WESTROOPER

The first Boeing CH-47, a 33,000lb machine powered by two 1,640shp Lycoming (now Honeywell) T55 engines, achieved first flight on Sept. 21, 1961.

Nearly 47 years and seven major upgrades later, the CH-47F and MH-47G has doubled in weight to 50,000lb, while the engine shaft horsepower rating has tripled with introduction of the 4,868shp T55-GA-714 powerplant.

With only 10% of the CH-47F delivered, however, Boeing is again proposing to radically increase the size of the airframe. The “growth Chinook” would be stretched and widened to accommodate and up-armored HMMWV (Humvee) inside the cabin. This would increase maximum takeoff weight to around 70,000lbs and demand a much larger engine. Honeywell has already proposed a roughly 6,000shp T55-GA-715.

It’s still unclear what the army thinks about all this. After all, the army is planning to buy another 400 CH-47Fs. It’s also still debating how much it needs a Joint Heavy Lift rotorcraft that would be more than twice the size of the CH-47F.

On top of all this, the army has also started a program to replace the venerable T55 with an all new engine in the 6,000shp to 7,000shp range after 2018. Last week, I confirmed that Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney and General Electric are each participating in the earliest stages of the Future Affordable Turbine Engine (FATE) program.]]>All this really means is that no one can predict the future of the army’s heavylift rotorcraft needs after 2015, when the Future Combat System will allegedly be fielded. When the future of FCS is finally settled, the army will have a range of good options for a Chinook replacement.

Während ich auf den Einberufungsbescheid noch warte, habe ich Anfang der Woche ein Schreiben von meinem zukünftigen Bataillionskommandeur erhalten.

Wirklich Neues habe ich dadurch nicht erfahren. Lediglich einige Termine waren für mich interessant: Am ersten Wochenende wird vermutlich Dienst stattfinden und der Offizierlehrgang / die Grundlagenausbildung wird Mitte Dezember diesen Jahres für mich enden.

Ansonsten muss ich allerdings sagen, dass das Schreiben insofern gelungen ist, als dass es seinen wohl gewollten Zweck erfüllt, nämlich bei dem Adressaten eine postiven Grundeinstellung hinsichtlich des Dienstantritts zu erzeugen.

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Gespannt bin ich außerdem auf die Ergebnisse des schriftlichen Abiturs. Die entsprechenden Zensuren werden mir nächste Woche bekannt gegeben.

While no “final” decision has been revealed, the indications “inside the Beltway” are that the Navy’s long-gestating DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer program will end with only two ships. Indeed, there are also rumors that even those two ships will not be constructed.

Contracts have already been awarded for the first two destroyers — authorized in the fiscal year 2007 budget — to General Dynamics/Bath Iron Works (Maine) and to Northrop Grumman (Pascagoula, Mississippi). Originally the Navy planned a class of 32 of these DDGs, but, as previously reported here, last year the Navy cut the program to seven ships, although the 32-ship requirement was still “on the books.”

The Navy’s leadership, both uniformed and civilian, has been lackluster in its support of the DDG 1000 class. Indeed, the current Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead, when recently asked by Congress what he believed the new ships’ most important feature would be, he told of the reduced manning for the ships.

The new “destroyers” are to have a full-load displacement of almost 15,000 tons and an overall length of 600 feet — the dimensions of a cruiser by most standards. Armed with two 155-mm rapid-fire guns (with a range of more than 75 miles firing guided projectiles) and 80 Standard and Tomahawk missiles or their equivalent, and fitted with a large manned- and unmanned helicopter facility, the ships would be highly capable, multipurpose units.

The price has become a “deal breaker” for some involved in the shipbuilding process. The Navy estimates that the first two ships will cost $3.3 billion each, with follow-on ships to cost $2.5 billion. This compares to the last of the 62 Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) destroyers having a cost some $1.2 billion each.

]]>The most likely, near-term alternative to the DDG 1000 is to resume construction of the Burkes. The Navy now has 62 in the fleet and under construction. The former CNO, and now Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, has declared repeatedly that the Navy does not need additional Burke-class ships. And, restarting that line and updating the ships would give them a pricetag of about $2 billion each. (The Burke original design dates from 1979.)

Further, according to Navy data, even building two Burkes per year, and dividing the buy between the two shipyards, would probably not enable keeping the Bath Iron Works yard in business.

