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Posted: 2/19/2024 7:45:57 PM EDT
[#1]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By AlmightyTallest:
I bet we will still send them BS foreign aid. |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 7:53:26 PM EDT
[Last Edit: AlmightyTallest]
[#2]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ServusVeritatis: I bet we will still send them BS foreign aid. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ServusVeritatis: Originally Posted By AlmightyTallest:
I bet we will still send them BS foreign aid. Man I hope not, consequences. |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 7:57:37 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By AlmightyTallest: lol, they will be obsolete after this post.  Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By AlmightyTallest: Originally Posted By RockNwood: Interesting thread about Russian FPV drone antenna builds…from Uganda??? It seems this is another example of Russian scaling up production in ways that make builds less nimble to adapt to battlefield EW needs. Hopefully they are obsolete by the time they arrive at the front. Complete thread unrolled https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/494438/IMG_5846-3134768.jpg
lol, they will be obsolete after this post.  |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 2/19/2024 8:27:02 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By RockNwood: With all the atrocities Russia has committed, it is strange that a patriotic Russian nationalist/imperialist critic is the cause of so much Western outrage. But I guess whatever works! The Euro establishments probably saw Navalny as a likely offramp. If Putin died, retired or got couped he was the #1 option for pro-establishment pro-west representative, regardless of his actual personal views, and now that option's been murdered. |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 8:31:48 PM EDT
[#5]
#Ecuador and #Russia will sign a memorandum of understanding after ratifying the lifting of sanctions on #banana exporters
Brazil celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations with China with a grand parade as part of the Brazilian carnival celebrations.
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Posted: 2/19/2024 8:34:01 PM EDT
[#6]
Germany’s Rheinmetall to Produce Munitions in Ukraine
 German weapons producer Rheinmetall said Saturday it has signed an accord with a Ukrainian company to build artillery munitions in Ukraine, which desperately needs them to fend off Russian attacks. The accord was signed on the sidelines of the Munich Security conference by Ukrainian industry minister Alexander Kamyshin and Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger. For security reasons, the name of the local partner, the location of the factory and the start date of production weren’t revealed. The venture, to be held 51 percent by Rheinmetall and 49 percent by the Ukrainian partner, will bring a “significant contribution to Ukraine’s defense capacity and will enhance Europe’s security,” Papperger said. It will be Rheinmetall’s second venture in Ukraine after one signed in October with state company UDI to repair military vehicles, a first step to eventually producing them. And last Monday, groundbreaking began for a future munitions factory at a Rheinmetall industrial complex in the northern German town of Unterluss, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in attendance. This factory in 2025 will start producing NATO’s standard 155-millimeter shells, used in numerous artillery systems, with an eventual output of 200,000 shells a year. Rheinmetall wants to produce throughout its European plants up to 700,000 artillery shells a year in 2025, up from 400,000 to 500,000 this year, and 70,000 before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. https://www.thedefensepost.com/2024/02/19/rheinmetall-produce-munitions-ukraine/ |
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MD, USA
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Posted: 2/19/2024 8:59:57 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By 4xGM300m: New Ukrainian 155mm/L52 self-propelled howitzer 2S22 Bohdana 4.0, on Czech Tatra Phoenix 8x8 chassis and with armoured cab from Ukrainian Armored Technology, in use with 47th Separate Artillery Brigade. They're making about six of them a month; or about 70~ a year. Likewise, they've started to make a M113 clone at the same rough rate. LINK Essentially the Sikach (Сікача) uses MTLB and BMP-1 parts to create a M113 at a rate of about 5 per month; or 60 per year. Not bad for a country with no factories. 
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Posted: 2/19/2024 9:20:25 PM EDT
[#8]
No info about cause of death. Not a member of the Putin oligarchy?
Window roulette? Glow in the dark tea? Gift box of champagne?
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Posted: 2/19/2024 9:27:02 PM EDT
[Last Edit: RockNwood]
[#9]
Oh dear, Hungarians about to get Orban’s quid pro quo good and hard.
What kind of lunatic cuts a deal with China that includes having them embedded into your national security apparatus? Oh yeah, the dictator kind! https://kyivindependent.com/china-offers-backing-to-hungary-on-security-law-enforcement/ China has offered long-term support to Budapest in the security field, expanding mutual ties beyond economic cooperation, Reuters reported on Feb. 19 after Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong's visit to Hungary. Wang met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Feb. 16 as the two countries aim to deepen their friendship and "strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs," the Chinese state-owned news agency Xinhua said. Under Orban, Hungary has been fostering close ties with authoritarian regimes like China or Russia, much to the dismay of its EU and NATO partners. Wang reportedly said he hopes to open a new level of cooperation with the Central European country in areas such as combating terrorism and transnational crimes. Explainer: China’s increasing role in Russia’s war against Ukraine These efforts should also include security capacity building under China's Belt and Road Initiative, Reuters said. During his stay in Hungary, Wang signed documents on law enforcement and security cooperation with Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, according to Reuters. A security pact between Hungary and China is likely to further strain Budapest's relationship with Western countries. Orban has repeatedly undermined Western consensus on supporting Ukraine and countering Russia, delaying aid and sanctions. Hungary is also the last country that has not yet ratified Sweden's accession to NATO. In turn, Russia has been building a tight partnership with China. While not providing direct military support, Beijing has continued deepening economic cooperation, refused to denounce Russia's aggression, and helped the country counter Western sanctions. |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 9:41:56 PM EDT
[#10]
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:04:44 PM EDT
[#11]
ISW assessment for February 19th.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-19-2024 |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:06:40 PM EDT
[#12]
A Facebook message by the 110th Mechanized Brigade, addresses the evacuation of fighters from the Zenit position south of Avdiivka.
