US Marine Corps (USMC)

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U.S. Marines prepares to receive first Amphibious Combat Vehicles

Published 08:20 (GMT+0000) November 2, 2019


Photo by Ashley Calingo

The U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command has outlined ambitious plans to replace decades-old Assault Amphibious Vehicle, which has been in service since the 1970s. According to a recent service press release, Marines from the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion already prepares to receive the first of the Corps’ new Amphibious Combat Vehicles or ACVs.

Marines with representatives from Program Manager Advanced Amphibious Assault at Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Combat Development and Integration visited the ACV’s main production facility and meet with the workforce building the vehicle.

Col. Kirk Mullins, program manager of AAA, under which the ACV program falls, said the event was a collective decision between himself and leadership at BAE, the vehicle’s manufacturer.

“We thought it would be really good for the workforce to actually meet some of the Marines for whom they’re building the vehicle—the Marines who will take these vehicles and employ them, potentially in harm’s way,” said Mullins. “From a Marine perspective, we are typically in ‘receive’-mode of new equipment, but we never really truly understand or appreciate how much work and effort goes into making that piece of equipment.”

During the visit, Mullins and his team emphasized the importance of delivering quality vehicles on schedule to BAE’s workforce. In a message that resonated with BAE’s workforce, Mullins stressed the collective responsibility everyone has to provide the best possible products to protect the men and women serving our nation.

“What you do matters and how well you do it is significantly important to the lives of Marines,” said Mullins to the workforce. “It’s important that we—the collective we—give Marines the very best pieces of equipment, specifically, the very best vehicles we can provide to them. What you do is a matter of life or death for a Marine on the battlefield.”

From a high-level perspective, building each ACV is not unlike building a car, albeit a highly sophisticated one. Pieces must be welded together, parts will be integrated and the systems require safety testing once assembled.

Though certain components of the vehicle may be built elsewhere, each vehicle itself is integrated and assembled at York. For a day, the Marine Corps customers were given a behind-the-scenes glimpse of this all in action.

“Seeing the ACV in its various stages of production—from bits and pieces of metal to a full tactical combat vehicle—was definitely enlightening to me,” said Maj. Mark Patridge, a logistics officer from 3rd AA Bn. “What surprised me during our visit—aside from the high-tech stuff that they have there to put the vehicles together—was the level of artisanry, individual skills and personal work required to build each vehicle. It’s actually a very high quality piece of equipment that has had a lot of personal time, personal attention and expertise put into it to be able to provide all of the capabilities that the ACV provides.”

The ACV is the Corps’ answer to the decades-old Assault Amphibious Vehicle, which has been in service since the 1970s. A next-generation vehicle designed to provide increased lethality, survivability and protected mobility to the warfighter, the ACV will be carrying and fighting alongside Marines for generations to come.

“The ACV represents a new chapter in the development of amphibious combat systems, not only building on lessons learned within the amphibious assault community, but also outside the community with its advanced communications systems, weapons systems and the safety features the ACV has to offer,” said Patridge. “The ACV has the potential to enable many of the fundamental concepts—like expeditionary advanced base operations and distributed operations—that the Marine Corps is trying to put into practice.”

The Marine Corps started accepting delivery of the ACV earlier this summer. The AAA program office is currently conducting live fire testing and performing logistics demonstration procedures on the vehicles in preparation for integration, operational tests and evaluation scheduled for next summer.

