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International

NATO vehicle I-D: The Swedish Griffen

SAAB JAS (Jakt- Attack- Spaningsflygplan) 39 Gripen

During the never officially declared Cold War, Sweden decided that its fighter aircraft should be able to use silly-vilian highway systems as runways.  In May 2024, the Gripen took part in landings and take-offs from a highway near Gothenburg. Video via NATO:

Sweden has long been a ‘partner’ of NATO, but in March 2024 Sweden became a full NATO Member.

Taking part in Bomber Task Force Europe, May 2020. Försvarsmakten photo.

JAS 39C Gripen during the 2019 Royal International Air Tatoo, over the United Kingdom. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Aaron Thomasson, 20JUL2019.

JAS 39D Gripen, on Kallax Air Base, Luleå, Sweden, during the Arctic Challenge wargame in May 2019. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist John M. Hageman.

June 2014, a U.S. Air Force (USAF, 100th Air Refueling Wing) KC-135 refuels a Swedish Gripen during NATO wargame BaltOps (Baltic Operations), video by Senior Airman Laura Yahemiak:

Normally a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier instructor pilot, Major Eric Grunke (hometown Weiser, Idaho) straps into the back seat of a Gripen-D for a FAC training mission over Malmen Military Base, Linköping, Sweden. USMC photo by Sergeant Tatum Vayavananda, 21AUG2013.

In January 2013, Sweden sent their Griffins to take part in the USAF Red Flag wargame over Nellis, Nevada.  I edited this take-off video from videos recorded by the USAF:

I edited this landing video from videos recorded by the USAF:

NATO vehicle I-D: THE ARCHER FROM SWEDEN

Technology, U.S.

Oregon: F-15EX Eagle-2 has landed!

Video

On 05JUN2024, the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing received its first Boeing F-15EX Eagle-2 (aka Super Eagle).

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Nichole Sanchez, 05JUN2024.

Tail number 008 arrived at Portland Air National Guard Base, just in time for lunch.  I edited this together from video recorded by Steven Conklin and Technical Sergeant Kyle Mergeler:

Tail #008 was built in Berkeley, Missouri.

Berkeley, Missouri, 05JUN2024. Oregon National Guard photo by Aaron Perkins.

It is the first of 18 Super Eagles heading to Oregon’s 142nd Wing.

#008 departs Berkeley, Missouri, on its way to Portland, Oregon, 05JUN2024. Oregon National Guard photo by Aaron Perkins.

More about the F-15EX, 2021: F-15EX HAS ARRIVED! COMMANDER SAYS “IT’S AN EX-CITING DAY!”

F-15EX-CITEMENT!

Oregon Eagles in Finland: OREGON KOTKAT LENTÄÄ SUOMEN YLI

International

NATO vehicle I-D: Sweden’s Tracked Vehicles

Video

Sweden has long been a ‘partner’ of NATO, but in March 2024 Sweden became a full NATO Member.  This is an incomplete list of tracked vehicles used by the Svenska Armén.

The specially outfitted Strv-122 (Leopard 2A5):

Near Stockholm, Sweden, 23SEP2017. Minnesota Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Anthony Housey.

At least 44 Strv 122s are being upgraded with the longer barreled L55 gun.

NATO promotional video from 2024 BaltOps (Baltic Operations) wargame:

See more Strv-122 photos and a video here.

German designed Bergepanzer (Bärgningsbandvagn 120):

Towing a ‘broke-dick’ Strv 122 during Trident Juncture in NATO Norway, 02NOV2018. Svenska Armén photo by Jesper Sundström.

Quick video of Bergepanzer and CV90 during NATO wargame Aurora, May 2023:

CV-90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (aka Stridsfordon 9040, or CV9040):

Near Stockholm, Sweden, 22SEP2017. Minnesota Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Anthony Housey.

NATO promotional video from 2024 BaltOps wargame:

See more CV-90 photos and a video here.

CV90-Mjölnir, 120mm mortar carrier:

U.S. Marines learn how to load the CV90-Mjölnir. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Andy O. Martinez, 12JUN2024.

