Category Archives: Technology

Vehicle I-D: New armored ECM vehicle

Currently known as Electronic Warfare Tactical Vehicle (EWTV), testing began in September 2018 at Yuma Army Proving Grounds, in Arizona.

In January 2019, testing shifted to Fort Irwin National Training Center, in California.

Testing is being conducted by the U.S. Army 1st Division’s 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team ‘Greywolf’.  The EWTV is based on a MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected) MaxxPro Dash.

The new vehicle allows ground forces to intercept and jam electronic communications (electromagnetic spectrum) from a ‘safe’ distance.  It will be a good use for artillery units because it can pin-point the source of electronic sources and then call-for-fire on those sources (the modern version of triangulating radio signals).

It can integrate with existing ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) vehicles like the VROD (Versatile Radio Observation & Direction) and VMAX (VROD Modular Adpative Transmit) systems.

VEHICLE I-D: GIANT R-C TANKS SEEN TEARING-UP WASHINGTON STATE!

“ending operations effective immediately.”: U.S. Hi-Tech/Communications breakdown, January 2019

Incomplete list, mainly links to main stream news media reports, of U.S. internet/high-tech/communications job destruction and cyber-chicanery announcements in January 2019:

At the end of January, U.S. led NATO countries converged on Estonia to conduct cyber warfare ops.  Cyber operations included attempted attacks on industrial control systems, physical security systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and maritime surveillance systems, according to U.S. 24th Air Force/Air Forces Cyber.

During the ongoing U.S. meddling in Syrian politics, a female U.S. Navy Cryptologic Technician was killed in Manbij, on 16JAN2019.

Proof of just how dire things have gotten within the media industry, 1-thousand job cuts announced at BuzzFeed, HuffPost and Gannett!

China’s (Taiwan) Foxconn kills 50-thousand contractor jobs across the world, blaming it on crashing Apple iPhone sales!

The looming danger in high-tech car safety systems

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

CALIFORNIA:  Space Exploration Technologies issued a layoff WARN, 577 people in Hawthorne to become jobless in March!  Solid state battery maker Seeo issued a shutdown WARN for its ops in Hayward, 45 jobs gone in March.   Online entertainment company Machinima issued multiple WARNs, at least 81 jobs in Burbank gone in March.  Carlisle Interconnect Technologies issued shutdown WARNs for its ops in El Segundo and Riverside, 338 jobs gone by October!  Automotive pricing and information website TrueCar eliminating 35 jobs by mid-March.  Verizon subsidiary Oath eliminating 71 jobs by the end of March.  Symantec continues killing jobs, this time 14 people were suddenly laid off.   Photonics company Invuity finally revealed to state unemployment officials that it laid off 81 people back in October 2018.  Texas based AT&T issued several WARNs, 78 jobs gone by the end of March.  Software maker VMware issued a layoff WARN for its Palo Alto ops, 126 jobs gone by April!

Helicopters and drones with hi-tech surveillance equipment will ostensibly be used to count how many homeless people live in San Diego County (interesting that apparently nobody has a problem with this, but many people have a hissy about the government counting non-citizens)

Viacom’s Paramount Pictures lays off 20 people

Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group suddenly lays off 22 people

Palo Alto based online home improvement platform Houzz lays off 180!

Elon Musk founded, Palo Alto based Tesla eliminating 3-thousand jobs due to lack of profitable sales!

Elon Musk founded, Hawthorne based Space X eliminating about 7-hundred jobs! 

Mojave based Virgin Galactic lays off 40 employees ahead of transition to New Mexico spaceport

Santa Clara based McAfee suddenly lays off 2-hundred employees!

Cupertino based Apple eliminated 2-hundred jobs from its self-driving car program!

After nine years of hype, San Francisco based online meal delivery company Munchery is now dead: “Today, with a heavy heart, we’re reaching out to announce that Munchery is closing its doors and ending operations effective immediately.”

