Category Archives: Technology

Robot Wars: Junk Heap that floats?

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class Brandon T. Williams-Church, April 2021.

One of the ‘robot’ ships at the U.S. Navy’s UxS IBP 21 looks like something ‘boat people’ from Cuba would make.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Brandon T. Williams-Church.

This floating target is based on the Low-Cost Modular Target (LCMT) system.  The LCMT system was designed to replace all previous different towed target systems.  At UxS IBP 21 all kinds of radar, sat-com, and other electronics were piled onto the LCMT.  The triangular things are radar reflectors designed to mimic a much larger ship.

Perhaps the hi-tech LCMT was the ‘beyond the line of sight’ target sacrificed to a Standard Missile-6 launched by USS John Finn (DDG 113), on 25APR2021: “We are going to do a live-fire offensive exercise. We are going to use the unmanned surface, unmanned air and manned air and surface to provide a targeting solution…. It will be an offensive missile, and we’re going to strike a target well beyond line-of-sight.”-Rear Admiral Jim Aiken, Carrier Strike Group 3

 

UxS IBP 21 stands for Unmanned Systems (not sure why there is an ‘x’ in the acronym) Integrated Battle Problem 2021.  UxS IBP 21 is the first ‘classified’ USN wargame involving robot vehicles and weapons competing against people operated systems, apparently spurred by doubts coming from the U.S. Congress: “With the recent acquisition failures on the last several ship classes, those of us on this committee are skeptical of the Navy’s ability to shepherd this new technology into employable assets that contribute to the lethality of those forces.”-Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia

IBP 21 took place from April 19th to the 26th.

 

Robot Wars: SEAHAWK & SEA HUNTER

Robot Wars: Seahawk & Sea Hunter

On 20APR2021, a couple of composite trimaran hulled robots sailed around San Diego, California.  One is called Sea Hunter, the other Seahawk.

U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Renfroe.

This one is called Seahawk.

USN photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Renfroe, 21APR2021.

Seahawk.

USN photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Renfroe, 21APR2021.

USN video of Seahawk and Sea Hunter, by Petty Officer First Class David Mora, 20APR2021:

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Thomas Gooley.

This one is Sea Hunter.  It is already five years old, with more than 30-thousand miles of sailing.

USN photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Renfroe.

Sea Hunter is the result of a DARPA Anti-Submarine Warfare challenge.  Anybody old enough to remember when the activities of DARPA were considered nothing more than ‘conspiracy theories’?

USN video by Aaron Lebsack, Sea Hunter’s arrival (by barge) in San Diego, May 2016:

USN video report announcing the DARPA Sea Hunter:

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Thomas Gooley.

A closer look at the newer $35.5-million Seahawk, departing Naval Base Point Loma, 20APR2021.  Construction of Seahawk began after a contract was signed at the end of 2017.  Delivery of Seahawk was made just days before the U.S. Navy’s (USN) UxS IBP 21 in San Diego, California.

USN photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Renfroe.

Another look at Seahawk during UxS IBP 21.   Seahawk and Sea Hunter are made by a company called Leidos.

UxS IBP 21 stands for Unmanned Systems (not sure why there is an ‘x’ in the acronym) Integrated Battle Problem 2021.  UxS IBP 21 is the first ‘classified’ USN wargame involving robot vehicles and weapons competing against people operated systems, apparently spurred by doubts coming from the U.S. Congress: “With the recent acquisition failures on the last several ship classes, those of us on this committee are skeptical of the Navy’s ability to shepherd this new technology into employable assets that contribute to the lethality of those forces.”-Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia

IBP 21 took place from April 19th to the 26th.

Robot Wars: MANTAS DEVIL RAY

DOG ROBOTS AND BREATHALIZERS CAN TELL IF YOU HAVE CANCER?

DON’T HAVE A HEART ATTACK, BUT SOON ARMY ROBOTS WILL SAVE YOUR ASS!

ROBOTS TO KILL 80-MILLION JOBS!

IDAHO ROBOTS REVEAL FUKUSHIMA RADIATION LEVELS TOO HIGH FOR HUMANS

Vehicle I-D: Soviet armor of the U.S. Marine Corps

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer First Class Paul Self.

MTLBs operated by 3rd Amphibious Armored Vehicle Battalion, 1ST Marine Division, acting as opposing forces (OpFor) during wargame Kernel Blitz in June 1997, Camp Pendleton, California.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Ryan Ward.

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Timothy Reynolds.

USMC photo by Sergeant Ryan Ward.

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Timothy Reynolds.

