Putin starts “military operation” on Ukraine

[Macrosszero]

14 minutes ago, Playtime said:

There's more M1s than the US army knows what to do with. 

But The only M1 factory line is jammed with Polish and Taiwanese orders now for at least 2 years. Realistically Polish order takes priority,  without M1 to Poland,  she cannot release her old inventory to ukraine. So it's not possible to starting working on modifying ex stock US M1s for Ukraine. 

This is really just US providing the political cover for Germany to provide tanks.. :" see la... US give already then I give one hor... not I start one.."

Unlike Bradleys and Strykers... take from amazon warehouse,  200 units just go. 

But who knows,  we might even see some middle east users suddenly donate their export model M1s 🤷‍♂️

Forgot to mention - the US Marine Corps only recently gave up their tanks in 2021 as well. If they really wanted to give tanks to Ukraine, they could have proposed to swap full specification tanks to a trusted ally like Australia and tell them to give their M1A1s to Ukraine.

[Playtime]

27 minutes ago, Macrosszero said:

Forgot to mention - the US Marine Corps only recently gave up their tanks in 2021 as well. If they really wanted to give tanks to Ukraine, they could have proposed to swap full specification tanks to a trusted ally like Australia and tell them to give their M1A1s to Ukraine.

if im not wrong, the armour is under no export restriction (similar to f22), not even for Australia.

the US marine ones are probably the ones being zhng for Poland already as a temp solution while their new build ones are being done. 

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/poland-takes-delivery-of-1st-batch-of-us-made-m1-abrams-tanks/2639806

[Ghgan]

lol.... thought the other time, got usa politician or something said everything accounted for... now got report say corruption....

 

[Mkl22]

On 1/27/2023 at 10:28 AM, Playtime said:

CECA tank only 3.7M........ zhu guo only 2.6M... SAF should consider, much cheaper than our conti ones 😁... but the warantee dunno how only.

 

You should go read about the Arjun. A piece of crap. I won’t pay more than scrap metal for it. 

[Mkl22]

23 hours ago, Playtime said:

Yeah I remember eng hen talked about it, Germany was selling off its tank fleet left and right,  seemed like it came unexpectedly and the price was unbeatable. So quick quick grab, no doubt Singapore was a "safe" uncontroversial customer to German parliament to approve. 

Before that,  ST  was even reportedly working on a light tank,  clearly targeting a replacement for the old amx13.

Come to think of it, saf supposedly had hundreds of various M113s and amx each. Wonder where they went. Even the early Bionix may have been retired with Hunters coming on line. 

Imagine... our old bionixs showing up in Ukraine,  be nice to see how they do in real life. 😅

Cannot la. We donate even old stuff our neighbors will kpkb. 

[Sosaria]

54 minutes ago, Ghgan said:

lol.... thought the other time, got usa politician or something said everything accounted for... now got report say corruption....

 

They have had a corruption problem at highest levels all the way back for years. A little bit like malaysia, so to speak. Zelensky is trying to do an 'anwar' to purge all these bad hats and cronies from the government, but it is a difficult task to remove these deep-rooted culture, just like in malaysia. If he poke too hard, he himself might make too many powerful enemies. Just have to make do with 'unity government'

 

Edited January 28 by Sosaria

[Volvobrick]

11 minutes ago, Mkl22 said:

You should go read about the Arjun. A piece of crap. I won’t pay more than scrap metal for it. 

Maybe equipped with loudspeaker for the crew to talk till the enemy gives up? 

At least in place of smoke grenades.... 

Edited January 28 by Volvobrick

[Mkl22]

Development over 3decades.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/why-indias-arjun-tank-program-failed-miserably-196467
 

but then our ERP2 also not much better! By the time deployed 1decade old! 🤣

[Sosaria]

15 minutes ago, Mkl22 said:

Development over 3decades.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/why-indias-arjun-tank-program-failed-miserably-196467
 

but then our ERP2 also not much better! By the time deployed 1decade old! 🤣

Think it was a project with too many consultants

Any problems with the tank, must call helpdesk

[Ender]

1 hour ago, Sosaria said:

They have had a corruption problem at highest levels all the way back for years. A little bit like malaysia, so to speak. Zelensky is trying to do an 'anwar' to purge all these bad hats and cronies from the government, but it is a difficult task to remove these deep-rooted culture, just like in malaysia. If he poke too hard, he himself might make too many powerful enemies. Just have to make do with 'unity government'

 

I read somewhere, during war is the best time to purge corruption.  

[Ender]

2 hours ago, Ghgan said:

lol.... thought the other time, got usa politician or something said everything accounted for... now got report say corruption....

 

Even Russia has it, looking at how alot of their military equipments exist only on paper. Problem is the top man pooptin is not purging any corruption coz he is likely the main beneficiary from most of it.

[Kb27]

3 hours ago, Macrosszero said:

Forgot to mention - the US Marine Corps only recently gave up their tanks in 2021 as well. If they really wanted to give tanks to Ukraine, they could have proposed to swap full specification tanks to a trusted ally like Australia and tell them to give their M1A1s to Ukraine.

