US Marines receive first set of ACV

Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. - US Marines started receiving the long-awaited Amphibious Combat Vehicle.

Program Executive Officer Land Systems approved initial fielding of the Marine Corps’ new ACV, which will eventually replace the Corps’ legacy Assault Amphibious Vehicles.

The initial fielding decision, which the PEO finalized in late September, enables the AAA program office to start distributing the vehicle to the fleet. The Marine Corps delivered the first set of ACVs—the personnel-carrier variant—to Marines starting in October.

In the future, the Corps intends to develop, procure and field three additional variants that specialize in command and control, recovery operations and increased firepower.

The ACV is designed to fully replace the Corps’ aging fleet of AAVs through the 2020s. Expeditionary and modernized in design, the ACV integrates with naval shipping and ship-to-shore connectors. The ACV’s ability to use the ocean and waterways to carry Marines and equipment make it well-suited for various operating environments, including Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations.

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) is a program initiated by Marine Corps Systems Command to procure an amphibious assault vehicle for the United States Marine Corps to supplement and ultimately replace the aging Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV). The program replaces the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) program canceled in 2011. Originally a plan to develop a high-water-speed vehicle, the program has expanded into a multi-phased approach to procure and develop several types of amphibious-capable vehicles to address near and long-term requirements.

The ACV is a family of 8x8 armored vehicles that includes a personnel variant, command and control variant, recovery variant, and 30-mm gun variant. The ACV Program Office is focusing on current procurement efforts on the personnel variant. It is a modern generation, eight-wheeled, armored personnel carrier with a combat-loaded gross vehicle weight of around 32,000 kg. The primary weapon on the ACV is a single mount RWS (Remote Weapon Station) equipped with an Mk-19 automatic grenade launcher or M2 12.7mm caliber heavy machine gun.

The ACV is developed based on the design of the SuperAV 8x8 amphibious armored vehicle developed and manufactured by the Italian Company IVECO Defence Vehicles. It incorporates a high hardness monocoque steel hull, able to protect the crew from small arms fire, artillery shell splinters, landmines, and IEDs. Add-on armor kits are available. The BAE/Iveco version of the SuperAV submitted to the Marines carries a crew of three with 11 embarked Marines. The vehicle is fully amphibious and powered in the water at a maximum speed of 11 km/h thanks to two propellers mounted at the rear of the hull. 

Chinese AR2 300mm MRL in Ethiopia service.

Pictures of the Ethiopian AR2 MRLs

The PHL-03, also referred to as the Type 03, multiple launch rocket system is a Chinese version of a Soviet BM-30 Smerch. It was developed by NORINCO and reportedly entered service with the Chinese army in 2004-2005. Currently, it is one of the most powerful multiple-launch artillery rocket systems in the world. The PHL-03 is also being proposed for the export customers as the AR2.

The PHL-03 retains the original Russian configuration with 12 launch tubes for 300 mm artillery rockets. A standard rocket weighs around 800 kg and has a 280 kg warhead. The maximum range of fire is 70-130 km depending on the warhead type. Rockets are available with High Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), fuel-air explosive, and cluster warheads with anti-armor and anti-personnel submunitions. Cluster warheads may also carry self-targeting anti-tank munitions. A full salvo of this system could potentially cover an area of up to 67 hectares.

Even though the PHL-03 is a Chinese version of the Smerch, it appears that the Chinese overtook Russians in terms of rockets, as rockets of the PHL-03 have a longer range than those of the Smerch. Manufacturers claim that Chinese 300 mm rockets are not compatible with the Russian Smerch rockets as these use different propellant motors and components. This artillery rocket system has a digital fire control system. The PHL-03 is operated by a crew of 4.

The PHL-03 is mounted on a Wanshan WS2400 special 8x8 chassis. The reloading vehicle is based on the same 8x8 chassis and is fitted with a hydraulic crane. It carries 12 rockets.