USMC photo by Sergeant Ryan Ward.

ZSU-23-4 during Kernel Blitz ’97.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Paul Self.

BRDM during Kernel Blitz ’97.

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Timothy Reynolds.

T-72 during Kernel Blitz ’97.

Vehicle I-D: MORE U.S. ARMY FAKE-NEWS TANKS, TIGER STRIPES ANYBODY?

Robot Wars: MANTAS Devil Ray

On 17APR2021, the Maritime Tactical Systems‘ ManTAS (Man-Portable Tactical Autonomous Systems) T38 Devil Ray robot boat was demonstrated just prior to the U.S. Navy’s (USN) UxS IBP 21, in San Diego, California.

U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Jones, 17APR2021.

According to an article published in March 2021, the T38 (38 feet long) Devil Ray is a combat resupply boat able to carry up to 4-thousand-5-hundred pounds in a single load.  It is the latest in a line of unsatisfactory attempts to create a compact robot logistics system.

USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Alexander P. Perlman.

Video, by Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey Trietsch, of the Devil Ray tooling around San Diego:

The Devil Ray looks like a racing boat because it is a racing boat.  According to BlueZone Group (Maritime Tactical Systems’s dealer in Australia and New Zealand) “The MANTAS USV vessel is a catamaran hull design based on a powerboat racing vessel that set world speed records.” 

USN photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Jones, 17APR2021.

UxS IBP 21 stands for Unmanned Systems (not sure why there is an ‘x’ in the acronym) Integrated Battle Problem 2021UxS IBP 21 is the first ‘classified’ USN wargame involving robot vehicles and weapons competing against people operated systems, apparently spurred by doubts coming from the U.S. Congress: “With the recent acquisition failures on the last several ship classes, those of us on this committee are skeptical of the Navy’s ability to shepherd this new technology into employable assets that contribute to the lethality of those forces.”-Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia

IBP 21 took place from April 19th to the 26th.

Robot Wars 2020:  USN’S NEW ROBOT GUN BOAT, OR CUSV

Texas turns to robots to wash F-16

Texas Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Mancuso, 28APR2021.

In 2021, the Texas Air National Guard revealed their latest autonomous system, a robot that washes airplanes.

Texas Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Mancuso, 28APR2021.

The 149th Fighter Wing, on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, sacrificed one of their F-16s for the demonstration.

Texas Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Mancuso, 28APR2021.

Texas Air National Guard video by Senior Airman Ryan Mancuso, 14JAN2021:

The robot washer is part of a project funded by AFWERX.  The Texas Air National Guard claims the robot will save taxpayers some money.  The switch to robots is part of the Air Force 2025 program, which was the result of U.S. Air Force planning, originating in 1995.

Robots: PANDEMIC PANIC-ATTACK HITS CAT LITTER? BLAME LOGISTICS COMPETITION AND ROBOTS!

ROBOTS STRIP AN A-10 NAKED!

U.S. Navy’s NEW ROBOT GUN BOAT, OR CUSV

Wash: WASH YOUR HAWK!

KC-135 STRATOTANKER BATH

Pandemic Logistics Shenanigans: Canned Pet Food? Conspiracy to jack-up prices? Blame China?

26 April 2021 / 23:50-UTC-07 Tango 06 (07 Ordibehesht 1400/15 Ramadan 1442/16 Ren-Chen 4719)

Photo by AAron Hutchins, 25APR2021.

A recent visit to the Pocatello, Idaho, Fred Meyer revealed that not only are they still out of cat litter, but now they are out of canned cat food!  Notice the blue stickers all over the shelf fronts, they say “Sorry for the inconvenience”.

Across the street at Winco, they are still low on the top selling cat litters, but are also showing fewer stock of canned cat and dog food.  Fred Meyer is also showing a declining stock of canned dog food, but they’re not out of stock, yet.

It doesn’t help that in the past month several brands of pet food, in the U.S., were recalled due to salmonella.

A quick check of the inter-web and I discovered that shortages of pet food is making way more international news than shortages of cat litter, and this time most of the international news media isn’t blaming the pandemic (except for a Fox TV station and other news outlets in New York).

India:  Government orders pet food makers to boost production.

New Zealand:  Global supply issues and shipping delays hit the family cat’s dinner plate.

United States: Cat Food Shortage Leaves Pet Owners in a Bind.

Pet food shortage: Fancy Feast, Friskies and 9 Lives.

These Three Beloved Pet Food Brands Are About to Skyrocket in Price.

I also checked for news regarding the logistics industry.

