I knew the strike on Syria was huge, now here's proof...

H/T to Cmdr Salamander's Blog

Click on the pic to enlarge it!!!!

I knew that had to be a huge strike.  Do you notice how many airplanes they had flying pure support?  Do you notice how many shooters they had covering the strike force?

Then take a look at the actual strike force!  Two B-1's and nine allied strikers?

Just plain wow!

This is a dry run for an A2/AD network and its obvious!

You send missiles, not aircraft!

If we had to plus up the strikers to 30 (assuming we wanted to actually attack Russian anti-air sites) as a minimum then the number of support aircraft I BET would double!

Air power is just not effective or reasonable against modern defenses.  We would be better off developing long range missiles that can launched by B-52's just for the cost savings in gas much less saving wear and tear on other airframes.

Admiral Greenert was right.

PAYLOADS OVER PLATFORMS!

Tatra T815 Patriot also called the Medium Armoured Tactical Multi-Mission Vehicle (MATMMV)

via Janes.

Excalibur Army, a subsidiary of the Czechoslovak Group, has developed the Tatra T815 Patriot – also known as the Medium Armoured Tactical Multi-Mission Vehicle (MATMMV) – with the first example currently undergoing company trials.

The T815 Patriot is developed using internal research and development funding and is based on the 4x4 Tatra Force chassis, which features adjustable ground clearance, a central backbone tube, independent swinging air suspended half axles designed to improve cross-country mobility and ride comfort.

Layout of the T815 Patriot is conventional with the powerpack at the front and the crew compartment to the immediate rear. The crew comprises the commander and driver, with provision for up to four dismounts.

The vehicle is powered by a Cummins ISB 6-cylinder diesel engine, developing 210 kW coupled to an Allison 3200SP automatic transmission with six forward and one reverse gears coupled to a Tatra two-speed transfer case. This provides a maximum road speed and range of up to 130 km/h and 500 km respectively.

It is also fitted with 14.00 x R20 run-flat tyres with a central tyre inflation system that enables the driver to adjust the tyre pressure on the move. Vertical obstacle capability is stated to be 500 mm with a trench crossing ability of 900 mm. Waters up to 1 m deep can be traversed without preparation.

The all-welded steel hull is of a patented bolt-on design that the company calls the “Kitted Hull Concept”. This is claimed to provide ballistic protection up to the NATO STANAG 4569 Level 3 standard while mine protection is to STANAG 4569 Level 2a/2b standard.

Armament typically comprises a roof-mounted remote weapon station (RWS) armed with a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun (MG) or an 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (AGL).

This little trend will bite forces worldwide in the behind.  Trust me on this one.

In essence we're seeing up armored UTILITY vehicles being relabeled as full on combat cars and the armor as well as the armament will just not cut it.

So why is everyone doing it?

Because it sings two songs that every DoD and service want to hear.

1.  It sings the song of dispersed forces.  Small units scattered around the battlefield, zipping along in light armor with the idea that the dispersion will be enough protection.

2.  It sings the song of costs.  This is perhaps the biggest factor.  Defense Depts and Ministries get to talk about how they're equipping their forces with armored vehicles, while using trucks for APC/IFV tasks.

This whole thing stinks but its the trend, everyone has bit and it will cost lives in the future.  We're doing the same WW1 thing.  They were huge on armored cars at first ... till the bullets started flying ... then their was a rush to get proper armor (primitive as it was) into the field.

How do I know I'm right?

Because we can see the fighting in Yemen, and the blow up in Ukraine and see how limited these vehicles really are.  M-ATVs are getting picked apart and so are similar type vehicles (like the one you see above).

In limited roles these are the bees knees.  In the expanded universe they're trying to push them into?  Death traps on wheels.

Open Comment Post. May 7, 2018

Blast from the past. Reality of war, Part 2.

South Vietnamese soldier threatens a Viet Cong suspect, 1962.

This is my second try on this subject.  It started with the news that a Tumblr Page had been deactivated because the young guy had the audacity to post historically accurate images of war.  The corporation stated that he violated their rules because these historic images "incited violence".

Of course that's utter bullshit.

I hoped to make the point on these pages...I tried to get across the idea that the history of mankind includes all kinds of barbarity and instead of shying away from it, we should instead look it in the eye and deal with it...understand it...learn from it and if possible endeavour to never repeat it.

I posted the above pic to help illustrate the point.

What happened?

I guess the usual.  I guess what I should have expected.

People got into the woods instead of dealing with what was depicted.

The caption from the website (paraphrasing) stated that we are seeing a Jewish woman fleeing from Polish boys that were assaulting her.  I focused on the obvious panic on the woman's face.  The fear that is being registered.  I also noted the glee on the boys faces.  The determination to get the deed done.  The apparent desire to seriously injure or more likely kill the woman.

Most didn't fucking get it.

Instead we got an irritating discussion on who controlled the area at the time, whether or not the occupying power (if it was occupied...don't know don't care) was responsible etc...

I found it disgusting.

