Thailand Unveil The Black Widow Spider 8x8 Armored Vehicle.

the whole world's getting on the wheeled carrier bandwagon.
shinseki was right.

pffttt...

everyone was already on the wheeled IFV bandwagon by the time shinseki developed his master plan.the US army as always,just sloww.the soviets were at it since the 60s

The Polsih Army tested the Rheinmetall MBT Revolution for their Leopard 2A4 Modernization Program.









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Feds: Navy secrets bought with hookers, Gaga tix

By JULIE WATSON
November 4, 2013 1:04 AM

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Nicknamed "Fat Leonard," the gregarious Malaysian businessman is well known by U.S. Navy commanders in the Pacific, where his company has serviced warships for 25 years.

But prosecutors in court papers say Leonard Francis worked his connections to obtain military secrets by lining up hookers, Lady Gaga tickets and other bribes for a U.S. commander, in a scandal reverberating across the Navy.

The accusations unfolding in a federal court case in San Diego signal serious national security breaches and corruption, setting off high-level meetings at the Pentagon with the threat that more people, including those of higher ranks, could be swept up as the investigation continues. A hearing Nov. 8 could set a trial date.

Navy commander Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz passed confidential information on ship routes to Francis' Singapore-based company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd., or GDMA, according to the court documents.

Misiewicz and Francis moved Navy vessels like chess pieces, diverting aircraft carriers, destroyers and other ships to Asian ports with lax oversight where Francis could inflate costs, according to the criminal complaint. The firm overcharged the Navy millions for fuel, food and other services it provided, and invented tariffs by using phony port authorities, the prosecution alleges.

"It's pretty big when you have one person who can dictate where ships are going to go and being influenced by a contractor," said retired Rear Adm. Terry McKnight, who has no direct knowledge of the investigation. "A lot of people are saying how could this happen?"

So far, authorities have arrested Misiewicz; Francis; his company's general manager of global government contracts, Alex Wisidagama; and a senior Navy investigator, John Beliveau II. Beliveau is accused of keeping Francis abreast of the probe and advising him on how to respond in exchange for such things as luxury trips and prostitution services. All have pleaded not guilty. Defense attorneys declined to comment.

Senior Navy officials said they believe that more people would likely be implicated in the scheme, but it's too early to tell how many or how high this will go in the naval ranks. Other unnamed Navy personnel are mentioned in court documents as getting gifts from Francis.

Francis is legendary in military circles in that part of the world, said McKnight, who does not know him personally. He is known for extravagance. His 70,000-foot bungalow in an upscale Singapore neighborhood drew spectators yearly since 2007 to its lavish, outdoor Christmas decorations, which The Straits Times described as rivaling the island city-state's main shopping street with replicas of snowmen, lighted towering trees, and Chinese and Japanese ornaments.

"He's a larger-than-life figure," McKnight said. "You talk to any captain on any ship that has sailed in the Pacific and they will know exactly who he is."

Navy spokesman, Rear Adm. John Kirby said Navy Criminal Investigative Service agents initiated their probe in 2010, but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.

That same year, Misiewicz caught the world's attention when he made an emotional return as a U.S. Naval commander to his native Cambodia, where he had been rescued as a child from the violence of the Khmer Rouge and adopted by an American woman. His homecoming was widely covered by international media.

Meanwhile, Francis was recruiting him for his scheme, according to court documents.

Misiewicz's family went to a Lion King production in Tokyo with a company employee and was offered prostitution services. Within months, the Navy commander was providing Francis ship movement schedules for the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group and other ships, according to the criminal complaint.

Shortly after that, the manager wrote to Francis: "We got him!!:)," according to court documents.

Misiewicz would refer to Francis as "Big Brother" or "Big Bro" in emails from a personal account, while Francis would call him "Little Brother" or "Little Bro," according to the complaint.

The company bilked the Navy out of $10 million in just one year in Thailand alone, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said.

