Tag Archives: nato

Robot Wars: A-I strips an A-10 naked!

Personnel seal panel lines, rivets and any other ‘openings’ to prevent the stripping material from entering the aircraft. U.S Air Force photo by Todd Cromar, 04DEC2019.

In December 2019, a robot paint stripper at Hill Air Force Base (AFB), Utah, was used to strip an A-10 Thunderbolt-2 for the first time.  Normally, it’s used on F-16s.

Corrosion control technicians seal up the seams and holes in the skin to prevent the blast media from entering the aircraft. USAF photo by Todd Cromar, 04DEC2019.

“There are going to be across-the-board improvements including a dramatic reduction in exposure to a Hexavalent Chromium dust environment. This is perhaps the greatest benefit to the robotic system. Savings will also be seen with reduced operating time and less power consumption, as well as reduced costs in material. We really haven’t found a downside to this system.”-Tim Randolph, 576th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

USAF photo by Todd Cromar.

Two robots, with four hose attachments each, move independently along both sides of the aircraft. The time to strip an A-10 is decreased from three days to 9-12 hours!

Sorry, they didn’t release any pics of the naked A-10.

This Davis-Monthan ‘Paint Barn’ video, released in January 2020, shows you how many humans are needed in order to paint an A-10:

 

Robot Wars:

Photo via Aerobotix.

A-I PAINTERS TO SAVE THE F-22 RAPTOR?

TEXAS TURNS TO ROBOTS TO WASH F-16

A-10 Thunderbolt-2: ANOTHER A-10C WITH INVASION STRIPES

THE OWL HAD A BLUE UMBRELLA!: HOW LANTIRN KILLED THE N/AW-10, AND, WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE TRUMPETER/HOBBY BOSS KITS?

How to assemble your 1:1 scale MQ-1 Predator

“We have just won a war with a lot of heroes flying around in planes. The next war may be fought by airplanes with no men in them at all… It will be different from anything the world has ever seen.”-General Henry H. ‘Hap’ Arnold, U.S. Army Air Force, 1945

The first Predator flew a recon mission over Albania in July 1995, then it was known as RQ-1.  Despite many official denials, back then, several RQ-1s were lost to ‘global warming climate change’ (bad weather) or shot down.

It was the Airmen who maintained the General Atomics RQ-1 who adapted helicopter weapon pylons to the giant remote control aircraft, as well as adding a turbocharger to the piston engine, finally proving its combat capability in October 2001.  In 2002, the RQ-1 became MQ-1 (M for multi-role).  In March 2018, the USAF officially retired the MQ-1.

On 03MAR2020, the Iowa Air National Guard got a massive model kit of the MQ-1 Predator.  It’s actually a retired MQ-1 that will end up on static display at the Air National Guard Bureau in Washington DC.  The Iowa Air Guard has the honor of assembling and painting it.

Unboxing the monster kit.

Who wouldn’t be happy about a kit this big?

You’ll need some jacks and jigs.

A bunch of people about to get bombed at the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing HQ at Creech Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada, 06JUN2019.

On 03MAR2018, the MQ-1 took its official last flight in Nevada, being replaced by the MQ-9 Reaper.

Creech AFB MQ-1 retirement video report:

 

30NOV2017, removing the ‘brains’, the Primary Control Module,  Creech AFB.

Removing the antenna.  This was done prior to the MQ-1 being sent to United Kingdom to become a ‘gate guard’.

Final combat mission (undisclosed location) of 361st Expeditionary Attack Squadron’s MQ-1B, 01JUL2017.

MQ-1B Predator remote piloted aircraft with the 147th Air Reconnaissance Wing, Texas Air National Guard, on display at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Expedition, Malaysia, 21MAR2017.

Video report, being a Predator Pilot:

MQ-1 final flight at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 27FEB2017.

Video report, Holloman AFB MQ-1 retirement, 2017:

Video, repairing and prepping the wing of a MQ-1 slated for gate guard duty at Holloman AFB, 2016:

Video, engine maintenance, Holloman AFB, June 2015:

Kit shopping list:

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

EC-135E FIRE-BIRD, 10329 COMES BACK TO LIFE, AGAIN! OR, WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR EXTRA KC-135 KIT.

Robot Wars: A-I Painters to save the F-22 Raptor?

An F-22 Raptor is masked-off for new paint, on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Hawaii Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier, 21AUG2020.

The F-22 Raptor is a hi-tech aircraft that has not resulted in making things easier for the U.S. Air Force (USAF).  I’ve already written how the sensitive ‘skin’ of the aircraft is a nightmare for sheet metal shop personnel.   Now the USAF admits that painting the aircraft is a pain-in-the-butt as well.

An F-22 gets its air intakes painstakingly ‘gap filled’ at Hill AFB, Utah. USAF photo by Alex R. Lloyd, 19NOV2020.

