About the Mueller report...

By now you've heard the Robert Mueller has completed his report and sent it to the Attorney General for review.  I've been chewing on this a bit and I'm thinking this...

*  We probably will never see the full report.  The reason isn't to protect the President, its to protect the FBI.  My instinct is that their was obvious wrongdoing in that agency and the Attorney General has been advised of it by the Inspector General's report.  More than a few had obvious bias and tainted the results.  A certain counter intel agent comes to mind as well as a former director AND a justice dept lawyer.

*  I believe that Stone was the last gasp attempt to dig up dirt on possible collusion with Russia.  When he proved to be intractable I think that ended this investigation.  I also believe that they raided his house in the way they did because they were hoping to grab documents that would give them new leads.  Stone is an old Washington operator and would have destroyed any and all records as well as having his computer scrubbed clean when the first indictment was announced.  Do I believe him to be spotless in this?  Hell no, but I also believe him to be at least a little smart.  He's old school Nixon Republican.  He would rather be buried than take the house down.

*  Manafort will get his pardon and the NY Attorney General will be warned off trying to prosecute him on the state level.  The same applies to Trump.

All in all this was an extremely messy affair.

The powers that be will want this whole thing swept under the rug.  The mission was accomplished.  They weakened Trump (with a big dose of help from the guy with all his insane tweeting) and believe they've set themselves up for the 2020 cycle.

That's my thinking.

What's your thoughts?

2nd LAR: Making a Splash....pics by Lance Cpl. Nathaniel Hamilton

Polish Army starts production of the Krab Howitzer...

via Defense 24

HSW has begun deliveries of the first series manufactured Regina DMO squadron level fire module, utilizing the Krab sphs. The above means that the Polish military is receiving equipment that has been acquired within the framework of the most significant Polish defence contract ever signed. The agreement in question was concluded back in 2016.

On Saturday, 16th March, another convoy with a batch of equipment left the HSW S.A. facility. Delivery of the equipment for the first series manufactured Regina module has begun. Agreement concerning this delivery was signed on 14th December 2016 and has a gross value of PLN 4.649 billion. The provisions of the agreement assume that, by 2024, four DMO squadron level fire modules would be delivered. Each of the elements listed above comprises of 24 155 mm Krab sphs and 19 auxiliary vehicles.

Conclusion of the aforesaid contract is a result of successful completion of preliminary introduction of this system into the inventory of the Polish military. Ultimately, the Regina modules are to replace the obsolete 122 mm 2S1 Gvozdika howitzers. Gvozdika platform was also being manufactured at HSW. Between 1984 and 1993 the facility delivered almost 550 systems as such to the Polish military. Gvozdika, despite the implemented upgrades, is not compliant with the NATO standards, within the scope of its calibre, combat effectiveness and, primarily, within the scope of its range - 15 km. For the sake of comparison, one should note that Krab sph, utilizing the standard 155 mm NATO rounds (JoBMoU-compliant ammunition / Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding), has a range of more than 40 kilometres.

Ever since the AS90 turret license agreement has been signed in 1999 (52-calibre length barrel) the Krab programme suffered from numerous technical and financial obstacles. Ultimately it was launched in 2014, following a decision, made jointly by the Polish Ministry of Defence, PGZ Group and HSW, to introduce license manufacturing of a new, prospective Korean base platform. It was in December 2014 when a contract was signed to procure a batch of readymade polonized derivative of the Korean K9 Thunder platforms. Alongside those platforms, rights to license manufacture the vehicle to meet the demand created by the Polish military have been acquired. Furthermore, the HSW facility is also entitled to manufacture the chassis and derived products for export purposes.

Joint effort undertaken by a Polish-Korean engineering team made it possible to develop a polonized variant of the K9 platform, over the course of a few months. The main differences between the Polish version and its prerequisite include a number of modern solutions that are missing in case of the latter, namely an APU, fire extinguishing and explosion protection systems, or a Polish ventilation/air filtering system. Back in August 2015 Krab howitzer based on a new platform was rolled out at HSW and then premiered during the MSPO defence industry exhibition in Kielce.

After the handing off test procedures came to an end, Krab underwent its type certification procedure. Following the completion of the process above (April 2016) it was confirmed that the system is fully compliant with the requirements set by the Polish Ministry of Defence. Following the formalities related to settlement of the test programme it became possible to negotiate a manufacturing contract. First, HSW and Polish Ministry of Defence arranged the delivery programme with regards to all of the components expected to form the first introductory Regina DMO.

