International Military Discussion

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 26 Aug 2014 02:14

Damage to a military vehicle, in Ukraine:

Anyone want a gear assembly?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Aug 2014 15:42

http://www.gizmodo.in/design/The-Strang ... 828031.cms

after a decade and $5 billion, the US army is abandoning pixel camo and going for a more traditional 60s look.

I dont know where that leaves the pixel camo of our LCH.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 26 Aug 2014 18:24

Russia changes its mind on shutting down the ISS after 2020.....

http://nasawatch.com/archives/2014/08/r ... l#comments

If we take a look at the relevant section of the federal space program, we will see that the Russian Academy of Sciences is the ISS project customer. Our American partners have said many times they wished to continue the ISS operations after 2020. When they heard our leaders saying that Russia wanted to close down the project in 2020, they fostered the interaction with scientists and made interesting propositions of works in the period after 2020. A yearlong mission of a U.S. astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut to the ISS is scheduled for 2015," the Roscosmos source told Izvestia. He said the Americans had offered the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences to arrange another yearlong mission experiment. "Meanwhile, Roscosmos is not very interested in halting the ISS works right now: the federal space program of 2006-2015 allots 186.6 billion rubles for the station. If we stop building new modules of the station, considerable funds will be written off and some enterprises will have to start massive dismissals," he added."

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Aug 2014 18:36

all these next-gen ER 'raider' helicopter concepts will they be able to match the cost of basic blackhawk/Mi17/Cougar/Puma type helis.
I mean all that networking, ER and stealth stuff looks cool as a SOCOM asset but we are talking of replacing 1000s of cheap helicopters worldwide for basic needs of moving around men and material across mostly friendly skies.

secondly if 1 engine packs up in a 2-3 engined conventional heli, I guess they can freewheel it off the gearbox and make for safety, what happens if these osprey type things lose an engine...can the other engine at the end of the opposite wing keep it level and flying safe?

negi · Post by **negi** » 26 Aug 2014 19:05

^ V-22 Osprey is capable of turning both screws using one engine but then it is prohibitively expensive (I mean for everyone but Unkil)

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 27 Aug 2014 02:47

The US's latest hypersonic missile test failed,the missile was destroyed just second after launch.

Army Hypersonic Test Vehicle Destroyed Following Failed Launch Test
By: Dave Majumdar
Published: August 25,

The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command conducted a test of a new Conventional Prompt Global Strike (CPGS) weapon earlier today. However, the test did not go as planned and the Army was forced to destroy the weapon prematurely.

“[The Army] conducted a flight test of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska,” reads a statement released by the Defense Department.
“Due to an anomaly, the test was terminated near the launch pad shortly after lift-off to ensure public safety. There were no injuries to any personnel.”

According to the Pentagon, program officials are investigating what went wrong. The Defense Department’s CPGS program is an effort to develop a conventional non-nuclear weapon that can hit any point on the globe in less than an hour.

Der Spiegel also reports that Germany's fighters are "unable to fly",lacking spares,etc. So much for the much touted "superiority of availability" of Western birds vs Russian birds.An earlier report found that the rafale and SU-30 had almost the same availability rate.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/

German fighter jets unable to fly and mechanics forced to borrow spare parts, claims magazine
German fighter jets unable to fly and mechanics forced to borrow spare parts, claims magazine

A report in Spiegel magazine says German air force is weaker than previously thought and a funding crisis means scores of aircraft are not operational

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 27 Aug 2014 07:46

Even if the Hypersonic missile of the US army would have succeeded i seriously doubt that such a system would be deployed. The answer to hypersonic lies firmly in the Scramjet domain at least if we want to prevent WW3 starting off by accident.

Rien · Post by **Rien** » 28 Aug 2014 13:32

srai wrote:I don't know why non-US companies compete in Singapore's fighter competition. Singapore, with its unique arrangement of basing/training of its US-made combat aircraft fleet on US soil, would highly unlikely opt for non-US fighters. Have the Europeans offered basing of Singaporean aircrafts?

We should consider offering Singapore basing rights along with aircraft. They already train here. I'm not sure which of Aura, MCA or Tejas they will prefer, but I view Singapore as a safe country who we will never go to war against. We are a country who can offer a nuclear shield against China and the resources to stand up to it. Very few countries can say the same.

Rien · Post by **Rien** » 28 Aug 2014 13:34

Singha wrote:<snip>

secondly if 1 engine packs up in a 2-3 engined conventional heli, I guess they can freewheel it off the gearbox and make for safety, what happens if these osprey type things lose an engine...can the other engine at the end of the opposite wing keep it level and flying safe?

