Category Archives: Technology

Technology

Vehicle I-D: No more anti-drug, fire fighting RC-26 Condors!

Video

The last RC-26B made its final flight on 16FEB2023.  For more than 30 years, beginning in 1991 (tail end of the Cold War), the RC-26B Condor not only worked anti-drug missions, but international warzone counter-insurgency flights, domestic homeland security missions, wild-fire fighting and disaster relief efforts: “This aircraft is kind of like a chameleon. It could morph in to just about anything you could imagine, as far as hurricane support, counter-drug, the border or wildfire support. It was like a Swiss Air National Guard Knife.”-Major Luis Flores, RC-26 pilot, Texas Air National Guard

The RC-26B is a modified C-26B, which began service in the last decade of the non-declared Cold War as the C-26A. At one point it was known as the ISR (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance).

National Guard report about combat use of RC-26B, somewhere in South West Asia (Middle East), 18JUL2013:

During those 30 plus years the Condor (modified Fairchild Metro 23) was flown by units in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington.

CALIFORNIA:

California Air National Guard photo, 30JUL2014.

FLORIDA:

Florida Air National Guard photo by Sergeant Lalita Laksbergs, 22FEB2011.

Florida Air National Guard photo by Sergeant Lalita Laksbergs, 22FEB2011.

Florida Air National Guard photo by Sergeant Lalita Laksbergs, 22FEB2011.

Video by Master Sergeant Megan Hunter, 22FEB2011:

IOWA:

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Robert Shepherd, 27JAN2023.

On 27JAN2023, the Iowa Air National Guard conducted its final flight of the RC-26B.  The Condor began operations at the Des Moines Airbase only recently, in 2015, providing counter-narcotics, and domestic natural disaster support, for law enforcement and emergency management.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Robert Shepherd, 27JAN2023.

MISSISSIPPI: USAF video (by Staff Sergeant Aaron Richardson) RC-26B during exercise Southern Strike, October 2015:

TEXAS: 

RC-26 cockpit view of New York City, on its way to its final resting place in Maryland. Texas Air National Guard photo by Sean Cowher, 16FEB2023.

Delivering the 147th Attack Wing’s RC-26 to Hagerstown Aviation Museum, Maryland. Texas Air National Guard photo by Sean Cowher, 16FEB2023.

On 15FEB2023, the 147th Attack Wing of the Texas Air National Guard retired its RC-26 Condor, but the final flight was when the aircraft was put out to pasture at the Hagerstown Aviation Museum, in Maryland, on 16FEB2023.

An early Condor of the Texas Air National Guard, with a surveillance pod, 13SEP2005. Photo by Staff Sergeant Cheryl Hackley.

The first Texas Air National Guard RC-26 crew, in 1991!

WEST VIRGINIA:

West Virginia National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston, 06JAN2023.

On 06JAN2023, the West Virginia National Guard retired their RC-26 Condor (#  94-0260).  RC-26 #94-0260 was one of the last of 11 such aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force and National Guard.

Final crew for the Final Flight. West Virginia National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston, 06JAN2023.

WASHINGTON:

Final start-up of an RC-26, for its final flight from Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 06JAN2023. Washington Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Kayleigh Phillips.

On 06JAN2023, Washington joined West Virginia in retiring its Condor.  Evergreen State C-26B operations began from Fairchild Air Force Base in 1991, then in 1995 the Condor was reconfigured as an RC-26B.

Washington Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Kayleigh Phillips, 06JAN2023.

“We provide the necessary information to the USDA FS and NWICC, such as, where is the fire? In one instance with the Crescent Mountain fire, the fire behavior and visibility had been erratic. We showed up at 0700, had the RC-26 overhead at 0800, and by 0930 evacuation orders were sent out based on the video feed provided to the incident commander.”-Lieutenant Colonel Rich Cullen, October 2018

Washington National Guard video, RC-26B surveillance of wildfire in Oregon, August 2018:

Inside an RC-26 assigned to the141st Operations Group, Washington Air National Guard, mapping the Chetco Bar fire in southern Oregon 02SEP2017. USAF photo by Senior Airman Sean Campbell.

WISCONSIN: The RC-26B began service with the Air National Guard in January 1992, assigned anti-drugs duty in 1996, final flight 28DEC2022.

Wisconsin Air National Guard’s RC-26B reconnaissance aircraft after its final flight 28DEC2022. Wisconsin Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paul Gorman.

Wisconsin Air National Guard’s RC-26B reconnaissance aircraft after its final flight 28DEC2022. Wisconsin Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paul Gorman.

Vehicle I-D: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SUPER IMPRESSIVE E-F-V?

Cold War Vehicle I-D: VULCAN, 70 YEARS LATER!

