Category Archives: International

International, Technology

River Gun Boat: România, guardians of the Danube

Video

NATO Romania’s armored river gunboats are operated by a unit called Division 88.  Romania has been operating river gunboats on the Danube River since 1860, making Romania the oldest ‘modern’ navy to do so.

Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.

This Shield of Dobrogea video, posted in March 2021, shows gunboat ops during exercise Danube Protector:

Arizona Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Adrian Borunda, 15JUL2017.

Romanian armored gunboat F-178 Smârdan in action on the Danube (Dunăre), during NATO’s Saber Guardian 2017.

NATO video, quad 23mm anti-aircraft guns blazing on the Smârdan during Saber Guardian 2017:

Mihail Kogălniceanu class F-47 gunboat, U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Nicholas Vidro, 16JUL2017.

Romanian river monitor F-47 Lascăr Catargiu, Saber Guardian 2017.

NATO video of river patrol boat, armored gunboats, and larger monitors, supporting Danube river crossing operations, big guns firing (wait for it):

Smârdan class F-176 Rohave, USA photo by Specialist Christopher Estrada, 22JUN2019.

Armored gunboat F-176 Rahova provides cover for Danube river crossing, Saber Guardian June 2019.

NATO video of Danube river crossing, armored gunboats and a monitor, Saber Guardian 2019:

Romania has three Mihail Kogălniceanu class river monitors, beginning operations in the 1990s:

F-45 Mihail Kogălniceanu, photo via Naval Forces Romania, February 2022.

Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.

Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.

F-47 Lascăr Catargiu.

F-47 on public display, photo via Naval Forces Romania, August 2021.

Photo via Naval Forces Romania, August 2020.

Photo via Naval Forces Romania, August 2020.

F-46 Ion C. Brătianu.

Mihail Kogălniceanu class and Smârdan class launching rockets. Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.

Five Smârdan class armored river gunboats, beginning operations in the late 1980s-early 1990s:

F-176 Rohave, photo via Naval Forces Romania, June 2021.

F-177 Opanez, photo via Naval Forces Romania, May 2021.

F-177 Opanez, photo via Naval Forces Romania, May 2021.

Rocket launchers are optional, photo via Naval Forces Romania, April 2021.

F-178 Smârdan, photo via Naval Forces Romania, June 2021.

Photo via Naval Forces Romania, September 2021.

Photo via Naval Forces Romania, July 2021.

F-179 Posada, photo via Naval Forces Romania, May 2021.

F-179 Posada, photo via Naval Forces Romania, May 2021.

F-179 equipped with two optional rocket launchers, photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.

Photo via Naval Forces Romania, August 2020.

F-180 Rovine, photo via Naval Forces Romania, July 2021.

Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.

F-180 with one optional rocket launcher, photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.

Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2020.

Division 88 operates about a dozen of these non-named VD-141 river patrol boats. The VD-141 class began operations in the 1980s:

Patrol boat F-147, February 2022, photo via Naval Forces Romania.

Shield of Dobrogea video posted in January 2020, Division 88’s smaller river patrol boats:

Guns of a VD-141 class, photo via Naval Forces Romania, June 2021.

Shield of Dobrogea video of Division 88 river gunboats in action, posted November 2019 (although a lot of the video is actually from 2017):

Official Romanian Navy promotional video about Division 88 river gunboat operations, posted April 2019:

River gunboat ops, posted by Shield of Dobrogea, May 2018:

More gunboat action, posted April 2018:

River gunboat report posted April 2017:

A long video about Romania’s river gunboats, from 2015:

Gunboat target practice, video posted April 2013:

The Jamestown Foundation has a article with more info about Romania’s Danube Flotilla.

Fellow NATO member Turkey sold to the Romanian Border Police 12 SNR-17 river patrol boats. 

Vehicle I-D: ARMURĂ ROMÂNIA

U.S. NAVY KEEPS OLD U.S. ARMY BOAT-TRUCK AFLOAT

THE MANY LIVES OF LST-786

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Armură România

Video

Former Soviet Bloc member Romania became a member of NATO in 2004.

One of the first operations as a member of NATO was to deploy troops to Iraq in 2007.  Video of Romanian TAB-B33 Zimbru (Romanian built BTR-80) heading out for patrol in Iraq, April 2007:

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Brendan Stephens, 15OCT2008.

