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One of the little-known casualties of the Iraq war was the American M-2 Bradley IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). Five years ago the U.S. Army stopped using the M-2 in combat. By then it was clear that the enemy was intent on using mines and roadside bombs in a big way and the M-1 tank, Stryker, and MRAP vehicles were much better able to handle these blast weapons than the M-2. This was a hard decision to make because up until then it was believed that the M-2 could be made competitive with upgrades. For example, the BUSK (Bradley Urban Survival...

Navy scientists with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) hit a new milestone, succesfully firing their electromagnetic railgun for the 1,000th time as the state-of-the-art weapon edges closer to real world deployment. A theoretical dream for decades, the railgun is unlike any other weapon used in warfare. And though still in testing, it's quite real, as the U.S. Navy proved in a record-setting test Monday, Oct. 31, in Dahlgren, Va. Rather than relying on a explosion to fire a projectile, it uses an electomagnetic current to accelerate a non-explosive bullet at several times the speed of sound. The conductive projectile...

Russia's main arms exporter has signed a string of deals with a leading French defense firm for provision of night-vision devices on combat vehicles. The contract was signed between Russia's Rosoboronexport and France's Thales company and concerns night-vision devices for Russia's T-90 tanks that will be manufactured under a licensed agreement at an optical-mechanical plant in Vologda, Russian media reported. "Under the contract, Russia has the right to assemble thermal imaging systems for armored vehicles under license in Vologda, with the subsequent maintenance," said Igor Sevastyanov, head of the Russian defense company, according to RIA Novosti.

NEW DELHI: A Pakistan-bound cargo vessel carrying a "huge quantity" of explosives and other weapons has been detained by the authorities at a harbour in eastern India, police said on Saturday. The vessel was heading for the Pakistani port city of Karachi and was detained Friday on an intelligence tip-off at Diamond Harbour, 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Kolkata, capital of the West Bengal state, police said. "The Indian Coast Guard and navy personnel have found a huge quantity of explosives, rocket launchers, anti-aircraft guns and some bombs in two large containers," West Bengal police director general Bhupinder Singh...

The recent Chinese missile defense test is just one of many signs that anti-ballistic missile systems are the “must have” military fashion accessory of 2010. For China the need for such weapons is obvious: the only neighbors they have who lack a real or potential short- to medium-range missile capability are Laos, Burma, and perhaps Mongolia. All of their other neighbors, especially Russia, North Korea. and India, have been building up their rocket forces at a rapid rate. For both Europe and China, any effective BMD requires space-based early warning sensors similar to the US Defense Support Program satellites based...

I've seen this video numerous times but I don't think it's been posted to FR. It's a BLAST. I promise, you WILL NOT be disappointed. Go to the link provided to: Dillon Aero Videos Click onto the M134 Highlight Reel. Enjoy...

Russian deliveries of military hardware to the Palestian authority may be fullfilled if only approved by Israel, says Russian Vice Premier and Minister of Defense Mr. Sergey Ivanov. “Any deliveries of hardware may be done only through Israel’s territory and if Israel approves them” – Ivanov said to journalists on Friday during his visit to Tamanskaya division based in Moscow oblast’ (province). Ivanov doesn’t see any reason why Israel may object the delivery. “This issue [on supplying military equipment to Palestinians] is on preliminary consideration stage”, ITAR-TASS quotes. The Chief of Russian General Headquarters Army General Mr. Yuri Baluevski said...

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Report: Raytheon 'heat beam' weapon ready for Iraq Boston Business Journal Government defense giant Raytheon Co. has developed the first nonlethal weapon that fires a heat beam to repel enemies and reduces the chance of innocent civilians being shot, a Pentagon official said. Raytheon, the world's largest missile maker, delivered a prototype to the U.S. military last month. The product is expected to be evaluated from February through June to determine whether to equip U.S. forces with it, Colonel David Karcher, director of the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate, told Bloomberg Business News. With U.S. casualties in Iraq rising, expectations are...

Russia's race to export arms By Alexander Koliandre BBC Russian service One of Russia's most popular export models For decades, the Soviet Union supplied Iraq with firepower, tanks and aircraft. Now the US is accusing two Russian firms of selling banned equipment to Iraq. President Vladimir Putin is at pains to prove that Russia has not supplied banned weapons to Baghdad. But after a decade of retreat, Russia is indeed regaining its position as a leading exporter of arms and military equipment. In 2002, Russia's export of military hardware rose to $4.8bn (£3.1bn) - a post-Soviet record. Arms sales have...

CRUSADER 155MM SELF PROPELLED HOWITZER, USA The Crusader self-propelled howitzer is being developed for the US Army as a replacement for the Paladin and the US Army requirement is expected to be for over 800 vehicles. Live firing trials of the Crusader began in February 2000 at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, and in November 2000 a firing rate of 10.4 rounds per minute was achieved. The system successfully completed its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in November 2001. The first production versions are due in 2006 and the Crusader is planned to enter service in 2008. The Crusader programme...