Armored personnel carriers landed in Primorsky Krai.

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В Приморском крае приземлились бронетранспортеры. Техника десантируется с парашютом! Масштабные тактические учения ВДВ - наши камеры установлены прямо на броневиках. #tvzvezda #телеканалзвезда #video #movie #десант #десантники #учения #приморскийкрай #вдв

A post shared by Телеканал "Звезда" (@zvezdanews) on Mar 23, 2019 at 1:12am PDT

We talk USMC/Navy forcible entry but we rarely talk about US Army/Air Force.

Isn't it amazing that the Russians have had true airborne armor for a few decades while we just dabble? 

Think Defense is asking about airborne armor and if it's worth it.  My belief is that it is.  DEPENDING on how you're gonna use the force.  If it's just elite infantry then no.  If it's elite infantry that is going to do forcible entry operations then HELL YES!

If the Army and Air Force are going to be serious about the task then a few things must happen.

1.  The Air Force is gonna have to get serious about penetrating transports.  Don't know if that means designing a few "path finder" airplanes with advanced avionics, jamming etc...or an upgrade to a particular wings aircraft but either way it must be done.

2.  The Air Force is gonna have to figure out how they're going to keep a unit resupplied until units can link up.  The paratroopers can expect to be under assault almost as soon as they land.  A clear supply line will be essential because the combat will be heavy from the start.

3.  The Army has to clarify what they want in an armored airborne vehicle.  Playing SOCOM and using Polaris rigs won't cut it.  Stealth is out the door when you land a few Airborne Brigades, so they'll need something more than simple mobility.  They'll need at least a bit of armor and firepower.

One thing is certain.

If the Russians can do it, we can too.

Did an F-35 pilot accidentally give us a glimpse into the Red Flag battle simulation?

Everyone and his mother has been sending me a link to the AirSpace Magazine article that details what a few F-35 pilots think of the airplane.

I wasn't impressed.  It's a classic Appeal To Authority but in the sea of propaganda we did find a juicy morsel of information.  Check this out...

And in a large-force environment like Red Flag, where there might be as many as 60 or 70 aircraft on the Blue side and 10 or 20 adversary aircraft, lots of things on the ground—that’s a lot of information to interpret. Reading the first sortie on the first day, I certainly felt overwhelmed with the amount of information. And the next sortie I flew, I could manage some of my sensors differently to give me just the information I needed for that particular mission. Figuring out how to declutter your display to match the scenario is one of the main skills we learn here that we can’t simulate in day-to-day training, because you don’t get to train with the rest of the Department of Defense on a daily basis.

The article is here.

The person being interviewed is Lieutenant Colonel Yosef Morris | USAF 4th Squadron Commander, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base.

Did the good LtCol just give us a look see into Red Flag?

If so then that is PATHETIC!

That in no way resembles the big fight that everyone is talking about.  We're gonna fight with numerical superiority against an adversary?  THE PEER THREAT China?

We've all wondered why they didn't release ANY details of the Red Flag exercise and now we know why.  Not only were certain capabilities almost certainly simulated instead of being practiced real time but we also get the impression that the 20-1 victory count came from overwhelming the enemy with mass, not technological skill.

If this isn't close to the truth (blue vs red force) then did the LtCol misspeak?  Did he get it wrong? Or is it a case of them hoping no one notices?

2019 United States Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition....photo by K. Kassens

A competitor in the United States Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition uses a digital range finder on his weapon while engaging long-distance targets at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, March 19, 2019. Twenty-one teams competed in the USASOC International Sniper Competition where instructors from the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School designed a series of events that challenged the two-person teams’ ability to work together, firing range, speed and accuracy in varied types of environments.

This shit ain't shootin' no more.  This is fuckin' science.  I've been monitoring this event and those units don't carry rifles anymore.  They're carrying stuff that's a few pounds away from being a crew served weapon system.

