P-8 set for initial production.

via NAVAIR...

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - The U.S. Navy announced today the award of a $1.6 billion contract to Boeing for P-8A Poseidon aircraft Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of six aircraft.

This first LRIP contract also includes spares, logistics and training devices. Production of the first LRIP aircraft will begin this summer at Boeing’s Renton, Wash. facility.

“In 2004, the U.S. Navy and the Boeing Company made a commitment to deliver the next generation maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to support a 2013 Initial Operational Capability (IOC),” said Capt. Mike Moran, PMA 290 Program Manager. “This contract and these aircraft keep that commitment on track.”

Three of the six flight test aircraft, built as part of the System Development and Demonstration contract awarded to Boeing in 2004, are in various stages of testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The Integrated Test Team has conducted sonobuoy releases and counter measures deployments.

Recently, one of two static test planes completed full scale testing on the P-8A airframe. The first static test aircraft underwent 154 different tests with no failure of the primary structure. The second aircraft will begin fatigue testing this year.

The U.S. Navy plans to purchase 117 production P-8A aircraft to replace its P-3 Fleet. IOC is planned for 2013 at NAS Jacksonville, Fla.

Wow.

Want to talk about a program that was designed to replace a cold war relic?

Want to talk about a program that was filled with the possibility of failure and delay?

Want to talk about a program that seems to have not only survived, not only thrived but also is being welcomed by the Fleet?

Then you want to talk about the P-8A.

LCS 3...the video.

Ok Mike...Time to come back!

worth a read!

Hey, do you all remember Mike at New Wars?

He put his blog in dry dock and in my opinion, its time for him to bring it back...

So Mike ole' buddy, if you're reading this...break time is over!  Get back in action!

Military Sealift Command had it right in 2003...

A single ship sea base.  Make sure to check out ThinkDefence's take on the "original" AFSB, the Atlantic Conveyor.

This from their website...

Afloat Forward Staging Base

MSC, through the CNO’s SeaPower 21 and sea-basing initiative, is developing the concept of the afloat forward staging base to rapidly and efficiently meet the U.S. Marine Corps’ future requirements and to support joint forces’ ability to launch combat power from the sea. MSC is exploring a commercial approach to the AFSB, taking advantage of our experience with the maritime community and industry’s research and development capabilities.

The proposed AFSB concept uses a 1,140-foot commercial container ship with a 140-foot beam, puts a flight deck on top to launch and recover helicopters and, potentially, short take-off and landing, fixed-wing aircraft. The ship would use modular berthing, feeding, medical and administrative spaces and would incorporate a selective cargo discharge system, automating supply selection and distribution.

Rapidly fielding the MPC.

How can we push forward a rapid fielding of the Marine Personnel Carrier?

We tag the purchase to the US Army's Stryker program and we kill a couple of birds with one stone.

BAE SEP Alligator

CV 90 Armadillo

First, while I would love the modularity that the SEP could bring to the table... while I'm intrigued by the idea of ignoring wheels and going with tracks with the CV90 Armadillo and while the French VBCI and the German Boxer all seem like capable vehicles...we need this quick...

French VBCI

German Boxer

The answer is the Piranha IIIC.

Its amphibious (on lakes and streams)...

Its has a degree (slight) of modularity...

Its in the same family as the Army Stryker...

Its a proven design in service with the Brazilian Marine Corps and the Romanian Army as well as several other armed forces worldwide.

If you want this done quickly then you select the vehicle that you want and write the requirements to fit it (sorta like the USAF did with the A-300 in the Tanker competition).

Its doable, its quick and it'll get a vehicle that our Marines need sooner rather than later.  Remember, a lack of urgency led to the EFV failure.

13th MEU receives combat certification

Marines from Amphibious Assault Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/1, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, drive their Amphibious Assault Vehicles onto the USS Green Bay in preparation for Certification Exercise, Dec. 6. From Dec. 7-17, U.S. Marines and sailors from the BOXER Amphibious Ready Group – 13th Marine Expeditionary Group team conducted CERTEX 2010 in order to validate essential MEU mission sets in preparation for their upcoming deployment. Marines conducted operations from long range helicopter raids to Humanitarian Assistance Operations to Visit Board Search and Seizure missions. Marines and sailors of the 13th MEU proved that they are a capable amphibious force in readiness. “Any mission, any time."

Marines from Tank Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/1, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, ground guide a M1-A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Dec. 14, during Certification Exercise. From Dec. 7-17, U.S. Marines and sailors from the BOXER Amphibious Ready Group – 13th Marine Expeditionary Group team conducted CERTEX 2010 in order to validate essential MEU mission sets in preparation for their upcoming deployment. Marines conducted operations from long range helicopter raids to Humanitarian Assistance Operations to Visit Board Search and Seizure missions. Marines and sailors of the 13th MEU proved that they are a capable amphibious force in readiness. “Any mission, any time.”

Marines from Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/1, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to move to another defensive position after conducting a Amphibious Assault aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Dec. 14, during Certification Exercise. From Dec. 7-17, U.S. Marines and sailors from the BOXER Amphibious Ready Group – 13th Marine Expeditionary Group team conducted CERTEX 2010 in order to validate essential MEU mission sets in preparation for their upcoming deployment. Marines conducted operations from long range helicopter raids to Humanitarian Assistance Operations to Visit Board Search and Seizure missions. Marines and sailors of the 13th MEU proved that they are a capable amphibious force in readiness. “Any mission, any time.”

WW II Marine Corps Humor...

Five cannibals were employed by Marines as scouts and translators during one of the island campaigns during World War II. When the Commanding Officer of ground forces welcomed the cannibals he said, "You're all part of our team now. We will compensate you well for your services, and you can eat any of the rations that the Marines are eating. But please don't indulge yourselves by eating a Marine."

The cannibals promised.

Four weeks later the C. O. returned and said, "You're all working very hard, and I'm very satisfied with all of you. However, one of our sergeants has disappeared. Do any of you know what happened to him?"

The cannibals all shook their heads 'no'.

After the C.O. left, the leader of the cannibals turned to the others and said, "Which of you idiots ate the sergeant?"

A hand raised hesitantly, to which the leader of the cannibals replied, "You fool! For four weeks we've been eating Lieutenants, Captains, and Majors and no one noticed anything,.. then YOU had to go and eat an NCO!"