Thanks to Alpay Osmanoglu for the link!
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Akrep IIe hybrid electric armored vehicle
via Army Recognition.
Akrep IIe is a technology demonstrator, which is equipped with an innovative electric-based power and propulsion solution that consists of a highly efficient and powerful electric motor, advanced battery pack and smart power control algorithm. Low silhouette, reduced size and weight, increased mobility and swiftness, decreased levels of acoustic and thermal signature are other contributing factors of AKREP IIe’s innovative electric-based power and propulsion solution.Story here.
Akrep II can be equipped with alternative power plants (electric, diesel and hybrid). The fully electric variant of Akrep II, which was on display at IDEF 2019 in Abu Dhabi, is a technology demonstrator with a powerful electric motor integrated to the axles and advanced battery pack. With electric power source at the heart of its design, Akrep IIe is extremely agile with increased mobility and swiftness. Capable of running at a considerably low level of acoustic and thermal signature, the vehicle is suited to be an excellent choice for conducting stealthy military operations. The four-wheel drive and steerable axles (optional) give the vehicle superior maneuverability, a bit like on Arquus’ Scarabee. Thanks to high payload capability, medium-caliber turrets up to 90mm can be integrated. Akrep II can also be configured for various types of weapon platforms for quick reaction, reconnaissance and surveillance missions, base/air defense missions, and other similar tasks.
Turk defense industry. You can despise their leader (as they probably do our own) but you have to like what they're doing.
My issue?
This is a no-brainer yet we haven't seen any movement toward a hybrid diesel-electric engine.
The awesomeness of such an engine would be a big deal. Logistics would be lessened...especially for our expeditionary (Marine Corps) and rapid deployment forces (82nd & Rangers).
The JLTV would be quieter and quicker. The ACV would be able to run longer.
The shift in mounted combat would be extreme.
But for some reason we haven't pulled the trigger on this tech even though we've seen it in civilian automobiles for at least a decade now (rough guess...don't hold me to it).
Consider it a missed opportunity.
Price for German Puma Combat Vehicle's Development Doubles
via Sputnik.
Puma is a German mechanised infantry combat vehicle developed and issued by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall-Landsysteme. The German Federal Armed Forces received the first Puma prototype in 2010 and mass-produced deliveries began in April 2015.The solution for the German Army is obvious. First acknowledge that the Puma IFV is a failure. Next? Buy this.
The sum allocated for the manufacture of German Puma mechanised infantry vehicles has exceeded the target amount by 2.9 bln euro, according to the German television channel N-TV. Preliminary estimates indicate that the final total of vehicle development has almost doubled.
The German Defence Ministry explained that the price hike of the project was agreed upon in the contract, adding that the rising costs were also prompted by additional requirements for the hardware.
The German Army was originally slated to procure 410 units of equipment to replace the outdated Marder vehicles. However, the order was slashed to 350 units amid the increase of the cost of a single unit up to 7 million euro. The full delivery is expected to be completed by 2020.
Tuesday Funny. Fish eats shark...
No warm up on this one. Go here to watch the video for yourself. Sidenotes. I didn't know sharks were scavengers. I didn't know fish ate sharks. I wonder how that fish tastes?
Monday, July 22, 2019
China is to release a defence white paper on Wednesday
China is to release a defence white paper on Wednesday: https://t.co/udYfKoxd8V— Gordon Arthur (@combatpaparazzi) July 22, 2019
I will be interested to see the direction they intend to take going into the future. If I recall correctly they plan on overtaking the US in all domains by 2050. I've estimated it will be sooner unless we course correct IMMEDIATELY.
This paper should give us an indication of how they view things.
Turkish designer unveils badge of his country’s 1st S-400 squadron
Turkish designer unveils badge of his country’s 1st S-400 squadron https://t.co/E2b0hDVqld pic.twitter.com/PQR7UxT4kg— RT (@RT_com) July 22, 2019
Open Comment Post. 22 July 2019
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| Afterburners pushing it straight into the ocean...naval aviation is inherently dangerous... |
Another vid of the unidentified persons attacking protesters in Hong Kong...
Some believe these are criminal gangs.BREAKING: A video clip circulated online shows a group of men in white beat other passengers at Yuen Long MTR station. pic.twitter.com/YsNuhN2FUK— Stella Lee (@StellaLeeHKnews) July 21, 2019
I don't.
