The Flanker: Spectacular Performance of Iconic Russian Fighter Aircraft



Read more: http://sputniknews.com/videoclub/20150905/...l#ixzz3kyaRXsA3

PLA warships off Alaska a 'smart strategic move': Duowei



The PLA warships spotted near Alaska were coming from a joint military drill with Russia in late August. (Photo/CNS)

Beijing's idea to send a fleet of PLA warships to the Bering Strait off the coast of Alaska is a smart strategic move, says Duowei News, a US-based Chinese political news outlet.

According to Pentagon sources, the five PLA vessels — comprising three surface combatants, an amphibious warship and a fleet oiler — made an "innocent passage" passing within 12 nautical miles of the Aleutian Islands that border the southern edge of the Bering Sea on Sept. 2.

China claimed that PLA naval group had been sent to conduct joint drills with the Russians earlier this month off Russia's Pacific coast and the Sea of Japan, adding that it was part of "routine activities" not aimed at any country or region.

While the Chinese military often conducts missions in the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Malacca as well as the East China and South China seas, this marks the first time PLA ships have been spotted near Alaska. Prior to this, the closest PLA vessels have approached to the US mainland was to participate in the US-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise, held every two years around Hawaii.

Duowei believes the US will no doubt view the move as a strategic attempt to get closer to valuable Arctic resources. The US is already trying to fend off Russia's efforts to claim a larger part of the region's continental shelf and will now also have to contest with the creeping advances of China, which became a permanent observer state of the Arctic Council in 2013, Duowei added.

The timing of the PLA activity, however, suggests that Beijing may have intended to send several messages to Washington, Duowei said, noting that it took place a day before the high-profile military parade in Beijing on Sept. 3 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day — an event President Barack Obama chose to not attend — and also just as Obama completed a three-day visit to Alaska to attend an international conference on Arctic issues.

First, the decision to send warships to Alaska may have been a warning to Obama that he cannot ignore China's rise, Duowei said. Further, Japan also attacked the Aleutian Island chain after bombing Pearl Harbor, so the move could have also been a subtle "reminder of World War II history," Duowei added.

Second, the move took place three weeks before China's president, Xi Jinping, is set to visit the United States and before the official release of his itinerary. Xi cannot appear weak and must express a firm and confident image before his meeting with Obama, Duowei said, and sending warships to Alaska will add bargaining chips to Xi's stash, especially on military issues. The move is similar to China's decision to conduct test flights of the country's first stealth fighter prior to the state visit of then US secretary of defense Robert Gates, who had been sent to Beijing by Obama to pave the way for then-Chinese leader Hu Jintao's US trip in January 2011, Duowei added.

Third, the PLA vessels ventured to Alaska as China stands accused of aggressive behavior in territorial disputes in the East China and South China seas. The move could therefore be seen as a means of provoking Washington, which had been citing freedom of navigation to criticize China's island-building and military constructions in the South China Sea, Duowei said. In this case, however, China made sure there was nothing the US could do except to admit that the PLA ships had made an "innocent passage" through the Aleutian Island chain "in a manner consistent with international law." According to Duowei, it is also a reminder of what Xi said to visiting US secretary of state John Kerry in May: "The broad Pacific Ocean is vast enough to embrace both China and the United States."

Duowei here sought to put a spin on the fact that the apparently mild US response to the presence of the PLA ships demonstrates respect for the principle of freedom of navigation, while China has a history of issuing warnings, buzzing with aircraft and taking blocking maneuvers to threaten a collision when ships venture close to its claimed territorial waters.

On the other hand, some US officials are said to believe China's presence near Alaska is a positive development as it provides America with more ammunition to increase its military presence in international waters close to islands disputed by China, Duowei added in a conspiratorial aside.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclas...=20150906000136

New 'color-changing' camouflage uniforms make debut



Two foot formations and one armament formation have worn the new camouflage uniforms during the V-day parade. (Photo/81.cn)

(ECNS) -- A new type of multi-landform camouflage uniform that adapts to light made its debut in the recent V-day parade, a Chinese military website reported.[Special coverage]

The uniform features three-dimensional patterns and a multicolor gradient, using optical illusions to help soldiers blend into woodlands, deserts and urban environments, according to Xiao Hong, senior engineer at a military research institute.

Certain colors are accentuated according to the light, Xiao explained.

Experts studied a wide range of landforms and analyzed the camouflaged uniform of 20 countries from different periods, Xiao said.

The new uniforms have been revised 30 times, he added.