The spotty safety record of the V-22 suggests no.

The V-22 Osprey had 7 hull-loss accidents with a total of 36 fatalities. During testing from 1991 to 2000 there were four crashes resulting in 30 fatalities.[1] Since becoming operational in 2007, the V-22 has had three crashes resulting in six fatalities including one combat-zone crash,[2] and several minor incidents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accidents_ ... -22_Osprey

Rien · Post by **Rien** » 28 Aug 2014 13:39

Singha wrote:http://www.gizmodo.in/design/The-Strang ... 828031.cms

after a decade and $5 billion, the US army is abandoning pixel camo and going for a more traditional 60s look.

I dont know where that leaves the pixel camo of our LCH.

[img]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HAL_L ... a_2013.JPG[/img]

So we know what Singha is talking about. Digital camouflage can be very effective but depends on terrain and context.
Unfortunately we need eyewitness reports or lack of them. Anyone not seen a LCH?

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 28 Aug 2014 14:30

Singha wrote:http://www.gizmodo.in/design/The-Strang ... 828031.cms

after a decade and $5 billion, the US army is abandoning pixel camo and going for a more traditional 60s look.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 03 Sep 2014 23:58

New Verba missile system to replace the legendary Igla-S

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Sep 2014 17:29

Syrian Mi-8 was destroyed by militants using ATGM "Kornet-E"

JTull · Post by **JTull** » 09 Sep 2014 21:31

Eutelsat, SES To Add Plasma-Fueled Spacecraft To Fleets

In March 2012, when Boeing announced the sale of the world’s first all-electric satellites, the company sparked a trend in the commercial telecom industry, lighting a fire under competitors in Europe and Asia as they scrambled to catch up.

But two years on, Boeing has yet to announce a follow-up deal for its xenon-ion fueled 702SP satellite bus, while European competitors once thought to be years behind the curve are gaining ground.

Within months of the Boeing announcement, the European Space Agency (ESA) unveiled plans to fund codevelopment of the new Electra all-electric satellite bus with European industry. ESA also said it would help finance the next generation of European satcom buses with manufacturers Airbus Defense and Space and Thales Alenia Space, incorporating an electric propulsion option to raise the new platform, known as NeoSat, into orbit.

But with these developments not expected to enter service for several years, Airbus has pressed ahead with a near-term answer to Boeing, evolving its legacy Eurostar E3000 platform to include an all-electric variant aimed at customers seeking higher payload power and greater flexibility than the 702SP offers today.

In July, Airbus Defense and Space nailed two deals for such spacecraft, including a contract with Paris-based fleet operator Eutelsat to build Eutelsat 172B, the first European communications satellite equipped with electric plasma thrusters designed to raise, maneuver and position itself in geosynchronous orbit.

“Never underestimate us,” says Eric Beranger, head of space system programs at Airbus Defense and Space. “I said after the Boeing announcement in 2012 that we could also provide full electrical transfer capability for satellites, and what you are seeing today is the proof that I was not lying.”

Beranger says Airbus Defense and Space has seven satellites in orbit that use electrical propulsion, albeit for station-keeping only. These spacecraft have provided the company ample data on the technology, which it has used to adapt the Eurostar E3000 for all-electric orbit transfer.

Slated to launch on an Ariane 5 ECA rocket in the first half of 2017, the Eutelsat 172B will be equipped with an impressive 11-kw payload packed into a diminutive 3,500-kg (7,700-lb.) satellite. Located at 172 deg. E. Long., the spacecraft will feature 14 C-band and 36 Ku-band transponders, as well as a high-throughput Ku-band payload customized for aeronautical inflight connectivity over the Pacific Ocean with an overall throughput of 1.8 gbps.

Beranger says a comparable satellite using chemical propulsion would typically run close to 6,000 kg, requiring a heavy-lift Proton or Zenit launcher or a position in the upper bay of the dual-payload Ariane 5. Given its slight launch mass, however, Beranger says Eutelsat 172B is sized to ride in the lower—and far less costly—position available on the ECA configuration of the Ariane 5.

“We are the first in Europe, and even the first in the world, to demonstrate electric propulsion for satellites of this size,” Beranger says.

The Eutelsat announcement followed an Airbus Defense and Space contract signed in July with fleet operator SES of Luxembourg for SES-12, a hybrid chemical/electric satellite that is also based on the Eurostar E3000 platform and will likewise use electric plasma thrusters for orbit-raising and maneuvers. The most powerful satellite SES has ordered to date, the 5,300-kg spacecraft will carry 68 high-power Ku-band transponders and eight Ka-band transponders to combine traditional wide-beam coverage with high-throughput spot beams and a new digital transparent processor for anti-jamming capabilities and much greater payload flexibility.