Bcuz of the secret armor, Biden admin won't send M1A1, only send M1A2. These need to be manufactured anew. So we might look at it as dragging their heels.

Although US has thousands of M1 sitting around, but they are all M1A1s, only to be operated by US forces.

[Playtime]

1 minute ago, Kb27 said:

Bcuz of the secret armor, Biden admin won't send M1A1, only send M1A2. These need to be manufactured anew. So we might look at it as dragging their heels.

Although US has thousands of M1 sitting around, but they are all M1A1s, only to be operated by US forces.

Iirc...  the armour can be repaired, replaced,  but it's big job, must go back "tor kor"..  they cannot cope now due primarily to fulfilling Poland order... and taiwan

[Playtime]

1 hour ago, Mkl22 said:

You should go read about the Arjun. A piece of crap. I won’t pay more than scrap metal for it. 

🤣🤣... it was even rejected by the Indian army... but Indian govt force them accept.  So the army do the absolute minimum... park one side lor.

[Playtime]

1 hour ago, Sosaria said:

Think it was a project with too many consultants

Any problems with the tank, must call helpdesk

Which is a bit surprising... Indians have become CEOs of many seriously big tech companies. 

I think the problem is the Indian govt 🤔

[Ahwhye]

1 hour ago, Sosaria said:

Think it was a project with too many consultants

Any problems with the tank, must call helpdesk

the bangalore helpdesk?  lol....

[Kb27]

Ukraine wants F-16, preparing airfields, list of pilots, maintainers, engineers. They are very positive. 😁

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ukraine-situation-report-kyiv-improving-airfields-anticipating-modern-jets

Unlike the recent influx of promises for western tanks, Ukraine has yet to receive any solid offers of modern fighter jets from allies like the U.S., France, the Netherlands, Denmark and others. But it’s preparing airfields across the country in anticipation of deliveries of multi-role jets like U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcons or French Mirage or Rafale fighters.

To integrate jets like those into the Ukrainian Air Force would not only require training for pilots and maintainers, but it would also require making sure more modern jets have safe places to operate from.

“We have to prepare the airfield infrastructure so that pilots could land safely on the airstrips,” Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Col. Yuri Ignat told reporters Friday at a press briefing in Ukraine. “The works are in progress in different regions of Ukraine with the support of the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Defense and other government agencies to support us in the creation of this airfield network.”

With the country under continuing sporadic missile and drone barrages, like the one yesterday, Ignat acknowledged that the work to create the airfield network for new fighters cannot be done “as well as it could have been done in peacetime.”

Ignat did not offer any details about where or how many airfields are in the pipeline, or what kind of work needed to be done.

But any improvements likely involve upgrading the quality of operating areas and possibly lengthening runways. Ukraine's Soviet-designed tactical jets were built to operate in conditions that can be considered positively austere when compared to their Western counterparts. The bases they operate from reflect this flexibility. too. As for the aircraft, they have sturdier landing gear, mud guards on their nose wheels, in some cases even intake doors that protect the aircraft from ingesting damaging debris during taxiing. Most Western designs are made to operate from much more pristine surfaces that are meticulously cleared of even small pieces of debris. So if Ukraine wants Western fighters, it needs infrastructure that meets their operational needs.

Ignat’s comments are part of an ongoing effort to secure F-16s or other modern jets as the nearly year-old full-on war drags on.

Ignat on Friday repeated the call for F-16s, saying they could serve multiple roles ranging from close air support to air defense, including helping to take out cruise missiles and drones.

“The F -16 is one of the most popular models throughout the world and would be the best candidate for the Air Force to become the basic fixed-wing multipurpose aircraft,” Ignat stated.

Earlier this year, Ukrainian pilots visited the U.S. to lobby lawmakers to provide the more modern fighters, Ignat said Friday.

“They were communicating with the senators and congressmen,” he said. “They were looking at them right in their eyes, expressing their need for those fighter jets which would help a lot on our way to our victory for liberation of the occupation of our homeland.”

Ignat also mentioned a “proposal from France … about Rafale multipurpose jets,” but noted that “we have to work through that issue.” Ignat also said that negotiations with France had been “in progress for a pretty extended period,” although it’s not clear if he was referring specifically to talks about supplying fighter jets.

The longstanding push for fighters has previously involved both Ukrainian officials and members of the Ukrainian Air Force, supported by some U.S. lawmakers. However, most proposals have focused on the U.S.-made F-16 fighter jet, primarily on account of it being assumed it would be easier to train pilots, source the jets, and bring them into service in a rapid and efficient manner. Also sustaining them in the long run will be easier than other types.

The list of pilots chosen to train on F-16s, should they be provided, has been prepared for a while, said Ignat. At a media briefing last week, Ignat said that $100 million had already been earmarked for pilot training, though he did not say who was picking up the tab. He also said the type of aircraft Ukraine would likely receive has already been determined, without stating what kind.

[Macrosszero]

Ukraine asks for so many things, I hope they can pay for it in the end, even if they are given heavily discounted prices.