The evacuation occurred amid continuous bombardment, drone attacks, and shelling, making it impossible to evacuate some seriously wounded and deceased soldiers. Faced with a rapid and large-scale enemy offensive, the brigade, completely encircled, decided to contact coordination centers negotiating prisoner exchanges with the Russians. Russia agreed to evacuate wounded soldiers, provide assistance, and later exchange them. Subsequently, it was discovered through Russian resources that several soldiers were dead. Two of them were reportedly shot by the enemy. An investigation will be conducted to determine violations of the laws and customs of war, including intentional murder. 
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:08:06 PM EDT
[#13]
The Ministry of Digital Development and SpaceX are working on the possibility of disabling Starlink for Russians
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:10:06 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By MKSheppard: Likewise, they've started to make a M113 clone at the same rough rate. LINK Essentially the Sikach (Сікача) uses MTLB and BMP-1 parts to create a M113 at a rate of about 5 per month; or 60 per year. Not bad for a country with no factories. Something wrong here. This thing definitely isn't a M113 clone  Attached File |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:16:01 PM EDT
[#15]
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:20:16 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Prime:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGp6cXXaMAAmwXE?format=jpg&name=large https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGp6cX0aYAACuGD?format=jpg&name=large If you have very recent imagery taken with virtually the same lighting conditions as the imagery the drone is getting from its camera, this should work fairly well. It's exceptionally hard to do that on-board so it's likely they are using the GCS to do that. Which is fine if there is a problem receiving GPS due to solar storm or your GPS antenna came unplugged/got damaged, etc. If you're experiencing GPS outage from EW, it's likely you won't have your downlink either. Still, a very laudable accomplishment (and the fixed-wing looks pretty good). |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:21:59 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Alex9661: Something wrong here. This thing definitely isn't a M113 clone https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/234577/sikach_JPG-3134991.JPG Armored Sikach and browning on Kharakternyk: Ukrainian defense is copying Western military equipment  The shortage of Western weapons and the uncertainty of further supplies from the allies encourage Ukrainian defenders to look for non-standard ways out of difficult situations, and the creativity of military engineers sometimes leads to unexpected results. Recently, the Kharakternyk armored vehicle and the Sikach armored personnel carrier, copied from foreign HMMWVs and M113s, were put on combat duty in several units of the Security and Defense Forces. The production of such equipment was established at the facilities of several enterprises in different parts of the country. The authors of the idea and engineers told OBOZ.UA about this. - "Of course, this is not a full-fledged equipment manufacturing line, but rather a cottage industry. However, we have managed to achieve almost complete correspondence to the original models. Of course, with certain technical features," said one of them. According to him, the current production capacity allows for five copies of Humvees and M113 vehicles per month. After the necessary tests, the vehicles are immediately sent to the front. The authors of the development say that the Ukrainian Humvee is almost identical to its American prototype. It should be noted that the chassis for the Kharakternyk is taken from either a GAZ-66 or a Ford F-150 or F-350. Today, vehicles of all types are already in service, but only a few have been converted from GAZ-66, as it was much easier to improve the Fords. The production of individual components caused some difficulties, but in the end, the technical vehicles were almost completely reproduced and even improved in some respects. - "Although Ukraine cannot boast of a rich tradition of high-quality automotive manufacturing, we already have considerable experience in military equipment, and together with the creativity of our engineers and mechanics, we managed to do the almost impossible," explained one of the specialists who participated in the development of the Ukrainian Humvees. Interestingly, the exterior of both vehicles is almost identical to the original models. - When I first got into this Humvee of ours, I could not have thought that it was a copy, not an original. Almost everything here is exactly the same as on an American car. Only when I was told it was no longer a Humvee, but a Kharakternyk, did I take a closer look and notice some differences in the interior," said the fighter with the call sign "Satan". "In the case of the M113, much deeper modernization was required. - "You know that this is the first aluminum APC in the original, but this war has shown a certain vulnerability of this solution. That is why our Sikach is made of the original alloy, which I am sure will pleasantly surprise our guys. And the enemy will be unpleasantly surprised," said the developer. The power plant of the armored personnel carrier has also undergone significant changes. The authors of the idea say that their solutions have even improved the vehicle's driving and speed characteristics. - "Of course, we are doing this without a license, we had to do everything on the fly, from the wheels, as they say. The war doesn't give us time to quickly finalize all the formalities. We hope that our American allies will understand our situation and, given their problems with supplies at the legislative level, will not condemn us for this, but rather help us. We, on the other hand, are ready to share our own experience in improving these vehicles. When people find out how we managed to set up the Humvee assembly line in Ukraine after the victory, everyone will be very surprised," said one of the authors of the development, who goes by the call sign "Smoke." The operators of such equipment, the fighters, assault and reconnaissance men and women themselves, are only surprised and happy to have the opportunity to fight with Ukrainian "NATO" equipment. - It was a very cool feeling when American M113s and Humvees first arrived, when we saw them and used them in combat. But now, knowing that our craftsmen can do no worse, practically from scrap materials, it is indescribable how inspiring it is. We have already cut down more than a dozen orcs with these "Sikachs"," summarized "Smoke". As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the war with the Russian aggressor, which has been going on for almost a decade, has become an incentive for Ukraine to develop its own defense industry. Thus, in recent years, Ukrainian UAVs, armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems, electronic warfare and reconnaissance equipment, and many other developments have already been released. https://eng.obozrevatel.com/section-war/news-armored-sikach-and-browning-on-kharakternyk-ukrainian-defense-is-copying-western-military-equipment-29-01-2024.html |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:22:47 PM EDT
[#18]
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TX, USA
