This is our policy? Iranian forces enter the fight to retake Ramadi?

via WSLS

WASHINGTON (AP) - Iran has entered the fight to retake a major Iraqi oil refinery from Islamic State militants, contributing small numbers of troops, including some operating artillery and other heavy weapons in support of advancing Iraqi ground forces, U.S. defense officials said Friday.
Two U.S. defense officials said Iranian forces have taken a significant offensive role in the Beiji operation in recent days, in conjunction with Iraqi Shiite militia. The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
One official said Iranians are operating artillery, 122mm rocket systems and surveillance and reconnaissance drones to help the Iraqi counteroffensive.
The Iranian role was not mentioned in a new U.S. military statement asserting that Iraqi security forces, with U.S. help, had managed to establish a land route into the Beiji refinery compound. The statement Friday by the U.S. military headquarters in Kuwait said Iraqis have begun reinforcing and resupplying forces isolated inside the refinery compound.

Read it all here. 

Really?  Seriously?  I'm sitting here shocked and stunned.  US policy is as batshit crazy as the Bikers in the Waco, TX shootout.

Dmitry Tymchuk says Rebels are advancing in Eastern Ukraine....

via Kyiv Post.

The activity of Russian-terrorist troops is moving from Donetsktowards Artemivsk. The positions of Ukrainian troops were shelled practically along the entire line of contact in this area – from Horlivka to Donetske. The activity of local terrorist gangs and Russian mercenaries has been observed near Mayorska station, the the settlements ofShumy, Artemove, Leninske, Kirove, Luhanske,Rozsadky, Myronivskyi,Popasna, Katerynivka, Zolote, where the positions and strongholds of Ukrainian troops were shelled.
On the Pisky–Avdiivka stretch, the enemy used small arms and artillery (122- and 152-mm caliber), mortars (120- and 82-mm caliber) throughout the day. The positions of Ukrainian troops were also shelled in the vicinity of Opytne andVodyane. The intensity and scope of attacks have increased in these areas.
The enemy has also mobilized several infantry firing teams within the past 24 hours nearKirove, Leninske, and Shumy to strike the positions of Ukrainian troops from AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns, and 82-mm mortars. Well-established and coordinated interaction between the cannon artillery and mortar units of the insurgents operating in these areas indicates the presence of a single command structure.

If Ukraine is an example of the type of wars we'll fight in the future, then we really need to get our artillery house in order.

S-97 flies...(hi rez pics)

Upgraded BTR-82 on exercise. via English Russia.

More pics here...

The Pentagon. Gearing up for the wrong fights.

Mega Cities with bordering slums just as large.

This is one of those fights that the Pentagon is ignoring while it claws its way into the future.  Do yourself a favor and look at large cities in S. America, Central America, the Pacific and Africa.

They all have the same features (I'm generalizing)....a nice city center that is cosmopolitan and has modern features.  An outer ring that is a mix of commerce, industrialization and housing and then even further out crushing slums.

The Army is talking about "Human Terrain"?  This is where that fight will take place.  Not in the shining city centers that mirror US cities.  Its going to be in those nasty, filthy slums where disease is rampant, feces mixes with drinking water and the houses are on top of each other.

You could send a USMC Battalion (Reinforced) into that hell and it would get swallowed up.  The kind of fight I'm predicting would make Fallujah look like a picnic....and that's before we start talking about terrain features.

Are we talking about ghettos built on hillsides?  Is it by a river?  The issues compound depending on the part of the world you're operating in.

Additionally we can pretty much predict that rules of engagement will limit the efficiency of airpower to assist in the assault.  The same applies to artillery or naval guns.

This is just one of the possible future scenarios that is being ignored by military planners.  Fighting in the Middle East is easy compared to what's waiting.  We cannot afford to gear ourselves to perpetual fights in that region.  If we do then we're guaranteeing our future defeat.

Police are being targeted. Is this the slow motion societal collapse?

Something is going on in this country.

I keep up with quite a few things.  I watch military matters (of course), but also keep an eye on the market, and have a view on law enforcement.

