Tuesday 28 October 2014

Ex-IqAF Mirage F-1EQ

Of all the jets that are currently in active service, these planes probably has the most ironic service history . They now serve the very airforce that they once tried to destroy for a span of four years.

Ex-IqAF Mirage F-1EQ in IRIAF service. No less then two squadron of these jets were confiscated by Iran during the gulf war.


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AN IRIAF F-4 pilot

AN IRIAF F-4 pilot waves after returning from a mission.


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T31 Demolition Tank

T31 Demolition Tank. Was armed with one 105mm howitzer and two 7.2 Inch rocket launchers on each side

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Hotchkiss H-39's

Hotchkiss H-39's in vehicle depot in France, 1940

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A-12

A-12 dumping off fuel during test flight

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T-90A's

T-90A's form Victory Day Parade in Moscow's Red Square

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Sukhoi T6

A predecessor to the Su-24 "Fencer", it had a cranked-delta wing and had four Kolesov RD-36-35 liftjets installed in a bay behind the cockpit to achieve STOL capability. However, tests confirmed that the short-field performance was achieved at the cost of significant loss of flight distance as the lift engines occupied space normally reserved for fuel, loss of under-fuselage hardpoints, and instability during transition from STOL to conventional flight. So the lift-engine approach was abandoned in favor to the variable-geometry wings

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The Mig-23PD "Faithless

Called "23-01" but also known as the MiG-23PD, was a tailed delta similar to the MiG-21 but with two lift jets in the fuselage. It was created as response to VVS demands for a new aircraft to replace the MiG-21. However, it became apparent very early that this configuration was unsatisfactory, as the lift jets became useless dead weight once airborne. The second prototype, known as "23-11", featured variable-geometry wings which was proved to be much more promising and went on the become the well known Mig-23 "Flogger"

Despite not entering production, the Mig-23PD was nevertheless designated "Faithless" by NATO. Because like its "Faceplate" predecessor, NATO incorrectly assumed that this is the plane that will enter production.


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Turret Infra-red Measurement System (ATIMS) III pods

An F-15D carrying Turret Infra-red Measurement System (ATIMS) III pods.

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Tuesday 23 September 2014

Size comparison of Nimitz Class carrier with JMSDF's Izumo Class and Hyuga Class

Size comparison of Nimitz Class carrier with JMSDF's Izumo Class and Hyuga Class

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People's Liberation Army Ground Force's Multiple rocket launcher

People's Liberation Army Ground Force's Multiple rocket launcher

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Republic of China Air Force

Republic of China Air Force Mirage 2000-5 and F-CK-1 in flight.

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German Air Force Panavia Tornado

German Air Force Panavia Tornado with special Adler (eagle) paint scheme

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Nanchang A-5C Fantan

Nanchang A-5C Fantan of the Bangladesh Air Force

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Dassault Mirage F1CR

Dassault Mirage F1CR of the Armée de l'Air

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Chinese Aircraft Carrier CV 16 "Liaoning"

Chinese Aircraft Carrier CV 16 "Liaoning"

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Panavia Tornado

Royal Saudi Air Force Panavia Tornado

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Katana

This is Katana. Israel's new unmanned combat marine system, capable of supporting a wide variety of homeland security applications: Harbor security; patrols along coasts, territorial waters and EEZ; electronic warfare and offshore platform protection. The vessel features a dual control scheme allowing for autonomous operations controlled via an advanced command and control station, as well as for manned combat controls

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M53/59 Praga

The M53/59 Praga is a Czechoslovak self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed in the late 1950s. Based of a heavily modified Praga V3S six-wheel drive truck chassis, it was armed with a twin 30 mm AA autocannon mounted on the rear. Each gun ware gravity fed from distinctive 50 round magazines and typically 900 rounds of ammunition was carried on board

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Maxim Flak M14 37-millimetre anti-aircraft gun

German gunners wearing gasmasks, manning a Maxim Flak M14 37-millimetre anti-aircraft gun, which is a German produced version of the British QF 1-pounder "pom-pom"

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Saturday 26 April 2014

The M6

Little known, the M6 was the first modern US heavy tank. The only other heavy tank built in series was the Liberty or Mark VII, a joint US-British design and production of 1918, of the WWI-era lozenge type. When the Second World War broke out the successful German campaign of 1940 gave a spur to US tank development. Already on 20 May 1940 the Chief of Infantry recommended to the US Army Ordnance Corps to study a 50-ton tank design. The first one was a projected multi-turreted model with a main 75 mm (2.95 in) turret, a secondary one with a 37 mm (1.46 in) gun and coaxial M1919A4, and another, smaller turret with a 20 mm (0.79 in) gun and coaxial cal.30 (7.62 mm) plus four cal.30 machine guns in each corner of the tank in ball mounts. In was approved on 11 June 1940 under the ordnance prototype registration T1 heavy tank. The T1 had to be fitted with a cast hull and hydramatic transmission. However, this design already appeared as outdated. In October, this was changed for a more conventional approach, the T1E1.

