Bloodiest vid yet. NSFW. This is the real ISIS.

Thanks for the vid Brunus...

Warning.  This is not for the faint of heart.  They literally cut off a man's head in this vid and mutilate several bodies.  But these are the animals that we are being asked to deal with...again.  Both sides are guilty and the only question left to ask is why should we care.

Sidenote:  I can't wrap my head around why people are still allowing themselves to be captured by these monsters.  I would force them to kill me on the spot rather than be paraded in front of cameras, bound, to be toyed with before being slaughtered like a pig.  I just don't get that.  Not being cold but factual.  Word has to have gotten out about how they treat prisoners.  Is this cultural?  Do they expect mercy from beasts?

F-35 Program still going to the UK??? That's criminal.

via Aviation Week.

While deployment of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to air shows in the U.K. may help to build momentum toward securing Britain’s order for the aircraft, it will also help build an understanding of the logistics requirements needed for the complex fifth-generation fighter.
Plans for the deployment now involve up to four F-35Bs arriving in the first week of July ready to make their international debut, first at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAFFairford on July 11 and then at the Farnborough International Airshow, which opens on July 14.
In addition to appearing at the two shows, a sortie to Scotland to conduct a flyby at the naming ceremony of the new HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier is on the agenda.
The aircraft will be escorted across the Atlantic by a pair of U.S. Air Force KC-10 tankers. They will be joined by a C-17 and at least one Marine Corps KC-130J in support. The F-35s are expected to refuel around 10-12 times each during their crossing, flying direct from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland to Fairford, which will act as their home base during July

This is criminal.

All you mad scientists and flight engineers can kiss my ass.

It doesn't take a degree in mathematics, aviation or any other science to look at this and realize that it stinks to high heaven.

The airplane was already grounded a couple of weeks ago, was rushed back into service and now its suffered this incident!  Yet we're suppose to say that all is well and send someone's son across the Atlantic for a dog and pony show?

Criminal isn't a strong enough word.

Whoever is pushing this agenda needs to be prosecuted and if they're part of the military they should be busted to private and kicked out.

We aren't talking about a military emergency, wartime urgency or any other reason that justifies taking this risk.  They've crossed the line on this one.  They're breaking the law and so far no one is calling them out on it.

About Ship to Shore Connectors & Amos' Style of Amphibious Assault....

I've been twisted in knots trying to fully express why the ship to shore connector solution that Amos is pushing is so wrong for the Marine Corps.  Luckily commenter "Trons Away" got my back and states it quite clearly...

I'm a bit confused regarding the JHSV idea. If we're concerned about a contested anti-access environment:
1. How close to shore is the drop-off point where the ACV departs the JSHV? Anything within 15 miles is line of sight, and certainly within the envelope of even current short range ASCMs.
2. JHSV is built of aluminum, to commercial shipping standards. Why is JHSV considered more survivable as a connector, than the USN L-class amphibs that must remain somewhere beyond 65NM due to the missile threats. Ostensibly, USN warships should be able to withstand magnitudes more damage.
3. JHSV is a USNS asset, and manned by civilian Merchant Mariners. Are we really going to have Navy Sailors in ships of war stay out in the protected bluewater, while we have civilian Mariners take the Marines ashore in cargo vessels. Maybe administrivia, but the union might have something to say, and as a Sailor, I would be professionally embarrassed.
4. Forty knots capable and $214M per copy, JHSV is fast and relatively inexpensive compared to conventional amphibs. It's also lightly armed (crew served), and thin skinned. Aren't these the same characteristics of the much maligned LCS? JHSV is less armed or armored than LCS, how it it more "survivable" in a front line combat role?
5. Will ACVs swim out of the belly of the amphib, then onto the ramp of the JHSV, transit, then down the ramp and ashore. I'm not an amphibious ops expert, but that seems to make a very hard mission even more difficult. Don't LCACs load internally?
In short: if the Fleet can't come in close to shore, and the LCS can't survive in the modern threat environment, then neither can JHSV (nor helos or Ospreys). If we're going to put substantial combat power ashore in a well defended area, it will be a sequential operation preceded by SEAD, OCA, deep strikes on mil C2, heavy shore bombardment, etc. - the old number 7. Only then do we put Marines and Sailors in the boats. IMHO.

That about sums it up.

HQMC is not thinking.  They're pulling ideas out of their ass without doing even simple analysis.