In 2008, Romanian troops operated U.S. made armored HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), as well as their BTR-80s (aka TAB-B33 Zimbru [Aurochs, or wild cattle]) while patrolling outside the city of Nasariyah, Iraq.

Camp Dracula, Dhi Qar, Iraq, 01DEC2008. USA photo by Specialist Donte Baltimore.

Since July 2006, Romanian troops have also been working alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan.  U.S. Army video from 16OCT2010, showing Romanians training for deployment to Afghanistan:

U.S. Army (USA) video report from 2009, revealing that the U.S. Army has expanded into Romania:

The UROVESA VAMTac (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico) looks like a U.S. HMMWV, but it is actually made in NATO-Spain.

Tennessee Army National Guard learns to shoot the Cold War era Soviet 12.7mm heavy machine gun on the Babadag Training Area, Romania, 13AUG2009. Photo by Sergeant Marla Keown.

Live prep & fire video, by Sergeant Ellis McDaniels, TR-85M1 Bizonul (The Bison) invade Grafenwoehr, Germany, June 2014:

TR-85M1 blasting away on Grafenwoehr, Germany, 13JUN2014. USA photo by Captain Sandra Stover.

Romanian Armed Forces video of tank live-fire, from point of view of the top of the turret: https://fb.watch/3b_7nPPEy8/

Romanian MLI-84M on Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, 27JUN2014. USA photo by Gertrud Zach.

A modified BMP, the Romanian MLI-84M Jder (Marten), in Germany, 2014.

In 2015, the U.S. issued MRAPs to Romanian troops operating in Kandahar, Afghanistan. USA photo, 02MAR2015.

 In 2015 Romania expanded its NATO role by deploying additional troops to Afghanistan.  Romanian troops operate U.S. made Oshkosh M-ATV MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected).

Photo by Sergeant William Tanner, 18APR2015.

TR-85, Smardan Training Area, Romania, April 2015.

Video, PMA T-55 bridge layer in action, 2015:

Romanian Armed Forces video of bridge tank operation: https://fb.watch/3bZYmB3S-C/

USA photo by Sergeant William Tanner, 18APR2015.

MLI-84Ms drive around a German made Gepard (Cheetah) anti-aircraft tank, April 2015.

USA photo by Sergeant William Tanner, 18APR2015.

TABC-79/ABC-79M on Smardan Training Area, Romania. USA photo by Sergeant William Tanner, 18APR2015.

Once called the TABC-79, the Scout/Recon vehicles are now called ABC-79M.

DMT-85M1. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Melanye Martinez, 07DEC2015.

A DMT-85M1 engineer vehicle, based on the TR-85M1, December 2015.

(Click/tap here to see my alma matter Idaho/Montana/Oregon National Guard’s M1A2 SEP live fire in Romania, from 2016)

T-55. USMC photo by Sergeant Kirstin Spanu, 28SEP2016.

From September 2016, a T-55AM (aka TR-77-580).

USA photo by Sergeant Timothy Villareal, 15JUL2017.

Romanian BMP ambulance conversion, July 2017.

Video by Staff Sergeant Michael Zahnow, how to cross a Romanian river (the Danube):

 

TAB-71/BTR-60. USA photo by Specialist Emily Houdershieldt, 19JUL2017.

BTR-60 (TAB-71) just outside Ramnicu Valcea, July 2017.

Video, BTR-70 (aka TAB-77) from 2017 maneuvers:

Video, by Specialist Jacob Banuelos, TR-85 live fire, Smardan Training Area in December 2017:

 

USA photo by Sergeant Jeremiah Woods, 30MAY2019.

TAB-77 (BTR-70), May 2019.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant True Thao, 20JUN2019.

Piranha-3 crosses the Danube river during Saber Guardian 2019.

Video, by Specialist Drake Chandler, of NATO Saber Guardian 2019 wargames, Romanian Swiss made Piranha cross a pontoon bridge:

Saber Guardian 2019 music video, by Michigan National Guard Specialist Brian Pearson and Romanian Captain Mariana Dinu:

More live fire video, Saber Guardian 2019, TR-85 and T-55 (TR-77-580):

Photo by Sergeant H. Marcus McGill. Piranha joins a U.S. convoy to the Black Sea for Exercise Rapid Falcon, 19NOV2020.

