Deputy Commandant for Aviation calls for a 24 hour pause...

via Marine Corps Times

The head of Marine Aviation has ordered all non-deployed aircraft to stand down for 24 hours following three recent crashes of F/A-18s, two of which were fatal.
Lt. Gen. Jon Davis told wing commanders on Wednesday that non-deployed squadrons must take "an operational pause" within the next seven business days, said Marine Corps spokeswoman Capt. Sarah Burns. The move is different than grounding aircraft, she said.
Commanders can decide which day to take the pause, during which aircraft are typically inspected, Burns said on Wednesday.

Marines are stubborn.  They choose a direction and they will continue on despite evidence to the contrary because the teaching is that you "power thru" obstacles...that one more push could be the difference between victory and defeat...that one more step could carry you to your objective.

So Davis calling for an operational pause is a sign that alarm bells are finally ringing at HQMC.

The procurement train wreck has gone from being theory...gone from simply affecting the ground side of the house to now affecting the wing too.

The solution is simple but no one wants to accept it.  Either you tell Congress that you're unable to carry out the mission with the funds available.  You redo your financial/procurement planning to take into account reality and not wishful thinking.  Or you do nothing and watch more aircraft fall out of the sky.

The solutions are obvious.  The choosing is what's hard.

Land 400 Phase 2...the Australians will be behind the rest of the world...

Kiloflight made a comment that deserves to be debated...check out what he said below.

The endgame for Land 400 Phase 2 is going to be really interesting. As Australia moves forward with two last century designed vehicles (which is actually what combat proven means) the rest of the world is to continue with the development of new generation armour platforms designed to maximise modern advances in active and passive protection, automated target selection and engagement as well as the integration of autonomous support capabilities. The Russians are well on the way, the Chinese right behind them, with the Israelis well advanced and Europeans and US in catch up mode (although the USMC has a chance to be in the game if the ACV integration is finished right). Around the time Australia will be making decisions to buy and manufacture, the global 8x8 capability game will have changed quite a lot. If there arent any changes to the current choices it will be clear that Australia will likely go into 2030 and beyond with yet another out of date under scoped capability. Wouldn't be the first time.

So what's on the horizon for the rest of the world?

Eitan.  We've talked about this vehicle to death.  I think its setting a new standard in armored vehicle development.

Patria XP.  The Patria AMV has garnered a specatular reputation but its getting long in the tooth.  The growth potential is limited and the tech has moved on.  The Patria XP remedies all that and breaths new life into the design.

Japanese Maneuver Combat Vehicle.  Why did I include this?  Simple.  I believe that it will fill the same role as the Land 400 winner.  Everyone looks west when it comes to armored vehicle development but they're doing things in the east that bears watching.

VBCI 2.  This vehicle is another drastic update of a war going chariot that earned praise.  The VBCI 2 is HIGHLY networked, has a very punchy 40mm cannon and has proven itself to be IED resistant.  Its a good ride.

Boomerang.  This vehicle caught me by surprise.  The Russians have developed a thoroughly modern western style 8x8.  Expect this vehicle to show up in the Australian sphere of influence sooner rather than later.

Norinco something...This vehicle is a mystery to me.  I have no knowledge of it except that it mounts a big gun.  What I do know is that they have a APC/IFV version and would seem to be developing a family of vehicles.

There are many other vehicles that are getting massive upgrades as we speak or in development.  Left off the list of note is one of my favorites the Terrex 3 and of course the S. Korean offering.

Additionally the US Army Stryker has served longer than desired and is due for a replacement as we speak.

The Australians have locked themselves into buying old tech while the rest of the world is already heading toward more capable vehicles.  Land 400 went from being a contest that showed great promise to being a tragedy.  Pity.  Australia deserves better.

BREAKING! KNIFE ATTACK IN LONDON!

London Police are reporting a knife attack in Central London.  One dead and six injured.  POLICE "TASED(?)" THE ATTACKER!  That is pure insanity.  Either they have incredibly brave police or they're incredibly stupid and don't understand the realities of a knife attack.  21 feet.  Expect to be cut so give up your non-firing arm to defend.  Shoot to stop because a skilled knife wielder can strike you several times in seconds if they get within range.  Oh and expect to be cut.

Does she realize how much danger she's in? (Hunting pic)

via Warriors Creed Tumblr Page.

I wonder if this lady realizes how much danger she's in.  This is crazy...and all she has is a bow?  The person behind her is taking pics?

