Anatomy of War

Anatomy of War: Drone Tanks Get the Go Ahead to Operate in the Syrian Conflict

Ever since it decided to intervene in the Syrian civil war back in 2015, Russia has been steadily, if furtively, battle testing some of its latest air and ground equipment to see if they are ready for a 21st century war. Word out of Syria is that they have now introduced the Uran-9 to the crucible of battle, likely deploying it near the capital of Damascus where the bulk of Russian forces are stationed. The Uran-9 is a drone tank that must be within 1.8 miles of its manned operator to function effectively. It boasts a wide array of hi-tech weaponry, which includes anti-tank missiles, an automatic cannon and a machine gun, thereby enabling it to take on a wide variety of targets. It is “equipped with advanced optics and targeting systems including a laser warning system and thermal imaging,” says the World Defence Forum, which has been monitoring the usage and testing of the unmanned weapons system ever since it was officially unveiled several years ago. For more information on the vehicle and its deployment, visit the World Defence Forum.

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Anatomy of War: Japan Seeks the Latest and Greatest Fighter

It’s no secret that when Japanese President Shinzo Abe met with US President Donald Trump last week, one of the talking points was obtaining a stealth fighter that could parry anything the Chinese PLAAF or Russian Air Force could throw at it. Years ago, they had sought to obtain the F-22 Air Superiority Fighter but Congress nixed the deal, refusing to allow the F-22 to fly for anyone but the US Air Force.

With conceptual work already underway on a sixth generation fighter, however, and Lockheed-Martin’s desire to restart the F-22 assembly line, talk has surfaced that Japan wants — and may get — a 5th generation stealth fighter that combines the best attributes of both the F-22 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Essentially, such a design, when combined with indigenous work already laid down by Japanese designers, could be fielded by the 2030s and remain a staple of the JASDF for the foreseeable future, at least until a sixth generation fighter could gain traction and financing in Japanese circles.

It’s anyone’s guess as to what a hybrid F-22/F-35 might look like, no doubt boasting a pair of high performance engines for long endurance flights while incorporating the latest in RAM coating for low observable maneuvering and advanced avionics to give it a “first look, first kill” capability, particularly important if they are faced with a more numerous adversary. Recently, the USAF created and released a video depicting what a US sixth generation fighter might look like as well as some of its capabilities, a far cry from what currently exists in their inventory. As work progresses on such an aircraft, both Congress and Lockheed-Martin are more inclined to aid the Japanese effort, while keeping the best technology still at home under the government’s scrutiny.  

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Anatomy of War: Future Fight

If there was a clash between the superpowers, it would likely occur within a three-dimensional battle space that would include, among other things, a struggle for near space. Such a war could be catastrophic for either side, since it would likely mean the denial of communication and reconnaissance satellites to gather intelligence about the enemy’s capabilities.

Heather Wilson, the US Air Force Secretary, has long advocated for the build up of forces to defend our heavenly frontiers as well as potentially taking the war to the enemy should the opportunity present itself. Earlier this morning, she conducted an interview with CNBC at the Space Symposium held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in which she laid out plans for defending our assets given the current geopolitical threats around the world. 

While many books, articles and videos have been produced concerning the importance of space as the next battlefield, I have continued to wonder why diecast manufacturers seem loathe to replicating some of the weaponry that will likely be called upon to protect our interests. Seems a shame no one is taking the bull by the horns and boldly going where no company has gone before.

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Anatomy of War: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Boeing is currently hard at work developing the Block III Super Hornet — a low cost alternative to the F-35C variant that while not as stealthy as the Joint Strike Fighter is stealthy enough to engage in stand-off clashes or support the F-35 when it must call upon its low observable profile to complete its mission. The thinking behind the Block III Super Hornet is as follows: why call upon a second flight of F-35s to protect a stealth attack when larger more capable aircraft loitering in friendly air space can do the job at a fraction of the cost?

Anyway, despite what the current White House administration might have thought before the election, it will still be awhile before the Block III Super Hornet is fully fleshed out, tested and ready to carry out such a mission in the near future. In the meantime, the F-35C, lagging behind schedule due to software issues, is still struggling to become carrier qualified and meet the Navy’s deadline to join the fleet later this year. In the interim, it would be nice to see someone attempt to replicate the Block III Super Hornet now rather than later, as tensions rise in the Far East and models of would-be adversaries should be available to study their respective characteristics.

For more information on the Block III Super Hornet, take a stroll over to the Boeing web site: Boeing

 

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Anatomy of War: Is a New US Tank in the Works?

That’s what The National Interest is claiming and they have images to prove it. According to a recent article, the US Army is about to evaluate a new breed of battle tank dubbed the Mobile Protected Firepower lightweight armored vehicle – designed to support infantry combat teams in fast-moving combat situations.