More Romanian Armed Forces videos: www.facebook.com/Romanian.Armed.Forces/videos

Soviet era tanks in use by NATO:  POLAND

NATO: MiG-21 

World War Three, 2016: SNAKE RIVER Militia M1A2 SEP, LIVE FIRE ROMANIA!

MONTANA Militia ENJOYS BEING THE ‘BAD GUY’ IN ROMANIA!

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: KDC-10 Koninklijke Luchtmacht

Video

Photo by Staff Sergeant Dana Cable.

In September 2019, A Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10 paid a visit to Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, for Exercise Mobility Guardian.

Fairchild AFB, Washington, 2019. Photo by First Lieutenant Jessica Cicchetto.

2019: Texas airborne fueler company buys Dutch KDC-10s

Photos by Maartje Roos.

Photos from NATO’s Trident Juncture 2018, in Norway.

NATO video, taxi-takeoff, heading to Trident Juncture 2018 in Norway:

Photo by Chris Okula.

They flew all the way to Edwards Air Force Base, in California, to refuel one of their own F-35s!   According to the press info, at the end of March 2016, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht) was used to prove the viability of refueling F-35s with KC-10s.

Halloween 2020:  HOW TO MUMMIFY YOUR KC-10, OR, LAST FLIGHT OF 86-0036

Operation CoViD-19:  PROJECT AIR BRIDGE, 747S, MD-11S, BREAKING AIRLIFT RECORDS!

Wildfires 2019:  DC-10, IDAHO’S 911

Bare Metal:  NASA’S MD-11 EXPERIMENTAL

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Armura Moldovan, in a Cold War created country that could go Hot any second!

Video

Moldova is not a member of NATO, but has joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council making it an official NATO ‘partner’.  NATO ‘partner’ countries are located all across the Earth, not just in the North Atlantic (the original justification for the creation of NATO was to form a joint defense system for countries in the North Atlantic).

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

BTRs during wargames, December 2020.  The flag on the first vehicle is the national flag, the flag on the second vehicle is the flag of the Ministry of Defense.

Official Moldovan Ministry of Defense video showing training with BTRs, towed D-20 artillery, various types of MTLBs, culminating in live fire, December 2020:

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

Engineer vehicle based on T-72 hull, November 2020.

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

Video of engineer vehicles in action, November 2020:

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

BMP artillery radar vehicle followed by 2S9s and BMD-1s, November 2020.

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

An Antonov-2 flies over MTLBs, October 2020.

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

T-72 engineer vehicle, July 2020.

Video of vehicle review, and some live fire, July 2020.  Sadly, that’s about it for the Moldovan National Army.  At the end of the video the Minister of Defense, Alexandru Pinzari, admits they are working with “obsolete” equipment:

North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Robert Jordan, 12SEP2019.

Loading anti-tank missile (9M113 Konkurs, NATO codename AT-5 Spandrel) onto a BRDM-2-Anti-Tank armored car, Bulboaca Training Area, September 2019.

North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Robert Jordan, 12SEP2019.

Moldova used to be a part of Romania, called Bessarabia.  Under Soviet rule Bessarabia became the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic.  With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moldova declared independence in August 1991.

North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Robert Jordan, 14SEP2016.

BMD based 2S9 Nona self propelled airborne artillery gun, Bulboaca Training Area, September 2016.

Since 1996, the North Carolina Army National Guard has been training with the Moldovan army, through the U.S. Department of Defense’s National Guard State Partnership Program.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Ryan Young, 12DEC2014.

BRDM-2 over-watch as U.S. Marine launches a Javelin anti-tank missile in Balti, December 2014.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Ryan Young, 12DEC2014.

An old BTR gets taken out by a Javelin.

Video, BTR dies:

Video explainer report, USMC anti-armor training in Moldova, 2014:

Video of various anti-tank weapons being used, December 2014:

From what I’ve researched, Moldova has between zero and possibly a whopping three Main Battle Tanks (MBT), all T-64BV.

Photo by Neil Brennan.

