You can make up for heat, emissions, even noise signature. There are ways you can mitigate for that. How do you mitigate SIZE signature? The ARMATA is HUGE!
Monday, June 22, 2020
The Russian T-14 Armata is HUGE..
You can make up for heat, emissions, even noise signature. There are ways you can mitigate for that. How do you mitigate SIZE signature? The ARMATA is HUGE!
Boxer based counter-UAS system
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A 40mm grenade launcher as an anti-UAV weapon? I guess FLAK is back in style. Having said that is it possible for a "larger" grenade launcher or even one with a bigger magazine? If swarm attacks are the next wave then we're gonna need volume fire.
F-35 Block 4 Upgrade is Two Years Late, $1.5 Bn More Expensive: GAO
Thanks to Jason for the link!
via Defense Aerospace.
Block 4 capabilities delayed, cost increases by $1.5 billionHere.
In its May 2019 Block 4 report to Congress, DOD reported that the total cost to develop 66 Block 4 capabilities—both hardware and software—would be $10.6 billion for activities planned from fiscal years 2018 to 2024.
The report also included the F-35 program office estimate of an additional $6.4 billion in fiscal year 2018 through 2024 funding to retrofit aircraft from the baseline F-35 configuration to a full Block 4 configuration.
However, GAO “found that reported Block 4 costs did not include all Block 4 costs…and did not include Block 4 costs the program incurred prior to 2018, or that it will incur after 2024,” as the F-35 program office has chosen to exclude the past and future costs in the Block 4 cost estimate it reported to Congress. This decision understates the true cost of Block 4.
The updated cost estimate reflects that the program office will be fielding Block 4 capabilities into fiscal year 2026. This new schedule adds 2 years analysis of DOD’s updated cost estimate indicates the total cost of Block 4 development grew by $1.5 billion to a total of $12.1 billion for activities in fiscal years 2018 through 2026.
Furthermore, in addition to the Block 4 development costs, the program also estimates it will need another $2.9 billion to develop other capabilities, such as upgrades to ALIS.
“Ultimately, without a complete understanding of Block 4 costs, the program could face additional cost growth, which will be hard to track without a complete cost baseline,” GAO says. “The lack of a complete cost baseline hinders insight and oversight into the program’s costs, plans, and progress to date and going forward.”
Block 4 capabilities delivered late
Lockheed Martin only delivered one Block 4 capability (the auto ground-collision avoidance system) in 2019, instead of eight as planned. According to program officials, the development of the other capabilities is taking longer than planned and, as a result, the program pushed their delivery schedule into 2020.
Development and delivery of the capabilities within the Block 4 effort are complex, and the program does not consider development complete until the products for all elements of the F-35 air system are ready.
The program is also discovering issues during Block 4 testing, causing the testing to take longer than anticipated. According to a DOT&E official, Block 4 software changes caused issues with functionality of F-35 baseline aircraft capabilities that worked before the program installed new Block 4 software onto the aircraft.
The program discovered issues with each new software version during flight testing and has been working to fix these issues in subsequent software updates. Testing and DOD officials stated that the contractor had not performed adequate testing of the software before delivering it to the test fleet as the reason for these issues. Contractor representatives acknowledged these issues and stated that they will conduct additional lab testing for future software releases to avoid such problems going forward.
91% of engines delivered late
In 2019, 91 percent of engines delivered were late. In addition, the average number of quality notifications per engine—production defects indicating a quality issue—has increased by 16 percent in 2019, to 1,090 per delivered engine.
Late parts delivery increase ten-fold
According to program officials, some suppliers for the F-35 struggled to meet increased production demands in 2019 and, as a result, the program witnessed increased rates of late deliveries or parts shortages. In particular, the number of parts delivered late to the airframe contractor, as well as parts shortages, have grown steadily over the past 2 years.
Well at least we know why the USAF is buying F-15EXs and the US Navy is all about the Super Hornet Block III.
Question.
Have we ever been in this position before? Have we ever acquired an airplane that appears to be in development hell but because of the acquisition process we have boxed ourselves into a substandard platform for the future?
Egypt and Turkey about to cross swords???
Ex-#Turkish minister warns of direct clash between #Egypt and #Turkey in #Libya #Military #Warhttps://t.co/JorhqXfeFl— Geopolitics.news (@GeopoliticsN) June 22, 2020
This has been lurking in the background for about a month but I haven't posted about it.