“They can hear you!”  The new electronic warfare ‘Greywolf’ vehicle spotted at U.S. Army’s Fort Irwin National Training Center, 13JAN2019.

COLORADO: Cable TV company WideOpenWest (aka WOW!) shutting down a call center, 2-hundred jobs gone by March!

ILLINOIS:  Cable TV company WideOpenWest (aka WOW!) issued a layoff WARN, 56 jobs in Warrenville gone by March.  Audio/video equipment maker Harman International issued a shutdown WARN for its Vernon Hills ops, 59 jobs gone in March.

MARYLAND: On 04JAN2019, the U.S. Navy Reserve created a new Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group (NCWDG) Reserve unit: “There is a growing demand for Reservist skill sets from all designators. This is where it all comes together. Regardless of their designator, they have impressive skill sets from their civilian work they can apply to Navy needs.”-Captain James Lee, commander of new unit

In the following official USAF video report, new recruits are told that modern warfare IS about creating better video games:

MICHIGAN:  Reprise Media issued a layoff WARN for its ‘Search, Social, Mobile Media’ ops in Birmingham, 92 jobs gone. Also in Birmingham, global media advertiser Universal McCann Worldwide issued a WARN, 116 jobs gone!  Once again in Birmingham, ‘communication, media and technology specialists’ Mediabrands issued a shutdown WARN for its I-T ops, effective in March.

MINNESOTA: ‘Backup’ security software maker Code42 suddenly laid off 55 people due to crashing global sales

NEW YORK:  Concentrix-Convergys issued a shutdown WARN for its call center in Watertown, between 114 and 540 people affected by the end of April!  Sun & Earth Energy company issued a layoff WARN, between 47 and 58 jobs goneMonolith Solar issued a layoff WARN, as many as 23 employees affected.

App ‘savant’ kills self with cocaine and heroin!

NYC based global communications company Ketchum warns of Double-Digit Job Cuts

NYC based Verizon eliminating 8-hundred jobs!

No longer NYC based Lionsgate Lays Off 25 as part of its Escape from New York to California operation

Washington state founded, yet headquarters based in NYC (news media still says its based in Washington, for some reason), online make-up seller Julep suddenly lays off 102 people and goes bankrupt busted!

Texas based AT&T shutting down Syracuse call center, 150 jobs gone!  (the official WARN says 155 jobs gone as operations are Escaping from New York to Florida)

NORTH CAROLINA: Conduent to lay off 61 employees

More proof the housing market isn’t doing well, iconic tech giant IBM laying off 310 people as it gets out of the mortgage processing business!

OHIO:  Teleperformance shuts down Fairborn facility, 334 layoffs!

OKLAHOMA: Online children’s clothing boutique, T’Dazzled Too, bankrupt-busted due to owing customers thousands of dollars

OREGON: Bend based Western Communications now chapter 11 bankrupt-busted

TEXAS: Official report about taxpayer funded ‘Hack-of-the-Drones’ involving personnel from the U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy:  DVIDS_News_306568_791ccf518d402d1c6fe40a3ebe93e655210305df63065fd0dc3cec6e2e893243

Dallas based AT&T boasted about how many people they’ve hired, then admitted they were going to have to eliminate an undisclosed number of jobs

Dallas Morning News suddenly laid off 43 people due to crashing revenues

WASHINGTON: On 11JAN2019, the U.S. Army created the new Intelligence, Information, Cyber, Electronic Warfare and Space unit (known as I2CEWS) at Joint Base Lewis McChord: “Today we’ll activate the Army’s first I2CEWS detachment, which is the critical unit in the Multi-Domain Task Force and the centerpiece of how the Army will conduct Multi-Domain operations in the future.”-Lieutenant General Gary Volesky, I-Corps

Boeing, a company that’s been proven to have major hi-tech software malfunctions of its aircraft, is now switching to computers to conduct quality control inspections!