The reason for little or no MBTs in Moldova is apparently because of a cease fire agreement between Moldova and a former territory called Transnistria (Transnistria actually declared independence one year before greater Moldova, yet the ‘NATO’ world refuses to recognize it because it is one of the last few Soviet Republics that still believes the Soviet Union is alive and well).  The Sweden based OSCE has been overseeing arms control agreements including the destruction of heavy military vehicles like MBTs.  Moldova has complied, but not Transnistria (meaning tiny Transnistria has more armored vehicles than much larger Moldova).

The majority of Moldova’s existing armor are Soviet era armored cars of various types, then tracked utility vehicles like MTLB, and tracked self propelled artillery guns/rocket launchers.

Moldovan news pic of a supposed T-54? (note the spokes on the road wheels) that had been hidden by a family in a disputed district.

At the beginning of 2017, a news report said that a family had been hiding a T-54(?) tank on their property in the divided district of Anenii Noi.  It was confiscated.

August 2018: Moldovan, N.C. troops train at Fort Bliss

Vehicle I-D: SUOMALAISET (Finnish) LEOPARDIT JA SISU PASI JA CV9030 JA MTLB JA 2S1 JA BMP-2 JA AMOS

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Jordanian Shield اردني درع

Video

Al Hussein (aka Challenger 1 FV4030/4) and AH-1S/F Cobra. Photo via Jordanian Armed Forces.

German made Marder 1A3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Photo via Jordanian Armed Forces.

Marder 1A3, photo via Jordanian Armed Forces.

South African made Ratel, on UN ‘peacekeeping’ duty. Photo via Jordanian Armed Forces.

Jordanian Armed Forces promotional video, November 2021:

Photo via Royal Hashemite Court.

Jordan’s King Abdullah the Second, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein, inspect one of at least 80 ‘donated’ (from United Arab Emirates) French-made Leclerc tanks, October 2020.

Photo via Royal Hashemite Court.

Old U.S. made M60A3 tanks during wargames, October 2020.

Official Royal Hashemite Court video:

USA photo by Sergeant First Class Kenneth Upsall.

A U.S. Army Staff Sergeant finds out what it is like driving a Jordanian Challenger-1, called Al Hussein (الحسين), January 2017.

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant First Class Kenneth Upsall, 08JAN2017.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sergeant Vitaliy Rusavskiy, 17MAY2017.

Jordanian M113A2MK-1J mingling with U.S. Marine Corps  Amphibious Assault Vehicle-P7/A1, May 2017.

USMC photo by Corporal Jessica Y. Lucio, 17MAY2017.

USA photo by Sergeant Youtoy Martin, 17JAN2016.

M113A2MK-1J, January 2016.  Video report, U.S. Army trains with Jordanian M113A2 unit, January 2016:

Al Hussein, aka Challenger Mark 1, aka FV4030/4. USA photo by Specialist Ian Valley, 24MAY2016.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Sean Searfus, 18MAY2015.

M60A3 tank fires during a combined live fire demonstration as part of Exercise Eager Lion in Wadi Shadiya, Jordan, 18MAY2015.

USMC photo by Corporal Sean Searfus, 18MAY2015.

USMC photo by Corporal Sean Searfus, 18MAY2015.

Photo by Captain Viet Nguyen.

Jordanian YPG-765 during Eager Lion 2015.

USMC photo by Corporal Sean Searfus, 18MAY2015.

USMC photo by Corporal Sean Searfus, 18MAY2015.

USMC photo by Sergeant Austin Hazard, 29MAY2014.

YPG-765 during Eager Lion, May 2014.

USMC photo by Sergeant Austin Hazard, 29MAY2014.

USMC photo by Sergeant Austin Hazard, 29MAY2014.

Videos, Jordanian Al Hussein (الحسين), conducting live fire during Eager Lion, Summer of 2013:

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Richard Blumenstein, 07MAY2012.

Al Hussein (الحسين) fire during Eager Lion, May 2012.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Scott Stewart, 01SEP1987.

A Jordanian M113 is off-loaded from a U.S. Air Force C-141 Starlifter, during wargame Bright Star, in the North African country of Egypt, September 1987.

Vehicle I-D: IRAQI ARMOR, AFTER THE INVASION

Vehicle I-D: CHALLENGER vs LECLERC

2016: NATO’s secret chemical training for Jordan

International, Technology

NATO 2013: F-15 Eagles over Norge

Video

U.S. Air Force photo by First Lieutenant Christopher Mesnard, 20SEP2013.