The uniforms are made of a low-cost fire-proof material that also achieves infrared camouflage, according to Xiao.

http://www.ecns.cn/cns-wire/2015/09-07/180107.shtml

China's Animated Video Shows Them Dominating American Military


An animated and entertaining Chinese propaganda video shows their seemingly untouchable military tearing through the American Navy and taking a U.S. military island installation by force. All American resistance is futile as aircraft are swatted out of the sky, vehicles are pummeled, and the U.S. Pacific fleet is sent to to the depths of the ocean.

Although the video is just a cartoon, China has been increasingly flexing their military muscles toward the West in recent times.

China has dredged several shallow reefs in the South China Sea into armed military bases complete with airstrips. The artificial islands are in contested waters claimed by several other nations.

A several hour military parade was recently conducted in Beijing. Around 12,000 troops, several jets, tanks, fighting vehicles (some painted a fabulous blue color) and various rocket and missile launchers (some whose purpose is to supposedly take out American super aircraft carriers and entire island military installations) marched through the street in a well executed manner that screamed of exceptional discipline. Russia’s president Vladimir Putin was in attendance, yet no Western leaders were. Although the parade’s intent was to supposedly commemorate the defeat of the Japanese in WWII, the point was clear. China is one of the top military super powers in the world, regardless of their current economic instability. If anything, their economic woes should raise concerns of unpredictable military actions and operations to bolster the economy by means of the defense industry à la the United States.

Multiple Chinese warships entered U.S. territorial waters for the first time off the coast of Alaska, and it wasn’t a coincidence that the intrusion occurred while President Obama was there on business.

The Chinese are not flexing against the U.S. alone. As Putin stood with the Chinese president at the impressive Chinese military parade, he also had a spy ship probing a U.S. submarine base off the southeast coast of the U.S. while the Chinese warships were checking in on Obama’s trip to Alaska.

The Western alliance is weak right now. NATO is in a disgusting state of impotence that continues to deteriorate. The people of the U.S. are divided on issues that don’t even represent them, and are trying decide on whether to elect a criminal-communist or a criminal-moron for president. We probably look ripe for the plucking to outside forces.

However, to those 2nd-world wannabes with their counterfeit weaponry, I say “bring it,” and you will find out just how little you rate. ~Will



http://www.funker530.com/chinas-animated-v...rican-military/

Reliance Defence in pact with UAE's Abu Dhabi Ship Building for naval ship manufacturing



NEW DELHI: Anil Ambani-led Reliance Defence Ltd (RDL) has signed an MoU with Abu Dhabi Ship Building to set up a strategic partnership for construction of naval ships, including frigates and destroyers to address the demands of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), over the next 10 years.

RDL is a fully owned subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd while Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) is a leading provider of construction, repair and refit services for naval, military and commercial vessels.

"Under this MoU, RDL and ADSB are investigating the opportunity to set up a strategic partnership for the construction of naval ships - including frigates, destroyers and other specialized vessels to address the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) over the next 10 years," a statement by the Reliance Group said.

The agreement could also see ADSB delivering maintenance, repair, overhaul and refit services to the vessels, in line with regional requirements, it said.

Reliance Group is likely to use its newly acquired ship-building facilities at Pipavav for implementation of this collaboration.

The MoU signing follows the joint statement issued during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to UAE on August 18 which highlighted "cooperation and manufacture of defence equipment in India".

Skills developed and the experience gained through this collaboration will further add to Reliance Group's capabilities and position it favourably as a strategic partner for Indian Navy's future programmes, the statement said.

The programmes include Combat Management Systems (CMS), Integrated Bridge Solutions (IBS), Combat System Integration (CSI), Integrated Platform Management Systems (IPMS) and staff training and development.

ADSB is a major regional provider of construction, repair and refit services for naval, military and commercial vessels in the GCC region.

This potential collaboration could help both companies expand their market share and address new opportunities, it said.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi and established in 1996, ADSB was originally formed to support the repairs and refits of UAE Navy vessels and currently has a portfolio of construction and refit projects worth over UAE Dirham 3 billion.

ADSB is 40 per cent owned by Mubadala, 10 per cent by Abu Dhabi's government while the rest 50 per cent is publicly traded on UAE's stock exchange.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/d...ow/48856842.cms

Russia launches 3D-printed UAVs



The Russian research and development company Lutch designed a short-range unmanned aerial vehicle.