An interesting report out of India revealed that several India airline companies are now contracting to be CoViD-19 oxygen and vaccine cargo haulers in Hong Kong, India and for “private entities” in the United States.  Also, Singapore government-owned Temasek has partnered with Air India and Amazon to airlift oxygen concentrators.

The fact that so many shipping companies are shifting to more profitable CoViD operations can only negatively affect the supplies of everything else.

Siddharth Jain of Inox Air Products, revealed in a recent interview why the current craze of shipping liquid oxygen to CoViD hospitals is screwing up the supply chain, at least in India: “….this has never been done anywhere in the world. Liquid oxygen is not designed to travel thousands of kilometers. Usually, plants are set up where there is a requirement…” 

In New Zealand, University of Auckland Centre for Supply Chain Management director Tava Olsen said supply chains were supposed to flow smoothly like water, but the whole chain had become ‘lumpy’….blames it partly on China.

Covenant Logistics Group just revealed they’ve been restructuring their operations, and admitted that “…supply chain disruptions, and an intensifying national driver shortage, all of which have continued into the second quarter.”

Crain’s New York Business interviewed an ‘expert’ who stated that the pandemic shift to more e-commerce revealed that there is not enough warehouses (believe it or not) dedicated to stocking merchandise for e-commerce sales.  The expert also said the logistics industry is ramping up its use of A-I and robots.

A new article by Logistics Manager says the advent of the pandemic, Brexit, China trade problems, and the recent blockage of the Suez Canal, revealed that the shift to a logistical system operated more with A-I and robots, and less humans, doesn’t work!  It also agrees with the Crain’s New York Business ‘expert’ who says there just aren’t enough warehouses to support the new logistics system.

Photo by AAron Hutchins, November 2013.

At the end of last year the Pocatello, Idaho, Fred Meyer began operating as a ‘fulfilment’ center for their e-commerce and pandemic ‘pick-up’ sales.  The brick-n-mortar store is now serving double duty as an e-commerce warehouse, but that doesn’t mean they’re carrying more stock.

I’ve written several times in the past that the so-called pandemic panic attack buying is actually a major problem with the globalized supply system, in which bigger logistics companies were taking over and shutting down smaller competitors, and switching to a new A-I system with robot workers instead of humans, just before the pandemic hit.

March 2021: PANDEMIC PANIC-ATTACK HITS CAT LITTER? BLAME LOGISTICS COMPETITION AND ROBOTS!

February 2021: GLOBAL SUGAR CRISIS, BETTER STOCK UP NOW!

U.S. Food Crisis: MILITARY DISTRIBUTION SUCCESS PROVES THE MARKET SYSTEM HAS FAILED!

Operation CoViD-19: COVERT OP TO CONTROL THE GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY?

Vehicle I-D: Stryker M-SHORAD

U.S. Army anti-aircraft units in Germany are the first to be upgraded with the new Stryker Mobile Short Range Air Defense (M-ShoRAD) system.

U.S. Army photo by Captain Jordan Allen, 21APR2021.

On 21APR2021, the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, unveiled their new Stryker M-ShoRAD.

USA photo by Captain Jordan Allen, 21APR2021.

It turns out that your typical ShoRAD (Short Range Air Defense) system requires the user to stop their vehicle (like the HMMWV Avenger system) before firing any one of their anti-aircraft weapons (guns, missiles).  The M (for Mobile) ShoRAD allows vehicles to keep moving while tracking and shooting at enemy aircraft (shoot on the move).

USA photo by Captain Jordan Allen, 21APR2021.

The M-ShoRAD has been in development for several years (officially since 2018 via a ‘directed requirement’, unofficially since 2017 as revealed by IM-ShoRAD Project Manager Colonel Chuck Worshim). It was developed under the acronym IM-ShoRAD (Initial Maneuver Short Range Air Defense).  In February 2021, the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, attended an ‘IM-ShoRAD University’ in Germany, the class was taught by personnel who spent time at the end of last year learning the new system in New Mexico.

USA photo by John Hamilton, December 2020.

In December 2020, personnel with the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, traveled to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, for familiarization with the new M-ShoRAD.

A video, by John Hamilton, recorded on 01DEC2020 showing the launching of a missile, and striking of an aircraft target, but it does not show the Stryker firing on the move:

17SEP2020, video by John Hamilton, how to load your Hellfire onto the M-ShoRAD:

USA photo by John Hamilton, 17SEP2020.

Personnel with the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, learn how to operate the M-ShoRAD system at White Sands, New Mexico, 17SEP2020.

