Dr. Thompson get rugged and raw on the critics...

via Forbes...

The tortured path of the Pentagon’s biggest weapon program is beginning to look like a case study in poor management.  The problem isn’t the F-35 fighter, which is making steady progress towards becoming the best tactical aircraft ever built.  The problem is a federal acquisition culture that has grown so risk-averse it no longer cares about long-term consequences.

That bureaucratic myopia will be in abundant display next month, when the Department of Defense releases updated cost estimates for the fighter program.  The estimates will reveal a modest increase in the cost of each plane, and Pentagon policymakers will repeat for the umpteenth time all of the heroic steps they have taken to rein in a wayward contractor.  But don’t expect them to take any responsibility for the cost increases because, after all, they’re the good guys.

If you follow the F-35 program closely, which almost nobody outside the Pentagon does, a different narrative emerges.  It is the story of what happens to major technology programs in a balkanized, distracted political system when there is no urgent danger to push them forward.  Bureaucratic and personal agendas fill the vacuum once occupied by the threat, and so programs seldom stay on track — leaving the nation unprepared when the next big threat appears.

Maybe you’re incredulous that the real reason the F-35 program has become so controversial is government behavior.  After all, I advise many of the companies involved in the program so I’m not objective, right?  Fair enough.  I’ll abandon generalities and provide concrete examples of what the Pentagon has done wrong (the examples aren’t hard to find). Here are six ways that the military acquisition system makes a bargain seem unafforbable.

Wow.  Read the whole thing but....Thompson NAILS it on all points.

I absolutely love it.

Somewhere I can see him sitting in his office feet on his desk, drinking a shot of whatever it is he drinks, pulling a long drag off his favorite cigar thinking boy, this is almost as good as me being able to walk up to one of those SMART ASS Aviation Writers and saying....

Sikorsky makes an offer NAVAIR better not refuse!

NAVAIR just received an offer from Sikorsky that it better not refuse...via Flight Global...

The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is evaluating a proposal from Sikorsky to build four production-representative CH-53K Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopters, says the US Marine Corps' programme manager.
"We're looking at the proposal now," says Col Robert Pridgen.
NAVAIR received the proposal at the beginning of March, he says. A contract award is expected some time after this has been evaluated, although Pridgen says: "I don't want to nail down a date."
The four pre-production aircraft will be "fleet-representative" and be used for operational evaluations, as well to finish developmental testing.
The CH-53K is now scheduled to become operational in 2019 - one year later than previously slated - and the Marines hope to buy about 200 of the three-engined type.
When the programme first started, the service only wanted to buy 156 aircraft, Pridgen says. Initial operational capability was then set for late 2015, but the USMC upped the order and stretched the programme out by three years in August 2007. Production numbers were to have reached as many as 227, before they were trimmed back to 200.

A few points...

*The Marine Corps delayed this program in order to get its full compliment of MV-22's.  I have no issue with that airframe except one.  Its more tailored to what Special Ops needs and not the Marine Corps...except during the assault phase of a forcible entry or raid.  The CH-53K would fill that niche nicely.  We don't need more MV-22's...unless all we want to be is the ride to SOCOM and MY Marine Corps is better than that  Maybe not the Marine Corps that AMOS wants but my Marine Corps is more capable than just being perimeter guards and a taxi service to SOCOM.

*This offer is the cat's meow.  Four production representative airframes?  Isn't this the kind of thing the Pentagon's been pushing industry to do????

*Only the AAV upgrade and the MPC program are more important to the future of the Marine Corps than the CH-53K.  Not the F-35, not the JLTV and not any of the goof ball initiatives coming from HQMC.

Let's get this done.

Today!

CDR Salamander says it best.

When I heard that the President said this, I almost lost my mind!  If this doesn't make you want to punch walls then nothing will...

Unaware that a microphone was recording him, President Obama asked outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Monday for breathing room until after Mr. Obama’s re-election campaign to negotiate on missile defense.

“On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved, but it’s important for him to give me space,” Mr. Obama told Mr. Medvedev at the end of their 90-minute meeting, apparently referring to incoming Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr. Medvedev replied, “Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you…”

“This is my last election,” Mr. Obama said. “After my election, I have more flexibility.”

The Russian leader responded, “I understand. I transmit this information to Vladimir.”

That my friends sounds like the talk of an enemy within.