Future Darwin Award winner!  Question though.  Could you drop an elk that big with a single shot in that distance?  I know nothing about bow hunting so maybe I'm all wrong.

Why do I believe the F-35 is headed toward a SEVERELY reduced buy? The Budget Control Act.

via Breaking Defense.

“Whether it’s Clinton or Trump…they’ve got to strike a deal with Congress,” Harrison said. “I think that’s job number one for the new administration.”
“Job No. 1” may also be Mission Impossible. “I’m not optimistic that we’ll see enough of a shift in the makeup of Congress that it will break up the budget stalemate that we’ve had for the past five years,” said Harrison.

&

“Because a lot of these issues do not fall neatly along partisan lines, it depends on the specific individuals who win these seats, not just their party affiliation,” Harrison told me and a few other reporters after the briefing. “We’re already seeing some changes likeRandy Forbes,” the House seapower subcommittee chairman and ardent advocate of bigger defense budgets who lost his primary to an anti-establishment ex-Navy SEAL. “(Senate Armed Services Chairman) John McCain, we’ll see what happens in his primary….That could be a big shock as well.”

Finally

Clinton seems pretty committed to the Democratic consensus that there should be no increase in defense caps without equal, dollar-for-dollar relief for domestic programs. Trump, however, is a wild card.
“Quite frankly we don’t know enough about Trump’s defense plans; we haven’t heard that many specifics,” Harrison told me after the briefing. “We hear things like we’re going to have a stronger military, and then we hear him say things like, aircraft carriers…cost us a million dollars every time we ‘turn them on’ — I don’t really know what that means — and we hear Trump making statements about reducing our overseas presence, bringing more of our troops home, reducing our security commitments to our NATO allies, our Asia-Pacific allies, to our Middle East allies…. Okay, if you’re actually going to do those things, you could have a much smaller military.”

I continue to be amazed at how people are so misreading the American people.  How so called smart people can so easily dismiss the toll that 10 years of war will have on a nation.  The weariness of the American people when it comes to the Middle East.  How tired people are of the threat of terrorist attacks.

Its not about racism.  Its about fatigue.  Economics.  Security.

Fortress America is about to make a comeback.

Trump and Bernie's campaigns were fueled by the idea of taking care of America first.  Participating in wars in the Middle East and engaging in foreign entanglements has run its course and the people want no more of it.

The defense budget will not be increased and the Defense Hawks in the Republican Party are all endangered.

What does this have to do with the F-35?  Simple.  Budgets won't increase, and the F-35 buy will be cut.  Remember all the talk about restarting the F-15 line?  Same with the F-16?  Remember the talk about an Arsenal plane?

The Pentagon sees the writing on the wall and moves are being made for the plan B.  What is the canary in the coal mine?  Lots 9 and 10.  They still haven't finished negotiating those contracts!  That fact should have every defense reporter in Washington hopping.  Its going to be another  years till they can start full rate production.  If they can't get the price right now then how many people will be around in ANOTHER FIVE YEARS waiting on this airplane?

The F-35 is far from being out of the woods.  This program will go down in history as corrupting the Pentagon and Marine Corps to its very core.  It will serve as a warning of HOW NOT to procure military equipment.  It will be the shining jewel on the crown of the worst generalship in our nation's history.

General Dynamics Piranha 5. The vehicle that GD should have picked for Land 400?

Note I picked these photos of the Piranha 5 to show the different turret configurations that were possible.  Above its sporting the LANCE and below the MCT-30.

Defence Technology Review's analysis of the Land 400 contest and the reason why they believe the down select was made has me spinning.

The idea that General Dynamics read the requirements as written and didn't allow for the wiggle room that the ADF obviously applied to the contest has me mystified.

How can we expect manufacturers to compete win the rules are so loose?  When the requirements are so vague as to allow different classes of vehicles to be entered?

If I was an exec at General Dynamics I'd be punching walls.

They had a choice to make.  Either enter the LAV 6.0 that was 100 percent pure MOTS and in service with the Canadian military and in a variation the US Army or roll with their future king the Piranha 5 that has grown into a beast of a vehicle with great growth potential, the ability to take a number of turrets and could be uparmored to the delight of Mothers of Australia?

The same complaint could be claimed by Singapore Kinetics with the Terrex 3/Sentinel II.

