Griffin B is forward fired from the V-22.

Press release from Raytheon.

TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Bell Helicopter completed two successful launches of the Griffin B missile from a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey multi-mission aircraft at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. As an industry funded effort with Bell's Xworx, Raytheon demonstrated the simplicity of integrating the Griffin B missile onto the V-22 platform.
"This is the first time a forward-firing missile has been launched from the V-22," said Mike Jarrett, vice president of Raytheon's Air Warfare Systems. "It's an important aspect of the V-22's capability that integrates a simple to operate, low-cost, precision strike missile – something in which the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command has shown significant interest."

Bell flight test crews launched two Griffin B missiles, scoring direct hits from both hover mode and during conversion mode at 110 knots. The results highlight the Griffin B's versatility with its unique ability to engage static and moving targets through a significant range of launch speeds. The Griffin B missile has a significant off-axis launch capability, allowing aircrews to precisely strike targets to the left or right of the aircraft flight path.
"The results of this test show how the defense industry can partner to quickly put a new, needed capability in the hands of frontline operators," said Jarrett. "Griffin B's successful shots from the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey demonstrate that the missile is flexible and able to integrate on a variety of platforms."

Interesting.  But I have to ask.  The Griffin is "lightly" used by US forces.  I wonder why they didn't move to the Hellfire first?  Is their a weight limit that is placed on the pylon?

Additionally I wonder why they aren't trying to place some type of podded gun in that position?  That would seem a no-brainer.

Revolution in Russia?

Monitoring CNBC with one ear and I heard the craziest speculation I've heard in a long time.

The talking heads were actually debating the possibility of a revolution in Russia!

That's goofy in a handbag...but it points to something serious.  Russia is in trouble.

My take?

Russia will muddle along with Putin in charge.  Its noteworthy that the SecState had good things to say about Russian activity.  The door is being opened to ease the sanctions.  It will be truly ironic if historians put two and two together and blame the Obama administration for an economic crisis in Europe because he pushed the passive-aggressive stance of pushing sanctions which are crippling the continent.

Oil hasn't found a bottom and people are desperately trying to set one.  Many will take a blood bath for not reading the tea leaves properly.  But the biggest news will be the stronger dollar.  By accident the economy is reverting back to consumer based metrics.

UPDATE:  As I'm typing this the market has gone down again....losing 180 pts in the matter of the news show I'm watching!  Putin is giving a speech so I'm off to CNN.  More to come.  The market is fun to watch from the sidelines.

Rubber Band Tracks...

The above photo is from Diehl Defense.  Check out this tidbit from their website...

The so-called segmented rubber band track 325B represents an innovation on the market of rubber band tracks. Diehl rubber band tracks are provided with separation points so they can be disassembled into four manageable segments. Thus, assembly on the vehicle as well as transportation and storage are facilitated considerably.
The new rubber band tracks can even be replaced in the field under operational conditions in a fraction of the time previously required. Furthermore, individual replacement segments can be transported on the vehicle so that vehicle mobility can rapidly be restored in case tracks are damaged. A new design of the main structure as well as the robust, high-traction rubber profile guarantee high service life in all climate zones and in various terrains.
The rubber band tracks' torsion stability, lateral force bearing capacity and lateral grip are outstanding features far outperforming conventional tracks under peak load conditions.

Looks like Diehl cracked the code when it comes to rubber tracks.

I don't know why but manufacturers have been closed mouth on how the tracks perform....we've all heard that they make tracked vehicles zoom, they're lighter and that they cut down on noise...but how do you replace the darn things.

This clears things up nicely.  I'd still like to see a demonstration or vid of them being placed on a vehicle though.

Experimental Typhoon Fitted With RAF's Latest Weapons

New J-31 pics via Chinese Military Review Blog...

When the J-31 first came out I was pissed.  It was obviously an improved F-35.  What Bill Sweetman had to say pissed me off even more.

"You're looking at what the F-35 could have been...twin engines, larger bay, faster, longer ranged and a real dog fighter..."

Now looking back.

Damn it!  He was right.  The J-31 is a copy.  But its an improved copy of what we should have built....

F-35 News. Can you say pilot overload?

The effort to sell the F-35 as being the ultimate solution to all airpower needs continues.  Check this out from AOL Defense.

“I can see a scenario where you’ve got an F-35 orchestrating an attack with 20 RPAs [remotely-piloted aircraft] that are weapons-equipped and that F-35, with all its sensors and communications, is essentially an orchestrator,” she says.

