Russians considering standardizing on 57mm cannons for all IFVs...

via TASS

The Russian engineering company Tecmash and the state hi-tech corporation Rostec are considering replacing 30mm guns with 57mm weapons in Russian armored vehicles’ munitions systems. Russia’s Defense Ministry is also studying this possibility, Tecmash Deputy CEO Alexander Kochkin told TASS on Tuesday.

"We are carrying out an assessment together with Rostec State Corporation and the customer represented by the Defense Ministry is conducting the relevant work," Kochkin said, replying to a question about the possibility for Russian armored vehicles to switch to the 57mm caliber.

Today the 30mm caliber is the basic diameter of guns for Russia’s light-and medium-armored vehicles. The switchover by Russia’s entire armor to the new caliber depends on available financial resources.

"The caliber change will require huge expenses on the upgrade of the operational armament and military hardware," Kochkin explained. That is why, Rostec enterprises are working in this area "on their own initiative," he added.

Story here. 

Which came first?  The heavily armored IFVs or bigger cannons?  I think it was heavier armor.

Namer started the ball rolling, then we saw others increase their frontal protection leading to such heavy weights like the Boxer, the Israeli Eitan etc...

With the introduction of the T-15, it became obvious that to stay in the game a bigger gun would be required or IFV would for all intents become obsolete.

Suddenly your anti-tank teams would have to prioritize between taking out tanks or their support (which is built to kill the teams) riding in uparmored IFVs.

Regardless of the Russian decision I think its obvious that the US Army and US Marine Corps must move to a 50mm gun on future platforms.

This is a trend that appears to have staying power and I believe is pointing to an evolution in IFV design.

F-35 News. The hits just keep coming...this time from the House Armed Services Committee...

Thanks to Mark for the link!

via Air Force Magazine.

“The Department of Defense, and the Air Force in particular, have sent conflicting and confusing signals with respect to the F-35 program,” appropriators continued. “The fiscal year 2020 request repeats a pattern of shifting aircraft quantities to future years, reducing the planned procurement from 84 to 78. Further, the Air Force submitted a fiscal year 2020 budget request that flattens F-35A procurement at 48 aircraft per year through the future years defense program despite the F-35A program of record remaining stable at 1,763 aircraft.”

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said in February the service can’t afford its 72-jet goal. Air Force acquisition chief Will Roper also noted in early May the F-35 buy plan shrinks over the next few years “in order to align the procurement timeline with capability development and reduce retrofit costs.”

The bill agrees to fully fund a $728.7 million request for spare parts for Navy and Air Force F-35s, even though lawmakers say they aren’t convinced the military will use the money or the parts efficiently.

DOD is still waiting on a proposal from Lockheed Martin that specifies which data is needed to run an organic supply chain and track all F-35 parts in the Pentagon’s inventory, as well as how much it would cost to own that information, according to appropriators. Getting the cost and technical data for spare parts is a crucial piece of improving supply issues.

“Currently the F-35 enterprise is unable to comprehensively and accurately inventory parts, efficiently move parts between locations, accurately match deployable spares packages to deploying units, or capture cost information for all the parts that are procured,” the report noted.

Story here.

Some have wondered why Congress would stick its nose into the tech data of the F-35 and demand that LM determine a price for the Pentagon to buy it.

I think we're seeing it.

Critical mass is finally arriving.

After almost two decades it seems that patience has worn thin.

The jacked up procurement is finally getting its day of reckoning.  I couldn't be happier.

It was never about the planes capabilities.  They are no longer revolutionary or even cutting edge.  They're ordinary.  I note with a bit of irritation that proponents of the airplane are now left with Appeals To Authority to bolster their argument (you can read one such example here from The Heritage Foundation) and I'm not impressed.

Even better?

They labored long and hard to get an airplane that barely functions but ignored the other parts of the stool.

Let's be generous and say that the plane is lethal.  Let's give it another binny and say that its survivable.

Is it supportable with ALIS?  With special hangars?  With unique fuel trucks to keep the fuel cool?

Is it affordable?  Not the base price of the airplane but to maintain and fly it?

