SNAFU!

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Boeing in Deutschland...

Boeing website here (gonna need a translation service...it is in German).

Everyone is predicting an easy CH-53K win but I doubt it. The Germans are cost conscious with regard to military spending. I don't think they'll pay the price for what the CH-53K offers. Additionally Boeing is making the case that the CH-47 can lift any and everything a military force requires from its helo force. So far Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin hasn't found an answer to that meme.

My prediction?

CH-47 over the objections of the German Air Force. It'll be based on cost, not necessarily performance.

Type 16 from the Japanese Western Army (pic)...

Okinawa Governor Warns of Civil Unrest if US Doesn't Give Up Local Marine Base....They're becoming a bit tiresome....

via Sputnik

Should the US prolong its military use of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, it could see civil unrest in the region, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki recently wrote in a letter to US officials.

"If the US continues to use [MCAS Futenma], it may give rise to anti-base protests against all US military bases in Okinawa, or even an overall anti-US movement like what was seen in the past," Tamaki noted, recalling the turbulent days of the early 1970s when Japanese demonstrators unified under an anti-American stance.

"If that happens, such movements would have a significant impact on the Japan-US Security Arrangements as well as the Japan-US Alliance including operation of Kadena Air Base and White Beach Naval Facility."

Story here.

The protests around USMC bases in Okinawa are becoming a bit tiresome. The bleating of their politicians has become irritating.

Either you want us there protecting your ass or you don't. Pick one. But if you ask us to leave don't come crying when the Chinese crush you into the ground and scatter your bones at sea.

This is why so many Americans want to see US forces brought home from all these overseas bases.

We're not appreciated, nor are we desired.

Its like being in a bad relationship. If its obvious its not working then its best to leave.

Canadian Army's LAV 6.0...perfecting the iron triangle...

via Canadian Army Today.com

The LAV 6.0 is a refinement of the lessons gained from a decade of experience in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Over 350 of its predecessor, the LAV III, were damaged during the mission, three dozen beyond repair, from small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and improvised explosive devices.

To develop the mandatory requirements, the project team drew from more than 1,600 lessons learned since the LAV III was first introduced in 1999, including 300 interviews with crew commanders, gunners, drivers and maintenance technicians to identify 700 improvements.

“We looked not only at the technical aspects, but also the TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures), the way the vehicle was being used,” Larrivee explained in an interview in 2014. “We also looked at what was being developed on newer vehicles.”

The result was what he called a “perfect triangle” of protection, mobility and lethality with the electronic architecture to integrate into a digitized network as part of the Army’s future concept of adaptive dispersed operations.

Though it was labeled an upgrade project, little of the original LAV III remains. The LAV 6.0 addressed protection with a double-V hull with energy attenuated seating; mobility with a new suspension and driveline and a more powerful 450 horsepower Caterpillar engine and larger Michelin tires; and lethality through improved turret components and layout.

What was retained, in addition to the 25mm M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon, turret drive, heater, and automatic fire suppression system, are the core design elements and functionality that have made the LAV the backbone of the Army’s combat vehicle fleet.

Perfecting that triangle, however, was no easy task. Enhanced armoured protection with the same mobility meant a larger vehicle. The baseline weight of the LAV III that deployed to Afghanistan was about 36,000 pounds – it surpassed 42,000 with add-on armour. After the Army added new belly and side armour, an enhanced weapon station and attenuating seats as part of the LAV Operation Requirement Integration Task (LORIT) program in 2009 to address the threat of IEDs, the vehicle weighed in at 52,000 pounds with personnel and kit piled on.

The LAV 6.0 begins at a baseline weight of 45,000 pounds and increases to 63,000 with the full combat package of added armour protection and ammunition.

As the gross vehicle weight grew, though, GDLS-Canada had to enhance the suspension and drive train. “That combined to produce a vehicle that was in a much heavier weight class,” acknowledged Steve Child, senior engineer for product and technology development. “We then started looking at how to redistribute the weight in the vehicle to better support the loads and to move the platform in terms of functionality for both weapons and protection systems.”

