US Marine Corps (USMC)

Citation :

Navy League 2019: USMC to complete LMADIS fielding by October

Ashley Roque, National Harbor, Maryland - Jane's International Defence Review

07 May 2019


1st Lieutenant Taylor Barefoot programmes a counter-UAS on a LMADIS during a pre-deployment training exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in November 2018. By the end of fiscal year 2019, the service will stop fielding new LMADIS systems. Source: US Marine Corps


By the start of October, the US Marine Corps (USMC) will stop fielding new Light Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems (LMADISs) designed to jam drones but will continue to maintain the ones in its inventory and glean lessons learned for a future system.

Captain Forrest Williams, a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) project officer with PEO Land Systems, spoke with reporters on 6 May about how marines are using LMADIS within the US Central Command area of responsibility, system fielding plans, and how the service plans to filter insight from the effort into its MADIS effort on Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs).

An urgent needs statement for a C-UAS "gap filler" spawned the creation of LMADIS, Capt Williams explained. What resulted was the decision to outfit some Polaris MRZR all-terrain vehicles with an Ascent Vision CM202 multi-sensor optical ball, RADA RPS-42 radar, a tablet, and Sierra Nevada Corporation's dismounted electronic countermeasure system (Modi). The optical ball and radar are then used to detect class I and II UASs. The information is then fed into the tablet where marines slew the camera to determine if it is a friendly or enemy drone. If it is the latter, they use the electronic warfare jammer to break the connection between the pilot and the aircraft.

Right now, it is up to commanders to determine how to employ LMADIS, be it for protecting moving convoys or using it at the forward operating base.

"It's really giving you a multiple-avenues approach to defeating the enemy," he added.

Marines can also "expeditiously load" the platform on a V-22 Osprey or CH-53 Chinook by breaking down the radar and optical sensor and then "fly[ing] to their location and drop[ping] it off and provid[ing] a C-UAS capability," Capt Williams said.

Citation :

U.S. Marines delayed start of CH-53K operational testing by almost 2 years

May 13, 2019


The CH-53K King Stallion lifts a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, January 18, 2018. Photo by Lance Cpl. Shannon Doherty


The CH-53K King Stallion is a new build aircraft with the same logistical footprint as the current CH-53E Super Stallion served as the workhorse of the Marine Corps for more than 30 years, but is fly-by-wire, software driven and it can lift three times more.

The Marine Corps’ CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter is intended to transport armored vehicles, equipment, and personnel to support operations deep inland from a sea-based center of operations.

The CH-53K helicopter has been designed and built to the exacting standards of the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and will serve as its critical land and sea based logistics connector. The new heavy lifter will allow the U.S. Marine Corps and international militaries to move troops and equipment from ship to shore, and to higher altitude terrain, more quickly and effectively than ever before.

The CH-53K program entered production in March 2017 with mature critical technologies and a stable design, but without demonstrated production processes.

“Due to a number of technical deficiencies identified through developmental testing, since last year’s assessment, the program office has delayed the start of operational testing by almost 2 years, to May 2021, and postponed initial operational capability by 20 months, to September 2021,” the Government Accountability Office said in a compelling report.

The Government Accountability Office said in its annual survey of Defense Department acquisitions that the program office identified two critical technologies—the main rotor blade and the main gearbox—for CH-53K. Although,the program office reported that both critical technologies are mature, there are technical issues with the main gear box causing low service life projections. The program office also noted that while there are parts shortages with the main gearbox,the supplier has recently improved its manufacturing processes in an effort to reduce the backlog of needed parts. It is too soon to tell if this will reduce the parts shortages.

The program office has increasingly discovered software deficiencies over the past year. Specifically, developmental testing showed a failure in the software to detect the transition from ground to flight causing increased safety concerns. The program is currently working to solve this problem through additional software development.

The program office stated they generally revised the software plan so they could be more flexible in addressing software deficiencies. The program office also reported increased risk in completing additional software development efforts to meet cyber security needs.

According to the office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, the program updated its test and evaulation plan to emphasize cyber security test strategies.

In addition, the contractor moved the CH-53K assembly line from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Stratford, Connecticut, in June 2018. The final two test articles will be produced in Connecticut, but the program office does not expect the relocation to affect production.

But apart from that, Сongress has demanded that the Pentagon conduct a detailed assessment of the U.S. Marine Corps’ troubled CH-53K King Stallion program and examine potential alternatives, such as the CH-47 Chinook.

Bloomberg reported that Boeing has provided the Defense Department information on how the Chinook might be adapted for Marine Corps missions, according to two officials, both of whom asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. Analysts from the Pentagon’s independent cost analysis and program assessment group met at Boeing’s Philadelphia facility April 25 to review the data, the officials said.