Bandvagn 410 (Bv410):

Gotland län, Sweden, 10JUN2024. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Andy O. Martinez.

Near Stockholm, Sweden, 23SEP2017. Minnesota Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Anthony Housey.

NATO vehicle I-D, 2023: IRON SPEAR AFV & IFV

International, Technology

Can a Leopard change its spots?

Video

Strv = Stridsvagn (battle wagon).

Swedish Strv 122 smashed a passenger car during Strong Europe Tank Challenge, on Grafenwöhr Training Area, Germany, 04JUN2018. Svenska Armén photo via Christian Marquardt.

The Strv 122 is an up-armored version of the German Leopard battle tank, with more advanced electronics, and designed specifically to fight in arctic conditions.

During wargame Baltic Operations (BaltOps) on the Tofta Training Area, Sweden, 08JUN2022.
U.S. Navy photo by Robert L Kunzig.

I edited this from various U.S. Army and NATO videos of Swedish Strv 122 battle tanks, during wargames, between 2018 and 2023:

Gunnery during Strong Europe Tank Challenge on Grafenwöhr Training Area, Germany, 07JUN2018. U.S. Army photo by Gertrud Zach.

The Rheinmetall ammo does not use a metal case, it is a combustible plastic case, the silvery color is the explosive powder inside. At the end of the case is a metal ‘afcap’ containing the primer. USN photo by Robert L. Kunzig.

U.S. Army video (by Kevin S. Abel) of timed track repair during Strong Europe Tank Challenge, in June 2018:

U.S. Marines get an introduction to the Strv 122, 08MAR2018. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Raul Torres.

NATO vehicle I-D: SWEDEN’S CV-90

Technology, U.S.

Oregon: “Smoke ’em if you got ’em!”

Video

Oregon Army National Guard photo by Major Wayne Chris Clyne, 22JUN2024.

On 22JUN2024, the Oregon Army National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, conducted M82 smoke grenade launching with their M1127 Reconnaissance Vehicle (RV) Strykers.

Oregon Army National Guard photo by Major Wayne Chris Clyne, 22JUN2024.

Apparently, this was the first time for such training since 2016.

Oregon Army National Guard photo by Major Wayne Chris Clyne, 22JUN2024.

I edited this video together from a couple of Oregon Army National Guard videos (by Major Wayne C. Clyne):

It was part of weekend training on the Biak Training Center, in Powell Butte, east of Redmond, in the center of Oregon.

Oregon Army National Guard photo by Major Wayne Chris Clyne, 21JUN2024.

Oregon National Guard: OREGON GETS NEW WEAPONS, PROOF THE U.S. MILITARY IS OWNED BY FOREIGNERS!

U.S.

The deadly difference between Memorial Day & Veterans Day!

Video

Washington Post cartoon depicting Uncle Sam and Miss Columbia honoring Decoration Day, 30MAY1901.

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, it was created to honor those who were killed during the War Between the States (U.S. Civil War) and from 1868 to 1970 it was observed on the 30th of May.

Decoration (Memorial) Day observance, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, 30MAY1919. 

On 30MAY1943, ‘imprisoned’ Japanese-American boys conducted Decoration (Memorial) Day ceremonies, despite being forced to live in the Granada Relocation Center in Amache, Colorado.

Silent film from 30MAY1946; General George S. Patton is honored with a posthumously awarded medal, as well as Allied officials honoring all the fallen U.S. military personnel buried in the American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg:

Because many U.S. states, and cities, preferred to say ‘Memorial Day’, in 1967 the U.S. Congress officially changed the name of Decoration Day to Memorial Day.

In 1968, the observance of Memorial Day was changed to the last Monday in the month of May, an intentional move by the U.S. Congress to create a three day weekend holiday, however, the date change did not go into effect until 1971.

2018 U.S. Department of Defense video explaining the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day:

Memorial Day: The First 101 years (1868 – 1968)

Biden’s War, 2022: RHODE ISLAND MILITIA DEPLOYS ON MEMORIAL DAY!