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:24:25 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Alex9661: Something wrong here. This thing definitely isn't a M113 clone https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/234577/sikach_JPG-3134991.JPG Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Alex9661: Originally Posted By MKSheppard: Likewise, they've started to make a M113 clone at the same rough rate. LINK Essentially the Sikach (Сікача) uses MTLB and BMP-1 parts to create a M113 at a rate of about 5 per month; or 60 per year. Not bad for a country with no factories. Something wrong here. This thing definitely isn't a M113 clone https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/234577/sikach_JPG-3134991.JPG From what I can see, it kinda reminds me of an Alvis Saracen. I mean the Saracen is sorta a NATO vehicle... From the 1950s. With rubber tires. And a windshield. |
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VA, USA
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:26:28 PM EDT
[Last Edit: METT-T]
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Alex9661: Something wrong here. This thing definitely isn't a M113 clone https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/234577/sikach_JPG-3134991.JPG Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Alex9661: Originally Posted By MKSheppard: Likewise, they've started to make a M113 clone at the same rough rate. LINK Essentially the Sikach (Сікача) uses MTLB and BMP-1 parts to create a M113 at a rate of about 5 per month; or 60 per year. Not bad for a country with no factories. Something wrong here. This thing definitely isn't a M113 clone https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/234577/sikach_JPG-3134991.JPG Maxxpro clone? Weird. Also strange to make their own HMMWVs. Uparmoring trucks in the easiest, quickest, and cheapest way possible to come close to the capability you're trying to reproduce would not end up trucks looking just like MRAPs and Humvees. |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 10:29:05 PM EDT
[Last Edit: daemon734]
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By planemaker: If you have very recent imagery taken with virtually the same lighting conditions as the imagery the drone is getting from its camera, this should work fairly well. It's exceptionally hard to do that on-board so it's likely they are using the GCS to do that. Which is fine if there is a problem receiving GPS due to solar storm or your GPS antenna came unplugged/got damaged, etc. If you're experiencing GPS outage from EW, it's likely you won't have your downlink either. Still, a very laudable accomplishment (and the fixed-wing looks pretty good). None of that is likely how it is doing it. This has been going on for several years in CENTCOM. It most likely uses SLAM. They are able to mount an entire miniature motherboard to process the data on board. There is no need for GCS. |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 11:12:49 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Evintos: I understand the sentiment of the tweet, but I think it's a little too simple minded. Had US not been directly involved (rather than mere "assistance"), the Russian language would've been the dominant language from Eastern Europe all the way to the English Channel post Nazi Germany defeat. If you were of the belief that lend-lease efforts played a critical role and vital in the defeat of the Axis powers, then accept that the current value given in aid given to Ukraine by the combined "Allied" (NATO) forces is not enough. The equivalent value required that Ukraine would need is over $1T ($50B WW2 lend-lease adjusted for 2024 inflation). The question that appears is - is $1T is even enough in a modern war against a "superpower" nation? The next question becomes, is there even $1T worth of equipment/aid available for Ukraine without severely compromising US national defense? The question after that becomes, if there isn't enough available to lend or give that would advance US national/strategic interests, at what point is direct US involvement necessary since what can be essentially considered a pittance given to Ukraine be counter productive to US national well-being (especially considering we're trillions in debt already)? The final question is, how long can Ukraine hold out with any aid coming in at a pace of a trickle? Edit - to add some more color, the US spent $2.3T for the war on Afghanistan with estimations of true costs being upwards of $8T; and the war was fought not against a "superpower." Interesting. BUT...Neither Ukraine nor NATO wants or NEEDS to defeat, destroy, and occupy Russia, like the Allies did to the Axis Powers in WWII. No one in Ukraine or NATO wants to raise any flags in Moscow. Nurenburg type trials would be great and well deserved but not going to happen. We just need to give Ukraine enough aid to kick Russia the fuck out and/or convince them to stop this foolishness. We have more than enough sitting in our waste piles to get the job done but instead we are fucking around convincing Russia that they have a chance to get it ALL and they will keep trying untill we do end up with WWIII and 1T will be a pittance. |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 11:23:26 PM EDT
[#23]
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Posted: 2/19/2024 11:26:14 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By daemon734: None of that is likely how it is doing it. This has been going on for several years in CENTCOM. It most likely uses SLAM. They are able to mount an entire miniature motherboard to process the data on board. There is no need for GCS. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By daemon734: Originally Posted By planemaker: If you have very recent imagery taken with virtually the same lighting conditions as the imagery the drone is getting from its camera, this should work fairly well. It's exceptionally hard to do that on-board so it's likely they are using the GCS to do that. Which is fine if there is a problem receiving GPS due to solar storm or your GPS antenna came unplugged/got damaged, etc. If you're experiencing GPS outage from EW, it's likely you won't have your downlink either. Still, a very laudable accomplishment (and the fixed-wing looks pretty good). None of that is likely how it is doing it. This has been going on for several years in CENTCOM. It most likely uses SLAM. They are able to mount an entire miniature motherboard to process the data on board. There is no need for GCS. SLAM makes its own map from on-board sensor data. What the pictures show is not SLAM, it appears to be showing feature locations of known points in the intel image and comparing those known points to where they think they are in the on-board image. There are several papers on various methods for doing this. One of the university efforts that's done some really interesting work is Brigham Young University with Randy Beard and Tim McClain. (Virginia Tech has done some similar work with fixed-wings in particular.) In the case of BYUs work, they have a fairly hefty amount of on-board computational hardware. The fixed-wing drone shown in the picture doesn't have that kind of SWAP space available. |
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Posted: 2/19/2024 11:28:10 PM EDT
[Last Edit: RockNwood]
[#25]
I really don’t want to hear any more the whine about “muh precious weapons I might need for Chinar!”