WISCONSIN: Mail order/online gift gourmet food seller Figi’s suddenly halted some operations and will layoff 276 people by March!  For proof brick-n-mortars are not the only companies suffering declining sales, Figi’s reps said that despite investing millions of dollars into their ops, profits keep falling. 

In four years, Rhinelander based Drs. Foster and Smith (DFS) went from the largest online seller of pet products in the country to out of business, the final 289 jobs killed by brick-n-mortar competitor PetCo!

U.S. Tech/Communications breakdown, December 2018: “UNFORTUNATELY OUR RENT IS TOO HIGH”

Vehicle I-D: Last ‘Spooky’ days of the AC-130U Gunship?

On 08JUL2019, some of the last AC-130U ‘Spooky’ with the 4th Special Operations Squadron returned from a recent deployment.

AC-130Us have been on constant deployment since 2001, but are supposed to soon be replaced by the new AC-130J Ghostrider.

U.S. Air Force video report by Staff Sergeant Marleah Cabano:

A Spooky sight at Hurlburt Field, Florida, 08JUL2019.

Here’s a cool video of the homecoming:

Welcome home!

Big Daddy AC-130U:

Black Letter Last Flight

Vehicle I-D: Normandy painted C-130 Hercules

On 02JUL2019, a ‘Normady’ striped USAF C-130J paid a visit to Belgium, to give some firefighters a ride.

The 37th Airlift Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing, landed on Chièvres Air Base, to help U.S. Air Force 424th Air Base Squadron firefighters train-up, and asked the Belgians if they wanted to tag-along.

Plastic space ship cockpit of C-130J Super Hercules.

Not sure what the firefighting training was as the USAF didn’t provide any pics of that.  I think it was actually a covert joy-ride.

There were several C-130 in Invasion Stripes attending the D-Day Anniversary, like this C-130J from Little Rock, Arkansas.

Back in May 2019, a C-130H got striped, a Kentucky Guard bird scheduled to take part in this year’s D-Day Anniversary.

KENTUCKY DOG TRAINS TO RESCUE ALASKANS FROM A HC-130J!

D-DAY F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

Idaho A-10C warthogs wallowing in the California dirt, June 2019

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Mason Cutrer, 13JUN2019.

Idaho’s Air and Army National Guard, as well as a unit from Oregon’s Army National Guard, took part in U.S. Army NTC wargames from the end of May to the middle of June, 2019.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Mercedee Wilds, 11JUN2019.

The U.S. Army’s OpFor (Opposition Force) used UH-72 Lakotas against National Guard ground troops.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 11JUN2019.

Brazilian Air Force TACP (Tactical Air Control Party) allied themselves with the Idaho Air Guard TACPs.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 11JUN2019.

Brazilian A-29 Super Tucanos took part in the invasion of California, as well.

Video (by Master Sergeant Joshua Allmaras), TACP calls in A-10 airstrikes, unfortunately you don’t see the A-10s, just their bombs impacting on the ground (also video of M1A2 and M2 live fire):

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Mason Cutrer, 05JUN2019.

A-10C Thunderbolt-2 assigned to the 190th Fighter Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard, lands on the NTC desert.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 11JUN2019.

Video (by Private First Class Bailey Breving), dirt field landing and take-off:

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 11JUN2019.

Not only did Idaho’s A-10s take part in wargames in California, but at the same time took part in Green Flag West at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada!

January 2019: A-10C SNOWBLIND WALKAROUND IN IDAHO!

Vehicle I-D, 2016: A-29B SUPER TUCANO, GREEN FLAG EAST

Kentucky dog trains to rescue Alaskans from a HC-130J!

Tennessee Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Darby Arnold, 25JUN2019.

K9 Callie and her handler, Technical Sergeant Rudy Parsons, a para-rescueman (aka Para-Jumper, PJ) with the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, wait to jump into the icy water off Alaska, 25JUN2019.

Tennessee Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Darby Arnold, 25JUN2019.

