The Russians have gone in

[venomballistics]

We may not want "accuracy aiding computers" to fall into Russian hands. They are lucky to be getting what they are. It's free help in dire times. They seem to be doing pretty well with whatever they get. It's not that often that the rest of the world has pitched in to help a small country fend off a much bigger country. I'm happy to see them getting supplies, but we can't send them all our newest and best stuff, we may need it.

that's my thought. Be it reverse engineering or someday outright being turned against us, either case is a future threat in need of some mitigation and avoidance

 

[biku324]

Russia attacked Ukraine utterly without provocation. Russians deliberately target noncombatants and kill women, children, and the elderly for no reason other than Putin told them to do so.

Hardly a proxy war.

 

[LVSteve]

I am of the generation that was brought up to believe that "advanced" weapons were usually unreliable and certainly not "tough" enough for real combat. Without a doubt, Hollywood and popular TV has reinforced that belief over the years with all of the movies and such portraying the failings and shortcomings of high-tech on the battlefield. Speaking for myself, things like HIMARS and our advanced guided artillery rounds certainly seem to be dispelling that myth!

Well, let's see. There was the Sparrow missile in Vietnam, the early Sidewinder and IR Falcons, the Sergeant York AAA vehicle debacle, the Bradley IFV (see movie Pentagon Wars for explanation), the XM8 rifle, the San Antonio class LPD, the Knox class frigate (for fair weather only in original form), and any number of jet powered deathtraps of the 50s and 60s.

I've got a laundry list of British ones if you like.

 

[Rudi]

Russia attacked Ukraine utterly without provocation. Russians deliberately target noncombatants and kill women, children, and the elderly for no reason other than Putin told them to do so.

Hardly a proxy war.

Not to mention, rape, torture, and deporting(kidnaping) Ukrainians to Russia.

 

[bigwheelzip]

There has been much news lately, backed up by video, of successful counterattacks by Ukraine. Most of this battlefield reporting is single source, and lacks verification. A suspicious person could imagine that any of it could be faked propaganda.

Saw these two comparison photos today, generated by NASA from a satellite. The red on the image has been able to detect active destruction in the war zone.

Ukraine has claimed it's forces have used it's new long-range rocket artillery to destroy more than two dozen Russian ammunition storage areas, and that this new logistic challenge has resulted in less bombardment by the Russians.
The NASA image seems to confirm the Ukrainian's claim.

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[venomballistics]

Ukraine seems to have liberated their northern border regions. Eastern Donbas region still seems fairly hot.

 

[bigwheelzip]

A second Russian ammo dump was claimed destroyed today in this southern Ukrainian city. It was said to be another American made HIMARS strike.
This is the same area where the Russian General was just claimed to have been killed.

"Ukraine Destroys Second Russian Ammo Dump With U.S.-Supplied HIMARS Missile" Ukraine Destroys Second Russian Ammo Dump With U.S.-Supplied HIMARS Missile


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[Onomea]

BWZ, any updates on that German self propelled howitzer?

 

[bigwheelzip]

BWZ, any updates on that German self propelled howitzer?

Funny you mention that, because I was curious also, considering all the HIMARS news lately. Did a little digging and found an article on the deployment of the PzH 2000, in the 6/27 edition of the German newspaper BILD.

Those Howitzers have been active for 3 weeks now, but the Ukrainians know that Russians have made them a high level target, and have essentially gone "dark" with them. Operational security around them is at the highest level. Nobody associated with them can carry any consumer electronics or cell phones, thus no video of operations.

Besides simple statements acknowledging their use, the only media that might link to them is a whole bunch of drone video lately, showing impacts of advanced artillery munitions, on small targets.

Also, the Germans and Dutch who supplied the first batch of those howitzer systems to Ukraine, have been monitoring their use, and been vocal in their approval. They claim the expertise exhibited is well beyond what they'd expect from their own soldiers in such a short time. Both Governments have now expedited a second round of PzH 2000 transfers and training.



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[venomballistics]

Looks like some good progress along the northern border today.

 

[Greyman50]

Just read the confirmation of Russia use of S-300 surface to air missiles for ground targets. Also Iran is sending some of their offensive “ suicide drones” to Russia.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Looks like the Ukrainians have impressed the USA enough for us to now trust them with the more advanced versions of M-777 Howitzers, with advanced fire control computers and GPS. These updated cannon are optimized to use the most sophisticated ammo, like Excalibur.

"Ukraine Situation Report: Ukrainian Troops Training With Howitzers Optimized For Guided Artillery Rounds" Ukraine Situation Report: Ukrainian Troops Training With Howitzers Optimized For Guided Artillery Rounds



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[Onomea]

From BWZ's link above:

 

[bigwheelzip]

This short clip is of Ukrainians executing a fire mission with one of the towed M-777 howitzers. Looks like quite a job, but they seem adept.


Defending Troops Shell Russian Targets With UK-Made M777 Howitzers - YouTube

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[venomballistics]

Pretty good turning of the tables.
If they can sustain and maintain, they could conceivably retake the Crimean peninsula

 

[bigwheelzip]

Christmas in July, again. Some new long-range firepower is in Ukraine. The M-270 MLRS has arrived, and the Ukrainians to operate it should be about done with training.
Akin to the wheeled HIMARS but based on the American Bradley chassis, the tracked M-270 carries twice the HIMARS rocket load.
A joint Norwegian/British donation, Norway took these systems out of service 19 years ago, and they were functionally obsolete, being unable to use the most modern rockets. The British are upgrading these systems for modern rockets, before shipment to Ukraine.

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[oldbrownhat]

Another Ukrainian refugee family in Canada

Ukrainian family finds refuge in Castlegar

Nina Kucheruk and her family have arrived from Kyiv

(Castlegar is small town of about 8,000 in south-central BC, about 28 miles north of the Canada-USA border.)

In broken English, Nina Kucheruk takes a coffee order at the Humble Bean in Castlegar. It’s her first day on the job and in spite of all she has gone through, she has a smile on her face.

The Ukrainian refugee fled her home in Kyiv several months ago and has only been in Castlegar for just over a week. She has come with her eight-year-old daughter Katya, her mother-in-law Iryna and her 12-year-old brother-in-law Ivan. Her husband has stayed behind to assist with the security of Kyiv..

...In a very short amount of time, the community has rallied to assist the family. A permanent home has been found, donations to furnish the home have been pouring in, and Kucheruk has found a job.

“People are so nice, so good and they don’t know us. The doors are always open and people want to help us,” said Kucheruk through tears. “I want to say thank you to all the people in this town.

“I see so many people who help, and don’t ask for something back.”...​

Every time I'm tempted to complain about something here that bugs me, I need to read something like this.

 

[venomballistics]

If I didn't know any better, I'd hazard to guess they are testing the waters to retake Zaporizhzhia Nuclear power plant.
Not sure I'd trust its condition ... but it needs doin'

 

[Beemerguy53]

Looks like the Ukrainians have impressed the USA enough for us to now trust them with the more advanced versions of M-777 Howitzers, with advanced fire control computers and GPS...

I can only imagine the level of behind-the-scenes support the US and other NATO countries are giving Ukraine. We will probably never know the true extent of our involvement in this war.

I continue to be amazed by the gallantry and intrepidity of the Ukrainians. As I've said over and over again since February...no Russian conscript will fight as hard to take Ukraine as the Ukrainians will fight to keep it.

 

[johngalt]

When people say we should give up guns because we have police, we should remind them that Ukraine used to have nukes and were promised they would never need them.