Turkey and Egypt going full bore? Hmm. I have to give the edge (notice I said edge and don't go batshit) to Egypt because they have much shorter supply lines, appear to have the support of active (in the region) NATO forces (mainly the French) and have the capability to interdict supplies/resupply efforts across the Med.
Disagree?
Sidenote. Now I know (or think I do) why AFRICOM is in Libya. They're trying to head off a major fight. God. I hope the Generals aren't thinking of putting US troops between to regional powers, terrorists and Mad Max disciples in Libya.
That would be a clusterfuck from hell...you would (in my mind) need a reinforced mech division along with an air force expeditionary force just to be credible, have a degree of force protection and could carry the fight to whoever violates the agreement.
What is AFRICOM doing in Libya?
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— C4H10FO2P (@markito0171) June 22, 2020 |
This is rather interesting.
Are we about to start divvying up Libya? Even more interesting? France seeming to fall fully behind Egypt that has placed its forces on full alert...
#BREAKING— Libya Review (@LibyaReview) June 22, 2020
French President Emmanuel Macron: We understand why Egypt are worried about Turkeys intervention in Libya. #Libya #LibyaReview pic.twitter.com/hsuQMvafF0
US forces are really leaving Germany and heading to Poland...
Polish press info on US troops movements in Europe:— Justyna Gotkowska (@jgotkowska) June 22, 2020
👉 2th US troops will be moved to PL (1th was agreed in 2019, some will be coming from the US, some from GER)
👉 30 F-16 will from GER (Spangdahlem AFB?) to PL
👉 V Corps HQ from Fort Knox to PLhttps://t.co/DEn22yxVRH
Just plain wow. Never thought I would see the US pivot from Germany to Poland in such a big way. I have no idea what the implications of such a move mean but it could cause "tension" within NATO and the future (if it comes into effect) European Army.
One other thing. It's been assumed that Germany and France would lead such a force but I have to wonder how. France I get. The Germans not so much. I give it less than 10 years and the Poles will far outpace them in military power.
Additionally with the rise of nationalism in the EU, I'm not sure Germany will continue to be the financial powerhouse it is today.
No doubt the world is changing so any assumption that "what is, will be" in Europe is foolish thinking.
Story here.
Chinese Defense Border Troops...“We will never take one step back. We will never lose one inch of our territory.”
“We will never take one step back. We will never lose one inch of our territory.” On the ground with no boundary monuments, fearless Chinese border defense soldiers are the monuments. pic.twitter.com/MvfS64cXN4— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 22, 2020
J-10 Twin Engine Concept..
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Sunday, June 21, 2020
China lost AT LEAST 40 troops in its border clash with India...
The Indian Army administered a crushing defeat to the invading Chinese People's Liberation Army, which hides its true high casualty numbers desperately trying to save face. U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo clearly blamed China for escalating border tensions.https://t.co/7kYozs1Ocm— Lawrence Sellin (@LawrenceSellin) June 21, 2020
Hmm. We're getting a bit more clarity on this thing and its obvious that the Chinese Army did indeed get "bitch slapped" by the Indians.
Even armed with spiked iron clubs the Chinese lost the hand to hand battle...Amazing!
I do believe we should continue to keep eyes on the Line Of Actual Control.
Pakistan fires artillery into India...
Thanks to Righteous Snow Dragon for the link!
via Times Of India.
I'm guilty on this one. I had been focused on China vs India that I failed to notice (obviously for quite awhile) the Pakistan vs India fight.
This Bureau Chief is saying that these "violations" (interesting terminology...anywhere else on the planet and this would be viewed as an act of war...) are occurring and even increasing recently?
Extremely curious.
That's one mystery I can't seem to wrap my head around. How are their so many small wars going on at the same time? It would seem to me that for the safety and security of your nation that eventually you would just declare war and get it done.
Instead we've been locked into these simmering quasi fights for more than two decades.
via Times Of India.
Pakistan targets innocent Indian civilians and Indian villages in Uri region in the Baramulla district, in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. 5 civilians have been injured and several residential structures have been damaged in Pakistani shelling.Here
Despite so many successes by the Indian forces, Pakistan is not learning its lesson.