Depending on the launch vehicle, which SES says will be announced at a later date, SES-12 will need 3-6 months to propel itself to an operating orbit at 95 deg E. Long. Eutelsat 172B, on the other hand, will need just four months in transit, nearly halving the time required for Boeing’s 702SP, which uses lightweight, low-power xenon-ion thrusters developed by L-3 Electron Technologies.

Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) of Bermuda and SatMex of Mexico (now Eutelsat Americas), were well aware of the platform’s time to orbit when they signed on for a total of four Boeing 702SP spacecraft in 2012.

Packing less oomph than the all-electric variant of Airbus Defense and Space’s Eurostar E3000, the 702SP offers just 3-8 kw of power, though it can accommodate up to five reflectors and features a next-generation avionics architecture that simplifies operations and provides easier access to data for evaluation of the spacecraft’s health.

While the 702SP’s lengthy transit time to orbit creates a lag between launch and the satellite’s ability to generate revenue, the upside for the fleet operator is that the 702SP can stack in pairs under the fairing of most rockets capable of carrying two satellites at a time, including the SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket. In fact, the dual-launch scenario with the Falcon 9 is key to the 702SP’s success, an approach Boeing says saves fleet operators 20% of the cost to launch atop what is already the lowest-priced rocket in its class.

Although Boeing has not announced additional 702SP commercial sales, the company is finalizing a potential deal with an Indonesian operator that could be announced this year. The company also has signed a contract with an unnamed government customer for an undisclosed number of 702SP spacecraft, and several campaigns are underway that could result in sales of more 702SP spacecraft, with a contract to be announced possibly this quarter.

In the meantime, rival manufacturers are taking varied approaches to future spacecraft bus developments that would include more electric-propulsion options. Thales Alenia Space is planning to introduce an all-electric satellite platform starting in 2016, while Lockheed Martin Space Systems is working on an all-electric variant of the venerable A2100 satellite bus using weightier Hall effect thrusters that could offer shorter transit time to orbit.

Space Systems/Loral is also supplying an electric-propulsion option for orbital transfer, but it sees the market evolving to favor hybrid solutions with higher payload power and more rapid ascent to orbit. Meanwhile, Orbital Sciences’ new GeoStar-3 satellite will offer 60% more power and a 30% boost in payload mass but will draw on electric propulsion for station-keeping only.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 10 Sep 2014 07:15

Joint US-Israeli missile test over Mediterranean picked up by Russian radar
http://rt.com/news/186396-missile-test-israel-usa/

Published time: September 09, 2014
An Arrow 2 anti-missile missile is test fired from Israel's shoreline towards a target missile launched from a ship in the Mediterranean off the coast of central Israel August 20. (Reuters)

Israel and the United States have conducted a joint missile test of the Arrow 2 interceptor system. It took place over the Mediterranean, according to Israel’s Defense Ministry, and was detected by military radar in southwest Russia.

The missile was monitored by Israel’s Defense Ministry, who also added that the results were being analyzed by a team of engineers. The test was detected by the Russian Missile Attack Warning System, a defense spokesman in Moscow told the Russian media.

Major-General Igor Konashenkov, from the Russian Defense Ministry, stated that the missile was picked up from the Armavir Radar Station and they monitored it for 40 seconds.

“The trajectory of the missile went through the central part of the Mediterranean Sea and was heading towards its east coast. It fell into the sea around 300 kilometers north of Tel Aviv,” Konashenkov said.

To test the missile defense system’s capabilities, a Rafael-produced Sparrow missile was fired from the Mediterranean Sea at Israel, a senior official from the Israeli Ministry of Defense said. "The systems detected and tracked the missile, and at the correct time, fired an Arrow 2 interceptor.”

"All of the stages were carried out. We are now going over visual intelligence, broadcast from the interceptor and the target missile, to determine what occurred in the end stage," he added.

The Arrow 2 missile defense system is part of a five-tiered air defense structure, which is aimed at providing Israel with comprehensive security coverage. According to a spokesman from the Israeli Defense Ministry, Jonathan Mosery, the Arrow 2 system has been operational for years and is intended to be used for long-range threats.

The Israeli Defense Ministry said that the firing of the missile has no bearing “on the Israeli operational systems’ capability to cope with the existing threats in the region” and is merely “intended to counter future threats,” the Jerusalem Post said.

However, unlike the Iron Dome missile defense system, which managed to intercept around 90 percent of rockets fired by Hamas during the recent Israeli assault on Gaza, the Arrow 2 system has never been used in combat.