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-marines-prepares-to-receive-first-amphibious-combat-vehicles.html

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Marine Raiders integrate with AFSOC

U.S. Marine Corps Raiders with the 3d Marine Raider Battalion conducted training at Eglin Range, Fla., May 21-25, 2018. The 1st Special Operations Support Squadron Operations Support Joint Office coordinates two-week training programs for U.S. Army, Navy and Marine special operations forces that provides live-fire ranges and familiarizes them with Air Force Special Operations Command assets to ensure global readiness

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U.S. Marines with Marine Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) conduct a live fire training exercise with the AH-1Z Cobra and F-35B Lightning II in Yuma, Ariz., Nov. 26, 2019. VMX-1 is an operational test squadron that tests multiple aircraft, allowing for the continuation of safety improvements, aircraft reliability, and overall lethality of Marine Corps aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. John Hall)

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U.S. Marines hold low-light tests of its newest combat vehicles

11:48 (GMT+0000) December 21, 2019


Photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Cortez


The United States Marine Corps held some new tests with its newly designed combat vehicles at Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

According to a recent service news release, U.S. Marines with Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity conducted low-light surf transit testing of new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) at AVTB Beach.

The test was designed to assess and verify how well Marines can interface with the vehicle and operate at night.

The ACV is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier designed to fully replace the Corps’ aging fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicles. The new vehicle is a modernized platform providing increased lethality, survivability and protected mobility to Marines. It is designed to fully replace the Corps’ aging fleet of Assault Amphibious Vehicles over the next decade.

The Marine Corps started accepting delivery of the ACV earlier this summer. The AAA program office is currently conducting live fire testing and performing logistics demonstration procedures on the vehicles in preparation for integration, operational tests and evaluation scheduled for next summer.

In June 2018, Marine Corps Systems Command awarded BAE Systems a contract to begin low rate initial production of the amphibious vehicles. Since then, the Advanced Amphibious Assault program office at Program Executive Officer Land Systems has continued conducting a variety of robust swimming and other tests on the platform.

The Marine Corps started accepting delivery of the ACV earlier this summer. The Advanced Amphibious Assault program office is currently conducting live fire testing and performing logistics demonstration procedures on the vehicles in preparation for integration, operational tests and evaluation scheduled for next summer.

The ACV is intended to serve Marines for at least the next 20-plus years.


Photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Cortez


Photo by Pfc. Seth Merz

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-marines-hold-low-light-tests-of-its-newest-combat-vehicles.html

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U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa  

U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF-CR-AF 20.1 answer questions after an improvised explosive device practical application in Kenitra, Morocco.

#SendTheMarines
US Embassy Rabat

Marines déployés durant l'attaque de l'ambassade US de Baghdad

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U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, assigned to the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC) 19.2, reinforce the Baghdad Embassy Compound in Iraq, Jan 1, 2020.  (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Sgt. Kyle C. Talbot)[/size]

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Lockheed announces newest mega-contract for 50 Super Hercules aircraft

by Dylan Malyasov — 09:10 (GMT+0000) January 14, 2020


Photo by Senior Airman Mercedes Porter

Pentagon’s No.1 weapons supplier Lockheed Martin Corp announced on Monday that it will deliver 50 C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifts to the U.S. government through a C-130J Multiyear III award, which was finalized by the U.S. government on Dec. 27, 2019.

The award comes as a delivery order under an existing Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract awarded inAugust 2016.

The Department of Defense awarded more than$1.5 billionin funding for the first 21 C-130J aircraft on the multiyear award. The overall award, worth more than$3 billion, provides Super Hercules aircraft to the U.S. Air Force (24 HC/MC-130Js), Marine Corps (20 KC-130Js) and Coast Guard (options for six HC-130Js). Aircraft purchased through the C-130J Multiyear III award will deliver between 2021-2025, and will be built at Lockheed Martin’sMarietta, Georgia, facility.

“The C-130J Multiyear III award represents a joint commitment between Lockheed Martin and the U.S. government in delivering proven capability that meets our operators’ mission and affordability requirements,” saidRod McLean, vice president and general manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin. “Our partnership with the U.S. government provides significant savings through multiyear procurement as compared to annual buys, and provides the best tactical airlifter to crews who fly and support the world’s largest Super Hercules fleet.”