One pilot, in one airplane, is going to be able to "orchestrate an attack" with up to 20 drones?

Can you say pilot overload?

This sounds like an AWACs mission that they're trying to push down to a single seat platform.

It smacks of desperation....and lunacy.

The death spiral is here and the comments by officials are only confirming the sweat flop that coming from Lockheed Martin, the program office, the USMC and USAF.

When does a "lone wolf" become an ISIS operative?

The parsing is becoming annoying when it comes to terrorist acts by ISIS members in the West.

Which leads to the question.  When does a lone wolf become an ISIS operative?  When does a disenfranchised person, who is acting on behalf of ISIS, become an ISIS operative?

We saw the events in Canada.  What was the take by the talking heads?  The people committing the horrendous acts weren't ISIS, just lone gunmen acting on behalf of ISIS.  We're seeing the same dynamic play out in Australia.

But consider.  We have a lunatic from Iran that is taking up the ISIS banner, while at the same time ISIS is beheading members of his religious sect!

Isn't it time to simply call these people what they are?  If they claim ISIS then we should consider them ISIS.

Which brings up the next issue.

Do you remember...the beheading in Oklahoma, the hatchet attack in New York, the assault in Canada, the mass killing at Ft Hood...we're seeing not a spat of lone wolves but a new form of terrorism.

I will conceal carry everywhere, everyday.  Whether its allowed by law or not.

Australia on fire....

ISIS struck in Canada, now Australia, and something funky is going on in Belgium.  Political Correctness will not do.  Islam is at war against the West.  Moderate Muslims are doing nothing to reign in these wild dogs.  Its time to look the threat in the eye and shoot him in the face.  Rant over.

Does the USMC need fast jets or can attack helicopters do the job?

The discussion continues.

The question.  Does the USMC need fast jets?

I truly believe that the only reason why fast jets are seriously being questioned when it comes to the Marine Corps is because of the F-35.

Before the F-35 came along the world was happy to have the Marine Corps with fast jets.  Again that had to do with cost.  We flew airplanes long after the US Navy had retired similar models (the A-4 Sky Hawk and the A-6/EA-6) are the best modern day examples of this.

In the past, Marine Air was entirely affordable.  But again, because of the F-35 we see critics taking a disturbing, yet logical look at Marine Air.  Trons Away (a reader of my blog) makes the case....

Prior to the Harrier, the Marines flew aircraft already in service with other branches - primarily the Navy. The Harrier set the precedent for USMC unique aircraft procurement. That trend has continued; the Marines will be the sole or primary operator of nearly all the type/model/series in the future Marine Air Wing. Lack of economies of scale in procurement and maintenance drive costs up. CH-53K and MV-22 both cost twice as much as CH-47, more than a Super Hornet, UH-1Y costs more than MH-60S.
The STOVL capability has rarely been used operationally. Consider that Al Asad and Bastion were both 10,000+ foot runways. I understand the need for STOL capabilities, but you already have it - expeditionary airfields with cats and arresting gear that can launch and recover fully loaded carrier aircraft in very short distances.
Without Harrier, you don't have organic fixed wing support from the amphibs, but despite what some in the Corps preach, a major opposed amphibious assault will be a Joint sequential operation with all services providing capabilities.

I'm a bit befuddled by the whole thing.

There was a time when I would have shot it down out of reflex.  Damn your talking points, we're right---we need them---you're wrong.  Times have changed and I find my defense of the F-35 non-existent and I'm beginning to waiver on STOVL.

Why?  Because I did a short review of Marine History.

Do you know how many independent operations that MEU's have taken part in where the only option was the airplanes on deck to provide air support for Marine ground?

Zero.  

If I missed one then please let me know.  Either US Navy carriers, USAF fighters and bomber, allied aircraft....take your pick, but we had friends in goofy blue uniforms providing support.

So to my Marine brothers I ask a simple question.  Do we need fast jets or should we have Marine Air that is dedicated to providing ground support in the form of AH-1Zs now and a future tilt-rotor gunship later?

The economy..a warning to the wise (This post will not appeal to everyone)...

Thanks to Joe and William for the information...

If you're smart, and if you're into military matters then you need to broaden your horizon and start watching the economy of both friends, enemies and frenemies.

Exhibit Number One.  via Yahoo.com

In a series of TV interviews from party headquarters, Abe said his top priority was the economy. "Economy first," he told national broadcaster NHK, adding that he would also tackle other major issues, including national security.
The U.S. government hopes Abe will be able to win passage of a series of bills needed to expand Japan's military role, so that it can play a bigger part in their alliance. A heated debate is expected when parliament takes up the legislation, likely after local elections in April.

