Cemetery of Abrams tanks

Cemetery of Abrams M1A1M tanks of Iraqi Army

Iraq, Camp Taji, June 2020

Combat vehicles in arctic camouflage

Combat vehicles in arctic camouflage unveiled by Russian army at Victory Day Military Parade rehearsal in Yekaterinburg. In parade will be attended the following vehicles in arctic camouflage:

T-80BV

BTR-82AM

Light UAZ pickups with a turret for heavy machine guns

SOF Tiger armored vehicles

Snowmobile A-1

Russian Army introduced new TOS-2 heavy flamethrower system on Parade rehersal

TOS-2 (the R&D work ‘Tosochka’) is a derivative of the TOS-1A ‘Solntsepyok’ heavy flamethrower system with improved performance characteristics. As compared to its predecessor, it is mounted on the wheeled chassis (On photo is on the Ural-63706-3510).

Deeply modernized armored vehicle BRDM-2MB "Bekas"

The new version of the vehicle is distinguished by improved characteristics, additional armor, an anti-mine complex, and is also equipped with a new air conditioning, brake and fuel system. A 136 horsepower diesel engine allows the car to easily accelerate to 100 km/h.

US Forces Test SMART Shooter Optic in Syria

Coalition Forces zero Smart Shooter sighting devices during a familiarization range near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, May 30, 2020. (DoD/Staff Sgt. William Howard)

The Department of Defense recently released some interesting photos of members of Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve familiarising themselves with the Smart Shooter system. The training session took place at a range near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria on the 30 May.

Smart Shooter claims that by combining “simple-to-install hardware with our own advanced image-processing software” they can cost effectively turn “basic small arms into 21st century smart weapons.” In this case, a least two M4A1 carbines appear to have been equipped with the fire control unit.

A Soldier uses a Smart Shooter sighting device to fire at a drone-carried target box flying more than 100 meters away during a familiarization range near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, May 30, 2020. (DoD/Staff Sgt. William Howard)

TFB first reported on the Smart Shooter SMASH system in April 2018, since then the system has been evaluated by a number of US military branches and the Australian Defence Force. The US Airforces’s 9th Reconnaissance Wing tested the system Beale Air Force Base, California, back in August 2019.

Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (SOJTF-OIR), controls and coordinates the special operations units involved in Inherent Resolve’s operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The captions to the released images indicate that “Coalition and partner forces regularly train on various weapon systems in a joint effort to help set conditions for the enduring defeat of Daesh in Syria.” The Smart Shooter SMASH system being one of the more recent systems to be evaluated in the field. It remains unclear if the system has been used on operations.

Coalition Forces analyze a zero target during a Smart Shooter sighting device familiarization range near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, May 30, 2020. (DoD/Staff Sgt. William Howard)

Once the user has designated a target the system can track and calculate the target’s movement and with the use of image processing and calculation algorithms it predicts the vector the target will travel. Some models can prevent the weapon from firing until the targets is within the the integrated reflex sight’s reticle – thus, in theory at least, improving hit probability.  The photographs show operators zeroing the system and then engaging an aerial target – a cardboard box suspended by a rope from a drone.

A Soldier controls a drone that’s carrying a box to be used as a target during a Smart Shooter sighting device familiarization range near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, May 30, 2020. (DoD/Staff Sgt. William Howard)

We spoke with Lt. Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, a U.S. Special Operations Command spokesman, who gave us a little more background on SOCOM’s interest in the Smart Shooter system:

"We purchased smart shooter systems in March 2019 for Special Operations Forces to evaluate this capability in an operational environment. The results of the combat evaluation are pending. Our Army and Navy service components and one Theater Special Operations Command – Special Operations Command Central – have participated in the combat evaluation up to this point. We are evaluating the smart shooter system as a potential individual-level solution to enhancing Special Operations Forces capabilities for countering unmanned aerial systems."