The lack of Navy support for the DDG 1000 is seen by some observers as a rationale for accelerating the Navy’s next surface combatant, the CG(X) missile cruiser, which would be optimized for the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) role. This seems ironic because there was no Navy requirement for the DDG 1000 to have that role, although her new-design radars could certainly have been developed with that capability. Of course, even after the ships are completed their radars/fire control systems could be upgraded for the BMD role. That is exactly what is being done now for the Aegis cruisers of the improved Ticonderoga (CG 47) class and for the Burke-class destroyers.

Further, the CG(X) is getting significant support in Congress, especially from Representatives Gene Taylor (D-MISS) and Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), who want that ship to be nuclear propelled. They have even proposed a new generation of Burke-class ships with nuclear propulsion! Both proposals are ludicrous when one looks at the percentage of U.S. oil consumption by the Department of Defense (less than 2 percent) and the percentage of that which is used to drive U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships (about 8 percent). Considering the additional cost to design and construct nuclear-propelled ships; adding the cost of recruiting, training, and retaining nuclear-qualified personnel; and including disposal costs of those ships, and the idea does not hold water.

Further, the basic DDG 1000 design could become the CG(X) — obviously not CG(X)N — with only modifications to the ships’ radar/fire control systems. The ships have a significant growth margin and deleting the two 155-mm guns could provide space for additional missiles or other advanced features.

The DDG 1000 is not, in this writer’s opinion, the best surface combatant that could have been produced at this time. But considering the time and dollars that have been invested in developing the DDG 1000 design and the ship systems, and the Navy’s need for additional surface combatants, the DDG 1000 is far, most superior to the alternatives available.

Tim ist ein Canadischer Soldat stationiert in Afghanistan. Er ist ein Logistic Officer und sieht deswegen nicht viel von der anderen Seite des “Wires”.

Er ist einer der Soldaten der Amy’s Brief erhalten hat und sich daraufhin bei uns gemeldet hat. Heute hat er wieder geschrieben, und was er geschrieben hat ist nicht gerade einfach zu verdauen.

Gestern Nacht gab es auf sein Camp zwei Raketenangriffe. Gott sei Dank gab es keinen Schaden und es wurde auch niemand verletzt aber Schlaf hat er deswegen keinen bekommen.

Alle halbe Stunde gab es Alarm und sie mussten in den Bunker bis die “All Clear” Nachricht kam. Dann sind sie wieder ins Bett gekrabelt. Tim hat einen Holländischen Roommate aber sprechen tun sie nicht viel miteinander. Der Holländer ist erst seit einer Woche da, vielleicht braucht er ja ein wenig um aufzuwärmen. Tim selbst scheint ein eher in sich gekehrter Mensch zu sein, zu uns allerdings ist er freundlich und offen. Das was er seiner Familie verschweigt, erzählt er uns.

Er meinte das die Familie schon Angst genug hat, da muss er sie nicht auch noch mit solchen Nachrichten belasten und genau dafür sind wir da, das wir ihnen das Leben etwas leichter machen, das sie uns das sagen können was sie ansonsten ihrer Familie nicht sagen können.
Ich glaube es ist sehr wichtig das Tim einen Gesprächspartner in uns beiden gefunden hat.

Ich glaube ich werde mich heute abend noch drann setzen und ihm einen von handgeschriebenen Brief schicken, die lieben die Jungs am meisten.

Wie hat Apollo es denn noch gleich ausgedrückt?

“Es liegt ein gewisser Charme in echten von Hand geschriebenen Briefen, nur Schade das kaum einer mehr die Kunst beherrscht sie zu schreiben.”

Am Wochenende lag nun ein Einstellungsbescheid im Briefkasten. Am 03.07.2006 geht es für mich nach Idar-Oberstein. Der neue Ausbildungsablauf für Offiziersanwärter wirkt bereits seltsam: Eine buntgemischte Truppe kommt zum Ausbildungsbeginn an der Artillerieschule in Idar-Oberstein zusammen anstatt wie bisher die Grundausbildung in der späteren Truppengattung zu durchlaufen. Ich nehme an, für mich bedeutet das einen lockereren Einstieg: Schließlich haben die Fallschirmjäger den Ruf, eine harte Ausbildung zu haben. Damit bleibe ich dann bis zum Studienende noch verschont.