PLA's Type-96 Tanks on shooting range

 Tanks fire towards simulated enemies

A main battle tank attached to an armored brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army fires toward a simulated enemy during a live-fire combat drill in northwest China’s Gobi desert on October 22, 2020. 

A main battle tank and an infantry fighting vehicle advance in formation under the cover of smock shells during a live-fire combat drill in northwest China’s Gobi desert on October 22, 2020.

Two main battle tanks attached to an armored brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army set up a defensive formation and advance to occupy mock enemy’s positions during a live-fire combat drill in northwest China’s Gobi desert on October 22, 2020.

Photo credit Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

US Army woking on Abrams MBT sucessor project

US Army Abrams MBT's sucessor will be optional manned tank (OMT):

In early October, six Soldiers from Ft. Benning reviewed and provided critical design feedback on four future Optionally Manned Tank (OMT) concepts to refine, to downselect, and to improve the concepts in FY21. This was the third Soldier Touch Point under GVSC's Virtual Prototyping program.

Today’s US Soldiers are helping to inform early development and engineering decisions on the Army’s next tank through Virtual Prototyping.

Six soldiers conducting a virtual experiment to provide input for the Optionally Manned Tank (OMT), a project in the early stages of development by the Army. 

Ultimately, the OMT program seeks to explore options for a possible future main battle tank through virtual prototyping. Virtual prototyping is a process the Army is using to create and assess multiple OMT vehicle concepts. The concepts are informed by Soldier Touch Points and enhanced modeling and simulation (M&S). The input from Soldiers helps to drive requirements and science and technology investment. 

With the completion of the Virtual Experiment, team will now review the collected data to refine and update the OMT virtual prototypes based on the Soldiers’ feedback.

Additional experiments are scheduled to occur in FY21/22. Upcoming experiments will provide further insights into the development of the OMT based upon refined learning objectives and lessons learned from previous experiments. The experiments will also be conducted against a simulated near-peer adversary in an operational environment to better understand and develop future vehicle requirements.

The Army plans to make a decision in 2023 on possible options to develop a new tank.

Armenian forces destroyed Sand Cat armored vehicle by RPG and knocked out the T-90SA by ATGM

 Armenian forces released the video, which shows the how they defeat the enemy armour.

On the footage Armenian forces destroyed Sand Cat armored vehicle by RPG and knocked out the T-90SA by ATGM

Shaped Charge grenades for the QLU-11/LG-5 grenade launcher (video)

 Shaped Charge (in golden color) grenades for the NORINCO QLU-11/LG-5 sniper grenade launcher

The QLU-11 (The LG5 is the export version) is a sem-automatic grenade launcher developed by Norinco and introduced in 2011. The launcher's designation "QLU" stands for "light weapon (Qīng Wŭqì) - grenade (Liúdàn) - sniper (Jūjī)" in Chinese military coding standard.

The primary difference between the two is that the PLA's version fires the Chinese military's standard 35x32mm grenade, while the model intended for foreign sales uses ubiquitous 40x53mm rounds, an ammunition type that the United States originally developed.

Video shows the capabilities of the 40mm shaped charge grenade, it can be become of nightmare of light armored vehicles.

Shooting the 40mm NORINCO LG5s grenade launcher

Both launchers feed from drum magazines of various capacities. The 35mm variant has versions that can hold three, five, and seven rounds, while the 40mm version has five and 15-round types.

The QLU-11/LG5 is a curious weapon often described as "sniper" grenade launcher and can be used in a shoulder-fired configuration with a bipod as a very large anti-materiel rifle. In this configuration, the QLU-11 version weighs just around 29 and a half pounds. For comparison, the iconic Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle weighs around 30 pounds, depending on the exact variant. The Chinese weapon uses a recoiling barrel and recoil-absorbing stock assembly, to help reduce the shock of firing and keep weight to a minimum. 

PLA's recent large scale exercise in Tibet (Video)

 

Tanks and various other vehicles transported by train to the Tibet training area.