Tuesday, May 07, 2019
F-35 News. ALIS an unshakable albatross around the neck of the JSF????
via Breaking Defense.
“Software is different from hardware (and not all software is the same),” the report warns. That means the Pentagon needs not only a separate process for acquiring software differently from hardware, but also needs the flexibility to acquire different kinds of software different. Even on a single program like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, for example, the code actually embedded in the aircraft, controlling highly classified sensors and weapons, requires a different approach from the mission and threat profiles, which require a different approach from the maintenance and spare parts database.Story here.
The F-35’s maintenance and spares software — Lockheed Martin‘s Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) — has been an unshakeable albatross around the program’s neck for years. Rather than simplifying ground crews’ jobs, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson has said, ALIS requires them to spend an extra 10 to 15 hours a week finding ways to work around it. The Air Force has unleashed its elite Kessel Run team of in-house coders to fix Lockheed Martin’s mess, but that’s a stopgap.
Full disclosure.
The F-35 is a favorite target of mine of govt waste, corruption and malfeasance in office by top DoD officials, both civilian and military.
But this software thing gives me serious pause.
Are we in essence building into our systems a vulnerability that can be exploited by the enemy? In the case of the ALIS we're looking at a system that is not only causing maintainers to work longer hours (affecting retention) but also because it will be so widely deployed susceptible to all kinds of villains... ranging from bored individuals hiding in the proverbial basement to dedicated agents of foreign powers.
I don't know cause I'm hardly a software guy but from the cheap seats this looks a bit silly.
Collusion? USMC sticks by CH-53K while the US Army cancels CH-47 upgrade contract....
via Military.com
The Corps will not pursue buying Boeing's CH-47 Chinook in place of the King Stallion, Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder said Monday at the annual Sea-Air-Space conference near Washington, D.C.Story here.
"We have not found another platform that can accomplish everything we can off of a ship at the distances and the weight that we're asking it to do," said Rudder, head of Marine Corps aviation.
The Marine Corps' plan to spend $31 billion on 200 CH-53Ks has come under scrutiny from lawmakers. Even with the high price tag -- about $155 million per aircraft -- there have been more than 100 deficiencies found during testing.
This is interesting to the max.
1. The US Army Sec recently stated that the US Army is canceling upgrades for the CH-47 and he challenged industry to produce a faster, heavier lift helicopter.
2. Despite a price tag of 155 million dollar EACH, the USMC is still sticking with the CH-53K despite it having numerous deficiencies.
Are we seeing collusion?
Have the services come to the conclusion that a heavier lift helicopter is necessary?
If you say no, then I must ask the question. What exactly can one CH-53K do that two, or even three CH-47s couldn't?
Regardless of your answer its obvious that something is seriously broken in Marine land...and the infection might be spreading to the rest of the DoD.
Once again we're seeing attempts at leap ahead technology...tech that might not be ready. The track record is stunning. First the EFV. So advanced that it was considered unsustainable even without the "high water speed" widgets removed. Then we add the saga of the F-35. Even the fanboys have to admit that its been a clusterfuck of epic proportions. Next up is the super-dooper Recon Vehicle replacement of the LAV-A2. As awesome as it sounds its looking like a redux of the Army FCS program just on a smaller scale.
The only programs that have been undeniably successful (and this is off the top of my head) is the re-barreling of the M-777 to get extended range and my personal favorite the ACV.
If that isn't enough there is one more issue that is looming that makes me scratch my head.
We're buying capacity to equip a 200K Marine Corps. That's the only thing that makes sense with a projected buy of 200 CH-53Ks. There is already talk of cutting boatspaces and I've heard rumors that the 150K end strength is back on the table.
If that's the case then we're not only buying equipment for a force that doesn't exist but we're also being foolish with limited funds.
If the Corps shrinks then so should its buy of gear.
I got nothing else on this except that it bears watching.
Monday, May 06, 2019
Army to outfit Double V-Hull Strykers with 30mm firepower
via Defense News.
The Army has decided to outfit three out of six of its brigades equipped with Double V-Hull A1 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles with 30mm guns, according to an Army official.Story here.
The service plans to open up a competition to integrate and field up-gunned DVHA1, the official told Defense News on background.
The Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and the Army Requirements Oversight Council decided on March 20 to equip future Stryker brigades with 30mm Medium Caliber Weapon System (MCWS) capability after reviewing lessons learned from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Europe. But he also directed the Army to ensure that the new MCWS capability be applied to the more mobile, better protected DVH ICVVA1 that will be the basis for the future Stryker fleet, according to the official.
Outstanding. While not perfect at least they're working the problem.
State Department preparing for clash of civilizations with China....
via Washington Examiner...