The other three systems – Iron Beam, David’s Sling, and Arrow 3 – are expected to become operational within the coming two years, the Jerusalem Post added.

Arrow 2 was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries with help from Boeing, Elta and Elbit Elisra. Speaking at the systems launch in 2000, Major-General Eitan Ben Eliyahu said, “This is a great day for the Air Defense Forces, for the Air Force, the defense establishment and, I would say, for the State of Israel.”

In January, Israel successfully tested the Arrow 3 system, which is designed to intercept missiles at a higher altitude, to try and limit the damage from fallout.

A long-range Arrow 3 interceptor was fired from Palmahim air base, south of Tel Aviv. It left the Earth’s atmosphere, carried out maneuvers in space and having fulfilled its mission fell into the Mediterranean. The test lasted 10 minutes. No real missiles were targeted.

"The Arrow 3 interceptor successfully launched and flew an exo-atmospheric trajectory through space," Israel's Defense Ministry said in a statement at the time, Reuters reported.

The kamikaze satellites, fired by the Arrow 3 system, have been also known as "kill vehicles." They are able to identify and trail chemical, biological or nuclear warheads above the Earth's atmosphere. The interceptors then ram into the missiles and destroy them at an altitude, where the disintegration is safe.

The Arrow 3 can intercept types of missiles that are used by Iran and Syria and are believed to be held by Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Tuesday’s launch comes just over a year after Israel launched a similar exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, in cooperation with the US, which was also detected by a Russian Missile Warning System.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 10 Sep 2014 19:48

The reason why I am posting this link is the video produced by PBS Nova called the Rise of the Drones. It contains an excellent summary at the end of the video of what drones can and cannot do.

If you have already seen it, apologies.

https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-ne ... c314d4c763

srai · Post by **srai** » 10 Sep 2014 20:45

Philip wrote:Joint US-Israeli missile test over Mediterranean picked up by Russian radar
http://rt.com/news/186396-missile-test-israel-usa/
...
However, unlike the Iron Dome missile defense system, which managed to intercept around 90 percent of rockets fired by Hamas during the recent Israeli assault on Gaza, the Arrow 2 system has never been used in combat.

The other three systems – Iron Beam, David’s Sling, and Arrow 3 – are expected to become operational within the coming two years, the Jerusalem Post added.

...

Major IA/IAF's forward bases, located within 100km from the international border, could use these systems to defend against long-ranged artillery/rocket attack.

Ranjani Brow · Post by **Ranjani Brow** » 11 Sep 2014 21:46

Rosetta takes 'selfie' ahead of landing site selection

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 15 Sep 2014 02:10

9 Military Technologies That Will Soon Change Warfare

1) A "Flying Humvee”
2) Silent-Running Motorcycles
3) Lasers on the High Seas
4) Doctors Inside Bodies
5) The Mach 7 Navy Gun
6) Water Drones
7) Satellite “Slingshots”

War Room on a Table Screen
9) Google Glass-like Eyegear for Soldiers

tushar_m · Post by **tushar_m** » 16 Sep 2014 11:57

What Iran (who is isolated) has achieved in its defense sector.

http://youtu.be/9uPWMNPALU0

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 17 Sep 2014 05:47

...it's official Boeing and Space X split a $6 billion plus contract. Dream Chaser got left out in the cold.

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/bo ... is-n204706

Tomorrow, ULA and Blue Origin will make a major announcement to replace the Russian rocket engine used on the ULA's Atlas rocket.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 17 Sep 2014 06:02

brar_w wrote:Another point that I forgot to mention in the HELO post. T..

Whats the service ceiling? at payload?

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 17 Sep 2014 06:11

NRao wrote:9 Military Technologies That Will Soon Change Warfare

1) A "Flying Humvee”
2) Silent-Running Motorcycles
3) Lasers on the High Seas
4) Doctors Inside Bodies
5) The Mach 7 Navy Gun
6) Water Drones
7) Satellite “Slingshots”
War Room on a Table Screen
9) Google Glass-like Eyegear for Soldiers

I am not able (yet) to find the link showing the linear projections of futurists in 1954 of how we would all be living in glass domed cities with flying cars in 1984.

Only in movies like the Fifth Element.

The future is more prose than poetry.

And not linear.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 18 Sep 2014 01:32

It's official ULA and Blue Origin will replace the Russian rd-180 rocket engine in four years for the Atlas.