We just fired 100 of some of the more expensive missiles at DRONES rather than wipe out the Houthi bases. We must have plenty to spare for China if we are swatting drones with these.
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Posted: 2/19/2024 11:30:27 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#26]
Do NOT open this mofo up unless you're actually interested 
 
 
   
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
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WI, USA
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Posted: 2/19/2024 11:47:02 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Saltwater-Hillbilly: Sadly, I got to live this in Afghanistan. There was really never a workable strategy, and State managed to make things objectively worse regarding corruption, child abuse/exploitation, drug trafficking, you name it. The real problem was that there was never a strategy by the Bush White House other than take down the Taliban and install a friendly government. However, it was too tempting for John Kerry and the Democrats in the 2004 election to commit to the "good" war in order to contrast this to the invasion of Iraq. Afghanistan was a sideshow that turned into a quagmire in the absence of a strategy and a State Department that serially failed to understand that we couldn't stay there forever, and that by undermining the justification for the Iraq effort (where we at least had a major strategic interest and something resembling a strategic way forward) they also undermined the justification for our efforts in Afghanistan (where we really didn't have a strategic vision). To top off the whole fiasco, the current maladministration threw away whatever policies we had in AFG that vaguely resembled strategic thought to cut and run in time for a 9/11 speech talking point (which naturally was never delivered). Maybe I'm just bitter, but I expect nothing but incompetence at the National/Strategic level from the current occupant of the White House! You hit on an important point: the State Department has been totally inept for over a generation. State's Iraq policy was extremely screwed up, too. I don't think Presidents of either party have an idea about what is needed or how to change. I think State is like the FBI: corrupt and in need of being razed to the ground and rebuilt. |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 2/19/2024 11:55:46 PM EDT
[#28]
6 jets in 3 days. I've not been able keep track of all the posts on this, but I think the general consensus is that Ukraine is moving Patriot systems within range, acquiring targets and firing, and then packing up and moving out quick. Every time a plane goes down, there's telegram posts with Russian helicopters doing search and rescue, sometimes multiple helicopters. I know they've got to scoot as soon as they fire, but man, it'd be awesome to see them hang long enough to splash some of the s&r helicopters. That would be so demoralizing to those Russian air units.
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Posted: 2/19/2024 11:56:39 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Prime: Armored Sikach and browning on Kharakternyk: Ukrainian defense is copying Western military equipment https://i2.obozrevatel.com/news/2024/1/29/filestoragetemp-10.jpg?size=930x441 The shortage of Western weapons and the uncertainty of further supplies from the allies encourage Ukrainian defenders to look for non-standard ways out of difficult situations, and the creativity of military engineers sometimes leads to unexpected results. Recently, the Kharakternyk armored vehicle and the Sikach armored personnel carrier, copied from foreign HMMWVs and M113s, were put on combat duty in several units of the Security and Defense Forces. The production of such equipment was established at the facilities of several enterprises in different parts of the country. The authors of the idea and engineers told OBOZ.UA about this. - "Of course, this is not a full-fledged equipment manufacturing line, but rather a cottage industry. However, we have managed to achieve almost complete correspondence to the original models. Of course, with certain technical features," said one of them. According to him, the current production capacity allows for five copies of Humvees and M113 vehicles per month. After the necessary tests, the vehicles are immediately sent to the front. The authors of the development say that the Ukrainian Humvee is almost identical to its American prototype. It should be noted that the chassis for the Kharakternyk is taken from either a GAZ-66 or a Ford F-150 or F-350. Today, vehicles of all types are already in service, but only a few have been converted from GAZ-66, as it was much easier to improve the Fords. The production of individual components caused some difficulties, but in the end, the technical vehicles were almost completely reproduced and even improved in some respects. - "Although Ukraine cannot boast of a rich tradition of high-quality automotive manufacturing, we already have considerable experience in military equipment, and together with the creativity of our engineers and mechanics, we managed to do the almost impossible," explained one of the specialists who participated in the development of the Ukrainian Humvees. Interestingly, the exterior of both vehicles is almost identical to the original models. - When I first got into this Humvee of ours, I could not have thought that it was a copy, not an original. Almost everything here is exactly the same as on an American car. Only when I was told it was no longer a Humvee, but a Kharakternyk, did I take a closer look and notice some differences in the interior," said the fighter with the call sign "Satan". "In the case of the M113, much deeper modernization was required. - "You know that this is the first aluminum APC in the original, but this war has shown a certain vulnerability of this solution. That is why our Sikach is made of the original alloy, which I am sure will pleasantly surprise our guys. And the enemy will be unpleasantly surprised," said the developer. The power plant of the armored personnel carrier has also undergone significant changes. The authors of the idea say that their solutions have even improved the vehicle's driving and speed characteristics. - "Of course, we are doing this without a license, we had to do everything on the fly, from the wheels, as they say. The war doesn't give us time to quickly finalize all the formalities. We hope that our American allies will understand our situation and, given their problems with supplies at the legislative level, will not condemn us for this, but rather help us. We, on the other hand, are ready to share our own experience in improving these vehicles. When people find out how we managed to set up the Humvee assembly line in Ukraine after the victory, everyone will be very surprised," said one of the authors of the