A John Hamilton video from 26FEB2020, showing all weapons being fired during what’s called a ‘safety test’, but alas, the Styker is not firing on the move:

The M-ShoRAD system is made by Italian owned Leonardo DRS (Leonardo is the name of the Italian owner, DRS used to be known as DRS Technologies).  M-ShoRAD uses Hellfire missiles, Stinger missiles, XM914 30mm gun, and the M240 7.62mm NATO gun.

April 2021: U.S. taxes pay for new USMC vehicle built by Italian and British companies!

March 2020: HOW TO WELD YOUR TANK

January 2019: 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment Strikers invade Idaho!

Desert Storm: Aircraft Graveyard

Operation Desert Shield/Storm can be considered the last battle of the undeclared Cold War.  It was totally one sided, and can’t be considered a ‘war’.  The battle annihilated the Iraqi air force.

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) photo.

What’s left of a Sukhoi 25, NATO reporting name Frogfoot.

DoD photo.

From this angle it appears the Su-25 made an emergency landing on the dirt.  Notice the tracks in the dirt indicate the right main tire was blown as the track is deeper and rougher cut that the left main and nose wheel-tires.

DoD photo.

Sukhoi 22 found in a hardened hanger.

DoD photo.

DoD photo.

In a hanger hit by airstrikes, is this what is left of a MiG-25?

DoD photo.

Definitely a MiG-25.

DoD photo.

What’s left of British Airways flight 149 Boeing 747, on the Kuwait International Airport.  The U.S. DoD reported it as destroyed by retreating Iraqi troops, however it has never been proven. Flight 149 just happen to arrive on the airport the day the Iraqis invaded, passengers and crew were taken hostage. 

DoD photo.

An aerial view showing the British Airways 747 and a smaller Kuwaiti Air Force DC-9 cargo aircraft.  It should be noted that the information that came with this DoD photo said “…coalition bombing of a transport aircraft and a small jet at Kuwait International Airport in the final days of Operation Desert Storm”, contradicting statements that retreating Iraqis did it.

DoD photo.

Staff Sergeant Lee Corkran stands in front of KAF320, the destroyed Kuwaiti Air Force DC-9.  The photo’s original DoD information claimed this was the tail section of a Kuwaiti Air Force 747!

DoD photo.

Abandoned Iraqi Mil 8, NATO reporting name Hip.

DoD photo.

Remains of a helicopter.

DoD photo.

Was this a Hind or a Hip?

DoD photo.

U.S. Army soldiers check-out a Mil-24, NATO reporting name Hind.

DoD photo.

DoD photo.

General Norman Schwarzkopf uses his foot to check-out the pieces & parts of an abandoned Hind.

DoD photo.

Captured by U.S. Marines, a U.S. made Bell 214ST.

DoD photo.

An Iranian F-4E was destroyed during Desert Storm.  The interesting story is that the Iranian pilot defected to Iraq in 1984, in the middle of the Iran-Iraq War.  The back seat Weapon System Operator (WSO) was not part of the defection and became a Prisoner of War.  Later the WSO was released to NATO Turkey, where he was assassinated.

DoD photo.

What’s left of a MiG 29, NATO reporting name Fulcrum.

DoD photo.

U.S. Army combat cameraman, Daniel Jackson, videos the burned-out Fulcrum.

DoD photo.

An aerial view of the same MiG-29.

DoD photo.

A bashed-up Iraqi Pilatus PC-7.

DoD photo.

Burned beyond recognition.

DoD photo.

Sukhoi 22.

DoD photo.

More destroyed Su-22s.

DoD photo.

Su-22 nose.

Iraq 2003:

USN/USMC photo.

ARMOR BATTLE DAMAGE

Vehicle I-D:  IRAQI HUEY

Crash Landings: USAAF P-51 Mustangs, England, 1944-45

These U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) photos were not released for publication until the middle of 1946, a year after the war in Europe officially ended.  One reason for the late release of the photos is that many did not begin arriving ‘state side’ until the end of 1945, remaining with their respective units until the units returned to the U.S. or were disbanded.

U.S. Army Air Force photo.

P51 (36845), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 18JUL1944.

USAAF photo.

Personnel retrieve the body of the pilot of P51 #44-14034, 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 30JUL1944.

USAAF photo.

Bent props caused by crash landing, after a ground attack run over enemy territory, Summer 1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 #41-3940, 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 16AUG1944.

USAAF photo.

P-51 ‘Hanger Queen’ gets scrapped by the 353rd Fighter Group, 04SEP1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 #14381, 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 11SEP1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 #13891, 364th Fighter Group Base, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 11OCT1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 ‘Rugged Rebel’ (44-13686), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 17OCT1944.