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-marines-delayed-start-of-ch-53k-operational-testing-by-almost-2-years.html

Citation :

U.S. Government intends to award contracts for next gen Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle

Jun 3, 2019


A U.S. Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicles with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division establishes a defensive
position during a deployment for training at Fort Irwin, California, March 11, 2019. Photo by Sgt. Justin Smith


The United States Marine Corps (USMC) plans to begin replacing its legacy family of Light Armored Vehicles, an eight-wheeled armored vehicle capable of operating on primary roads, secondary roads, trails, and cross country terrain, as well as crossing flood and tidal areas and fording and swimming waterways.

Since the 1980s, the LAV has supported Marine Air-Ground Task Force missions on the battlefield. While the LAV remains operationally effective, the life cycle of this system is set to expire in the mid-2030s. The Corps aims to replace the vehicle before then.

Marine Corps Systems Command has been tasked with replacing the vehicle with a next-generation, more capable ground combat vehicle system. In June 2016, the Corps established a LAV Way-Ahead, which included the option to initiate a LAV Replacement Program to field a next-generation capability in the 2030s.

According to recently notice posted on the U.S. government’s main contracting website, the U.S. Government intends to award contracts to up to four vendors for competitive prototyping of new generation of Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) which would take place from FY21-FY23. The Government intends to provide a cost share of approximately $10 million to each of the selected vendors to deliver one fully integrated ARV platform and one blast hull.

The ARV will be a modern combat vehicle system, with an open system architecture, capable of fighting for information, that balances competing for capability demands to sense, shoot, move, communicate, and remain transportable as part of the naval expeditionary force. The

ARV will provide a balanced set of performance, payload, and protection attributes with sufficient Size, Weight, & Power (SWAP) to accommodate future growth and the development of other variants. The ARV with incremental upgrade opportunities will yield a transformational platform significantly more capable than the legacy system fielded today and capable of achieving next generation armored reconnaissance objectives. Desired next generation transformational capabilities include:
◾Battlefield Management: Onboard sensor fusion with Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and Fire Control System data to provide crew at all levels of command real time battlefield understanding, situational awareness and the ability to disseminate information.
◾Vision System: Providing the crew 360 degree/hemispherical battlefield vision while under armor.
◾Hunter/Killer Engagement: Operator controls and independent sights enabling target handoff and slew to cue.
◾Counter-Unmanned Arial System (UAS): Ability to detect, defeat and deny UAS threats.
◾Extended Range, Detect, Recognize, and Target Identification: Beyond line of sight target recognition through battlefield obscurants.
◾Signature Management and Deception: Masking or altering signatures to minimize identification by threats.
◾Employing Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS): The ability to deploy and recover systems that extend the ARV’s reconnaissance hemisphere beyond line of sight.
◾Active Protection: Ability to counter incoming projectiles.
◾Extended Range Anti-Armor Anti Material: Engage and destroy armored or fortified targets.
◾Electronic Attack (EA) Directed Energy: EA Directed-energy weapon (DEW).
◾Cyber Attack: Ability to prevent, mitigate, and recover from cyber-attacks.

An ARV base variant (ARV-30) with incremental upgrades and key enablers will yield a family of vehicles with exceptional mobility on land and in the water, redundant and resilient Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) communications, and protection against direct and indirect fires, mines and IEDs, and guided munitions.

The ARV will be highly mobile, networked, transportable, protected and lethal.

The Corps believes the ARV will support the capability demands of the next generation of armored reconnaissance.



https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-government-intends-to-award-contracts-for-next-gen-armored-reconnaissance-vehicle.html  

Citation :

Scramble Magazine

Miramar-based CH-53E Super Stallion caught fire in flight

On Thursday 6 June 2019 around 13:00 hrs local time, a Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 Warhorses ('YJ-xxx') CH-53E caught fire in-flight. It made an emergency landing at Imperial County Airport (CA).

Fortunately no one was injured, but the helicopter involved, BuNo 161997, is heavily damaged and might even be a write-off. The incident is under investigation.

HMH-465 is one of four Marine Heavy Helicopter squadrons based at Miramar MCAS (CA). The other three Super Stallion units are HMH-361 Flying Tigers ('YN-xxx'), HMH-462 Heavy Haulers ('YF-xxx') and HMH-466 Wolfpack ('YK-xxx').

Photo credits: Imperial County Fire Department and Desert Review

Citation :

U.S. Marine Corps declares full operational capability of new sniper rifle

Jul 18, 2019


U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Atthaporn Suwanarat sights in with the Mk13 Mod 7 Sniper Rifle aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, January
17, 2019. Photo by Staff Sgt. Bryan Nygaard


The U.S. Marine Corps declared full operational capability of its new sniper rifle, called the Mk13 Mod 7.

According to a statement released by the Marine Corps Systems Command, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Mk13 reached full operational capability.