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Es gab einige Anfragen, ob ich genaueres zu den Erwartungen in Köln sagen kann. Ich denke aber, das macht nur wenige Sinn. Den Computertest (den Intelligenztest) kennt jeder von der Eignungsfeststellung im KWEA. Der in der OPZ ist im Vergleich dazu sogar noch verkürzt. Der Mathetest am Computer ist außschließlich für das Studium relevant und der ist in der Tat schwer. Wer mit Mathematik Probleme hat, sollte den Stoff der letzten beiden Jahre Gymnasium (Integral, Kurvendiskussionen, Körper/Flächen…) wiederholen. Bitte zu beachten: Etwa die Hälfte richtige Antworten ist schon die Schulnote 2. Also nicht verzweifeln, wenn es nicht optimal lief. Das Gruppensituationsverfahren soll einfach nur herausstellen, wie man sich in einer Gruppe behaupten kann. Eventuell macht es Sinn, falls man hier Probleme hat, das freie Vortragen zu üben. Sonst lässt sich dort wenig Einfluss nehmen. Bleibt das Interview. Hier lässt sich nicht sagen, was einen hier genau erwartet. Zumindest bei mir lief es als lockeres Gespräch ab und die Fragen haben sich aus diesem entwickelt. Sofern man sich mit der Bundeswehr (Broschüren, Internet, Aktuelles) beschäftigt hat und staatsbürgerliche Grundbildung (Grundgesetz, polit. System) mitbringt, sollte das auch kein Problem sein. Wichtig noch eins: Nervosität ist fehl am Platz. Ich habe bei zwei Leuten gehört, dass sie gehen mußten, weil sie beim Gruppensituationsverfahren oder Interview zu nervös gewirkt haben. Also immer die Ruhe bewahren. Niemand verlangt etwas Unmögliches!

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Nachdem es hier eine Weile ruhig gewesen ist, habe ich mich eben dazu entschieden, wieder etwas zum Stand der Dinge durchzugeben.Ich stecke momentan in der Abiturvorbereitung. Genau genommen habe ich heute angefangen, einen Blick auf Mathe zu werfen. Der Vorbereitungsaufwand hält sich für mich alles in allem in Grenzen und ich denke ich werde mit der kommenden Woche ganz gut auskommen. Bezüglich meines Dienstantritts erwarte ich momentan, dass der Einstieg wohl nicht so berauschend wird. Idar-Oberstein soll einer der öderen Stützpunkte sein, wie mir zu Ohren gekommen ist. Zudem das Städtchen selbst nicht viel bietet. Aber ich lasse mich überraschen.Freuen tue ich mich hingegen auf mein Studium. Ich habe mir die Seite der UniBw-Hamburg genauer angeschaut und viel positives registriert. Besonders die Möglichkeiten, einen Teil des Studium in den Staaten zu verbringen, reizt mich. Da die Rede von Vorrausetzungen in Form von einwandfreier militärischer Beurteilung und überdurchschnittlichen akademischen Leistungen ist, werde ich wohl mein Bestes geben müssen, um an einem Auslandsstudienprogramm teilnehmen zu können.

Now I’ve seen footage of SOF dudes catching a ride in the ammo bay of a Cobra in Afghanistan. And I’ve heard of other operators flying the “wings” of Apaches during an evac near Ramadi, but this is a tough one to believe…

Photoshopped or not?

– Christian

According the the Daily Telegraph of Australia:

FORMER NASA astronaut and moonwalker Dr Edgar Mitchell - a veteran of the Apollo 14 mission - has stunningly claimed aliens do exist.

And he says extra-terrestrials have visited Earth on several occasions - but the alien contact has been repeatedly covered up by governments for six decades.

Dr Mitchell, 77, said during a radio interview that sources at the space agency who had had contact with aliens described the beings as ‘little people who look strange to us.’

He said supposedly real-life ET’s were similar to the traditional image of a small frame, large eyes and head.

Chillingly, he claimed our technology is “not nearly as sophisticated” as theirs and “had they been hostile”, he warned “we would be been gone by now”.

Dr Mitchell, along with with Apollo 14 commander Alan Shepard, holds the record for the longest ever moon walk, at nine hours and 17 minutes following their 1971 mission.

Was Mitchell a technical advisor to the new X-Files movie? Heck of a promo…

“I happen to have been privileged enough to be in on the fact that we’ve been visited on this planet and the UFO phenomena is real,” Dr Mitchell said.

“It’s been well covered up by all our governments for the last 60 years or so, but slowly it’s leaked out and some of us have been privileged to have been briefed on some of it.

“I’ve been in military and intelligence circles, who know that beneath the surface of what has been public knowledge, yes - we have been visited. Reading the papers recently, it’s been happening quite a bit.”