Video (by SSgt Darby Arnold) of people jumping out of a perfectly good Alaskan National Guard HC-130J Combat King-2 (I think the dog was just along for the ride on this one):

Tennessee Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Darby Arnold, 25JUN2019.

K9 Callie, a Dutch Shepherd, trained for search and rescue, sits on the ramp of an HC-130J aircraft awaiting training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, 25JUN2019.

VEHICLE I-D: ALASKA MILITIA GETS NEW HC-130J

THAT’S NOT A C-130J, IT’S STILL THE OLD C-130H!

Recovery Ops: DKM Prinz Eugen 2018, or the Nine Anchors

Sometime just before the July atom bomb tests over Bikini Atoll, 1946. The USS Prinz Eugen awaits its fate.

Removing fuel oil from the former, and seemingly indestructible, German cruiser Prinz Eugen. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class Joshua Fulton, 07SEP2018.

“There are no longer active leaks with 95 percent of the potential oil volume having been removed. Any remaining oil is enclosed in a few internal tanks without leakage and are well protected with multiple barriers of ship construction. Of the 173 total oil tanks, the 159 external tanks have been pumped of all appreciable amount of oil or were found empty.”-Lieutenant Commander Tim Emge, USN officer-in-charge of salvage operations

USN photo by Stephanie Bocek, 04SEP2018.

In October 2018, at Enubuj Island in Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, the U.S. Mobile Diving Salvage Unit declared the recovery of fuel oil from the nuclear blasted DKM Prince Eugen completed.

U.S. Army photo by Carrie David Campbell, 25JUL2018.

Since radiation levels emanating from the nuclear weapons testing victim were deemed safe enough for humans to dive on, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the official owner of Prince Eugen since 1986) demanded that the 250-thousand gallons of fuel oil onboard be removed.

The DeutcheKriegsMarine (DKM) Prinz Eugen still has an ongoing radical life story.  Fighting alongside Bismarck at the beginning of World War Two, then surviving numerous bomb and torpedo attacks by the British, surviving the war after fighting the Soviet advance upon Germany to be surrendered to the British empire, which then turned it over to the U.S. Navy where it became the USS Prinz Eugen IX-300.

Sometime between March and July 1946, USS Prinz Eugen in the Panama Canal, on its way to Bikini Atoll.

According to the U.S. National Park Service, the guns from Turret A and the fire control tower were removed before the atomic testing, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in February-March 1946, as a kind of before-after control.

USS Prinz Eugen.

In July 1946, possibly because the USN was having trouble with the Eugen’s boilers, it was decided to drop The Bomb on it. Amazingly Eugen survived not one, but two nuclear bomb blasts (Able Day and Baker Day).

Photo dated 02AUG1946, starboard side of twice nuclear blasted Eugen.

Port side of USS Prinz Eugen, 02AUG1946.

Color USN Navy film from 20AUG1946, by Photographer’s Mate W.J. Gibson, towing the nuclear blasted USS Prinz Eugen to its impending (and not expected) doom by capsizing, from Bikini to Kwajalein (quality of film is not good). You might notice USN personnel walking about the radioactive ship:

However, after being towed back to Enubuj Island, Eugen suddenly capsized and sank, next to Carlson Island. 

Edited from U.S. Army promotional film about working on the Kwajalein Missile Test Site, from Summer 1972, showing the capsized Eugen which still has all of its screws (props):

Since 1979 various parts have been salvaged by various organizations.

USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Markus Castaneda, 18AUG2016.

This pic is from 2016, divers assigned to Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, and 7th Engineer Dive from Hawaii, pose for a group photo at the wreck site of the German cruiser Prinz Eugen in the water off U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll.

USN photo by LeighAhn Ferrari, 04SEP2018.

In 2010, Republic of the Marshall Islands wanted the fuel oil still onboard removed for environmental reasons.  The fuel oil recovery began in February 2018 and ended in October 2018.

It took nine anchors to hold the two recovery ships over Eugen, while the oil was being extracted. USN photo by LeighAhn Ferrari, 04SEP2018.