Congress itself is saying no to the above.  Finally we're seeing lawmakers BEGIN to hold the program accountable.

It's just a start but one thing is obvious.

1763 is a lie.  Future budgets will NEVER allow the USAF to procure that many airplanes.

The supporters of the F-35 have in essence broken the USAF, cut off any possibility of balancing the force with very fine 4th Gen +++ fighters that would be awesome in 99.9% of roles that we depend on air power to perform and have basically limited the growth of the USAF because they were too stubborn to see the reality of this airplane.

Price per plane was always just the lure.  The real action was in sustainment and that's where Lockheed Martin was raping the taxpayer with a cactus.

F-35 News. Congress to withhold funding until Pentagon gets rights to technical data...

via Bloomberg

The House panel that approves defense spending intends to withhold half of next year’s funding for F-35 spare parts until the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Corp. agree on the sale of technical data for spare parts to improve the tracking of items and allow purchases from other suppliers.

Struggling to resolve spare parts shortages and bottlenecks for the fighter plane worldwide, the Defense Department this month requested that Lockheed offer a proposal to sell it cost and technical data rights to the parts. That would give the Pentagon the ability to seek its own suppliers for parts or even produce some at its maintenance depots.

But the panel said the department has yet to hear back from Lockheed, the No. 1 U.S. defense contractor.

Story here. 

This is the key to the kingdom.  This is the backbone of Lockheed Martin's profit scheme going into the future.

And now Congress and the Pentagon is trying to buy the rights to it.

Freaking awesome.

Open Comment Post. 20 May 2019

BLT 3/5 Kilo Company Night Range....pics by Lance Cpl. Dalton Swanbeck

1st Recon doing Recon sh*t....

Press the Attack A Marine with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, @1st_Marine_Div fires downrange amid an immediate action drill during exercise Platinum Ren at Fort Trondennes, Harstad, Norway.

Hmm.  I see Recon is still rocking those customized 1911's.  If they switch over to Sigs I want a line on one or two of them....One other thing.  Those bubbas never seem to have been sold on ACOGs.  Is it a desire to be different or is the one above really superior?  Anyone have info on it? 

Additionally what ever happened with the experimental Battalion that was suppose to be working on getting us suppressors, new helmets and other stuff?

Hamas had a Cyber HQ????

CLEARED FOR RELEASE: We thwarted an attempted Hamas cyber offensive against Israeli targets. Following our successful cyber defensive operation, we targeted a building where the Hamas cyber operatives work.

HamasCyberHQ.exe has been removed. pic.twitter.com/AhgKjiOqS7

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 5, 2019

I'm personally stunned.

The idea that a terror outfit would have a Cyber HQ isn't really that surprising.  Many criminal organizations dabble in cyber to fund their organizations. Theft is theft whether on an individual or group level.

What I find stunning is that they weaponized their operations.

Didn't see this one coming.  Does add another piece to the puzzle of why the USMC wants an inhouse solution instead of farming it out to the Navy like we do medical.

I still feel like a few pieces are missing.  I still want to know how this will work on the tactical level.  The strategic implications are clear.  The tactical?  Not so much.

Modern Day Marine @ Quantico....Sept 17-19

Alright Tribe.

Special request but pass it along to your friends if you can.  Still want to show my face at Modern Day Marine but the blog must fuel that trip.

So the request is simple.  Turn off your ad blockers so I can generate the revenue to enter the lions den at Quantico and maybe corner a couple of senior officers and pepper them with questions.

Yeah I get it.

Ads suck.

But I'm asking for this simple favor instead of passing a hat.  What say you?

Marines prepare to land an MV-22B Osprey aboard USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) in the Arabian Gulf....photo by Sgt. Desiree King

Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364, attached to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC), prepare to land an MV-22B Osprey aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) in the Arabian Gulf, May 11, 2019. SPMAGTF-CR-CC is specifically designed to be capable of deploying aviation, ground, and logistics forces forward at a moment’s notice

Explosion reported in central Baghdad

via Sputnik.