development, who goes by the call sign "Smoke." The operators of such equipment, the fighters, assault and reconnaissance men and women themselves, are only surprised and happy to have the opportunity to fight with Ukrainian "NATO" equipment. - It was a very cool feeling when American M113s and Humvees first arrived, when we saw them and used them in combat. But now, knowing that our craftsmen can do no worse, practically from scrap materials, it is indescribable how inspiring it is. We have already cut down more than a dozen orcs with these "Sikachs"," summarized "Smoke". As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the war with the Russian aggressor, which has been going on for almost a decade, has become an incentive for Ukraine to develop its own defense industry. Thus, in recent years, Ukrainian UAVs, armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems, electronic warfare and reconnaissance equipment, and many other developments have already been released. https://eng.obozrevatel.com/section-war/news-armored-sikach-and-browning-on-kharakternyk-ukrainian-defense-is-copying-western-military-equipment-29-01-2024.html Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Prime: Originally Posted By Alex9661: Something wrong here. This thing definitely isn't a M113 clone https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/234577/sikach_JPG-3134991.JPG Armored Sikach and browning on Kharakternyk: Ukrainian defense is copying Western military equipment https://i2.obozrevatel.com/news/2024/1/29/filestoragetemp-10.jpg?size=930x441 The shortage of Western weapons and the uncertainty of further supplies from the allies encourage Ukrainian defenders to look for non-standard ways out of difficult situations, and the creativity of military engineers sometimes leads to unexpected results. Recently, the Kharakternyk armored vehicle and the Sikach armored personnel carrier, copied from foreign HMMWVs and M113s, were put on combat duty in several units of the Security and Defense Forces. The production of such equipment was established at the facilities of several enterprises in different parts of the country. The authors of the idea and engineers told OBOZ.UA about this. - "Of course, this is not a full-fledged equipment manufacturing line, but rather a cottage industry. However, we have managed to achieve almost complete correspondence to the original models. Of course, with certain technical features," said one of them. According to him, the current production capacity allows for five copies of Humvees and M113 vehicles per month. After the necessary tests, the vehicles are immediately sent to the front. The authors of the development say that the Ukrainian Humvee is almost identical to its American prototype. It should be noted that the chassis for the Kharakternyk is taken from either a GAZ-66 or a Ford F-150 or F-350. Today, vehicles of all types are already in service, but only a few have been converted from GAZ-66, as it was much easier to improve the Fords. The production of individual components caused some difficulties, but in the end, the technical vehicles were almost completely reproduced and even improved in some respects. - "Although Ukraine cannot boast of a rich tradition of high-quality automotive manufacturing, we already have considerable experience in military equipment, and together with the creativity of our engineers and mechanics, we managed to do the almost impossible," explained one of the specialists who participated in the development of the Ukrainian Humvees. Interestingly, the exterior of both vehicles is almost identical to the original models. - When I first got into this Humvee of ours, I could not have thought that it was a copy, not an original. Almost everything here is exactly the same as on an American car. Only when I was told it was no longer a Humvee, but a Kharakternyk, did I take a closer look and notice some differences in the interior," said the fighter with the call sign "Satan". "In the case of the M113, much deeper modernization was required. - "You know that this is the first aluminum APC in the original, but this war has shown a certain vulnerability of this solution. That is why our Sikach is made of the original alloy, which I am sure will pleasantly surprise our guys. And the enemy will be unpleasantly surprised," said the developer. The power plant of the armored personnel carrier has also undergone significant changes. The authors of the idea say that their solutions have even improved the vehicle's driving and speed characteristics. - "Of course, we are doing this without a license, we had to do everything on the fly, from the wheels, as they say. The war doesn't give us time to quickly finalize all the formalities. We hope that our American allies will understand our situation and, given their problems with supplies at the legislative level, will not condemn us for this, but rather help us. We, on the other hand, are ready to share our own experience in improving these vehicles. When people find out how we managed to set up the Humvee assembly line in Ukraine after the victory, everyone will be very surprised," said one of the authors of the development, who goes by the call sign "Smoke." The operators of such equipment, the fighters, assault and reconnaissance men and women themselves, are only surprised and happy to have the opportunity to fight with Ukrainian "NATO" equipment. - It was a very cool feeling when American M113s and Humvees first arrived, when we saw them and used them in combat. But now, knowing that our craftsmen can do no worse, practically from scrap materials, it is indescribable how inspiring it is. We have already cut down more than a dozen orcs with these "Sikachs"," summarized "Smoke". As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the war with the Russian aggressor, which has been going on for almost a decade, has become an incentive for Ukraine to develop its own defense industry. Thus, in recent years, Ukrainian UAVs, armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems, electronic warfare and reconnaissance equipment, and many other developments have already been released. https://eng.obozrevatel.com/section-war/news-armored-sikach-and-browning-on-kharakternyk-ukrainian-defense-is-copying-western-military-equipment-29-01-2024.html Not to worry cottage builders, I believe the M113 patents expired in the 1980s!! 😂😂😂 |
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WI, USA