Carlos Hathcock would probably be a bit jealous and disgusted.  Guarantee you ain't belly crawling a mile dodging enemy sentries with the gear they're toting today!

One of his most famous moments came when he was sent to take out a General in the NVA. It was astonishing work by Hathcock as he went four days and three nights without food or sleep in the pursuit of his man.

The sniper often volunteered for missions that he didn’t know anything about because of a natural belief, probably backed up by the stats, that he was better than the rest of his comrades.

Hathcock crawled inch by patient inch to get to a good position in order to hit the target – even ‘worming’ on his side in order to keep his trail thin and avoid being spotted by communist forces.

The sniper got 700 yards away and calmly slotted a bullet through the general’s heart. Hathcock was so good that it took him three days to get back to safety but he managed to do so without being detected once.

Which brings me to a weird point.

Do we have snipers or sharpshooters? 

Snipers are suppose to have a unique skillset beyond being able to hit target. They're supposed to be able to stalk their prey.  They have a secondary role as scouts.

Are we seeing that today or has the shooting aspect taken over to the detriment of all else?  I don't know but I have to wonder.  Are the "snipers" today, the "sharpshooters" of yesteryear?

I really don't have the answer.

Open Comment Post. 28 March 2019

Which American ally is rising to meet the challenge best?

Quick question.

Which American ally is rising to meet the challenge of a volatile future the best?

Don't play sea lawyer with me.  This is a basic question.  I'm talking militarily across the spectrum of land, air and sea.  I'm willing to take a look at changes in force structure, procurement and other factors.

What I'm not interested in is pure defense budget because that can be bastardized.  I don't care about retiree pay, VAT taxes, foreign aid that masquerades as defense spending etc...

I'm talking about running down the roster of nations that are allied with the US and determining who is doing it best and who is sizing up to be a credible ally when things go hot.

My list is simple.  I'm looking at procurement, forces structure and  how much they've attempted to embed themselves with our forces.  In this case flying off each others ships doesn't impress me.  I'm talking about exercises that challenge.  Going to each others leadership schools.  Attending tactical/strategic courses that hone skills.

My top 5 goes like this....

1.  Australia.

2.  United Kingdom.

3.  Japan.

4.  The Netherlands.

5.  S. Korea.

Rationale is simple.  Australia is going gang busters.  They have a plan for modernization across the force.  Intel sharing is outstanding.  Relations between forces is top tier.  Exchanges happen on all levels and exercises are conducted on a regular basis.

The UK comes in 2nd place because while their Air Force is at least keeping pace with a rapidly changing world, their Navy looks to quickly regain its place of prominence as the most lethal in Europe, their Army is lacking.  Additionally the Brexit mess is making future modernization iffy.  Nevertheless by my estimation they will continue the effort to be a major sea power which makes them undeniably valuable and as long as the 16th Air Assault and Special Ops units remain elite (along with the Gurkhas) they will provide outstanding specialized infantry to augment any effort.

Japan takes 3rd.  They are pushing along with some truly impressive programs. They've embarked on a stealth program, they're building an AESA equipped air to air missile, they have introduced new armored vehicles and they're even working on an advanced amphibious assault rig. Their Navy is looking shake the shackles from WW2 and develop a carrier force and they have recently developed a Marine Corps.  What kept them from claiming the number 2 spot is the total and complete focus on China.  Outside of pushing back against that threat they're more than likely to remain on the sidelines.

I won't expand on this list any further (perhaps in comment...I'm bushed) but that's how I see things.

I'm sure you guys will disagree but don't just tell me I'm an idiot, tell me why I'm wrong AND WHAT YOUR LIST IS!

Operation Red Falcon Flight....Video by Staff Sgt. Anthony Johnson

IDF needs to replace current helicopters with new ones asap...

via JP

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi must decide on new helicopters for the Israeli Air Force as soon as possible to replace the aging Yasur helicopters, as the old ones may endanger human life, said the annual State Comptroller’s report released on Wednesday.