Technology

WW3, Vehicle I-D: China’s Type 96A/B & Type 96

Video

Type 96A/B:

Type 96A, People’s Liberation Army 77th Group Army photo, 04DEC2022.

Sometimes  a fuel/oil tank is carried on the top of the left rear hull/fender.  It can also carry long range fuel drums on its rear.

Type 96A, PLA 77th Group Army photo, 04DEC2022.

Type 96A, PLA 77th Group Army photo, 04DEC2022.

The tow hooks are mounted on the lower front slope, inboard of the headlights.

Type 96A with manually operated 12.7mm machine gun mounted on turret. Photo by Liu Zhiyong, 13SEP2022.

Type 96B, with remote controlled 12.7mm on turret roof. Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Junior, 27AUG2022.

Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Junior, 21AUG2022.

In August 2022, China took second place in the Tank Biathlon and Masters of Armored Vehicles, during Russia’s International Army Games, using their Type 96B.  The International Army Games were held on the territories of 12 countries, including China, Russia and Iran, with more than 270 teams from 37 countries competing.

Photo by Yu Ziheng, 14AUG2022.

The Type 96B has a remote controlled 12.7mm heavy machine gun on top of the turret, which is not always mounted. The Type 96A is up-armored with armor blocks, and upgraded gun sights. The Type 96 series uses a 125mm main gun.  The ‘skirt’ gets shorter with each new generation of Type 96, the Type 96B being the shortest (sometimes they go ‘naked’).

Type 96Bs leaving China controlled Inner Mongolia for the International Army Games in Russia, July 2022. Photo via CCTV-7.

CGTN video, first round of Tank Biathlon, 15AUG2022, revealing that the remote controlled 12.7mm can also be fired manually:

The Type 96A/B has a turret very similar to the VT4, VT5, and Type 99 tanks.  The hull evolved from the Soviet/Russian T-54/55.  The roadwheels are uniquely Chinese, and unlike the T-54/55 the track is supported.  The Type 96B has more streamlined looking fenders, than the Type 96A, the two exhaust ports are closer together as well and not as obvious as on the Type 96A.

From U.S. Army Graphic Training Aid, Armored Vehicle Recognition, 1987.

From a distance the Type 96A/B looks much like the old Cold War era NATO-West German Leopard 1A4.

People’s Liberation Army 77th Group Army video showing Type 96A during live-fire training, May 2022:

PLA 73rd Group Army photo by Liu Zhiyong, 27APR2022.

PLA 73rd Group Army photo by Liu Zhiyong, 27APR2022.

PLA 73rd Group Army photo by Liu Zhiyong, 27APR2022.

PLA 71st Group Army photo by Bai Junfeng, 15APR2022.

The Type 96 has two exhaust holes on the same side of the hull, the right side, as opposed to the T-54/55 or T-72 single exhaust on the left side.

PLA 71st Group Army photo by Bai Junfeng, 15APR2022.

PLA 71st Group Army photo by Bai Junfeng, 15APR2022.

PLA 73rd Group Army photo by Liu Zhiyong, 15JAN2021.

The Type 96A appears to be connected to a generator on the ground. PLA 81st Group Army photo by Yang Jian, November 2020.

The front of the Type 96A/B turret is different from the older Type 96, also, the bustle racks have armor(?) plates attached.

PLA 72nd Group Army photo by Xiao Yuxuan, 11MAY2020.

CGTN video, January 2020, female tank commander explain why she likes the Type 96A/B (because it makes her look “most beautiful”, typical!):

CGTN video, Type 96B during 2019 International Army Games:

CGTN video of Type 96 driver showing-off, December 2017 (I did the same thing in an M1 Abrams, it is actually easy to get a tank to drift or slide, if it has a powerful motor):

Type 96: 

The older Type 96 has a splash guard on the front slope, and the turret bustle racks do not have armor plate covering them.

Skirtless Type 96. PLA 71st Group Army photo by Yao Zongkai, 17SEP2022.

PLA 82nd Group Army video from May 2022, Type 96 live-fire:

The Type 96 is also known as ZTZ-96.

PLA 71st Group Army photo by Zhu Baolong, 21MAY2022.

The Chinese started with the T-54/55 hull, then got radical by replacing the unsupported track system with a supported track (the track-links themselves are the same), and replacing the manually loaded main gun with the auto-loading 125mm from a T-72.

PLA 71st Group Army photo by Zhu Baolong, 21MAY2022.

The wire cage on the top rear of the turret is for catching the spent 125mm casings as they are ejected from the turret. PLA 71st Group Army photo by Yao Zongkai, 21MAY2022

The turret of the Type 96 is shaped different from that on the Type 96A/B, especially on the front.

