein the Marines spread out their forces in order to make it harder for the enemy to target them, the plan foresees F-35s—scattered across the battlefield—periodically returning to a ship for repairs.
Elsewhere in the aviation plan, the authors underscore the U.S. F-35Bs’ “interoperability” with Queen Elizabeth. That compatibility “will provide robust and flexible maritime power projection for allied forces.”

I like WIB.  But in this case I think they're wrong.  Look at the optics of such a move.  Moving F-35's onto Brit carriers while USMC MEU's go on float with Harriers would simply look terrible.  How would you viably claim that more amphibious ships are needed if you're able to farm out F-35's to foreign ships?

So how could the Marine Corps help out the Brits while they have a gap with regards to their own F-35's operating from them?

SPMAGTF-CR's.

You assign SPMAGTF-CR's to the Brit Carriers.  If F-35's are part of the mix of supporting aircraft then that's sauce for the goose.

The result?  You emphasize the need for increased amphibious shipping for the USMC.  You emphasize the need for the F-35 for the Royal Navy.  The downside?  The Queen Elizabeth is used as a super size LHD...exactly what the Royal Navy wouldn't like talked about.  Additionally some will ask why the Royal Navy simply doesn't use it as a large LHD while waiting for the F-35 with Royal Marines or British Army helicopters/troops aboard.

I think this suggestion of USMC F-35's operating off the QE is a trial balloon that falls flat.

First UK A400M Atlas Delivered To The RAF

photos via RAF website.

The UK is walking a very fine...and unusual line.  On one hand they're trying to maintain commonality and relevance with US forces while also doing the same with European forces.

The A400 is a good example.  Why buy C-17's at all when the opportunity to neck down to an all A400 force was possible?

Sgt. Maj. Bradley Kasal out of the running?????

For extraordinary heroism while serving as First Sergeant, Weapons Company, 3d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 13 November 2004. First Sergeant Kasal was assisting 1st Section, Combined Anti-Armor Platoon as they provided a traveling over watch for 3d Platoon when he heard a large volume of fire erupt to his immediate front, shortly followed by Marines rapidly exiting a structure. When First Sergeant Kasal learned that Marines were pinned down inside the house by an unknown number of enemy personnel, he joined a squad making entry to clear the structure and rescue the Marines inside. He made entry into the first room, immediately encountering and eliminating an enemy insurgent, as he spotted a wounded Marine in the next room. While moving towards the wounded Marine, First Sergeant Kasal and another Marine came under heavy rifle fire from an elevated enemy firing position and were both severely wounded in the legs, immobilizing them. When insurgents threw grenades in an attempt to eliminate the wounded Marines, he rolled on top of his fellow Marine and absorbed the shrapnel with his own body. When First Sergeant Kasal was offered medical attention and extraction, he refused until the other Marines were given medical attention. Although severely wounded himself, he shouted encouragement to his fellow Marines as they continued to clear the structure. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, First Sergeant Kasal reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

via Marine Corps Times.

The commandant has begun his search for the next sergeant major of the Marine Corps, releasing specific criteria for prospective candidates.
In an all-Marine message released Wednesday, Gen. Joe Dunford said his next senior enlisted adviser must have a minimum of 25 years of service and broad experience, including experience in combat operations. A spokesman for Dunford, Lt. Col. Eric Dent, said this means prospective candidates must have deployed in support of combat.
Qualified candidates must also have been serving as the senior enlisted adviser in a general officer-slated billet for a minimum of 24 months, and must possess strong written and oral communications skills, according to the message. They must have no pending disciplinary action, and they must also indicated their willingness to be considered and to live in the designated quarters at Marine Barracks Washington if selected.
Candidates who meet the qualifications will be considered by a board of general officers over a five-day selection process from Dec. 8-12, according to the message. The names of the five most qualified sergeants major will be presented to Dunford, who will make the final selection.
Dunford's criteria represent a departure from his predecessor, Gen. Jim Amos, who only asked that candidates be currently serving under a general officer, meet height and weight standards, and possess or be able to obtain certain security clearances in order to be considered.
The criteria also appear to take out of consideration one of the most-discussed names for for the post: Sgt. Maj. Bradley Kasal, now serving under Maj. Gen. Paul Brier at 4th Marine Division. Kasal is best known for earning the Navy Crossduring the Battle of Fallujah in 2004 despite severe wounds and blood loss. But Kasal did not leave his previous post at School of Infantry-West until Feb. 2013, leaving him shy of 24 months of service in a general officer-slated billet.
It's not stated in the message when Dunford may make his final decision. The current sergeant major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett, has served in his post since June 2011.

