USA Armed Forces

[GastonGlocker]

Not much on detail, but generally speaking, potential rapid enhancements ahead. Interesting about the capacity to produce @30x of present.

Mattia modernization:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthomps ... -u-s-army/

Naturally, this will be costly.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Re-engineing the B-52s (to make them fly to 2050!) has been on the cards for a long time, but the fantastic bizcase with big by-pass engines turned out not to be so fantastic when it emerged that the wings would need reconstructing.

Defencenews lays out the new bizcase:
"
Boeing believes new engines could yield 30 percent fuel savings and a cost avoidance of at least $10 billion if the B-52 continues in service beyond 2050. It also anticipates a 95 percent reduction of maintenance activity and associated costs once new propulsion systems are installed.

“There are significant operational benefits as well,” Kroening said. As a result of increased fuel efficiency, a new engine could extend the unrefueled range of the aircraft by 40 percent."

Two surprises there:
- the engines will be of regional/ bizjet type
- and the financing could be a lease or some variation of a PFI (not for the whole nuke bomber, though, as confiscating the asset in case of non-payment could be... shall we say, a novel solution)

And, right on cue, breakingdefence puts a number against the shorcuts (now that a third of the budget year has already past):
"The final 2017 bill focused on readiness and personnel plus-ups but demurred on the many modernization initiatives, like buying extra fighter aircraft, that make up most of the omitted $18 billion."

Hanging onto old kit for "your" dear life, regardless of cost, has been the unintended consequence of sequestration and CAPEX avoidance
- sound familiar?

[Defiance]

The A-10 is to remain in service until 2021 in order to have more time to decide how to move forward; new program or absorb the role into the F-35 as originally intended.

http://www.defensenews.com/a10%20retirement%202021

Over the next couple of years, Goldfein said he’d like to see the dialogue about the close-air support mission (CAS) move from a “platform-centric” discussion about whether to sustain the A-10 to a “family of systems” approach that recognizes that many aircraft support ground forces.

“That starts with an understanding of how we do the business today of close-air support, because the reality is it’s changed significantly, and it will change significantly in the future if we get this right, because this is something we’ve got to continue to think about,” he said.

..

Although the service has not decided whether it will eventually pursue a new, purpose-built CAS plane — an A-X2, as it has been called inside the Pentagon — Goldfein reiterated his intent to conduct a demonstration of off-the-shelf light attack aircraft.

The Air Force first floated the idea of buying these “OA-X” light attack aircraft last year, which would help supplement the A-10 and other assets conducting low-end missions in the Middle East. The newest unfunded priorities list submitted by the service includes $8 million to support an experiment that would allow aircraft manufacturers to show off potential offerings, but the effort has not been funded yet.

[GastonGlocker]

^. Good to see on the A10!

The M1A2 Sepv4 enhancements promise a ground solution in similar situation. What will be the replacement while this stretches life:

http://www.scout.com/military/warrior/s ... -for-2020s

[ArmChairCivvy]

We will do applique (if anything at all), whereas the Americans will do integrated:

" Using a 360-degree radar, processor and on-board computer, Trophy is designed to locate, track and destroy approaching fire coming from a range of weapons such as Anti-Tank-Guided-Missiles, or ATGMs, or Rocket Propelled Grenades, or RPGs.

The interceptor consists of a series of small, shaped charges attached to a gimbal on top of the vehicle. The small explosives are sent to a precise point in space to intercept and destroy the approaching round, he added.

Radar scans the entire perimeter of the platform out to a known range. When a threat penetrates that range, the system then detects and classifies that threat and tells the on-board computer which determines the optical kill point in space, a DRS official said.

Along with Rafael's Trophy system, the Army is also looking at Artis Corporation's Iron Curtain, Israeli Military Industry's Iron Fist, and UBT/Rheinmetall's ADS system, among others."

From the linked article, above.

360 degrees sideways, the steepness of the angle used by top-attack missiles will become the differentiator as to which remain effective and which will reach obsolescence fast

[GastonGlocker]

360 degrees sideways, the steepness of the angle used by top-attack missiles will become the differentiator as to which remain effective and which will reach obsolescence fast

Reverse Doppler to counter? Look up, shoot up? Maybe laser tech an option?

[ArmChairCivvy]

Interesting report here
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016 ... ing-block/
... seems to be saying that the army needs to stop doing things just for the reason they are new and exciting?

[Little J]

Beg's the question: When the original program faltered, why not adapt the tech to the 40mm?

And also from TFB...
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017 ... ard-rifle/

Would appear the Marines are trying to sneak the 416 in as their new rifle.

