Mighty_Zuk

Possibly a typo. The CV90 mkIV is marketed as the 5th generation of the CV90 family, so it's easy to make that mistake.

M109A5 driver training vehicle.

The assumption is that it's an FMTV entirely and not a Tatra. But that's only my eyesight.

Your username definitely checks out.

What the heck is up with that huge ass turret?

Because IMI would be a subcontractor, not a prime contractor. They are already suppliers for much of the equipment produced in MASHA, especially armor, yet are not seen as competitors to MASHA but to other companies. If it utilizes an FMTV truck, on which some part of the original Wildcat is made, then it's no longer a single source buy, and IMI becomes sub-contractor again. Especially if they want a different capsule design and only take IMI's passive armor. Also, what HMMWV variant are you talking about? How does it compare to the newest generation of Sandcats?

EDIT: Have to correct the entire post. The pilot program for integration of females into the IDF's Armored Corps has ended 'successfully' several months ago but now it is reported to have been frozen, as the participants in the pilot program were re-assigned to instructor duties or infantry in mixed battalions (instructors are typically female), rather than be assigned to tanks as their crews.

It appears to use an FMTV's cabin and a Wildcat's armored capsule, which could be an advanced prototype for a Ze'ev replacement. Sadly no purchases of Sandcats are made to replace the HMMWV vehicles. These could really drive up their exports.

Of course. Look at the Ukrainian design - it clearly gains a few tens of centimeters in height (the hull, that is). To compensate for the shallower angle of the armor, they have to extend the armor farther forward, which may create an unacceptably front-heavy design. But it's not something that cannot be fixed by moving some shit to the back.

I've seen quite a few firing sessions of the Merkava 4, and I don't think I've ever seen the heat waves disrupting the footage so much. Must have been a very cold night.

I thought the humongous dong above the gun was the radar...

Hardly an issue for a vehicle that is only supposed to enter service in the mid to late 2020's.

Of course I can. Apparently it goes way back to at least 2011: http://www.defence-point.gr/news/νέες-επιτυχείς-βολές-του-leo2-a4-με-πυροβόλο

Screen-grab from that video, showing about 60 Merkava and Namer hulls awaiting assembly. The annual output of that factory has been 30 of each type, and with the expansion of the factory as part of its relocation, they should be able to produce large numbers of Eitan vehicles without slashing Merkava and Namer production, at least until 2027.

NOTE: The Israeli Navy is no longer really using the Block 2 Harpoons. It maintained them without upgrading them in a long time because it is believed to have acquired Gabriel V missiles from IAI, and has shown some very limited footage in tests.

Neat video, my dudes:

Sydney J Freedberg, writer for BreakingDefense, shares his views on the NGCV contenders and infers from the talks at AUSA that the Griffin III is the preferred vehicle at the moment. He makes some good points. https://breakingdefense.com/2018/10/general-dynamics-griffin-takes-lead-to-replace-m2-bradley/

The UK wants a 'swimmer' round for its 30mm guns. Developed by Nammo, this is an only slightly modified APFSDS - the sharp tip is replaced by a blunt one. The round is intended for Type 23 frigates, and will replace standard APFSDS rounds as it is considered to have the same penetration power but with an additional role. Article here: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/imps-news/ausa-2018-30mm-swimmer-round-set-more-uk-trials/

What about Leouf? Like, L-oof. Or is it more like, Leff - pronounced like jeff?

Shifting LoS from grid to grid is just one more reason for the US Army to ditch the TOW and either modernize the Javelin, or get a Spike or MMP-like missile that could operate at its maximum range regardless of LoS.

Israeli defense writer for news site "IsraelDefense", Ami Rojkes Dombe, brings up a good point in a so-far-hebrew-only speculative article, that the Israeli MoD's project for a joint APS developed by all major gov't owned companies - IAI (radar), IMI (interceptor), and Rafael (electronic and overall architecture), is probably even more dead right now than it was in 2014. The history goes a bit like this: 2006 - Rafael and IMI demonstrate their APS in state trials. 2007 - Trophy is selected to enter service. 2008 - Trophy enters production. 2009 - First battalion is fully equipped. 2014 - IMOD initiates program to develop joint APS by Rafael, IMI, and IAI, with Rafael being the prime contractor. 2016 - 2 brigades are fully equipped, and preparations made for production for Namers and Merkava 3 tanks. 2017 - Total of 1,000 new systems are on order until 2027, with an average production rate of 100 vehicles per year. ============================================================================================================================== Now for the future: 2019 - Carmel project ends (cockpit design) and is superseded by Kaliya/Bullet, thus increasing the urgency for next gen APS. 2021 - Merkava 4 Barack tanks enter service with new APS capable of defeating KEPs. 2027 - Vehicles developed in the Kaliya/Bullet program enter service with a next generation APS. So by 2021, which is relatively speaking right around the corner, The IMOD should have an anti-KEP APS already in service. This puts quite a dent in that goal, but MANTAK can't really be blamed for falling behind schedule. It's very atypical for them. In the worst case, the MoD presents a schedule that is unnecessarily stretched, but MANTAK are known to always deliver. ============================================================================================================================== Back to the speculation part: The deal was that IMI, IAI, and Rafael will supply a joint APS. It was actually tried before, and failed. The companies did not agree to work together for a whole lot of reasons, mostly related to pride, even though they were government owned companies. It was revived, and although nothing new of it came up throughout the years, other than that the Barack will get an anti-KEP APS which is without a shred of doubt a reference at the joint APS, it seems that the MAPS program of the US Armed Forces, along with the financial difficulties of IMI, have made a completion of this project somewhat unlikely. What we know: IMI is now being absorbed into Elbit, with the move perhaps being finalized before the end of 2018 (stock merger in November). Elbit, being a private company, can be far more aggressive in marketing than even Rafael and IMI were known to be, and they are showing that they can definitely swallow entire markets within Israel's defense industries. Rafael and IMI are fiercely fighting against each other in the US, Australia, and all over Europe, instead of working together on offering a joint system that shouldn't be more developmental than the new developmental iterations of the Trophy and Iron Fist. However there is one mitigating factor that should be taken into account: The IDF is reportedly testing the IF-LC on the Eitan and D9 bulldozers, which should signal to Rafael that they may want a cooperation after all, to mitigate the threat presented by Elbit.

F-35 are now back in operation.

I think Damian here is confused, or was confused. A long while ago, back in 2017, he said there were a total of 6 interceptors, which means 2 in storage and 1 ready per side, which is 3 per side for a total of 6. Now he's saying it's 4+1 per side? It's definitely plausible but it's quite confusing.

One more thing, my dudes. I just found a drill order for tank crews on transporting infantrymen (and if it's a standard drill, it means they're regularly practicing it). The manual says 1 passenger can board without any modifications. 3 can board with 1 ammo rack removed. And 5 can board with both ammo racks removed. So all the imaginary numbers suggesting 6 or 8 passengers are simply untrue.

Oh man, jeez @SH_MM I'm so sorry.