PLA 71st Group Army photo by Lin Min, February 2022.

The Type 96 inherited the butt of the T-54/55.

Notice the spent 125mm casings on the ground behind the Type 96. PLA 71st Group Army photo by Lin Min, February 2022.

World War Three Vehicle I-D: CHINA’S TYPE 99A AND TYPE 99

Technology

WW3, Vehicle I-D: China’s Type 99A and Type 99

Video

Type 99A:

People’s Liberation Army photo by He Rui, late January 2023.

Track shoes/pads are removable, on the Type 99A. PLA photo by He Rui, late January 2023.

It has been confused with the export only tanks VT1 and VT4, and the lightweight high altitude tank VT5.  Sometimes it is called ZTZ-99A. The Type 99A is an radical evolution of the Type 99.  The Type 99 is based on the Soviet/Russian T-72, it began service in 2001.

T-72 style roadwheels and small exhaust ports on both sides of the Type 99A.

The Type 99A has the driver’s position slightly offset from center of the front of the hull, and has two periscopes, the Type 99 has only one T-72 style periscope for the driver and the position is centered.  Other Chinese tanks with similar looking turrets (like the Type 96B) have driver’s positions that are offset from center, on the driver’s left side, revealing they were originally based on the T-54/55.

An 81st Group Army Type 99A with armored blocks, and without fender skirts. Notice the ‘Eiffel Tower’ in the background. PLA photo, 10JAN2023.

CGTN video explaining the Type 96A, from August 2020:

 In 2011, China began slowly replacing the Type 99 with the Type 99A, however, it wasn’t publicly revealed until 2015.

CGTN video, Type 99A during parade in July 2017:

CGTN video, Type 96A during parade in October 2019:

Type 99:

The older Type 99. PLA 76th Group Army photo by Cao Xuguang, 14JUL2020.

The exhaust ports on the Type 99A are set further back than the Type 99, due to a new powerpack (motor/transmission).  The powerpack for the older Type 99 was reportedly developed by NATO-Germany.  The headlights on the Type 99 sit higher up on the front slope than the Type 99A.  The front tow hooks on the Type 99 sit on the upper front slope, below the headlights, while the tow hooks of the Type 99A are mounted on the lower front slope, inline with the headlights.

The older Type 99. PLA 76th Group Army photo by Cao Xuguang, 14JUL2020.

PLA 76th Group Army photo 08JUL2020.

PLA 76th Group Army photo by Cao Xuguang, 18JUN2020.

PLA 76th Group Army photo by Cao Xuguang, 18JUN2020.

World War 3, Vehicle I-D:

Photo via NORINCO.

NORINCO’S DRONE CARRYING VT4A1 EXPORT BATTLE TANK

CHINA’S NEW HIGH ALTITUDE LIGHT TANK VT5

 CHINA STILL USES THE 105mm NATO GUNNED TYPE 88 WARSAW PACT (T-54/55) BASED TANK

Technology

WW3 Vehicle I-D: NORINCO’s drone carrying VT4A1 Battle Tank

Video

Photo via NORINCO.

NORINCO’s VT4 battle tank was first unveiled in 2007.  It has a 125mm main-gun, and looks like the VT5 (as well as the Type 99A).  The VT5 (aka Type 15, ZTQ-15) is a smaller lightweight tank for operations at high altitude.  Recently, NORINCO unveiled the latest model of the VT4, the VT4A1.

Image taken from CGTN video, 07NOV2022.

The VT4A1 has an onboard drone that extends the battlefield observation of the tank crew to 10 kilometers.  It is vertically mounted, next to the wind sensor on top of the turret.

Image taken from CGTN video, 07NOV2022.

It also has anti-tank missile detectors on the sides of the turret.  The 125mm gun is enhanced by the use of new types of rounds fired from the gun.

Hour long CGTN report, from 06NOV2022, which starts off explaining the new VT4A1:

I have not found any People’s Liberation Army videos or photos of any Chinese units actually using the VT4, it appears to be an export only tank, so far with Pakistan the only customer.

Pakistan received its first VT4s in 2020, then placed an order for more VT4s in 2022, and is considering license building them.

World War 3 Vehicle I-D: YY-20, CHINA’S NEW LONG RANGE AIRBORNE FUELER, OFFSPRING OF THE IL-76?

CHINA’S TYPE 59D, UPDATED COLD WAR T-54/55, TO LIVE-ON AS A ROBOT TANK?

World War 3 February 2022: CHINA DEVELOPS/DEPLOYS MILITARY SYSTEMS SPECIFICALLY FOR UYGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION!