As of February 2020, the USAF has a new hi-tech tool that will supposedly solve one of the hi-tech aircraft’s skin problems; a robot designed specifically to paint the inside of the air intakes.

Hawaii Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier, 21AUG2020.

The company, Aerobotix, that makes the robot painter claims it’ll save U.S. taxpayers $28-million in labor costs to paint the F-22, and apparently it can be used on other aircraft.

Video report:

Photo via Aerobotix.

Update, 31AUG2022:  Aerobotix Marks 40th Restoration of Air Inlet Ducts on F-22 Raptor Aircraft

VEHICLE I-D:F-22 RAPTOR

Robot Wars: A-I Strips an A-10 naked!

TEXAS TURNS TO ROBOTS TO WASH F-16

Operation CoViD-19: Hot Zone Daegu

On 13MAR2020, soldiers with the U.S. Army, and the Republic of Korea (RoK), took part in disinfection ops in the hot zone known as Daegu.

Video, U.S. Army Installation Clean Teams:

Video, U.S. Army Trace Teams, or how they can trace where an infected military members has been:

Operation CoViD-19: U.S. Border Patrol, 13MAR2020

Operation Jupiter: Operation CoViD-19 is for real

CoViD-19=CoronaVirus Disease 2019

U.S. military updates as of 14-15MAR2020.

At Camp Pendleton, California, U.S. Marine Corps held a Installations West meeting to discuss scenarios for CoViD-19 response.

Marines onboard Camp Pendleton also built a quarantine site for anybody who test positive for the virus.

Video of U.S. Marines building a quarantine site on Camp Pendleton:

Official video announcement, USMC Camp Pendleton shuts down or reduces onboard services due to CoViD-19:

In the New Rochelle area of New York state, the Army National Guard began preparations for Operation CoViD-19.

Official video report, New York Army National Guard CoViD-19 Mobile Testing Center in Glenn Island Park:

Effective March 14, 2020, gate guards will no longer handle I-D cards, instead they’ll use a scanner.  Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, video explainer:

Video, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, implements new CoViD-19 gate checks:

On 11 March, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, issues video explaining what you should do if you think you’re infected:

THE DAY AFTER MEDICAL-MARTIAL-LAW WAS DECLARED: SHOPPING MAYHEM AT POCATELLO WINCO!

Going Viral, 11-12 March 2020: “STOP SAYING IT’S A BAD FLU!”

OPERATION JUPITER: U.S. SOLDIER INFECTED, U.S. BASES PREPPING FOR EVACUATIONS!

EC-135E Fire-Bird, 10329 comes back to life, again! Or, what to do with your extra KC-135 kit.

U.S. Air Force photo by Greg L. Davis, 04OCT2019.

This rudderless and engine-less EC-135E has risen from the ashes of retirement not once, but twice.

USAF photo by Greg L. Davis, 04OCT2019.

An electronic warfare version of the venerable Boeing C-135 family of aircraft, EC-135E #61-0329 (tail code 10329) was first retired to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, as a rudderless ‘battle damage’ repair trainer.

USAF photo by Greg L. Davis, 29APR2019.

In the above pic you can see the bare metal area around the nose indicating where the original ‘Snoopy’ nose was hung.

USAF photo by Greg L. Davis, 29APR2019.

In 2019, instead of scrapping the chock-ful-of patches bird, 61-0329 was again reborn but this time as a fire fighter trainer.

USAF photo by Greg L. Davis, 04OCT2019.

Unveiled on 04OCT2019. ‘Never Forget 343’ titles honor the 343 firefighters killed during the attacks during 11SEP2001.

USAF photo by Greg L. Davis, 04OCT2019.

USAF photo by Greg L. Davis, 04OCT2019.

USAF photo by Greg L. Davis, 04OCT2019.

USAF photo by Greg L. Davis, 04OCT2019.

Apparently EC-135Es were re-engined EC-135Ns.

Tail code 10329 in its final days as a Snoopy.

EC-135Es were officially called ARIA (Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft) , but were better known as ‘Snoopy’ because of their bulbous noses.

10329 in its glorious 2nd incarnation as a Snoopy. Notice the different jet engines. Its 1st incarnation was as a C-135 cargo hauler.

AMtech issued a 1:72 scale EC-135N/E.  There are some fit problems and you need to strengthen the wing to prevent drooping.  It is out of production.

The ancient Nova vacformed 1:72 KC-135 came with optional parts to make several EC versions, but not the bulbous Snoopy nose.

In 1:144, Welsh Models makes a Snoopy conversion.