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Posted: 2/20/2024 12:02:35 AM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Alex9661: There is a way for Biden to send DPICMs to Ukraine Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Alex9661: There is a way for Biden to send DPICMs to Ukraine But there’s an important exception. There are potentially four million 155-millimeter dual-purpose improved cluster munitions in storage in the United States. M483A1 and M864 DPICM rounds respectively scatter 88 or 72 grenade-size submunitions, each of which can kill or maim a soldier. All of these shells are obvious candidates for the “excess” label. The U.S. Army years ago determined that these DPICMs—produced in large quantities between the 1970s and 1990s—are unreliable and unsafe, as any particular submunition has up to a 14-percent chance of being a dud. The Army around 2017 declared a requirement for a new cluster shell with a one-percent dud rate. “Rounds now in the U.S. stockpile do not meet the Office of the Secretary of Defense's goal,” wrote Peter Burke, then the service’s top ammunition manager. Per the previous post, a replacement for DPICM is nowhere near ready, but existing stock are apparently not acceptable. We certainly could send a million. |
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Posted: 2/20/2024 12:13:34 AM EDT
[Last Edit: daemon734]
[#31]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By planemaker: SLAM makes its own map from on-board sensor data. What the pictures show is not SLAM, it appears to be showing feature locations of known points in the intel image and comparing those known points to where they think they are in the on-board image. There are several papers on various methods for doing this. One of the university efforts that's done some really interesting work is Brigham Young University with Randy Beard and Tim McClain. (Virginia Tech has done some similar work with fixed-wings in particular.) In the case of BYUs work, they have a fairly hefty amount of on-board computational hardware. The fixed-wing drone shown in the picture doesn't have that kind of SWAP space available. SLAM makes its own map and compares it to existing maps. It is being bounced off of onboard windows 10 motherboards and Google maps right now. GPS guides until it is denied then it switches to SLAM. SLAM imagery doesn't actually look like the stylized Tesla pictures. The systems I have seen it used in are not that much bigger, and I believe that was only necessary because they were used to carry ordnance. I'm not 100% certain this system uses SLAM but it's being used in that same manner right now. |
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Posted: 2/20/2024 12:47:23 AM EDT
[#32]
  
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Posted: 2/20/2024 12:52:04 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#33]
   
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Posted: 2/20/2024 12:53:08 AM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Lieh-tzu: Per the previous post, a replacement for DPICM is nowhere near ready, but existing stock are apparently not acceptable. We certainly could send a million. That’s what they’ve been sending and it’s our war stock. |
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Posted: 2/20/2024 1:11:45 AM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By RockNwood: Oh dear, Hungarians about to get Orban’s quid pro quo good and hard. What kind of lunatic cuts a deal with China that includes having them embedded into your national security apparatus? Oh yeah, the dictator kind! https://kyivindependent.com/china-offers-backing-to-hungary-on-security-law-enforcement/ Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By RockNwood: Oh dear, Hungarians about to get Orban’s quid pro quo good and hard. What kind of lunatic cuts a deal with China that includes having them embedded into your national security apparatus? Oh yeah, the dictator kind! https://kyivindependent.com/china-offers-backing-to-hungary-on-security-law-enforcement/ China has offered long-term support to Budapest in the security field, expanding mutual ties beyond economic cooperation, Reuters reported on Feb. 19 after Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong's visit to Hungary. Wang met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Feb. 16 as the two countries aim to deepen their friendship and "strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs," the Chinese state-owned news agency Xinhua said. Under Orban, Hungary has been fostering close ties with authoritarian regimes like China or Russia, much to the dismay of its EU and NATO partners. Wang reportedly said he hopes to open a new level of cooperation with the Central European country in areas such as combating terrorism and transnational crimes. Explainer: China’s increasing role in Russia’s war against Ukraine These efforts should also include security capacity building under China's Belt and Road Initiative, Reuters said. During his stay in Hungary, Wang signed documents on law enforcement and security cooperation with Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, according to Reuters. A security pact between Hungary and China is likely to further strain Budapest's relationship with Western countries. Orban has repeatedly undermined Western consensus on supporting Ukraine and countering Russia, delaying aid and sanctions. Hungary is also the last country that has not yet ratified Sweden's accession to NATO. In turn, Russia has been building a tight partnership with China. While not providing direct military support, Beijing has continued deepening economic cooperation, refused to denounce Russia's aggression, and helped the country counter Western sanctions. Something like that should make them immediately ineligible for Nato/EU membership to be stripped on the spot. |
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Posted: 2/20/2024 1:20:24 AM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By daemon734: SLAM makes its own map and compares it to existing maps. It is being bounced off of onboard windows 10 motherboards and Google maps right now. GPS guides until it is denied then it switches to SLAM. SLAM imagery doesn't actually look like the stylized Tesla pictures. The systems I have seen it used in are not that much bigger, and I believe that was only necessary because they were used to carry ordnance. I'm not 100% certain this system uses SLAM but it's being used in that same manner right now. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By daemon734: Originally Posted By planemaker: SLAM makes its own map from on-board sensor data. What the pictures show is not SLAM, it appears to be showing feature locations of known points in the intel image and comparing those known points to where they think they are in the on-board image. There are several papers on various methods for doing this. One of the university efforts that's done some really interesting work is Brigham Young University with Randy Beard and Tim McClain. (Virginia Tech has done some similar work with fixed-wings in particular.) In the case of BYUs work, they have a fairly hefty amount of on-board computational hardware. The fixed-wing drone shown in the picture doesn't have that kind of SWAP space available. SLAM makes its own map and compares it to existing maps. It is being bounced off of onboard windows 10 motherboards and Google maps right now. GPS guides until it is denied then it switches to SLAM. SLAM imagery doesn't actually look like the stylized Tesla pictures. The systems I have seen it used in are not that much bigger, and I believe that was only necessary because they were used to carry ordnance. I'm not 100% certain this system uses SLAM but it's being used in that same manner right now. No, SLAM creates its own map and uses it to navigate in directly. SLAM has been around since the mid-80s and is very well understood. Unless the SLAM acronym you're using is not the SLAM acronym I'm using (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping). It started off in the robotics world to allow robots to explore spaces where there wasn't an existing map. That's the point and why it doesn't compare it to an existing one. |