In December 2011, the two exchanged emails about the schedule of the USS Blue Ridge, investigators say. According to court documents, Francis wrote Misiewicz: "Bro, Slide a Bali visit in after Jakarta, and Dili Timor after Bali."

The complaint alleges Misiewicz followed through on the demands: In October 2012, the USS George Washington was scheduled to visit Singapore and instead was redirected by the Navy to Port Klang, Malaysia, one of Francis' preferred ports where his company submitted fake contractor bids.

After Francis offered Misiewicz five tickets to a Lady Gaga concert in Thailand in 2012, Francis wrote: "Don't chicken out bro we need u with us on the front lines," according to court documents.

The federal government has suspended its contracts with Francis.

The defendants face up to five years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery.

i know.
but until the muricans do it, it doesn't become popular.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Weapon Systems Officer trainee
was injured after the plane he was in crash landed at approximately 12.30am
(Singapore time) on Nov 5 at Pensacola, Florida.

Lieutenant (LTA) Lu Zhen Yang Ephraim, 31, sustained fractures on his left arm
and rib fractures. He is reported to be in stable condition.

LTA Lu  was on a routine training flight in the backseat of a US Navy T-45C Goshawk
training jet piloted by a US Navy instructor pilot.

The plane crash landed on the runway at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.
LTA Lu was on a Weapon Systems Officer (Fighter) Course conducted by the US Navy.

He is undergoing treatment at a local hospital. The RSAF is currently assisting
LTA Lu's family and the US Navy is investigating the cause of the crash.

The Polsih Army tested the Rheinmetall MBT Revolution for their Leopard 2A4 Modernization Program.









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does it mean that the polish were selling sub-par tanks to malaysia, and then bought superior tanks for themselves?

does it mean that the polish were selling sub-par tanks to malaysia, and then bought superior tanks for themselves?

now that they gonna ditch their PT-91? can we get them for cheap?

the Leopards will replace PT91s  and the PT91s will be sent to other units to replace older T72s

the PT91 will eventually be replaced by a new polish tank that is closely related to the leopard in 10 years.its a grand scheme

Sunday, November 3, 2013 10:48 AM

Army of Poland plans to purchase 105 Leopard 2A5 and nine 2A4 main battle tanks from Germany.

According to Janes defense website, Polish Army plans to purchase 105 Leopard 2A5 and nine Leopard 2A4. from ex-German stocks. Leopard 2A5's will be transferred to 10th Armored Cavalry brigade that is currently using Leopard 2A4 tanks, and Leopard 2A4's will be transferred to 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade currently suing PT-91 tanks, then these PT-91's will be transferred to one of several brigades using T-72M1 tanks.
      
According to Janes defense website, Polish Army plans to purchase 105 Leopard 2A5 and nine Leopard 2A4. from ex-German stocks. Leopard 2A5's will be transferred to 10th Armored Cavalry brigade that is currently using Leopard 2A4 tanks, and Leopard 2A4's will be transferred to 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade currently suing PT-91 tanks, then these PT-91's will be transferred to one of several brigades using T-72M1 tanks.

The planned purchase will cover the complete vehicle set for the 34th Cavalry Brigade, including M113 vehicles in command, carrier, and ambulance configurations; Leopard 1-based armoured recovery vehicles (ARVs) and armoured vehicle-launched bridges (AVLBs); trucks; and light all-terrain vehicles.

Next step is to upgrade all 128 Leopard 2A4 tanks in service to Leopard 2PL standard, later Leopard 2A5 tanks also will be upgraded to Leopard 2PL standard. It is currently known that Leopard 2PL will be close to Leopard 2A7, but will not be completely like it. However details are not known.

On 30 October the Polish Armament Inspectorate announced a tender for the modernisation of its current 128 Leopard 2A4 tanks to the new standard called "Leopard 2PL".

In a perspective after 2020, T-72 and PT-91 tanks will be slowly replaced by new MBT, based on a new platform. During MSPO 2013, Defense Exhibition in Poland, the Polish Defense Holding has presented a new project of main battle tank with the PL-01 Concept, Direct Fire Support Vehicle.

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