Tuesday, January 10, 2012

More F-35 porn...

I luv it...but I also get a little nervous when they do pic dumps like this.  I'm always wondering...uh oh...what bad news is about to come down the pike now!...anyway enjoy.


Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 in Afghanistan.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Zachary Hughes, weapons tactics instructor, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, observes Lance Cpl. Madison DeLoach operate a .50-caliber machine gun, Helmand River Valley, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2011. DeLoach operated the .50-caliber machine gun during flight operations with the guidance of Hughes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco/Released).

U.S. Marines of 1st Radio Battalion, 2D Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), load onto a CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 (HMH-363) during a routine flight operation, Forward Operating Base Edinburgh, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2012. HMH-363 conducted flight operations in support of troops throughout the Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco/Released).

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Madison DeLoach, crew chief, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 (HMH-363), observes the terrain during a routine flight operation, Helmand River Valley, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2012. HMH-363 conducted flight operations in support of troops throughout the Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco/Released).

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Madison DeLoach, crew chief, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 (HMH-363), observes the terrain during a routine flight operation, Helmand River Valley, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2012. HMH-363 conducted flight operations in support of troops throughout the Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco/Released).

U.S. Marines of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 (HMH-363) conduct an end of day assessment on a CH-53D Sea Super Stallion, Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2012. End of day assessments are conducted after flight operations ensuring aircraft of HMH-363 are ready to support future missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco/Released).

Latest F-35 porn.

F-35B test aircraft BF-3 flies with the weapon bay doors open on Dec. 19, 2011

F-35B test aircraft BF-5 completes its first vertical landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on Jan 5, 2012.

F-35B test aircraft BF-1 flight in short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode on Jan. 5, 2012.

F-35B test aircraft BF-3 flies with the weapon bay doors open on Dec. 19, 2011.

Monday, January 09, 2012

Bell Helicopter makes an idiot move.


How stupid can a company be?

One of your products that's sold to the US Marine Corps is highlighted in a very popular game.

Instead of saying "glory...glory..glory" and pass the beer, they instead launch a law suit and demand that the game remove the depiction from the video game.

Read the insanity here.

Army NG leads half the way.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona Army National Guard, participate in wartime operation exercises at the Florence Military Reservation, Jan. 7.
This soldier is halfway there.

Camo firearm.  Check.

Camo mags.   Check.

Black slings and other gear.  Big no-go.

Someday, somehow, you'll see the Infantry Branch of the US Army and Marine Corps get the brilliant idea to outlaw black equipment and accessories.

Until then we have effective camouflage that's defeated by our weapons and accessories.

The GCV is dead. Long live the Bradley Family of Vehicles?

The Army is facing a reduction in manpower and since the justification for a Ground Combat Vehicle(GCV) was always weak sauce, it looks like BAE is properly positioned to capitalize on this by moving forward with the Bradley Family of Vehicles.

Looks like upgrades instead of new builds will be the order of the day for Ground Vehicles and Ground Forces.



Informative video but they glossed over the General Purpose Carrier.  I'm digging for more info now.

Sunday, January 08, 2012

F-35C scratched? Wouldn't that be ironic!

ELP has an article up in which he talks about the F-35C and comes to the conclusion that the F-35C might get cancelled.  I don't know if that's entirely true and you can read the article for yourself...but wouldn't that be ironic?

Several months ago, everyone and their mothers were talking about the B model being cancelled.  I always disagreed with that thinking and always thought that the C model was in the danger zone.

What makes me say that?

*the US Navy basically shoved the F-35C down the throats of Marine Air...
*even if full production was done the only customers for the C would be the USN, USMC and RN...
*and lastly, the USN doesn't and never has appeared enthusiastic about the F-35C...to be honest they appear fired up about growth variants of the Super Hornet and they're not even warm about the X-47B.

Having said all that the B should have a longer production run than the C and as much as me and ELP disagree (he has a hard on for the Corps that I'll never understand) he MIGHT...just MIGHT...have a point.

Failure captured in a picture.

Take a look at the above pic.  If that doesn't illustrate the failure of the JIEDDO.  Two Marines are dismounted sweeping a road for mines.

Meanwhile behind them are Force Protection Cougar(?) and Oshkosh M-ATV MRAPs.

No protection.

Nothing.

Just two brave Marines walking the ground because some bureaucrats didn't do the job.

Pathetic.