National Museum of the United States Air Force: EC-135E ARIA explainer

For an even more detailed explainer visit Air Force Space & Missile Museum

Vehicle I-D: KC-135 CITY OF DERBY

D-DAY KC-135, ‘HUNDRED PROOF’ & OTHER NOSE ARTS

VEHICLE I-D: MARK 82

PAINTING A P-51 MUSTANG WITH VINYL DECALS?

How to build a 1:1 scale U.S. Army ‘Fake News’ BMP-2

U.S. Army photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

“The vehicles needed a number of redesigns to address these obsolescence issues and known systemic design issues causing failures. One major redesign was the Thermal Sight Unit, which addressed the OSV’s ability to stay competitive and more accurately simulate a foreign force.  There is a new emphasis on these systems because they are 20-years old.”-Justin King, U.S. Army’s Integrated Logistics Support Center

U.S. Army photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty (Боевая Машина Пехоты)= literally Battle Machine Infantry (not infantry fighting vehicle as many military sites say)

U.S. Army photo by Mark Cleghorn, 03OCT2017.

The following pics are from the 2017 Anniston Army Depot, Alabama, re-build of fake BMP-2 armored vehicles.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

It might be apparent that they used old M113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC, also including many former hammerhead 113s; M901 TOW and M981 FiST-V) but it turns out they also adapted and modified M2A2 Bradley turrets to fit on the M113 hulls, before covering the whole thing in panels to make them look ‘Russian’.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

To replicate the clam-shell doors on the real BMP they removed the ramp, then built a hull extension box before adding doors.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

U.S. Army sources say the first M113 Opposing-Forces Surrogate Vehicles (OSV) was developed in 1994, with full conversion-production starting in 1996.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

From 2005 to 2019 the Anniston Army Depot overhauled more than 2-hundred of the 335 OSVs in the program.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 03OCT2017.

In the above pic notice the side-boxes on the hull.  The one on the driver’s right has vents while the one on the driver’s left does not.  The vents are possibly for the engine’s air intake?

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 03OCT2017.

USA photo by Specialist Angel Heraldez, 12AUG2018.

11th ACR (Armored Cavalry Regiment) OSV BMP-2s were seen roaming Fort Irwin, California, in August 2018.

USA photo by Sergeant Justin May, 06AUG2018.

 

A Polish company called Red Tank Miniature offers a 1:72 scale resin model of the OSV-BMP-2.  Their website is useless, they have a facebook page.

VEHICLE I-D :   M113 disguised as BMP

PAINTING & DECALING A 1:1 SCALE M4 SHERMAN

“NEAR PEER THREATS”, CODE FOR RUSSIA & CHINA AND THE COMING 3RD WORLD WAR?

WORLD WAR 3: “THIS IS WHERE ARMOR FIGHTS!” IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD RETURNS TO COLD WAR ERA “TOTAL FORCE” WARFARE TRAINING!

Warming up the buses!: Going Viral, 09-10 March 2020

Incomplete list of links to news reports about viral outbreaks during the days of 09 to 10 of the Gregorian month of March 2020.

FLU=INFLUENZA

India: Former politician, along with 17 current politicians, apparently go missing after being suspected of being infected with swine flu

4-thousand poultry killed in two days because of bird flu, 12-thousand in total, dead bats being studied 

Ireland: The battle continues for those people who developed narcolepsy after swine flu shot

United Kingdom:  Swine flu shot paralyzes man for life, it would have killed him if it weren’t for massive doses of immunoglobulin!

United States: 

Nebraska reports 17-thousand flu infections

4 years old Iowa girl who went blind because of flu infection, suddenly regains vision!

COVID-19=CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019

UN’s WHO says CoViD-19 kill rate now higher than influenza

Australia: Train passengers get violent when somebody coughs!

Doctors in New South Wales criticize official federal government CoViD-19 guidelines

Western Australia‘s hospitality industry is collapsing due to mass cancellations caused by CoViD-19 fear mongering

China: Was CoViD-19 part of a conspiracy to drive oil prices down? China announces it will take advantage of crashing oil prices to boost oil reserves

Insanity on an airliner when a passenger coughed and the airline attendants went nuts throwing her off the plane. Now it’s claimed the passenger intentionally coughed because she was tired of waiting for the CoViD-19 checks to be completed.

Germany: Doctors can now declare you infected over the phone

Italy:  Biggest one day jump in CoViD deaths

Mortgage payments suspended!

People attending funerals will face fines under nationwide medical-martial-law lockdown!

You now need written permission to leave your town!

Korea: Without imposing any city-wide lockdowns, there’s a sudden drop in infections in the southern half of the peninsula

In the northern half, reports that 2-hundred Communist soldiers are killed by CoViD-19!

Panama: Confirms first infection

Russia:  City of Moscow bans mass gatherings

Christian Cossacks swear they can’t be infected, but wear and hand out face masks just in case

Ukraine: Why is the corrupt pro-EU/NATO government telling people that measles vaccine protects against CoViD-19?