This second design asked for a single three-man turret with a vertically-stabilized 3 in gun (75 mm) coupled with a coaxial 37 mm (1.46 in) gun. The turret was cast and had an electric drive and manual traverse. There was also a bow mount with a twin cal.50 (12.7 mm) machine gun handled by the assistant driver. The commander cupola and some other parts were borrowed from the M3 Lee. The suspension was also borrowed from the M3, being a standard vertical volute spring (VVSS), with four bogies per side, but the tracks were doubled in width, with two rubber shoes instead of one. The upper tracks reposed on a guide rail and the entire side was protected by large, one-piece side skirt. With armor ranging from 83 mm (3.27 in) to 44 mm (1.73 in) and a sloped hull. So the overall weight was a staggering 50+ tons. Due to this, the main issues were the engine and transmission.

The Society of Automotive Engineers was charged with finding a suitable combination. The Wright G-200 air-cooled radial gasoline engine was initially selected, and in alternative served with an electric transmission or a hydramatic one, and another with a torque converter. Three prototypes were ordered but only two were delivered early in 1942 by Baldwin Locomotive Works, using the electric transmission and torque converter. One differed by having a cast hull, while the other had a welded one. On 26 May 1942, other prototypes of both series were ordered under the T1E1 designation (unofficially M6A2), with electric transmission, welded hull, 20 being built, and T1E2 (M6), wit the torque converter, with a cast hull, 8 built.

Eventually, after many unit trials, the Ordnance Corp advised to concentrate only on the torque converter variants, and a third improved series, the T1E3 (M6A1) was ordered. Recommendations included that 115 M6s would be built for US army service and 115 others for the Allies, starting in December 1942. These series vehicles were given a two-piece cupola hatch and ring mount for an AA cal.50 (12.7 mm). The left front machine-gun was removed. However the Armored Corps had quickly grasped the utility of having a single tank type in service, cheaper and easier to carry, the Sherman, and the production was stopped. The development however did not end there.

By early 1944, indeed, the M6A1 was successfully tested with the new experimental T7 90 mm (3.54 in), but a new turret layout was urgently needed. In August 1944 the Ordnance Corps recommended an experimental series of 15 T1E1s with a new turret, later known as the M6A1E2. Main features were the new, tall and roomy turret with a pronounced rear turret basket from the T29 heavy tank prototype, a new sloped hull, 7.5 in (190 mm) thick at the front and a T5E1 105 mm (4.13 in) gun giving an overall weight of 77 tons. This project was rejected by General Eisenhower, but the development of heavy tanks was not terminated. Another project would lead eventually to the excellent M26 Pershing.

Since the M6 was never approved for mass-production, the only small series built remained on American soil, for training purpose, unit maneuver drills, and later propaganda movies, war bond tours and various related displays throughout the United States. On 14 December 1944, the M6 was declared obsolete and all but one of these scrapped, the latter now stored on display at the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, at Aberdeen, Maryland.


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The Hungarian armored coffin

The Hungarian armored coffin.

40M Turán I Medium tank. Armed with a 40mm cannon and 50mm of maximum armor. First saw action during the Stalingrad campaigning


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Ukrainian BMPV-64 Heavy infantry fighting vehicle

Ukrainian BMPV-64 Heavy infantry fighting vehicle.

First seen in 2005 as a prototype of a Heavy Personnel Carrier built on a T-64 tank hull. The turret is replaced with a super structure built in to the modified hull. It uses a composite armour layout and Nozh explosive reactive armour. Its reported that the vehicle has a 3 man crew – driver, commander and gunner. The superstructure can accommodate up to 12 troops. The gunner operates the remotely controlled weapon station, armed with 30mm chain gun and coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The BMPV-64 is powered by the same 5TDF multi-fuel diesel engine used by the T-64 MBT it's based of


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Sturmgeschütz production

Sturmgeschütz production in ltmärkische Kettenwerk GmbH, 21 June 1943.

