According to agreements made during end of Suharto era, position of Chief of the TNI should have been rotated between the 3 main services. Somehow the TNI-AD got their chiefs appointed for the position twice in a row for unexplained reasons (this term should have been the Chief of the TNI-AU's turn).

From what I hear now both TNI-AL and TNI-AU are pissed off at Jokowi already for pandering on what they see as blatant TNI-AD attempts to control the armed forces. Now add the fact that General Gatot is somewhat ultra-nationalist and has been known to have a reputation as a loose cannon.

Russia downsizes plans to scrap old Cold War tanks


Modernized T-72B3 MBTs on parade

Russia is sharply curtailing the number of Soviet-era tanks that is planning to scrap. In previous years, Moscow had planned to send some 10,000 of its older model tanks to the junk yard for disposal, now that figure could be reduced to as few as 4,000.

“Initially, when the program was drafted, it was planned that about 10,000 Soviet-made armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) stored in warehouses...will be scrapped," Lt. Gen. Alexander Shevchenko, chief of the main armored directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry, told the TASS news agency.

“At present, the number of armored fighting vehicles to be scrapped in line with the program until 2020 will be revised at about 4,000 such vehicles."

Shevchenko cited changes in in the security environment for the move. Instead of all of them being scrapped, 6,000 remaining older vehicles will now be upgraded to modern standards.

"However, in line with changes in the international situation, the increase in combat skills of servicemen of the Russian armed forces, growing patriotism of Russian citizens and the appearance of new technical and technological solutions for deep upgrade allowing to turn outdated equipment into modern one, we had to review our plans," Shevchenko said.

The fact that Russia is planning on holding onto these older tanks suggests that budgetary pressures are forcing Moscow to upgrade these machines rather than build new vehicles. Another possibility is that these surplus vehicles might be used to supply client states with low-cost combat vehicles.

Russian engineers destroyed over 24,000 mines and other explosive devices in Palmyra since arriving in Syria


A Russian EOD technician controlling an Uran-6 Minesweeping UGV in a mine-clearing operation

A group of mine clearance specialists of the Russian Armed Forces destroyed about 24,065 explosive objects and cleared over two thousand hectares of land in recaptured historical city of Palmyra, Syria over the last two years.

"In 2016 and 2017, the detachment of the Russian Armed Forces’ Mine Action Center performed twice the task of removing explosives and carrying out mine clearance in the architectural and historical complex, the residential quarters and the airport of Palmyra," Commander of the Palmyra mine clearance group Valery Ovdiyenko told TASS.

According to the report, in total, the combat engineers checked and cleared 2,339 hectares of the territory, 219 kilometers of roads and 10,476 buildings and structures of mines and destroyed 24,065 explosive objects.

During the mine-clearance operation within the city bounds and the territory adjacent to Palmyra alone, Russian combat engineers defused 5,000 improvised engineering munitions, explosives, mines and rockets, the commander noted.

He said the Russian engineers relied on advanced robotic systems to neutralize the site in Palmyra to "prevent causing additional damage to historical sites”.

Russia is continuously taking demining efforts in the war-torn country in order to help recaptured areas return to a relatively normal state of life.

Earlier, experts from the International Mine Action Center of the Russian Armed Forces have been sent to Syria's Deir ez-Zor, after the Syrian army, supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces made a major advance in the city, breaking the Daesh terrorist group's siege.

Germany must pay Poland up to $1 trillion in reparations, minister says


A woman walking past posters advocating reparations for Germany's WW2 invasion of Poland

Germany should consider paying Poland as much as $1 trillion in World War II reparations, according to the Polish foreign minister.

Poland’s foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski told local radio station RMF that “serious talks” were needed with Germany to "find a way to deal with the fact that German-Polish relations are overshadowed by the German aggression of 1939 and unresolved post-war issues."

He said Poland’s material losses were about $1 trillion, or higher.

Polish defense minister Antoni Macierewicz also accused European critics of trying to “erase” the fate of the Poles at German hands during the war “from the historical memory of Europe”.

The country’s right-wing government has dismissed a 1953 resolution by Poland’s former communist government which dropped any claim to reparations from Germany, and are instead claiming that Germany is “shirking” its moral responsibility.

Critics of the government say they are talking about reparations to divert attention from their nationalistic agenda.