“Prolonging the life of the Yasur is liable to endanger human life and may have significant operational implications and substantial maintenance costs,” the report read, adding that the air force should “consider purchasing the Yasur replacement option early so that it will be as close as possible to the date on which the memorandum of understanding [MOU] with the United States is implemented.

“The chief of staff must make a decision as soon as possible vis-a-vis future operational needs as part of the decision regarding the Yasur alternatives and the timetable set for this purpose.”

First used by the IAF in 1969, the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion Yasur helicopters are the air force’s primary transport aircraft. While it has been upgraded with new electronic and missile defense systems as well as other improvements to extend service life, they must be replaced by 2025 when they will be over 50 years old.

The IAF plans to buy some 20 new heavylift helicopters – in other words, an entire squadron – to replace the current Sea Stallion squadron at the Tel Nof Base. The two options in the running is the CH-53K King Stallion – made by Lockheed Martin Sikorsky, maker of the Yasur – and Boeing’s Ch-47F Chinook helicopter.

According to the comptroller report, there is also a significant gap in the availability of spare parts for the aging aircraft which “require maintenance more frequently.” The report recommended examining alternatives to ensure their continued use.

Story here. 

The IDF to the rescue of the USMC CH-53K.

I know its a conspiracy  theory but doesn't it seem a bit convenient?  The CH-53K desperately needs to get numbers up to do the old "drive costs down" bit. 

The only question is will the Air Force or Army get the final say?  If I'm not mistaken the Army thinks the CH-47F is the way to go while the Air Force is all about the CH-53K.

Spanish Artillery....

Blast from the past. Trojan Horse 1969 Style (USMC Archives on Flickr is a must see resource!)

“Photograph number 3M-1-0482-69: 1969: Trojan Horse 1969 Style: Leathernecks of the 3d Marine Division adopted the ancient Grecian tactic of the Trojan Horse when they camouflaged their Ontos to resemble small bulldozers to fool the enemy. The tracked vehicles, armed with six 106mm recoilless rifles, where then heli-lifted from Vandegrift Combat Base to support the 3d Marines, conducting Operation Maine Crag southwest of Khe Sanh (official USMC photo by Sergeant Ray Bribiesca).”

Just a heads up to all the military historians and buffs in the audience.  If you're not tuned into USMC Archives on Flickr then you're missing out.

Go here or be lost forever...oh and a small heads up.  They have a HUGE library so you might have to dig into it to find your particular "thing" in USMC history but its worth the effort.

WTF is going on in Central Ukraine???

Thanks to S300V4 for the link!!

Most epic/scary video of explosion in Kropivnitsky https://t.co/JXxXtKjFjC via @kirobaghdad #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/zFVa5qyIRJ

— Liveuamap (@Liveuamap) March 27, 2019

Ok.  That's a rather large explosion.  AZOV going nuts or another decrepit ammo dump built where it shouldn't have been?

Debate. Is it time for America to protect only the homeland and allow others to fend for themselves?

Everytime I do a blog post on another nation's military (allied, for some reason threat nations are able to accept what I view as limitations and refute them or admit that they exist) it doesn't matter if it's complimentary or to point out a deficiency.

The results are the same.

They take it as a cue to bang on America.

It has gotten to a point where the American military, treasure and the lives of our citizens are considered to be part and parcel of the world's defense.

We are no longer appreciated but expected to do for others what they won't do for themselves.

Is that right?

Is this the price for globalism (something we didn't vote for, something that corporations have exploited for their bottom line)?

Is it something that should continue?

Why are we defending the modern state of S. Korea?  They should be able to repulse a N. Korean attack (and I believe they could).

Why are we defending the EU?  They are a mega union that rivals the US in size and population.  They should be able to repulse a Russian attack (and I believe they could).

Remove our troops from those two locations alone and we would have monstrous savings.  Add the Middle East, Africa and other parts of the world and we could see our defense budget fall, our relations improve (because the world would once again see that we're needed) and domestic spending increased to take care of pressing needs at home.

