It's time for HQMC to experiment with this concept.

Its time.

We've seen the vids and the powerpoints.

We've talked about it forever and a day.

Its time for HQMC to return to its experimental roots and wargame this Maersk concept.   The ground work for WWII was laid by the work done between the wars.  We should be laying the foundation for our nations defense today...instead of worrying about seatbelts.


The potential looks amazing...time to put it to the test.

ARES writers reimagined as Sith...

I tease all the time that the writers at ARES believe in the "there is no such thing as good F-35 news" meme.  Along with that thought, I also think that Bill Sweetman got together in a bunch of conversations and converted the rest of the staff over there...which makes him the Dark Lord of anti F-35 thought.

So since its Friday I thought it might be fun to label each of the anti F-35 Sith....

Sean's alter ego has to be Darth Bane.  An otherwise likable guy...except that he's become a full follower of the dark side.

Amy's double would be Ventress.  Not full Sith but its obvious that she's be touched by the dark side of the force.  Lethal as any, fully capable and occasionally sides with the forces of the light ---when it suits her, she is yet a follower of the dark side.

Winslow Wheeler...just like Darth Maul, he's ferocious in his hatred, but will always be on the outside.

Robert is Darth Tyranus.  Eloquent, refined yet as tainted by dark forces as any of the above.

And last but not least we have the Dark Lord himself....Bill "Darth Sidious" Sweetman...

A "possible" player in the US Army M-113 replacement program?

MAJOR LEAGUE HAT TIP to Military Today.com for bringing this vehicle to my attention. 

The German company FFG has introduced a new vehicle called the G5. I think it has the hallmarks of being a competitor in the M-113 replacement competition.

It suppose to be mine resistant, modular and carries a large number of troops.  Check it out at the FFG website here.

Whoa! New player in Marine Personnel Carrier Competition!

A new player and definite wild card!

The Terrex 8x8!

I've always been a fan of this vehicle and to be honest and not to throw bombs at Lockheed Martin/Patria or BAE/Iveco but this may be the most technologically advanced vehicle yet in this competition.

via Defpro.

16:28 GMT, March 23, 2012 Singapore | ST Kinetics, the land systems arm of ST Engineering, and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) today announced they will team for the upcoming U.S. Marine Corps Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) programme.

The MPC will provide U.S. Marine infantry formations with an advanced generation eight-wheeled armoured personnel carrier. The MPC is intended to be a highly protected and swim-capable vehicle, with requirements shaped to provide a balance of performance, protection, and payload to ensure it is effective across the full range of military operations. The MPC programme calls for the production of approximately 100 units per year for up to 7 years, with initial awards for the testing and demonstration phase expected in April 2012.

"The SAIC and ST Kinetics team will base its offering on the modern TERREX 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier already fielded by the Singapore Armed Forces. By using existing and proven technology, tailored to Marine expeditionary requirements, we will be able to quickly deliver a simple, elegant, enduring and USMC-usable capability to meet the programme's critical needs and schedule." ~ Dan ZANINI, Senior Vice President and Landforce Systems Operation Manager, SAIC

Under the teaming agreement, SAIC will serve as the prime contractor for the MPC programme, with both companies combining their ground vehicle integration, design, production, fielding, and support expertise to field and provide the best solution to the U.S. Marines.

"We are proud to field ST Kinetics' TERREX as the basis for our team's offering for the USMC MPC programme. We are confident that the advanced design of the TERREX, particularly in the areas of survivability and crew habitability, will underpin an effective and affordable solution usable by the US Marines in a myriad of tough environments." ~ Patrick CHOY, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, ST Kinetics
 

As a sidenote...

Who are these guys????  SAIC shows up whenever a foreign company tries to penetrate the US market place.  I don't care where it comes from as long as US workers are assembling the product for US forces...but a look at the SAIC website clarifies nothing.  SAIC is a mystery to me.

F-35B BF-13 First Flight

Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew F-35B BF-12 (Navy Bureau Number 168309), on its inaugural flight on 12 March 2012 from NAS Fort Worth JRB.

Aviation Week might not like it...two stories that Sean is linking to tout program failure??? Really Sean?  Really?

The British Government might be confused about which version to buy.

The Canadian's might be under pressure to delay it...

But one thing can't be denied.

The F-35B is rapidly heading toward the start of training by the end of this year.  Despite the critics, things are looking up for the F-35 program...

BAE's Brimstone, Hellfire, Maverick and maybe gunship killer.

APKWS is the biggest threat to the dedicated helicopter gunship in a generation.  Precision missiles can now be launched off utility aircraft.

Multi-role aircraft can now enter the rotary world.

A UH-1Y can go back to the future.  When the Huey was first deployed it operated as a troop transport, ambulance, command and control platform and gunship.

Now the Marine Corps can do it again.

Let's not even talk about what Navy MH-60's can do know that they're sporting the US Army's stub wing arrangement on their aircraft.

More targets can be hit at a reduced payload penalty meaning better performance.

I like it.

Shayetet 13

Soldiers of the IDF's elite naval commando unit 'Shayetet 13' are getting ready for a training exercise on a Sa'ar 5-class Corvette of the Israeli Navy.