Admiral Beez
Major
That was your sole takeaway from my post? Then I wholly retract those earlier statements, if you're interested to know where I stand on MBTs, see above.
"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter XBe02Drvr
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No, it's not all I take away from it. Overall you are a great contributor. You have sparked great conversations, especially in this thread. I thank you for that.
I think we all just have to realize that there are some things beyond anyone's control and there are forces that just mean some things are not possible (at least at this point in the game).
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manta22
Banned
This reference to Finland's "Winter War" with the Soviet Union brought back memories of 1956-1957 when my family lived in an American housing area on Platenstrasse in Frankfurt. Our next door neighbors were from Finland, the Paasonen family, and I went to high school with the son, Henry. I encourage everyone to look up "Operation Stella Polaris". At the time, my dad told me that Mr Paasonen had been someone important and that he worked in the I G Farben building where he also worked. I did not know of Stella Polaris at that time, only finding out about it a few years ago but we knew there was something strange- their windows were always covered and they did not go out much. Now I know why.
buffnut453
Captain
And there are lots of moves happening beyond the reach of the internet blogs that, rightly, are being kept sensitive. AFAIK, Ukraine hasn't explicitly asked for more MBTs. They have asked for AT weapons (which are probably better suited to the tactics that have proven so successful for the Ukrainian Army) and for air defence systems.
Perhaps I'm naiive in presuming that the Western nations are actually giving Ukraine the types of weapons they're requesting, even if the quantities will never be sufficient (I've yet to see any military leader anywhere who says "I have all the forces I need to accomplish my mission"; they ALWAYS want more).
No, but I personally have heard a political leader tell a military leader they will do with what they have…
Admiral Beez
Major
MiTasol
1st Lieutenant
Nice to see the Aus government are sending more Bushmasters but I think the rest of the headline is reversed.
www.abc.net.au
Australia to help train Ukrainian forces in fight against Russia, send more Bushmaster vehicles
Australian troops will deploy to the UK to train Ukrainian forces, helping bolster the eastern European nation's defences against Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion.
www.abc.net.au
manta22
Banned
This video does not do justice to the Hawk. The Hawk missile system is impressive in many ways, even if it's old. The launcher's & radar antenna's slew rate is REALLY fast as you might expect from its being designed to knock down high-speed low-flying planes. When I arrived at the Ordnance Guided Missile School in the spring of 1961, I was initially assigned to a new Hawk battalion. Just before I got there a repairman had needed to do something in the base of a launcher and opened a cover in it. Unfortunately, he had just switched on the system when he put his head in to look. When the tubes in the servo motor driver warmed up, the launcher slewed around at a terrific rate of speed. It was fatal.
buffnut453
Captain
No, but I personally have heard a political leader tell a military leader they will do with what they have…
That's the other certainty in military force generation...politicians saying that resources aren't available (having previously made cuts because it was deemed that said forces weren't necessary).
Admiral Beez
Major
Sounds like Britain taking stock at what's left to send to retake the Falklands.That's the other certainty in military force generation...politicians saying that resources aren't available (having previously made cuts because it was deemed that said forces weren't necessary).
Thumpalumpacus
Major
My dad was an ADA missileer at Ft Bliss doing shoots at White Sands, specializing in the Hawk II by the end of his thirteen years in uniform -- and then we went to Iran where he worked on Hawks for the IIAF.
With the upgrades done since then, it is still a credible threat.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
From what I understand the whole Iran-Contra scandal got uncovered because when we agreed to sell the Iranians weapons (Hawk Missiles) they thought they were getting Hawk IIIs, instead they got Hawk Is. Of course the press found out immediately.
Escuadrilla Azul
Tech Sergeant
- 1,869
- Feb 27, 2020
First Two NASAMS Air Defense Systems Are In Ukraine: Raytheon CEO
The U.S has promised eight NASAMS batteries and an unspecified amount of ammunition to help Ukraine deal with Russian missiles and drones.
www.thedrive.com
Jabberwocky
Staff Sergeant
Rotax engines (manufactured in Austria, owned by a Canadian/US firm) are turning up in the Iranian drones being used by the Russians against Ukraine.
The very popular 912 and 914 have been used for various Iranian drones (not to mention US and Turkish drones as well).
www.thedrive.com
It's not like Iran is trying to hide it either - they didn't even bother to remove branding or other identifying marks.
What's a little odd is that there was a rash of thefts of these engines - starting in about 2003 and peaking about 2018. Rotax lists 130 as stolen in the last 20 years, most of them being stripped out of light aircraft in Europe.
However, given how many of these have been fired - at least 500 of the 1000+ acquired by Russia - that's not enough to power them all. I wonder if they've built a local knock-off version, or are souring engines from secondary buyers and through shell companies and other sanction busting methods.
The very popular 912 and 914 have been used for various Iranian drones (not to mention US and Turkish drones as well).
Rotax Engine Found In Iranian Mohajer-6 Drone Downed Over Ukraine
Reports of Austrian Rotax engines being used in Iranian drones aren't new, but hard proof they are being used in those acquired by Russia is.
www.thedrive.com
It's not like Iran is trying to hide it either - they didn't even bother to remove branding or other identifying marks.
What's a little odd is that there was a rash of thefts of these engines - starting in about 2003 and peaking about 2018. Rotax lists 130 as stolen in the last 20 years, most of them being stripped out of light aircraft in Europe.
However, given how many of these have been fired - at least 500 of the 1000+ acquired by Russia - that's not enough to power them all. I wonder if they've built a local knock-off version, or are souring engines from secondary buyers and through shell companies and other sanction busting methods.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
China is notorious for pirating patented items.
Their Norinco 1911 was an exact copy of Colt's 1911A1, but due to most favored nation status, Colt couldn't prosecute.
So...I'd look in their direction...
Their Norinco 1911 was an exact copy of Colt's 1911A1, but due to most favored nation status, Colt couldn't prosecute.
So...I'd look in their direction...
ThomasP
Senior Master Sergeant
MiTasol
1st Lieutenant
Hopefully this will develop a terminal leak while there
www.abc.net.au
South Africa to let Russian billionaire's $500 million superyacht dock in Cape Town
Despite a bid by the city's mayor to block its entry, South Africa will allow a $500 million superyacht linked to a sanctioned Russian billionaire to dock in Cape Town.
www.abc.net.au
fubar57
General
Hope no one accidentally smokes around it
"LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A senior Russian foreign ministry official said that commercial satellites from the United States and its allies could become legitimate targets for Russia if they were involved in the war in Ukraine."
www.reuters.com
Iranian drones to Star Wars.
Russia warns West: We can target your commercial satellites
A senior Russian foreign ministry official said that commercial satellites from the United States and its allies could become legitimate targets for Russia if they were involved in the war in Ukraine.
Iranian drones to Star Wars.
Thumpalumpacus
Major
"LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A senior Russian foreign ministry official said that commercial satellites from the United States and its allies could become legitimate targets for Russia if they were involved in the war in Ukraine."
Russia warns West: We can target your commercial satellites
A senior Russian foreign ministry official said that commercial satellites from the United States and its allies could become legitimate targets for Russia if they were involved in the war in Ukraine.
Iranian drones to Star Wars.