Long short?

Talk me off the ledge.  Tell me why we should still be engaged around the world when we're unappreciated and seemingly unwanted.

This story keeps getting crazier & Spain is taking it seriously...North Korean Embassy Attack Suspects Fled To U.S., Spanish Court Says

via NPR

A Spanish court says assailants who broke into North Korea's Embassy in Madrid last month later fled to the U.S.

According to new documents unsealed on Tuesday, the perpetrators of the attack included a U.S. citizen and another resident. The leader of the plot fled via Lisbon to Newark, N.J., and offered stolen material to the FBI in New York.

"We have no comment," Martin Feely, a spokesman for the FBI's New York field office, told NPR in an email.

Spain's Embassy in Washington, D.C., also declined to comment. "There is a judicial procedure underway," an embassy spokesperson said.

Late Tuesday, a Web site apparently associated with a secretive North Korean dissident movement called "Free Joseon" published a statement claiming the group carried out an operation at the North Korean Embassy in Madrid. But the group denied it was an attack and refuted much of the Spanish court's account.

The Madrid incident occurred on Feb. 22, just days before the second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam. That summit ended in a stalemate after the U.S. and North Korea could not agree on a deal.

The Spanish judge in the newly unsealed case, Judge José de la Mata, says 10 individuals — whom he refers to as a "criminal organization" — were involved in crimes including falsified documents, illegal detention and injuries. The court statement identifies the suspected leader of the group as A. Hong Chang, a Mexican citizen and U.S. resident. (Some reports have named that person as Adrian Hong Chang.) The documents also say a U.S. and South Korean citizen are suspected in the break-in.

Story here. 

Wow.

This is crazy.  When I first posted about this story I was hoping that it was a flash in the pan and that the investigation wouldn't continue, that there was no way the US was involved and that this was just another one of those urban legends.

I was wrong (apparently) on all counts.

It appears that a US intel organization did initiate this action, that US nationals were involved and these same people escaped back to the US.

That's not even the worst of it.

The timing of the whole thing is suspicious as hell.

Why would you carry out an op like this so close to a summit meeting?  It's like someone wanted it to fail!  The batshit craziness of the thing is beyond imagination too.  They not only broke into an EMBASSY but they also tied up the employees there.  I don't know if they were roughed up but it wouldn't surprise me.

Additionally we can assume that some type of devices were left behind too.

What's even more stunning is the total lack of air time this is getting in the US.  Only NPR is touching this thing and they're small beans when it comes to news organizations.

What in the world is really going on and what is the motivation?

Berger tapped to be the next Commandant of the Marine Corps...

I would love to know what's being said here.  Neller looks like he's having a wonderful time and Berger looks like he wants to throat punch him!  Just joking...relax people...

via USNI News.

A key architect of the Marine’s future fight in an era of great power competition was tapped Tuesday to be the next commandant of the Marine Corps, according to a Congressional notification.

Lt. Gen. David Berger, the current commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, is a career infantry officer with extensive Middle East and Western Pacific experience.

The nomination was first reported by Military.com.

Since taking over command of MCCDC in August, Berger has been refining Marine Corps’ emerging operational ideas, like the Expeditionary Advance Base Operations and Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment concepts, that hope to guide the service in future high-end conflict.

In his role, he has also pushed a modernization agenda for the Marine Corps.

“We can’t do the incremental change – we have to find new ways to operate, not just new ways of using the gear we have,” he said in September.

Prior to his current assignment, Berger had led I Marine Expeditionary Force in California and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific since 2014.

In 2012 he took command in Afghanistan as the commander of the 1st Marine Division in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Then-Col. Berger also served in Iraq as the leader of Regimental Combat Team 8 in Fallujah.

Berger, a Tulane University graduate, commissioned in 1981 as an infantry officer. He also holds a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins University

If confirmed by the Senate, Berger will replace Gen. Robert Neller who has served as the Marine Corps commandant since 2015.