So, I guess we are not alone.

Officials from NASA, however, were quick to play the comments down.

In a statement, a spokesman said: “NASA does not track UFOs. NASA is not involved in any sort of cover up about alien life on this planet or anywhere in the universe.

Typical coverup from the spooks at NASA.

– Christian

 

[Editor’s Note: Our good friend Martin Andrew, who publishes an investigative blaster chronicling Chinese military development called the Gi Zhou Newsletter, has some interesting tidbits for us this week. And please note, the picture at left is an earlier Type 89 self-propelled gun.]

New 122mm Self-Propelled Gun

In 1966, Luo Ruiqing, the PLA’s then chief-of-staff criticised the defence industry because it was concentrating on R&D rather than on production. He was accused in the official Report of Luo’s Mistakes that, ‘he still frantically attacked our national defence scientific research work as going from data to data, from design to design, without completing anything’. Luo believed China was in imminent war with the United States, and advocated Soviet assistance. His criticism of the Chinese defence industry could well have applied into the 1990s as well as today with too many designs that achieve little.

A new 122mm self-propelled gun has been shown in the online version of PLA Daily. Titled ‘Artillery troops enhance combat effectiveness with new equipment’, it shows a battery of these guns. The vehicle uses the chassis from the new ZBD97 infantry fighting vehicle with a turret, most probably a modified version of the one used on the Model 89 122mm self-propelled gun.

WZ731 Tracked Scout Vehicle

Identified as a xinxihua zhanchang (Informationalised battlefield) system, the WZ731 tracked scout developed from the ZSD89 hull with a low profile turret mounting two armoured sights, one with a laser rangefinder and CCD daylight sight and the other a thermal imager. The WZ731 had a crew of up to six including a three man scout team. It was 6.62m long, 2.626m wide and 1.88m high at the hull and 2.556m at the top of the armoured sights. The combat weight was only 8.1t which gave it a maximum road speed of 80.5 km/hr.]]>The armament comprised eight 76mm smoke grenade dischargers, four mounted in a row on each side of the turret and a pintle mounted Model 59 12.7 x 108mm heavy machine gun on the left side if the commander’s cupola which is directly behind the driver on the left hand side. This single machine gun on its open pintle mount was deemed insufficient in the event of the vehicle coming under attack. The lack of an automatic cannon was one reason the vehicle was not introduced into service. The British Scimitar tracked reconnaissance vehicle is similar in weight, is better armoured, smaller in size, more mobile and m mounts a 30mm cannon.

The basic design was sound and a new scout version of the ZSD89, using the enlarged rear hull of the ambulance version, with a modified low profile turret from the WZ731. This incorporates flat transmitter panels on the turret roof, and on top of this is a compressed gas catapult for a small UAV.

New Unmanned Air Vehicle

The Wenchuan Earthquake has seen the use of at least one Chinese developed and manufactured unmanned air vehicle (UAV). It was to survey the extent of the damage.

It is only 2.1 m long and has a wingspan of 2.6m. It weighs 20kg and is of pusher configuration with twin booms connecting a ‘V’ shaped rear fin. It can travel at 110km/hr, reach an altitude of 3,500m and has GPS assisted guidance. Its photographic images are excellent.

– Martin Andrew

Jul 26, 2008

Today Brian at Flashpoint alerted me to a short but sweet article in the New York Times addressing the following issue: What if politicians pandered to economists? I think it’s a fascinating question, and with the economy ursurping Iraq as the #1 issue to American voters, a relevant question indeed. If you want to stimulate the economy, wouldn’t it be smart to ask some experts (and then actually follow their advice)? The article points out areas where both presedential candidates have fallen short of gaining the not-very-coveted “economist vote.” Unfortunately, mainstream voters are often opposed to the issues and advice in the article such as liberalizing drug policies, leaving the oil market alone, and supporting free trade.

To pick on one pet peeve of mine, just think how quickly the country would go to hell in a handbasket if we legalized marijuana. What if people were allowed to freely ingest highly addictive chemicals? Wait, I’m sorry…that’s nicotine. But how can we take the chance that people will drive while highly impaired with chemicals? You’re right…we already do that with alcohol. Now I’ve confused myself. How is THC in marijuana different than nicotine and alcohol? Why has our nanny government seen fit to tell people that they cannot sit in their own homes and ingest a chemical of their own choosing? If you have the answers I’m genuinely willing to listen. If all you have is emotional knee-jerk reactions then I’m not.