Technology

WW3, Vehicle I-D: Serbia’s up-armored BRDM-2MS

Video

Serbia’s new armored reconnaissance vehicle BRDM-2MS is used for surveillance and intelligence gathering, as well as patrols and ambushes.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, January 2023.

The BRDM-2MS has the latest gun-sight systems, allowing it to fight at night and in bad weather.  It has a 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun with a coaxial 7.62mm PKT light machine gun.  They are stabilized and can hit targets while on-the-move.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, January 2023.

The BRDM-2MS is up-armored with side plates 6mm thick and rated to stops bullets up to 12.7mm (.50 caliber).  The frontal plates are rated to stop 14.5mm bullets.  Anti-mine armor has been added to the floor of the vehicle.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, January 2022.

The original BRDM used a gasoline fueled motor, the BRDM-2MS uses diesel, which doubles the range of the vehicle.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, September 2019.

In 2019, the first of 30 BRDM-2MS began arriving from Russia, as a donation.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, September 2019.

By early 2021, the final of the 30 donated BRDM-2MS arrived in Serbia.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, September 2019.

In May 2021, the donated BRDM-2MS were paraded in front of Defense Ministry officials:

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, November 2020.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, November 2020.

Here is a Serbian Defense Ministry promotional video from August 2020, using videos made previously:

Live-fire video from September 2019:

World War 3, Vehicle I-D: SERBIA’S NEW T-72MS

SERBIA’S NEW LAZAR-3

SERBIA STILL USES COLD WAR ERA NATO M47?

Influenza, Technology

Pandemic Perfidy: Super-Computer used to justify Pandemic Mandates, now being used for Climate-Change Mandates?

Video

13 February 2023 (13:11-UTC-07 Tango 06) 24 Bahman 1401/22 Rajab 1444/23 Jia-Yin 4721/13 февраля 2023 года

Anybody remember the Japanese super-computer Fugaku?  You know, the one that global politicians used to justify Pandemic Mandates.

Fugaku is an award winning super computer designed by former Nintendo 64 video game engineers!  The award it won was for its simulation of humans sneezing and spreading Pandemic particles, and the images from Fugaku’s simulation were used by woke-news-media around the world to justify the imposition of Pandemic Mandates.

ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), September 2020:

However, to prove that the super computer can be wrong, Fugaku also stated that non-N95 cloth masks would work, or at least that is what your fear inducing leaders wanted you to think!

Nikkei, August 2020: Do cloth masks work? Supercomputer Fugaku says yes

In April 2020 I reported on an little known U.S. military study, done in 2006, that proved beyond a doubt that cloth masks, no matter how thick, do not prevent people from getting infected!

But wait, in October 2020, the Japan Times reported that what Fugaku actually determined is that even N95 masks are not 100%!  Fugaku’s simulation (remember, it was a computer simulation, not real world testing) stated that cloth mask are only 40% effective, and N95 masks are only 90% effective!

Also in October 2020, a ‘scientific’ paper was published, which used Fugaku to justify the use of mRNA vaccines!

How about those face shields? In September 2020, The Science Times reported that Fugaku said face shields are useless!

Then, in 2021, Fugaku issued a warning about mask wearing, that actually backed up the 2006 U.S. military study; wearing more layers of masks doesn’t work!

Japan Today, March 2021: Supercomputer shows doubling masks offers little help

In April 2021, NBC Los Angeles aired a video of the ridiculous Fugaku simulation showing people in what looks like a ‘circle-jerk’ drinking situation. This video was obviously used by woke-politicians to justify shutting down restaurants and bars! Watch the video and think, do people actually drink in public the way the simulation shows?

In 2022, growing public criticism of Pandemic Mandates was met with reminders of what super computer Fugaku dictated!

Fugaku is now being used to determine globalist policies about climate change! Asian Scientist, 13FEB2023: “For the first time, we have developed a highly accurate and precise model that is capable of predicting weather conditions of up to 30 minutes into the future, updated every 30 seconds, with a resolution of 500 meters.”-Takemasa Miyoshi, Data Assimilation Research Team at the RIKEN Centre for Computational Science using Fugaku

The point I’m trying to make is, even when using a super-computer, globalist-woke-progressive-leaders will still pick-and-choose, and even twist, the so-called evidence they use to support their Orwellian agenda. 

Pandemic Perfidy: JAPAN CAUGHT LYING ABOUT COST OF PANDEMIC OLYMPICS!

FLORIDA CALLS FOR GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION! MATHEMATICIAN SHOWS YOU HOW ‘EFFICACY’ CLAIMS ARE NOTHING BUT PANDEMIC PERFIDY!

Idaho, Technology

Kawaii: U.S. Navy deploys USS Idaho to…Idaho?