Why do change agents fail at their task?

1.  Too much change too fast.

2.  They fail to get buy in from the rank and file.

3.  They don't allow time for the change that they're seeking to become implemented before they push for even more change.

4.  They arrogantly assume that proposal is implementation instead of actually seeing the change they desire take root.

The Marine Corps needs a beat to reorient to the threats of the future. The social change has been overwhelming and has not had time to settle throughout the force.  Additionally pressures of constant training routine, crushing ops tempo, never ending wars and other things have caused unnecessary friction from inside while other dynamics are causing even more friction from outside.

In other words I hope this guys serves as a stabilizing influence instead of another in a series of change agents.

Time will tell.

The Mosque Chairman for Christ Church had to pop off and now a unifying tragedy gets sullied...Small Rant...

New Zealand mosque chairman: “I am not afraid to say I feel Mossad is behind [the mass murder of Muslims in Christchurch]” pic.twitter.com/IZis0Tf4u7

— John-Paul Pagano (@johnpaulpagano) March 26, 2019

Jesus! A terrible tragedy occured, an entire nation tries to come together and another religious zealot has to enter the circle of goodwill and take a huge dump.

It would give me great joy for someone to muzzle this clown and stick him in the back of a container bound for parts unknown.

Want to know why we can't find common ground?  It's cause of clowns like this with their jackass theory crafting.

But for 2019 this is perfect and par for the course.

Rant over.  Back to our regularly scheduled blog posts.

Blast from the past. Sino-Vietnam War...captured Chinese soldier...

A Vietnamese woman soldier holding a rifle displays Chinese men she captured in battle and took prisoner with their hands bound and tied together behind their backs, from the Chinese PLA 41st and 42nd Army corps, Sino-Vietnamese War, 25 February 1979, Cao Bằng Province, Vietnam

Unfunded priorities are in for a rough ride this year...it's about the money folks!

via Defense News.

In the past, lawmakers have been fairly receptive to funding big-ticket items on the services’ wish lists, especially aircraft like the F-35 and the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which garner deeply-entrenched support from the congressional delegations where those platforms are produced.

However, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., has indicated he could support a smaller $733 billion topline budget for the Defense Department instead of the current $750 billion figure — which would make it much more difficult to fund any wish list items.


Although the additional F-35s and KC-46s are the most attention-grabbing items on the list, the Air Force’s highest-ranked unfunded priority is $579 million meant for “readiness recovery.”


“If the Air Force does not receive supplemental and reprogramming support in FY19, we will have to take actions that drive unacceptable impacts to Air Force readiness,” the wish list states.


“This [unfunded priority list] item would recover the lost readiness by adding necessary weapon system sustainment funding to 10 weapon systems, and includes funding for B-1 repairs and fatigue testing to address critical structural issues, as well as unanticipated B-52 and KC-135 corrosion inspections and repairs associated with an aging aircraft fleet.”

Story here. 

This is the big ass dinosaur in the room.  The Dems are running the House, the days of the huge defense budget are over, the Republicans passed a tax cut that most middle/lower class people barely notice and we're facing looming budget deficits.

This is why I occasionally post about the economy and why we focus on the deficit.

It all affects the defense budget.

Before, we played with austerity.

In the near future we're gonna be up to our neck in it.

Question.  Did you know that the world economy is slowing down?  Did you know that Italy is in recession?  Did you know that many suspect that Germany, the biggest economy in Europe is also in recession?  Most economists agree that China has slowed way down and their anticipated growth for this year just ain't gonna happen.

Now swing back to the US.

You have a divided Congress.  You have the President talking about rolling back Obama Care completely, while the Dems are not only gonna fight that but also push some type of Climate Tax on the populace disguised as an effort to fight climate change.

Long story short?

Plus ups...unfunded priorities lists...ain't happening this year.  IF they do it'll be the last.