The sample could have been printed via a 3D printer and thus, the production of such drones may be put into effect. The Russian designers spent only a month and a half for this type of UAV, that is a record-breaking term. At present, the trials of newly designed drone are being carried out.

Pravda.Ru reported, that first mass production of new age UAVs opens in Russia on 3 September.

Today, Russia is also capable of neutralizing cruise robots of an enemy. A microwave gun created to serve the interests of the Ministry of Defence will be demonstrated behind closed door of the "Army-2015" forum.

http://english.pravda.ru/news/russia/03-09...131813-drone-0/

Russia’s Armata Tank to Sport Helicopter Fire Control System



“We offer a slew of new electronic gear, from fire control systems to self-sustained navigation gear based on systems of inertial navigation and multifunctional indicators,” Vladimir Mikheyev, a senior executive at the Radioelectronic Technologies Concern (KRET), told RIA Novosti news agency on Tuesday.

“We at KRET are developing helicopter weapons control systems, and if we can control helicopter cannons and missiles, we can just as well do this on a tank,” he added.

Vladimir Mikheyev said that some Russian armored vehicles already featured multifunctional indicators designed by KRET.

“A tanker’s seat now looks a lot like that of a helicopter pilot with the very same shock-proof multifunctional indicators and other electronic gear using technology, which suits the demands of ground combat vehicles,” he noted.

Russia plans a 70 percent upgrade of its arsenals by 2020 and next year will see the mass purchase of new weapons systems such as the Armata tanks, Bumerang armored vehicle, Kurganets-25 armored personnel carrier and Taifun armored cars.

http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150908/102...lectronics.html

Navies could harness 3D-printing to build military vessels, report says



Navies around the world could harness 3D-printing to build high-tech military vessels over the next 15 years, according to a report released on Monday by defense contractor Qinetiq.

The Global Marine Technology Trends 2030 report, produced with Lloyd’s Register and the University of Southampton in the U.K, highlights the potential military uses of advanced technologies and materials.

A spokesman for Qinetiq told FoxNews.com that naval personnel on board ships, for example, could use 3D printing to create small vessels from layers of metal and plastic powder. “If you have a 3D printer that uses nano materials and your boats are modular, you could print out a vessel,” he said.

Related: Fairy-tale-inspired 'gremlin drones' could spy in swarms

The US Navy has already cited 3D printing as a key technology. Last year a compact 3D printer was installed on amphibious assault ship USS Essex for testing. Sample parts were successfully printed on the device, which was also used to train sailors on computer-aided design software. The US has also tested 3D printers to build drones on board ships.

“In an increasingly consumer-dominated technology world, the use of advanced manufacturing solutions to deliver market advantages through tailored, leading-edge products is going to increase,” said U.K.-based Qinetiq, in its report. “This will lead to the exploitation of these technologies in order to deliver high-quality, low-cost products and systems through emerging trends such as open source designs for use with 3D and 4D printing.”

4D printing refers to printed objects that can adapt to their surroundings.

Navies could also harness advanced materials to build lighter, stiffer, stronger, tougher, stealthier craft, according to the U.K.-based defense contractor’s report.

The maritime industry is already looking to sophisticated new materials. In 2012, for example, Zyvex Marine launched its 57-foot LRV-17 vessel, built from carbon fiber reinforced plastic enhanced with carbon nanotubes, which it touted as the first nano-composite manned boat.

The Qinetiq report also predicts greater use of unmanned military vessels. “The role of the warship in 2030 will be starting to change with the use of autonomous systems and remotely piloted systems, delivering effect at greater range with less risk to the host vessel,” it said.

Unmanned vessels could certainly play a big role in the US Navy’s future operations. Last year, for example, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert predicted that Naval unmanned systems will achieve greater autonomy over the coming years.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2015/09/08/nav...ls-report-says/

Russian Military Conducts Practice Bombings In Crimea With New Fighter Aircraft




Russia flexed its military muscle on Monday by testing its new Su-30SM multi-purpose fighter aircraft over Crimea, the hotly disputed former region of Ukraine according to Russian news sources.

The Su-30SM, which is part of the Black Sea Fleet, is capable of operating as a traditional fighter jet, but it can also operate more like a bomber, which gives the SU-30SM great versatility.

Nikolay Voskresenskiy, a spokesperson for the Black Sea Fleet, said that the planes practiced bombing runs against targets on the ground in Crimea, and added that the planes “repelled a naval attack by a designated opponent.” (RELATED: NATO Intercepts Russian Fighters Over Baltic Sea)

The SU-30SM, first tested back in 2012, is one of the key pieces in Russia’s modernization of its military forces. The Black Sea and the Arctic are both key points of interest for Russia’s military modernization. (RELATED: Is Russia Trying To Annex The North Pole?)