The Mk13 Mod 7 Long Range Sniper Rifle is a bolt-action, precision-firing rifle that offers more accuracy and range than similar weapons of yesteryear. The system partially replaces the M40A6—the legacy system—and gives Marines increased lethality.

“Scout snipers are now being fielded a weapon system that makes them even more lethal at distance than they were previously,” said Capt. Nick Berger, Marine Corps Systems Command’s project officer for the Mk13. “This weapon better prepares us to take the fight to any adversary in any clime and place.”

The Mk13 delivers a larger bullet at greater distances than the legacy sniper rifle. The additional velocity offered by the Mk13 will be advantageous on the battlefield, said Berger.

“When shooting the Mk13, the bullet remains stable for much longer,” said Maj. Mike Brisker, MCSC’s weapons team lead for Infantry Weapons. “The weapon gives you enough extra initial velocity that it stays supersonic for a much longer distance than the M40A6.”

Additionally, the rifle includes the M571, an enhanced day optic that provides greater magnification range and an improved reticle. The new optic enables Marines to positively identify enemies at greater distances and creates a larger buffer between the warfighter and adversaries.

Mk13 a ‘positive step forward’

The M40A6 has served the warfighter well for many years. However, the Corps searched for ways to enhance their sniper capability after identifying a materiel capability gap in its sniper rifles, said Brisker. He said Marines will primarily use the Mk13 during deployments, while the M40A6 will serve as a training rifle for snipers.

“We are looking to conserve the barrel life of the Mk13 Mod 7 and facilitate training aboard all installations,” said Berger.

Since its initial fielding to I Marine Expeditionary Force in 2018, the Mk13 has been popular among Marines. The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines Scout Sniper platoon used the weapon for more than a year in support of the 2025 Sea Dragon Exercise. Many users emphasize how the weapon significantly improves their precision firing capability, said Berger.

“At our new equipment trainings, the resounding feedback from the scout snipers was that this rifle is a positive step forward in the realm of precision-fire weapons,” said Berger. “Overall, there has been positive feedback from the fleet.”

Both Berger and Brisker expressed encouragement for the Mk13 after the weapon reached FOC. They believe the rifle will give the warfighter an additional option, increase lethality and enhance the ability to execute missions on the battlefield.

“The fact that we managed to get a gun of this capability out to our sniper teams is really positive,” said Brisker. “We’re looking forward to doing even more in the future.”


Sgt. Randy Robles, Quantico Scout Sniper School instructor and Marine Corps Systems Command liaison, demonstrates the Mk13 Mod 7 Sniper
Rifle during training aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.Photo by Monique Randolph

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-marine-corps-declares-full-operational-capability-of-new-sniper-rifle.html  

Citation :

U.S. Marines armored reconnaissance battalion conducts motorized raids

Aug 4, 2019


photo by Cpl. Nathan Reyes


U.S. Marines armored reconnaissance battalion conducted motorized raids in North Carolina, according to 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Marines with 3rd Platoon Light Armored Reconnaissance, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (BLT 2/8 ), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), conduct motorized raids on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, July 24.

3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (3rd LARB) is a fast and mobilized armored terrestrial reconnaissance battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Their primary weapon system is the LAV-25 and they are part of the 1st Marine Division and I Marine Expeditionary Force.

The motorized raid course took place as a way for the company to develop the foundation for their standard operating procedures, and develop cohesion amongst the Marines.

The training centered on all the intricacies involved with conducting raids, understanding the roles and responsibilities of the company’s platoons, and how to employ all available assets within the MEU’s capabilities to ensure mission success.

The intention of these raids is to attack an objective, complete the mission and leave before the enemy can react. The raid scenarios, carried out during both the day and night, were fraught with simulated versions of the peril Marines may encounter in real life.



Photo by Cpl. Nathan Reyes

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-marines-armored-reconnaissance-battalion-conducts-motorized-raids.html

Citation :

U.S. Marine Corps declares initial operational capability of Joint Light Tactical Vehicle

Aug 13, 2019


Photo by Sgt. Timothy Smithers


The U.S. Marine Corps declared initial operational capability of its newest Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or also know as JLTV, is officially ready to deploy and support missions of the naval expeditionary force-in-readiness worldwide, according to a news release put out by Marine Corps on Monday.

Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Combat Development and Integration declared the JLTV program—part of the Light Tactical Vehicle portfolio at Program Executive Officer Land Systems—reached initial operational capability, or IOC, on Aug. 2, nearly a year ahead of schedule.

“Congratulations to the combined JLTV Team for acting with a sense of urgency and reaching IOC early,” said Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition James Geurts. “Changing the speed in which we deliver, combined with coming in under cost and meeting all performance requirements, is a fine example of increasing Marine Corps capabilities at the speed of relevance which enables our Marines to compete and win on the modern battlefield.”

