Wednesday, April 01, 2015
5.11 Tactical Hardcase...
5.11 is good.
They always do these tease/April Fool's releases on today just to stir the pot. It gets interest up, makes for GREAT word of mouth and then the masses go crazy to get this piece of kit.
Jade Helm 15 briefing to local officials...
Some of these guys might cross the wrong bubba's back 40 and end up in a firefight.
I don't think the Pentagon understands rural America anymore...once they did but they've all gone MetroSexual.
ACV News. Quietly, without fanfare, the Request For Proposal is out...
via FBO.gov
:Read it all here (the number of attachments is mind boggling--its gonna take awhile).
M67854-15-R-0001
:
Modification/Amendment
:
Added: Mar 20, 2015 12:24 pm--------------------------------------------
Program Executive Officer Land Systems (PEO LS/PM AAA) is releasing the thirddraft Request for Proposal (RFP) M67854-15-R-0001 for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) 1.1 requirement. This third draft RFP is associated with the ACV 1.1 Request for Information (RFI) M67854-14-I-0013. Please see the cover letter for instructions.
The Marine Corps has quietly and without fanfare moved the program along. 45 days to respond? That's REALLY short fused for a project this size!
This is where it gets interesting though. I've heard all kinds of rumors...from partnerships dissolving and unlikely corporations building there own vehicle to submit...to levels of corporate espionage that would make the Chinese blush with envy.
I do make this prediction. I think we're gonna see more than the SAIC Terrex 2, Lockheed Martin Havoc, BAE SuperAV and whatever General Dynamics names their beast in this competition.
IF this program survives the budget trainwreck the Marine Corps is facing then we just might get a a worthy replacement to the damn near legendary AAV.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
A new Stryker variant?
Photos from Militaryphotos.net. The person posting these pics states that an unknown Army Officer stated that its an Electronic Warfare and Command vehicle. I personally have no idea but everyone is focused on the aerials, what appears to be SATCOM devices and jammers.
Of course this could be just another vehicle and nothing special.
Of course this could be just another vehicle and nothing special.
US Infantry. From closing with and destroying the enemy to calling for fire.
via Defense 24.
Advanced defense projects agency DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) revealed that Americans are getting closer to the inclusion of soldiers operating in the land to a computer network, together with aircraft, vehicles, artillery systems, and even ships.Yeah.
As it turns out the first effects sieciocentryczności programs are in place and are tested in combat. Disclosed, inter alia, that during action in Libya sent the Marines there in minicomputers used the GPS with a special electronic map, a small application KILSWITCH (Kinetic Software Integration Lightweight Individual Combat Tactical Handheld). This software allowed them under fire for easy determination indicating the targets and locate your nearest fire systems and sub-units.
Now I get it.
This is the tremendous firepower that General Mullen was referring to when he said that the combat power of the Marine Rifle Company today far outstripped that of the past.
Note: I did a comparison of a Vietnam era rifle company's T/O&E versus what we have today. Organically the Vietnam era unit had more firepower (Quite honestly with certain procurement decisions it can be said that the ORGANIC firepower of the Rifle Company and its ability to put weight of fire on a particular target has been going down steadily since the '80s).
So how are they going to accomplish this? Cooperative Engagement Capability. The work behind the scenes with the air war by means of the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) gets all the press but something similar is being done with providing fire for ground forces.
US Infantry is evolving. We're moving from "closing with and destroying the enemy" to simply calling for fire. How long before this is seen as an evolutionary dead end though? I don't think this will work in an urban area. I don't think it will work in the jungle. In the desert? AWESOME! But there is a whole lot more world out there than just the deserts.
NOTE 1: Why does it seem like DARPA is simply taking ideas that are already in progress and simply attempting to leapfrog them forward? That's not DARPA hard...speeding evolution maybe but not advancing the art beyond what would occur naturally.
Monday, March 30, 2015
KAI wins S. Korean fighter project by default...
A twin engine F-35 that does away with sensor fusion and the other idiocy plaguing our program?
Smart. They're getting a detuned jet that will probably run circles around our own..via ALert 5, read about it here.
Military Light Patrol/Mobility/Recon/Utility Vehicles. Do they have a combat role?
This subject came up with the discussion in the post that I made on the Poles putting into service a new light recon vehicle. They aren't being held up by ridicule by me though because this trend is worldwide. The USMC has been on the bandwagon for decades (the latest vehicle you can see below) and the 82nd Airborne has decided on using SOCOM's ride as a stop gap (above).
The question though is ... are they worth it? Not the fun factor. Oh God! ATVs are fun! Are they suitable combat vehicles? On that point I wonder.
The idea is simple. Transport a small unit undetected to a drop off point. Once on the ground these light vehicles are suppose to provide the mobility necessary to get the job done and once completed move the unit to a pick up point.
Cool.
But I remember the Ukrainian Lieutenant that described his unit being surrounded and having to make his way back to friendly lines. Nothing unusual there. Its a constant in Military History. What made it notable to me is that he described dodging enemy patrols, checkpoints, roaming armored fighting vehicles AND uavs.