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A VK4501(P) prototype

A VK4501(P) prototype being tested in a proving ground, 1942.

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Argentinan "Nahuel" (Tiger) D.L. 43 medium tank.

Argentinan "Nahuel" (Tiger) D.L. 43 medium tank.

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Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte

Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte

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An F-2B of the JASDF damaged by Tsunami

An F-2B of the JASDF damaged by Tsunami

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Cuban SPAAG

Cuban SPAAG based of a BTR-60 chassis armed with two 37mm guns.

A/N: Not sure how effective it will be against modern air targets but I have deep sympathy for any infantry that's going to have the misfortune of being in the receiving end of that


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Venezuelan Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 fighter

Venezuelan Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 fighter. The king of South American skies

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The Arjun Mk.2

The Arjun Mk.2 is an improved version of the original Arjun main battle tank. It was developed in cooperation with Israeli defense companies. A total of 13 major improvements were made. After prolonged development the original Arjun Mk.1 entered service with the Indian Army in 2004. However the original MBT failed to impress the Army and improvements were required in order to make it combat-worthy. The new Arjun Mk.2 has improved protection, firepower and mobility over it's predecessor. Trials of the Arjun Mk.2 began in 2012. It was first publicly revealed in 2014. Series production is expected to begin a couple of years later. It should replace the ageing Cold War era T-55 and T-72M tanks in service with the Indian Army. It is worth noting that it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a fleet of ageing tanks.

The Arjun Mk.2 has some design similarities with the German Leopard 2A5 main battle tank. Some sources claim that weight of this main battle tank was reduced from 59 to about 55 tones comparing with it's predecessor in order to improve operational and logistic mobility. However other sources claim that the Mk.2 still weights 60 t. The original Arjun Mk.1 tank was criticized as being too heavy. There are many problems with its excessive weight, such as limited cross country mobility, limiting areas where it can be deployed. Also it is difficult to transport this tank to the front line.

Hull and turret of the Arjun Mk.2 were redesigned. Protection was improved by adding locally-developed explosive reactive armor modules. It seems that the new ERA is based on the Russian Kontakt-5 technology, developed in the 1980s and used on the T-90 and some other Soviet/Russian tanks. Armor modules counter APFSDS and HEAT rounds, as well as RPG rounds. Ready to use ammunition is stored in the turret bustle with blow-out panels. It is claimed that Arjun Mk.2 is fitted with advanced laser warning and countermeasures system which confuse enemy sensors and active protection system.

This new main battle tank is armed with a fully-stabilized 120-mm rifled gun, which is loaded manually. A rifled gun of such caliber is used only on the British Challenger 2 MBT. This gun is more accurate at long range comparing with smoothbore guns. It is claimed that during trials this new Indian tank outgunned both the T-72M and T-90. The Arjun Mk.2 is also compatible with Israeli LAHAT anti-tank guided missiles. Missiles are launched in the same manner as ordinary projectiles.

This new main battle tank is fitted with advanced thermal imaging and panoramic sights, and now has a hunter-killer capability. Fire control system of the new tank should have a hit probability over 90%, when firing on the move. The new tank also has improved communication systems and new navigation system.

Secondary armament consists of coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun and a roof-mounted remotely controlled weapon station, armed with a 12.7-mm heavy machine gun.

This new Indian tank has a crew of four, including commander, gunner, loader and driver.

The Arjun Mk.2 is fitted with a new unspecified turbocharged diesel engine, which replaces the previous German MTU MB 838 Ka-501 diesel unit, developing 1 400 hp. It is speculated that the new engine is the Cummins QSK-38 turbocharged diesel unit, developing about 1 500 hp. It should be coupled with a French transmission. Also Ukrainian manufacturer proposes for this tank a new 6TD-5 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 1 800 hp. The Arjun Mk.2 is also fitted with auxiliary power unit which powers all systems when the main engine is turned off. This MBT can be also fitted with a mine plough.

Due to it's weight the Arjun Mk.2 can not be airlifted by the Indian Il-76 heavy transport aircraft. It can be carried only by Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. Indian Air Force ordered 10 of these aircraft. Deliveries should be completed in 2014


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The Khalifa GHY02

The Khalifa GHY02 is a new artillery system, recently developed in Sudan by a state-run Military Industry Corporation. It is a combination of Soviet D-30 towed howitzer, mounted on a Russian KamAZ 6x6 military truck. This artillery system was first revealed in 2013.