This points to a larger problem.

Dunford will not only have to clean up the procurement mess but he's also going to have to shake up Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab and the other in house USMC think tanks.

One reader of this blog was able to crystallize the problem with Amos' latest gambit.  That should send chills up the spine of everyone at HQMC..want to know whats even more frightening?  How did the USMC become an organization that lurches from concept to concept, throwing money at problems without first thinking them through?  Our very culture is under attack.  The days of doing more with less---making Army hand me downs work ---improvising and adapting appear to be a thing of the past.

Ukraine News. Are we seeing a "movement to contact" brewing?

via Rianovosti.

LUHANSK, June 26 (RIA Novosti) – A column of Ukrainian armored military vehicles has arrived near the eastern village of Zheltoe, approximately 20 kilometers from the city of Luhansk, the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic’s Defense Ministry Press Secretary Alexei Toporov told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
The secretary said the column arrived in the morning, stating “They are surrounding Luhansk.”
Toporov added that as of 12:30 p.m. local time [09:30 GMT] there have been no clashes between the Ukrainian forces and the self-proclaimed independence supporters.
There is currently no information on the number or further movement of Ukrainian armored vehicles in the area.
The situation in the city of Luhansk currently remains calm.
Since mid-April, Kiev authorities have been conducting a special military operation in the east of Ukraine to suppress the pro-independence movement.
The violence intensified after the people’s republics of Luhansk and Donetsk declared their independence from Ukraine after holding referendums on self-determination. Hundreds of people, including civilians, have died in both regions over the past months.
On June 20, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered a cease fire for all military personnel for one week. Later, Donetsk and Luhansk independence forces also promised to stop all attacks until June 27. The truce has been shaky ever since, with both parties blaming each other for new bouts of violence.

Expecting fighting to flare up soon.

What we're seeing is both sides marshaling there forces in preparation for the coming battle.

I don't have numbers (and I'm searching like a madman for them) but if past is prologue then we can expect at least US Army sized brigade type actions supported with artillery and air.

I know most of you don't believe that this ranks as a civil war but I disagree.  We're about to see a classic mechanized force on force battle and it appears that the US & EU are powerless to stop it. 

"Good officers who’ve risked their lives to serve the nation will have to leave"

via Stars and Stripes...

 The Army drawdown continues this week, when about 1,100 Army captains will receive word that their military careers are about to end. Another 500 majors will get the same news in early July.
The cuts were planned by officer separation and early retirement boards that convened this spring to review 19,000 active-duty officers for possible early separation. It’s all part of the Army’s effort to smoothly trim down to a number that, thanks to federal budgetary uncertainty, remains unclear.
There were about 28,000 captains and nearly 17,000 majors in the Army on April 30, according to Defense Department statistics.
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Campbell, who sat down with Stars and Stripes recently to discuss Army end-strength cuts, said the separations aren’t something anyone wanted. Good officers who’ve risked their lives to serve the nation will have to leave, he said.
“They’re in the Army now, and in other times they’d probably continue to stay in the Army,” he said. “But this is not normal times.”

A couple of things...

First, many are saying that the US Army is making moves to encroach on USMC turf.  Quite honestly you can stop worrying.  The US Army is going to be hard pressed to maintain expertise in their core competencies much less make huge moves into the realm of amphibious warfare.

Second, they're cutting into their muscle...both for now and into the future.  They might be about to force out of the service the next Army great.

And finally, think about the ramifications of this.  Combat experienced, physically fit, highly competent individuals that dedicated themselves to the service of our nation, often at the expense of their own families, are about to be shown the door.

Kinda makes you think these guys might be a bit pissed huh?

Major Hat Tip to Modern Survival Online for the article.

Blast from the past....Ling-Temco-Vought (LVT) V-507

via V-507 F-14A TARPS - VF-32 Swordsmen - Grenadaby comradeloganov

F-35 News. USAF gets bad news on the F-35 fire...UPDATE from ELP Blog...

via Don Bacon....

Today, Jun 25"We found additional evidence and information in the initial safety investigation to decide to continue with the suspension of [F-35A (?)] flights,” said Air Force Lt. Hope Cronin

This is getting juicy.

The USAF is good, but NAVAIR is better.  I can't see the F-35B/C continuing to fly if this is engine related.

I expect to see the entire fleet grounded in 24 hours.

UPDATE!
ELP Blog is reporting the following (subscribe to his page for the best info on this incident)...

