Nato Secretary General says alliance needs to address the rise of China

via SCMP

Nato needs to understand the implications of China’s growing power around the world, including those areas that may challenge members of the North Atlantic security body, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.
China’s increasing assertiveness, including its presence in the South China Sea, had raised concerns about its intentions, and the United States had called on Nato to recognise and adapt to emerging threats, including China, he said.
“This is not about moving Nato into the Pacific, but this is about responding to the fact that China is coming closer to us,” Stoltenberg said in an interview in Sydney.
Stoltenberg said it was about “investing heavily in critical infrastructure in Europe, increased presence in the Arctic and also increased presence in Africa, and in cyberspace”.

Story here.

You ever get that sinking feeling when you've been advocating for something for so long and it finally comes true that it's being turned on its head for a different agenda?

I get that feeling with this sudden tilt to recognizing China as a threat.

I'm really getting the impression that this is more about budget and reach into possible new markets/resources than it is about countering their expansion.

I hope I'm wrong.

But I can't shake the feeling.  I can't help but wonder if this isn't the new way to grab money for defense instead of spending the money already allocated more wisely.

Russian Northern Fleet has deployed the "Ball Missile System"....

via tvzvezda.ru

The missile division of a separate Northern Fleet artillery brigade, equipped with the new Bal anti-ship coastal missile system, deployed launchers on the Sredny peninsula on the coast of the Barents Sea.

Naval rocket men made a march from a permanent deployment point to the position area. About 60 troops and 15 units of military equipment were involved in the march, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.

On the peninsula, the average personnel of the division will work out the preparation of the Ball complexes for firing at surface targets, and will conduct a missile strike exercise against a group of conditional enemy ships with imitation of missile firing.

The Bal coastal missile system entered service with the Northern Fleet coastal artillery brigade to replace the Rubezh complex. It is designed to destroy surface targets at a distance of up to 150 kilometers. It is planned that the first practical firing of the DBK “Ball” will be carried out this fall during the planned exercises of the forces of the Northern Fleet.

Totally unfamiliar with this weapon system.

Does the Commandant's new mantra of bringing back the FMF mean that Marines will have to become familiar with weapons that can threaten the fleet now?

If so then basic military education on that front will be essential...and require a rethink of things.

Threat identification just became a bit tougher for Marines everywhere.

Czech MoD launches RFP for tracked IFV procurement

PUMA

ASCOD

LYNX

CV90

via Janes

The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 6 August that it had made a request for proposals (RFP) to four companies for the procurement of 210 tracked infantry fighting vehicles to replace its BMP-2s.

The four potential bidders are BAE Systems Hägglunds with the CV90, General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) with the ASCOD, Rheinmetall with the Lynx, and Rheinmetall-Krauss-Maffei Wegmann 50:50 joint venture Projekt System Management (PSM) with the Puma.

The Czech MoD said it expected the potential suppliers to show how the vehicles they are offering meet its requirements and delivery schedule; provide the price of the vehicles, training, life-cycle, and spare parts; and propose how to involve Czech industry.

A couple of things.  First the Puma and CV90 seem long in the tooth.  Don't know why but I really get that impression.  Next, the Puma seems to have gotten a bit of "fanboy" love but I have yet to see it win a competition in the recent past.  Issues that the German Army presented to KMW seem to be lingering.  Then we have the ASCOD.  The Brits seem to be operating (or soon to be operating) the most formidable version of that vehicle.  Interesting.  A refresh does wonders for impressions of a rig.  Last the Lynx.  Its got that futuristic feel to it but its got to win.  Otherwise its going down the road of the last great vehicle that didn't get any orders...the BAE SEP Alligator.

Open Comment Post. 08 Aug 2019

True Grit during the Battle of Najaf via SgtGrunt0331 Tumblr Page...

During the Battle of Najaf, U.S. Marine James Hassell, risked his life to carry his wounded buddy, Ryan Borgstrom, 60 yards through open gunfire. When a Newsweek photographer captured the moment, Hassell simply said, "We're Marines. That's what we do." The Marines of Charlie Company 1st Battalion 4th Marine Regiment carried out a raid on the Najaf residence of Moqtada al-Sadr during the Battle of Najaf on August 12, 2004.