In September 2013, U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles and E Strike Eagles joined USAF KC-135 tankers, and Norwegian F-16 Fighting Falcons, Swedish JAS-39 Gripens, Finish F-18 Hornets, U.K. Eurofighter Typhoons, and NATO E-3A AWACS, for the first ever Arctic Challenge over Norway.

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Lee Osberry, 23SEP2013.

Video, by Airman 1st Class Amanda Sampson, F-15C and E Eagles taking off and landing at Bodø Main Air Station, during NATO’s Arctic Challenge, September 2013.  Good vibrations turbine sounds:

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Lee Osberry, 24SEP2013.

Video by First Lieutenant Christopher Mesnard of airborne fueling operations, Arctic Challenge September 2013:

USAF photo by First Lieutenant Christopher Mesnard, 12SEP2013.

Air Force Report, Arctic Challenge:

 

2020: NEW TAIL FEATHERS FOR OREGON EAGLE, B-17 BOMBER STYLE! PLUS, MINI-EAGLE.

2019: 

D-DAY F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

International, Technology, U.S.

U.S. Border Wall milestones of 2020

Video

During the decades of sporadic wall construction it should be noted that both Republican and Democrat politicians supported it.    The first wall section was built by the United States between 1909 and 1911.  Mexico built a wall section in 1918.  The walls were extended in the 1920s and in the 1940s.  President George H.W. Bush (senior) began new wall construction in the 1990s.  President Bill Clinton expanded funding for wall construction, in fact one book says it was under Clinton that wall construction became more focused in an attempt to stop drug and human smuggling.  President George W. Bush (junior) began new wall construction supposedly at the behest of California politicians.   President Barack Obama supposedly declared wall construction complete in 2011, yet quietly (secretly?) built an additional 128-miles (206-km) of wall.   In 2017, President Donald Trump officially restarted wall construction.  I predict President elect Joe Biden will not halt border wall construction.

Video, trench being dug for construction of wall near Columbus, New Mexico, April 2020:

Video, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) explaining why the U.S. needs a wall, June 2020:

 

Near El Paso, Texas, August 2020.

Video showing that wall construction continued at night in the South Pacific Border District, Arizona, September 2020:

Video, wall construction South Pacific Border District, California, September 2020:

Border wall slowly stretches across the desert near Columbus, New Mexico, October 2020.

Wall construction over mountains on the Barry M. Goldwater Range aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, October 2020.

New wall completed near Tucson, Arizona, 02NOV2020.

17DEC2020, Tucson 10/28 Border Barrier near Nogales, Arizona.

21DEC2020, the final section of Yuma 10/27 Border Barrier is installed, in Arizona.

Operation CoViD-19, March 2020: BORDER GUARDS

New War on Drugs: U.S. BORDER PATROL PROMOTES TRUMP’S WALL!

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Suomalaiset Leopardit ja Sisu Pasi ja CV9030 ja MTLB ja 2S1 ja BMP-2 ja AMoS

Video

Despite Finland being an officially ‘non-aligned’ country, it still allows, and even takes part in, NATO wargames on its soil (which borders Russia).

Suomalaiset Leopardit ja Sisu Pasi ja CV9030 ja MTLB ja 2S1 ja BMP-2 ja AMoS=Finnish Leopard and Sisu Pasi and CV9030 and MTLB and 2S1 and BMP-2 and AMoS.

U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marines watch a demonstration of the Leopard bridgelayer, 07MAY2019. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Scott Jenkins.

Finnish German-made Leopard 2L bridge laying tank, demonstrating for U.S. Marines, and U.K. Royal Marines, during NATO’s Exercise Arrow in May 2019.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Scott Jenkins, 07MAY2019.

It is a German Leopard 2 chassis with a Finnish designed bridge system. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

USMC LAVs try out the Finnish bridge. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Scott Jenkins, 07MAY2019.

BMP-2MD on the Pojankangas Training Area near Kankaanpaa, Finland, 15MAY2019. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson.

Soviet era BMP-2, modernized to BMP-2MD.  NATO’s Arrow 19.

BMP-2MD on the Pojankangas Training Area near Kankaanpaa, Finland, 15MAY2019. USA photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson.