Having seen how the aircraft mishap process actually works (multiple times), this news from an F-35 fan-based source states that the mishap aircraft is still where it ended its take-off roll (this changed with one refresh of the browser page a minute after I read it, see below).... that F-35 flying won't continue until the known cause of the fire appears and is dealt with.

“We will resume flying once we know more about the cause of the F-35A fire that occurred at Eglin AFB earlier this week,” Capt. Richard Ulsh, a spokesman for Marine aviation, said in an email.
Interesting how the C is not mentioned. Grounding the A would be a very USAF-like response. No one wants to risk their career on another mishap until things are known.

The F-35A struck by fire as it took off from Eglin Air Force Base has been secured and is under armed guard in a secure hanger and the Air Force and Marines are not flying their versions of the Joint Strike Fighter program until they know more about the fire’s causes.

I expected as much....like I said earlier, Amos and Lockheed Martin execs might be pushing to continue as normal but the pros in NAVAIR would be crucified by the flight community if they did.  We're looking at a defining moment for the program.  I really believe that corners were cut and safety margins pushed to get the plane into service.  The idea was to get the plane bought and then fix it once it was in service.  This will put the brakes on those plans and now we can expect it to get the scrutiny it deserved.  Even better?  They won't be able to ramp up production so it will remain unaffordable.  This plane is dead...they just don't want to admit it. 

ACV News. Something evil is brewing...

Thanks for the article Lee...

via SEAPower Magazine.

On the equipment side, the commandant said his No. 1 priority was replacing the Vietnam-vintage AAV7 assault amphibious vehicles so the Marines could continue to perform their traditional mission of projecting force from the sea.
Amos noted that much has changed in the years since the Marines started their effort to replace the AAVs with the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle that offered motorboat speed on water, but ultimately proved too complicated and two expensive to continue. The subsequent effort with the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV), a tracked vehicle with fast water speed, also was found to be ill-suited for the current expeditionary missions and combat situation.
The deadly experience with IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrated the importance of well-armored vehicles, such as the Mine Resistant Armor Protected troop transports, designed to protect their occupants from the hidden explosives, he said.
As a result, the Corps now plans to buy a “commercial, off-the-shelf” six-wheeled troop carrier (Editors note...is this a mistake or is the current cabal at HQMC looking at a smaller troop carrier????) that has limited amphibious capability but is better able to protect its passengers from IEDs.
“This vehicle will spend 90 percent of its time on land,” Amos said. “If I had to go back into Iraq… I would not take the AAVs, I would take this vehicle.”
The general said four companies are offering wheeled vehicles that could meet the Corps’ requirement for the new vehicle, labeled ACV phase 1.
But, because the proliferation of longer-range, accurate land-defense weapons has forced them to consider launching amphibious operations from as far off shore as 100 miles, the Marines have to figure out how to get the ACV and the Marines it carries ashore. He suggested putting them on a vessel “that can come at high speed from 100 miles.”
Asked by Seapower what the Marines could use for that, Amos listed the landing craft air cushion (LCAC), the more capable ship-to-shore connector (SSC) that will replace the LCACs, the landing craft utility (LCU) and the joint high-speed vessel (JHSV). Although the LCACs and SSC can hit 40 knots on water, they could carry only one ACV. The LCU could carry several, but can only go 12 knots.
The JHSV can sail at 40 knots but cannot go all the way to the beach. But, Amos said, it does not have to. A stronger ramp is being developed that would allow the JHSV to offload ACVs close to the beach so it could swim ashore. The Navy is buying 10 JHSVs.

Hmm.

Maybe evil is too strong a word.  How about something suspicious is going on?

The good?

HQMC is finally coming to grips with how stupid they sound talking about having to develop a new ship to shore connector.  Additionally the idea of using JHSV's to transport ACVs to a launch point is a variation on a theme I've been harping about for a couple of years now.  The platform is different, I said do it with LCACs, but the JHSV will do.

The bad?

This is happening too late in his tenure to actually go forward.  I don't see how anyone can take the ACV industry day seriously.  This is the 8th time we've seen a start, stop, start routine from this Commandant on the ACV.  If I was a manufacturer interested in this program the first thing I would do is to reach out to Dunford to get his thoughts...barring that I'd talk to Gray, Conway or Mattis to get there feel.  Time is money and HQMC has been costing these corporations some serious time.

