BAE's Ground Combat Vehicle.

Massive hat tip to Think Defence.

Oshkosh MMRS

Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (L-ATV)

Kennedy is the father of Special Forces...Obama is the father of Navy SEALS's?.

Watch this video and cringe like I did.  

From the Ministry of Defence. French Marines and Arctic Training.

A French Marine is pictured on Exercise Boar's Head at the Otterburn Training Camp, Northumberband with a Famas assault rifle.

Exercise Boar's Head was a company level live firing exercise which took place at Otterburn Training Area involving a British Army infantry company from 5 SCOTS, a unit of 16 Air Assault Brigade; and a company from 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment a unit of the French 11th Parachute Brigade.

The exercise was part of the continuing relationship between French and British Army units following the signing of the Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty by Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in November 2010.

The exercise involved a wide range of live firing exercises from platoon to company level involving a range of supporting weapon systems and saw the French company conducting live fire attacks supported by a British fire support team in a demanding environment.

Royal Navy Sea King Mk4 helicopter pilots and aircrews from Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) carry out a load lifting exercise as part of their Arctic flying training in Norway.

The training takes place some 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle at the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) base near Bardufoss, Norway. The JHC base known as “Clockwork” provides survival and operational training and support facilities to enable aviation capable unit’s arms to survive, operate and fight in extreme C2 environments.

USS Freedom porn.

Has anyone noticed that we haven't heard a thing about the Austal version of this ship? 

US Army Aviation innovates. First datalink for UAVs delivered.

 

via Lockheed Martin Press Release

LONGBOW LLC DELIVERS FIRST PRODUCTION BLOCK III APACHE DATA LINK SYSTEM TO THE U.S. ARMY

 

ORLANDO, Fla., February 21, 2012 – The LONGBOW Limited Liability Company, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Northrop Grumman [NYSE: NOC], recently delivered the first production Unmanned Aerial Systems Tactical Common Data Link Assembly (UTA) to the U.S. Army for the Apache Block III helicopter.

 

“The delivery of the first Apache Block III UAS [Unmanned Aircraft Systems] control system, called the UTA, marks the next major capability advancement for the Apache, which continues to be the deciding factor on the battlefield,” said Lt. Col. Dan Bailey, U.S. Army Apache Block III product manager.  “When fielded, the UTA capability will significantly enhance the game-changing perspective of the Apache.”

 

This delivery follows the successful completion of the LONGBOW UTA system design and development phase.  Low-rate initial production is currently underway to equip the first U.S. Army Apache Block III helicopters with this capability.

 

“The delivery of the first UTA system to the U.S. Army is the successful culmination of a nearly six-year design and development program,” said Mike Taylor, LONGBOW LLC president and director of LONGBOW programs in Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business.  “The UTA provides Apache aircrews with increased situational awareness and net-centric interoperability significantly reducing sensor-to-shooter timelines.”

 

LONGBOW UTA is a two-way, high-bandwidth data link for the Apache that enables aircrews to control the sensor and flight path of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.  UTA-equipped Apache aircrews can operate a UAS at long range and receive real-time, high-definition streaming video on their multi-function displays.  The new Block III Radar Electronics Unit enhances the LONGBOW Fire Control Radar system performance while reducing size, weight, maintenance and power requirements.  The UTA will be fielded on the Apache Block III aircraft beginning in 2012.

 Masking behind terrain takes on a whole new meaning now.
 

Black rifles finally going away.

Finally!

It looks like the Marine Corps is finally getting around to painting rifles.  It would be better if they duracoated them or something better but I'll take what I can get.  Fast forward to the 57 second mark to see what I'm talking about.