Happy 4th.

Happy 4th.


I originally posted a pic with fireworks going off and all that jazz.


I had to take it down.  I still wish you a Happy 4th but to me things are off the rails in this country.


This just doesn't seem like a time to celebrate.


Happy 4th anyway.

VFM 5 Light tank

Anders Light Tank & IFV...Polish Perfection.

UltimateRatioReg (one of only two writers worth reading at USNI Blog...CDR Salamander is the other) always talks about a new alliance between Eastern European Nations.  The countries that were once under Soviet control and now are free and are willing to go the last mile to protect their freedom.

Well Poland is one of those nations and if you haven't kept up with some of the moves that they've been making to develop not only their defense industry but also the capabilities of their military then you've been missing out.

One of those projects is the Anders Light Tank.

Probably better called an Infantry Support Vehicle it's cutting edge and innovative.  An unmanned turret with a 120mm gun?  Enough room in the hull to have a decent number of reloads, sensors and a bit of comfort for the crew?  I like it!

RG-35. Why did BAE lose.

BAE's entrant in the Canadian TAPV contest seemed like a surefire winner.

It came from the S. African design house and is a clean sheet design.  It's modular, a true mine protected vehicle, boasts tremendous mobility, had a 6x6 version and is capable of carrying a wide array of weapons.

How did it lose?

I have absolutely no idea!  BAE played the domestic production card right and teamed up with several Canadian companies...it built or expanded a campus in that country and I refuse to believe that they lost due to price...especially after the institutional knowledge gained from the FMTV debacle.

So how did the Textron product beat the RG-35? 

I don't know and the Canadian Department of Defense isn't telling.  At least they aren't telling me.  Information is proprietary and they can't discuss the different bids or the criteria on which they based their decision.

You might say no problem.  I say you're wrong.  A chilling effect is creeping into the defense industry and I'm afraid that we'll simply see re-worked vehicles instead of cutting edge advancements if current trends continue.  If you take a look at the major armor vehicle makers in the west, you'll see product improved vehicles, rearmored vehicles but few NEW vehicles.  BAE is one of the very few organizations that appears to be bringing new designs to the market place.

We'll see what we'll see but it appears that the global recession has hit and we're entering a time similar to the period between WW1 and 2....minor improvements on existing hardware but no major advancements for a generation.

Military Sci-Fi Concept Art.

Donald Bradford's Concept Art Work.

Makes a great desktop wallpaper.  Of course some of you work in politically correct places so the thought of having even a sci-fi weapon of war on your computer screen will probably offend your co-workers...you have my sympathy.

Venezuela buying 2 more battalions of T-72B1 Tanks

I've started subscribing to three blogs that cover S. American defense issues.

I think everyone should.  While all eyes are firmly locked on the Middle East and the Pacific something is brewing in Central and S. America that will catch us all by surprise unless we're proactive.

A trickle of weapons sales has turned into a full blown arms race and Europe, Russia, China and the US all are trying to setup proxy states to advance their interests.

The latest chess move in the region is being made by Venezuela.  Two battalions of T-72B1 tanks is nothing to sneeze at.  This via Forcas Terres Res.

During the celebration of 191 anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo Day and the army of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez said his country this year will acquire an additional lot of the main battle tank T-72B1, Russian-made.
Then, in order to continue the process of equipping the Armed Forces, Venezuela and Russia will sign a credit to values ​​close to 4 billion U.S. dollars, for which he was dispatched to Moscow Deputy Minister of International Relations Temir Rojas, accompanied by an official delegation.
The intention of the government of this country this year is to have enough material to provide two new battalions equipped with the MBT, with the technical and military cooperation of the Russian Federation.

If a surprise war is possible, then it'll happen in S. America...not the Middle East.

31st MEU about to bring the pain (simulated)

Mission Accomplished.

I saw this image over at PoderAereo website and couldn't put it together.  I knew that wasn't a ship on the side of the plane so what could it be?  Then I checked out the Aviationist website and it came together.  Brazillian fighters shattered the windows of the Supreme Court in that country during a flyby.

Too bad a couple of wild and wooly F/A-18D pilots couldn't have done the same on Thursday in Washington.  Maybe the sonic boom would have shaken some sense back into a back sliding Justice.  Just say'n.