INDIRECT FIRE CONTROL INSTRUMENTS FOR THE M41A3, M48 AND M60 TANKS

Auxiliary Fire Control Instruments

The auxiliary fire control instruments are designed to complement the direct-fire control system in providing the tank crew with a 24-hour capability of delivering effective fire. The instruments are primarily used to obtain and apply range card data for the tank's armament and searchlight. If the tank is used in the artillery role then the instruments are used to apply firing data from the fire direction center. The instruments used in this system consist of a gunner's quadrant or elevation quadrant and an azimuth indicator.

P. S. The US Army had this extra gear installed all the way up to the M60 tanks. 

Gunner's Quadrant

This instrument (fig. 1) is OEM on all standard tanks. It is used to measure and apply angles of elevation on those tanks without mounted elevation quadrants. On main battle tanks this quadrant is used primarily to check and adjust the mounted elevation quadrant. In measuring and applying angles, it is possible to interpolate the reading of this quadrant to the nearest one-tenth of a mil. There are two scales on this quadrant: the elevation scale graduated in 10-mil increments, and the micrometer scale graduted in increments of two tenths of a mil. Each scale has an index to designate readings. A level vial is mounted on the index arm. To measure or apply plus angles of elevation, the black line-of-fire arrow must be pointed to the muzzle end of the main gun. Minus angles are measured or applied with the black line-of-fire arrow pointing to the breech end of the gun. To use the quadrant to measure or apply angles of elevation, the quadrant shoes are placed on the seats or scribed marks provided on the breechring of the main gun. The index arm and micrometer knob or the gun controls are manipulated to obtain the proper reading. The quadrant must be checked periodically for accuracy by the end-for-end test. If the correction is greater than 0.4 mil it must be turned in to Ordnance.

Gunner's Quadrant (fig. 1)

Elevation Quadrant

This instrument (fig. 2) is found only on the main battle tanks and is used to measure and apply gun elevation angles. Elevation angles can be measured and applied to the nearest 1 mil. It is mounted on the ballistic drive cross shaft or on the recoil guard of the main gun. The elevation quadrant has two scales: the elevation scale graduated in 100-mil increments and the micrometer scale graduated in 1-mil increments. Black figures indicate plus readings and red figures minus readings. Each scale has an index to designate readings. The quadrant has a level vial and a reflector to aid the gunners when centering the bubble. Elevations are applied or determined by rotation of the micrometer knob and use of the gun controls. The elevation quadrant is checked and adjusted by using the gunner's quadrant.

Elevation Quadrant (fig. 2)

Azimuth Indicatora

The azimuth indicator (fig. 3) is used to lay the gun for direction and to measure horizontal angles. It is mounted so that its gear meshes with the turret ring gear and is located on the right side of the turret where it can be viewed by the gunner. The azimuth indicator has three scales: an azimuth scale graduated in 100-mil increments, a micrometer scale graduated in 1-mil increments, and a gunner's aid scale graduated in 1-mil increments. There are three pointers: an azimuth pointer (middle) and a micrometer pointer (outer), both of which are adjustable, and a directional pointer (inner). The directional pointer indicates the amount of turret traverse measured from the front center of the tank and is nonadjustable. To use the azimuth indicator, the gun is laid on a reference point by use of the direct-fire sights. The resetter knob is pushed down and rotated to move the azimuth and micrometer pointers to zero, then released. Any subsequent turret rotation will be measured by the azimuth and micrometer scales. For small shifts (50 mils or less) in deflection, the gunner's aid is rotated to index the zero of its scale opposite the micrometer pointer; then the turret is traversed in the desired direction until the micrometer pointer indicates the required deflection angle on the gunner's aid.

b. Azimuth indicators must be checked peri-odically for accuracy and slippage. As no error is allowable, inaccurate instruments must be repaired by Ordnance.

The azimuth indicator (fig. 3)

Source: FM 17-12 TANK GUNNERY (1964)

Russian Armed Forces Receive First Two Advanced Mi-28NM Attack Helicopters

The first two serial attack helicopters of the upgraded Mi-28NM project have been handed over to the Russian Armed Forces.

"As part of the contract for serial delivery, the first two advanced Mi-28NM helicopters were recently handed over to the army aviation, the corresponding acceptance certificates were signed," the source said.