A Soldier fires at a box carried by a drone during a Smart Shooter sighting device familiarization range near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, May 30, 2020. (DoD/Staff Sgt. William Howard)

Drones are a very real threat to troops on the ground, even small quadcopter drones can be weaponized. There has been a proliferation of small drone use in the conflicts in the Middle East and systems like Smart Shooter might offer a cost effective solution which can be used for both aerial and ground targets.

A Soldier uses a Smart Shooter sighting device to fire at a box carried by a drone during a familiarization range near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, May 30, 2020. (DoD/Staff Sgt. William Howard)

In the image below we can make out the wires linking to a control pad for the system on the carbine’s forend.

Soldiers use a Smart Shooter sighting device to fire at a target box carried by a drone during a familiarization range near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, May 30, 2020. (DoD/Staff Sgt. William Howard)

A bullet-ridden box used as a target during a Smart Shooter sighting device familiarization range near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, May 30, 2020. (DoD/Staff Sgt. William Howard)

US Forces Test SMART Shooter Optic in Syria

F-35 landing gear collapses after landing at Hill

An F-35's landing gear collapsed upon landing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

On photo is the Eglin AFB, Aug 24, 2018.

The landing gear of an F-35 fighter collapsed after landing at Hill Air Force Base in Utah Monday, the base said in a statement.

The F-35, assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing, had just finished what the base described as a routine training flight. The pilot left the aircraft and is having a routine medical evaluation, the base said.

Hill’s runway is now closed as a result of the landing gear collapse, and other Hill aircraft that were still in the air at the time have been diverted to other airports.

Other training flights are now paused until the runway reopens, Hill said. A safety review board will investigate the incident, Hill said.

It marks the second F-35 mishap in roughly a month's time (re: crash at Eglin AFB, Florida). 

Detail CGI rendering of the new Chinese 8x8 wheeled Assault Gun

What do we know so far:

• It uses the same long barrel variant of the ZTP-94 105mm tank gun and autoloader just like the new Type 15 light MBT

• The chassis is an improved ZBL-08 with a rear ram and big vision block for the driver's hatch

• Remote controlled turret with minimum hulk penetration

• Remote weapon station for the 12.7mm HMG

• Odd layout of its smoke grenade launchers with 6x on the right and 4x on the left

• Laser warning receivers and digital camera all around

   New finds:

There will be a IFV version with a smaller remote control turret; assuming 30mm autocanon and HJ-11 or HJ-12 ATGM launch tubes 

The new TC panoramic sight features thermal imaging sight, laser range finder and external stabilization. 

The bolt-on armor plates are compose of HHS, ceramic and polymer+RHA backing. It's capable of stopping 40mm caliber autocanon. Optional ERA. 

The most interesting is the hatch opening behind the TC panoramic.  

My take on it: 

It's fairly small so it's not for quick entrance or exist. It's a pass-through design. 

It look heavy, so it probably has a mechanical opening system 

So, it's likely just made for letting the commander stand up and out of the top of the turret. Which it seems like a lot of wasted space.    

ΛΕΩΝΙΔΑΣ 300 / LEONIDAS 300 - The New Hellenic IFV/APC

The Greek company EODH introduce the Greek Army' APC Leonidas-I/II deeply upgrade project. 

Upgrade includes:

• New remotely control weapon station with 30mm Mauser MK30F cannon (30×173), which previously was used in EVO manufactured 30mm twin barrel AAG Artemis.

• Upgraded protection - composite armor and spall liner, which provides Level 5 at the front side of the vehicle, and Level 4 on all other sides in accordance to NATO STANAG.

• The 7FA engine (320h/p) will change to the Cat C7 engine (360h/p).

• New automatic gear with 6 forward gears.

• New suspension with new torsion bars

• Driver's new compartment with vehicle digital control unit.

Specifications:

• Mass 17-17,5 tonnes

• Crew 2+8 (commander, gunner + troopers)

• Main armament (two-axis stabilization) - 30mm Mauser MK30F, it posible to instal varius type of MGs an cannons - 20mm MK20 (RH-202), 23mm 2A14 (Zu-23-2), 30mm Μ230LF (Μ230), 12,7mm M2

• Secondary armament 7.62 mm MG

• 76 mm grenade launchers