Dragoon Ready – 2nd Cavalry Regiment....via Tank-Masters.de

Website here.

Blast from the past...Oshkosh Humvee Suspension

Hmm.  We have two dynamics going on that might dictate at least considering updates to the HUMVEE.

The first is that the HUMVEE will remain in service into the foreseeable future. The second is that the number of JLTVs are being cut by the US Army which will rebound to the Marine Corps in a probable uptick in the cost that we buy.

So what do we do?

One possibility that should be considered (in my opinion) is to dust off the plans by Oshkosh to apply the MRTV suspension (the TAK-4) and put it on the Hummer.

The Pentagon is finally tilting toward a peer vs peer conflict.  But we don't get to pick the fights we're involved in (politicians with agendas do) so the idea of having vehicles that can survive in an IED environment is a necessity.

Small Wars will probably revert to being a shared responsibility of the USMC and SOCOM, so we need to be prepared to operate in that environment.

If the cost is right.  If it can be accomplished in a reasonable time frame then this is I think a reasonable course for us to take.

F-35 Aircraft Fleet Performance Is Pathetic!!!

Thanks to CharleyA for the chart!

Drink in that info.  What has me spinning is the full mission capable rates of the F-35B (don't even want to touch on the abysmal performance of the F-35C).

16%?????

I called it pathetic in the title but that doesn't properly address this massive cluster fuck of a program!

Once upon a time there existed a United States Marine Corps that would not tolerate this!

Oh and note this is after almost 20 years of work to get this thing right!

Open Comment Post. 26 April 2019

FNSS Reveals PARS III 8x8 Engineering Vehicle

via Press Release.

FNSS demonstrates the modularity and adaptability of the PARS III 8x8 to different missions with the armoured engineer vehicle, developed for the Royal Army of Oman. The ongoing qualification tests for the PARS III 8x8 Engineering Vehicle are expected to be completed within the first half of this year, after which the vehicle will be delivered.

Developed by FNSS as its first 8x8 engineering vehicle clears surface laid mines and threats found within the path of the full width of the vehicle, from roads, tracks and rough terrain to produce a cleared route for the infantry and follow-on vehicles. The PARS III 8x8 Engineering Vehicle can effectively fulfil a wide range of missions owing to its ability to have equipment and hardware rapidly mounted and dismounted from its chassis. With different equipment and hardware equipped, the vehicle can execute the following types of missions, aimed at enhancing the mobility and operational capabilities of friendly forces and units:


*Removal of obstacles/barriers, clearing paths, maintenance of roads used in combat;

*Clearing paths through minefields to ensure the continued movement of friendly units;

*Construction of communication and defence posts, taking measures against surveillance (concealment), construction of mock-up facilities, and enemy deception to increase the survivability of units;

The contract signed by FNSS to meet the needs of the Royal Army of Oman covers the design, development, production and delivery of a total of 172 vehicles in 13 different configurations, as well as the integrated logistics support (ILS) services to be provided throughout the guarantee period. While 145 of these vehicles will be PARS III 8x8 vehicles delivered in eight different configurations, the remaining 27 will be the PARS III 6x6 vehicles delivered in five different configurations. The total number of PARS III 8x8 Engineering Vehicles will be six.

Role 2 Light Maneuver Team....Video by Kevin Dawson

K-9 Village UH-1 Battle Drills.....Pics by Lance Cpl. Auburne Johnson

Troubled Lockheed Copter Needs New Review, Inhofe Tells Pentagon

via Bloomberg.

The Pentagon needs to undertake another review of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s $31 billion CH-53K heavy lift helicopter program amid continuing technical problems and delays, according to the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.


Republican Senator James Inhofe said the importance of the CH-53K King Stallion to the Marine Corps means that a “comprehensive, independent update” on the long-delayed program is overdue. Inhofe’s role leading the committee that authorizes defense spending means his request will almost certainly be heeded.

“We need to get it right, and this report should give us a current assessment and reestablish a baseline for the program to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely,” Inhofe said in a statement to Bloomberg News. The senator cited concern that the chopper “is more than a year behind schedule and has over 100 outstanding deficiencies that still require resolution.”


Inhofe’s request comes as the Navy plans to award a production contract for as many as 14 new King Stallions next month, though so far only two of a planned 200 helicopters are under contract. The Navy program office and Lockheed’s Sikorsky Aircraft unit are still working to address 126 technical deficiencies, according to the Pentagon’s latest report on the system. The Oklahoma senator stopped short of suggesting the contract not be signed.

Story here. 

What has the Marine Corps forgotten?  That NO ONE WEAPON SYSTEM is worth an astronomical cost.  NO ONE WEAPON SYSTEM is indispensable.  You equip the man, you don't man the equipment!

