David Moyes

Side skirt of Merkava MK4，NERA/NXRA

On another forum @Wiedzmin noted some time ago that the Leclerc's gunner's sight seems to rely on the same stabilization system as the main gun, using a rod/axis to also move the sight.
 
I've dug up a patent from GIAT (FR2656077A1) confirming this. In 1992, when the Leclerc entered service, the patent was also applied for in Germany and several other states.


 
A rather curios design. Similar to earlier British and Chinese systems, but leaving the oculars in place.

Bare K2 turrets and hulls at the Hyundai Rotem Changwon production plant. Photo comes from the May 2021 Issue of Defense Times Korea.
 

Leopard-2A6MA3 through a thermal imager of possibly same vehicle. Stolen from Wiedzmin.

 
 

https://www.allisontransmission.com/docs/default-source/vocations/b339us0223_arv-textron-omfv_sp_letter_lr_combined_web.pdf
 
I think this presentation from Allison is from February.
 

 
 

Otokar Tulpar with Korhan turret

 
FNSS Kaplan Hybrid drive

 

Aussie Boxer demonstrated for German Army personnel during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023.
 

 

https://www.facebook.com/43Mechbrig/posts/pfbid02aFQFmJfZKUcAmsFZjyJdw7FUcEzQybswSrgtqo2tB8Spyenx4vMHGhQQeRwwwAbEl?__tn__=-R

The longer MT-LB is on Earth, the stronger it becomes.
 

 

We now a bit more info on the Mitsubishi vs Patria WAPC replacement from one of the test drivers.

 
The performance advantage previously stated has to deal with the differential lock on both vehicle. The MAV only had a front and rear diff lock while the AMV had diff lock on all axels which gave better performance in off-road conditions. For those who don't know the MAV design and concept predated the MCV by a few years as the Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle. From what I can tell this was changed between the MAV and MCV as this complaint was never raised about the MCV.
 
In terms of crew comfort
The MAV had much more room for dismounts, but the seats were less comfortable. It was easier for the driver to get in and out of the Patria.  The emergency fire suppressant switch was in an inconvenient place and was accidentally triggered during testing on the MAV. The MAV was much louder in the drivers area, but it was partially because ear pro was accidentally forgotten when procuring supplies for the drivers. After ear pro was provided there were no issues, but he notes that the MAV was too loud without anything, but noted that the crew would always have earphones during operation. In the posters opinion and my speculation, it seems like Mitsubishi kind of half-assed the competition. They put forward an old design and didn't bother properly adapting it to the competition the design wasn't really adapted based on feedback. It seems like Mitsubishi just put forward the design they already had just to fill out the domestic design requirement without any expectations to win. The poster thinks that MHI could have easily created a clean sheet design to directly counter the AMV based on talks with some of the engineers, but the higher ups didn't put in the expected effort for such a competition. On the other hand Patria was well prepared for the competition and very accommodating to the testing staff with plenty of spares (which didn't need to be used since both designs had an almost non-existent failure rate). IMO where Mitsubishi just put forward a design for the sake of putting forward a design Patria went all out in an attempt to win.
 
On one hand I don't entirely blame Mitsubishi. After Komatsu pulled out of the competition MHI was picked to replace them as the domestic design. On the other it's a shame that they just put a design forward without fully committing to the competition as one would expect out of a company like MHI. My hope is that the MoD will get Hitachi more into the defense business with the new grants and safety nets and take some of the weight off of MHI in the absence of Komatsu.
 