BMP-2MD on the Pojankangas Training Area near Kankaanpaa, Finland, 15MAY2019. USA photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson.

USA photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson, 17MAY2019.

Supposedly neutral Finland also takes part in NATO wargames in other countries.

Älvdalen training grounds, Sweden, 27OCT2018. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Sergeant Alec Orko.

Washing a Sisu/Patria (Sisu was a Cold War era name for the company now called Patria) Pasi XA-203 prior to the short road-march to neighboring Norway for NATO’s Trident Juncture, October 2018.

Washing off the Sweden, before heading to Norway. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Sergeant Alec Orko, 27OCT2018.

Video, painting your Patria Pasi for Winter ops, 2018:

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Ville Multanen, 29OCT2018.

Going skiing.  A Patria Pasi during NATO’s Trident Juncture, October 2018.

Finnish MTLBs during Arrow 18, in Pohjankangas Training Area, Finland, 18MAY2018. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Averi Coppa.

Soviet era MTLBs during Arrow 18, May 2018.

CV90-30FIN

Video of Swedish made CV9030 FIN, during NATO’s Saber Strike 2017 in Estonia:

USA photo by Specialist Elliott Banks, 06MAY2017.

Leopard 2A4, NATO’s Arrow 17 wargames, May 2017.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Soviet era 2S1 self propelled artillery gun, the Finns call it the 122 PSH 74.  They are former East German 2S1s, purchased in 1992 and 1994.

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Elliott Banks, 05MAY2017.

122 PSH 74 (2S1), NATO’s Arrow 17 wargames, May 2017.

Slow-mo video, German-made Leopard 2A4s, one with Israeli made mine-plow, Niinisalo Training Area in 2016:

Photo by Sergeant Tatum Vayavananda, 11JUN2015.

Sisu Pasi, carrying British troops, ‘invades’ Sweden during NATO’s BALTOPS during Summer 2015.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Armando A. Schwier-Morales, 08JUN2015.

Twin barreled 120mm gunned AMoS (Advanced Mortar System) ‘invades’ Latvia during NATO’s Saber Strike during Summer 2015.

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

Vehicle I-D: GEORGIAN T-72 & BMP

HOW TO BUILD A 1:1 SCALE U.S. ARMY ‘FAKE NEWS’ BMP-2

IDAHO’S 1:1 SCALE FAKE NEWS RUSSIAN RADAR TANK

Soviet era tanks in use by NATO: POLAND

Soviet era tanks in use by NATO: BULGARIAN T-72

Soviet era tanks in use by NATO: SLOVENIAN M84

Vehicle I-D: UKRAINIAN ARMOR

International, Kit Bashing, Technology, U.S.

Rivet Joint-Airseeker: RC-135V/W Patriot & Red Coat

Video

RC-135 Rivet Joint , Las Vegas, Nevada, 07DEC2021. U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis.

Kadena Air Base, Japan, 12MAY2020. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Benjamin Sutton.

Personnel wearing masks board RC-135V at Kadena Air Base, Japan, 05MAY2020. USAF photo by Senior Airman Rhett Isbell.

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, 21FEB2020. USAF photo by Manuel Garcia.

The Boeing RC-135V/W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft are the most recent members of the RC-135 family, which can be traced back to 1964.  The difference between the ‘V’ and ‘W’ variants depends upon which C-135 was upgraded/modified to Rivet Joint standard; RC-135Vs are upgraded RC-135Cs, while RC-135Ws are modified C-135Bs.

USAF photo by Manuel Garcia, 21FEB2020.

It provides near-real-time on-scene intelligence collection, primarily by detecting, identifying and geolocating signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum.

Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, 28JUL2017. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Amy Lovgren.

Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, 28JUL2017. Photo by Technical Sergeant Amy Lovgren.

It can carry a crew of more than 30 people, and is powered by four CFM-56 turbofans.

Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, 27JUL2017. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Amy Lovgren.

Currently, U.S. Air Force Rivet Joints are flown by the 55th Wing, based out of Offutt Air Force Base (AFB), Nebraska.

Offutt AFB, Nebraska, 13MAR2012. USAF photo by Jeffrey Gates.