Photo by: Lucian Read

F-35 achieved a Fully Capable Mission Rate of 8.7% in June, up from 4.7% in the previous month...

Thanks to Donno for the link!

via POGO

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in the operational test fleet at California’s Edwards Air Force Base are suffering from low readiness rates that may threaten the successful completion of the crucial combat-testing phase of the program, as shown in a chart created by the Joint Program Office’s Integrated Test Force and obtained by the Project On Government Oversight (POGO).

The revelation that the F-35 program is struggling to overcome the last hurdle before it can legally move into full-rate production follows numerous recent reports, including by POGO as well as the Government Accountability Office, indicating the most expensive weapon system in history is far from ready to face current or future threats.

The 23 aircraft in the test fleet achieved an abysmal “fully mission capable” rate of 8.7 percent in June 2019 according to the chart, which covers December 2018 through mid-July 2019. A fully mission capable aircraft can perform all of its assigned missions, a particularly important readiness measure for multi-mission programs such as the F-35. The June rate was actually an improvement over the previous month, when the fleet managed a rate of just 4.7 percent. Since the beginning of operational testing in December 2018, the fleet has had an average fully mission capable rate of just 11 percent.

Story here. 

Chinese Cyber Group "picking flowers in foreign lands" Report...

Today we're releasing a report on #APT41, a prolific Chinese cyber threat group that carries out state-sponsored espionage activity in parallel w/ financially motivated ops.

Visit us at #BHUSA to learn more from our #threatintel experts.

>> Read more: https://t.co/ub4P9b1XHe pic.twitter.com/yXpK8ve0xm

— FireEye (@FireEye) August 7, 2019

Calls for gun control...

I'm kinda amazed.

If you look at the latest rash of mass shootings one thing becomes apparent. Most of these guys got their guns legally.

So background checks won't do much good if you're thinking logically.

Next up are the red flag laws.

So my neighbor can call and state that I'm a danger and the US govt will send its agents to deny me of my rights to own guns?

Does this sound like 1984 to anyone?

The solution is simple.

Punish the evil doers to the maximum extent of the law.  Let it be known that if you commit murder then your life is forfeit.  Let it be known that the punishment will be swift and sure.

But that won't happen.

Even worse?

The passions of the mob are overwhelming common sense.  Even the allies of gun owners seem ready to abandon them. 

My prediction?

You'll see gun owners go underground.  The dark web will probably be the new home for the members of that tribe.

And that my friends is dangerous.

When you have an entire segment of the population decide that they can no longer discuss things in the open then you are taking steps toward hidden dangers.  As bad as some think things are they can get worse if the mob holds sway.

2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment (US Army) conducts gunnery practice...

Soldiers of the — 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, @DaggerBDE , @FightingFirst — know the importance of training. These units are constantly training to maintain their readiness and are preparing to head to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Ca. #DutyFirst #Victory pic.twitter.com/mgv0SF1ohN

— 1st Infantry Division (@FightingFirst) August 6, 2019

Open Comment Post. 07 Aug 2019

Russian heavy strike unmanned aerial vehicle "Okhotnik" first flight vid...

Thanks to Pavel for the link!

Drone footage of the amphibious assault at Talisman Sabre 2019

Fantastic drone footage of joint forces from the 🇺🇸 🇦🇺 🇯🇵 as they stage an amphibious assault at Langham Beach in Queensland, during @TalismanSabre. The training improves the combat readiness and interoperability between U.S.-Australian forces. #USwithAUS pic.twitter.com/4EgxkMkE8I

— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) August 3, 2019

Open Comment Post (Late). 06 Aug 2019

Introducing Supacat (vid)

Great company.

Awesome vehicle for the Brits.

But I just don't understand the rationale.  It's like taking an ATV and monster sizing it to comparably "The Hulk" size or taking a JLTV, stripping off the doors/roof/etc...and sending your light forces out in it.

It's mobility, both tactical and strategic, can't be denied.  It's combat proven.  It can carry an unGodly amount of gear and weapons.  But I have yet to hear a clear reason for its being.

Hong Kong continues to boil and the police response is getting more dramatic.