My read on this?   The economy is a worry for the Japanese people.  Its a worry for Americans and Europeans.  The Chinese are concerned and so are the Russians.  With oil hitting new lows on an almost daily basis for the past month, economic factors are not intertwining with economic conditions in ways that we haven't seen since before the 2nd World War.  Keep an eye on the Middle East, Africa, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina etc...

But wait you're thinking.  I've been predicting that globalization would collapse so I should be happy!  Wrong.  The best case scenario would have been a planned unwinding of that bastardized economic house of cards.  Plunging oil prices points to future chaos.  Which leads me to this...

Exhibit Number Two.

The white bars track the us treasury 10 year yield. Notice how we are heading back to the lows of the move from 2012 when the Fed launched QE3 to try to get more inflation in the system. Basically the slowdown in China plus recessions in Japan and Europe are driving the world towards deflation. Scary scenario.

Between the slowdown in the US, China, Europe (with their biggest economy, Germany, in recession), S. Europe (including Italy, Greece, Spain...and perhaps suprisingly France) on the verge of a meltdown, and Russia's economy basically imploding right before our eyes things are heading toward chaos sometime early next year.

I've been chatting with my financial guy.

At first he called me crazy for prepping and thought that I was missing out on a tremendous opportunity by not being in the market now.

Over the course of the year it was a furious debate.  Last week he hit me that we were in the 5th or 6th inning of a bull market.  Toward the end of the week he hit me with the above chart, told me that if my house still had a mortgage that I should ask the broker at what level it makes sense to refinance.  These are the exact words that he left me with....

I've been bullish for a while as you know and am now getting pretty beared up. The fulldeflation scenario is playing out, as shown by the collapsing yield on the 10 year treasury.

What does this have to do with a defense blog?

First its a warning to my readers.  When financial analyst are privately telling relatives and friends that things are about to get shaky then you should pay attention.

But on to the military thing.  I've stated that the F-35 is in a death spiral.  I've predicted that the Marine Corps isn't being honest about the production of the ACV 1.1.

I believe more than ever I'm right.  Additionally I think we're headed toward that nightmare scenario of the US Army going down to 420,000 Soldiers and the USMC hitting 150,000.

Long story short?  We're probably looking at the Great Recession part 2 in March or April....just enough time for all the fat cats to get their money into safety, out of the market and to sell real estate to the pigeons at an inflated price....while getting set up to buy it all back at greatly depressed prices.  You heard it here first.

Meanwhile in Yemen...they're crucifying "alleged" spies for the US. Mildly graphic (bloated dead body shown)

Read the story here.

I didn't comment on the "torture" allegations that had so many in our nations capitol in an uproar for one simple reason.

Torture has been dumbed down.

My fear for America?  We're dealing with barbarity of a type that hasn't been seen on the earth since the Middle Ages.  And we're trying to deal with that barbarity with modern sensibilities.  Military leadership knows better (I hope) yet no one is stating the obvious.  We've got to harden up or else those goat fucking bastards will throat punch us all.

The M551 Sheridan - Armored Reconnaissance Assault Vehicle

Holiday Protein Powder Recipes...

Bodybuilding.com has the cure to keep the holidays from busting your waistline.  Check it out here.  

Yeah World of Tanks...arty isn't broken...

Yeah World of Tanks.

Arty isn't broken, your game isn't hopelessly imbalanced and all is well in the world.

I guess I got in at the tail end of what was a good game. Next move?  Armored Warfare?  They don't listen to the complaints of American players and the Russians seem happy.  So maybe a move to AW is the option.  Lets see if WOT gets their heads out of their behinds and fixes this or a move by me and others is inevitable.

The Harrier is where the problem started?

If you've been following the discussion in a couple of the previous posts then the question has been asked.

When did the Marine Corps go off the rails procurement wise and start wanting/developing/breaking the bank buying boutique equipment?  The question is important because it brings us to where we're at today.  The F-35, even if it becomes the war winner that the fanboys tell us it will be, is still damaging our budget and the budget of the entire DoD beyond recognition.

USMC 0802 points to the Harrier.

I was stunned.  The Harrier was a logical extension of the Heli-borne Assault Concept and the evolution of it.  The first Iwo Jima Class LPHs weren't budget busters so how could this be.