It makes no sense. Why would a criminal gang attack people that are fighting off extradition laws? Additionally I stand by my observation that these are men are organized, have exhibited discipline in the choice of strike zones, have similar "gear" and while the attacks seem chaotic, they're at the same time controlled/systematic.
This isn't random. This is coordinated and planned. From my chair I still think that these are either military or paramilitary forces.
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Chinese govt responding to the Hong Kong protests?
Thanks to Rupert for the link!
This is a clip from Gwyneth Ho (@StandNewsHK)'s live video. Look at how vehement and vicious the white-shirts are in their attacks on protesters. Look at their matching weapons – their long wooden sticks & umbrellas. #antielab #YuenLong— Jun Pang (@hyjpang) July 21, 2019
(https://t.co/YLjoOljcQC) pic.twitter.com/QucaHWJWdS
The title is pure click bait but I believe it covers what I saw in this video.
Think about it...
1. All the "white shirts" appear to be of prime fighting age. I believe they're either military or para-military by their appearance.
2. They're all uniform in appearance. One thing we know about "young men". Unless conditioned by training you'll always see a peacock in the group. Not only are they uniform but their "tools" are uniform too.
3. The selection of weapons is calculated to cause pain but did you notice how they're striking these protesters? For the most part no strikes to the face or head. No strikes at knees. They're all aimed at the victims back. That's training and its operating under use of force rules. What about the outliers that are hitting people about the head? They're also unmasked. My guess is that they want them identified (probably sheep dipped to have a Hong Kong address) as patriots defending China against foreign interference.
Long story short?
The paramilitaries are active and they're taking it to the protesters. I expect more than a few people to be rounded up, if not tonight then certainly thru the week.
The Dragon is about to roar.
Argentina Air Force source confirms that KAI FA-50 has indeed been selected as interim-fighter
Senior #Argentina Air Force source confirms to me that KAI FA-50 has indeed been selected as interim-fighter, with government sign-off expected shortly. pic.twitter.com/XmbUPoSgON— Gareth Jennings (@GarethJennings3) July 21, 2019
Weird move. Why not used F-16s? S. America is turning into a dangerous neighborhood. SU-30s, Grippens, F-16s, Kfirs....it doesn't pay to have substandard aircraft if relations turn sour and fighting kicks off...
IWI's Carmel assault rifle goes into T&E by IDF via "Fresh Military & Defense Forum"
Thanks to SirPad for the link!
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| The photos shows first Carmel assault rifles gone into testing by IDF, by Combat intelligence and Artillery soldiers. |
The New Commandant's plan is a return to the past for future missions...
Thanks to FormerDirtDart for the link!
I've been digging into the Commandant's Planning Guidance and trust me on this one folks. There is alot of what I consider good. There are a few things I consider bad. Risk is assumed in parts of it. Oh...and feathers will be ruffled before the dust settles.
We'll get to that this week.
But check out this tidbit from Military.com.
Just days into his term as commandant, Gen. David Berger has unveiled a bold new plan for the Marine Corps that could put an end to swirling debate that the service is trying to be everything to everyone.Story here.
The service can't afford to build tailor-trained units designed to fight specific missions, such as urban, desert or Arctic operations, Berger wrote in his planning guidance, which was released Tuesday.
Instead, he said, "We will build one force -- optimized for naval expeditionary warfare in contested spaces, purpose-built to facilitate sea denial and assured access in support of the fleets.
"That single purpose-built future force," Berger added, "will be applied against other challenges across the globe; however, we will not seek to hedge or balance our investments to account for those contingencies."
In other words, Marines will be able to operate in urban or cold-weather environments, but they'll be trained and equipped first and foremost as a naval expeditionary force. The commandant's vision follows several new global threats, including China's buildup of militarized islands in the South China Sea; Russia's naval plus-up in the Black Sea, Arctic and other locations; and Iran's recent aggression near a vital international shipping route.
Berger's announcement is also a big change from what one officer described earlier this year as the Marine Corps' attempt to prepare for a "dizzying array" of missions.
Maj. Leo Spaeder, an air-ground task force planner at the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, said the service was at a crossroads of multiple personality disorder in a commentary he wrote for War on the Rocks titled, "Sir, Who Am I? An Open Letter to the Incoming Commandant of the Marine Corps."
"Urban/megacities, jungle, sea control, forcible entry operations, amphibious, expeditionary, naval, crisis responders," Spaeder wrote, referencing just some of the missions he'd heard the Marine Corps would pursue. "... I could go on, but it's starting to feel absurd."