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Posted: 2/20/2024 1:29:24 AM EDT
[Last Edit: RockNwood]
[#37]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ServusVeritatis: Something like that should make them immediately ineligible for Nato/EU membership to be stripped on the spot. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ServusVeritatis: Originally Posted By RockNwood: Oh dear, Hungarians about to get Orban’s quid pro quo good and hard. What kind of lunatic cuts a deal with China that includes having them embedded into your national security apparatus? Oh yeah, the dictator kind! https://kyivindependent.com/china-offers-backing-to-hungary-on-security-law-enforcement/ China has offered long-term support to Budapest in the security field, expanding mutual ties beyond economic cooperation, Reuters reported on Feb. 19 after Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong's visit to Hungary. Wang met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Feb. 16 as the two countries aim to deepen their friendship and "strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs," the Chinese state-owned news agency Xinhua said. Under Orban, Hungary has been fostering close ties with authoritarian regimes like China or Russia, much to the dismay of its EU and NATO partners. Wang reportedly said he hopes to open a new level of cooperation with the Central European country in areas such as combating terrorism and transnational crimes. Explainer: China’s increasing role in Russia’s war against Ukraine These efforts should also include security capacity building under China's Belt and Road Initiative, Reuters said. During his stay in Hungary, Wang signed documents on law enforcement and security cooperation with Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, according to Reuters. A security pact between Hungary and China is likely to further strain Budapest's relationship with Western countries. Orban has repeatedly undermined Western consensus on supporting Ukraine and countering Russia, delaying aid and sanctions. Hungary is also the last country that has not yet ratified Sweden's accession to NATO. In turn, Russia has been building a tight partnership with China. While not providing direct military support, Beijing has continued deepening economic cooperation, refused to denounce Russia's aggression, and helped the country counter Western sanctions. Something like that should make them immediately ineligible for Nato/EU membership to be stripped on the spot. Very much agree. And declaring himself dictator ought to have nullified their membership or at least voting before all this. |
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Posted: 2/20/2024 1:34:57 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#38]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By MKSheppard: They're making about six of them a month; or about 70~ a year. Likewise, they've started to make a M113 clone at the same rough rate. LINK Essentially the Sikach (Сікача) uses MTLB and BMP-1 parts to create a M113 at a rate of about 5 per month; or 60 per year. Not bad for a country with no factories. At night, enemy UAVs attacked Poltava Oblast. The sounds of explosions were heard in the Kremenchutsk district. An industrial facility was hit. This caused a fire. 18 units of emergency services and 85 people were involved in liquidation of the consequences. Fortunately, there were no victims or victims. The enemy will surely be punished for all his criminal actions. We believe in our Defense Forces! Glory to Ukraine! 🇺🇦 https://t.me/poltavskaOVA/12552
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Posted: 2/20/2024 1:55:58 AM EDT
[#39]
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Posted: 2/20/2024 1:56:21 AM EDT
[#40]
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Posted: 2/20/2024 2:06:17 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#41]
 
🇺🇦Fighters of the 25th separate assault battalion of the 47th brigade were the last to leave the Avdiiv Coke Chemical Plant. "There is no one left there. Everyone is alive, they got out without casualties," - 47th separate mechanized brigade. https://twitter.com/TreasChest/status/1759817571274981822    
Defense of Avdiivka, Donetsk region
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TX, USA
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Posted: 2/20/2024 2:06:44 AM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Lieh-tzu: You hit on an important point: the State Department has been totally inept for over a generation. State's Iraq policy was extremely screwed up, too. I don't think Presidents of either party have an idea about what is needed or how to change. I think State is like the FBI: corrupt and in need of being razed to the ground and rebuilt. The State Department has been actively working against the actual interests of the U.S. since WW2 at least. It's just become more obvious lately because the Cold War that they hid all their failures behind went away. |
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Posted: 2/20/2024 2:12:39 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#43]
DESTROYED 23 IMPACT UAVS
On the night of February 20, 2024, the enemy attacked with two S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles, an Kh-31 guided air missile and 23 Shahed-type attack drones. As a result of combat work, all 23 "shahedis" were shot down. 
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Posted: 2/20/2024 2:45:11 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#44]
 ????????? TERRA: ?????????? ????? ?????? ???????. ??? ? ????????. ?? ?? ???? ?????????.  ENG. VER. TERRA on the Avdiivka direction. Urgent fundraising for an armored Hummer. Deep State. Good autotranslate.  ???????? DeepStateUA ?????? ?? 19 ??????  Interviewing an American Volunteer in Ukraine @UNITED24media |
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Posted: 2/20/2024 3:32:49 AM EDT
[#45]
To all the guys who donate, we thank you from all the Ukrainian people!