Unless I'm mistaken, we're seeing a pretty dramatic increase in the number of deadly assaults on law enforcement.  What should make the average citizen sit up and take notice is this.  If criminals have gone from running from police, past simply confronting and getting in fist fights with them, to now full fledged shootouts and ambushes then what is the average joe in for from the beasts?

American Mercenary will call me tinfoil hat-ish for thinking that this is another data point in my theory that we're seeing a slow motion societal collapse but I don't think so.

Oh and consider this.  From talking to my buds in law enforcement they always point to the summer months as the time for most violence.  It ain't summer yet and the country is boiling.  August will be interesting.

SAAB reveals a Stealth Fast Attack Craft at IMDEX Asia...

via SAAB press release.

Saab, in partnership with Indonesia’s ship building company PT Lundin, creates a turnkey high-speed multi-role missile ship that can dominate the littorals while still being affordable to procure and operate.
Result of a collaborative joint venture between Saab and its Indonesian partner PT Lundin, Stealth Fast Attack Craft (FAC) is a high-speed multi-role missile ship that combines innovative hull design and construction with Saab’s renowned 9LV Combat Management System and Fire Control System technology.
Ideal for the littorals and “brown water” operations, the ship is 63 meters long with a draft of only 1.2 meters. The low weight due to composite construction makes it cruise leisurely even in rough sea conditions. The stability and the high mounted sensor suite gives this FAC a sensor range comparable to a frigate, making this vessel ideal to detect and counteract smuggling, piracy and terrorist threats. The vessel also comes with an 11m long, high-speed rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) that can be used for Special Forces operations.
The Saab combat system solution comprises of the 9LV CMS & FCS, the brand new Sea Giraffe 1X surveillance radar, the long range Anti-Ship Missile RBS15 Mk3, the Radar ESM (SME 150), the Ceros 200 fire control director and the Bofors 40Mk4 Naval Gun with full CIWS capability through its 3P Programmable Ammunition.
“The solution is the outcome of a partnership agreement between Indonesia and Saab. The partnership will allow for extensive technology transfer and industrial cooperation. When it comes to stealthy littoral combat ships, Sweden and Saab has more than 25 years of experience in designing, building and operating composite stealth ships. Stealth FAC, the newest Saab offering, possesses combat capabilities similar to the tried and tested Visby Class Corvette that is currently in operation with the Swedish Navy.” says Dan Enstedt, President & CEO, Saab Asia Pacific.
The Stealth FAC is designed to optimize life cycle cost. Support and service will be offered locally throughout its entire lifetime. The Stealth FAC is uniquely affordable to procure and operate.

Hmm.  Isn't this just another copy of the Indonesian ship that burned up awhile ago?

China is claiming air superiority by 2025

via Want China Times.

After the final version of the plane is fixed and undergoes test-flights, manufacturing can begin, which means the J-20 will be deployed by 2017 at the earliest and by 2019 at the latest.If the J-20 is manufactured at the rate of one regiment per year, then by 2025, 5-7 regiments will be equipped, with around 120-170 planes, which makes up around two air force divisions. The US only has 187 F-22 fighters. With China's J-20 fighters in development, as well as the sheer numbers of third-generation fighters, forming its main strategic combat force, along with early warning aircraft, electromagnetic interference systems and airborne warning and control systems, China will have a clear advantage over Japan in any potential air battle. If the J-20 is equipped with China's fourth generation active electronically scanned array radar, and this equals the APG-77 with which the F-22 is equipped, the aircraft will be able to detect an F-35A head on at a distance of 50 km, whereas a F-35A will only be able to detect a J-20 head on at a distance of 20-40 km, giving the J-20 the advantage. The J-20 has similar capabilities to the F-22, including supercruise, electronic countermeasures (ECM) and supermaneuverability, giving it an advantage over the F-35A under all battle conditions.

The bet that is being placed on the F-35 defies all logic.  Unless those "top secret" specs are world beating in every way, we're giving the Pacific to the Chinese on a silver platter.

They're drinking our milkshake and we're holding the straw and waiting with a napkin so they can wipe their lips. 

Iveco/Oto Melara Centauro 2?

Via Defesanet.

