Philippine Army improved version of M113A2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle armed with Elbit UT30 Mk.2

Pics via AESAN Defense Blog, story here.

Mark VIII Tank 1918 US Army Tests & Demonstrations

Another video game steps in and helps preserve our armored history.  This time its Battlefield One and its helped spark my interest in WW1 tanks.  The history is rich and definitely worthy of study.

Charlotte burns. Pass the fucking popcorn.

via Fox News.

Charlotte police warned 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott again and again to drop his handgun before an officer shot and killed him, the police chief announced Wednesday morning, after riots damaged patrol cars and injured at least 16 officers, one of whom was hit in the face with a rock.
Police Chief Kerr Putney said during a news conference that officers were searching for a suspect Tuesday when they saw Scott exit a vehicle with a handgun at an apartment complex on the city's northeast side. "The officers gave loud, clear verbal commands which were also heard by many of the witnesses. They were instructing the subject, once he got out of the vehicle, to drop the weapon... Mr. Scott exited his vehicle armed with a handgun as the officers continued to yell at him to drop it."

This is comedy hour in Charlotte.  Guy was ordered to drop the weapon, didn't and got shot?  Darwin award winner.  Congrats dude.  Your family will get paid, you're dead and the city is in chaos.

This whole thing with police violence is beyond comedy.  Its gone stupid.

Anyone that knows even a little about self defense knows Gardner in New York was the victim of an improperly applied LVNR.  That incident gets swept under the rug and no one gives a shit.  This guy had a gun and refused to comply and everyone goes batshit crazy.

No one is looking at the facts of these incidents and instead are taking the easy, lazy and silly route of defaulting to racial lines.

Fucking awesome.

Pass the fucking popcorn.  Watching whole cities devolve into chaos is just another step on the path to anarchy.  Like McDonald's "I'm lovin it".

BAE's first production ACV completed.

via BAE FaceBook Page.

Story here.

I'm about done with BAE.  They've gone from good to just another defense company (probably always were).  Having said that, first out the block means nothing.

I wanna see how the Terrex offering stacks up!

Open Comment Post. Sept 21, 2016

BAE's SEP.  The best armored vehicle to never make a sale in the past two decades.  This was innovation at its best but no one would bite.

So what's on your mind folks?

How desperate is the F-35 program? They're begging allies to do a 450 plane block buy!

via Breaking Defense.

Perhaps the biggest Joint Strike Fighter news in the long term was Bogdan’s estimate today that a block buy by allies and JSF partners of 450 aircraft would “conservatively” save $2 billion, including money saved by buying advanced parts for US jets. For readers not familiar with this approach, a block buy is not a multiyear purchase, which requires congressional approval. The block buy would occur over three years. Any partner buying planes in the lots covered by that sale would benefit from the savings starting with LRIP lot 12 and including lots 13 and 14. Bogdan is still hammering out prices with Lockheed for lots 9 and 10. He predicted a deal before the end of the year.

Wow.  This is craziness!  Do you see the trick they're trying to pull?  They're gonna try and sneak in buying advanced parts for US jets to take away the pain from our allies if they buy early (if I'm reading that part right)!  That's gotta be criminal.  US law does not allow for this but the Program Office is trying to pull ANOTHER fast one.

The next piece that has me scratching my head is that they guy is STILL working on lots 9 and 10.  How much longer will those negotiations drag out? Military leaders have put themselves into a terrible position.  They're trying to negotiate and have taken away their trump card....they're not willing to walk away and Lockheed Martin knows it.

No matter how tough Bogdan tries to be, he's gonna end up getting rolled.  That's why the negotiations are dragging.  LM has him by the short hairs and they know it!

How can a vehicle climb a slope like this?

 

http://jojekin.tumblr.com/post/150679244624/calpan-sloppyclock-fullthrottleauto-now

 

How is this possible?

I wouldn't even think about trying it!  It seems the laws of physics have been defied!

Russia could invade Europe within 48 hours and win...

via Independent.uk

A former NATO chief has warned Europe could be at the mercy of an imminent attack from Russia with no defence plans to repel an invasion.

General Sir Richard Barrons claimed Russia could deploy warplanes, ships and troops on European soil within 48 hours if it desired, with NATO some months away from an effective counter-strike.
The former chief of Joint Forces Command warned that the failure of countries such as France, Germany and Italy to take the threat of Russian aggression seriously could lead to a loss of land, sea and airspace.

Countries bordering the country, led by president Vladimir Putin, are concerned about the threat from their neighbour, not a priority for southern and central states.

The majority of the EU bloc is focussed on the heightened terror threat and migration crisis gripping the continent.

I'm glad someone is finally shouting my hymn, even if its a retired NATO Chief with no skin in the game anymore.