Vehicle I-D: U.S. military(?) Ferrari and Lamborghini

 

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 26MAY2018.

MiG-17 races a ‘Navy’ Ferrari at Cannon AFB, May 2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 27MAY2018.

Racing the USN Ferrari, from the cockpit of the challenging USAF Lamborghini, Cannon AFB, May 2018.

Whiskey Papa races a Ferrari during the 42nd Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day, May, 2018.

For some reason there were a lot of Ferraris at the 42nd Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day.

And they’re off!  2016 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day.

For some reason the USAF is now using Lambos to attract potential recruits during Eglin AFB, Florida, ‘resiliency’ events.

Lamborghini Gallardo speeds along the flight line during the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July, 2018.

Lamborghini accelerates past a BT-13, June 2018.  “Sunday driver!” yelled the BT-13 pilot.

POKEY AIRPORT, 2012 & 2014: VULTEE BT-13, stripped 

World War 3(?): Soviet MiG 17 vs U.S. Navy Ferrari, only in ‘Amerika’

MiG 17, NATO reporting name Fresco.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Maxwell Daigle, 17MAY2019.

USAF video, by Staff Sergeant Philip Bryant, MiG-17F attacks Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, 17MAY2019.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Damon Kasberg, 17MAY2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 15JUN2019.

MiG-17F taxis on Whiteman AFB, Missouri, June 2019.

This Soviet made MiG 17 has a U.S. made ejection seat. USAF photo by Senior Airman Lane T. Plummer, 26MAY2018.

MiG-17 at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, May 2018.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Lane T. Plummer, 26MAY2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 26MAY2018.

MiG-17 races a ‘Navy’ Ferrari at Cannon AFB, May 2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 27MAY2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Vernon R. Walter the Third, 27MAY2018.

(U.S. military[?] Ferraris & Lamborghinis)

Polish MiG 17PF ‘invades’ New York? USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Ryan Campbell, 18JUL2015.

MiG-17PF over Niagara Falls, New York, July 2015.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Ryan Campbell, 18JUL2015.

POKEY AIRPORT 02 AUGUST 2014: MIG-15 UTI & MIG-17

Repairing 1/1 scale T-38 Talon and other Whiteman Gate Guards (and a reduced scale B-2 bomber)

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

During the middle of June, 2019, 509th Maintenance Squadron ‘low-observable maintenance’ Airmen began work to restore Whiteman Air Force Base’s (in Missouri) T-38 gate guard named Spirit of Heartland.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 06AUG2019.

The T-38 is one of several 509th Bomb Wing static displays on base which also includes the B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet, B-52 Stratofortress and the FB-111A Aardvark.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 06AUG2019.

In May 2018, the B-29 The Great Artiste was restored.  According to the official report  “…the original aircraft was lost during a crash landing at Goose Bay Air Base, in Labrador, Canada, in 1949. So, another B-29 was painted as a replica for static display. The static display was eventually moved to Whiteman AFB from Pease AFB when the New Hampshire base closed in 1991.”

USAF photo by Airman Michaela Slanchik, 10AUG2017.

In August 2017, a reduced scale B-2 Spirit was donated by Northrop-Grumman.  The B-2 replica weighs 600 pounds and is 22 feet in length compared to the actual B-2’s true length of 172 feet.  It is one of 50 donated by Northrop Grumman.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Joel Pfiester, 13SEP2016.

In September 2016, the FB-111A gate guard underwent corrosion prevention painting, some calling it operation Dark Vark.

In 2015, the Missouri Air National Guard 131st Bomb Wing moved to Whiteman AFB, and brought their F-4, F-15 and F-100 gate guards with them. Missouri Air National Guard video by Technical Sergeant Elise Rich, June 2015:

Guam: 1/1 SCALE F-4 PHANTOM-2 MODEL

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano.

Down in the mud, shot-up, Wyoming SLUF