The first prototype of the new CENTAURO 2 8x8 armoured anti-tank wheeled vehicle is ready and has been shown for the first time to Gen. Claudio Graziano, Italy’s Defence Chief of Staff and the Army’s former Chief of Staff.
The new vehicle has a maximum gross weight of around 30-35 tons and is powered with a 720 HP turbodiesel engine for a high power-to-weight ratio. This, together with the new transmission and power-train, will give it robust off-road performances.
Additionally, the CENTAURO 2 has shown during recent tests an extraordinary level of protection against mines and IED thanks to the newly designed chassis. The firepower will be similar to that of an MBT thanks to the evolution of the Oto Melara HITFACT turret armed with a 120/45 mm smoothbore gun (compatible with the 120 mm ammunition NATO standard).

Wow.

The Italians appear to be inching ever closer to an all wheeled force.  The sticking points are in the heavy armor (tanks) and heavy artillery realms...and they appear ready to bust down the door on those two items.

Will it work though?

Do the benefits exceed the negatives?

I guess we'll all know soon enough.

BMD-4M at work...pics via Russian Military Technology Facebook Page.

Open Thread....Why has the F-35's capabilities moved into the ether?

When we talk about the F-22, we talk about capabilities that are measurable.  It flies high, is fast and has super maneuverability.  Same with the Typhoon.  Same with the SU-30 family.

With foreign 5th gen fighters we're looking at the same.  The Chinese are claiming that the J-20 will supercruise, fly high, have super maneuverability, limited stealth and sensor fusion.  Ditto with the PAK-FA.

But the F-35 is different.

No one talks about super maneuverability.  Not a word about supercruise.  Nothing about anything that is readily measurable.

Instead the focus is on things that aren't quantifiable.

The talk is about "shaping", using the airplane as a "sensor node", but not one word about fighting other aircraft or how it will put steel on target to support troops on the ground.

Until the Pentagon is able to tell us how this airplane will do the job better than legacy fighters they will remain under the gun and subject to ridicule.  Critics don't have an F-35 problem....its supporters do.

Light vehicle craze sweeps the Pentagon...

Thanks to Jonathan for the link.

via DefenseNews.

"By nature, when you're conducting combat search-and-rescue, you're not in a permissive environment," Reedy said. "You don't always have the ability to land an aircraft right by what you're going to do. Having a vehicle with some range and off-road mobility gives you that capability to do an off-set insertion and move to the objective without risking something catastrophic, an aircraft being shot down."

Read the entire story here.

I highlighted this portion of the story to point out a problem I see in the Pentagon.

They're making this shit up on the fly and have no real plan.  I mean seriously are they just sitting in classrooms, visiting Think Tanks and pulling nonsense out of their asses?

In this case they're talking about a non-permissive environment and they're going to go in by LIGHT vehicle, I'm assuming a small team, and successfully rescue a pilot?

Really?

Seriously?

The ENTIRE DoD needs to take a deep breath, wargame this stuff honestly (no set outcomes...I've seen that crap before) and see if these concepts work.  The USMC is going all in on Company Landing Teams and I have heard of no REAL testing of it.  They haven't sent it to 29 Palms or NTC to work it against a fictional opponent.

Doctrine first.  Procurement second.

These guys are stumbling in the dark.  Change for change sake seems to be their new God...being more effective on the battlefield is just a memory.

J-20 an aircraft carrier killer?

via Defense Talk.

An online report from Russia indicated that the maiden flight of the first prototype was made in January 2011, that China has already tested the sixth prototype of J-20, and that the J-20 at its initial stage is already an aircraft carrier killer.
According to the report, it takes five to six years for a new fighter to enter service. Therefore, it is very likely that this fighter will be equipped with a full set of avionics and arms in 2017.

Read the whole article here.

They dropped the lead.  It seems that DT focused on the engines and avionics....even when the J-20 would enter service (we'll get back to that in a bit).

But what caught my eye is that the J-20 is being called an aircraft carrier killer.

A long range, semi-stealthy airplane, that flies fast, flies high and mix that with the latest anti-ship missile that the Chinese already have in inventory and it becomes obvious that the US Navy has a problem.