The first batch of 9 howitzers belonging to the introductory DMO element was handed off in mid-November 2016. Further examples were being delivered, in an ongoing manner, as they passed the handing-off test procedures. Officially the delivery of the “introductory” DMO Regina element was completed in July 2017.

Here

It's gone largely unnoticed but the S. Koreans have taken the world by storm with their K-9 Howitzer. 

Only now are we seeing the US Army and Marine Corps move on increasing its fire support/artillery fires.

We need to keep pace but if a small country like Poland is fielding superior systems to our own then we need to take a beat to orient ourselves and then correct the deficiency.

In other words if Poland can do it then we surely can!

Marines to continue upgrading the M1A1 Abrams

via Marine Corps Times.

While the Corps buys modification kits for its Abrams tanks, the Army has had a new version for two years and eyes another upgrade by 2025.

The Marine Corps will continue to upgrade its Abrams tanks and is pushing ahead on a bridging system to replace the legacy M60 tank, a Vietnam-era tank used to unfold bridges that can support the Abrams as it crosses gaps in the battlefield.

Recently released budget request documents show that the Corps is asking for about the same amount of money to continue the Abrams upgrades in 2020 but will double then nearly triple that amount to keep upgrading the Abrams through 2024.

The M1A1 Abrams upgrade program includes modifications kits and money for support vehicles and devices. Those include the Assault Bridging Modernization Program that replaces the M60 and launching system of the Armored Vehicle Launching Bridge, used extensively in the 2003 Iraq invasion.

The kit also improves the Improved Recovery Vehicle, or the M88A2 Hercules, that can haul tanks off the battlefield for maintenance or recover them from ditches, canals or other hazards it might encounter.

Here.

Don't know if I can get real worked up about the Marine Corps decision on the upgrade path of the M1A1.

The Marines aren't in the massed tank fighting business and if we face that kind of opposition then we'll do like we did in Desert Storm, borrow a tank brigade and flex them into our force.

In other words it's about roles and missions and the Army has this covered.

What I am interested in and HQMC is moving on is to make the tank we have more lethal and better protected.  We're getting the Trophy APS for this system, and other upgrades so again we're covered.

What has me a bit twisted is the move that the US Army is making with regard to a Light Tank and/or the possibility of making the ACV a mobile gun system.

My thinking?

I'd like to see something that land with the assault echelon but with enough to give dispersed units the kind of firepower they need.

We've been stuck floating a Tank Platoon for a variety of reason, one of which is the weight of the vehicle and it's cube aboard ship.  An ACV mobile gun or a few of the US Army's light tanks could allow us to carry a bit more firepower while our ships are deployed....and remember those MEU's will be the first ashore when the balloon goes up.

The question becomes does a hard hitting vehicle with a glass jaw make sense on the modern battlefield for rapid deployment forces?

I think it does.

Tanks would remain (at least in my planning) but we'll also have Amphibious Assault Battalions with a platoon of ACV-MGS to handle duties on float.

Why go for the heavier solution...the ACV-MGS instead of the Light Tank? Because if you're on the assault you don't need to get stopped by water obstacles.

At the end of the day it doesn't matter.  HQMC knows the plan.  They know the budget.  They know what is and isn't possible.  This is one time I'll kick back, shut the fuck up and chill the fuck out.

Old but glorious news...Boeing receives order for 78 Super Hornets...

Most of you already have heard this news, but its too juicy to ignore.  Check this out via USNI News.

The Navy awarded Boeing a $4 billion multi-year contract modification to build 78 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, according to a Wednesday Pentagon contract announcement.

The contract modification covers the production and delivery of aircraft between Fiscal Years 2019 and 2021. Boeing estimates the multi-year contract modification will save the Navy $395 million.

“A multiyear contract helps the F/A-18 team seek out suppliers with a guaranteed three years of production, instead of negotiating year to year,” Dan Gillian, Boeing’s vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18G programs, said in a statement.

Four years ago, Boeing executives were evaluating whether to shutter the entire Super Hornet production line. The Navy’s FY 2016 budget request did not include funding to purchase Super Hornet, though the Navy’s unfunded priorities list that year did include a desire to purchase more Super Hornets to begin replacing the fleet of legacy F/A-18A-D strike fighters that were wearing out faster than anticipated.

The Navy has since renewed its dedication to buying more Super Hornets. The Navy’s current five-year purchase plan – of which the new multi-year award is part – calls for buying 110 Super Hornets, according to Boeing.