Does the CH-53K (if it can work right) mean an improved capability for the Marine Corps?

Yes.  Without a doubt.

But is that improvement in capability worth the price?

I'm not sure.

This program should already be under review.  Can you honestly say that this program shouldn't already be under Nunn-McCurdy?

My worry is that we're falling into the same trap as we did with the F-35.  We're deciding that weapon systems are worth "dying in a ditch" over.

Sorry bros but that's bullshit.

If it don't work then you either get the contractor to get his head out of his nether regions OR you move on to another contractor that can get you 90% of what you want.

Do I like the CH-53K?

Yep.

Do I like the costs or the delays?  Fuck no!

Give me marinized CH-47's if they can't get us this helo at a proper price on a proper schedule.

Side note.  Can anyone explain where they got 200 for the number of airframes they're looking at buying?  That's more than the total number of CH-53E's that the USMC bought.  We're looking at a more than one for one replacement while we're also buying more MV-22's than we had CH-46's.  We're buying EXCESS CAPACITY!  How is that being frugal with the taxpayers dollar?

Evasion Course | Training To Evade Capture

KNDS - European Main Battle Tank (EMBT) Field Testing

Turkey's First Armored Vehicle Electric "Scorpion II"

Thanks to Vodkar for the pic and the link!

Hate the govt but love their defense industry.  Turkey is really making strides! The concept is a little "different" but I like the lines of this beast.  I'd love to see it in the field.  If looks equal mobility (and it doesn't) then this thing should be able to get up and go...and cross all kinds of terrain.

2nd Eitan Prototype...

Thanks to Franck488 for the pic!

Did they add more armor to the side or is that the same as the first vehicle?  Guess it doesn't matter.  The EITAN is the finest 8x8 in the world today...

Open Comment Post. 25 April 2019

Open Comment Post. 24 April 2019

Red Knight 6 is talking mad shit!

I don’t want to be rude or anything but all I want to do is Load eff-ing Sabot. https://t.co/BLkRA7VJqz

— Red Knight 6, Commander, 1-81 AR (@RedKnightHQ66) April 23, 2019

Too funny.

AVX Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Concept looks sweet!

Time for all you aviation bubbas to step up and correct me on what I'm seeing here.

Internal carriage of offensive payload should mean that this little puppy is quick.  I don't know how many hellfires or their future replacement this thing is gonna carry but if its 4 per side we're still looking at a robust payload of hate and hurt on the enemy.

I'm seeing what I think are 4 stingers on the wingtips.  Why the Army is so wedded to that limited weapon system is beyond me but it's there so we probably won't see them move up to what I consider as the minimum...sidewinders.  Side note.  Would the ceptor missile be a better performer?  Don't know. 

Moving on we see the standard AVX pushers at the back but what has me particularly jazzed is the idea that we're seeing a relatively small helicopter that's mounting impressive firepower.  We don't know the scale but the rotors extend past the body of the helicopter.

The best thing about this competition in my mind?

Even if AVX or another competitor loses they're still going to be able to get a model flying.  We're going to have advanced the tech and we might see models adapted to civilian or SOCOM or Allied use that didn't win the Army contract.

Armed Escorts Drop Off Migrants Near Ajo, Arizona

What in the actual hell is going on at our border?  Migrants are getting armed escorts? 

Who is paying for this?  Who is behind it and what is the profit motive if we're assuming that these migrants don't have the resources to pay for it themselves?

Criminal organizations?  Govt?  Private sector?

This is weird.  This is unusual to the max.  It just seems all kinds of wrong.  I want to know the hows and whys. 

Once again I find myself heading down a rabbit hole because this doesn't seem organic at all.  It seems agenda driven and that thought takes me to places I don't want to go.

Royal Norwegian Army leading NATO Enhanced Forward Presence BattleGroup in Lithuania...

In Lithuania, the company commander leads his men from this Fennek. He has soldiers from Spain and Slovenia under his command there. While he receives information via the radio, he drives quickly from one place to another in order to be as well informed as possible about the constantly changing situations. #eFP

Weird rig to use as your command vehicle but if it works, it works.  I guess the speed and high mobility are a plus but I'm not seeing all the antenas I'd expect to see from a vehicle being used by the BattleGroup Commander.

Additionally he must be a one man band kind of operator.  Limited comms, small crew and zooming from place to place to get eyes on?

Seems kinda risky in a real shooting war but if it works, it works.  I just had no idea you could exercise that much control over a widely dispersed, multinational formation the way they're apparently doing it.

I'm beyond impressed....I'm kinda in awe.  Didn't think it could be done this way.

173rd Airborne Brigade hits Juliet Drop Zone....pic by SPC Ryan Lucas