Technology, U.S.

1st ever Beale AFB car-show!

Video

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

On 18MAY2024, Beale Air Force Base, in California, hosted its inaugural car show.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

U.S. Air Force (USAF) officials claim more than 5-hundred vehicles were on display, and more than 8-thousand people showed up to look at them!

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

USAF video (by Staff Sergeant Frederick Brown), of course being on an air force base there are aircraft as well:

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

USAF officials also claim that the car show was practice for a big air show scheduled in 2025.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

Promotional photo for the inaugural Beale AFB Auto Expo, made on 13MAR2024.

Promotional photo for the inaugural Beale AFB Auto Expo, made on 13MAR2024.

Promotional photo for the inaugural Beale AFB Auto Expo, made on 13MAR2024.

Promotional photo for the inaugural Beale AFB Auto Expo, made on 13MAR2024.

U.S. Veterans Day: A DECADE OF CARS & TRUCKS

International, U.S.

U.S. DoS halts weapons deliveries to Israel! Says Israel has killed too many civilians!

Video

On 08MAY2024, the U.S. Department of State (DoS) explained why Department of Defense (DoD) weapon shipments to Israel are being temporarily suspended; it is all about Israel’s killing of civilians and the expected invasion of Rafah in The Gaza Strip!

Part-1, the U.S. does not support full invasion:

Part-2, Israel has failed to meet humanitarian demands, U.S. wants Palestinian Authority to take control of Gaza, U.S. say Hamas is an ‘ancient’ movement against Israel even though Hamas is only three and a half decades old:

Part-3, White House continues to whitewash acts of genocide, Biden might adopt Trump’s anti-International Criminal Court policy, claims students’ so-called right to go to school (which there is none) overrides the Right to freedom of expression (1st Amendment):

 

False Flag: ISRAEL BOMBS EX-U.S. BASE IN IRAQ?

International

False Flag? Israel bombs ex-U.S. base in Iraq?

Video

19 April 2024 (23:51-UTC-07 Tango 06) 31 Farvardin 1403/10 Shawwal 1445/11 Wu-Chen 4722/19 апрель 2024 года

The former U.S. Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kalsu, or  Contingency Operating Station (COS) Kalsu (also incorrectly referred to by the news media as Kalso, the base was named after First Lieutenant James Robert Kalsu) suffered massive explosions, the based was placed under Iraqi control in 2011, an Iraqi government sponsored militia shares the base with Iraqi military troops (many ‘western’ news sources also say Iran supports the same militia).

Arab news media is reporting at least 20 casualties, including civilians.  A Popular Mobilization Force (PMF, aka Al-Hashd Al-Sha’bi, aka Popular Mobilization Units, aka Popular Mobilization Committee) militiaman was killed, six wounded.

So far, there is no mention of the attack by either Iraqi or Iranian news media.  The Iraqi militia PMF claims they have launched a retaliatory drone attack on Israel.  The United States controls the airspace over Iraq, yet U.S. officials essentially said ‘we see nothing, we know nothing’.

A Shite news outlet, called Sabreen News, said the supposed Israeli air-raid destroyed an Iraqi radar installation.

The official Communist Chinese news media reports the Iraqi base was attacked by drones, it also says the Iraqi PMF militia is investigating the cause of the explosions and will retaliate if it is determined that it was an attack and not an accident.

In February 2024, the Brookings Institute published an article stating that the PMF was Iran-ifying Iraq.

False Flag: DRONES SHOT DOWN, ISRAEL HAS NO COMMENT!

International

False Flag? Drones shot down, Israel has no comment!

Night of 18APR2024 U.S. time,  Turkish news media reports three drones shot down over airbase near Isfahan, Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has no comment on the situation.

Iranian officials do not consider the failed drone attacks as requiring a retaliation!  Says a similar attack happened last year.

Airport in Tehran was shutdown, but has resumed operations.  Isfahan airport still shutdown.

False Flag: U.S. NEWS MEDIA IS SOURCE OF REPORT OF ISRAELI ATTACK ON IRAN!