Image

10 February 2023 (13:35-UTC-07 Tango 06) 21 Bahman 1401/19 Rajab 1444/20 Jia-Yin 4721/10 февраля 2023 года

Towards the end of January 2023, the U.S. Navy’s (USN) 26th nuclear powered Virginia-class attack submarine was ‘floated’ in landlocked Idaho!

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 28JAN2023.

That is, a scale model of the submarine SSN-799 USS Idaho was paraded through downtown McCall, during the yearly Winter Carnival.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 28JAN2023.

Most people don’t know that the birth place of the world’s first nuclear powered submarine was in landlocked Idaho (see more below under Cold War Boats: Nautilus).

Six of the future crew of USS Idaho attend an Idaho Steelheads hockey game, 25JAN2023. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

The visit of the miniature of the latest USS Idaho (several USN boats have been named after The Gem State) was instigated by the USS Idaho Commissioning Committee, which sent six of SSN-799’s future crew to Idaho, to learn just what-the-heck the state of Idaho is all about.  They also spent some time on Idaho National Guard’s Gowen Field (which is also home to USN/USMC Reserve units); visited the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery; toured the Idaho Veterans Garden in Caldwell; spoke at school assemblies; attended the USS IDAHO Night at the Boise State University, among many other public relations events.

U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Joshua Karsten, 25JAN2023.

SSN-799 is currently being completed by General Dynamics Electric Boat, in Connecticut, and is expected to be commissioned into the USN in the Autumn of 2024.  Former Idaho governor Dirk Kempthorne revealed that the christening ceremony will use a bottle filled with water from Idaho lakes: “We went to the different lakes in Idaho gathering the water, which will all go into the champagne bottle, so that when Terry Stackley, our sponsor, christens the boat, the first water that will touch the bow of the USS Idaho will be the waters of Idaho.”

World War Three 2022: CHINA’S A-I-P ATTACK SUB REFRESHES TORPEDOES

World War Three 2021: IDAHO TRAINS KOREAN ANTI-NUCLEAR COMBAT TEAMS!

World War Three 2014:  EASTERN IDAHO SHERIFFS TRAIN UNDER ‘I-RAPTER’ FOR COMING NUCLEAR DISASTER!

World War Three 2012: GERMANY SELLS MORE DOLPHIN SUBMARINES TO ISRAEL

IRAN BUILDS TWO MORE ATTACK SUBMARINES, WILL TARGET U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

World War Three 2011:  RUSSIAN DELTA CLASS SUBMARINE FIRE BEING INVESTIGATED AS POSSIBLE SABOTAGE

ISRAEL INCREASES RANGE OF GERMAN MADE SUBMARINE, CAN CARRY CRUISE MISSILES ARMED WITH NUCLEAR WARHEAD

Cold War Boats:

15OCT2021, USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Jimmy Ivy the Third.

USS NAUTILUS (SSN-571), STILL FIGHTING AFTER 67 YEARS! FIRST BORN IN LAND-LOCKED IDAHO?

 MOSKVA CLASS SUBMARINE HUNTERS, STOP CALLING THEM AIRCRAFT CARRIERS!

Cold War Oddities, Idaho:

HTRE-3

ANCIENT NUCLEAR POWERED JET ENGINE FOUND IN IDAHO DESERT, PROOF OF ANCIENT ALIEN VISITORS?

International, Technology

Battle for Ukraine: A-W-A-C-S deploy to Ukraine!

Video

03 February 2023 (11:37-UTC-07 Tango 06) 14 Bahman 1401/12 Rajab 1444/13 Jia-Yin 4721/03 февраля 2023 года

Photo via NATO, 17JAN2023.

On 17JAN2023, NATO deployed deployed three Boeing E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft to NATO-Romania, which borders Ukraine.  Up until now, the NATO AWACs had been operating out of Geilenkirchen, in NATO-Germany.

NATO video showing AWACS deploying from Germany to Bucharest, Romania, 17JAN2023:

Photo via NATO, 17JAN2023.

NATO interview with AWACS tactical officer, Belgian Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Denis:

Photo via NATO, 17JAN2023.

NATO also revealed, without giving details, that it has created new multinational battlegroups for its ‘Enhanced Forward Presence’ in countries that border Russia!

Battle for Ukraine: 60+ BRADLEYS DEPLOY!

TaCaMO: E-6B MERCURY, launching nuclear ICBMs from the air

Technology

Cold War to Battle for Ukraine: Challenger, a child of Serendipity?

Video

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

In the early 1970s Imperial Iran placed big orders for two tanks; the British Chieftain Marks 3 & 5, and the U.S. M60A1.  In the mid-1970s Iran decided to buy an upgraded Mark 5 Chieftain, which became known as FV4030/2 Shir (Lion).  By 1978, Iran had almost 1-thousand types of Chieftain tanks, but wanted even more improved versions.