USAAF photo.

8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 03NOV1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 ‘G.I. Buzz Buggy’ (14703), 364th Fighter Group Base, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 09NOV1944.

USAAF photo.

Probably not caused by a crash landing, P51 ‘Frances Ann’ (44-13557), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 08DEC1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 #44-13933, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England,  17DEC1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 ‘Dana Kay’ (44-11567), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 15JAN1945.

U.S. Army Air Force photo.

P51 (43-25066), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-365, Honnington, England, 22APR1945.

U.S. Army Air Force photo.

P51 ‘Lucky Leaky II’ (2103363), 353rd Fighter Group, crashed on English base, 02MAY1945.

USAAF photo.

USAAF photo.

P51 ‘Boogie’s Burner’ (44-14190), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 16MAY1945.

USAAF photo.

P51 ‘Butch 3rd’ (414774), 353rd Fighter Group, on its English base, 24JUL1945.

Vehicle I-D:  APACHE TO MUSTANG

Iraq 2003: Armor Battle Damage

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) photo.

Iraqi MTLB destroyed, 22MAR2003.

DoD photo.

Destroyed Iraqi MTLB armed with ZU-23-2 gun system, 22MAR2003.

DoD photo.

Destroyed Iraqi T-62 along Highway 6, notice the hull bottom has been blown out and the turret is no longer centered, 04APR2003.

DoD photo.

Chinese made Type 69 burning near the An Nu’maniyah Bridge/Hwy-27, 02APR2003.

DoD photo.

Same Type 69, different angle.

DoD photo.

Same Type 69, photo taken 05APR2003.  It should be noted that the Iraqi army called the Chinese Type 69 a T-55B.

DoD photo.

A USMC M1A1 abandoned and scuttled just outside Jaman Al Juburi, first week of April 2003.

DoD photo.

Same M1A1.  In the heat of battle if a tank was not recoverable then it was destroyed by its own crew to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.  The irony is that eight years later the U.S. government delivered to Iraq upgraded M1A1s, and in-turn the Iraqi government gave several to pro-Iranian militias.

DoD photo.

Another angle on the same scuttled tank.

DoD photo.

While it might not look it, the information that came with this photo states that Marine Corps M1A1 #578677 is considered destroyed.  It does look like it is completely bogged down in mud up to its fenders, and being stripped of whatever can be stripped, just outside Sayyid-Abd, 06APR2003.

DoD photo.

Also at Sayyid-Abd, this USMC M88A2 ‘Hell’s Wrecker’ was written-off.

DoD photo.

Another view of Hell’s Wrecker.

DoD photo.

U.S. Marines check-out an abandoned Iraqi T-72, along Route 1, 08APR2003.

DoD photo.

U.S. Marines find a dozen abandoned T-72s in a farm area of Iraq (exact location not given), 12APR2003.

DoD photo.

Notice the warpage of the barrel of the 12.7mm machine gun on this burned-out T-72, near Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), 13APR2003.

DoD photo.

Iraqi Type 69 (notice headlight groups on both fenders) destroyed just outside Mosul, 13APR2003.

DoD photo.

Destroyed T-62, no location given, 13APR2003.

DoD photo.

Destroyed Type 69 and T-55 based recovery/engineer vehicle, possibly near the An Nu’maniyah Bridge along Highway 27, 13APR2003.  These are the same vehicles seen burning in this article’s header photo.

DoD photo.

A field of destroyed dreams, 16APR2003.  Type 69s and two types of recovery/engineer vehicles.  Chinese made Type 69s can be identified by the headlight housings on each front fender.  T-55s have a single headlight group on the front slope.

DoD photo.

25JUN2003, U.S. Army soldiers off-load ammo from a damaged and almost completely buried T-72, outside of Fallujah.

DoD photo.

Battle damaged USMC M1A1 sitting in Kuwait, waiting to be sent back to the United States. Information with the photo did not give details about the damage.  14AUG2003.

DoD photo.

U.S. Marines use a battle damaged Iraqi BTR-50 for fire response training, sometime in 2004.  This was the fate of many damaged and captured Iraqi armored vehicles.

Vehicle I-D:  U.S. TAXPAYERS FUND JAPANESE MILITARY VEHICLES FOR IRAQ, AGAIN!

 IRAQI HUEY

IRAQI ARMOR, AFTER THE INVASION (including the M1A1M)

IRAQI GREYHOUND السلوقي العراقي