Time lapse video by Senior Airman Jacob Skovo-Lane, How to Wash your Rivet Joint, October 2018:

Video by Senior Airman Joshua Hoskins, Michigan Air National Guard re-fuels Rivet Joint over Afghanistan, January 2017:

Offutt AFB, 13MAR2012. USAF photo by Jeffrey Gates.

Over Afghanistan, 19JUN2011. USAF photo by Master Sergeant William Greer.

Over Afghanistan, 19JUN2011. USAF photo by Master Sergeant William Greer.

Over Afghanistan, 19JUN2011. USAF photo by Master Sergeant William Greer.

In August 2010, the USAF celebrated 20 years of Rivet Joint operations, with aircraft that are as much as 50 years old:

During the pandemic of 2020, believe it or not a mask was created for the nose of the RC-135.  It is nicknamed The Mule Mask.  Video interview of mask creator Technical Sergeant Kristen Horwith by Staff Sergeant Lexie West, 11AUG2020:

Video by (then) Senior Airmen Lexie West, USAF RC-135 at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, November 2017:

RAF RC-135W Airseeker, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, 02MAY2018. USAF photo by Senior Airman Jacob Skovo-Lane.

RAF RC-135W Airseeker, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, 02MAY2018. USAF photo by Senior Airman Jacob Skovo-Lane.

For the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly British Commonwealth of Nations, formerly British Empire) member United Kingdom, in 2011 the RC-135W was chosen as the replacement for the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) BAe Nimrod R Mark 1.    In November 2013 the RAF received it’s first RC-135W, flying it’s first mission in May 2014.  The official British name for the RC-135W is Airseeker.

12FEB2017, Airseeker undergoing landing gear inspection, Offutt AFB. USAF photo by Delanie Stafford.

12FEB2017, Airseeker undergoing landing gear inspection, Offutt AFB. USAF photo by Delanie Stafford.

While taking part in Red Flag aerial wargames in February 2017, over Nevada, the RAF Airseeker developed main-landing gear problems and diverted to Offutt AFB in Nebraska.

12FEB2017, Airseeker undergoing landing gear inspection, Offutt AFB. USAF photo by Delanie Stafford.

It was determined that the Airseeker had a faulty main-landing gear sequence valve, which was preventing the gear from locking in the retracted position.

RAF Airseeker, Red Flag wargames, Nevada, 2017. Photo by Sergeant Neil Bryden.

Giant model of an RC-135, Lackland AFB, Texas. Photo by by Nadine Wiley De Moura.

The ancient Nova vacformed 1:72 scale KC-135 came with optional parts which you could use to make an RC version (but it has the older engines since it came out before the CFM-56 version, you could kit-bash using a newer CFM equipped AMT-ERTL KC-135R kit, which was also issued under the Airfix/Heller brands).

In the 1990s AMT-ERTL issued a 1:72 scale RC-135V, the version used during Desert Storm.   Some kit bashers used the kit to model a RC-135W Airseeker. 

An old photo of an RC-135, by Forrest Durham.

If you are a model builder, pay attention to the year of operation of the RC-135V/W you want to depict, because various antennae bumps and blades will appear and disappear depending on the latest electronic mission configuration.   It seems the older the plane gets the more skin growths it develops.

Somewhere in The middle East (South West Asia), 04MAR2010. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Michelle Larche.

Refueling during the invasion of Iraq. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Dave Ahlschwede, 09APR2003.

Over Nebraska, 01MAY2000. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Dave Nolan.

01MAY2000, USAF photo by Master Sergeant Dave Nolan.

Don’t forget the bottom.

Departing from a forward operating base during the invasion of Iraq. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert J. Horstman, 28APR2003.

11DEC1991, USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Scott P. Stewart.

Don’t confuse with the RC-135S Cobra Ball:

Not all RC-135S are covered in bumps and antennae. USAF photo by Senior Airman Amy Younger, 23MAY2020.

Variations of bumps and windows on RC-135S. Notice that the upper part of starboard wing, as well as nacelles, on some Cobra Balls are painted matt-black. USAF photo by Senior Airman Jeremy Smith, September 2001.

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International, Technology

End of the Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: No more Open Skies, or whatever happened to the OC-135B?

Video

U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Keith Reed the Third, 17JUL1997.