We have a historic image of a civilian female being chased down in the street, being stripped of her clothes and about to be killed and that's the focus?

Simply amazing.

Get your heads right guys.  Focus on the big picture.  War is hell.  Wars of choice can be called nothing but batshit stupid.  Super power games only hurt little people, never the powerful. 

We have images that can show us the error of those that went before.  The choice is to learn or to ignore.  For some reason the powers that be want those images erased. 

We can't let that happen.

Draken Porn. Porn so awesome you'll share it with your wife...even if she ain't freaky!

Click on these pics and check out the fabulous Swedish Draken Fighter.  This porn is so awesome you'll share it with your wife even if she ain't freaky.

If she doesn't approve then it's time to find a new chick!

Israeli Defense Force Battery 402 of the Artillery Corps trained rigorously in the Negev (pics)

SK35C Draken...

Why the Draken pic?

Cause I just think the plane is drop dead gorgeous.  I love the lines.  I wonder what a modern version with a bigger wing, improved intakes and maybe twin engines would look like.

The lines on this beast are just perfect.  Supposedly (if what I'm reading is correct) it was one of the most ADVANCED airplanes of it's era.

This classic shows the intersection of art and engineering.  The slide rule boys were awesome.

Mig-31 with "carrier killer" missile now total 10 examples...

via Alert 5 from TASS.

Ten MiG-31 fighter jets (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) fitted with the air-launched Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missile are on test combat duty, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said in an interview published on the Zvezda TV channel website on Saturday.

"It is a cutting-edge weapon, namely a hypersonic long-range missile capable of overcoming air and missile defenses. It is invincible, having serious combat might and potential. The MIG-31 is its carrier as the jet is the most fitted for accelerating this missile to required speeds," he said.

"In support that it is not something exotic, [I’ll say] today ten jets have gone on test combat duty and are ready for use depending on the situation," Borisov said.

The project of the Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missile platform was unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on March 1.

According to the Russian president, the Kinzhal missile flying at more than 10 times the speed of the sound is capable of maneuvering and overcoming existing and future air defense and anti-ballistic missile defense systems. Since December 1, 2017, Kinzhal hypersonic missile systems have been on experimental and combat duty.
Initially, the MiG-31BM was named as the aircraft to carry Kinzhal hypersonic missile systems. Later, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the MiG-31K had been picked as a carrier for Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
Borisov also said that Peresvet laser combat system is likely to be shown at a Victory Day parade in Moscow in a span of two or three years, as now it is being upgraded.
"I think it is possible in two or three years, since the work is underway to upgrade the complex. If today it requires rather many support vehicles, it will be quite compact soon. Perhaps, we will show it to the public, too," Borisov said when asked if the laser system would be presented during the Victory Day parade.

Interesting.

Watch how this one goes folks.

I've already stated that I want one.  Whether we have to steal it, buy it, hack it, whack a couple of people...don't care.  This thing worries me and I want us to get full stats, hopefully testfire a couple so we can get performance data etc...

But many of you said that the threat is overblown and I was overreacting.

I find that humorous.

You know how this will go?

At this point we're getting talking points from everyone that this no big deal.  In a couple of years MAX we'll get new talking points that this is indeed a carrier killer and we need to get full specs or spend a metric ass ton of money to develop counter measures.

We're gonna wait.  We're gonna get a new "red scare".  We're gonna alarm the public.  Then the massive influx of money so that we can catch up will be demanded.

We could approach this in a logical, methodical fashion but we won't.  There is no money in that.

Thank God! They're finally working to preserve our armor history!

Thanks to Snafuperman for the pics!

The above pics are of the Abrams Tank Test Bed.  Consider it the Armata before the Armata was even a pimple on the face of a Russian engineer. 

The concept?

Absolutely awesome.

We could have had this during the early 90's (if memory serves) but didn't pull the trigger on this absolutely wonderful idea (how good is it...I think we should dust off the plans and get it into service!).

That was then and we deal with reality.

So even though we didn't move forward the above pics make my heart sing.

The National Armor and Calvary Museum somehow, someway got the funding to refurbish the old girl.  Now it can be properly displayed.  Now it can be properly documented by historians to preserve our armored past.

I'm beyond thrilled.

Now I gotta find that donation button so they can do the same to tons of other vehicles I've seen in pics being devoured by overgrown grass and rusting to hell.

Chinese Tank landing ships Tianzhushan (Hull 911),during exercises on April 25, 2018

The Chinese Marines are worth watching closely.  If they're following the maxim of "training like you fight" then we can catch glimpses of how they'll go at future opponents.

One notable instance is these new Landing Ship Tanks (in our naming conventions).  From my seat it appears that the Chinese Marines (and Army) aren't going light at all.

They are planning on putting armor on the beach, breaking out (assuming they haven't rolled back enemy defenses) and then moving to the objective at the speed of mechanized formations, not the 3-5 miles per hour of excellent infantry.

These boys are coming hard.  They're gonna come heavy and we've got to get ready.