The House Armed Service Chairman, along with the statement from the SecDef and CJCS all but ensure that additional F-35's are probably dead on arrival.  That's before we add Trump to the mix that was originally seeking to cut the DoD budget by 5%.

The F-35 and Lockheed Martin failed to act with a sense of urgency.  Now they're gonna pay.

F-35 News. The Chairman of the JCS says that the F-15 is 50% cheaper to operate!

The F-15 is 50% cheaper than the F-35A on operating cost, JCS Chairman Gen Dunford tells House committee today.

— Steve Trimble (@TheDEWLine) March 26, 2019

I knew it!

It wasn't about the buy it was about operating the plane!  No one will dare dig into this much but I'm betting between operating cost, ALIS issues and INFRASTRUCTURE that the F-35 is a pure mess!

Stealth planes just ain't cheap to maintain.

They never have been and obviously never will be.

I fully expect the F-35 fan base to get even more rabid in an attempt to pushback against this news. But at least we're seeing the turn.

Today's Generals owe it to future generations to build a credible force for the next war.  We don't have that in the form of the F-35A.  We've sacrificed future armored systems, rotor winged platforms and more for the promise of this plane and now we desperately need to catch up.

Does the budget mess and the issues with the F-35 solely account for the US lagging now?  No.  You can add Bush Jr's ill conceived war in Afghanistan, Iraq and Obama's recently ended playground in Syria for it too but we're back to the 1970's.

We've raised our heads out of an extremely long counterinsurgency war, and we see our competitors racing ahead while we've been distracted.

My hope is that we'll power forward now that sanity seems to have returned but it'll be harder than it should have been.

Others saw this folly before I did.  I can't crow about this because they warned about this issue and I helped shut them down.

To those dudes I apologize.

To the F-35 fanatics?

Get over yourself.  This plane just isn't delivering on cost/maintenance.  You've said listen to the generals, now you don't like what they're saying?

Russian Arctic brigades get armored bulldozers....via Army Recognition.

via Army Recognition.

Arctic brigades received bulldozers which are fully armored and can sustain grenade explosions, small arms fire and even antitank missiles. The bulldozers will be engaged in roadworks, hardware evacuation under fire and fortifications destruction. The vehicle is fit for operations in the North. Its engine starts up at temperatures of minus 60 degrees Centigrade, the Izvestia daily writes.

The Russian Defense Ministry told the newspaper the armored bulldozers had already been supplied to Arctic brigades. The Syrian experience showed the armed forces need cheap and simple hardware. The bulldozer got an armored capsule for the driver and the hood. It weighs 20 tons and develops a speed of 10 km/h. It has been upgraded for the Arctic and can operate at temperatures ranging from plus 45 to minus 60 degrees.

20mm-thick armored plates protect the driver from bullets, fragmentation and even antitank missiles. The cabin and side doors have armored-glass windows. Bar screens can be mounted on the bulldozer to protect it against cumulative shells and handheld antitank grenade launchers. The Syrian experience showed the combined armor decreases human losses and increases the effectiveness of missions.

Bulldozers are necessary to rapidly erect fortifications, clear blocks and build simple engineering obstacles, e.g. earth banks and bankets. They also move big volumes of soil, refill trenches and craters, clear blocks and barricades, repair roads during combat actions.

In peacetime, the bulldozers can assist people in emergencies. The armor will not affect the characteristics of the vehicle. It will save the driver from falling trees and debris of buildings.

"The vehicles are widely used in the Middle East. Naturally, there are no barricades in the Arctic, but bulldozers are necessary to clear ice and snow and make roads," expert Sergey Suvorov said.

Many world armies operate armored bulldozers. The United States has been using them since the war in Vietnam where they erased jungle. During the Iraqi Freedom operation in 2003 the US army and marine corps acquired 12 armored bulldozers in Israel for engineering work.

