Thursday, July 01, 2010

Critical Solutions International. Who are these guys?

Browsing the internet I came across an interesting little company in Carrolton, Texas called Critical Solutions International.

No big deal, there are plenty of startups out there, but what caught my attention is their connection to South African mine clearing companies (I can't figure out which ones) but they seem to have been supplying the US military with vehicles under this US subsidiary and even seem posed to provide an MRAP alternative.



But the flagship vehicle in their lineup is the Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector.  I can't wait to learn more about what these guys are doing but it should be interesting.


Pic of the Day. July 1, 2010.

via Joe Stremph's Flickr page.


Wednesday, June 30, 2010

First flight of the Euro-Hawk.

Exercise High Sierra 2010.

Exercise High Sierra 2010
Exercise High Sierra conducted from 14 June to 2 July represents the last three weeks of the F/A-18 operational conversion course, which converts fighter pilots from the Hawk Mk127 Lead-in-fighter aircraft to the F/A-18 Hornet.
Eight pilots from No. 2 Operational Conversion Squadron, part of the RAAF’s Air Combat Group at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales, are put through their paces during the Exercise prior to graduation. More than 150 Air Force personnel, F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, PC9 forward air control support aircraft and Mk127 Hawk lead-in fighters will be at RAAF Base Townsville supporting the Exercise.

An F/A-18 Hornet takes off for a sortie during Exercise High Sierra as another F/A-18 Hornet taxis to the runway for its turn to head for the skies.

An F/A-18 Hornet attached to 2 Operational Conversion Unit taxis toward the runway as a PC9 Forward Air Control aircraft takes to the skies for a mission during Exercise High Sierra.

An F/A-18 Hornet from 2 Operational Conversion Unit prepares to leave the ordinance loading area to conduct a mission during Exercise High Sierra.

More on the Merlin TRAP mission.

ThinkDefence ties the final pieces of this story together. 

Digital Camo on the EFV?

http://news.yahoo.com/video/sandiego-channel8-15751279/new-assault-vehicle-storms-the-beach-at-camp-pendleton-20637266

Follow the link to watch a local news report on the EFV.  Watch carefully and you'll see the first US vehicle (I believe) outfitted in digital camo!  Pretty wild.

UPDATE!
Marcase found some screen captures from a Defense News video on the EFV.  You get a better view of the digital camo...

EFV at Pendleton. The info war continues.


Reports are everywhere that the EFV will be canceled in upcoming budget cuts.  But it would appear that the Marine Corps disagrees.

A full scale public relations effort is underway, and the what is the best tool in the toolbox to get the word out that this vehicle is a winner?

The press!  This from the OC Register.

"Similarly to the current vehicle you launch the vehicle from a ship ... it's our forcible entry to get on to the beachhead," said Maj. Shaun Doheney, the deputy director of the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch at Pendleton, as he and other Marines highlighted the qualities of the new war fighting machine to the media.
The EFV is faster in the water than its predecessor -- traveling at 20 to 25 knots at sea compared with five to seven knots – and its abilities on land will help today's Marines stay safer plus give them more firepower, officials said.
"It's the same fighting concept with this vehicle, but it is the capabilities that this vehicle brings that are significantly more advanced," Doheney said.
The new vehicle's lethality is another aspect Marine officials pushed on Tuesday, saying the 17 Marines it can carry along with three operators won't necessarily have to dismount to defeat every threat they encounter in battle.
"The more I can keep them buttoned up, the more mobile that I can keep them, the less susceptible the Marines are to getting killed by bad guys," said EFV program manager Col. Keith Moore.
Read the entire article and look carefully at the attached photos on their site.  Several design changes have occurred.  I don't know if they're simply cosmetic or if they actually enhance performance but the differences between the EFV and the legacy AAV are startling.

All this leads to a nagging question.  If the EFV doesn't make it across the finish line, how far along are BAE and the Marine Corps with an upgrade package for the AAV?

If canceled will the advances found in the EFV flow to the AAV?

The next few months are going to be interesting.  More than any other weapon system, the EFV/AAV represent the core amphibious assault mission that  is the hallmark of the Marines.  If the EFV is canceled and the AAV allowed to retire without replacement then that will signify a serious change in the way that the Marines conduct operations.