Hmmm.

I can't wait to hear the justification for writing requirements that would exclude one of the more notable individuals in uniform today.

Wow.

I had actually penned him in as a "no brainer" for next SMMC.

On second thought the more I think about it and after re-reading this article, I think we're seeing a made up controversy.  If Kasal wants to be considered I'm sure someone in the General's club will take his interest in the position up to the Commandant's office.

I think I got punked by Marine Times.  They were reading tea leaves, being extremely literal in reading the announcement and I fell for it.

Global Defence Tech's Amphibious APC/IFV overview...

Global Defence Technology has a nice overview of current Amphibious APC/IFV's worldwide.

The list itself is worthy of discussion.  Check it out here (page 8, listed as "Best of Both Worlds").

Australian Army's 1st Brigade Cambrai Day Parade...

NOTE:  ThinkDefence Blog gets thanks for spelling correction.

Fresh evidence of the F-35 death spiral...the Brits want us to fly off their carrier!

via the BBC

For the past year defence analysts had been expecting the MoD to order 14 of the new jets.
In February, Newsnight was told that it would be placed "within days". But persistent doubts about the F35's enormously complex software, and an engine fire this summer caused successive delays to the decision.
When the British purchase was announced, last month, it was for just four of the planes. The MoD says that this order will allow trials to start from the Queen Elizabeth on time with "UK F35Bs, flown by UK pilots".
But the slowdown in the expected purchasing rate is bound to delay the aircraft's entry into squadron service, say defence insiders.
Former chief of the defence staff General Lord Richards told Newsnight that asking US jets to fly from the Queen Elizabeth would be a sensible way of bridging the gap between the carrier being completed, and a British squadron of jets being available.

Two things jump out at me.

The first is that we keep hearing announcements of purchases of jets that never materialize.

The second is that the Brits are actually considering asking USMC F-35B squadrons to operate off their carrier!

I personally find the idea ludicrous.  The USMC is going to have to learn how operating the F-35 off our own LHDs will actually work and then there is the pesky situation of sequester affecting the numbers being bought and the optics of having enough to fly off another country's carrier.  All that's ignoring the manning requirements, the deployment schedule etc...

But back to the phantom aircraft purchases.  The Brits are one of the biggest supporters of this airplane and they haven't pulled the trigger on this 14 plane purchase.

Why?

Perhaps its because the "real" price isn't decreasing as much as is being portrayed in public!  We're being sold a bill of goods on this plane and the program office has reached the point of it not being taken seriously.  Every statement, announcement etc...can be considered spin if you're being generous and an outright lie if you choose to be factual.

The death spiral is here and now.  Lockheed Martin, the Program Office and the Pentagon missed the window to sell thousands of these planes.  Budgets world wide simply can't afford the strain of this airplane now.

Ferguson just became a national security issue and not in the way you think.

I've watched the events in Ferguson with a little detachment.  I think we're seeing the beginnings of protests about the economy.  The incident is simply a cover for other issues.

I watched the interview with Officer Wilson.  I'm on the opposite side of the majority of my audience here.  The story sounds flaky as hell.  The shooting might have been justified, we'll never really know, but his telling of events is just off as fuck.

But ignoring all of that.

This should catch everyone's attention and the focus should shift to national security and the vulnerability of today's youth to glom onto whatever the hot thing is...and ISIS' ability to tailor their message to appeal to them.  Check this out from the Daily Mail...

The note Hussain posted on Twitter today is titled 'From #IS 2 Ferguson' and contains a promise to send militants to the Missouri city if protesters pledge allegiance to ISIS.

It reads: 'We hear you and we will help you if you accept Islam and reject corrupt man-made laws like democracy and pledge your allegiance to Caliph Abu Bakr and then we will shed our blood for you and send our soldiers that don't sleep, whose drink is blood, and their play is carnage.'
Underneath the picture Hussain tweeted: 'Accept Islam & give bayah [allegiance] to Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi & then we will send u soldiers that don't sleep! - #IS #Ferguson'.
The note was accompanied by a photograph of a number of masked young men posing with assault rifles and mobile phone cases bearing the black and white logo of the Islamic State.