An explosion has reportedly taken place near the Green Zone close to the embassy area on Sunday. The cause of the blast is unknown at this point.

Projectiles landed in the Iraqi capital in the vicinity of the United States embassy on Sunday, Sky News Arabia reported citing its source.

Iraqi authorities have not yet commented on the incident. However, Reuters cited two Baghdad-based diplomatic sources as saying that they heard the blast not far from the fortified Green Zone — the area that hosts government buildings and foreign embassies.​

Story here. 

This was almost predictable.

So many parties want the US to strike to Iran that I'm not ruling out activity from countries we consider allies (classic false flag to spark a response).

Of course it could be as it appears.  Simply another strike in that city carried out by terrorists.

Stuff is murky.  This ain't only a proxy war, but also an information campaign (by both sides) AND an influence war.

So many players, so many motives, so many interests involved that no one can actually make heads or tails of something this basic.

Blast from the past. 50th anniversary of Apollo 10's flight..

Happy 50th anniversary to the launch of the Apollo 10 mission! This mission was the second to orbit the Moon, and made our Moon landing two months later possible. I’ve always loved their call signs – Snoopy and Charlie Brown! pic.twitter.com/3E7vnKsmU6

— Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) May 18, 2019

Sunday Cool...this dude has amazing body control..

This is quality content pic.twitter.com/6MGPSQlrSs

— Tiffany (@tiffanyrg9) May 18, 2019

PhotoRecon is doing a history of the Super Hornet that is a must see!

No spoilers on this.  Head over to PhotoRecon and check out there multi-part story on the history of the Super Hornet (here).

J-16 Elephant Walk via China Defense Blog...

China is still a closed society so consider what they're allowing us to see. If we're allowed to see these improved capabilities imagine what's going on behind closed doors.

The Chinese are coming.  America better get ready.

Public Humiliation keeps you going...its the Marine Corps way via Terminal Lance...

Damn!  Terminal Lance (follow this dude...I love his stuff!~) gets real with it!  

He titled this mercury rising.  You see how I labeled it.

Public Humiliation keeps ya going...its the Marine Corps way.  Fact.  No Marine will knowingly allow Doc to insert a rectal thermometer into his nether regions in front of the battalion unless he's unconscious.  That's a fact (was a fact...don't know about now).

So the risk of that means you keep going till you pass the fuck out.

You get stupid and picked up by law enforcement?  Have a good time at the local bar and get wasted beyond belief?  You better hope the LEO is former servicemember and has some understanding or once you get out of county you'll be in front of the battalion getting announced that you're getting 15 days pay forfeiture, 15 days restriction and 15 days additional duty.

Don't know if it would work in the civilian world but that public humiliation works in the Corps.

Open Comment Post. 19 May 2019

USAF/USAF Special Ops moving ahead alone in picking a custom built ITV for the CV-22...

via Shepard Media.

US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and Air Combat Command (ACC) have issued a joint solicitation for more than two dozen standardized Special Warfare V-22 Internally Transportable Vehicles (ITV).

With this, it appears that AFSOC and ACC are not willing to wait for a larger USSOCOM acquisition program for a similar mobility platform, a requirement officially initiated in August 2018.

The AFCOC ITVs should have the operational flexibility to support special warfare core activities of direct action, special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, counterterrorism, security force assistance, counterinsurgency and rescue and recovery operations.

According to the AFSOC/ACC solicitation, released on 16 May 2019 by Air Force Materiel Command, the required ITV “must be able to safely transport four special warfare personnel and accommodate four litter patients simultaneously through the full spectrum of environmental conditions and terrain during tactical operations.

"The ITV will traverse off-road, however operational capability on primary and secondary roads are required. ITV addresses the increased payload of the Special Operations Team, range required for infiltration/exfiltration, and transportability of combat wounded, without compromising space for ITV crew and passengers.”

The solicitation requests vendor pricing for 27 Search and Rescue Tactical Vehicles (SRTV) SXV gas variants, manufactured by BC Customs.

Story here. 

Too juicy.