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Posted: 2/20/2024 3:48:26 AM EDT
[#46]
First Ukrainian F-16 pilots will complete training as soon as May
Air National Guard director says the effort is taking a bit longer because pilots need to learn a “full range of missions.”  AURORA, Colorado—Ukrainian pilots will start graduating from F-16 fighter jet training in May, the Air National Guard estimates. The first four pilots are “pretty close” to the end of their training, Air National Guard director Lt. Gen. Michael Loh told reporters Tuesday at the Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium. The U.S. is training 12 Ukrainian pilots in fiscal 2024—all of whom are set to graduate between May and August, according to Arizona National Guard spokesperson Capt. Erin Hannigan. But what the pilots do then depends on the broader Ukrainian F-16 effort and when the jets will actually arrive in Ukraine, Loh said. The U.S., which controls the export of the fighter jets, gave allies the green light to transfer F-16s to Ukraine in July. The training effort started in late October at Morris Air National Guard base in Tucson, Arizona. Denmark is also leading an effort to train Ukrainian pilots on the fighter jet in Europe. In September, Loh said that it would take anywhere from three months to nine months for Ukrainian pilots to finish F-16 training. The pilots are already “flying F-16s solo every day,” but the requirements for these pilots have changed and training is taking a bit longer because the pilots need to be able to operate a “full range of missions” beyond wartime scenarios, Loh said. However, the U.S. won’t be able to keep this effort going and train more pilots beyond the first cohort if Congress doesn’t authorize more funding. “Training cost is tuition-based and that funding is allocated prior to student arrival. Students currently enrolled are not expected to be impacted by funding issues. If additional pilots are needing to be trained, additional funding will be necessary,” Hannigan said. https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2024/02/first-ukrainian-f-16-pilots-will-complete-training-soon-may/394264/
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Posted: 2/20/2024 4:07:05 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#47]
Curious story of Russian T-80U in Ukraine.
1. March 2022. Stuck in mud and captured by Ukrainians in Sumy oblast.  2. April 2022. Recaptured by Russians in Andriivka, Izium Raion.  3-4. October 2022. Once again captured by UA along Kharkiv counteroffensive.  
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Posted: 2/20/2024 4:15:03 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#48]
 The Swedish government presents the largest military support package to #Ukraine worth 7.1 billion kronor, containing i.a. new state-of-the-art Combat Vehicle 90, the Navy's Combat Boat 90, more air defense missiles anti-tank robot 55 (TOW). #UkraineWillWin 🇺🇦🇸🇪  https://twitter.com/AmbVWD/status/1759853428522516816
7,1 billion SEK (~$683 mln). The 15th package includes: ◾️Artillery ammunition ◾️10 CB 90 combat boats ◾️RBS70 air defense systems ◾️Anti-tank missiles (TOW) ◾️20 group boats ◾️Underwater weapons ◾️Hand grenades ◾️Carl Gustaf grenade launchers
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Posted: 2/20/2024 4:35:45 AM EDT
[Last Edit: guns762]
[#49]
Three Million Shells. That’s How Much More Artillery Ammo Russia Thinks It Needs To Defeat Ukraine.
David Axe Forbes Staff 15,000 shells per day. That’s how much artillery ammunition the Kremlin believes it needs to blast Ukrainian forces into surrender and win the war in Ukraine in 2025. That’s 5,000 more shells than Russian batteries currently are firing every day in Ukraine—and 9,000 more shells than Russian industry produces every day. To make up the shortfall, the Kremlin has two options, neither without its limits. One, it can try to restore some of the roughly three million old shells that still are sitting in long-term storage in Russia. Two, it can try to secure additional shipments from Iran and, more importantly, North Korea—on top of the two million or more shells Russia already has acquired from those countries. It’s all easier said than done, and Russian forces face “a significant shortfall” of their main 152-millimeter shells next year, according to a new report from the Royal United Services Institute in London. The Russian army’s thousands of howitzers fired with abandon in the early months of Russia’s wider war on Ukraine beginning in February 2022. According to the Estonian defense ministry, Russian batteries initially fired as many as 60,000 shells per day. That incredible sustained barrage quickly burned through millions of rounds in just a few months, more or less consuming every 122-millimeter and 152-millimeter round Russian forces had on hand before the war. Eighteen months later in late 2023, the Russians were shooting just 10,000 shells a day—and the Ukrainians, flush with a million South Korean shells the Americans had bought for them, roughly matched that firing rate. Before 2022, Russian industry was capable of producing, or generating from war reserves, just 400,000 shells per year, according to the Estonian defense ministry. As old shells run out, the Russians must compensate by building more new shells. And they are. Two years of investment, which has contributed to the doubling or tripling of the share of its national wealth Russian spends on its armed force, has expanded annual artillery production to 2.1 million 122-millimeter and 152-millimter shells. But that’s less than half of the 5.6 million shells that, according to RUSI, Russian officials believe they need to sustain a winning strategy in Ukraine through this year and into next. There may be another three million old shells in storage in Russia, but “much of this is in poor condition,” RUSI analysts Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds wrote. Do Iran and North Korea have another few million shells they’re willing to part with? Can Russia afford the multi-billion-dollar price? It’s unclear. If there’s any comfort for the Russians in this dire projection, it’s that the Ukrainians are struggling even more to supply their biggest guns. In particular, they must find some way to make up for the abrupt end of U.S. aid to Ukraine late last year. Ukrainian batteries went from firing 10,000 shells a day to firing just 2,000 or so. [Deleted] The U.S. Army had been counting on U.S. aid to Ukraine to pay for a huge expansion of its main ammo plant in Texas—an expansion that would have increased output to 1.2 million shells a year. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/02/15/three-million-shells-thats-how-much-more-artillery-ammo-russia-thinks-it-needs-to-defeat-ukraine |
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Posted: 2/20/2024 4:43:54 AM EDT
[#50]
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