Defense Depts/Ministries need to write better requirements so that manufacturers can respond better.  As things stand I agree with DTR.  General Dynamics read the requirements as written and didn't take into account the "human factor"...questionable as it is...within the ADF.

NOTE:  I stand by my view that the Boxer and Terrex 3 should have been in the down select.  I additionally don't back off my view that the Terrex 3 was best of breed in this line up.  What Australian Defence doesn't realize is that they're buying a functionally obsolete vehicle to fill a frontline combat role.  The safe buy isn't always the right buy.  Whether by delays like the F-35 or by a buy rate that is so slow that it takes years to enter service as in the ACV, obsolete is obsolete...even if the vehicle has a new car smell.

Defence Technology Review (August Issue) has an interesting take on Land 400

Online Mag here

Defence Technology Review has an interesting take on Land 400.  A brief overview of their thinking (BUT YOU MUST read the entire article on page 4).

1.  Terrex 3/Sentinel II lost out because it was deemed "not in service anywhere".  DTR wonders if the experience with other programs that went sideways influenced the demand for an MOTS buy.

2.  General Dynamics might have gotten the vehicle wrong.  They muse that the Pirnaha 5, in competition for the British requirement, might have been a better choice for the Australian program.  After reading their justification I can't argue the fact.  GD is doing it right but its breaking down when it comes to them selecting which in the stable to put up for which competition.

3.  Much was said in the article about the vehicles that were selected and how bits and widgets were in service with other forces.

I still believe the Australians made a mistake....the Terrex 3 was the best of breed, but DTR makes a great case for why the ADF chose the vehicles they did.

Anthropoid Official Trailer

This has to rank in the top 3 of Special Ops Missions conducted during WW2.  Yeah I know that technically they were Partisans but still.  They did the hard thing.  The aftermath of the assassination is still debated but they took out one of Hitler's brains so I believe they saved lives...even with the barbaric blow back that came afterwards.

CSIS Analyst signals truncated F-35 buy.

via Breaking Defense.

Will the Air Force buy its full complement? Harrison was skeptical.

“I don’t think it’s plausible that we’ll actually buy that full amount in the long run, but they don’t need to change their plans right now, they don’t need to scare the foreign partners by signaling that right now, it wouldn’t make sense to do it now,” he says. “You don’t have to make that decision on the total quantity, you don’t even have to make the decision on the full-rate production, until four or five years from now. So you can wait four or five years, more of the foreign partners will get deeply invested in the program, and then they can scare them.”

Who is Harrison?   Todd Harrison, is the defense budget expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Do you get the force of connection of his words?

If you're kind then you'll call this the game of thrones effect....people seem to think that screwing allies is a good thing.  I call it a corrupt program.  This program is not out of the woods.  There are still more acts to come.

Singapore's President is just plain cool.

If you want to hear a thoughtful leader then check out the Singapore/US press conference.

They have the kind of leader I wish we had...or soon to have.

This guy is just plain cool.

PS.  The Pentagon needs to rethink its approach to Singapore.  The thought of them becoming a "forward" naval base, or logistics hub isn't gonna fly in my opinion.  Their Prime Minister is laying out a neutral policy and I don't see them "falling in line" with US policy...especially if the Neo-Cons in the form of Hillary rise to power.  Additionally I don't think they're going to be taken in by the scheming of trade deals.  These guys aren't stupid.  We need to come at them straight and not sideways.....I don't think they're so hungry for a deal that they'll take a bad one.  Long story short?  For every exercise you see Singapore participating in with the US, you'll see others that include China and other Pacific neighbors.

This is what DoD Buzz said about the F-35 AIM-120 "miss"...

via DoD Buzz.

During the same exercise, LeClair fired an AIM-120C Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, carried internally, to take out another drone. This was a miss, however, as the drone target was out of visual range.

Dress it up anyway you want this is what Hope Seck of DoD Buzz wrote in her article on the test firing of the AIM-120.

Everyone is making excuses.  That the USAF was saving money and didn't want to waste money on a drone.

Ok.  If that makes you feel better.

This thing reeks to high heaven.  I'm not buying what the USAF is selling.

The Next Israeli Surprise? Carmel Advanced Ground Combat Vehicle

via Sputnik.

This strategy will include developing another demonstrator program named Carmel, a Hebrew acronym for Advanced Ground Combat Vehicle, which is meant to drive the design of a tank that will be used as a compliment to the 65-ton Merkava Mk4.
Zur commented that the MK4 is to remain in production until 2020 and Carmel isn’t meant to take its place, but will serve as a demonstrator program to assess a modern, medium-weight combat vehicle, that will. The vehicle will be wheeled instead of treaded. 