The problem?  There are several.  First, the US is so focused on the "forward deployment" scheme that they don't realize how fraudulent it is.  When the US reforms the Rapid Deployment Force and when they stop doing all these show pony exercises and do a new "REFORGER" type skill test then you'll know the military leadership is serious about Russia.

Second, our European allies are only playing lip service to this so called threat.  When they start investing serious money in building up their forces then we'll know they're being serious.

But the reality is much different.

Russia could invade and pick off maybe one or two small countries but they'll never be a threat to old Europe.  All the former Soviet Block nations with the exception of Poland are doing their job.  They're being used as a buffer zone to protect old Europe.

We strike their soldiers, they strike an aid convoy...

Thanks to SvD for the link!

via EuroNews.

An international aid convoy has been hit by an air strike near the Syrian city of Aleppo according to the Syrian Red Crescent.
At least 18 of the 31 vehicles were struck as they were delivering assistance for 78,000 people in a rebel-held area.
One report said at least 12 people were killed, most of them drivers.
UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said it was an “outrage”.
“The convoy was the outcome of a long process of permission and preparations to assist isolated civilians,” he said in a statement.
Aid deliveries to besieged areas were a key part of the cessation of hostilitiesdeal brokered by the US and Russia seven days ago.
However earlier the Syrian military announced in a statement that the effect of that “truce regime” which came into force on September 12 was now at an end.
Airstrikes began almost immediately on Aleppo and other major cities.The Syrian military and rebels had accused each other of violating the truce.

And the idiocy continues.  We strike Syrian forces and the Russians call an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and we basically blow it off.

Somehow, somewhere, someone thought that there would be no repercussions?  Someone thought that an aid convoy could be sent in without penalty?

People in leadership are making basic mistakes that's getting other people killed.  In what world do you think that you can "talk shit" without a response?  Fantasy land is not how the real world works!  It would be funny except that real people are dying because of this stupidity.

My predicted next step?  Russia will move in more anti-air systems, station a few anti-air frigates offshore and declare a no fly zone over Syria.  We're heading to the point of an allied warplane getting shot down.

Tannerite used in the New York bombing.

Thanks to Bryan for the link!

via AP

Residue from an explosive compound found at the scene of an explosion in a New York City neighborhood is unregulated and routinely used for target practice with exploding targets.
The compound, known by the brand name Tannerite, is sold in sporting goods stores. It is not regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives because it is sold as a mix of two chemicals that when kept separate are inert.
ATF has previously issued advisories about Tannerite and what it describes as "binary exploding targets." The compound is typically used to mark a shot from a high-velocity rifle round with a small cloud of smoke.

The explosive compounds are generally made up of an oxidizer such as ammonium nitrate and aluminum or another metal-based powder and only become an explosive when combined. The ATF said someone would only need an explosives license to handle the material if it is combined and they are using it commercially.

In a safety notice issued last year, the ATF said users of the compound should not use more of the explosive mixture than recommended by the manufacturer or use multiple packages of the compounds to make a single target.
The ATF also advised that once mixed, the compounds are "high explosives."

The gun rights community better wrap its head around two issues...one of which is about to be solved for us.

The first is that we should have been out front getting Tannerite regulated.  How many old barns and trucks getting ripped apart by people "having fun" does it take for the community to realize that shit can be easily weaponized?

Doesn't matter now because the ATF, Congress and the Mothers of America are about to do it for us.

The second issue are the open carry zealots.  The next tragedy will involve an open carrier walking into a store with his weapon and going jihad on the shoppers.

We need to get ahead of that predictable tragedy and ostracize those that insist on carrying their firearms in such a way as to alarm the undecided.  Besides.  Open carry is tactically stupid unless you're in a war zone or a police officer.

To end this I'll leave you with these words.  I told ya so about Tannerite.  Let's hope I'm not right about open carry.

Chinese CS/LR14 Battle Rifle

via The Armed Novelist Tumblr Page.

This weapon is the latest, modified version of the 7.62x39mm Chinese Type-81. This latest iteration of Chinese battle riles will be chambered in 7.62x51.

Rough translation of the caption was; “China Police Equipment Exhibition site Sina Military reports, 81-style assault rifle ultimate improved CS/LR14 debut. This compared to Type-81 rifle, altered a lot, in addition to the installation of four Picatinny rails, telescopic rifle becomes, the ammunition from the WTO 7.62x39 shells into NATO 7.62x51 NATO. According to the exhibition CLC, this gun has been sold out! (Sina Military photo)."

Geez.  If that thing can run then they might be onto something.

Layout of the Latest BT-3F

Thanks to Damian for the link!

Defense Studies Blog has the latest on the BT-3F and its worth a read.  I find this vehicle interesting.  Its suppose to be the amphibious ride for Russia and its allies and I'm looking forward to seeing how it performs.  If I recall correctly this is the first purpose built amphibious assault vehicle they've tried to build.  Most of their IFV/APCs are swim capable but this supposedly will be a different kettle of fish.