Footage is now emerging on Telegram showing the scale of the police response to assembled pro-democracy demonstrators in Tai Po. Have you ever seen so many police vehicles in all your life? #反送中 #AntiELAB pic.twitter.com/hAccIcJO1w

— Jack Hazlewood (@JackHHazlewood) August 5, 2019

Like the Twitter Account says.  Have you ever seen that many police vehicles?  Not sedans but vans and buses.  Repeating myself but this will not end well.

Ammunition depot has exploded near the city of Achinsk in Russia.

An ammunition depot has exploded near the city of Achinsk in Russia. The 100,000 residents of Achinsk are currently being evacuated #Russia pic.twitter.com/cmzR3q4YOy

— CNW (@ConflictsW) August 5, 2019

Change of pace from our usual fare. If this don't get ya even slightly misty then you have no heart...

THIS SHIT BROKE MY HEARTTT pic.twitter.com/6tqaj6XQIm

— ⚜️ (@ahmxdmayed) August 4, 2019

A few uncomfortable truths from Neil deGrasse Tyson @neiltyson

In the past 48hrs, the USA horrifically lost 34 people to mass shootings.

On average, across any 48hrs, we also lose…

500 to Medical errors
300 to the Flu
250 to Suicide
200 to Car Accidents
40 to Homicide via Handgun

Often our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data.

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) August 4, 2019

Stunning isn't it?

We get caught up in the sensationalism but we ignore the everyday dramas playing out around us.

Kinda makes gun violence look like a minor issue doesn't it?  Kinda makes you wonder how we're prioritizing things if it's really only about saving lives....

The F-35 program grew by $25 billion in 2018—or about $95 billion when adjusting for inflation

via Air Force Magazine.

The total cost of the F-35 program grew by $25 billion in 2018—or about $95 billion when adjusting for inflation—in part because of a new slate of upgrades known as Block 4, the Pentagon said in an annual acquisition report published Aug. 1.

Acquisition alone—including research and development, procurement, and military construction costs—rose by $15.3 billion compared to the 2012 baseline, or $22.2 billion when adjusted for inflation.

The Pentagon also noted a dispute between its cost assessment and program evaluation shop, which believes Joint Strike Fighter operations and sustainment costs are rising, and the F-35 Joint Program Office, which argues those costs are shrinking.

Story here. 

Not a good sign when the Pentagon CAPE shop disagrees with the cost estimate given by the JSF Program.

Worse.

The cost curve just can't get pushed down.  Adding another 95 billion dollars to this program can't be a good sign...especially with them being at the start of the Block 4 upgrades AND those upgrades being just a PART (unknown how big a part) of the cost increase.

The troubles for the F-35 have just begun.  New suppliers are gonna need to be found to replace the companies in Turkey that were producing them and the risk of increased costs rears its head again with that possibility.

What was it the JSF Program Office said about companies in Turkey?  Something to the effect of them producing quality parts at affordable prices? That will be hard to replicate with a short fused request for new suppliers.

"I am in the military and I've got my license to carry, so all I think about is get my gun out and think fast."

via Military.com

U.S. Army Pfc. Glendon Oakley Jr. said Saturday he didn't believe it at first when a little kid came running into the sports store where he was shopping and said there was an active shooter at Walmart near the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas.

Then he walked into Foot Locker and heard gunshots nearby.

"I am in the military and I've got my license to carry, so all I think about is get my gun out and think fast," Oakley said during an interview with KTSM-TV after a gunman killed 20 people and wounded another 26 in the Aug. 3 shooting.

Story here. 

Hmm.  Another black concealed carry holder that acted to save lives.  How can this be in America (sarcasm)?

Side note.  My stance on Russia might need to be reassessed.  This Tweet was obviously a jab.

With a profound grief we learned of the crimes which took place in El Paso, Dayton and Chicago. The Embassy shares the sorrow of those who lost their loved ones and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

🇷🇺 flying at half-staff in Washington, DC pic.twitter.com/a9K1NSubDe

— Russia in USA 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbUSA) August 5, 2019

This is an attempt to inflame passions.  I know all about big boy's playing hardball but at this time?  Pretty shady if you ask me.