A wheeled tank?  Could the Israelis actually pull it off?  If you haven't been paying attention then be advised.  That economic slowdown and "new" recession is on track to hit later this year.  As a matter of fact there are some economist that are saying we're already experiencing a global economic slowdown as we speak.

What does this have to do with the Carmel Advanced Ground Combat Vehicle?

Money must be saved.  If you're gonna have a credible ground force in the future then affordability must become a reality and not just a buzz word like it is with the F-35.

A wheeled combat tank?

We're already seeing wheeled APC/IFV approaching 40 tons.  That's traditional light tank weight.  Its doable.  Tech wise its doable.

Supposedly they've already built a demonstrator but I can't find pics (my Google-foo is weak) but I'm still looking.  More to come!

F-35 can't hit a drone?

Thanks to Air Power Australia for the link!

via DOD Buzz

The Air Force variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter passed another key test days ago, deploying an AIM-9X missile while in flight to hit a drone over a military test range, officials with the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office said.
The test with the F-35A was conducted off the California coast July 28, Joint Program Office spokesman Joe DellaVedova said in a news release.
The Raytheon-made AIM-9X Sidewinder missile was launched from the Lockheed Martin-made aircraft’s external wing in the test. The F-35 was able to complete a series of complex steps to track and target the drone, including identifying the object with mission systems sensors; communicating with the missile; giving the pilot, Air Force Maj. Raven LeClair the change to confirm the targeting information using the high-tech F-35 helmet mounted display, and launching the missile to engage the target, according to the release.
“After launch, the missile successfully acquired the target and followed an intercept flight profile before destroying the drone, achieving the first F-35 Air-to-Air kill or ‘Boola Boola,’ which is the traditional radio call made when a pilot shoots down a drone,” officials said in the release.
During the same exercise, LeClair fired an AIM-120C Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, carried internally, to take out another drone. This was a miss, however, as the drone target was out of visual range.

A beyond visual range missile missed a drone.

The defense journalist said that the miss was because the drone was out of visual range.

And yet you trust the defense media?  You believe the Deputy Commandant for the Marine Corps that brags about simulated combat and bullshit deployments to Red Flag while the rest of the Marine Wing burns?

F-35 fanboy you need help.  Put the crack pipe down and seek medical attention.

NOTE:  SPUDMAN says that the problem was with the AIM-120 and not the F-35.  My question to him is if that's so then how did the F-35 go up against F-16's and wipe the floor with them but can't hit a drone?  We're being told about combat simulations that are totally scripted to get a desired result and then that result is being pushed out to defense reporters that don't know the proper questions to ask!  The illusion they're selling is that the F-35 is good to go and out of the woods.  The fact that they still haven't negotiated Lots 9 & 10 indicate that not only is the price not yet right but neither is the software.

Wheeled APC Comparison Chart via Defense Update.

Story and chart here.

Defense Update has a pretty good view of Israeli weapon systems so I'd consider the specs on the Eitan to be spot on.

There was a female crewman on that shot down MI-8. I hope she died in the crash....

Syrian opposition journo wishes female #Russian crew member stayed alive for #Syrians to basically rape her. pic.twitter.com/Jza8ZBHlUv

— Nour Samaha (@Nour_Samaha) August 1, 2016

There was a female crewman on that shot down MI-8 in Syria and I hope she died in the crash.

Think about that.

We no longer pray and hope for the rescue of downed crewmen...we hope they die so they won't be captured by the animals that infest that land.

And people wonder why the status quo/Neo-Cons/Hillary is so hated?  We live in messed up times.

This Khan controversy annoys.

This Khizer Khan controversy annoys the hell outta me and shows that the US military has become a pawn in the political process.

Ignore the competing Generals...one a Marine no less....Generals are political and if they've decided to show there real colors then so be it.

This stuff with Khan though annoys because a man did the hard thing for the country and instead of everyone being able to celebrate his life, honor his sacrifice and try and comfort his parents we're instead locked into a political fight.

That pisses me off.

Make no mistake about it.  Khan insulted Trump 12 different ways on the stage and Republicans, Democrats and the elite in general are all piling on.

Everyone sees it but those people think this attack is working.

They're wrong.