“The service, which plans to build prototypes in the next several years, is now beginning to evaluate industry proposals for the new vehicle which seeks to combine rapid deployability, maneuverability and maximum survivability for crew members in combat,” claims The National Interest.

“Army developers tell Warrior Maven the new armored vehicle is expected to change land war by outmatching Russian equivalents and bringing a new dimension to advancing infantry as it maneuvers toward enemy attack.

Senior developers with the Army Research Laboratory have told Warrior Maven about cutting edge efforts to both lighten weight of combat vehicles while simultaneously emphasizing mobility. In fact, as part of this effort, two MPFs are being built to fit on an Air Force C-17 aircraft.”

For more information on the Mobile Protected Firepower lightweight armored vehicle project, visit this link: The Army is Closer to Getting a Deadly New ‘Tank’

 

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Anatomy of War: Could the Next US Battle Tank be Made out of Foam?

An M1 Abrams main battle tank. Image courtesy of Popular Mechanics

That’s what the editors of Popular Mechanics are claiming  in their most recent issue. According to an online article, metal foam is both stronger yet lighter than typical steel armor, meaning tomorrow’s tanks could be better able to withstand the rigors of war and the many types of weapons that are intended to thin the armored herd.The article goes on to say that “Scientists at North Carolina State University and the US Army’s Aviation Applied Technology Directorate have invented what they call Composite Metal Foam (CMF). “Metal foam” is exactly what you think it is—metal with sponge-like holes in it. This not only makes CMF lighter than normal metal, but it also makes CMF spongy, allowing it to give slightly under impact, soaking up some of the energy of a collision.”

For more information on what could be a groundbreaking achievement in the armor versus armament debate, stop by this link: The United States Next Tank

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Anatomy of War: The Evolution of the American Tank

The folks at Popular Mechanics just published a fascinating discussion on The Evolution of the American Tank. From the fields of France in World War I to the mountains of Afghanistan, the tank has had to endure all sorts of obstacles to their success, from anti-tank weapons and mines to ever more powerful enemies on the ground and in the air. We strongly recommend you check out the article here.

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Anatomy of War: “The Bloody Nose” Strike

A “Bloody Nose” Strike would likely be carried out by both ground-based mobile missile launchers and deep strike aircraft such as the B-1B bomber

Reuters reports that Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, has amped up the rhetoric while convening a summit in Vancouver, Canada, that basically tells the North Korean regime, “give up your nuclear weapons and ambitions or face the wrath of the western democracies.” According to analysts, the US is weighing an option to initiate a “Bloody Nose” first strike, which would, in effect, attempt to decapitate the North Korean leadership and lay to waste the country’s nuclear arsenal before the North Koreans could take action. The US seems to be taking a bolder stance since Trump took office, suggesting that its own nuclear deterrence capabilities were tested and now deemed up to the task of eliminating, paralyzing or defeating inbound nuclear missile threats aimed at the US mainland and/or its far flung territories in the Pacific Ocean. While high-level discussions are still underway in a last minute effort to defuse the situation, the President, in league with advice offered by the National Security Council, are examining ways that will best bring about an end to the sabre-rattling, while simultaneously working with other nations to tighten the sanctions imposed on North Korea.

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Anatomy of War: When Life Imitates Art

Right before the New Year, we received Hobby Master’s second version of its 1:72 scale Su-35S Super Flanker multirole fighter – a dual form release that models Russian warbirds sent to Libya to aid the Assad government in Syria. Turns out, the actual aircraft may have been either damaged or completely destroyed earlier this week, hit by mortars fired by anti-government forces that had deployed along the outskirts of the Khmeimim Air Base near Latakia. In total, seven aircraft succumbed to enemy fire, costing the Russians, operating the parked aircraft, several hundred million dollars and a bit of prestige to boot. For more information on the strike, visit this web site: Unian Information Agency           

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Anatomy of War: The Flying Wing Gets a New Pair

The restored Ho 229 flying wing. Image courtesy of War History Online

According to War History Online, the only remaining derelict section of a German Horten Ho 229 flying wing has been completely refurbished at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, a part of the US Air & Space Museum, and will likely go on display for the world to see in the not-too-distant future. The Ho 229 was an advanced secret aircraft developed by the Horten Brothers for the Luftwaffe that wedded jet technology with the world’s first stealthy design. It was largely intended to be used against rampaging allied bombers in an effort to defend the Reich from further bombing raids.

For more information on the restoration, click on the following link: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/military-vehicle-news/the-horten-229-v3-flying-wing-amazing-image-collection.html

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