It is a simple and mobile artillery system designed for rapid intervention and response. This artillery system is armed with a refurbished D-30 towed howitzer. This Soviet howitzer was produced in large numbers, widely exported, and many countries have plenty of 122-mm ammunition in stock. This are the reasons why 122-mm caliber truck-mounted howitzers can be more preferable over Russian 152-mm or NATO 155-mm calibers. Other recent 122-mm truck mounted howitzers are the Chinese PCL-09, SH2, Kazakh Semser, Serbian SORA, SOKO SP RR 122 and some other.

The Khalifa is intended for general fire support. A turntable with a howitzer is mounted at the rear. A large spade and hydraulic jacks are lowered to the ground prior to firing. These provide a more stable firing platform. Maximum range of fire is 17 km. This howitzer is also capable of direct firing. Maximum rate of fire of 8 rounds per minute. Vehicle carries 45 rounds of onboard ammunition. It also carries spare parts for the howitzer and tools.

Truck-mounted howitzers are more mobile and are capable of rapid response. The Khalifa has brief reaction and redeployment time. It can fire it's first round from travelling within 1.5 minutes. It takes about the same time to leave firing position. So Khalifa can fire a couple of rounds and leave firing position before enemy detects it' position and opens counter-battery fire. Vehicle has an automatic fire control system.

This artillery system has a crew of five. All crewmembers are seated in a newly-developed armored cab. It provides protection against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters.

The Khalifa is based on Russian KamAZ-43118 military truck with redesigned chassis and cab. This truck is produced both for civil and military operators. Vehicle is powered by a turbocharged diesel, developing 260 hp. Engine is coupled with a manual gearbox. Vehicle has an all-wheel drive configuration and can go over all kinds of terrain. The Khalifa can be airlifted by most medium cargo aircraft.

A/N: Just to be clear, this is not from South Sudan.


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Atlantic wall 1944

Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel inspects the Atlantic wall, 1944

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Cuban BTR-60PB tank destroyer

Cuban BTR-60PB tank destroyer. BTR 60 chassis merged with a 100 mm D-10T2G tank gun

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M-18 Hellcat

A modernized Venezuelan Army M-18 Hellcat. They were modernized by a Yugoslavian firm in 1991.

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MBT-70 prototype


One of the MBT-70 prototype


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Friday 28 February 2014

Tiger II

Tiger II Number "114" and an unknown Tiger II at Château de Canteloup south-east of Caen, July 1944

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Panzer IV Ausf.G (L/43)

Panzer IV Ausf.G (L/43) "613" from 12th Panzer Division in Leningrad, participating in the mop up of the pocket created during the Battle of the Volkhov. This mop up trapped and partly destroyed Second Army of General Vlasov . 1942

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German Soldiers inside the ruins of Stalingrad Tractor factory

German Soldiers inside the ruins of Stalingrad Tractor factory during the battle of Stalingrad

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Cat and fish in one photo

Cat and fish in one photo

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Venezuelan army

Army personnel from the Venezuelan army during a military parade.

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Mcdonnell Douglas JSF proposal

Mcdonnell Douglas JSF proposal. 

The Mcdonnell Douglas Joint Strike Fighter was to be aerodynamically unstable and it would have been controlled via thrust vectoring.

The proposal was rejected for being "too complex". 

Interestingly, the X-36 Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft, a UAV that takes the this design concept even one step foreword by not having any kind tail surface at all, made 31 successful research flights. And according to reports, it handled very well, and the program is reported to have met or exceeded all project goals

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Donets

Donets is a Ukrainian SPAAG developed by Malyshev Tank Factory in Kharkov. It has the modified turret from the ZSU-23-4, armed with two additional paired man-portable air-defense systems "Strela-10" installed on the hull of the T-80UD main battle tank. Ammunition for 23 mm autocannons increased two times.

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Thursday 27 February 2014

Soviet experimental radar-rangefinder

Soviet experimental radar-rangefinder enhanced optical T2-S gunsight on a modified T62 tank. Picture taken in 1959

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Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck

Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck

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Republic of Macedonia Army T-72A

Republic of Macedonia Army T-72A

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Russia T-72B3

When it comes to Russian tanks, there are seems to be no limits about upgrade potentials: 

T-72B3

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Ukrainian Su-25

Ukrainian Su-25.

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Canadian Air Force CF-101 "Voodoo"

Canadian Air Force CF-101 "Voodoo".

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Iraqi Army's M1A1M Abrams

Iraqi Army's M1A1M Abrams

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