USNI News messages left with a spokesperson for Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs were not immediately returned.

Congress authorized the Navy’s request to issue such multi-year contracts in the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. The Navy has steadily retired older legacy F-18 Hornets as the newer Super Hornets came off the production line.

In February, USNI News reported the last operational Hornet squadron, the “Blue Blasters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34, held a sundown ceremony before taking a final flight over Naval Air Station Oceana. The squadron is transitioning to new F/A-18 Super Hornets.

Of the 78 Super Hornets covered by the new contract modification, 61 are F/A-18E single-seat jets and 17 are F/A-18F double-seat fighters. All are Block III aircraft, which are slightly more stealthy than Block II and, per the Navy’s request, have a greater range and can carry more weapons on a more durable airframe expected to last up to 9,000 fight hours – about a decade longer than Block II airframes.

Here 

What makes this news so juicy?

Why can't we allow it to be ignored?

Because of that little blurb that I highlighted that I need to pop out again.

Four years ago, Boeing executives were evaluating whether to shutter the entire Super Hornet production line. The Navy’s FY 2016 budget request did not include funding to purchase Super Hornet, though the Navy’s unfunded priorities list that year did include a desire to purchase more Super Hornets to begin replacing the fleet of legacy F/A-18A-D strike fighters that were wearing out faster than anticipated.

Remember four years ago?

Those were heady times for the F-35.  DoD Officials were giddy with the idea that they had turned a corner and that the F-35 would deliver as promised. It would be much more effective than the F-18 and it would not only perform better but would be CHEAPER than the legacy ride.

Shutting down the Super Hornet line made sense to Navy Officials and even to Boeing. 

The Navy is their biggest customer and if they weren't buying the plane then keeping the line open didn't make sense.

But something happened.

Officials got out of their optimistic haze and started looking at hard facts.  In this light sunshine turned to shit.  The F-35 didn't perform as expected and suddenly an upgraded Super Hornet made sense.

During this time Boeing developed the "Advanced Super Hornet".  Of course F-35 fanatics pounced like madmen.

They couldn't have this upstart threaten the throne.

Unfortunately for them the Navy is in the ship driving business and aviation has to compete with funding.  So despite their arrogance a test was formulated.  It would be a fly off between the F-35 and Super Hornet.

Follow the money and it becomes obvious who won.

The Super Hornet will be replaced but it won't be with the F-35.  When it comes to Naval Air the Super Hornet is still king.

Open Comment Post. 23 March 2019

Russia moves 20 hypersonic missiles to testing site...

via CNBC

Nearly 20 Russian missiles that the U.S. is currently unable to defend against were recently moved to a military testing site, signaling another milestone for the Kremlin's hypersonic weapons program, according to people who have direct knowledge of American intelligence reports.

"This shows they have the ambition to develop these weapons and that they have prioritized this particular program. The Russians have basically determined that they are comfortable with the design and will now focus on fine-tuning the weapon through testing," one person, who spoke to CNBC on the condition of anonymity, said.

The air-to-ground hypersonic missile dubbed "Kinzhal," which means "dagger" in Russian, has been tested at least three times. In July, the Kremlin successfully tested the weapon against a target nearly 500 miles away. What's more, in another U.S. intelligence report, according to a source, the hypersonic missile was mounted and launched 12 times from a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet. Additionally, work is underway to mount the weapon on a strategic bomber.

This system is rushing toward service.

None of us have visibility on what's going on in US classified programs but this is ominous.  The Russians are building carrier killers and the Chinese aren't far behind.

Is it possible that the next naval revolution will see our capital warships held hostage by hypersonic missiles?  are we being pushed out to blue water only ops?

Don't laugh and assume that's no big deal because it's our natural strength. Consider many parts of the world and you'll realize that blue and brown water ops merge in some pretty frustrating ways.

The Persian Gulf?  Off limits.  The Black Sea?  Off limits.

We need lasers and we need them now!

HI-res photo of the Z-20 via China Defense Blog...

F-35. A decade behind schedule and $200 Billion over budget...

via National Interest...Dan Grazier's closing argument on this cluster...