After chewing on this a bit it became obvious.  Several issues popped up that conspired to lead to the current imbalance in the Marine Corps.

1.  The US was facing the threat of an extremely aggressive Soviet Union.  Remember we're talking the time period of the 70's and 80's.  The CIA at the time produced a threat assessment and things looked grim.  The Soviets showed signs of having superiority on land, sea and air.  New models of Soviet fighters literally scared the shit out of leadership.

2.  The need to fully utilize Marine Air to help with the sea battle.  The idea of Sea Control Ships...really just using LPH's in a mini-aircraft carrier role by leaving the Infantry and the Helicopters on the beach and filling the decks with Harriers.  They wouldn't be front-line warships but could handle backwater assignments while the big deck carriers and their battle groups fought the Soviet Bear.

3.  Airpower was credited (incorrectly) with winning the first Gulf War.  Marine Air was relegated to supporting Army and Marine forces on the run across the border into Kuwait.  Yeah you had A-6 and F/A-18's flying interdiction missions but my feeling is that many in Marine Air wanted to be part of the deep battle that the USAF and USN was fighting.

4.  Before that we had the failed rescue mission in Iraq.  From this debacle SOCOM was born, Marine Air was found wanting (I dispute that but its the general consensus).  Three RH-53Ds participated in the action and an accident caused the mission to be scrubbed before it could begin in earnest.  From this moment on Marine Air would insist on a helicopter that could travel almost double the distance of the already leggy (for a helicopter) CH-53.  This mission set was totally outside the Marine Corps wheel house but tribal knowledge is long...especially when "glory and honor" aren't brought to the Marine Corps.  If called upon again, the tools would be there no matter the price.

5.  The US Army/Marine Counter Insurgency Field Manual is the final piece of the puzzle.  General Patreus gets most of the attention because of his leadership in Afghanistan.  General Amos was the other piece of the puzzle.  He would rise to the position of Commandant and that would lead to unforeseen circumstances.  I watched with a bit of alarm Senate testimony in which Amos stated that "generational war" was the future of the nation.  When it came to A2-AD, I was shocked to learn that instead of being joined at the hip, the USMC and USN had differing views on how that threat would be dealt with.  The HQMC indicated that launching amphibious assaults from 65 plus miles from the beach would be necessary.  The Navy CNO was stating that the threat would be "rolled" back.  We have proceeded with Amos' view of the future. The Marine Corps has become biased toward counter insurgency, humanitarian assistance and is faltering when it comes to developing a coherent strategy to deal with a modern battlefield against a peer opponent.

All of the above has led us to a imbalanced force that is biased toward aviation, is shedding ground combat power at an alarming rate and is busting the budget.  It started with the Harrier.  If it stopped there and more modest goals pushed for then we would be in a much better position than we are today.

But we didn't.

So how do we fix this?

It won't be easy, will take a tremendous amount of moral courage and will raise the ire of many.

The answer is simple.  Doctrine before procurement.  Fix doctrine (which is screwed up) and you fix procurement. 

F-35 News. Critics are piling on in Canada...

Check out these tidbits from Canada.com

For one thing, as anyone who has ever bothered to dig just a wee bit past Lockheed-Martin’s branding can attest, the F-35’s vaunted “fifth-generation” stealth capability does after all translate into its being a super-plane, on the order of an X-wing fighter out of Star Wars, with the added feature of a Klingon cloak of invisibility out of Star Trek. And forgive me for mixing universes.
Rather, it is an advanced multi-role fighter with some stealth capability, which is quickly being eroded by global technological advances in radar, and in this respect is not all that unlike the aircraft that are its two main competitors, the Super Hornet and the Rafale. The difference between the players as regards stealth, contrary to much nonsense that has emanated from F-35 boosters over the years, is one of degree, not of kind.

&

It has been speculated in defence circles that the ultimate solution would be Solomonic, or so the proponents of this plan would like to think; a small purchase of F-35s to buy a seat at the Pentagon table, and a larger acquisition of less costly, more workaday craft to do the jobs that form the backbone of the RCAF’s functions.

Read the whole thing here.

The idea of buying a few F-35's and then buying a second modern jet to fulfill the bulk of the work you would need from a fighter force is precisely what is being proposed for the US Navy.

I hadn't heard it even being floated in Canada.

Things are getting bad for F-35 supporters up there.  I personally couldn't be happier.