The C-130J Super Hercules is the global standard in tactical airlift, providing a unique mix of versatility and performance to complete any mission — anytime, anywhere. The Super Hercules worldwide fleet has more than 2 million flight hours and is the airlifter of choice for 20 nations.

The C-130J Super Hercules has proven its reliable, efficient and can operate in the harsh environments of combat. This rugged aircraft is often the first aircraft in, touching down on austere landing strips before any other transport to provide humanitarian relief after natural disasters. The C-130J also counts capabilities as diverse as Special Operations, aerial refueling, firefighting, close air support, search and rescue and personnel recovery.

The Super Hercules is manufactured in four main configurations. The C-130J-30 is the most common cargo configuration used by air forces worldwide. The KC-130J is a short-body model with an integrated air-to-air refueling system. The C-130J-SOF configuration adds sensors and weapons for an international Special Operations aircraft. The LM-100J is the newest configuration: an FAA-certified* version of the C-130J-30.



https://defence-blog.com/news/lockheed-announces-newest-mega-contract-for-50-super-hercules-aircraft.html

Citation :

30.01.2020

Exercice Buffalo: US Marines et gendarmes s'entraînent de nouveau à Saint-Astier




Un groupe de soldats de l'US Marines Corps, appartenant à la Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa 20.1, a pris part du 22 au 24 janvier à une formation baptisée "Buffalo" sur le camp de Saint-Astier. Côté français, les escadrons de gendarmerie mobile de Blois et de Guéret, ainsi qu’un détachement de véhicules blindés de la gendarmerie (VBG) du groupement blindé de gendarmerie mobile de Versailles-Satory, ont participé à cet exercice conjoint.



Ce type d'échanges, qui se répète depuis 2014, est régulier et permet aux Marines de s'entraîner aux opérations de maintien de l'ordre en milieu urbain permissif. Ses 850 hommes sont basés sur la BA de Moron en Espagne.



La SPMAGTF-CR-AF a été créée en 2012 et est chargée d'intervenir sur le continent africain en cas de crise (photo Cpl. Kenny Gomez).

http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/archive/2020/01/30/exercice-buffao-us-marines-et-gendarmes-s-entrainent-a-saint-20847.html

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U.S. Marine Corps orders additional Amphibious Combat Vehicles

by Dylan Malyasov — 08:39 (GMT+0000) February 27, 2020



The U.S. Marine Corps has placed an order for 10 additional 26 Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV) under the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase of the program.

U.S. defense contractor BAE Systems said on Wednesday it had got a $113.5 million order for delivering additional ACVs to the .S. Marine Corps. This award brings the total vehicle orders for the ACV to 116, and moves the program closer to full-rate production.

The ACV is a highly mobile, survivable and adaptable platform for conducting rapid ship-to-shore operations and brings enhanced combat power to the battlefield. BAE Systems has been in low-rate production since 2018 on the personnel carrier variant in the ACV family, which is envisioned to consist of additional variants including command and control, 30mm medium caliber turret, and recovery versions.

“The ACV provides the most survivable and mobile amphibious vehicle to the U.S. Marines Corps for supporting the warfighters’ ability to successfully execute their unique expeditionary missions,” said John Swift, director of amphibious programs at BAE Systems. “This award further demonstrates our commitment to that mission, it’s an important milestone for the program and represents a major step toward full rate production.”

The BAE Systems team and the U.S. Marine Corps have been making significant strides to reach full-rate production, including the successful completion of Logistics Demonstration as a critical enabler for the program to move into Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) with trained U.S. Marine maintainers. This and other major milestones such as operator training and additional testing will take place before full-rate production.

The Marine Corps selected BAE Systems along with teammate Iveco Defence Vehicles for the ACV program to replace its legacy fleet of Assault Amphibious Vehicles, which have been in service for decades and were also built by BAE Systems.

The ACV will come in four different variants derived from the armored personnel carrier base. There’s a recovery variant, a command and control variant, and an up-armed variant to engage enemy armored vehicles. Each ACV comes equipped with eight wheels instead of the tracks originally on the AAV.