Under the current defense order Russian Helicopters will provide to the Russian Army 98 helicopters by 2027.

An upgraded version of the Mi-28N under development since 2009. The helicopter has redesigned nose hull due to removal of its nose antenna, new H025 radar station for all-round visibility, more powerful VK-2500P engines with FADEC instead of the previous Klimov TV3-117VMA engines and improved rotor blades to increase its maximum speed by 13% and cruise speed by 10%. Besides that, it has an upgraded fire-control system and new "Izdeliye 296" onboard radio-electronic data processing system. It will be equipped to carry the 9M123 Khrizantema-V and 9M127-1 Ataka-VM anti-tank missiles. It is also planned to be equipped with the new "Izdeliye 305" or LMUR (Light Multi-role Unified Missile) multi purpose missile, designed for use against air and ground targets, and fitted with inertial guidance in initial flight, with mid-course updates by an operator before the target is acquired by the missile's own seeker, giving a range of 25 km (16 mi). The Mi-28NM made its maiden flight in October 2016 and the state trials of the upgraded VK-2500P engines were completed in October 2020.

Turkey and US in talks over joint working group on S-400, sanctions

Ankara earlier proposed a joint working group on sanctions that target Turkey’s Defense Industries Presidency (SSB) and experts from both countries have kickstarted negotiations, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said.

Turkey and the United States have started talks to form a joint working group regarding U.S. sanctions imposed over Ankara’s purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence systems, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday.

Turkish officials have agreed to a US proposal of setting up a joint working group on its sanctions imposed against Turkey's defence industry over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system.

Such a working group, advocated by Turkey, could point the way forward to lifting the sanctions, imposed earlier this month, if compatibility issues between the S-400 and NATO weapons systems are addressed.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey had itself had earlier proposed a joint working group on the sanctions, which target Turkey’s Defense Industries Presidency (SSB), including SSB head Ismail Demir and three other officials.

“Now the proposal came from the US. As we naturally always favor dialogue, we said yes, and negotiations began at the level of experts,” Cavusoglu said during a meeting reviewing foreign policy developments in 2020.

Underscoring that opinions differ as to whether the sanctions are heavy or not, he said imposing sanctions is a misstep both politically and legally.

“It is an attack on our sovereign rights,” he stressed.

Washington slapped the sanctions on NATO ally Turkey’s Defence Industry Directorate (SSB), its chief Ismail Demir and three other employees this month following its acquisition of the S-400s.

The sanctions come at a delicate moment in the fraught relationship between Ankara and Washington as Democratic President-elect Joe Biden gears up to take office on Jan. 20, replacing Republican incumbent Donald Trump.

In April 2017, Turkey signed a contract with Russia to acquire the state-of-art missile shield.

US officials have voiced opposition to their deployment, claiming they would be incompatible with NATO systems and would expose F-35 jets to possible Russian subterfuge.

Turkey, however, stressed that the S-400s would not be integrated into NATO systems, and poses no threat to the alliance or its armaments.

Turkey says its purchase of the S-400s was not a choice but a necessity as it was unable to procure air defence systems from any NATO ally on satisfactory terms.

Cavusoglu also said on Wednesday that Turkey was ready to take steps to improve ties with the United States and hoped the incoming Biden administration would do the same.

In first-ever air refueling mission the QEAF Rafale receives fuel from a USAF KC-135 Stratotanker.

In first-ever air refueling mission between the countries Qatar Emiri Air Forces Rafale receives fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Aircraft Refueling Squadron, participates in an air-to-air refueling exercise with Qatar Emiri Air Force Rafale aircraft over Qatar, Dec. 28, 2020. The exercise was designed to build familiarity with the air-to-air refueling process with both U.S. and Qatar forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride).

About Ajax AFV program readiness

According to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence report  "Departmental Overview 2019-20" - IOC of Ajax AFV is expected in June 2021, but in-service date has been moved to January 2021.  Original IOC of Ajax was expected on 31 July 2020.

In 2014 MoD gived approval for AJAX to proceed with an expected Initial Operating Capability (IOC) date of 31 July 2020.

In 2020 MoD reports that IOC is now expected in June 2021, with a separate in-service date of January 2021, and that there has been no increase in the firm contract price of £3.5 billion.