WW2 bomb explosion at Bandar Malaysia MRT construction site injures three workers



Police confirmed the explosion at the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station construction site in Bandar Malaysia this evening was from an old unexploded bomb from the Second World War.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh confirmed the matter when contacted here tonight.

“From initial investigations, an old bomb from the Second World War suddenly exploded when construction works were being carried out,” he said.

In the incident at about 5pm, three Bangladeshi workers were seriously injured and two of them lost their legs while another suffered injuries on the hands and legs. The three victims were sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, a Fire and Rescue Department source said the department received a call at 5.23pm and arrived at the location about 10 minutes later.

He said 25 officers and personnel with five fire engines from Hang Tuah, Pudu and Tun Razak stations rushed to the site.

Kurdistan Regional security council warns Iraqi forces are poised to attack Kirkuk and Mosul, Peshmerga says reports untrue



The Kurdistan Region Security Council announced in a tweet on Wednesday that they have been receiving “dangerous messages” that the Iraqi military forces, including Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi were preparing “major attacks” from several sides against Kurdistan following the referendum for Kurdish independence.

The involved parties plotting to attack the Kurdistan Region are the Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraqi Federal Police from the southern and western part of Kirkuk as well as north Mosul.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in a separate statement also warned that “Haider al-Abadi, the prime minister and general commander of the armed forces is to blame for any disputes or violence which may erupt in disputed areas.”

Abadi on Tuesday warned the Peshmerga against any “confrontation” with Iraqi security forces, including the mainly Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi, in those areas, while calling on the Kurdish fighters to act on orders from the Iraqi government, as there should be “one leadership, not two.”

However, Kurdish Peshmerga forces have dismissed warnings by Kurdistan’s security council that Iraq was preparing for a major attack on Kirkuk province as untrue. Jabbar Yawar, secretary general of the Peshmerga Ministry, was quoted by Alghad Press saying that “what is being circulated about military mobilization and preparations by Iraqi troops for a military operation in Kirkuk is untrue”.

There is no official reply yet from the government in Baghdad regarding the security council’s warning.

Russian Arctic troops train for mobile warfare.....using dog and reindeer sleds


A Russian reconnaissance unit practice patrolling with a reindeer sled

Russian Northern fleet mechanized infantry units (also referred to as Arctic forces) have recently held training maneuvers in Murmansk, Russia in temperatures reaching -30º. Among expected modern equipment such as skis and snowmobiles, they were also practicing to ride reindeer and dog sleds.

The idea behind those drills is to get familiar with using the sleighs, which are still one of the most used means of transportation in the arctic areas. The soldiers trained both driving and riding in the sleighs and did tactical drills using them combined with modern technology.

During WW2 about ten thousand reindeer were used in the Soviet army. The main use for them was the evacuation of wounded soldiers, logistics, transportation of crashed planes and reconnaissance. They proved to be very effective in the harsh arctic climate back in WW2. So, perhaps Russian armed forces decided to renew the WW2 experience.

People keep saying that education can help eliminate terrorism, bizarrely most top terrorists themselves are very highly educated.

Osama was an civil engineer, Abu Bakar Baghdadi (allegedly) had a PhD in Islamic studies, Ayman al-Zawarihi was an accomplished surgeon and this Abu Handzalah was even a university lecturer.

AFAIK malaysian terrorist rehabilitation are tried and tested & seems quite effective. There are literally hundreds of rehabilitated former terrorists going about doing their own things all over malaysia dating from the old Communist Emergency era.

You also forget these types are afterwards constantly monitored by PDRM, in some cases for their whole lifetime. Unlike some half-baked 'terrorist rehab' programs in some countries (which had no experience in long-term terrorism and in some cases, the program breeds even more terrorists) , Malaysia actually dealt with former terrorists for decades and most probably knows what's its doing.

Pipul are talking as if Malaysia never had Islam-based terrorism before!

Most of the time these terrorists are quite hardcore in their beliefs and no amount of counselling can get through. The trick is to sometimes indulge in their ideology to satisfy them psychologically while at the same time restricting their influence/movements so they can't act upon their ideologies. Sometimes they are also given residences and allowances to make sure they don't receive 'derma' from dubious sources.

Malaysian method seems less to rehabilitate (make their ideologies disappear from their psyche) and more to force disassociation of the former terrorists from their ideologies.

I heard from some sources in PDRM that if the SB sets its sights on you, they will know everything there is to know about you including what exactly you had for breakfast this morning.