Israel is upgrading US bulldozers for its armed forces. They have armor and glass that sustain fire from any small arms and grenade launchers. Besides, the bulldozer can carry additional smokescreen equipment, machine gun or grenade launcher which are operated from the cabin. The crew of the Israeli armored bulldozer comprises two men: the driver and the shooter, the Izvestia daily said.

Is it just me or does it seem like Russia is really focused on getting necessary gear to their Arctic Brigades?

I don't recall if they still use the "Guards" system to identify their high profile/high readiness units but the Arctic Brigade seems to be the newest love of their Ministry Of Defense.

The West has various small unit cold weather specialist.  Royal Marine Mountain Leader readily come to mind.  I'm sure the Netherlands, Switzerland and the Canadians have similar type units, but does anyone outside of Russia have/or is building complete Mechanized Brigades for Arctic work?

 

US Navy buys two Expeditionary Fast Transport ships

via UPI

The Navy has awarded Austal $261.8 million for work on the construction of two Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels.

The contract, announced Monday by the Department of Defense, includes the design and construction of the 13th and 14th EPF ships, as well as long-lead-time material for their construction.

The Spearhead-class of EPF ships are used to transport personnel, supplies and equipment for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Army.

The new contract follows Austal's $1.8 billion contract for the first 12 EPF vessels.

The ship can operate in shallow ports and waterways and can on/off-loading heavy armored vehicles like the M1 Abrams tank. A flight deck is used for helicopter and drone operations.

Ten vessels in the class are operational, including the first ship, the Spearhead, which was delivered in 2012, and the newest, the Burlington, received by the U.S. Navy last November. The future Puerto Rico and Newport are under construction.

Story here.

I guess any amphibious transport is good amphibious transport but I have a bit of trouble understanding the utility of these ships and why the US Navy would seek to have more than 6 much less 14.

The pics shows the vessel damn near on the beach which was a capability I didn't know it had.  Additionally I know it planned to operate with the sea base as far as 200 miles off shore.  What I wonder about is its capability in high seas.

Lastly I have to wonder about the Navy's "Battle Fleet".  If this class of ship is considered part of the planned 350 then is that number credible?

Circling back I guess I end where I began.  Any amphibious transport is good amphibious transport.

Piranha 5 Wheeled Armored Vehicle to be produced in Romania...

via Army Recognition.

On Friday, January 12, 2018, the Defense Ministry of Romania has officially signed the contract of 227 Piranha 5 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles. According a statement published on January by GDELS (General Dynamics European Land Systems), the Company will deliver up to 227 PIRANHA 5 wheeled armored vehicles in six different configurations to the Romanian Armed Forces. The contract has a total value exceeding $1 billion. It is part of the Romanian Army’s plan to modernize its legacy wheeled armored vehicle fleet.

The modern PIRANHA 5 vehicles will be produced in Romania under strategic cooperation and transfer of technology project between General Dynamics European Land Systems - Mowag and the Romanian company Uzina Mecanică București (UMB).

In December 2006, Romania selected the PIRANHA IIIC. A total of 31 vehicles were purchased for deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Piranha V is developed by the Swiss Company Mowag, which is now a subsidiary company of General Dynamics European Land Systems. The Piranha V was unveiled during Eurosatory, the International Defense Exhibition in Paris, in June 2010. The PIRANHA V 8×8 is the fifth-generation in the family of Piranha wheeled armored vehicles.

In April 2017, Spain has announced a plan to acquire 348 "Piranha V" 8x8 wheeled armored fighting vehicles from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) in the first phase of purchase. In the second phase, Spain could acquire around 1,000 vehicles for the Spanish army.

The PIRANHA V sets a new survivability benchmark for the wheeled armored combat vehicle class and provides the highest levels of mine, improvised explosive device (IED) and ballistic protection. PIRANHA 5 has a next generation, full coverage, modular survivability system that has been integrated into the vehicle design from the concept stage.

The Piranha V can be armed with a wide range of weapon stations including 12.7 mm machine gun, 25 mm or 30 mm automatic cannon or low-recoil 105 mm guns.