Now nearly a decade behind schedule and $200 billion over budget, the F-35 program continues to perform far below expectations—and is nowhere near to fulfilling the Pentagon and Lockheed’s many promises. Its continuing performance and design failures are not commensurate with the massive investments made for the past 20 years. At this point, the operational testers should complete the original stringent testing plan agreed to by the services, the F-35 program office, and DOT&E, without succumbing to powerful political pressure to sacrifice combat-realism for expediency. Only then will anyone know if the F-35 will actually work in combat—and whether our troops would be well supported when the F-35 replaces the A-10. Until then, to serve the troops and taxpayers better, Congress should stop increasing F-35 production rates every year, as every incompletely tested, deficiency-laden F-35 built will waste even more taxpayer dollars on costly retrofits.


Congress should also demand that DOT&E return to its previous transparency. Lawmakers should then use that operational test transparency to shoulder their oversight responsibilities, and demand that the withheld information be made public.


The American people, especially the men and women who will have to trust their lives to the F-35, deserve nothing less.

Here

Is this too much to ask?

With a program that is a DECADE behind schedule and $200 Billion Dollars over budget (that alone should be cause for a congressional investigation...that we haven't seen one, or that congress is ignoring its own statutes by not starting one is amazing) the last thing we should do is to "ramp up" production.

People don't like hearing it, but we're buying mistake jets.  Jets that will necessarily need costly upgrades.

Personally I find it amazing that our allies are actually purchasing this plane while its in this condition.  Of course that's between those govts and their citizens to sort out, but here at home I KNOW we deserve better.

The Rosomak OF ZSSW.

It's the classic Rosomak with an all new turret.  Don't ask me...I don't know a thing about it.  Looks like different sensors, maybe a new gun and a twin anti-tank missile launcher on the side.

Hopefully one of you guys can fill in the details.

The reports on the F-35's woes keep getting worse....F-35B’s fully mission capable rate fell from 23 percent in October 2017 to 12.9 percent in June 2018...

via National Interest.

The most important measure of an aircraft’s readiness for combat is the “fully mission capable” rate. This is the percentage of aircraft on hand that have fully functional, non-degraded vehicle systems (flight controls and engine), electronic mission systems (radar, electronic warfare systems, computers, etc.), and weapons employment capabilities—a particularly important measure for the F-35. The 2017 DOT&E report showed a 26 percent fully mission capable rate across the entire F-35 fleet. Because the 2018 report makes no mention of this rate, it is impossible to know what the 2018 rate was.


The Navy document POGO obtained shows that the problem persists : the Marines’ F-35B and the Navy’s F-35C variants posted even worse figures in 2018 than in the previous year. The F-35B’s fully mission capable rate fell from 23 percent in October 2017 to 12.9 percent in June 2018, while the F-35C plummeted from 12 percent in October 2016 to 0 percent in December 2017, then remained in the single digits through 2018.


Based on the Navy and Marine variants’ dismally low fully mission capable rates, and on how little appears to have improved across the program since 2017, the fully mission capable rate for the full fleet is likely far below the 80 percent target rate for the program set by former Secretary of Defense James Mattis.


In response to POGO’s questions about the Navy’s fully mission capable rates, the Joint Program Office highlighted the entire F-35 fleet’s higher “mission capable” rate, a less rigorous—and less useful—measure showing how often the aircraft can perform at least one of its assigned tasks. The office also identified the lack of spare parts as the biggest factor impacting availability.


To tell how many planes can actually get to the fight requires a second measure, the sortie generation rate: that is, how many flights per day each fighter in the fleet completes. The 2018 DOT&E report makes no mention of it.


The fleet-wide sortie rates for the three F-35 variants POGO calculated from the 2017 report were extremely low, averaging between 0.3 and 0.4 sorties per day. During Operation Desert Storm, frontline combat aircraft including the F-15 and F-16 flew an average of at least one sortie per day , and the A-10 fleet averaged at least 1.4 sorties per day. Even under the pressure of recent Middle East combat deployment , the F-35’s rates have not improved. According to statements from the squadron commander, 6 F-35Bs onboard the USS Essex flew over 100 sorties in 50-plus days in the Middle East. In other words, each F-35B flew a third of a sortie per day—meaning they flew an average of once every three days—in sustained combat.

Story here. 

There ain't enough lipstick in the world to make this pig look beautiful.

I can't wait for Gar9, Ogden, Spudman, Jason, OSVNO (think that's right) and others to tell me how this article is wrong too.

One thing truly upsets me though.  A Marine Corps Officer went out and stated that the F-35B dropped more bombs than the Harrier would have on the same type deployment.  I won't say he lied but I do think he twisted the facts so hard that it would take a battalion of chiropractors to straighten things out.

All jokes aside.

