The US Army's M4 Carbine Conundrum.

Paul over at Ares has an article on the Army's upcoming competition to upgrade its M4 carbine.

The US Army has a conundrum.  Either it keeps the current M4, upgrades it or replaces it all together.  Those would seem to be the choices.

But this isn't really an issue.  If the US Army and Marines want a compact RIFLE...then look no farther than the TAVOR.

I blogged about this recurring issue in 2009 (read it here).  The Tavor has an 18 inch barrel, keeping the 5.56mm bullets hitting power at long range.  Has integrated electronic sights.  Has attachment points for lasers etc...all in a package no bigger than the M4.

Win-win.

Riverine Factsheet.

Lee sent me this factsheet on the Riverine Forces.

Simple question...why isn't a module being designed for the LCS for these forces?  We talk about using Marines on those ships, we're even making room for Army Aviation, but this under utilized force seems to be ignored again.  Use it or lose it.  Time to get the Riverine Forces into the fight...whether against pirates or in the Pacific, its past time to get these forces involved.

Riverine Factsheet

Downed F-15E Crew Talk About The Incident. This is what its all about. How did I forget that?

via CNN

After the ejection, Harney -- "Meso" to his fellow fliers -- and "Mask" Stark became separated. "When you find yourself alone, and you're isolated, in a country where there's hostiles, you are scared," said Harney, a veteran of both the Afghan and Iraq wars.
Stark was found by Libyan civilians who protected him from possible retaliation by forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and eventually he was taken safely back to Europe. Details of how he was taken out of Libya have yet to be disclosed.
Harney's rescue came more quickly. He stayed in communications with another F-15 pilot still in the air over Libya. Eventually an MV-22 Osprey carrying Marines who were part of a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, or TRAP, team landed near his position.

"As that back door opened, I see a group of young Marine recon units jump out, and that was probably the best feeling I've ever felt in my entire life," Harney said. He was flown to the USS Kearsarge for a quick medical check then a short time later sent home with Stark to RAF Lakenheath, where friends and family welcomed them with hugs and a rendition of "God Bless America."

Read the whole story at CNN but it details the recovery of these two men.  I didn't hear the story, only read it, but I can imagine the emotion behind the series of events.  First you lose your engine, are forced to bail out, land and you're separated from members of your flight crew...

You don't give a damn if its US Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines.


You just want to get out of that bad situation.


I'm glad they did.

F-35 tie down...

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – The F-35B moved another step forward to shipboard testing on board USS Wasp (LHD-1) this year, as F-35 integrated test force personnel used weights to simulate shipboard padeyes during an evaluation of chain down procedures on F-35B test aircraft BF-1. The team observed no points of interference and identified ways to optimize aircraft jacking techniques. Padeyes are used on ships to secure equipment to the deck during various sea states. The F-35B and F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter variants are undergoing test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River prior to eventual delivery to the fleet. Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin.

"Fly Navy" Book.

 I usually don't shill for the Marine Corps Association but this book has me intrigued and I thought some of you might find it interesting...

UH-1Y on the firing range.

F-35 News....

Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson put F-35B BF-3 into STOVL mode for the first time on Flight 101 on 25 April 2011. The flight took place at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

The fourth F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jet, BF-4, descends to its first vertical landing on 27 April 2011 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Marine Lt. Col. Fred Schenk piloted the aircraft during the flight, which was the forty-seventh for BF-4.

Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti takes the F-35C CF-2 on its first taxi test in Fort Worth on 21 April 2011.

Collars on the RCB-X?

Does anyone know what the purpose of these "optional" collars on the Navy's RCB-X are for?