US Marine Ospreys to Afstan in second part of the year/Big Honking Ships

With additional firepower:

MV-22 Squadron Starts Turret Tests

LE BOURGET

The U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 squadron preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in the third or fourth quarter of this year is now flight testing a turreted gun to beef-up the aircraft’s fire-power.

The Bell/Boeing MV-22 unit is likely to be deployed to Camp Bastion in the Helmand region [US Marines call their main base "Camp Leatherneck"] as part of the U.S.’s ramp-up of forces in the country. The BAE Systems turret uses a GAU-17, 7.62mm cal. mini-gun [video here] in the belly or “hell hole” of the tiltrotor aircraft.

USMC Lt. Gen. George J. Trautman III, deputy commandant for aviation, says some “basic” testing work is now being carried out by the squadron, and that next month will see full operational tests. Trautman is “fairly confident we’ll meet the fall objective.”

Along with the turreted gun, the USMC is also qualifying a 50-cal. weapon for the ramp station. The MV-22 now includes an optional M240 on the ramp. Air Force Special Operations forces are now training to use the 50-cal. gun on their CV-22 fleet because it provides superior coverage for the back of the aircraft.

The MV-22 will, says Trautman, help support dispersed force operations, providing troop and cargo transport, as well as medical evacuation...

More on the turret here:

The Ospreys are now on the amphibious assault ship Bataan (now there's a really big honking ship; our planned big ships (Joint Support Ship) aren't honking at all, more here and latest here).

Here's the Marines' Task Force Leatherneck website.

Update: For COIN, how about this?

New Sturmovik?