If the Pentagon has sunk to the level of lying to protect a program then the US military is in worse trouble than I thought (and make no mistake, I believe they have sunk just that low...the vain hope of things turning around led them down this rabbit hole...I need that quote from Don about optimism).

They need the support of the citizens. 

If people like me get the idea that they're just another group of lying politicians in uniform then they're truly lost. 

If they lose the trust of the citizenry then they have no hope.

The F-35 isn't worth it.

Someone has to do the adult thing in the Pentagon and state clearly that there will be no more lies, no more half truths, no more deception. They must start being actual and factual.

WTF is going on in the UK? Is it really this serious?

Sky News can reveal the armed forces have activated a team in a nuclear bunker beneath the Ministry of Defence to step up preparations for a 'no-deal' Brexit

— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) March 21, 2019

Jesus.  They're acting like this is an armageddon type event.  I thought it was just about leaving the EU but obviously there are bigger fears than just that.

Anyone know what this is about????

Turkey's F-35 purchase is in serious jeopardy...

"The S-400 is a computer. The F-35 is a computer. You don't hook your computer to your adversary's computer and that's basically what we would be doing,"

This is turning into a terrible week for the F-35.  Check this out from Military.com

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford said Thursday that it will be difficult to proceed with the sale and delivery of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to Turkey given Turkey's insistence on acquiring a Russian system designed to shoot them down.


"It's a tough issue," Dunford said, and the U.S. "would have a hard time" justifying the F-35 sale to a nation that has Russia's S-400 advanced anti-air system.


Dunford said he's worked hard to improve relations with NATO-allied Turkey, but the S-400s could be a deal-breaker on the F-35 sale.


"We're hopeful to find a way through this, but it's a tough issue," Dunford said.


In all, Turkey wants to buy 100 of the F-35A variant used by the U.S. Air Force, according to Joint Strike Fighter manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. The country took delivery of its first F-35 last June, amid legislative efforts to halt future deliveries.


Reuters reported earlier Thursday that the U.S. was eyeing a freeze in preparations to deliver the F-35 to Turkey in light of the country's efforts to acquire the S-400.


"The S-400 is a computer. The F-35 is a computer. You don't hook your computer to your adversary's computer and that's basically what we would be doing," Katie Wheelbarger, acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, told the news outlet in an interview.

Story here. 

Hmm.  Can't quite make up my mind.  Does Turkey deserve/get full benefits of NATO membership or not?  If they're part of NATO then they have a right to buy any and everything they want.  We don't necessarily have to sell them any weapon system because of their membership.

BUT! 

They're a partner in the program so at the very least we should be ready to refund money if we determine it isn't in our interests to sell them this airplane.

I wonder how many poison pills are written into this agreement that makes either side backing out financially difficult....or at least difficult to explain to the country's citizens.

Open Comment Post. 22 March 2019

Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations.....Video by Cpl. Isaac Cantrell

2nd LAR @ NTC 19-05....pics by Sgt. Justin Smith

Dude, you definitely picked the wrong SUV!

Back in your car, comrade. pic.twitter.com/EGO7z5QJiL

— COP VIDEOS (@Copvids911) March 22, 2019

Sikorsky-Boeing #SB1 Defiant Completes First Flight

Thanks to Spudman for the link!



I'd cheer but that big ass prop on the back that is just sitting there is a concern. 

Come on guys....let's see the darn thing turning and burning.  The Army is halting CH-47 buys for the promise of this program so if the Defiant is gonna be competitive it's gonna have to start delivering now.

You push hard and keep pushing or you get trampled and hurdled.

Hey USMC! Need a compact, highly mobile & effective anti-air system? How about the Swedish RBS-98 short range AA system: Iris-T“Ziraf missile + ”Giraffe-1X“ radar

Pics via Caesar's Twitter Page.

I don't know which one I'm more excited about.  The Missile System or the Giraffe Radar.

You scatter a few of those around the battlefield and you have an auto win. In essence you have your own radar picket without the need of outside assets. The cost might be prohibitive but in the age of cruise missiles and soon hypersonics it might prove essential to give a minute or two extra warning time.

The missiles are interesting.  Haven't read up on the Iris but it looks alot like the missile the Brits are adopting.  I don't know about its effectiveness but if its the same then its proving to be extremely popular in Europe.

First firing of the new Brimstone 3 strike missile

Is it me or does anyone else wonder if the missile actually hit the target or if it was a near miss? They show every angle except the front where the impact occurred. I seriously suspect that it might have impacted with the ground and not the target truck.