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s team is developing a strategy for China based on the idea of “a fight with a really different civilization” for the first time in American history.--------------------
“This is a fight with a really different civilization and a different ideology and the United States hasn't had that before,” Kiron Skinner, the director of policy planning at the State Department, said Monday evening at a security forum in Washington, D.C.
Skinner is leading an effort to develop a concept of U.S.-China relations on the scale of what she called “Letter X” — the unsigned essay by George Kennan, who assessed “the sources of Soviet conduct” in 1947 and outlined the containment strategy that guided American strategists for the rest of the Cold War. China poses a unique challenge, she said, because the regime in Beijing isn’t a child of Western philosophy and history.
“The Soviet Union and that competition, in a way it was a fight within the Western family,” Skinner said, noting Karl Marx’s indebtedness to Western political ideas. “It’s the first time that we will have a great power competitor that is not Caucasian.”Story here.
That last line that I highlighted is the terrible truth here.
Think back to every fight the US has been involved in. Think about the wars that we've been undeniably successful in fighting.
Then think about where we've failed...or at least not achieved total victory as outlined by strategist that planned these wars.
It's all about Asia.
For some reason the US has had a terrible time when fighting in Asia. I never considered the racial dynamic but I think we need to put it on the table.
For most Americans the region is a mystery. For me? I admire it and respect it. That's why I KNOW we need to get hard, determined and act with a sense of urgency with regard to China.
They won't quit.
They WILL fight till the last man.
They WILL sacrifice entire divisions to achieve their goals.
Even worse for us?
For some reason the Asian people will rally around their country in a way we haven't seen since WW2 or more recently just after the 9/11 attack.
Don't believe me? Check out the roll call since WW2. Korean War. Stalemate. Vietnam. Stalemate then total defeat of the nation we were propping up. Desert Storm. Total victory! Desert Storm 2. Inconclusive, but cannot be categorized as a victory due to the nation we installed now firmly in the camp of the Iranians. Afghanistan. Squandered victory and now utter defeat is staring us in the face.
Our strategist need to wrap their heads around the China threat. This will be a fight for the very survival of our nation.
Chinese thinking will not allow for anything but total victory. Check out their forums if you don't believe me.
Sunday, May 05, 2019
F-35 News. You're impressed with 3 AMRAAMs per bay? We were once promised so much more!!!
So you're impressed with the F-35 carrying 3 AMRAAMs per bay?
Drink in the pic above from the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office! They promised us so much more but the Fan Boys are acting like Lockheed Martin has accomplished something wonderful.
They're still failing on the promise!
Don't look away people. This is the reality of the program. It's to such a point that many have forgotten the promises of the past and are now CELEBRATING mediocrity!
I won't. We won't ... not on this blog!
We need a real apple to apples comparison on our defense spending or we're the freaking Klingons!
Animated chart shows the top 10 countries by military spending from 1990 to 2017. Source: https://t.co/Psnk6xuqWQ pic.twitter.com/NODoYoGe4G— Simon Kuestenmacher (@simongerman600) May 4, 2019
I would love for some think tank to do a REAL apples to apple comparison of our spending compared to the rest of the world.
We're spending money on defense like we're freaking Klingons...We don't embrace other cultures we conquer them!
That's a joke guys. Chill the fuck out!
But seriously. How much are we spending apples to apples compared to the rest of the world?
If this IS AN ACTUAL comparison then we're stark raving mad! Additionally how can we get such a small return on such MASSIVE spending? I mean seriously! We should dwarf the rest of the planet by magnitudes.
Even worse is the thought of where we could spend that money to create a better society here at home. I'm a defense hawk but damn it this is insanity!
Fitness is in our blood. Get after it, Marines!
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) May 5, 2019
I got mine! Was in the gym at 0630 getting after it. How about you?
CDR Salamander is talking Taiwan Defense with a retired Marine Officer & Senior Fellow at Japan Forum for Strategic Studies....
Go to Salamander's house to get the details of this podcast but I know I'll tune in.
Meanwhile consider this.
What military force has the US never publicly exercised with, yet we consider them an ally and they depend on us almost more than anyone else for their protection from a threat nation?
What military/nation is suffering from a "imposed" but not formally declared sanctions regime because Western nations are too scared to offend the "sanctioneer"?
Yeah. It's Taiwan.
Can't wait to hear what this bubba is thinking. This should be a fascinating interview.
F-35 News. Tyler @ Aviation Intel isn't much impressed by news of increased internal carriage of AAM for the F-35...
No it didn't. It has been designed and mocked up. Much testing to do and funding for that testing and then maybe eventual deployment to some customers. https://t.co/onRIcg6zIo— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) May 3, 2019
Saturday, May 04, 2019
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