The reality?

Dunford will enter office with all the info he needs to make an expedited buy of the next ACV/MPC.  Will it be one of the MPC contenders?  A simplified EFV?  A new program (unlikely...patience has run out in the Marine Corps over this issue)...or will we see the AAV drastically upgraded?

Amos has become irrelevant.  Interviews with him are no longer valid.  He's run out his rope and now its next man up.  Dunford will have to decide how we proceed.  Last minute moves by his predecessor be damned.

F-35 News. Why the F-35 should not be allowed to fly to the UK!

Note:  This is a guest post by Don Bacon.  I don't do this often and I link to bloggers that I would ordinarily have write such posts.  People like ComNav, American Mercenary, Think Defense, Gabrielle and other.  This is an unusual situation though and needed to catch the eyeballs of all concerned.  Grab yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the read....

By Don Bacon
News report, USNI, Jun 24:
Some Eglin F-35A Operations Suspended Following Plane Fire
Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, have temporarily suspended operations after a fire severely damaged an aircraft on take-off yesterday. [The planes suspended their own operations! Imagine that.]
“Flights for the F-35A CTOL [conventional takeoff and landing] aircraft are temporarily suspended today,” said 1st Lt. Hope Cronin, a public relations officer for the 33rd Fighter Wing. “The F-35Bs and F-35Cs are on a weather pause at this time as Florida weather is rather disagreeable at the moment.”
The rest of the F-35A fleet is flying however according to Joint Program Office spokesman Joe DellaVedova. “Experts are working root cause,” he said.
The fact that the F-35A fleet is still flying suggests that a design flaw is not suspected as a cause of the fire. (end report excerpt)
How interesting. A recent oil leak grounded the entire fleet over the weekend, but a major fire hasn't resulted in a grounding. And -- "The fact that the F-35A fleet is still flying suggests that a design flaw is not suspected as a cause of the fire." (Editors note:  I wonder...I would not put it past the program at this critical stage to take "operational risks" to get it across the finish line)
Let's understand one thing to start off with, and then I'll get into the details (which involve the Queen):
They don't know what caused the plane to catch fire and they won't know until their root cause investigation is complete the end of the week at the earliest. So any suggestion as to cause is strictly journalistic license.
Okay, so why the strange behavior?
It's because the Pentagon doesn't want to disrupt the plans for three F-35Bs which are scheduled to fly to England and participate in the naming ceremony, with the United Kingdom Queen doing the honors, for a new British warship. That's a good reason, isn't it? Well, no, but that's the way it is.
The HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales carriers, 70,600 tons displacement, will be the centerpieces of Britain’s naval capability. The HMS Queen Elizabeth will be officially named by the Queen herself in a ceremony at Rosyth in Fife, Scotland, where it is currently being fitted out, on Friday July 4. One (or more) F-35 is scheduled to fly at the naming ceremony (the Brits don't call it a christening).
The Brits want the F-35B as part of the ship's complement. The United Kingdom is the only "tier one" partner on the F-35 development program, which means it's kicked in some serious money for the F-35 development which started in 2001. They've also gained about fifteen percent of the manufacturing pie, with BAE Systems having completed the manufacture of 150 F-35 rear fuselages and tail sets already.
It's been a rocky road for the UK Defence Minister Philip Hammond. First he declared that the UK wanted the STOVL to replace the Harrier, then he switched to the CV variant, then when he found out it would cost $1.24 billion to install cats and traps on their new carrier he switched back to the STOVL variant, F-35B. These changes carried a cost, which lead to the headline "Coalition U-turn on carrier jets 'wasted £258m': Labour blasts 'chaotic' decision to buy jump jets after all."
Originally the UK wanted 138 planes, but that has been decreased to 48 probably for cost reasons as with others. The UK owns (sort of) three F-35B now, and has been planning to order 14 more since at least last October. Reuters faithfully reported all the announcements: Oct 23, 2013, Britain may announce an order for 14 Lockheed Martin-built F-35 super-stealth jets as early as next week. Jan 23, 2014 -- Britain may order 14 F-35 jets as early as next week-sources. Feb 1, 2014 -- UK says close to placing order for F-35 jets. Feb 19, 2014 -- Lockheed to Sell 14 F-35 to U.K. in $5B Deal. Yadda yadda. "Super-stealth." (I guess "super-duper" had been taken.)
Now we hear that this fateful announcement for the UK to "order" fourteen more (they have three) faulty F-35B prototypes will be made at the HMS QE naming ceremony where F-35B will be part of the ceremony! Ta-da. Finally?
How did this idea originate? Colin Clark at Breaking Defense credits General Amos. "The push to give the F-35B such a high profile in Britain — and thus around the world — originated with Gen. James Amos, the Marine Commandant and a pilot. Being a canny fellow, Amos recognized how a fly-by at the new carrier’s christening could boost the plane’s fortunes and he pushed hard for it."
Amos may have had input, and he may be a canny fellow (who knew), but since DM Hammond has more to gain I mostly credit him with the zany idea to fly prototype F-35B airplanes across the Atlantic for a ceremony which would quiet Hammond's critics, get the US on his side (SecState Kerry, definitely not a canny fellow, slighted the UK a year ago) and would also provide a distraction from the money Hammond's indecision has cost the kingdom. Scheduling the ceremony for US Independence (from Britain) Day adds a little spice. It's the unique British sense of humor at work.
But it's not funny. No matter Who originated the idea for this cheap political stunt, it has no doubt affected the decision not to ground the F-35 fleet after the fire at Eglin, even as they seek the root cause. This puts other pilots at risk.
This non-grounding decision has especially added to the danger the F-35B pilots will face crossing the Atlantic Ocean back-and-forth. It was a stupid idea to fly faulty F-35B untested prototypes across the vast Atlantic ocean in the first place, and now it's worse, with pilots at significant risk.