The ACV powers through high surf, traverses over trenches and trucks over sloped terrain. The ACV’s significant protective assets make it resilient to direct attacks and allow it to operate with degraded mobility in an ever-changing battle environment. The vehicle possesses sufficient lethality to deliver accurate fire support to infantry, whether stationary or on the move.

The ACV also has a unique V-shape underbelly to deflect the blast of improvised explosive devices. Since IED’s were the most lethal weapons used against AAV’s, the new ACV was designed to take a blast from an IED, continue the mission and bring Marines home safely.

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-marine-corps-orders-additional-amphibious-combat-vehicles.html

CH-53K

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U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa



This week U.S. Marines are preparing for the Norwegian-led exercise, Cold Response 20, designed to enhance military capabilities and allied
cooperation in high-intensity warfighting in a challenging arctic environment.



 

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USMC says goodbye to tanks and hello to long-range fires

Ashley Roque, Washington, DC - Jane's Defence Weekly

24 March 2020


Corporal Chance Marone, an M1A1 Abrams crewman assigned to India Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine
Expeditionary Unit stands atop an M1A1 Abrams tank in September 2019. The USMC is planning to scrap its tank battalions
in the coming years as part of a force restructuring effort. Source: USMC


The US Marine Corps (USMC) is preparing to make a host of sweeping changes to its operating concept with plans to bid adieu to tanks while also expanding its long-range fires capabilities.

It's been less than a year since General David Berger took the reins as the commandant of the USMC and the four-star general has been swift to lay out changes as to how the service should be manned and operating by 2030 to compete with peer competitors like China and Russia.

"Our force design initiatives are designed to create and maintain a competitive edge against tireless and continuously changing peer adversaries," the service wrote in a 23 March force redesign announcement. "The force design effort is a threat informed, concept-based approach within a 10-year time horizon, intended to design a force to address National Defense Strategy (NDS) defined threats."

When the redesign is complete the service anticipates having a force that is smaller and more nimble to support naval expeditionary warfare operations, while also funneling dollars away from legacy systems and towards modernised ones.

On the manpower and force structure front, over the next decade the service will reduce its footprint by 12,000 marines and make the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) formation its main focus with three Marine littoral regiments (MLRs) organised, trained, and equipped for "sea denial and sea control" as part of a modernised III MEF.

"This Pacific posture will be augmented by three globally deployable Marine expeditionary units (MEUs) that possess both traditional and expeditionary advanced base capabilities that can deploy with non-standard amphibious ready groups," the service wrote. It added that I MEF and II MEF will generate forces to support the MLRs and the MEUs, while also being available to deploy to other "challenges".

When it comes to dollars and divestment activities, the USMC will pull all resources away from tank battalions, law enforcement battalions, and associated military occupational specialties, as well as all bridging companies.
 

Citation :

Pour l’US Marine Corps, le déficit de pilotes remet en question la place du F-35B dans ses opérations

par Laurent Lagneau · 1 avril 2020



Début mars, l’US Air Force a fait savoir qu’il lui manquait 2.100 pilotes pour tenir les objectifs fixés par la nouvelle stratégie de défense nationale des États-Unis. Or, ce problème est déjà ancien et, malgré les mesures qui ont été prises pour le juguler, il s’est même aggravé puisque, en 2016, ce déficit était de 1.555 pilotes. Pour autant, l’idée de réduire le nombre de ses avions n’a pas été avancée.

De son côté, et malgré le prestige qui lui ont donné des unités comme la VMF-214 du colonel Greg « Pappy » Boyington, l’US Marine Corps peine à recruter des pilotes. Or, pour son chef, le général David Berger, cela justifierait une remise en question de la place de l’avion de combat F-35B [la version à décollage court et à atterrissage vertical de l’appareil conçu par Lockheed-Martin] dans ses engagements futurs. Engagements qui auraient probablement lieu dans la région Indo-Pacifique, face aux forces chinoises.

