Serge

Well, firstly, the DF90 was never intended to replace the Leopard 1A5BE,  the purpose of the DF90 is to support infantry combat operations and, if necessary, providing an anti-tank capability.
 
Secondly, no miracle is to be expected from a medium-pressure 90 mm gun against a modern Main Battle Tank.
 
Thirdly, taking into account the additional weight, the running gear of the Piranha IIIC is push to its very limits.
 
Indeed, there was this one rumor with the loosening screws and bolts moving between the hull bottom and the anti-mine double-floor of the Piranha IIIC but as usual, it's overly exaggerated by the press.
 
Finally, I would say that budget cuts and wheels go well with each other. The Land Component believed until the last minute that they will get second-hand Dutch Leopard 2A5/A6.

A moment before "Ooofff"

BAE to Get Green Light for $10 Billion Howitzer Project:
 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/bae-to-get-green-light-for-dollar10-billion-howitzer-project/ar-BBYxHIM?ocid=st
 
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The Army Now Has Enough Upgraded Abrams Tanks To Equip An Entire Brigade:
 

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/army-now-has-enough-upgraded-abrams-tanks-equip-entire-brigade-109656

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BAE Raven:
 

 
 

To start the new year with a good news :

The last photos of the year, some of them are very rare. 
 
A DRAP (autonomous crowd containment asset) starting deployment to close a street. 

Fully deployed :

The truck is a TRM-2000. 
They are used by the French Gendarmerie Mobile and were designed by a WO. 
 
At the Eurosatory 1990 : maybe the last display of the VAB VMO. 

Here with a crowd pusher. 
This concept was never adopted (but by the French riot control police - CRS in 2000 in a lighter concept). It was tested during the 2000’s by the Army into the VAB AZUR kit. 
The SMS was the defense department of Creusot-Loire-Industrie. SMS was producing the hull of the VAB and RVI the driving line. The SMS was purchase by GIAT Industries in 1991.
 
An armoured P4 4x4 carrying a TLIO turret.

This is very rare to see it.
While it was never purchase, it was a very good concept in the 80’s. 
The turret showed at the Milipol 2019 by Nexter on there Serval Gendarmerie model looks like very close to the TLIO. 
 
https://www.autotitre.com/forum/Vehicules-speciaux/Photos-de-voitures-de-Police-34001p2762.htm

Mobile Protected Firepower will use 105mm. Developing  "Advanced Multipurpose Round (AMP)":

 
 

T-90M turret in production on the right side of that pic

Don't know if this has been mentioned before but apparently Santa Bárbara Sistemas cut costs by replacing titanium armour with steel when making the Leopard 2E:
 

https://www.ejercitos.org/2019/12/24/vcr-8x8-requiem-por-un-sueno/

Spain voids production contract for Piranha V:

https://www.ejercitos.org/2019/12/23/defensa-declara-desierto-el-contrato-del-vcr-8x8/
https://www.ejercitos.org/2019/12/24/vcr-8x8-requiem-por-un-sueno/ 

Proposal found unsatisfactory on all fronts:
Non-compliance with technical requirements Failure to comply with the deadlines Lack of integration of industrial components required for hull or the turrets under study Lack of financial guarantees for possible cost overruns in respect of the amount approved as the program's expenditure ceiling  "From the aforementioned DIGAM report it seems that the contract will be submitted to public tender"
Article mentions that Iveco Freccia could be considered the favourite. VBCI and Boxer other contenders.

Didn't knew that laser dazzler "Stilet" was adopted and produced (apparently)
 

K-17 IFV on Boomerang chassis, with APS installed

 
 

Northen fleet completed re-arming units to T-80BVM
 

A concept demonstrator of the EBRC Jaguar :

A concept demonstrator of the EBRC Jaguar :

A concept demonstrator of the EBRC Jaguar :

We have couple of those rare rear-engined APCs to spare.

 

In France, available this month. 

In France, available this month. 

Indonesian Army Leopard 2RI 
 

 

 
 

I've always liked his writing style : objective and well written.