The AJAX, formerly known as the Scout SV (Specialist Vehicle) was renamed in 2015 and is part of a family of Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs).

AJAX will be a fully-digitised, tracked, medium weight core of the British Army’s deployable ISTAR capability and will providing a full suite of medium-armoured vehicles and capabilities.

Variants Of AJAX

There are six variants of AJAX which fulfill nine roles and the name can be applied to all of them but specifically to the turreted version.

• Ajax (turreted, reconnaissance and strike)

• Ares (reconnaissance and Armoured Personnel Carrier)

• Argus (engineer reconnaissance)

• Athena (command and control)

• Atlas (equipment support recovery)

• Apollo (equipment repair)

The wheeled version of combat robot "Marker" sucesfuly tested in winter condition.

The wheeled version of combat robot "Marker" sucesfuly tested in winter condition.

According to the FPI press release, the "Marker" UGV has successfully completed the trials in autonomous mode in winter conditions. It is noted that the robotic platform covered a 30-kilometer route. In the next trials, UGV will cover 50, 100 and 200 kilometer.

In 2020 LM has delivered 123 F-35 fighter jets.

Lockheed Martin delivered the 123rd F-35 aircraft of the year last week.

The 123rd aircraft is an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, built at the Cameri, Italy, Final Assembly and Checkout (FACO) facility and delivered to the Italian Air Force. In 2020, 74 F-35s were delivered to the United States military, 31 to international partner nations and 18 to Foreign Military Sales customers.

In response to COVID-19 related supplier delays, in May the initial annual delivery goal was revised from 141 to 117-123 aircraft to strategically avoid surging, which would increase production-related costs and create future delays and disruption.

Production rate by years:

Year.....Annual Rate...Total Units

2011...........9.................9

2012..........29...............38

2013..........35...............73

2014..........36..............109

2015..........45..............154

2016..........46..............200

2017..........66..............266

2018..........91..............357

2019........134..............491

2020........123..............614

Program Maturity and Progress

With more than 600 aircraft operating from 26 bases and ships around the globe, the F-35 plays a critical role in today's global security environment. More than 1,200 pilots and 10,000 maintainers are trained, and the F-35 fleet has surpassed more than 350,000 cumulative flight hours. Nine nations have F-35s operating from a base on their home soil, nine services have declared Initial Operational Capability and six services have employed F-35s in combat operations. The United States Air Force deployed the F-35 for 18 consecutive months from April 2019 until October 2020 in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility with hundreds of weapons employments in support of U.S. servicemembers and their allies.

The year also included initial fielding of the Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN), the follow-on to the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), with excellent initial results. The system will be fully operational in 2022. Mission capable rates for the aircraft continued to improve in 2020 with rates greater than 70% across the fleet, and even higher for deployed units. The F-35 also proved its value in Joint All-Domain Operations with multiple exercises that highlighted the aircraft’s ability to gather, interpret and share information with various platforms.

KAI in the final of assembly of the KF-X Prototype #1

According to new photos, the first prototype of future fighter aircraft has vertical stabilizers installed, and the second prototype is being assembled with an automated "Fuselage Automated Splice System" (FASS).

The KF-X (Korean Fighter eXperimental) is a next-generation stealth aircraft that combines elements of a 5th-gen fighter jet.

KAI says the KF-X is one of the most important national projects to replace current air force fighters and to introduce the next generation fighter that can satisfy the future operation concept of force battlefield. Also, KAI is under localization of major avionics part for product improvement by domestic technology. Mission and flight control computer, equivalent to its brain, will be installed to KF-X for ground test and test flight after performance test this year.

KAI started system development in 2015 Dec, went through PDR(Preliminary Design Review) in 2018, began the first detail part machining on February 2019 and passed the CDR(Critical Design Review) on September 2019.

Russian Artillery Units that have integrated UAV Orlan-10 in KRUS Strelets

On video you can see the Russian Artillery Units that have integrated UAV Orlan-10 in KRUS Strelets (Reconnaissance, Control and Communications Complexes). The video showed all cicle of work  inegrated networkcentric artillery system, from recognocing to destroying the target.

Spike LR ATGM of Azerbaijan Army in action

 

Soviet T-72M tank in China

In the 1980s, China acquired a Soviet T-72M tank via Romania and reverse engineered it. China kept to  it secret. The analysis and testing of this tank was officially released now.