It is understood the men in the photograph are militants based in ISIS-held areas of Syria and Iraq, and that one of the men is 20-year-old Hussain.
Another militant, who uses the Twitter handle @Abu 3antar Britani and is also thought to be British, tweeted: 'From #IS to #Ferguson we heard your call and we are ready to respond! #FergusonDecision #BeLikeMalcolmX #FightBack'.

You can ignore the implications if you like but I hope security professionals aren't.

Juvenile unemployment is high.

Black and Hispanic youth unemployment is in the stratosphere.

The Islamic State has a tailor made audience for their message, these people feel alienated from society, have high energy and like all young men are looking for a cause to believe in AND fight for.

Is Call of Duty Advanced Warfare on to something? Are PMC's the future?

Call of Duty Advanced Warfare.

If you visit my blog regularly, then you know I went high and to the right by the depiction of a military funeral in the game.

A buddy of mine loves it and told me that I should give it a chance.  I told him nothing doing.  Alright he said, then at least check out the story line via one of at least a dozen cut scene vids that have been put up.

I did.

I was shocked.

For a variety of reasons I can see the US becoming more and more hesitant to put boots on the ground.  Additionally I can see more and more out cry from allied governments for US assistance.

Private Military Contractors can fill the void.

The big kicker is a bit simpler though.  High intensity nation state combat is rare.  Even regional conflicts are fewer.  What is on the rise is bush wars.

The US and its allies are ill equipped to deal with those.  Oh and for the SOCOM fanboys out there that will say that its their specialty I beg to differ.  SOCOM has been bitten by the bureaucracy bug.  The days of SOCOM living in austere conditions, doing missions with minimal foot print is over.  They have become another service with all the bells and whistles that come with it.

The more I think about it the more I think PMC's are the future of warfare.

SAUR 2 8x8 APC.

Note:  Defense News has an article up discussing Romanian plans to invite private investors into their defense industry.  Read the story here.  What caught my attention was a pic of the Saur 2 8x8.  If nothing else its an interesting vehicle.  Romanian Defense Industry Website.

RAF CH-47 Wokka's & G-Shock Watches...

G-Shock teamed up with RAF CH-47 crews and put out a pretty nice propaganda piece.  The purpose?  To sell a watch.  Check it out here.  Side-note.  Its a pretty nice watch!

Chinese building an island. What is it for?

Thanks for the link James.

via Janes.

IHS Jane's previously reported on China's reclamation project in the Spratlys and noted that until recently Fiery Cross appeared to be acting as a staging post for other island building projects. Given its status as the largest PLAN facility in the Spratlys, this seemed to be an anomaly, something that the 14 November imagery has now corrected.
China has been at a distinct disadvantage compared with other claimants in the Spratly Islands as it is the only claimant not to occupy an island with an airfield. Taiwan has Itu Aba (Taiping) island, the Philippines has Pagasa island, Malaysia has Swallow Reef (a reef on which it reclaimed land and built an airstrip), and Vietnam has Southwest Cay.
The work at Fiery Cross thus brings parity but is likely to cause alarm among the other claimants. China has previously shown it is willing to spend blood and treasure to assert its territorial claims in this region. Given its massive military advantage over the other claimants in terms of quantity and quality of materiel, this facility appears purpose-built to coerce other claimants into relinquishing their claims and possessions, or at least provide China with a much stronger negotiating position if talks over the dispute were ever held.

I think Janes is wrong in their analysis.

China doesn't need to occupy an island to bolster its claim!  Its the 500 pound beast in the room and what it says gets attention.  They don't need an island to do that.

So what is it for?

I believe its a revival of the US WW2 tactics.  This is simply a forward re-fueling and re-arming post....possibly for strike fighters (J-20) and as a staging point for amphibious assaults.  Why build a sea base that can be sunk when you can simply use an island as your transfer point?

I don't see this as a threat but it should be watched.  This one island (if I'm correct) could give us insight into how the Chinese want to fight us...and if it does turn out to be an important hub then mines and runway cratering bombs can knock it out in short order.

Coconut Crabs...meet another Pacific nightmare...

 Read the story here...call me a scary little girl if you like but freaking insects the size of small dogs creep me the fuck out!  This shit is insane!