« Notre incapacité continue à constituer et à maintenir un nombre adéquat de pilotes de F-35 me conduit à conclure que nous devons être pragmatiques quant à notre capacité à soutenir ce programme », a en effet écrit le général Berger, sleon le site Breaking Defense, dans un document intitulé « Force Design 2030 ».

Aussi demande-t-il une évaluation « externe » de la place que doivent avoir les F-35B et F-35C [version navale, nldr] au sein de l’USMC par rapport à ce qui lui est demandé dans le cadre de la stratégie de défense nationale américaine et du prochain « Joint Warfighting Concept », un document que l’état-major interarmées doit produire cette année.

Cela étant, le général Berger avance un autre élément : les coûts de maintien en condition opérationnelle [MCO] élevés du F-35B, alors qu’il s’attend, dans le meilleur des cas, à disposer d’un budget stable lors des prochaines années.

Quand les premières mesures définies dans le Force Design 2030 ont fuité, la semaine dernière, il avait déjà été question de revoir le nombre de F-35B/C que devront mettre en oeuvre les Marine Attack Squadrons. Ainsi, ces derniers n’auraient plus que 10 appareils, contre 16 actuellement. Par ailleurs, l’USMC défend le concept de « Lightning Carrier », c’est à dire des porte-avions plus légers et emportant moins d’appareils, l’idée étant de gagner en agilité et en flexibilité.

Par ailleurs, puisque l’USMC s’attend à croiser le fer avec l’armée chinoise et donc à mener des opérations amphibies pour reprendre, par exemple, des îles par la force, le général Berger souhaite se débarrasser des unités les plus lourdes. C’est ainsi que les Marines se passeront de leurs chars lourds M1A2 Abrams et qu’ils abandonneront 16 unités d’artillerie sur 21. Et le tout s’accompagnerait d’une déflation d’effectifs [-12.000 soldats].

L’enjeu est de pouvoir faire en sorte que l’USMC dispose de marges de manoeuvres financières pour se doter de nouvelles capacités, comme, par exemple, des missiles anti-navires longue portée [ce qui signifie que les Marines auraient à assurer la sécurité des déploiements de la marine…] et investir dans des technologies clés.

Pour rappel, l’USMC a été précurseur avec le F-35B puisqu’il a été le premier à prononcer sa capacité opérationnelle initiale [IOC] et à l’engager dans des opérations de guerre. Au total, les appareils du Marine Fighter Attack Squadron [VMFA] 211 ont effectué 1.200 heures de vol au-dessus de l’Irak et de la Syrie, pendant les 50 jours de leur présence sur ce théâtre d’opérations.

Et, selon les plans actuels du Pentagone, il est prévu de doter l’USMC de 420 F-35 au total, dont 353 F-35B et 67 F-35C, afin de remplacer les AV-8B Harrier [qui devraient tirer leur révérence en 2028, si rien n’est changé d’ici-là], les F/A-18 Hornet et les EA-6B Prowler [déjà retirés du service].

Aussi, le général Berger devra batailler pour imposer son plan « Force Design 2030 », notamment auprès des élus du Congrès, qu’il a convaincre de la pertinence du modèle qu’il propose. Et nul doute que les industriels, Lockheed-Martin en tête, défendront également leur bout de gras. En outre, une baisse des commandes de F-35 jouera inévitablement sur le prix unitaire de cet appareil.

En attendant, le 31 mars, le Pentagone a notifié un contrat 4,7 milliards de dollars à Lockheed-Martin pour la livraison de 48 F-35A pour l’US Air Force, 14 F-35B pour l’USMC et de 16 F-35C pour l’US Navy. Ces appareils devront avoir été livrés d’ici mars 2023.

http://www.opex360.com/2020/04/01/pour-lus-marine-corps-le-deficit-de-pilotes-remet-en-question-la-place-du-f-35b-dans-ses-operations/

CH-53K ravitaillé par C-130

Citation :

11/04/2020

Ravitaillement réussi pour le CH-53K « King Stallion » !