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/bl ... ts-n205581

There is a lot brewing in space launch ventures. Sierra Nevada has also purchased Orbitec recently.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Sep 2014 09:49

Saudi Arabia has Acquired the DF-21 Missiles says Saudi General
http://www.okaz.com.sa/new/Issues/20140 ... 723944.htm

Retired Saudi General Dr.Anwar Eshqi and advisor to the joint military council gives a statement to the media when asked about new acquisitions by the RSBMF and says "Saudi military did indeed receive the DF-21 missile from China and all integration of the missiles including a full maintenance and upgrade facility are complete" he further elaborated that the acquisition of these missiles are not meant as an offensive force by Saudi Arabia, but to further strengthen its mission to protect the holy places and other allied countries under its protective umbrella.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Sep 2014 09:50

More details on chinese sale

China Secretly Sold Saudi Arabia DF-21 Missiles With CIA Approval

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 21 Sep 2014 09:39

JANES:More long-range Iranian early-warning radars revealed

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 21 Sep 2014 10:39

Austin wrote:More details on chinese sale

China Secretly Sold Saudi Arabia DF-21 Missiles With CIA Approval

As usual the NPA in Washington and ISloo keep quite on Saudis, USA and China which are pi***** on NPT and host of thier agreements.

Note: We need to have a large arsenal of Nukes and Delivery systems, A-II, A-IV, A-V, A-VI, not to deter known enemies like Pak and China but also folks in who not claim to be overtly enemical to us but our eneimical to us. I somehow did not trust the UPA and left are up to sratch on this.

ABP was given 4 Prithvis and 1 Agni during Kargil, NDA ordered 300 Prithvi's. From a national security prespective, it is imperative UPA does not come back in 2019 or 2024 to start thier sabotage again.

PratikDas · Post by **PratikDas** » 21 Sep 2014 11:07

Aditya ji, what is ABP?

PratikDas · Post by **PratikDas** » 22 Sep 2014 00:29

MiG-29SMTs releasing flares during a demonstration exercise from Facebook

rkhanna · Post by **rkhanna** » 22 Sep 2014 20:58

Current State of the Luftwaffe

1. Transall can not start to bring german soldiers to Iraq
2. None of 22 Sea Lynx can fly, four of them have cracks of 20cm or more
3. 8 of 109 Eurofighter can fly
3. 7 of 67 CH-53 helicopter can fly
4. 5 of 33 NH-90 helicopter have no problems

https://translate.google.de/translate?s ... =&act=url

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 24 Sep 2014 08:13

PratikDas wrote:Aditya ji, what is ABP?

ABV not ABP... he meant Atal Bihari Vajapayee.

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 24 Sep 2014 10:40

F22 Raptor - Baptism by Fire - First strike or is it.. ?

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 24 Sep 2014 19:47

Manish_P wrote:F22 Raptor - Baptism by Fire - First strike or is it.. ?

What a dumb assumption. The practice to have ISR assets on station for both intel gathering and BDA is quite common and has been throughout ops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Those ISR assets have been both manned and unmanned. There is no reason to believe that only the F-22 could have generated the video.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 24 Sep 2014 20:15

Japan resumes attempt on its own fighter

Indicates the games uncle plays with other munnas - with the exception of Israel which has for the time being figured a way around

Also indicates that the F 35 may not be all its claimed to be

http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy ... off-ground

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 24 Sep 2014 20:28

rkhanna wrote:Current State of the Luftwaffe

1. Transall can not start to bring german soldiers to Iraq
2. None of 22 Sea Lynx can fly, four of them have cracks of 20cm or more
3. 8 of 109 Eurofighter can fly
3. 7 of 67 CH-53 helicopter can fly
4. 5 of 33 NH-90 helicopter have no problems

https://translate.google.de/translate?s ... =&act=url

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 24 Sep 2014 20:30

Surya wrote:Japan resumes attempt on its own fighter

Indicates the games uncle plays with other munnas - with the exception of Israel which has for the time being figured a way around

Also indicates that the F 35 may not be all its claimed to be

http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy ... off-ground

"Back then, we thought the U.S. was urging us to drop the project simply because Japan didn't have the necessary technology," said Masahiro Yasue, who was director general of the defense ministry's Technical Research and Development Institute at the time. "But later we realized the U.S. was worried about Japan's acquisition of advanced technology for fighter jets," said Yasue, who is now an adviser with Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 25 Sep 2014 05:19

Shornets jinking through death valley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6yG-HO-8hQ#t=220

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 26 Sep 2014 15:38

There appears to be some weak euro knees for the new Ariane 6. Germany doesn't know if it can afford over 100 million a year for the program.

http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch ... launch-pad

rkhanna · Post by **rkhanna** » 26 Sep 2014 17:15

Dumbed down Iraqi Abrams Vs ISIS Anti Tank systems (RPG, etc)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfKWNTn-eRo

Those Abrams seem to be in good shape after multiple hits.