What it will do is to further drag the US military into the same gutter the rest of the govt is in and any support will soon wane.  Want to see something nasty?  Watch what happens when military service become political instead of neutral.

Consider this another example of our great democracy slipping away.  Worse?  The establishment is so desperate to hold onto power that they're willing to smear any institution to do so.  My question is this though.  Trump and Sanders supporters all represent people in America that ARE NOT happy with the status quo.  Even if the establishment/neo-cons get Hillary elected what happens next?  What happens on the day after she's elected?  What is the plan to fix things?  If there is no relief for the millions of Americans that say the country is headed in the wrong direction then what's next?  They tried elections and the DNC rigged the Democrat process and the Republicans sabotaged there nominee.

So what do the people do since the normal machinery of democracy no longer work?

PS.  SACRIFICE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE!  His son made the sacrifice.  His son made the choice to run to danger to protect his troops.  The father did not.  He can be lauded for producing such a fine man but he cannot be praised for his "sacrifice".  He can be sympathized with because of his loss BUT HE DID NOT SACRIFICE!  We need to get our language right on these issues!

Israel's Eitan 8x8 Wheeled APC Video.

Thanks to MicMac80 for the link!



Like I told Dima in the comments on another blog post, this heavily armored, high speed 8x8 is a kick in the teeth to the USMC.

Consider that once again we see a small country design an indigenous 8x8 from the ground up and will have it in service before the USMC can buy one off the shelf!

Something is MAJOR LEAGUE broken at HQMC.

Israel's new "Eitan" 8x8 Armored Personnel Carrier!!!

Thanks to Galvars for the link!

Nice!  Can't wait to get more details!

What can we tell from the pics?  Notice the RWS?  That puppies armored up.  They've taken notes from the action in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Speaking of armor...take a look at the hull and the spaced armor around the sides.  I can't speak of the suspension system but just a glance under the front wheel reminds me of the setup on the MTVR.  We know it has a MONSTER power pack so it'll scoot.

The Israelis are probably introducing the most heavily armored wheeled APC in service anywhere and because they paid attention to the suspension/power pack it will retain the necessary mobility to get out of trouble.

I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE INTERIOR!

Russian MI-8 Helicopter shot down in Syria.

via Sputnik

A Russian Mi-8 helicopter has been shot down in Syria's Idlib province on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Russian Defense Ministry is investigating the fate of three crew members and two reconciliation center officers who were aboard the downed aircraft.
"On August 1, a Russian military transport Mi-8 helicopter was shot down from the ground en route to the Hmeimim airbase after delivering humanitarian aid to the city of Aleppo. A crew of three and two officers of the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation were on board."
The defense ministry underscored that the fate of the Russian servicemen is being investigated through all available channels.

Is it wrong for me to hope that the crew is dead and not captured?  I don't need to start the week with a YouTube vid of captured Russians being horribly treated.

Are they our enemy?  Personally I don't think so.  Allies?  I think they could be.  But even more than that, they're human beings that deserve to be treated properly.  Rough up prisoners?  Yeah I can see that.  Behead them or drag their bodies thru the streets?  That's many steps too far.

General Dunford arrives at Incirlik AFB Turkey. Why?

via Sputnik.

US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford arrived at the Turkish southern Incirlik airbase on Monday, local private broadcaster NTV reported.
ANKARA (Sputnik) — According to the Turkish broadcaster, Dunford is expected to meet US troops and hold talks with Turkish high-profile military officials in Ankara.
It comes a day after media reported that the Turkish army stepped up security at Incirlik military base amid unconfirmed reports on a new coup attempt.
Incirlik military base is used by the United States and shelters combat planes of the US-led coalition launching airstrikes in Syria and Iraq against Daesh outlawed in many countries, including Russia.
After a faction in Turkish armed forcesattempted a coup on July 15 which was thwarted later in the day, Gen. Bekir Ercan Van, former commander of Incirlik airbase, was arrested due to alleged involvement in the plot.
On July 25, Dunford dubbed Turkish media reports on US involvement in the Turkish attempted coup "absurd."

This is a crazy move in my opinion.  The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is going to insert himself in the middle of this situation in the hopes that he can defuse it?

What could he be thinking?

The Turkish Commander of that base was arrested for being a participant in the coup attempt, the Turks have accused a US General of being involved, they're requesting we extradite an immigrant to the US back to Turkey for participation/inciting the coup and he thinks that talks to senior Turkish military counterparts might help?

I don't understand the plan.