Sikorsky a effectué avec succès un premier ravitaillement en vol avec son hélicoptère lourd CH-53K « King Stallion » cette semaine. Le test de 4,5 heures a été réalisé au-dessus de la baie de Chesapeake avec un KC-130J.

Selon l'équipe d'essai du CH-53K, le test de sillage a évalué les performances du nouvel hélicoptère lorsqu'il volait derrière le KC-130J ravitailleur dans un air fort et turbulent. L'équipage du CH-53K a réussi à accrocher la perche sur le panier du ravitailleur. Ces tests ont été effectués à différents niveaux afin de garantir que le CH-53K peut gérer les forces exercées sur la sonde de ravitaillement en contact avec le panier pendant le ravitaillement en vol.

Le CH-53K « King Stallion » se dirige vers l'achèvement du test de développement, menant au test opérationnel initial et à l'évaluation en 2021 et au premier déploiement de la flotte en 2023-2024.

Le CH-53K "King Stallion" :

Bien que conçu de la même taille que les CH-53E « Super Stallion», qu’il doit remplacer à partir de 2019, le CH-53K permettra de tripler la capacité de transport de charge externe à plus de 27 000 lb sur une distance de plus de 110 miles nautiques. Doté d’une nouvelle motorisation General-Electric GE38-1B offrant un meilleur couple surmonté de d’un rotor de quatrième génération en composite. La cellule est également nouvelle car entièrement en matériaux composites. Encore plus puissante (ses 3 turbines délivrent environ 6’000 ch chacune), ravitaillable en vol, équipée de systèmes de communications de dernière génération, le CH-53K est optimisé pour le transport par temps chaud en opérant à partir de terrains peu préparés et deviendra la référence de sa catégorie. En matière de transport, le CH-53K peut par exemple emporter en interne une Jeep «Humvee».



Photos : 1 Ravitaillement en vol du Ch-53K 2 le CH-53K @ Sikorsky

http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/2020/04/11/ravitaillement-reussi-pour-le-ch-53k- king-stallion - -869008.html

Citation :

AeroVironment Awarded $10.7M Puma 3 AE Contract for United States Navy, Marine Corps

 11:08 AM, April 14, 2020


Puma 3 AE UAS (image via AeroVironment)


AeroVironment has won $10.7 million to provide Puma 3 AE systems and spares for the US Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) Program. Delivery is anticipated by April 2020.

"AeroVironment, Inc., a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced its receipt of a $10.7 million firm-fixed-price contract award for Puma 3 AE systems and spares on February 18, 2020 for the US Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) Program. Delivery is anticipated by April 2020," the company said in a statement on April 7.



“Puma 3 AE is a combat-proven enabler of US Navy and Marine Corps tactical operations, providing persistent situational awareness, expeditionary reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition, force protection and overwatch – anywhere and at any time,” Rick Pedigo, AeroVironment vice president of business development, claims.

The AeroVironment Puma 3 AE is a fully man-portable unmanned aircraft system designed for land and maritime operations. The hand-launched Puma 3 AE has a wingspan of 9.2 feet (2.8 meters), weighs 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms) and can operate for up to 2.5 hours at a range of up to 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) with a standard antenna, and up to 37.2 miles (60 kilometers) with AeroVironment’s Long-Range Tracking Antenna (LRTA). Capable of landing in water or on land, the all-environment Puma, with its Mantis i45 EO/IR sensor suite, empowers the operator with extended flight time and a level of imaging capability never before available in the small UAS class.

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/26739/AeroVironment_Awarded__10_7M_Puma_3_AE_Contract_for_United_States_Navy__Marine_Corps#.XpYdPKYw_IU