Tag Archives: economy

Cold War era BMP-2 continues to stay alive via never ending ‘Berezhok’!

Video December 30, 2024 Hutchins AAron

BMP=Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty-Боевая Машина Пехоты, literally Combat Vehicle Infantry

‘Standard’ BMP-2s destroyed in combat.

The BMP-2 was first born during the ‘Cold War’, developed from the BMP-1 during the late 1970s, going into service in 1980. It, along with the even older BMP-1, stays in service with never ending upgrades.

Russian forces trying out their new BMP-2M, somewhere in Belarus, December 2022.

The modern all-inclusive upgrades (armor, armament, power-pack, etc) for the BMP-2 are referred to, in Russian, as berezhok (бережок), and were first revealed at the end of 2019.

By August 2021, the first BMP-2Ms entered service, with the Western Military District, Leningrad Region.

‘M’ series upgrades for weapons & targeting systems, on public display.

In addition to the BMP-2M’s 30-milimeter(mm) 2A42 gun, a long barreled 30mm AGS-17 (Avtomaticheskiy Granatomot Stankovyy, automatic grenade launcher), 7.62mm machine guns and four launchers for the 9M133 anti-tank ‘Kornet’ missiles, the targeting system is using second generation thermal sights for the gunner, and the TC (tank commander) now has a panoramic sight.

BMP-2M without the armor upgrade, supposedly in the Northern Military District, sometime in 2023.

Also, the power-pack (motor/transmission) now uses a more powerful turbocharged diesel motor, and don’t forget the extra armor protection.

Armor upgrade being made in the field.

This ‘standard’ BMP-2 is being upgraded in the field with the newest armor protection.

At least it is getting the ‘M’ series armor?

In this video report, published on 20DEC2024, reporter Alexander Stroganov goes for a ride in the latest berezhok/upgrade:

Surprise! This BMP-2M berezhok turret is mounted on a BMP-3 hull.

How about on a BTR-90?

Forever Wars, 2023: Baptism-of-Fire for New ‘Berezhok’ BMP, in Ukraine!

Forever Wars, 2022: One month’s worth of abandoned or destroyed armor!

Vehicle I-D: Indian BMP-2, Cold War and beyond!

Kit Bashing

Xmas Build, 2024: Santa’s Van comes to town!

Video December 28, 2024 Hutchins AAron

At the beginning of November, I thought I had found a kit to build as a Xmas gift, but no!:

At the beginning of December I finally investigated what I had to work with, honestly, I’m not procrastinating:

Always making things more complicated:

Of course, by the middle of December, scrambling to get ‘er done!

Eine kleine motor:

Decapitated weenie dogs:

Paint:

Der Flügelhorn, an inherent problem with the kit:

Don’t forget to include drying time when guesstimating how long your build will take:

Finally, 23DEC2024:

2023 Xmas Build: ‘Tis done, Xmas Beerwagon!

Late Birthday Build: P-47D Thunderbolt, family connection, and made in U.S.A. Monogram -vs- made in China Revell!

Technology, U.S.

F-89 Scorpion: 1950s Cold War interceptor still in use?

Video December 27, 2024 Hutchins AAron

The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was developed after a 1945 U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) request for an all-weather, radar guided, twin jet powered bomber interceptor. The only competitor was the XP-87 (aka XF-87) Blackhawk, which was nixed for being too slow. The F-89 was first known as the N-24, as development progressed it was changed to XP-89, then to XF-89 when the Air Force become independent of the Army (after 1947).

Photo dated 26FEB1952, F-89 radar undergoing testing in freezing temperatures.

The F-89 entered service in 1950, but despite having advanced radar and turbines the production Scorpion was rapidly upgraded, from ‘A’ version to ‘J’ version by 1954. Some of the final upgrades included radar guided Falcon anti-aircraft missiles and Genie nuclear armed rockets (first tested during Operation Plumbbob in 1957).

Date/location not known, poor quality silent film of F-89s in flight and launching rockets from the wingtip pods:

Poor quality silent film of 1958 William Tell fighter/interceptor competition over Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. I edited the film to show only the F-89J, some are being loaded with the AIR-2 Genie (MB-1 Ding-Dong) nuclear rocket:

Quick silent film of F-89J launching Falcon missile over Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 1958(?):

Scorpion was quickly retired from full-time active duty by 1961 (still serving in National Guard and Reserve units, at least until 1965).