Chobham armored Chieftain prototype, June 1976. U.K. Ministry of Defence-Crown photo.

As luck would have it, the British had been developing a new type of armor in a place called Chobham on Surrey Health, in Surrey, England.  The new armor would be called Chobham.

Chobham armored ‘Chieftain’ prototype, June 1976.

In June 1976, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of Defence ordered the Royal Ordinance Factory (ROF) to upgrade the current production of Chieftains for Iran (becoming known as Mark-1-Shir/Shir-1) to the new Chobham armored Mark-2-Shir/Shir-2.  The U.K.’s The British Army (known officially since 1707, after the supposed union of Scotland and England) was not concerned about their own Chieftains’ lack of armor protection, because they were focused on a new tank project called MBT-80.  The Iranians placed an order for 1-thousand-225 Shir-2s!

Shir 2, 1978. U.K. Ministry of Defence-Crown photo.

The new ‘Chieftain’ was created, FV4030/3, given the Farsi name Shir-2 (Lion-2).

Shir 2, 1978. U.K. Ministry of Defence-Crown photo.

Production of Shir-2 was to commence in 1979/80, however, something called The ’79 Revolution took place in Iran, and as a result the new Iranian government cancelled the order for Shir-2, and anyway, both the United States and United Kingdom halted weapons sales to Iran.  It should be noted that during the 1980’s Iran-Iraq War, Iran discovered that the Chieftains and Lion-1s could not handle prolonged combat in desert environments.

Mark-2-Shir/Shir-2, never delivered to Iran due to sanctions imposed after the ’79 revolution. U.K. Ministry of Defence-Crown photo.

What was ROF to do with all those Lion-2s it was building for Iran?  Luckily, the U.K. government was aware that the old Chieftain was far behind other new NATO tanks such as the U.S. M1 Abrams and German Leo-2, the MBT-80 project was having too many problems and was canceled, so they decided to spend the taxpayer’s pounds (at a cost in USD of 1.5-million in 1987 money) on the already in production Lion-2, but changed the name to FV4030/4 Challenger (keeping in the British tradition of naming their battle tanks with words that start with the letter C).  With some internal changes from the Shir-2, the Challenger entered service in 1983.

From U.S. Army Graphic Training Aid, Armored Vehicle Recognition, 1987.

In 1986, ROF was taken over by Vickers Defence Systems/Alvis Vickers.

From U.S. Army Graphic Training Aid, Armored Vehicle Recognition, 1987.

The Challenger has the L11A5 120mm riffled-bore main gun.

Operation Desert Storm: 17JAN1991–28FEB1991, known as Operation Granby to the British, it was the combat debut of Challenger.

A Challenger during Operation Desert Storm, 28FEB1991. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Holmes.

A Challenger during Operation Desert Storm, 28FEB1991. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Holmes.

Implementation Force (IFor), Bosnia-Herzegovina:  20DEC1995 to 20DEC1996.

A Challenger is off-loaded from a Russian cargo ship, Vladimir Vaslyaev, in Croatia, reporting for IFOR duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 23JUN1996. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Brian Gavin.

A Challenger is off-loaded from a Russian cargo ship, Vladimir Vaslyaev, in Croatia, reporting for IFOR duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 23JUN1996. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Brian Gavin.

Stabilization Force (SFor), Bosnia-Herzegovina: January 1997 to December 2004.

Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1997. Photo via The British Army’s National Army Museum, photo by Richard Stickland.

Already in 1986, Vickers Defence Systems (eventually taken over by BAE Systems) began work on a better Challenger, due to its lack of performance against the M1 Abrams and Leo-2.  Production began in 1993.  In 1994, the first production Challenger-2 failed to pass the acceptance trials, changes had to be made on the production, but the tank finally entered service in 1998.  FV4034 Challenger-2 is an improved version of Challenger, with a newly designed turret and the 120mm L30A1 rifled-bore main-gun. 97% of the tank is new and almost none of the parts can interchange with the old Challenger.

Never ending UN/NATO ‘Peacekeeping’ in  Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo (KFor), June 1999 to present.

Kosovo Battle Group. United Kingdom Ministry of Defence/Crown photo, September 2000.

By 2002, the last production Challenger-2 was delivered, just in time to invade Iraq.

Invasion of Iraq/Operation Iraqi Freedom: March 2003, combat debut of Challenger-2, known as Operation Telic to the British.

U.S. Marines check out a Royal Red Coat Challenger-2, staged on Camp Coyote, Kuwait, for the ‘done-deal’ invasion of Iraq, 03MAR2003. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Paul L. Anstine the Second.