[ArmChairCivvy]

They can do it, because in their squad they have 13 and that alone gives a continuous fire capability, w/o a belt fed weapon... and should one (or two) be needed, they can be readily assigned from the support platoon as seen fit by the company commander.
- the army only has 9 in their squad (a MG contribution necessary)
- and we are struggling with how to make the much smaller number of dismounts carried in a Warrior count when they actually dismount... the different parts of the platoon perhaps (initially) being quite dispersed, to avoid the IFV becoming a sitting duck in an exposed position while it stops

Virtues of the 416:
- mag fed; easy to "accessorise" as dictated by the circumstances
- v accurate (good effective range)
- made lighter e.g. by having an aluminium receiver: more rounds can be carried

[GastonGlocker]

B1B takeoff from Dyess - nice footage:

[ArmChairCivvy]

Mcmaster talking about renewing US Army (before his nomination)

The first 25 minutes, all of it can apply directly to us, too:
- understand the strategies adopted by other powers
- if you make gains. consolidate them; do not just walk away
- joint force is the best way to apply force, if deterrence fails
- allies matter; both in deterrence and applying force
- do not count COIN specific investments as modernisation (as their value in another type of conflict is very limited)
- build the army structure in such a way that lower level units can also act as a joint force (from BCT down, so a BG in our terminology)

Network, to be able to disperse and then rapidly concentrate power. Sounds like Napoleon's way of waging war. In his day, no network, so a minimum unit that could achieve decisive effect was an army:
- keep several of them within a couple of days of joining forces, and thus
-- keep the enemy guessing
-- and do not overload your own logistics trail (several in parallel less likely to get logjammed or paralysed by an attack)

[ArmChairCivvy]

Today is the day when the ISIL plan "Crush" is supposed to come out; CIA having gone through several iterations with the Turks and US Central Command supposedly having a backup plan should nothing feasible come out of the former process.

World Affairs reports this
"President Trump will propose a federal budget that would significantly increase defense-related spending by $54 billion while cutting other federal agencies by the same amount, an administration official said.

The proposal represents a major increase in federal spending related to national security, while other priorities, especially foreign aid, would face massive reductions.

According to the White House, the defense budget would increase by 10 percent. Trump also will request $30 billion in supplementary military spending for fiscal 2017, an administration official said. "
- as we are already half way into the current fiscal year, those sums are roughly the same

Mattis is going to come out with a plan at the end of March RE: how those extras will be spent. About the same timing as with the first full draft of next FY's overall federal budget
- from what he has said before "readiness" should be the first aim, tinkering and reprioritising equipment prgrms following from there

[abc123]

If readiness ( refits of ships and aircrafts ) if first thing in order, then short term readiness will be even lower...

[ArmChairCivvy]

Not the normal usage for "readiness"

[ArmChairCivvy]

$8m earmarked to try out existing a/c in light air attack role.

They have already done a benchmark for it with two Broncos (where did they find them!?) of the Vietnam era:
". Operating the OV-10A Bronco, Light Attack Squadron Four was the first Navy squadron of its type. VAL-4 was deployed to Vietnam in March of 1969, were it quickly became an important part of the Brown Water Navy. Operating from Binh Thuy Air Base and Vung Tau Army Airfield in the Mekong Delta, the Black Ponies provided direct support for U.S., Allied and Vietnamese operations until it was dis-established in April 1972.
[...] the Black Pony pilots who distinguished themselves in the Mekong Delta between 1969 and 1972. Flying their Broncos "down and dirty, low and slow," they killed more enemies and saved more allies with close-air support during the three years they saw actionthan all the other naval squadrons combined. The U.S. Navy's only land-based attack squadron, Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) flew support missions for the riverine forces, SEALs, and allied units in borrowed[*], propeller-driven OV-10As.
-----
[*] from the Army... leasing would be the modern day equivalent (except if there are bullet holes when returning the assets, then will have to buy new ones to honour such a contract)

[ArmChairCivvy]

Looks like the next trainer will be either Korean (LM) or Swedish (Boeing)
- made in the USA, of course

[abc123]

Looks like the next trainer will be either Korean (LM) or Swedish (Boeing)
- made in the USA, of course

Meh, just buy KAI T-50 and be done with it.

[ArmChairCivvy]

just buy KAI T-50 and be done with it.

That is the LM birdie; the one by Saab (for Boeing) is prettier, though.

[Defiance]

Trump business practices may begin to come into play. "If this plane is good enough and is cheaper why aren't we buying it?"

Rarely things are so cut-and-dry however

[GastonGlocker]

F-35 kill ratio. Impressive.

I have been critical of the program due to cost. My military service has been in COIN and peacekeeping environments where A/C like the A-10 thrive. This certainly created bias.

Given high intensity against 4th Gen, A-10s will need help. I'm hopeful a mix of old and new can be assembled for maximum effectiveness (and efficiency)

[Pseudo]

Trump business practices may begin to come into play. "If this plane is good enough and is cheaper why aren't we buying it?"

Rarely things are so cut-and-dry however

That's not Trump's business practices though. His practices appear to be can it be made of gold and how much can the Trump Organisation make from this?

[Defiance]

Trump business practices may begin to come into play. "If this plane is good enough and is cheaper why aren't we buying it?"

Rarely things are so cut-and-dry however

That's not Trump's business practices though. His practices appear to be can it be made of gold and how much can the Trump Organisation make from this?

Haha true true

[ArmChairCivvy]

I'm hopeful a mix of old and new can be assembled for maximum effectiveness (and efficiency)

Great to have an expert here! I find it difficult to follow where this $8m will be used. So far it looks like something akin to a Cessna Caravan is being looked at, just to have persistance more cheaply than with drones (to have one on station, there will be several in transit... that's what they call "orbits")

[SKB]

[GastonGlocker]

B-52s vs ISIS:

http://popularmilitary.com/air-force-an ... bomb-isis/