3-man crew with autoloader, right?

Russia donates 5,000 assault rifles and 1 million rounds of ammunition to the Philippines as a new defense cooperation dawns


President Duterte meets with Russian Navy personnel during a visit earlier this year

Three Russian warships, including two anti-submarine vessels, docked in Manila last Friday to unload what navy officials said was weaponry and military vehicles donated to the Philippines as part of a new defense relationship.

It was the third port visit this year by Russian warships as part of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s moves to engage closely with Moscow, an arch-rival of Manila’s former colonial master and closest defense ally, the United States.

The load included 5,000 assault rifles, a million rounds of ammunition and 20 army trucks, Russian and Filipino navy officials said.

“We would do our best to make this port call a significant contribution indicating friendly ties and relations between two nations in the interest of security and stability in this region,” said Eduard Mikhailov, deputy commander of Russia’s Pacific Fleet flotilla.

The visit was timed to coincide with the arrival next week of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who is attending a regional defense meeting, and U.S. counterpart Jim Mattis, a Philippine navy spokesman said.

Russia and the Philippines are expected to sign a security deal on military logistics next week.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has steadily distanced himself from the USA, a former staunch ally of the Philippines after persistent US criticisms about his rule and has been more open to the possibility of closer economic and military ties with US rivals in the region, such as China and Russia.

Still look fairly brand new though.


They also gave the pinoys 20 Ural military trucks.

Reports say cash-strapped UK gov ready to secretly sell warships to South America


The Royal Navy LPDs HMS Bulwark (above) and its sister ship HMS Albion is said to be part of the secret deal

It’s being reported by multiple sources that Brazil and Chile have been given notice of “potential availability” of Royal Navy warships.

Most notably reported by IHS Jane’s Navy International, it has been claimed by the outlet that Brazil and Chile have “quietly been given notice of the potential availability of RN frigates and amphibious ships”.

Janes report that UK officials have “discreetly advised” that some of the frigate fleet in addition to the two Albion class landing platform docks could become available due to budget cuts.

A number of Type 23 frigates plus two amphibious assault ships, the HMS Bulwark and the HMS Albion would be sold to Chile and Brazil under the plans.

But last night sources within the department reacted with fury and dismissed the claims, denying there was any such plan to sell current ships to the South American nations.

The UK Government is currently conducting a security and capability review, which is largely seen as a cuts exercise. Service chiefs have been told to find billions in savings over the next decade to fund an ambitious future modernization programme.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 26 2017, 12:55 PM

Well, they really are currently in the middle of a six-year brutal civil war that has no clear end in sight. SAAF Planes and helicopters are shot down or falling apart from overuse.

I don't think they can help it.

Whereas bombing civilians with a normal 500-lbs bombs would be more ok?

Dammit missed budget reading bcoz of stupid meeting.

Can anyone post specifics on defence budget?

Friendly fire? Two US Navy SEALs under suspicion in connection to Green Beret commando's possible murder in Mali


Staff Sergeant Logan Melgar was found dead in the US embassy barracks in Bamako, Mali

Navy criminal authorities are investigating whether two members of the elite SEAL Team 6 strangled an Army Green Beret to death in June while they were in Mali on a secret assignment, military officials say.

Staff Sgt. Logan J. Melgar, a 34-year-old veteran of two tours in Afghanistan, was found dead on June 4 in the embassy housing he shared in the Malian capital, Bamako, with a few other Special Operations forces assigned to the West African nation to help with training and counter-terrorism missions.

His killing is the latest violent death under mysterious circumstances for American troops on little-known missions in that region of Africa. Four American soldiers were killed in an ambush this month in neighboring Niger while conducting what was initially described as a reconnaissance patrol but was later changed to supporting a much more dangerous counter-terrorism mission against Islamic militants in the area.

Neither the Army nor the military’s Africa Command issued a statement about Sergeant Melgar’s death, not even after investigators changed their description of the two SEALs from “witnesses” to “persons of interest,” meaning the authorities were trying to determine what the commandos knew about the death and if they were involved.

No one has yet been charged in Sergeant Melgar’s death, which a military medical examiner ruled to be “a homicide by asphyxiation,” or strangulation, said three military officials briefed on the autopsy results. The two Navy SEALs, who have not been identified, were flown out of Mali shortly after the episode and were placed on administrative leave.

Aiya these type of MPA Malaysia got alredi...