Oregon Air National Guard F-89J Scorpion, November 1962.

Michigan Air National Guard F-89C ‘Gate Guard’.

Montana Air National Guard’s Scorpion ‘Gate Guard’.

Vermont Air National Guard promotional poster from January 2021.

In 2024, it was revealed that the South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing was going to train its tactical aircraft maintenance personnel by having them rebuild a ‘mystery’ F-89 found on Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California. Video interview by Airman First Class Kyle St. Pierre, recorded on 05DEC2024, released for public use on 19DEC2024:

Gate Guards: How to sling load your 1:1 scale F-80 Gate Guard with a CH-47.

International, Technology, U.S.

NATO-Belgium’s 1st F-35A arrives in Arizona!

Video December 26, 2024 Hutchins AAron

“It’s a historic day for the Belgian air force. Our first jet just landed at Luke Air Force Base, marking the start of our training period. A lot of work has gone into making this moment possible and we are excited to begin flying and complete our training.”-Lieutenant Colonel Pierre-Yves Libert, 312th Fighter Squadron, 03DEC2024

The first Belgian Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning-2 arrived on Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, 03DEC2024.

Video interview by Senior Airman Mason Hargrove recorded on 03DEC2024, released for public use on 19DEC2024:

Video van Senior Airman Mason Hargrove opgenomen op 3DEC2024, uitgezonden op 19DEC2024:

Vidéo du Senior Airman Mason Hargrove enregistrée le 03DEC2024, diffusée le 19DEC2024:

More F-35As for Belgium are expected on Luke AFB as it will be where the Belgian Air Force/Air Component will build its new ‘5th generation’ F-35 Lightning-2 squadron, eventually replacing their Cold War era F-16s.

NATO, December 2024: New U.S. MLRS arrives in NATO-Europe

F-35-I ADIR: “TOGETHER, WE WILL DOMINATE THE SKIES!” IS THE U.S. COMPLICIT IN GAZA GENOCIDE?

Technology, U.S.

Alpha-2: New U.S. MLRS arrives in NATO-Europe

Video December 20, 2024 Hutchins AAron

The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) was a creation of the Cold War, going into service in 1983. It wasn’t until 2005 that the first big upgrade took place, creating the Alpha-1 MLRS (M270A1). In 2019, the Alpha-2 (M270A2) upgrade began.

U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, Grafenwöhr, NATO-Germany.

Alpha-2 supposedly has more accurate targeting for its rockets, a new diesel motor, upgraded transmission, increased armor protection, and can be adapted to any future next-generation rocket munitions.

U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, Grafenwöhr, NATO-Germany.

Between October 2024 and mid-December 2024, the U.S. Army’s 41st Field Artillery Brigade became the first artillery unit to get the new M270A2. The Alpha-2 MLRS took part in live-fire events during NATO’s Dynamic Front wargame, in November 2024.

Ravajärven Training Area, Rovaniemellä, Finland.

Preventive Maintenance Checks Services (PMCS) and loading rocket packs on new M270A2 MLRS, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, Grafenwöhr, NATO-Germany, 16DEC2024 (I edited together videos from Specialist Hunter Carpenter and Private First Class Sar Paw).

Bravo Battery-1st Battalion-77th Field Artillery Regiment-41st Field Artillery Brigade conduct PMCS:

Rocket loading:

1st Battalion-6th Field Artillery Regiment’s M270A2 MLRS during NATO’s Dynamic Front wargame, Ravajärven Training Area, Rovaniemellä, Finland, 17NOV2024 (I edited videos from Specialist Elijah Magaña and Senior Airman Joshua Fontenot), intermittent audio:

MLRS Alpha-1, 2018: British Red Coats invade U.S. Army base in Germany!

Syrian Collapse:

North Dakota B-52s and Idaho F-15Es over Syria, Truman strike group arrives!

Idaho, U.S.

BSU joins forces with USACE, it’s about water!