That sounds like a man that is plotting against his own country with the leaders of another country.

This type of talk sounds like...well....treason.

But that's my gut reaction...CDR Salamander has a better take.  Read it over at his house.

Modest Proposal. Cancel remaining MV-22's and buy Battle Hawks!

My bold, yet modest proposal is simply this.

Cancel the remaining purchase of the MV-22, give the remaining slots to USAF Special Operations so that they can beef up there numbers of CV-22's...and start buying Sikorsky Battle Hawks instead.

We need a medium lift helicopter that provides true multi-mission flexibility.

The Battle Hawk fills the bill.

We already see the trend with the UH-1Y.

Instead of buying the full planned compliment of AH-1Z, the Marine Corps truncated the buy and bought additional (or is planning to) Huey's instead.

We should build on this and get Battle Hawks.

If distributed operations become a reality then we will need to get the biggest bang out of our limited number of airframes.

It only makes sense.

European SPIE Rigging. Maybe the USMC needs to look at this!

SPIE Rigging is...exhilarating.  But I've always wondered if it couldn't be done better.

If it is a practical form of insertion and extraction then I think the Europeans might have hit on something.

Watch the whole vid but pay special attention at the 3:35 point.

Why is the US Navy so desperate to sell the F-35C to the RN???

Reports have surfaced that the Ministry of Defense in the UK is vacillating between buying the F-35B and F-35C.  Proponents of the both airplanes have been very vocal in their support of their particular airplane.

Critics of course have been heard too.  Those "flat earthers" want the Royal Navy to buy a non-stealth airplane.  Doesn't matter which one as long as it isn't the F-35.

But check out these photos from JeffHead.com...and the potential F-35B customers worldwide.  Make note of all the LHA's that are being developed/constructed/planned in the pacific region.  Understand that this list isn't complete either.  Singapore has announced that its working on the Endurance 1600, an LHA class warship.

The US Navy is realizing too late that its concept of operation----the big deck carrier is facing a period of transformation.  The F-35B will outsell the F-35C.

Cavour Class Carrier.

22 DDH- Japan.

16 DDH - Japan.

Juan Carlos - Spain & Australia.

Dokdo Class - S. Korea.

And that of course doesn't include the 11 US Marine Corps LHA's/LHD's that will be as capable as many countries aircraft carriers..

Many slam the concept of STOVL operations but the evidence is clear.  

Expeditionary operations coupled with cost savings make it essential.

We might be witnessing the opening rounds of the end of the super carrier.

IDF Caterpillar D-9

The IDF Caterpillar D9 is an armed bulldozer used for repair work.

The Combat Engineering Corps is in charge of operating this machine. The 'Tzama' Unit- a specially designated unit within the corps specializes in the use of this equipment.
This drill was held near the Gaza border where most of the D9 work takes place. It's armored frame keeps the soldiers safe as they work along the Gaza border.

That caption that the IDF attached to these photos only tell half the story.

The Israeli's also use the Cat 9's in the offense in urban warfare.

It's brutally effective especially against dug in positions.  The dozer blade acts as additional armor against weapons.

Why we don't employ them in a similar manner in battles like Fallujah is beyond me but it would have saved lots of lives...that and less restrictive rules of engagement.

DDG-1000 future of Navy Surface Warfare???

The DDG-1000 is the future of the Navy's Surface Warfare Fleet.

No if's, and's or but's about it.

Or so says Elements of Power.

Which seems to bring us right back to the idea of maybe a family of modern warships based upon the DD(X)'s original objectives isn't such a bad idea after all? Is the Navy angling towards an eventual CG-1000 or just slouching their way to greatness?

 The Zumwalt's have significantly more room in their hulls for new or additional systems, and more power available to run them. modular weaponization, and long range guided artillery for when you need it. IMHO, it would be almost be worth it alone just to tweak the noses of people who can't stand or fear the 'Tumblehome' hull design.  

He hits on the main objection that many state when talking about the DDG-1000 (besides some not liking the idea of naval guns returning)...the tumblehome hull.

I don't know squat about naval architecture so I'll take his word for it.  But I HAVE seen videos of comparisons between the tumblehome and conventional hull designs and it does appear to be superior.  I'll wait and see but Elements of Power makes a strong case for the DDG-1000 actually delivering while we're seeing the LCS class falter.