I have been counseled to wait and see when it comes to the cause of the fire.

After this fire, so soon after the grounding of the fleet, the question becomes clear.  Why is the Pentagon ignoring common safety measures all for a publicity stunt in Europe?

Is the program on such shaky ground in the UK that a cancellation of the performance would kill the UK buy?  Is the defense ministry so desperate that they would endanger their pilots for an air show?

The answer appears to be yes. Tech is now more important than the lives of our pilots.

Sidenote:  Supporters of the program are encouraged to weigh in.  No personal attacks, no flaming, no juvenile behavior.  You play by those rules and the debate can rage.

Armored Warfare Beta is open!

Like World of Tanks but want to fight modern armor?  Then Armored Warfare might be for you!  Open Beta sign ups are going on now.  Check it out here.

Artillery Duels, Mechanized Combat underway in the Ukrainian town of Donetsk.

via Voice of Russia.

A battle with the use of armored vehicles and artillery is under way on the outskirts of Donetsk, Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Borodai has said.
"Not long ago, a battle began in the suburbs of Donetsk. Artillery and armoured vehicles are being used," Borodai said on Tuesday in Donetsk. According to him, there are dead and wounded already.
Last Friday, after a two-month confrontation, President of Ukraine Petr Poroshenko ordered the security forces to stop shooting until June 27. The militia also pledged to stop the fire, but the long-awaited truce has not yet come to the region: shootings go on, and the parties continue to blame each other.

I marvel at how the world is unraveling right before our eyes and the fact that most citizens are more focused on the "world cup"...an event that celebrates a sport that isn't even followed in the US!

On a sidenote have you noticed how the fighting has escalated?  This originally was simply small unit actions.

Now we're seeing US Army Brigade sized force, mechanized combat, artillery duels, active air defenses against attack helicopters and even transports being shot down.

This has morphed into a quasi-conventional war.

The talking point that they're acting against terrorists no longer is valid.  

They're engaged against a modern army. 

Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_06_24/Battle-with-use-of-artillery-and-armored-vehicles-under-way-near-Donetsk-locals-1671/

Change of Command Ceremony via Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections Flickr Page.

"Major General O.P. Smith say farewell in Korea to 1st Marine Division. Smith turned command over to Major General Gerald C. Thomas, center. Brigadier General Puller, assistant division commander is at far right, 1951."

Franco-Canadian Amphibious Exercise Lion Mistral (pics)

Marine Corps Politics. General Gray comes out against Amos...

via Marine Corps Times...

