MBT's

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Those are definitely M1A2 SEP3 tanks in that picture. So this next Ref. ties it all into the picture. Particular attention should be made to paras 6, 8 & 10...
https://www.army.mil/article/222100/...ased_lethality

Excerpts from the above Ref. from...
Para 6: "2-8 CAV just came off the mission of Atlantic Resolve in Europe. During their 9-month deployment, they conducted large amounts of tactical and live fire training."

Para 8: "The Soldiers from 2-8 Cav. have been extremely motivated and their candid input has been critical to USAOTC's effort to provide meaningful data to Army Evaluation Center who will evaluate the effectiveness, suitability and survivability of the M1A2 SEPv3."

Para 10: "It's cool for these crews to have been able to test these new systems since they already have SEPv2 experience and now they'll acquire a few new certifications before the actual tank is fielded."

Still in OPEVAL and PLEASE note the date of the above Ref.

And again from my submission post to change the START date (It was in the game from 2016/or 2017.) for the SEP 3 this was my "hammer" Ref. to make the change. Article is from this past Dec.
https://www.army.mil/article/214733/...proving_ground

Long night hitting the rack.

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Copied my last to the proper Thread. Sorry for any confusion.

So a bit of news then back to bed-sinuses loving it!?!

Iran: Just a bit of news on the KARRAR looking to be on track for this year sometime it appears. See para. 3 of first Ref for an assessment.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/febr...ered_soon.html

They were feeling confident last Summer.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/augu...ar_moscow.html

The tank.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/iran..._12203176.html
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/Iranian_Tanks.php

Finally clear and back to the rack!

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I would ask that no one reads more into this Ref. except to that TAIWAN has taken the step to "officially" ask the U.S. to purchase over 2 Billion dollars in arms. In this case to buy 108 M1A2 ABRAMS, 66 F-16V (Currently the most advanced type.), 1,240 TOW, 409 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 250 Stinger man-portable air defense missiles (Newest mode.).

They've already once asked for those tanks and fighters and they were denied them. For them to publicly announce this is an indication they see an opening here maybe due to our current relations with China.

I feel to this might be their best shot to get those tanks and jets. But the cost could politically too high to manage.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/june...to_taiwan.html

Indonesia: Has placed an initial order for 18-20 "Tiger" Medium Tanks that they co-developed with FNSS of Turkey. I believe the USA has shown some interest in this tank as well to support airborne and rapid deployment troops with. They apparently are 2-3 years out from FOC, that being said, this tank will be available ~2012/2022.
https://asiapacificdefencenews.com/i...d-with-turkey/
https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2019/0...r-135-million/

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

Very similar in concept and design to the Korean K21. Same gun it seems too

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I agree, the South Korean one I know is being considered as an "off the shelf" expediate model along with a couple of other options if they go that way.

And it seems I got a little "dyslexic" in my last post, it should have read "~2021-2022".

Regards,
Pat

[Imp]

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

I would ask that no one reads more into this Ref. except to that TAIWAN has taken the step to "officially" ask the U.S. to purchase over 2 Billion dollars in arms. In this case to buy 108 M1A2 ABRAMS, 66 F-16V (Currently the most advanced type.), 1,240 TOW, 409 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 250 Stinger man-portable air defense missiles (Newest mode.).

They've already once asked for those tanks and fighters and they were denied them. For them to publicly announce this is an indication they see an opening here maybe due to our current relations with China.

I feel to this might be their best shot to get those tanks and jets. But the cost could politically too high to manage.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/june...to_taiwan.html

Indonesia: Has placed an initial order for 18-20 "Tiger" Medium Tanks that they co-developed with FNSS of Turkey. I believe the USA has shown some interest in this tank as well to support airborne and rapid deployment troops with. They apparently are 2-3 years out from FOC, that being said, this tank will be available ~2012/2022.
https://asiapacificdefencenews.com/i...d-with-turkey/
https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2019/0...r-135-million/

Regards,
Pat

I think they might well get it China’s military spending has gone through the roof these last few years, second now still a long way behind US but some of their tech is now ahead. Longer ranged anti ship missiles for an example and worryingly they have demonstrated the ability to jam anything including US stuff. Don’t expect to communicate or get intel from AWACS etc against them.

[Suhiir]

The problem with jamming is it makes you an easily pinpointed target. So the real question is how would US anti-radiation missiles fare?

[Imp]

No idea and cannot find the article just remember the guy said the US needs to catch up it was the most intense EW environment on the planet.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Getting a little off topic, but, to help out one of my "mates" out here from the very start I'll leave you with the following...

01/2015:
https://www.afcea.org/content/united...tronic-warfare

02/2016: Mentions issue of Ukraine artillery being targeted by their radio/cell phone transmissions.
https://www.nhregister.com/nationwor...c-11337367.php
(Originally published by The Washington Post

08/2017:
https://www.c4isrnet.com/show-report...ber-commander/

11/2018: https://www.militaryaerospace.com/co...ars-of-neglect
(Note related stories at bottom.)

06/2019:
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/bu...-warfare-61052
(Think Tank used as part of ABRAMS submission process)

Ah yes MBT Thread so...

Israel: The MERKAVA IVM BAREK/Windbreaker (To us.) The first para (Ref. 1) might be of some use here as I believe we've "flipped/flopped" on when Israel started using APS on their tanks, if I'm mistaken, my apologies in advance due to my current situational schedule. Also seems they've got at least on the turret
a newer passive armor and also towards the bottom, what might be some useful data on LAHAT.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/weap...the_world.html
https://www.armyrecognition.com/july...a_warfare.html

For contrast to maybe help in establishing a "degree of separation" the following...

The MERKAVA Mk IV:
https://www.armyrecognition.com/isra..._identifi.html
Looks like sometime FOC 2010 of APS TROPHY backed up by this Ref. as well. Don't know if Gingertanker addressed this or not. He's a VERY busy man!!)

Oh if you watched the news last night in the Med, the Cold War is back!! AHhhh the memories how easy it would've been to send a Mk-48 down "the range"!?! CBS News carried it, probably on You Tube now, but Russian Destroyer closing the gap on USN Cruiser while Russian sailors sun bathe on the helo deck. Wonderful!

I'm done here and I intend to enjoy the rest of my weekend with a I can't wait to see in full digital everything...GODZILLA!!

Have a good something somewhere!!

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Guess I got my stories crossed, the Med incident involved a U.S. plane being "buzzed" close aboard three times happened before the ship incident which occurred in the Philippine Sea a couple of days later. This is still for now an "uptick" in these types of actions which during the Cold War especially in the Med where this happened routinely. I wouldn't call it an escalation (Unless it continues in a more compressed manner in time.) as much as "we're still here" as a reminder.

Watch and read the report, though this one has the Russians "catching some rays" on the helo deck...
https://news.usni.org/2019/06/07/nav...nsafe-maneuver

OR...

Watch and listen to the report...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4_jwqFJYB0

Sorry for the earlier confusion. Oh I better do this to...

POLAND: Looking to develop a "Tank Destroyer" capability.
https://www.defence24.com/polish-arm...al-contractors

Also...

GERMANY is going to continue to maintain them as POLAND is still moving forward with the LEOPARD PL Program. I wonder how much help they'll be receiving from Germany on the LEOPARD PL!?!
https://www.defence24.com/polish-ger...support-system

Regards,
Pat