Small units, in light vehicles...no armor to speak of...and depending on mobility and firepower to carry the day.
I just don't buy it.
About Jade Helm 15...
American Mercenary could be right. I don't have the experience to make an informed decision (although the bastard is twisted to think that I have to have experience planning large scale exercises to be able to have an opinion on whether a training event needs to be conducted in civilian space when the US military has millions of acres of land to operate on).
One thing these apologists, staff weenies, SOCOM worshippers and fellow travelers all have in common is one thing.
They can't answer a simple question. Why is it essential for these forces to operate in US cities? We've seen an increase in this and no one can explain what benefit training in a US city brings when it comes to operating overseas.
The US is distinct. Its different. Even European cities are totally different from our own. British cities are different and they speak the same language. SO how can training in a US city prepare a team to operate in Kabul, Istanbul, Shanghai, or another foreign area?
People like American Mercenary can spin this all they want but until they answer why its necessary then many will look upon it with suspicious eyes.
The government is here to help? Bullshit.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, fire their M203 and M32 grenade launchers
 |
| Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, fire their M203 and M32 grenade launchers with non-lethal rounds down range during a riot control exercise aboardCamp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 24, 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kaitlyn Klein/Released) |
Sunday Reading. ADRP 3-05 Army Special Operations Forces...
Of note...
The mission or tasks must be operationally feasible. ARSOF are not structured for attrition or force-on-force warfare and should not be assigned missions beyond their capabilities. ARSOF commanders and their staffs must consider the vulnerability of ARSOF units to larger, more heavily armed or mobile forces, particularly in hostile territory.The wording here is annoying. The US military as a whole is not designed for force-on-force or attrition warfare!
Does anyone seriously believe that we have enough forces in the air, on land or at sea to fight that way today? Of bigger concern should be the integration of Special Ops into conventional forces. You're seeing an evolution toward SOCOM missions instead of the core conventional force sets. The vulnerability that is inherent to SOCOM units will become inherent to all US ground forces unless this trend is reversed.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Jade Helm 15 military exercise including USMC MEU, 82nd Airborne and SOCOM has the prepper community going mad!
via Modern Survival Blog.
The upcoming “Jade Helm 15 – Master the Human Domain” ‘domestic’ military drill has created a storm of controversy all over the internet, and for good reason. There are LOTS of questions surrounding the motives and details of the exercise which is doing more than just raising a few eyebrows.Read it all here.
Operation Jade Helm 15 will commence July-15 (until September-15) in the American southwest (as in, all of it) (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado) and is a ‘domestic’ military training exercise which some say may violate the Posse Comitatus Act (while others say it technically does not).
The ‘drill’ apparently has the military working in acceptance of, or some cooperation with, state-county-local domestic law enforcement agencies and will include Special Operations Command, the special forces of the military services, the 82nd Airborne, elements of Marine Expeditionary Unit(s), and interagency partners, which refers to other departments and agencies of the federal government, including – reportedly – the FBI and DEA.
Wow.
I don't know what to think. I do know that every major Army and Marine base has a combat town or two.
I also know that role players can be brought in to simulate whatever training needs to be done without going into downtown Los Angeles (as they've done in the past) or any other major US city (or minor one for that matter).
My opinion?
This is bad. Military leadership seems like its lost touch with middle America. While they still have many fans...they also have their detractors. Additionally they're becoming viewed in the same way law enforcement is. Not as defenders but as oppressors (not how I view the military...just the messenger on this...read the comments over at Modern Survival Blog).
This exercise will not help that.
16 Air Assault Brigade Pathfinders and 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct ATV training....
 |
| Joint mobility training between the 16 Air Assault Brigade Pathfinders and 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Green Berets rolls through Uwharrie National Forest March 26-27, 2015. The two forces continue training together for the 82nd Airborne Division CJOAX in April. 3rd Special Forces Group Green Berets routinely train with their conventional and allied nation counterparts and recognize the importance of maintaining these crucial relationships. |
Polish Armed Forces Acquire Long Range Reconnaissance Vehicles
via Defense24...
The Armament Inspectorate has started a procedure, aim of which is to acquire long range reconnaissance vehicles for the Armed Forces. The programme is known under the name of “Żmija” (Polish for “Viper”).Read it all here.
Aim of the procedure is to procure 118 “Żmija” long range reconnaissance vehicles within the period between 2016 and 2022. The new vehicles are going to have a dry weight of less than 1700 kg, and maximum permissible weight which is not to exceed 2600 kg.
According to the information provided by the Armament Inspectorate, the “Żmija” vehicles, with a 4x4 drive-train, are to be capable of transporting 3 persons (driver, commander and gunner), along with the relevant armament and cargo, mass of which is not to be lower than 900 kilograms. This would make it possible to conduct 7-day long reconnaissance operations.
I wonder why everyone is getting these ultra light combat vehicles. One wrong turn, one proper ambush, one bad driver and you have casualties galore.
The theory is sound. I would bet body parts that the first combat experience will be terrible.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)