We have ParaRescue order the Guardian Air Deployable Rescue Vehicle (the pics at the top) because they needed a platform that could enable long distance rescue without "risking" additional aircraft and now they're expanding that to an ITV to fit CV-22s.

Even better.

Everyone is looking for an ITV to fit the V-22 but the USAF and USAF Special Ops won't wait on SOCOM & the Marine Corps to pick a vehicle.

The need is so urgent that they must go alone.  Not only that but they need a race tuned rig.

Simple question.

Have they validated this need?  Has anyone in SOCOM or the Marine Corps actually done a test to see if this concept even works!

F-35 News. Turkey is essentially out as an F-35 customer after announcing that it will co-produce S-500's with Russia...

Thanks to Osmanoglu for the link!

via ChannelNewsAsia.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday (May 18) said Turkey and Russia would jointly produce S-500 defence systems after Ankara's controversial purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Moscow.

Turkey's push to buy the S-400s has further strained already tense relations with the United States which has repeatedly warned Ankara of the risks including sanctions as a result of the purchase.

"There is absolutely no question of (Turkey) taking a step back from the S-400s purchase. That is a done deal," Erdogan said in Istanbul.

"There will be joint production of the S-500 after the S-400," Erdogan told an audience of young people asking questions.

Ties between NATO allies Turkey and the US have frayed over multiple issues including American support for a Syrian Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Ankara and the US failure to extradite a Muslim preacher blamed for the 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan.

Washington says the deal with Moscow is a threat to Western defence and in April suspended deliveries of the F-35 stealth fighter jet to Turkey in a bid to halt the purchase.

Turkish pilots are in the US receiving training on the F-35s, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Turkey is expected to buy 100 of the jets in total.

Erdogan said Turkey conducted technical studies amid US concerns over the compatibility of the S-400s and the F-35s but found there were no issues.

He also insisted "sooner or later" Turkey would receive the F-35 jets.

Despite the threat of sanctions, Erdogan repeated that the S-400s were expected to be delivered in July, "but this could be brought forward", he added.

Well you can pretty much stick a fork in Turkey getting F-35s.

This concern about Russian missiles turned from a friendly disagreement into brinksmanship.

If Congress, the Pentagon and the President of the USA backs down then there will be hell to pay.  The same applies to their counterparts in Turkey.

One thing has me curious.

Why would you continue to train Turkish pilots on the plane if all this was going on?  Has vital US tech been protected against espionage by this friendly nation turning more hostile everyday?

Turkey just made one helluva statement.

They're inches away from turning away from NATO/EU/US and turning toward Russia.

Chaos is the new constant.

Comments on articles no longer close...all threads are open.

Change is constant. 

One change on the blog is I've decided to do away with the kill switch on comments after 3 days.

No longer will threads close.  They'll remain open till you guys are finished hashing stuff out.

China News. Chinese Foreign Minister calls for US restraint in trade talks...

via Outline.com

China's senior diplomat Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday that recent U.S. words and actions had harmed the interests of China and its enterprises, and that Washington should show restraint, China's foreign ministry said.


Speaking to Pompeo by telephone, Wang said the United States should not go "too far" in the current trade dispute between the two sides, adding that China was still willing to resolve differences through negotiations, but they should be on an equal footing.

Story here. 

I don't know all the players in this fight but its obvious (at least to me) that for the first time in decades we finally have the Chinese by their short hairs.

Will there be pain for certain sectors (farming) and for the US consumer?  Possibly.  But is that pain worth it?  I believe it is.

First let's talk about the actual tariffs.  It boils down to this.  It's peanuts.  A rounding error.  Even if taken to their max, they're still pennies on the dollar. The fact that every major liberal paper has taken to almost yelling about how it will hurt us while at the same time ignoring the pain that the Chinese will feel from this economic fight should be instructive.

Second is the fact that we MUST slow down their buildup.  Any economic pain the populace feels must result in spending at home to keep the natives happy.

Additionally it  will mean that we slow down their silk road initiative.

The reality is that we need to change the current trajectory.  Either suffer a small bit now or suffer alot more later.  There is no more room to kick this can down the road.

We must face the threat that is China now.