Crimea is a disputed territory that Russia claims ownership of following annexation from Ukraine.

The practice bombing raids come at the same time as military drills ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

http://dailycaller.com/2015/09/08/russian-...ghter-aircraft/

Tanks vs. 'terrorists': Watch unprecedented live broadcast of Russian military show on RT

RT’s YouTube channel will stream a spectacular military demo from the Russian Arms Expo, in which armor, infantry and air force will combine to defeat an “entrenched terrorist force.” The live stream will open at 9 a.m. GMT on Wednesday.

The show is a unique cinematic experiment. It will be viewed by over 4,000 people on-site. For RT audiences it will be the first-ever live broadcast of a military demo. And for those watching in Russia, it will be a live insert into a scripted action film.



More than 30 cameras have been installed around the training range in the Ural Mountains city of Nizhny Tagil, home of Uralvagonzavod, the maker of Russia’s next-generation Armata tanks that is sponsoring the event as part of Russian Arms Expo.

“We want the demonstration of military equipment to become a show that can be enjoyed in any part of the world. We are using the same cameramen who filmed the Sochi Olympics last year, and we want the broadcast to be like a sports show. No one has ever filmed military displays like that before,” Aleksey Zharich, the Uralvagonzavod spokesman, told the local V Tagile newspaper ahead of the broadcast.

Zharich said that he expected between 40 and 100 million to tune into the live stream, and the eventual audience of the footage to reach 1 billion views.



While the plot of the full-length film, Razgrom (Rout), which will be shown either side of the live show for Russian audiences, has been kept under wraps, the trailer suggests it involves decimating an encampment of domestic terrorists.

The show is an appetizer for the serious business of arms trading, with 200 companies making deals with representatives of 65 countries over three days at expo, which has been running since 1999. Among the expo debuts will be the T-14 Armata, which will be displayed up-close for the first time ever.

https://www.rt.com/news/314772-tanks-show-rt-expo/

Sea Breeze exercise enters active stage - Ukrainian Defense Ministry



Ukraine and the United States have begun the active phase of their joint Sea Breeze military exercise in the northwest of the Black Sea, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has said.

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/se...try-397459.html

Beast Killer: Russia’s Kornet-EM Stands Up to M1 Abrams



The Kornet-EM is a multi-purpose long-range antitank guided missile system. It was unveiled at the Moscow Airshow (MAKS) in August 2011. The system was also demonstrated at the Russian Arms Expo in September 2013 and May 2015.
The missile system is designed to destroy advanced and modern tanks fitted with explosive reactive armor from 1,100mm to 1,300mm, light-armored vehicles and fortifications.

It can also engage surface-level marine and low-speed aerial targets at ranges between 150m and 10,000m and offers high immunity against jamming.

The twin Kornet-EM salvo firing unit mounted on the vehicle's platform carries an ammunition load of 16 pieces, including eight ready-to-fire missiles.

The Kornet-EM is available in two configurations, which include an automatic launcher for deployment on carriers and a transportable launcher for combat operations under different environmental conditions.

The automatic launcher is controlled by an automatic and laser beam riding guidance system. It is fitted with high resolution cameras and third generation thermal imaging sight. Each launcher module weighs 75.2kg.

The automatic launcher can lay missiles at an azimuth angle of ±180° and elevations between —5° and +45° for ranges between 200m and 15,000m.

It engages the targets automatically and can perform salvo firing at two targets simultaneously.

The portable-transportable launcher of the Kornet-EM can be installed on wheeled and tracked vehicles, most recently on the Tigr armored car.

The Kornet-EM has already won big kudos abroad. Algeria, for one, plans to buy several units.

One of its neighbors will soon be buying Abrams tanks, which means that the Algerians already have a strong “antidote” against The Beast…

http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150908/102...ms-missile.html

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/ko...missile-system/

“Zero hour” for Sana’a operation approaches as more Arab forces pour into Yemen: source



Military vehicles carrying Gulf Arab soldiers arrive at Yemen’s central province of Ma’rib, on September 8, 2015. (Reuters/Stringer)

Sana’a and Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—More Arab forces from the anti-Houthi coalition led by Saudi Arabia are heading to Yemen, as the date for an impending operation to liberate the country’s capital Sana’a fast approaches, a high-level Yemeni source told Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday.