Sidenote:  Why am I filling the blog with F-35 news?  Simple.  Its the most consequential procurement that our nation has ever made.  Want to know why the US Army is shrinking so much?  Want to know why the USMC is shedding Infantry Battalions, cutting Tanks, shredding and combining support units?  Curious why the USAF is destroying squadrons and the US Navy is laying up serviceable warships?  You can point your finger at the F-35.  The US Defense Dept is cutting everything to protect the airplane.  Its reached a point of where its affecting national security.  Mission first, people always.  Unless you're talking about the F-35.

India takes steps to put a man in space...

Image via "Fuck Yeah Space Ship"

India’s GSLV Mk III rolls to launch pad

India’s new GSLV Mk III rocket rolls to the launch pad yesterday, 10 December 2014, ahead of a suborbital test flight on 18 December. The vehicle is being developed to provide heavy-lift access to space for India’s heaviest payloads, which currently have to fly on Europe’s Ariane V vehicle.

The test flight will analyze the new rocket’s performance in the atmosphere. A cryogenic third stage will power the GSLV Mk III on operational flights, however on this test the stage has not been included.

The sole payload for the test mission will be a boilerplate version of India’s crew vehicle. Capsule safety during reentry and recovery operations are the primary goals of flying the test spacecraft on the booster’s maiden flight.

GSLV Mk III is an improvement on India’s GSLV series, which is the country’s main booster for lofting payloads into geosynchronous transfer orbits. It features two strap on solid fuel rockets, a liquid fueled core stage and a cryogenic third stage.

The GSLV Mk III is the largest rocket ever developed by India. Once operational, it will be one of only four heavy-lift rockets in the world, which include America’s Delta IV Heavy, Europe’s Ariane V, and Russia’s Angara. Angara is scheduled to complete its maiden flight test by the end of 2014 as well.

Launch is scheduled for 18 December from the Satish Dahwan Space Center near Sriharikota, India.

Once heavy lift capability is achieved the next step is usually manned space flight.  I always bet that either India or Brazil would be the next nation to independently put a man in orbit but Brazil's program seems to have waned while India's is full speed ahead.

Good for them.

BTR-MD Rakushka (Shell) in use by Russian Airborne Forces...

This is the "other" Russian armored airborne vehicle that is often overlooked by might prove to be even more important than their infantry fighting vehicle.

Once again another nation is doing something that we've only talked about.  While our Army toils mightily to put into service an airborne personnel carrier (unarmored at that), we look up and see the Russians putting into service both a dedicated IFV and APC...not to mention other armored vehicles to give their Airborned forces mobility and striking power away from the drop zone.

I'll sit back and let the Soldier boys punch walls on this one.

Joint Forcible Entry Exercise 14B

A C-17 Globemaster III takes off from a degraded airfield Dec. 6, 2014, during the U.S. Air Force Weapons School's Joint Forcible Entry Exercise 14B at the Nevada Test and Training Range. JFEX exercises participants' ability to synchronize aircraft movements from geographically separated bases, command large formations of dissimilar aircraft in high-threat airspace, and tactically deliver and recover combat forces via air drops and combat landings on an unimproved landing strip. The C-17 is assigned to March Air Reserve Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Kleinholz/Released)

Well this is a capability you don't see everyday.  If the USAF gets serious about this...and if they can include not only the US Army but also the Marine Corps in this planning/exercise then we'll be well on our way to rebuilding our Rapid Deployment Forces again.

An awesome sidenote is that this takes away a huge selling point for the A400M.  You won't use either airplane on dirt strips very often but its nice to show that for about the same cost as the turbo prop driven airplane you can get the strategic reach and lift of the C-17.

LCS News. A turd is still a turd...even if you stick a few more missiles on it....

Even with the upgrade its still a poorly armed ship. Consider. The long retired Pegasus hydrofoil patrol boats and World War 2 US PT boats were both more heavily armed than this piece of Shiite.
Check out this tidbit from Navy Matters...

In addition, all the fundamental flaws that made the LCS such a poor design still remain. The ship has weight and stability issues, lack of compartmentation, structural weaknesses, excessive vibration at speed, weak flight decks, poor seakeeping by both versions, insufficient stores, inadequate range, poor endurance, sub-standard survivability (though some additional shrapnel protection will be added), etc.

Read the whole thing here.

That about sums it up.  Protecting manufacturing is more important than acquiring a capable warship.  I'd like to be surprised but I'm not.  Even sadder?  It would be so easy to do this right but for some reason they insist on sticking with this substandard, and poorly conceived naval vessel.

A turd is still a turd.....even if you stick a few more missiles on it.