United States: In the city of Seattle a blood supply emergency has been declared, blamed on CoViD-19

SEC employee tested for coronavirus, encouraging all Washington DC headquarters staff to telework

Postal Service modifies flu pandemic plan for CoViD-19

 A for-profit delivery company, which operates in leftist-liberal pro-Obamacare states, announced it will create a fund to pay for employees’ healthcare if they catch CoViD-19.

Florida declares state of emergency

New Jersey reports first CoViD-19 death

New York governor calls out National Guard

Sign posted at Norfolk Naval Station childcare center in Virginia.

At the U.S. Army basic training base Fort Benning, Georgia “At this time, there are no known cases of this virus reported on Fort Benning. Should a case come to our attention, the entire team will take immediate measures to address it.”  For those concerned checkout https://www.facebook.com/groups/BenningCOVID19forum or 1-800 Tricare Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-874-2273, menu option 1.

U.S. Coast Guard evacuates Grand Princess passenger sick with non-CoViD-19 medical problem, 08MAR2020, San Francisco, California.

California’s leftist-liberal governor praised U.S. President Trump: “He said everything I could have hoped for, and we had a very long conversation and every single thing he said, they followed through on.”

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Near empty toilet paper shelves at the Chubbuck, Idaho, Walmart, night of 09MAR2020.

Shoppers at the Chubbuck, Idaho, Walmart wondering what to do as all the ‘day-time’ cold/flu symptom treatments were sold out, only the ‘night time’ meds were available.

Vietnam:  In another 12 Monkeys scenario; CoViD outbreak blamed on man who flew from United Kingdom to Italy to France then to Vietnam.

LASSA=LASSA MAMAMMARENAVIRUS, aka LASSA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

Lassa more deadly than CoViD-19

DENGUE=DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

Indonesia: Death toll from East Nusa Tenggara dengue outbreak rises to 32

Two children in Sempur, Bogor Tengah District, Bogor City killed by Dengue

United States: Florida reports Dengue infection

MEASLES=MEASLES MORBILLIVIRUS

Why did thousands of Rohingya Refugees fleeing Myanmar have Diphtheria and Measles infections?

Going Viral, 06-08 March 2020: “I DIDN’T DIE, BUT SAW HELL!”

Something rises through the Seadragon’s Ice, USS Toledo!

USS Toledo (SSN-769) arrives at Ice Camp Seadragon on the Arctic Ocean, 04MAR2020.

Ice Exercise (IcEx) is a three-week, once every two years Arctic training event.

Dramatic official IcEx-20 music video of USS Toledo breaking through the ice:

Unadulterated video of USS Toledo breaking through the ice:

THEY’VE FOUND SOME ‘THING’ UNDER THE ICE, WELCOME TO ICE CAMP SKATE!

USS Toledo homecoming in September 2019.  Naval Submarine Base, New London in Groton, Connecticut.  USS Toledo is a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine.

2017, New London.

2016, New London.

2016, Persian Gulf.

2012, New London.

Experiencing the Magnetic Silencing Facility at Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, 2010.

According to an official USN press release; “Due to magnetic fields that are constantly being encountered during normal ship operations, ships and submarines build up a magnetic signature. The earth’s natural magnetic fields between the North and South poles are being crossed routinely while the vessels are underway. The traversing of these natural fields, and vessels lying dormant for extended periods of time during scheduled maintenance, result in changes to a vessel’s magnetic signature. Correcting those changes requires a thorough treatment process to minimize the level of permanent magnetism.”

Parade of Ships, Florida, 2009.

Build your own Los Angeles class submarine:

VEHICLE I-D & kit inspection: USS AMERICA LHA-6

Ski Bird and the HIMARS

“We need to make sure we have the training and capability to deal with conflict or competition in the Arctic. With more and more shipping and cruise ships happening in the Arctic, we can supplement search and rescue capabilities if needed. We also have the ability to sustain forward operating locations, refueling points and extend the military range into the Arctic Circle.”-Captain Eric Chan, New York Air National Guard, totally referencing the fact that climate change has greatly increased Russia’s activity in the Arctic

In October 2019 an upgraded  LC-130H Ski Bird was loaded with a HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) for the first time.  This was in preparation for Arctic Edge-20, held from 24FEB2020 to 06MAR2020 in Alaska.

Allen Army Airfield, Alaska.

New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing flew their LC-130H, with upgraded Rolls-Royce T56 series 3.5 turbines and NP2000 props, to Alaska to link up with U.S. Marine Corps’ 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment.

There they up-loaded a M142 HIMARS and transported it to an Arctic firing range.

A few fun videos for your entertainment:

Vehicle I-D: LC-130 À LA SKIS