Azerbaijani army trains with Israeli-made Cardom Hatchet Recoil Mortar System

via Army Recognition.

In accordance with the combat training plan for 2020 approved by the Azerbaijani minister of Defense, live-fire training exercises are conducted with the Azerbaijani armed forces’ mortar battery crews using their Israeli-made Cardom Hatchet Recoil Mortar System.

The Cardom "Hatchet" is an Israeli 81mm/120mm Recoil Mortar System (RMS) manufactured by Soltam Systems. It is used by the US Army, the Israel Defence Forces, NATO countries, and others. The Cardom is an autonomous, computerized system for mounting on light and medium armored carriers. The system uses a new Computerized Integrated Navigation and Self-Positioning and Aiming systems. Its modern Target Acquisition Devices together with a specially designed Recoiling Mortar System, attenuates the firing loads and enables mounting the systems on wheeled and tracked AFVs, or even soft-skinned vehicles such as trucks. The Cardom Aiming mechanisms are linked to state-of-the-art command, control and communication systems to achieve quick response automatic laying mode. The IDF delivered Cardom system takes target acquisition data that provides range, bearing, position and other data from an observation point and transmits it directly to the Cardom system; using electrical servo motors, the mortar barrel is then set at the exact traverse and elevation angles ready for firing.

The 120 mm Cardom has a firing rate of 16 rpm, followed by a 4 rpm sustained rate of fire. The Cardom Recoil Mortar System has been qualified for fielding with the 3rd US Army Stryker brigade and will be coupled to the US Army's M95 Mortar Fire Control System on the M1129 Mortar Carrier. So far over 320 mortar systems have been manufactured for the U.S. Army.

Here. 

Wow.  The mortar is a bit interesting but the carrier strikes my fancy a bit more.  I don't know a thing about it and I don't really know the history of mortar carriers but I can't recall a vehicle in the modern era that appears to be purpose built for the task.  This one seems like it is...or I could just be blowing this whole thing out of proportion.  I mean how many different beds have we seen placed on the back of F-350s here in the USA?

Police not responding to certain calls & release of inmates cited as reason for dramatic spike in gun sales in the US...

via Daily Caller.

Aaron Eaton learned how to shoot in the Army back in 2006 but holstered a pistol for the last time when he left in 2009 and took a job as a technician for a sewer company. That all changed on March 26 when the father of four walked out of an Alabama gun store with a Beretta 92FS, the same gun he handled as a military policeman at the height of the Iraq war.

"Simply put: I wanted peace of mind when it comes to the safety of my family," Eaton said.

Eaton's pistol was one of 2.3 million firearms to fly off the shelves in March, the single busiest month for gun sales ever. The Washington Free Beacon spoke to half a dozen new gun owners who purchased a total of six handguns and two shotguns. All of the new gun owners provided proof of purchase, though some asked not to have their last names published because of potential career backlash.

"To me, it's all about protecting my family, and if a gun makes that easier, so be it," Scott, a California tech worker with a wife and daughter, said.

Many of the new gun owners cited concerns about personal protection as states began emptying jail cells and police departments announced they would no longer enforce certain laws. Jake Wilhelm, a Virginia-based environmental consultant and lacrosse coach, purchased a Sig Sauer P226 after seeing Italy enact a nationwide lockdown on March 9.

"[My fiancée and I] came to the conclusion in early March that if a nation like Italy was going into full lockdown, we in the U.S. were likely on the same path," Wilhelm said. "Given that, and knowing that police resources would be stretched to the max, I decided to purchase a handgun."

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the gun industry's trade group, said new customers represented a large swath of new gun sales even as gun stores faced depleted stocks and shutdown orders from state and local governments across the country. "A large portion of the 2.3 million sales during the month of March were to first-time buyers is what we're hearing back from our retailers," Mark Oliva, a spokesman for the group, said.

Retailers told the Free Beacon they'd never experienced anything like the recent surge of new buyers.

Here. 

It's a terrible thing that it takes a national crisis for people to realize how thinly held our civilization is.

In short?

Just below the politically correct illusion that is spouted on TV, the "we're in it together" radio spots, the reality is that at the end of the day its up to every person to be responsible for their own security.

It's also apparent that many of our politicians just don't have a clue.

I'm not talking the various social issues (although gun rights happens to be one of them).  I'm talking about the messaging and reaction to this pandemic.

Trump might be the punching bag but I don't think any politician has shown themselves to be properly communicating the path forward.

Folks are spooked.

Many are buying guns.

I welcome every new law abiding gun owner to the party.  My only question is what took'em so long!

US Marine installation of a temporary bridge across the Colorado River

US Marine installation of a temporary bridge across the Colorado River pic.twitter.com/B6im9nw1Kv

— Engineering (@engineeringvids) April 25, 2020

Russian Special Ops Forces conduct high altitude parachute ops in the Arctic...

Russie : Les forces spéciales russes ont effectué un débarquement d'une altitude de 10 km dans des conditions extrêmes de l'Arctique en utilisant les derniers systèmes, y compris le parachute, l'équipement d'oxygène personnel, la navigation etc. pic.twitter.com/5NLM32pwGq

— Rebecca Rambar (@RebeccaRambar) April 26, 2020

Taiwanese Cloud Leopard II prototype variants,M1 81mm SP mortar system,M2 120mm SP mortar system.

Taiwanese Cloud Leopard II prototype variants,M1 81mm SP mortar system,M2 120mm SP mortar system. pic.twitter.com/BqtxIZrgP2

— Caesar (@Ninja998998) April 26, 2020

Abakan Avia Mi-26 heavy helicopter made hard landing at Yamal peninsula in North Russia

Abakan Avia Mi-26 heavy helicopter made hard landing at Yamal peninsula in North Russia this morning pic.twitter.com/HvzPH8Fa6U

— Максим Пядушкин (@M_Pyadushkin) April 25, 2020

Blast from the past. Do-31. A German vtol prototype aircraft

Open Comment Post. 26 Apr 2020

Polaris MRZR D4 | Amphibious Assault Vehicle Integration...pics by Sgt. Manuel Serrano

Open Comment Post. 25 Apr 2020

Anzac Day 2020...

SNAFU Blog proudly salutes our Australian friends on this sacred day.

We won't forget.

MiG-31BM with Kinzal Hypersonic Missile..

MiG-31BM with Kinzal Hypersonic Missile..❤️🇷🇺❤️ pic.twitter.com/B1Ra6bdWSf

— Sukhoi Su-57 Felon 🇷🇺🇮🇳 (@I30mki) April 24, 2020

Nightmare scenario?

Russia sells the plans to this missile to China.

Nightmare on steroids?

China improves it as a land attack hypersonic missile and builds these by the bushel and instead of going after ships/airbases/logistics hubs, decides that they're better used against US Marines that are operating shore based anti-ship missiles.

The HIMARS is decent enough in its original role.  As a highly protected anti-ship missile launcher I'm not so sure.  Operating in a high tech battle with enemy advanced ISR assets roaming?  Again I'm not so sure.

Even with this new concept we're still going to need speed and armor.