 |
|
In his interview with Angus Hordern, Adrian Humphries recounted when a US soldier was shot by a sniper as their aircraft took off. This is helmet-cam footage of that incident.— Life on the Line (@LOTLpod) June 8, 2020
Vol I: https://t.co/4xYNfmg14j
Vol II: https://t.co/HYmTXCyzx9 pic.twitter.com/zUlnbruREQ
 |
| Photo by @jens_cullmann ‘No happy endings’ ... Unfortunately for this unborn baby gemsbok his fate was sealed when his mum was tackled by a lion. The concept of ‘justice’ does not apply in nature |
The first flight of the next generation of #F18. Watch F287 – the first #SuperHornet Block III test jet – take to the skies. We will deliver two Block III test jets to the @USNavy in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/C7jHV5H6e2— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) June 4, 2020
General Dynamics Land Systems–UK has delivered two fully-electric 8×8 Multi-Utility Tactical Transport (MUTT) Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) to the British Army.
Alongside the delivery of these UGV’s, which took place in April 2020, General Dynamics Land Systems–UK will provide New Operator Training, Maintainer Training, In-Service Support, Maintainer Tools and Spares, including a fully-supported Helpdesk.
Carew Wilks, vice president and general manager of General Dynamics Land Systems–UK, said: “This Robotic Platoon Vehicle contract award is recognition of General Dynamics Land Systems’ extensive efforts to meet the needs of Armed Forces worldwide with innovative solutions to the changing landscape of the modern battlefield. We look forward to supporting the British Army in maximising the outstanding capabilities that MUTT provides.”
The MUTT, which provides both wheeled and tracked variants, is a rugged, reliable small-unit force multiplier providing increased battlefield capabilities. As a controller-less small-unit robotic follower, it lightens the load across different combat operations. As a remote-controlled or tele-operated team mate, it provides stand-off from threats or increased projection of combat power. The MUTT is engineered to easily evolve to accommodate new payloads, including Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and Lethality, and proven levels of enhanced autonomy that we are already fielding elsewhere.
A retired four-star Marine general on Wednesday excoriated President Donald Trump's threats to use the military on protesters and his controversial church photo op on Monday, writing that his actions "may well signal the beginning of the end of the American experiment."Story here.
Gen. John Allen, the former commander of American forces in Afghanistan and former special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS under the Obama administration, wrote in an op-ed for Foreign Policy that "to even the casual observer, Monday was awful for the United States and its democracy."
His comments come after the President declared himself "your president of law and order" as peaceful protesters just outside the White House gates were dispersed with gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets, apparently so Trump could visit a nearby church. He remained at the boarded-up building for a matter of minutes before returning to the White House.
Quite the standoff yesterday involving Lebanese soldiers, UNIFIL and an IDF Merkava IV tank. #Lebanon #Israel pic.twitter.com/Yh1Kc2SKko— Joe Truzman (@Jtruzmah) June 3, 2020
The Pentagon is distancing itself from President Trump’s suggestion to use active duty troops to quell the protests and rioting that have erupted across the country, even as more National Guard forces from around the country pour into the nation’s capital.Story here.
A senior defense official told reporters at the Pentagon today that “we really would like all of this to stay a National Guard response. We don’t want to see Title X forces. That’s not what we want to do.” The official spoke on the condition of anonymity. Title 10 is the law that governs the active duty military, while Title 32 is the legislation under which the National Guard is normally mobilized by governors of the states.
The remarks come as Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley come under fire from civilians and several recently retired generals for remarks made Monday comparing US cities to a battlefield, and for following the president through Lafayette Park just after it was cleared of peaceful protesters by federal police firing tear gas, using flashbangs and driving protesters back.
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith, is calling on both men to come to Capitol Hill next week to explain what’s going on. Smith made his announcement of a planned hearing minutes after the defense official gave the Pentagon’s version of what happened Monday..
Esper and Milley, according to the Pentagon’s telling, apparently did not know what was going to happen when they left the White House alongside the president and other Cabinet officials. “Their understanding was they were walking out of the White House to walk through Lafayette Park to review efforts to quell the protests,” the official said, suggesting the two most powerful military leaders in the country didn’t understand, or weren’t briefed, on the presidential stroll. The official also said Esper and Milley did not know the people outside had been gassed and pushed out of the park.