Video December 19, 2024 Hutchins AAron

“This system has lost its channel-forming flows. Without seasonal inundation, we’re seeing a decline in riparian vegetation like black cottonwood forests and an overall loss of biodiversity.”-Marve Griffith, USACE Walla Walla District

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Boise state University (BSU) are joining forces to tackle the dying Barber Pool Conservation Area (BPCA), which is part of the Boise River system.

The claim is that the BPCA has lost its ‘natural seasonal inundation’ due to the never ending Boise Metro Area construction of buildings and infrastructure upstream. Also, non-regulated human traffic through the BPCA: “Right now, it’s a warren of little trails. If we establish good, maintained pathways, people will use them, and it’ll reduce erosion and protect wildlife.”-Alan Crockett, local taxpayer

The result is that Barber Pool is not recharging, and that plant and animal biodiversity is rapidly disappearing. The project is not only about restoring the Barber Pool area, but, by expanding the wetland it could also lower the current level of the floodplain.

On 20NOV2024, the USACE and BSU conducted a ‘Public Scoping’ meeting at the Barber Park Education and Events Center, a fancy way a saying they collected comments about the project from concerned taxpaying citizens.

USACE video report by Marcy Sanchez:

The efforts to restore the BPCA are part of the decades old (Cold War era) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

USACE Barber Pool project.

2024: Idaho wants to shutdown 500-thousand acres of farmland?

2023: Just revealed, Idaho got $26million in federal funding for clean-er water?

Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

Syrian Collapse: North Dakota B-52s and Idaho F-15Es over Syria, Truman strike group arrives!

Video December 19, 2024 Hutchins AAron

On the 16th of December 2024, Pentagon officials announced that airstrikes had been launched against religious extremists in Syria.

F/A-18F Super Hornet, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, launches from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

Pentagon officials also announced that the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) arrived on a non-disclosed station in the U.S. Central Command (CentCom) ‘area of responsibility’, on 14DEC2024.

Idaho’s 389th Fighter Squadron ‘Thunderbolts’ F-15E somewhere over the Middle East.

Idaho’s Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB) 389th Fighter Squadron ‘Thunderbolts’ F-15E Strike Eagles are currently patrolling the Central Command area of responsibility (Middle East).

Idaho’s 389th Fighter Squadron ‘Thunderbolts’ F-15E somewhere over the Middle East.

B-52H somewhere over the Middle East.

Video by Technical Sergeant Philip Bryant, recorded 08DEC2024 (Middle East time, 07DEC2024 U.S. time), showing launch of North Dakota’s Minot AFB 23rd Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortresses (MT tail code, red stripe on tail) from a non-disclosed location in the “CentCom area of responsibility”:

Syrian Collapse: U.S. Bradley IFVs on hi-alert after prisoner release!

Idaho F-15E Strike Eagles, 2023: Bold Tigers invade Japan?

International

NATO: Finland’s 155 PsH K9 Moukari SPG

Video December 15, 2024 Hutchins AAron

In 2017, Finland began buying ‘surplus’ Korean K9 Thunder SPGs (Self Propelled Gun). Finland calls it the 155 PsH (Panssari-Haupitsien) K9 Moukari (Sledge-Hammer). In April 2023, Finland became a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Dynamic Front is a NATO wargame involving at least 28 countries, taking place across Finland, Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Romania.

I edited U.S. Army/Air Force videos (via First Sergeant Jacob Conner, Private First Class Jolene Cintron & Senior Airman Joshua Fontenot) recorded during NATO’s Dynamic Front wargame for November 2024, on the Ravajärven training area near Rovaniemellä, Finland:

Vehicle I-D: KOREAN 대한민국 K9 Thunder

Finland’s SP guns 155 PsH K9 & 122 PsH 74

NATO: Sweden’s Archer pounds Finland!

International, Technology

NATO: Sweden’s Archer pounds Finland!

Video December 15, 2024 Hutchins AAron

In March 2024, Sweden became a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

I edited down a U.S. Army video (recorded on 18NOV2024, via Sergeant First Class Kyle Larsen) of Swedish made autoloading Archer SPG (Self Propelled Gun) during NATO’s Dynamic Front wargame in Finland (wargames also in Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Romania).