The_Capt Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 57 minutes ago, Grigb said: Company is short term. Brigades and Divisions is for the Next war. With NATO. They know the cannot win conventionally. They are afraid of Nukes. So, the only option they have is to do something new. Like Germans and Panzer divisions. [EDIT] My biggest worry is that UAV company is actually blueprint for terror organizations to facilitate Mumbai level terror attack. That makes more sense. A terror group is a whole other thing but as the Houthis have demonstrated, it is also upon us. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan/california Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Quote https://substack.com/browse/recommendations/post/147157910 Russia goes full Mr. Kurtz Jul 30, 2024 Russia has been hard at work kicking the United States out of Africa. It’s all but chased out France, too. But anyone who imagines Russia to be a kinder, gentler superpower is out of his mind. The investigative journalist Philip Obaji has been following the activities of the Wagner group in Africa for years. He recently spent the months investigating human rights abuses by Russian paramilitaries in the Central African Republic, where he was abducted and tortured, only narrowly escaping alive. His reports of the way Russian mercenaries are behaving in Africa won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s been studying their behavior in Ukraine. Or Syria, for that matter, or Chechnya. It appears the Russians have gone full Mr. Kurtz, mass-murdering and raping everyone in their A lot of unpleasant details of what Russia is doing in Africa. Western insistence on perfect allies has given them a free hand. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Capt Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 1 minute ago, Tenses said: This is actually one of the most interesting sides of the general drone topic and its future. We all agree that drones have currently seriously impacted the modern battlefield thanks to being cheap, numerous and easily available. There is currently no easy and affordable solution to fight drones in large quantities and to fight them proactively(interceptor drones aka air superiority fighters). This is causing serious trouble for standard mechanized forces and will push them to transform and adapt to this situation. But there is something, which will actually help to do that. Terrorists are using different ways to execute their disgusting attacks. I won't be analyzing them all here as to be honest, this is a bit uncomfortable, but for drones few of their characteristics put them as a weapon of choice: - There is practically no way to control spread of drone-capable parts. Double use parts are present in most of the electronics products. Software is even worse, I am pretty sure that ready to use AI-capable software is already on the darknet. The same problem affects any attempts of prevention based on someones purchase patterns. This is practically impossible. - Drones are cheap. No need to be large organization with connections to state actors - everyone will have that, even one poor guy getting angry at his boss. - Impact. Drones can do mass terrorist attacks and be probably even more deadly than big explosives. - Relative safety of the terrorist actor doing the attack. Especially for AI capable drones. So drones are extremely deadly weapon for terrorists group, how this actually can help? With this kind of danger, civilian market will have to provide solutions and technical prevention/defense against possible attacks. Unlike tanks and fighter jests this danger is not going to disappear with the end of the war. This will be persistent danger coming from the fact that something like drones exist and might be used in a bad way. With that in mind I am pretty sure that law enforcment will have defences/early warnings first at large events and then at every street. This is not going to happen fast but it is inevitable, drones are here to stay, just as terrorists. Using civilian industry solutions and adapting them to military use will be much easier. Systems proven by free market, where there are no clients with billion dollar budgets for new fancy thingie, which might work, is going to change current situation much faster. This doesn't mean that mechanized forces won't change, it will just provide a tool to make that change faster and more effective. All of this is the emergence of the Age of Unmanned. Ground, maritime and land can and will be impacted by this technology. The only equivalent I can think of is the invention of dynamite/HE - it dramatically increased the amount of energy available to non-state groups. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan/california Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 5 hours ago, ArmouredTopHat said: Possible FPV interception of Helo took place today. We if have been expecting that for a while. 1 hour ago, The_Capt said: Gotta be honest, this sounds like a pipe dream. Concepts are interesting but force generating a FPV-centric formation in wartime, under economic and sanctions constraints, seems like a bit of a stretch. The training bill alone would be extremely high. I could see the Company concept seeing the light of day, but Bdes and Divs sweeping entire sections of the front really sounds like inflated aspirations. It does sound completely unrealistic, but it is also bad when somebody on the other sides understands what direction they ought to be going. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beleg85 Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 15 minutes ago, The_Capt said: All of this is the emergence of the Age of Unmanned. Ground, maritime and land can and will be impacted by this technology. The only equivalent I can think of is the invention of dynamite/HE - it dramatically increased the amount of energy available to non-state groups. When this war ends, there will likely be great supply of first-rate pilots and technicians of top veteran skills. In one of inteviews I saw month ago, volunteer who was fighting in Ukraine say he personally met drone pilots on the frontilnes that were carefully recording their every feat for future portfolio they store in cloud (despite being strictly forbidden to do so by their digitally analphabetic commanders). They openly claimed they want to work in "security business" (aka mercenaries) and travel the world after war ends... one can only imagine how many such guys are on both sides now. Possibly thousands, if demand will be for their services. It may be even more dire issue than pollution after cluster ammo. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grigb Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 1 hour ago, Beleg85 said: When this war ends, there will likely be great supply of first-rate pilots and technicians of top veteran skills. In one of inteviews I saw month ago, volunteer who was fighting in Ukraine say he personally met drone pilots on the frontilnes that were carefully recording their every feat for future portfolio they store in cloud (despite being strictly forbidden to do so by their digitally analphabetic commanders). They openly claimed they want to work in "security business" (aka mercenaries) and travel the world after war ends... one can only imagine how many such guys are on both sides now. Possibly thousands, if demand will be for their services. It may be even more dire issue than pollution after cluster ammo. Arab countries have been quietly recruiting Russian drone specialists for almost a year. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sburke Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Russian Economy in 'Stormy Uncharted Waters,' Putin's Banking Chief Says (msn.com) Russia's central bank chief, Elvira Nabiullina, described the nation's economy as being in "stormy uncharted waters" amid the impact of Western sanctions and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has experienced a massive exodus of talent and capital. According to the Russian Central Bank, over $253 billion in private capital has left the country, and estimates suggest that up to one million highly skilled workers have emigrated, constituting about 10% of Russia's technology workforce and a third of its millionaires, according to the Financial Times. This capital flight severely hampers Russia's ability to innovate and maintain technological and economic growth. The sanctions have also led to a significant reduction in foreign direct investment, which dropped from approximately $100 billion annually before the war to nearly zero now, according to Money Week. According to local Russian news reports, during a meeting of the Council of for the Development of the Financial Market under the Federation Council, Nabiullina spoke on the state of the Russian economy. She said, "Our ship has entered very stormy unchartered waters, but the ocean is still an ocean, the helm is in our hands, and we need to firmly pave the way to the goal." Naibullina continued that, "Yes, the period of declining inflation, which in calm times takes a year and a half, will now require more time, but we will definitely reach the goal." She also spoke about inflation at the meeting, stating that "What does high inflation mean? Like a high temperature in a person, it indicates health problems. In the case of our economy, the picture looks something like this. As we can see, there is no shortage of money even with high rates: loans are growing and record high profits." Naibullina also said that the meeting, "Let's not forget about those people whose already small incomes do not keep up with inflation, for whom our policy of reducing inflation is not an abstraction, but a question of whether they will be able to feed themselves, their families, get out of poverty - on our way there is no avoiding a period of high rates." According to the head of the Central Bank, the regulator expects to conduct the first experimental cross-border payments in cryptocurrency by the end of this year. This would test a version of a digital ruble, the Russian ruble being the currency of the Russian federation, which has been in use since the 14th century. If the digital ruble is successfully tested, it could be put into circulation from July 2025, according to local Russian media. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmouredTopHat Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 (edited) Another cracking video from 3rd Assault brigade. Note the extremely efficient way they use tanks, first in the initial deployment then as select fire support during the course of the infantry combat via keyhole shooting. The command squad finds good terrain for the tank to work in, and the tanks do not stick around once they have done their job. The accuracy of the tanks in question is noted. They are putting shots right on target. They even go as far as to use smoke to cover their exits! Mobility clearly helps a fair bit with loitering munitions. The golden rule seems to be no more than a pair of tanks or IFVs working in one area at the same time. Dispersal is key. You see the command squad comment on intercepted coms as well. Presence of tanks certainly seems to have a morale effect even with current constraints. Shows that attacks / counter attacks with vehicles dont have to end up as bloodbaths in the way so many Russian attacks do. Rest of the video is excellent of course, I can certainly see why they have a waiting list for people wanting to join their unit. Extremely professional. Edited July 31 by ArmouredTopHat 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbosbread Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 (edited) 2 hours ago, Tenses said: This is actually one of the most interesting sides of the general drone topic and its future. … Using civilian industry solutions and adapting them to military use will be much easier. Systems proven by free market, where there are no clients with billion dollar budgets for new fancy thingie, which might work, is going to change current situation much faster. This doesn't mean that mechanized forces won't change, it will just provide a tool to make that change faster and more effective. Civilian solution means big contractors with lobbying $$$, at least in the US. There’s no such thing as a completely free market. That said, whoever comes up with a good autonomous interceptor system is making $$$. I’m thinking something with a few quads and SDRs that can automatically launch if control signals are detected and triangulated. Pity I cannot retire and work on this right now! EDIT: Won’t for autonomous, but better to automate the easier problem first. Edited July 31 by kimbosbread 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan/california Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 (edited) Quote https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ukraine-the-latest/id1612424182?i=1000663938128 Todays Ukraine Today, in addition to the usual high quality run down they give some specifics about new Russian drone developments. They have apparently come up with both FPV, and EW versions of the Shaheed. The game goes on forever... Edited July 31 by dan/california 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmouredTopHat Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 On the subject of tanks https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/02/13/the-ukrainians-are-converting-worthless-russian-tanks-into-priceless-engineering-vehicles/ Honestly pretty ingenious to turn something of dubious value into something that can recover far more useful assets. Especially when Ukraine has so few ARVs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 19 minutes ago, ArmouredTopHat said: Honestly pretty ingenious to turn something of dubious value into something that can recover far more useful assets. Especially when Ukraine has so few ARVs. That's been a tradition since WW2 when outdated tanks became repurposed for recovery ops. Then there's things like the US M88 recovery vehicle that is still in service using a 60 year old tank chassis design. So not exactly like what you posted above, but it's an outdated tank design still doing great work long after the tank role is over (well, at least for the US. Others still use them!) Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmouredTopHat Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 1 minute ago, Battlefront.com said: That's been a tradition since WW2 when outdated tanks became repurposed for recovery ops. Then there's things like the US M88 recovery vehicle that is still in service using a 60 year old tank chassis design. So not exactly like what you posted above, but it's an outdated tank design still doing great work long after the tank role is over (well, at least for the US. Others still use them!) Steve Oh forgive me, I did not mean to insinuate that this is a new development, of course its been done plenty of times beforehand by militaries in the past. Its as great way to extend a vehicles life in general. Its just particularly valuable for Ukraine right now owing to their serious lack of recovery vehicles prior, not to mention its been a while since a country was performing large scale conversions of captured kit in such roles. Only the Israelis really come to mind in that respect in recent memory. Certainly one way to get some use out of the ancient T-62s Ukraine keeps picking up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Ran into this randomly the other day. Looks like the US has a new over the horizon anti-ship capability that should make China really think twice about doing an amphibious operation. I'd say it should make Russia think twice, but they don't have much left to think about thanks to Ukraine https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/27/asia/rimpac-air-force-b2-bomber-low-cost-bomb-sinking-exercise-intl-hnk-ml/index.html Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 5 minutes ago, ArmouredTopHat said: Oh forgive me, I did not mean to insinuate that this is a new development, of course its been done plenty of times beforehand by militaries in the past. Its as great way to extend a vehicles life in general. Its just particularly valuable for Ukraine right now owing to their serious lack of recovery vehicles prior, not to mention its been a while since a country was performing large scale conversions of captured kit in such roles. Only the Israelis really come to mind in that respect in recent memory. Certainly one way to get some use out of the ancient T-62s Ukraine keeps picking up. Heh. And I wasn't meaning to insinuate you didn't know that Your point is really good and reuse of things that a) run, b) have good off road performance, c) are familiar, and d) are free is definitely smart to use! Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbosbread Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 (edited) QUICKSINK is super cool- I hope GLSDB can figure out it’s issues, because that’s the platform I’d really like to see: CHEAPPPPPPP 150km range glide bombs with a terminal dive capable of taking out ships in a single hit! Edited July 31 by kimbosbread 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenris Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Couple of posts that are of interest There's a few tweets re F-16's either being in Ukraine (6 from the Netherlands) and some others claiming combat missions have already been flown. Quote Kyiv Post reports that Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) units carried out a special operation to degrade Russian military assets in Syria. The Khimik group targeted Russian equipment at the Kuweires airbase near Aleppo in late July 2024. Videos show the destruction of a Russian mobile EW complex and drone attacks on the airbase. The base, controlled by Russians since 2015, was used for training and transporting mercenaries to Ukraine. As we've seen with other components this probably won't stop the flow completely but it's a start. Quote Starting September 1, China will prohibit the export of civilian drones that could be repurposed for military activities. Certain functions of UAVs will be restricted. Lately, western countries have criticized China for its soft stance towards Russia. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 32 minutes ago, kimbosbread said: QUICKSINK is super cool- I hope GLSDB can figure out it’s issues, because that’s the platform I’d really like to see: CHEAPPPPPPP 150km range glide bombs with a terminal dive capable of taking out ships in a single hit! Not to mention delivered by a bomber that is unlikely to be interdicted. Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyD Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 About F16s in-theater. Ukraine learned not to immediately trumpet the arrival of fancy new weapons systems for the simple reason they become a target as soon as announced, a prize 'trophy to blow up/bring down. Wait 'til its obvious the Russians have found out the hard way that they're in the battle and then announce them. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmouredTopHat Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 (edited) 47 minutes ago, MikeyD said: About F16s in-theater. Ukraine learned not to immediately trumpet the arrival of fancy new weapons systems for the simple reason they become a target as soon as announced, a prize 'trophy to blow up/bring down. Wait 'til its obvious the Russians have found out the hard way that they're in the battle and then announce them. To that note, were already seeing some interesting decoys taking shape. I suspect Ukraine are going to fill every airfield with these and waste as many Iskanders as possible, knowing how rabid the Russians will be in trying to strike them. Edited August 1 by ArmouredTopHat 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 I'm guessing we'll hear something pretty soon about the F-16s in action. Previously there's been a very short span of time between when we know Ukraine has something and we see it used. In fact, several times we saw evidence of the weapons used before we even knew they had them (Excalibur and AGM-88 HARM come to mind). Here's an article from yesterday discussing what the F-16s likely have access to: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/heres-what-american-air-to-air-missiles-can-do-for-ukraines-new-f-16s-against-the-russians/ar-BB1qXbmw Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolus Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 (edited) Wagner PMC with Maduro loyalists in Venezuela, where riots have broken out after the recent elections. Erm, CIA? I know you are busy sleeping on Chinese infiltration of the West, but Ukrainian SpecOps really can't do everything for you. Edited August 1 by Carolus 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 What I would LOVE to see is a coordinated plan to suppress Russia's AD capabilities in a sector where it could then fly in closer so it coud get a shot at a bomber. It would be a very risky move with extremely complex coordination, but if properly planned and executed I suspect it could work. Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omae2 Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 Its an interesting view on robots, one of them is speculated to be of use in mine clearing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLVAMG_3fLg 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zinz Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 https://archive.is/97PT3 Brussels has told Hungary and Slovakia to wean themselves off Russian oil and seek alternative sources after they complained that Ukraine was blocking supplies from Russia. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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