On 24MAR1992, the Treaty on Open Skies was created as a way of being sure that countries that have military weapons (military-grade arms) control agreements are complying.  However, it wouldn’t be until 01JAN2002 that Open Skies actually went into effect, with 34 countries signed-on (but only 20 ratified).  Interestingly, the first OC-135B was ready to launch in June 1993!

Newly independent Ukrainian Air Force personnel get their photo taken in front of their Open Skies Antonov An-30. Photo by Technical Sergeant Brad Fallin, 14APR1997.

Russian Open Skies Antonov An-30, 25SEP2009. Photo by Alan Lebeda.

On 22NOV2020, the United States officially withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies, so far the only country to do so.  It’s interesting that the many countries who did not sign-on to Open Skies, like nuclear armed China, condemned the U.S. withdrawal.

Photo by Kelly White. 23APR2020, U.S. Air Force OC-135B (6-12670) stripped and awaiting what would become its final Open Skies livery.

But it is more complicated than U.S. President Donald Trump being a mean old ‘orange man’, it’s about other treaty signators not complying, and the fact that updating the now ‘ancient’ observation technology is just too cost prohibitive for taxpayers.

A naked OC-135B anticipates its final Open Skies paint job on Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Photo by Kelly White, 23APR2020.

Here’s a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) video, 22MAY2020, in which NATO accuses Russia (Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) of violating the Open Skies agreement:

Photo by Charles Haymond. An OC-135B Open Skies (converted WC-135 weather research) aircraft takes off from Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska,14SEP2018.

Photo by Technical Sergeant Heather Salazar. Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily Rossii (Military Air Forces of Russia) Open Skies Tupolev Tu-154M RF-85655, lands at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, 14AUG2019.

From 1992-93, three WC-135B aircraft were modified for the Open Skies mission, re-designated OC-135B.   For some reason, after only a few years based at Offutt Air Force Base (AFB), Nebraska, the first OC-135B was sent straight to ‘moth-balls’ at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, in 1997.

Photo by Charles J. Haymond, 14SEP2018.

This OC-135B conducted observation flights over Haiti, after the 7.0 earthquake in 2010. Photo by Senior Airman Perry Aston, 16JAN2010.

Despite the OC-135Bs being used on other non-Open Skies observations, such as natural disasters, according to some reports the remaining two OC-135Bs are now available for sale as a result of the U.S. exit from Open Skies: “We’ve started liquidating the equipment. Other countries can come purchase or just take the airframes. They are really old and cost-prohibitive for us to maintain. We don’t have a use for them anymore.”

Photo by Staff Sergeant John Hillier. 01FEB2018, a Commonwealth of Nations (aka British Empire) Royal Canadian Air Force C-130J arrives at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, Missouri, joining units from France and Czech Republic for Open Skies training with the Missouri Air National Guard.

What many people might not know is that the Open Skies operation required the use of old school film technology.  In this 2015 U.S. Air Force video report, by John Harrington, it’s revealed that the old technology was getting difficult to maintain due to no new parts:

Here is an October 2016 USAF video (by John Harrington) explaining how the imagery captured by the OC-135Bs are processed:

Photo by Delanie Stafford. Snow removal from Open Skies OC-135B, 03FEB2015, Offutt AFB.

Via Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Russian examine a U.S. OC-135B, 27FEB2007.

Via Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Italian C-130 with SAMSON observation pod.

23NOV2020: Russia warns remaining Open Skies members not to share data with United States

11NOV2020: French personnel to use Romanian An-30 for Open Skies flyover of Russia

Realize that the United States and Russia have always conducted observation flights of each other, Open Skies was just an attempt to make it more militarily non-threatening.

28NOV2020: Russian Sukhoi 27 scrambled to intercept U.S. RC-135 over Black Sea

27NOV2020: Russia accuses NATO of conducting more than 1300 non-Open Skies spy flights

There were rumors that the two remaining Open Skies OC-13Bs were up for sale in 2020, however, the aircraft were given a fresh ‘Open Skies’ paint job and sent to the ‘boneyard’ in Arizona. USAF video by David Farley, 13MAY2021:

OC-135B Open Skies on Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 09JUN2021. USAF photo by Senior Airman Alex Miller.

July 2022: NATO-Romania puts to use an ex-Open Skies Antonov 30.

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