Story here.

Full disclosure.

I'm a General Dynamics Land fanboy.

Having said that, let me also add that I'm looking for some great things from this company going forward.

I already here ya saying...but what about those competitions that they lost. Easy I say. It wasn't a failure of product (they have vehicles in their portfolio that would easily be considered as state of the art, and top of the class) but more a failure in interpreting the solicitations being brought forward by the various govts.

Regardless, the Canadian Army seems pleased with their steed. Good on them and GD.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

F-35 News. US may suspend training of Turk pilots....

via Reuters.

The United States is seriously considering suspending training for Turkish pilots on advanced F-35 fighter jets as Ankara moves ahead with plans to purchase a Russian missile defense system despite objections from Washington, sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

The two NATO allies have argued for months over Turkey’s order for the Russian S-400 defenses, which Washington says are incompatible with the Western alliance’s defense network and would pose a threat to American F-35 stealth fighters which Turkey also plans to buy.

The two sources, who are familiar with Turkey’s role in the F-35 program and who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a final decision had not yet been made.

The deliberation follows signs that Turkey is moving ahead with the S-400 purchase. Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on May 22 that Turkish military personnel were receiving training in Russia to use the S-400, and said Russian personnel may come to Turkey.

Turkish pilots have also been training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. It was unclear whether a decision to suspend their training would mean they would have to leave the country, or would be allowed to remain at the base until a final decision is made about Turkey’s future in the F-35 program.

Story here.

I asked why we were still training Turk pilots and now they finally are moving on the issue.

Took them long enough.

It does raise the question though. What if this had gone differently? What if the Turks waited till they had their F-35s and THEN bought S-400s.

What would the response be?

What if an F-35 buyer decides later to buy S-400s? What do we do then? Its been stated that operating this airplane alongside Russian air defense is a hazard to the plane's secrets so what do you do?

Just throwing that out there but I am curious.

Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicle II (KAAV)...

Thanks to Ogden for the link!

Well goddam. The Koreans have labored hard and built an EFV clone! simply amazing!

It almost looks like an exact fucking copy!

Ogden says well played, I say fuck me! Thieving bastards!

Don't believe me? Check out the General Dynamics EFV below!

You do know what this brings up don't you? It makes you wonder whether or not the wheeled ACV is the correct choice. Think about it. No one else is going the wheeled route. Everyone is going tracks.

I hope HQMC got this right.

I hope those tests actually prove the viability of wheels in this domain but I can't lie....that little nagging doubt remains.

Read DTR to see their write up on this beast.

Chinese Video Urges War With U.S. via Free Beacon...

via Free Beacon...

China's Communist Party-controlled media stepped up a war of words with the United States recently urging an escalation of the ongoing trade dispute into a full-scale conflict.

"China must be prepared to fight a protracted war," states a four-minute, anti-American video posted five days ago on a Chinese video-sharing service.

"Trump's ‘outrageous and selfish' strategy might work for smaller countries, but it will never work for China," the video warns. "To quote a well-written article in the Global Times: If the Americans want to fight, we will fight them until the end! And we will fight until the Pacific Ocean splits into two!" Global Times is the Communist Party of China's nationalistic and anti-U.S. news outlet.

During the voiceover, images of cargo ships, trucks and shipping containers in China, along with high-technology facilities in China, is shown. An Apple store and a Boeing jetliner also appears in the video and American fast-food companies in China. Criticism of the United States is illustrated with images of the U.S. Capitol.

Story and video here.

How much more proof do you need that the rise of China will not be peaceful? I've stated time after time that if you go on Chinese forums (they're becoming a bit secretive of late) that the call for war with the US is spoken of publicly but no one seems to believe it.

No common cause will be found. No co-existence is possible.

Face the threat head on and deal with it.

That is the only way to survive and win the coming fight!