The Chinese are drinking our milkshake and leadership is holding the glass while they do it.

Amphibious Leaders Symposium landing demonstration.... pics by Sgt. Sarah Anderson

Note:  The idea sounds good in the classroom but how well will this "partnership" works in the rivalry filled Pacific is anyone's guess.  Just look at the tension between Japan and S. Korea.  Could we really depend on S. Korea if the disputed islands were taken by the Chinese?  I don't think so.  Regardless.  If this is handled badly then we could find ourselves being dragged into every border dispute, fishing dispute, insurgency, uprising by the people, etc....throughout the region.  I hope they know the "risks".

Police Militarization. They handled the visuals badly...

via OC Register.

President Obama announced Monday a promising new directive that will scale back the transfers of surplus military equipment to local police forces. Given increased police firepower, high-profile cases of police brutality, military-style reactions by local law enforcement to public protests and the distrust all this has engendered in the public that police are supposed to be protecting and serving, we wholeheartedly support this effort.
Under the order, the Pentagon and other federal agencies will be prohibited from providing local police with certain military equipment, including armored vehicles that run on a track system, weaponized aircraft or vehicles, firearms and ammunition of .50-caliber or higher, camouflage uniforms, bayonets and grenade launchers.

I don't know how much the directive ACTUALLY will affect police depts, but one thing is certain.

Law Enforcement handled the visuals of their "militarized" forces badly.

The problem wasn't with the gear.

The problem wasn't with the weapons, the camo...none of that.

The problem was how they were initially used.  When they pulled them out for the Boston Bombing situation, no one batted an eye.  When the biker gangs went batshit crazy in Waco, TX, no one cared (or for that matter noticed) the MRAPs that were on hand.

People didn't like the idea of MRAPs being used against Mom and Pop.  Against citizens for minor infractions.  This one is gonna rile up my readers so here it comes....people were upset when they were on standby during PEACEFUL protests (yeah, there is a difference...when the protests were peaceful people had issues with them...when it went stupid then no one complained).

So what is the lesson for law enforcement when it comes to militarization?  Use the gear to your hearts desire against hardcore criminals.  Leave it at the station when you're going against the average joe on the street.

Warrior Firing Trials

Pics from the fall of Ramadi.

Thanks to info-infantrie for the links...

NOTE:  Many more pics here and here.  I just realized that ISIS has a plan for replenishment of weapons, ammo and vehicles.  Wait till the United States does a emergency resupply....then walk in and take the gear from the Iraqi military.

Aaron at Sage Dynamics nails it with regard to my doubts about the G43..

The talk about magazine capacity has been something I've harped on for a long time.  The ability to engage multiple assailants is a major concern in my mind.

But what has me spinning is the size comparison between the G43 and G26.

You really get no advantage with the G43...and you give up capacity.

Sidenote:  I consider myself a gun guy but never knew how to colorfill my mags.  I've seen clowns do it with crayon but there was no way in hell I was doing that to my own weapon....then I found this vid.  Awesome.   But can someone tell me what's better...nail polish, enamel model paint or something else.

Ripsaw EV 2 Ground Vehicle

I wonder how long before a major company buys the design specs on this thing...

SuperAV 8x8 press release.

BAE Systems is teamed with IVECO Defence, which brings additional proven experience having designed and built more than 30,000 multi-purpose, protected, and armored military vehicles in service today. The team’s U.S.-built, non-developmental solution has completed thousands of miles of mobility testing and a full range of amphibious operations, including demonstrations of launch and recovery of the vehicle from amphibious ship test platforms.

“Our solution will provide the Marine Corps with a truly amphibious capability, designed into our solution and backed by our more than 70 years of experience designing and building amphibious vehicles,” said Deepak Bazaz, director of new and amphibious vehicles at BAE Systems. “Our ACV 1.1 proposal offers a mature, cost-effective solution with growth capacity to meet future Marine Corps needs.”

The Marine Corps plans to award up to two initial contracts later this year to deliver 16 engineering, manufacturing, and development prototypes beginning nine months after the contract award.