External fuel drum on a Challenger-2, staged on Camp Coyote, Kuwait, for the ‘done-deal’ invasion of Iraq, 03MAR2003. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Paul L. Anstine the Second.

Weighed down by extra armor and electronic anti-IED devices, Challenger-2s practice some live-fire in Basra, Iraq, 17NOV2008. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Gustavo Olgiati.

Jordanian Al Hussein (upgraded Challenger 1 FV4030/4). U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Richard Blumenstein, 07MAY2012.

(Vehicle I-D: JORDANIAN SHIELD اردني درع )

Ukraine Crisis: February 2014 (NATO backed coup) to present.

NATO video, demonstration of Challenger-2 on Sennelager Training Area, NATO-Germany, 15SEP2016:

Challenger-2 during wargame in NATO-Estonia, 10JUN2017. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Matthew J. DeVirgilio.

U.S. Army video by Major Charles Calio, Challenger-2s mulling about on Sennelager Training Area, NATO-Germany, 16SEP2017:

U.S. Army personnel help load a Royal Omani Challenger-2 onto a tractor-trailer/Tank Transporter, 06APR2019. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Nahjier Williams.

NATO video of Challenger-2s showing off during wargames in NATO-Estonia (on Russia’s border), May 2019. Notice that some of the Challenger-2s are carrying NATO-Latvian pennants on their antenna:

Challenger-2 on Castlemartin Ranges in South West Wales. It is wearing ‘Urban Camo’, developed during the Cold War while occupying West Germany/West Berlin. United Kingdom Ministry of Defence-Crown photo, 15JUL2019.

NATO video showing Challenger-2s during wargame in NATO-Estonia, May 2020:

NATO video by Paris Grabeel, showing Challenger-2 during wargame in NATO Estonia, February 2021:

Quick U.S. Army video, by Specialist Elizabeth MacPherson, showing Challenger-2 during wargame in NATO-Estonia, May 2022:

The United Kingdom’s BAE Systems-Team Challenger is upgrading the Challenger-2, in the hopes of keeping it service until 2035.  Not all Challenger-2 are being upgraded, those that are not are being retired, or, as of 16JAN2023, “a squadron” of Challenger-2 s will be given away to Ukraine.

Challenger-3:

Photo published 29JUL2021, via The British Army-Crown.

Challenger-2 s being prepped for intensive Mark-3-Challenger upgrade.

Image via The British Army-Crown.

BAE Systems’ new Challenger with German Rheinmetall 120mm NATO compatible gun, and other improvements.

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis:  ILYUSHIN 76/78, RUSSIA & NATO?

NATO Vehicle I-D: CHALLENGER-2 vs LECLERC

Occupation of Iraq: U.S. ARMY BLOWS-UP BRITISH MADE IRANIAN CHIEFTAIN (Shir?) IN IRAQ!

Technology

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: Ilyushin 76/78, Russia & NATO?

Video

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

The Ilyushin Design Bureau presented the idea of the ’76’ in 1967. Development commenced, with the first flight in March 1971.  Ilyushin is now part of United Aircraft Corporation (aka United Aircraft Russia).

Soviet II-76 Candid, photo released by NATO in January 1977.

Sometime during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, 1979-89.

Soviet II-76 Candid, photo released by NATO in April 1983.

Il-76, NATO reporting name Candid.

Soviet II-76 Candid, photo released by NATO in January 1988.

Ukrainian Il-76 in United Nations ‘peacekeeping’ service on Moi International Airport, Mombasa, Kenya, November 1992.

From U.S. Army FM 44-80, Visual Aircraft Recognition, July 1993 edition.

A Russian Il-76 delivers humanitarian aid at Goma Airport (then part of Zaire), for the Rwandan refugees, 03AUG1994. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Val Gempis.

Another contracted Il-76 delivers humanitarian aid from Canada on Goma Airport (then part of Zaire), for the Rwandan refugees, 03AUG1994. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Marvin Krause.

Russian Il-76 off-loads NATO-Canadian military equipment on Kigali Airport, Rwanda, 05AUG1994. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Marvin Krause.

PEACEKEEPER ’95: RUSSIA INVADES NATO-UNITED STATES! RED DAWN FOR REALS?

Russian Il-76 serving in the United Nations ‘peacekeeping’ operations, Sarajevo Airport, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 09JUN1995. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Michael J. Haggerty.

In August 1995, the Taliban captured a Russian Il-76 that was delivering military supplies to the pro-Russian government of Afghanistan.  Eventually the Russian crew would escape, with their Candid.

Russian vehicles roll off an Il-76 onto Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 12JAN1996. USAF photo by Senior Airman Ken Bergmann.

Notice the military versions of the Il-76 have tail guns, while the silly-vilian (civilian) versions do not.