The JLTV, a program led by the Army, will fully replace the Corps’ aging High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle fleet. The JLTV family of vehicles comes in different variants with multiple mission package configurations, all providing protected, sustained, networked mobility that balances payload, performance and protection across the full range of military operations.

“The warfighting capabilities the JLTV provides our Marines far exceed the capabilities offered by its predecessor,” said PEO Land Systems John Garner.

“I’m proud of what our team, in collaboration with the Army, has accomplished. Their commitment to supporting the warfighter delivered an exceptional vehicle, ahead of schedule, that Marines will use to dominate on the battlefield now and well into the future.”

Several elements need to be met before a program can declare IOC of a system, which encompasses more than delivery of the system itself. The program office also had to ensure all the operators were fully trained and maintenance tools and spare parts packages were ready.

“IOC is more than just saying that the schoolhouses and an infantry battalion all have their trucks,” said Eugene Morin, product manager for JLTV at PEO Land Systems. “All of the tools and parts required to support the system need to be in place, the units must have had received sufficient training and each unit commander needs to declare that he is combat-ready.”

For the JLTV, this means the program office had to fully field battle-ready vehicles to the Marine Corps schoolhouses—School of Infantry East at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; School of Infantry West at Camp Pendleton, California; The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia; and the Motor Transport Maintenance Instruction Course at Camp Johnson, North Carolina—and to an infantry battalion at II Marine Expeditionary Force. The program office started delivering vehicles to the schoolhouses earlier this year and started delivering vehicles to the infantry battalion last month.

On Aug. 2, Lt. Col. Neil Berry, the commanding officer for 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, notified Morin and his team of the unit’s combat readiness with the JLTV. On Aug. 5, The Director, Ground Combat Element Division at CD&I notified PM LTV of its IOC achievement. The JLTV is scheduled to start fielding to I MEF and III MEF before the end of September.

According to LTV Program Manager Andrew Rodgers, during the post-acquisition Milestone C rebaseline of the JLTV schedule in January 2016, IOC was projected to occur by June 2020.

Rodgers says that detailed program scheduling, planning and, most importantly, teamwork with stakeholders across the enterprise enabled the program office to deliver the vehicles and reach IOC ahead of schedule.

“It was definitely a team effort, and we built up a really great team,” said Rodgers. “In terms of leadership, our product managers’—both Gene Morin and his predecessor, Dave Bias—detailed focus and ability to track cost, schedule and performance was key. Neal Justis, our deputy program manager, has significant prior military experience working for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, so having him on board knowing how to work the Pentagon network was a huge force multiplier.”

Rodgers is quick to note that, although the team has reached IOC, this is really only the beginning of the JLTV’s future legacy.

“We are really at the starting line right now. Our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will see JLTVs in the DOD,” said Rodgers. “We’ll easily still have these assets somewhere in the DOD in the year 2100. Welcome to the start of many generations of JLTVs.”

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-marine-corps-declares-initial-operational-capability-of-joint-light-tactical-vehicle.html

Citation :

U.S. Marines demonstrates mobility of HIMARS during simulated amphibious raid

Aug 16, 2019



U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Division demonstrated the mobility and lethality of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during a simulated amphibious raid at Kin Blue, Okinawa, according to 1st Lt. Christina Metzler.

The training provides an opportunity for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy to enhance their interoperability and develop new methods of integrating Marine assets into the naval expeditionary force, according to a news release put out by 3rd Marine Division. During the operation, a HIMARS platoon from 12th Marine Regiment successfully loaded personnel and equipment onto a U.S. Navy landing craft, utility, where it was then transferred to another location and offloaded on shore for follow-on missions.

This capability makes HIMARS a more lethal and extensive asset. “This exercise helps showcase our unit’s mobility and the mobility of the HIMARS in the Indo-Pacific,” said U.S. Marine Cpl. Pablo Villegas, a HIMARS operator who participated in the training. He went on to say that HIMARS are typically driven over land or inserted into an area of operations via aircraft, now that HIMARS are able to be transported via a LCU, there are no limits to where the HIMARS can be.

This operation is the first of many opportunities 3rd Marine Division will have to incorporate HIMARS with naval assets. “We brought the launcher out here because it allows us to integrate with other agencies in the Navy and Marine Corps,” said 1st Lt. Emil Bruch, the platoon commander for the HIMARS platoon that participated in the exercise. “We’ve never integrated with the 31st [Marine Expeditionary Unit] and this is a way to further enhance our relationship going forward.”

Having HIMARS in the Indo-Pacific allows U.S. forces to shape the battle space, whether in the air, land or sea. The extended range and high accuracy of the system make it essential for expeditionary advanced base operations.

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-marines-demonstrates-mobility-of-himars-during-simulated-amphibious-raid.html