Magee and DuVall aren’t the only Marines with concerns over the direction of the service’s amphibious procurement strategy. Marine Corps Times has confirmed that Amos received questions about his procurement priorities during the annual General Officer’s Symposium at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., in September and again at a meeting with retired three- and four-star generals.
Magee told Marine Corps Times that the generals’ discontent with Amos’ answers to those tough questions prompted Gen. Al Gray, the former commandant and a long-time friend, to encourage him not only to write the position paper but also to reach out to prospective commandants and other generals to lobby for a change in direction. Gen. Joseph Dunford was nominated to become the next Marine Corps commandant at about the time this effort was getting underway.
Gray refused to confirm Magee’s story, even off the record, but Marine Corps Times has confirmed that he’s been conducting speaking engagements recently around the Washington, D.C., area, and gave a closed-door procurement talk to active-duty officers at Quantico.

Read the entire article here.

I told ya.  Ya didn't believe me but I told ya.

The entire Marine Corps is NOT pleased with Amos' leadership and now its come out that the vacillation with the ACV project is the focus of that discontent.

Quite honestly, the plan while flawed is in keeping with the direction that was set out with the cancellation of the EFV.  We would procure an amphibious combat vehicle tracked and would augment it with a wheeled vehicle.

So the inside politics is that the issue isn't the Marine Personnel Carrier.  The issue is with the Marine Corps as Amos has it oriented.  The idea of an Air Assault, 101st seagoing Marine Corps is just wrong.

The talk that defenses against ships are so ferocious that we must rely on airpower...while ignoring the fact that formidable anti-ship missiles will be covered by serious air defenses is pure craziness.

Gray came out in public, but the battle is raging in private.

Amos is surrounded.  He has few supporters and is witnessing an entire Marine Corps waiting for him to retire.

Amos failed basic leadership one oh one.

Never leave a command in worse shape than when you took over.

He did, and now we're all waiting to clean up the mess.

The Saudi's gave birth to ISIS?!

via The Atlantic.

Qatar’s military and economic largesse has made its way to Jabhat al-Nusra, to the point that a senior Qatari official told me he can identify al-Nusra commanders by the blocks they control in various Syrian cities. But ISIS is another matter. As one senior Qatari official stated, “ISIS has been a Saudi project.”
ISIS, in fact, may have been a major part of Bandar’s covert-ops strategy in Syria. The Saudi government, for its part, has denied allegations, including claims made by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, that it has directly supported ISIS. But there are also signs that the kingdom recently shifted its assistance—whether direct or indirect—away from extremist factions in Syria and toward more moderate opposition groups.

Put your partisan hat in your pocket for a minute.  Its time to speak clearly and do a little puzzle fitting.

I see a weird alliance here.  You have Neo-Cons in the US being frustrated by an American public that is tired of the mess in the Middle East, a scared Saudi Arabia and Qatar that are looking to end the crisis in Syria and then the birth of a monster that turned on its master in the form of ISIS.

Remember John McCain wanted to arm the rebels in Syria?

Remember everyone saying that there are no good guys in that conflict?

It looks to me like the plan went forward and spun wildly out of control.  Read the entire article.  Its eye opening. 

CMI Defense Medium & Large Caliber Protected Weapon Stations...

Cockerill CPWS 25 (mounting the ATK M242 chain gun, firing 25mm x 137mm ammunition) on the RTD VAB Mk3 6x6 APC chassis.

Cockerill CPWS 30 (mounting the ZTM-1 automatic cannon, firing 30mm x 165mm ammunition) on the BTR-3E 8x8 APC chassis.

Cockerill CSE 90LP turret with the COMMANDO Select 4x4 armoured vehicle

Cockerill XC-8 turret and the CV90 tracked chassis

The Gunfighter--Funny Western!

F-35 catches fire!!!! Breaking News!!!! Class A Mishap!!!

Read it here!

Blast from the past....CF-105 Arrow

Note:  All photos are via Robert Sullivan's Flickr Page.

Brazil's Elite B.O.P.E. get South African Internal Security Vehicles...

via Tecnodefensa.com

These vehicles adapted according to the requirements defined in tests and reviews the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) and Police Battalion Shock (SHOCK) of PMERJ and Coordination of Special Resources (CORE) of the Civil Police, version were acquired by SESEG (Department of State Security of Rio de Janeiro), for major events to be held in this State, after intensive reviews of the Military and Civil Police officers and a very troubled bid by the attempt to offer a lower priced vehicles, but totally inadequate to the function.

Google translate lets us down a bit but long story short, Brazil just got their elite heavy hitters some new rides.

Off topic but has anyone else noted how desperate nations all over the planet are to beef up their internal security forces?  I can't explain it but it really appears that leaders everywhere are as nervous about internal threats as they are about outside forces.