A Russian Il-76TD delivers humanitarian aid on Roberts International Airport, Liberia, under the guard of U.S. Marines. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Nathan E. Eason, 14AUG2003.

A contracted Il-76 delivers supplies to U.S. forces on Mosul, Iraq, 19SEP2003.

A derilict Iraqi Airways Il-76 sits on the tarmac of Baghdad International Airport. After Desert Storm, the U.S./NATO imposed a ‘no-fly’ zone over Iraq, including Iraqi civilian airline traffic, effectively killing Iraqi Airways. That changed in 2006. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Scott Sturkol, 21OCT2003.

The Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is the aerial fueler version of the Il-76.

Indian Air Force Ilyushin IL-78MKI Midas aerial refueler on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, 29JUL2004. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen.

Navigator station on the Indian Air Force IL-78 Midas. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen, 30JUL2004.

Inside the cargo area of the Indian IL-78 Midas. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen, 30JUL2004.

An Il-76 delivers a Mi-2 crop-duster on Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by First Sergeant Robert Heberling, 03MAY2006.

Contracted Il-76 unloads supplies for U.S. forces in Iraq, 20MAR2008. USAF photo by Sabrina Johnson.

A contracted Il-76TD sits next to USAF C-17s on Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, 19NOV2009. USAF photo by Senior Airman Felicia Juenke.

South Carolina National Guard personnel arrive on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, 10JUN2012. Behind them, amid the gaggle of V22 Ospreys, is a Russian Il-76. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Caycee Watson.

Ukraine Crisis: February 2014 (NATO backed coup) to present.

In 2015, Russia began using the new Il-76MD-90A.

In May, 2015, the U.S. Agency for International Development used an Il-76 to deliver humanitarian aid to Nepal, following a devastating earthquake. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Melissa B. White, 08MAY2015.

NATO video, NATO-Belgian troops take a ride on a Ukrainian military Il-76MD, 23OCT2015:

Russia uses Il-76MD hospital aircraft called ‘Scalpels’, to return Russian journalists and military personnel who’ve been wounded in the NATO instigated Syrian ‘civil war’.

Candid reports for duty with the USAF in Kuwait, 11MAR2019. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert Cloys.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert Cloys, 11MAR2019.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert Cloys, 11MAR2019.

An Il-76 working for the USAF on Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, 09JUL2019. South Carolina Air National Guard photo by Captain Stephen Hudson.

USAF time-lapse video by Technical Sergeant Michael Mason, loading a contracted Il-76 in Kuwait, 09JUL2019:

In August 2019, a Ukrainian Il-76TD was blown up by rebel forces in Libya. The NATO instigated ‘civil war’ is still raging, and believe it or not both Ukraine and Russia support the NATO approved ‘government’ forces!

Russian Defense Ministry video of Il-76 rough-field landing/taking-off, 2019:

In March 2020, Russia sent nine Il-76s to NATO-Italy, carrying medical personnel to help NATO-Italy fight the so-called covid pandemic.

Il-76MD water bomber.

In Summer 2021, Iran sent a waterbombing Il-76TD to NATO-Turkey to help fight wildfires.

In 2021, Russia announced it will overhaul six of India’s Il-78MKI Midas tankers.

Russian Defense Ministry video of Il-76 airborne troop operation, during wargame in Belarus, September 2021:

Palettes of CoViD-19 vaccines were delivered to Yemen, using an Il-76. This included vaccines paid for by U.S. taxpayers through USAID. A previous delivery was made in August 2021. They were delivered by the UN-WHO/Gates Foundation/World Bank’s Gavi Alliance. Photo by Drew Sullivan, 20DEC2021.

Pakistani Il-78s being upgraded to MP standard in Ukraine, photo posted February 2022.

YY-20, CHINA’S NEW LONG RANGE AIRBORNE FUELER, OFFSPRING OF THE IL-76?

Photo via UARussia (United Aircraft Russia), November 2022.

Russian news report about newest Il-76, the Il-76MD-90A, the video shows the roll-out of the 18th ‘MD-90A’ on 29NOV2022:

The fifth production Il-76MD-90A, of 2022, made its first flight on 04DEC2022.  Since 2014, at least 18 of the new Candids have been built.

On 10DEC2022, Russian Aerospace Forces took official possession of two new Il-76 aircraft, one an upgraded Il-76MDM, the other a new build Il-76MD-90A. The ‘MD-90A’ has a new designed wing, strengthened landing gear, more efficient turbines, a ‘glass cockpit’, and an electronic defense system against anti-aircraft missiles. 

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis:   AMX-10RCR

F-15 EAGLE NOW 50 YEARS OLD

KAMOV 27 HELIX