Military.com asked Berger about that major's concerns during a recent interview at the Pentagon, and the commandant promised the Marine would get the direction he sought.
"There is an answer, and I'm ready to lay it out," Berger said. "But I have to have that discussion with senior leaders first. I know exactly what he's asking, and [my answer] will be very clear."
If the Commandant delivers. If he's able to give the Major and other Marines a clear vision then we can finally turn to and execute.
The real problem the Corps has been wrestling with?
Traditionally other services have had difficulty in understanding their roles/functions in the US defense establishment. Other services had issues in trying to do all things, all missions...assume all roles.
Traditionally the USMC never had that problem.
It was quite the opposite. The Marine Corps mission, identity and reason for being was clear.
No waffling.
No apologies.
No doubts.
Something happened with the last two Commandant's and that clarity of focus was lost. Hopefully Berger can bring it back.
The ruffled feathers with this approach? We've always been about Marines as the primary factor on the battlefield AND we were totally focused on winning battles.
My fear is that we're about to see a continued swing toward tech instead of Marines. Make no mistake about it. If he's talking about peer vs peer combat as the end all, be all then that means more big ticket items. A continuation of the pursuit of an all F-35 force instead of taking stock of the cost. A fixation on a CH-53K that blows cost out of the water. The only mitigating factor is that we're hearing talk of reducing the size of the Corps and moving away from 2.0 MEBs.
That could possible mean less of those aircraft which will tremendously lower the cost of the force and allow for more trigger pullers instead.
Time will tell but whether good or bad (in your opinion) at least we'll have a star to navigate by instead of the lurching back and forth we've seen for almost a decade.
Hong Kong suffers ANOTHER massive protest. How did we miss this movement?
Interesting.Another huge anti-government march has kicked off in Hong Kong with seemingly no end in sight to the turmoil engulfing the finance hub, sparked by years of rising anger over Beijing's rulehttps://t.co/UorGZBESQS— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 21, 2019
I have readers all over the world and all kinds of subjects are discussed in the Open Comment's section of the blog but this was totally off the radar.
How did we miss this? Something this big and massive (at least in my mind) doesn't happen spontaneously. There were triggers that escaped my attention and that kinda irks.
Regardless. China has a problem and I wonder how long they'll be able to ignore the "Hong Kong" issue before they feel more direct action is needed. This will become a bit more than interesting soon.
VIDEO: Watch as a large crowd of Hong Kong demonstrators occupy Harcourt Road outside the city's government headquarters and parliament pic.twitter.com/X8SvSb38gJ— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 21, 2019
I hope you're paying attention to this issue. We could be witnessing a history changing event.
VIDEO: Thousands of protesters remain on the streets in the heart of Hong Kong's central business district as police close in to disperse them, after a rally ended in masked protesters defacing Beijing's office in the city pic.twitter.com/tMoymsRVuQ— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 21, 2019
Blast from the past. We take back Guam...
This day in 1944, begin of the Battle of Guam. US forces retook the island after weeks of fierce fighting, leading to over 7,000 American casualties and over 18,000 Japanese killed. #WW2 pic.twitter.com/LL1thE31F6— WWII Pictures (@WWIIpix) July 21, 2019
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Vid of Iranians seizing the tanker...the solution is simple...reactivate private contractors to repel boarders...
— Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) July 20, 2019
The US and our British allies are up in arms over the seizure of a tanker by Iranian Naval Special Ops.
I get it. I understand it. But I caution against open warfare. We are currently in the midst of a regional war that stretches throughout the entire Middle East into North Africa and threatening to spill over into Central Africa (although they're dealing with an outbreak of Ebola that gets little coverage even though the WHO declared it an emergency).
So how do we solve this issue without diverting precious naval assets to a watery killbox off the coast of Iran?
We reactivate private contractors. No. Let me be precise. We contract with security corporations that have done this work in the past, require their forces to be properly equipped and have them repel boarders. A couple of firefights with former/retired Marines, Navy Seal, British SBS etc...will have Iran changing tactics with a quickness.
Additionally the use of drones that we're about to scrap for surveillance over the region seems like a no brainer.
One thing is obvious. We're seeing calculated escalation on the part of the Iranians.
As onerous as their actions are they're being somewhat measured (I know...they're behaving badly but in their minds, I believe they think they're acting in a rational manner).
The good news? Their actions indicate that they're feeling a measure of pain. The bad? We shouldn't stumble headlong into another military action without trying every other option and solution first....even if certain forces in our country are screaming for another regime change.
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