The source, who requested anonymity, said the forces included those from countries like Qatar and Egypt, and were heading to areas in the east of the country and not just the central province of Ma’rib, where Saudi and Emirati forces have been arriving since the end of August.

Recent reports say around 1,000 Qatari soldiers are being sent to Yemen via the Wadia border crossing between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. They are expected to be part of the ground operation to retake Sana’a from the Houthis via the Ma’rib, Saada, and Al-Jawf provinces to the north, east, and northeast of the capital respectively.

Reports have also suggested Sudan will send 6,000 commando forces to Yemen in the coming days to participate in the Sana’a offensive.

Sources have told Asharq Al-Awsat the operation to retake the capital is now approaching “zero hour.” The Houthis have now declared a state of emergency in the capital—which they have controlled since September 2014—and in the their northern stronghold of Saada province.

In recent days the coalition has increased its air assaults over the capital, pounding a series of Houthi targets and those belonging to forces loyal to Yemen’s ousted former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who along with Iran has backed the Houthi rebels.

The group launched a coup in February following their occupation of Sana’a, deposing internationally recognized President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and his government.

The Saudi-led coalition is seeking to reinstate Hadi and the government with the help of Yemeni loyalist forces on the ground.

On Monday a Yemeni government official told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hadi, currently residing in the Saudi capital Riyadh, in the last few days rejected a Houthi proposal to form a “national unity government” between the Shi’ite group and Hadi’s cabinet.

The proposal was carried to Riyadh by United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed from the Houthis, who also requested a period of 60-days for the proposed interim government.

This comes as the Houthis lose major ground in Yemen, with the vast majority of the country’s southern area including the strategic port city of Aden now back under the control of the government thanks to gains made by loyalist forces and the Arab coalition.

In a surprise move, Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi last month made concessions to the government, admitting defeat in Aden and calling for a “political solution” to the crisis that has gripped the country since the group overran Sana’a almost a year ago.

http://english.aawsat.com/2015/09/article5...to-yemen-source

Air Force Wants Composites to Replace Titanium in Military Aircraft



According to a recent press release from Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, the Air Force Small Business Innovation/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) has provided PROOF Research’s Advanced Composites Division with $750,000 to work with the Air Force Research Laboratory (ARFL) to develop advanced, high-temperature polymer matrix composites (PMCs). In addition to the SBIR funds, the Air Force says it has received more than $1.6 million from Lockheed Martin, GE Aviation and Triumph Aerostructures to advance the project.

The goal is to have these PMCs replace titanium in military aircraft, including the F-117 and F-22. The composites could also potentially be applied to F135 and F100 engines, as well as other sixth-generation engines. Replacing titanium with high-temperature polymer matrix composites can save up to 40 percent weight on an aircraft, which results in an annual fuel savings of hundreds of dollars per kilogram of titanium replaced per aircraft.

“This maturation effort supports the warfighter by providing new capabilities and performance at a reduced cost,” said Dr. Brent Volk, the AFRL researcher managing the effort. “It completes development of an advanced materials ‘toolbox’ that includes a higher temperature polyimide matrix composite, a computational process model for the material integrated into a commercial, off-the-shelf software package, validation of the process model on complex geometries and a materials design-allowable database.”

The press release adds that in addition to reduced weight and cost, composites and advanced materials “meet environmental, health and safety regulations and are non-toxic alternatives to their predecessors,” including titanium.

Every year, the Air Force SBIR and STTR programs provide more than $300 million in funding for research and development activities by small businesses. These programs are designed to develop technologies and have them transition into real-world military and commercial applications.

For more information about these programs and projects, visit the Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Office website at www.afsbirsttr.com.

An Official Number: 196 American Soldiers Dead In Iraq Because Of Iranian IEDs





http://dailycaller.com/2015/09/09/official...y-iranian-ieds/

World’s First Drone-Carrying Missile



A multiple rocket launcher jointly being developed by Russia and China will feature the world’s first ever missile capable of hauling a drone.

"Using this new configuration we’ll be able to reconnoiter far-off targets pretty fast as the drone is carried 90 kilometers [56 miles] away by a missile moving at a tremendous speed," Rostec deputy director Dmitry Rytenkov told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

"The UAV will then fly for around 30 minutes scouting the designated area in a real time mode and sending obtained information to the operator," he added.

On the Russian side the development work on the 300mm missile is being done by Splav — a Tula-based scientific production association.