Mir Fareed, J&K Bureau Chief says " Violations have been increased and it won't be right to call it violations anymore as it is happening every day. There is firing every day at LAC, let it be Jammu or the Kashmir Valley. Since yesterday, there has been heavy shelling by Pakistan and it has been retaliated in the equal measure by the Indian army."
I'm guilty on this one. I had been focused on China vs India that I failed to notice (obviously for quite awhile) the Pakistan vs India fight.
This Bureau Chief is saying that these "violations" (interesting terminology...anywhere else on the planet and this would be viewed as an act of war...) are occurring and even increasing recently?
Extremely curious.
That's one mystery I can't seem to wrap my head around. How are their so many small wars going on at the same time? It would seem to me that for the safety and security of your nation that eventually you would just declare war and get it done.
Instead we've been locked into these simmering quasi fights for more than two decades.
Navy upholds firing of carrier captain in virus outbreak
via AP
In a stunning reversal, the Navy has upheld the firing of the aircraft carrier captain who urged faster action to protect his crew from a coronavirus outbreak, according to a U.S. official familiar with the report.Here
The official said the Navy also extended the blame for the ship’s pandemic crisis, delaying the promotion of the one-star admiral who was also onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt — concluding that both men made serious errors in judgment.
The spread of the coronavirus aboard the carrier while on deployment in the Pacific in March exploded into one of the biggest military leadership crises of recent years. More than 1,000 members of the crew eventually became infected, and one sailor died. The ship was sidelined for weeks at Guam but recently returned to duty.
The decision by Adm. Mike Gilday, the chief of naval operations, to hold both Capt. Brett Crozier and his boss, Rear Adm. Stuart Baker, accountable is a confirmation of concerns expressed by top Pentagon officials who demanded a deeper investigation last month when the initial probe recommended Crozier’s reinstatement as the ship’s captain. The official described the findings on condition of anonymity to discuss a report not yet made public.
I almost feel vindicated. I remember when this issue first popped up and many were saying how heroic the skipper was and how he had the best interest of his ship in mind.
I argued that he showed incredible weakness and that since he commanded one of the premier ships in our Navy that he threatened our national security with his actions.
Seems like Navy leadership agreed.
He faced a difficult situation but he could have fallen back on boot camp 101.
Mission first.
His position and command dictated that mission, regardless of peace or war, had to come first. Carrier aviation in particular and service in the military in general is inherently dangerous.
This Commanding Officer forgot that simple rule.
Serbian M-20 MRAP 6x6
Thanks to Class BOSNIT for the link!
A long time reader provided another domestic product that his country is working on. This is an example of what I hope for. Despite recent "issues" that have popped up on the blog, I have a burning desire to learn about projects/armored vehicles/aircraft/naval vessels that are being developed in every nation on the face of the earth.
At it's best this is what this blog should be about. If you got something that I've missed then send it!
A long time reader provided another domestic product that his country is working on. This is an example of what I hope for. Despite recent "issues" that have popped up on the blog, I have a burning desire to learn about projects/armored vehicles/aircraft/naval vessels that are being developed in every nation on the face of the earth.
At it's best this is what this blog should be about. If you got something that I've missed then send it!
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Serbian M84-AS1 MBT
Thanks to Class BOSNIT for the link!
Notes included in the e-mail sent...
Notes included in the e-mail sent...
The new version of the M84-AS1 tank is a modernized M84 tank of the Serbian Army. It is expected that the Armed Forces will soon receive a donation from the Russian Federation in the form of modernized T72 tanks and by then we hope that AS1 will be in the arsenal of the Serbian army. The planned modernization of the M84AS1 tank will now enter the testing phase and we hope that the project will come to life soon. The novelty known for now on the M84-AS1 is the new ERO armor a new DUBS-M15 station and a new MS-2 metal sensor have been added. A new optoelectronic device has also been added. The inside of the tank ie the positions of all three crew members have been totally digitized. As part of the modernization the AS1 also has completely new caterpillars and the 125mm topaz tube itself is new. It has a diesel engine V-46TK of 1000 hp which is supposed to be only strengthened for now. The drive unit will probably not change. The M84 had an operating range of about 700km. The main tank is 1200l plus additional tanks of another 400l which are not seen on the new AS1 version for now. Its maximum speed is about 70km-h although it weighs over 40 tons. The planned modernization is planned to take place in two phases.Looks like a neat modernization but I can't lie. That armor package has my interest. Anyone have details on it?
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