Just some minor wheeled update:
Negotiations on the purchase of the Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie based (based on Boxer CRV) with Australia have started. An Australian delegation has visited Germany. The goal is to sign a government-to-government deal in 2023 and receive first vehicles by 2025. Overall 121 vehicles are to be purchased. A recent article written by authorized representative for the program in the German MoD detailed that the selection of the manned turret was a result of the vehicle commander somehow needing "direct visual contact and direct communication" to nearby infantry (apparently that is not possible when the commander has a hatch in the hull ).  As the Boxer CRV is a reconnaissance variant based on an IFV variant, it is designed with capacity for infantry (dismounting scouts), but the German Jäger will not have dismounts on the Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie... so they are trying to come up with some sort of use for the rear compartment such as carrying UAVs (which can be and are already carried in lighter vehicles at greater distance from the front line) or "UGVs armed for example with an autocannon" (currently market available UGVs with autocannon - unless talking about an anemic solution with the M230LF - are too heavy and too large to be carried inside the Boxer and have enough endurance - e.g. Milrem Type X UGV: 600 km - to be drive on their own). Also German media reported (based on "industry sources") that an alternative offer - likely from KMW - with full production in Germany supposedly was only half as expensive. The Caracal (a variant of the Enok 4.8 AB from ACS Armoured Car Systems offered in cooperation with Rheinmetall and Mercedes-Benz) has been selected as the new lightly armored vehicle airborne for the airborne units of the Dutch and German armies. At the moment 1,504 vehicles (1,000 for Germany and 504 for the Netherlands) have been ordered, but there is an option for a further 1,500 (1,000 for Germany and 500 for the Netherlands). Deliveries are to start 2025 at a rate of 300 vehicles (with 200 going to Germany and 100 to the Netherlands each year). The Netherlands have also purchased 138 armor kits for the Caracal; there are currently no infos on how many Germany has purchased/will purchase. The Caracal beat the GRF from KMW & Defenture. Originally GDELS also competed with the Merlin, but withdrew due to it being to heavy for the weight limit. As per the German concept for the Medium Forces (Mittlere Kräfte), at least some Marder IFVs are to be replaced with a Boxer IFV model. The latest plans suggest that a total of 148 Boxer IFVs should be procured. Supposedly the Army favors an unmanned solution, so there won't be any turret commonality with the Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie. Germany also remains comitted to the procurement of a wheeled SPG; the stated requirement is for 160 vehicles. Currently the maturity of the Boxer-based RCH 155 is being tested with (based on rumor mill) rather positive feedback, but also some minor improvement ideas that are being implemented by KMW. The "wheeled self-propelled howitzer" from a cooperation of Rheinmetall (providing the HX3 truck chassis, weapon system and local modifications) and Elbit Systems (providing the turret and autoloader of its SIGMA system) is not being tested yet due to the immaturity of the design (still in development, no real prototype has fired its gun) and for being incompatible with a partner's (UK) requirement. further Boxer variants are also planned including ARV, AVLB, long-range anti-tank vehicle, air-defence missile carrier and SPAAG with the Skyranger 30 turret are also planned, but not much concrete details regarding numbers and equipment. KMW has proposed the Boxer UAV variants (carrying & controlling more than a dozen small/micro drones) and Boxer Digitalization (for controlling UGVs) for the German medium forces The program for the Fuchs successor is also on-going. Currently the German Army plans to purchase 629 new vehicles. Germany has joined the Patria CAVS program, but this is not a final decision as it is a prerequisite for testing the Patria 6x6 vehicle. Patria has stated in an interview with German media that it is looking for local partners that would take care of the production for the Bundeswehr's program, if the CAVS is selected. Rheinmetall is offering its Fuchs Evolution, which is not really a Fuchs 2, but also more than the previously proposed Fuchs 1A9. Meanwhile Rheinmetall and Ukraine have agreed on the supply (and later local production) of Fuchs vehicles including a new upgraded IFV variant. There are/were two options being discussed: using the Skyranger 30 turret (which is an air-defence turret and thus not optimal for a modern IFV) or leftover Marder 1A3 turrets (which are quite outdated). Production of Fuchs vehicles in high quantities in Ukraine might be advantageous for the companies' chances against the CAVS. Last but not least, Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin have detailed their offer (based on HIMARS) in the German wheeled artillery program. The new system is called GMARS (German Medium/Multiple Artillery Rocket System) based on a HX3 truck and fitted with a full-sized launcher from the latest/improved M270A2 variant; so it is rather comparable K239 Chunmoo and HOMAR-K (Polish Chunmoo on Jelz truck) but based on official ToT/cooperation and not a bootleg copy. The two companies want Diehl to join their offer, competing against a team formed by KMW, MBDA, EGS and Elbit Systems offering the Euro-PULS system. Euro-PULS is likely cheaper and due to the removable pods, missile size is not limited to the MRLS-launche's internal dimensions, but it carries less ready-to-fire missiles (at least when using GMRLS-sized rockets). Germany favors having a Leopard 2-like "user-club" for its new vehicles (to share development costs, place common orders and help each other with training/logistics), which IMO favors Euro-PULS, as the normal PULS artillery system has been purchased by traditional partners of Germany (the Netherlands and Denmark). GMARS OTOH is based on some HIMARS components and HIMARS has seen a wider adoption in Europe (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania and Poland all have signed contracts for HIMARS).  

BAE plans to fit the Archer system to the Oshkosh PLS for US Army requirements.

New render of the XK3 from Hyundai Rotem. 130mm gun, unmanned turret, KAPS, combined CITV/RWS, and Composite Rubber Tracks among other things that seem to be included in this preliminary render.
 

Merkava 2s to Greece to replace Leopard 1s. A smaller number of Merk 3s to Cyprus in exchange for their  T-80s. A wild guess, some Merks perhaps to Morocco to replace some of their T-72s? The Leopard 1s,  T-80s or T-72s eventually to Ukraine.
 
Heaven help whoever gets the Merk 2s, with the possible exception of the Merk 2Ds, they are junk by now. Even in the case of the Merk2 Ds, the powerpack can barely cope with the increased weight of the armour.

more KF41

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUA06ABB0W3A600C2000000/
A new bill was approved and enacted on June 7th to increase production and allow exports of defense equipment. The Japanese government will subsidize the expansion of production lines as well as subsidizing efforts to adapt existing equipment to foreign specifications. The bill will officially take effect on October 1st with the 1st customer likely to be Ukraine as a video of Ukraine's intelligence chief with a Japanese and Ukrainian flag in the background was released with the comment to "Stay tuned" just a few days after the bill was passed.

some more lynx, good view of external fuel tanks
 


 
and FFG G5, funny that they milled sponson bottom 

some strange testbed with cuted roof
 

 
addons look like RI
 

Lance turret shell in Australia

CR2 mantlet, more or less 

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060035213
 




 


 
some khald's, shir's etc, plate which is drilled look like UFP speical amror one, and look like Aluminum

DSEI 2023 kicks off today and the first thing I spotted was MHI's CUAV laser mounted on the first MAV prototype.

 
A similar system was shown at Kawasaki's booth, but it seems to be only a mockup