Earlier it was reported that the two countries will jointly create a brand new heavy-lift helicopter.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150909/102...l#ixzz3lGGyd2Ev

Morocco Is Joining the M-1 Abrams Owners' Club



M-1A1 Abrams tanks. Pentagon and Marine Corps photos

Morocco is about to become the world’s newest owner of America’s main battle tank, the M-1 Abrams. And Russia used the sale as an excuse to brag about its missiles … and make a veiled threat.

In 2012, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced plans to sell 200 M-1A1 tanks, plus radios, machine guns, ammunition and other related gear to the North African kingdom. On Sept. 4, the U.S. Army’s Security Assistance Command announced that the deal was going ahead as planned:

The Kingdom of Morocco will modernize its military fleet and receive M-1A1 Abram[s] tanks from the U.S. Army as part of a foreign military sales case coordinated by the Army Security Assistance Command. The case includes associated spare parts, equipment, logistical support and training.

The first 50 tanks will undergo refurbishment at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio following contract award to General Dynamics and Land Systems for $17.2 million. Additional repairs will be done at Anniston Army Depot in Alabama.

The refurbishment process will be accomplished through the Army’s Excess Defense Articles program. EDA allows for our country’s allies to receive materiel that the U.S. government no longer uses. Equipment designated under the program can save the U.S. money by eliminating potential storage or disposal costs of materiel and make room for other items to be stored as they are returned from theater. The EDA program provides the potential for the industrial base to support parts, refurbishment and sustainment of the vehicles. As the first country to recognize the United States as a nation, Morocco is one of Washington’s longest standing allies. The Pentagon has already sold or gifted the advanced tanks to other important friends such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iraq.

According to the original DSCA, the spare tanks in question are in the “special armor” configuration. While the Pentagon is tight-lipped about the protective shell on the various Abrams models, this setup is generally assumed to have improved defenses over standard M1A1s.

The older variants already had advanced composite Chobham armor made up of ceramic plates and metal reinforcements. Weighing more than 60 tons, the new version will still have the M-1’s deadly 120-millimeter main cannon and powerful jet turbine engine.

Four days after the Army’s press release went online, Russian media took a shot at the M-1. State-owned outlet Sputnik bragged that Russia’s latest Kornet-EM laser guided missile could “kill the beast:”

Conflicts that have recently flared up in various parts of the world showed that America’s much-trumpeted M-1 Abrams tank falls easy prey to even older types of Russian antitank weapons.

The Kornet-EM is a multi-purpose long-range antitank guided missile system. It was unveiled at the Moscow Airshow in August 2011. The system was also demonstrated at the Russian Arms Expo in September 2013 and May 2015.

The missile system is designed to destroy advanced and modern tanks fitted with explosive reactive armor from 1,100-millimeter to 1,300-millimeter, light-armored vehicles and fortifications.

It can also engage surface-level marine and low-speed aerial targets at ranges between 150 meters and 10,000 meters and offers high immunity against jamming. Kornet does have an impressive combat resume. When American troops rolled into Iraq in 2003, Iraqi forces reportedly disabled two Abrams with the Russian missiles. Since 2006, Hamas and Hezbollah both claim to have knocked out Israeli Merkava tanks with the weapons, too.

More recently, Islamic State militants have taken on Iraqi M-1A1s with Kornets. To add insult to injury, the brutal extremists captured the weapons from Baghdad’s soldiers.

But while Sputnik did not mention Morocco by name, the Kremlin news agency was clearly responding to that specific sale. The piece ended on a thinly veiled threat:

The Kornet-EM has already won big kudos abroad. Algeria, for one, plans to buy several units.

One of its neighbors will soon be buying Abrams tanks, which means that the Algerians already have a strong “antidote” against The Beast… Rabat and Algiers have squared off in the past. In the 1970s, the two countries found themselves on opposite sides in the fight for the disputed Western Sahara.

For more than 15 years, Algeria actively supported the Polisario rebel movement, while the Moroccan army fought for control of the territory. In the civil war that followed in Algeria in the 1990s, authorities in Algiers accused the Moroccan regime of supporting the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria. After blaming Algerian security services for backing a terrorist attack in the major city of Marrakesh in 1994, Morocco shut down the border.

But relations have thawed somewhat since then, with both countries offering important diplomatic gestures back and forth. However, the status of Western Sahara remains undecided.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3335093/posts

Russia Could Destroy A Few NATO States





http://www.valuewalk.com/2015/09/russia-co...ew-nato-states/