Free Republic

Even during the fighting in Afghanistan and then in Chechnya, the Russian military had repeatedly noted that the 30 mm gun of the BMP-2 is too weak when challenging an enemy hidden behind concrete shelters and thick walls of buildings. Then there is the 100 mm gun of the BMP-1, which is not very accurate in the mountains. In spite of its impressive size, it was created “for the destruction of enemy personnel nestled in long field shelters or buildings made of brick”. Taking note of the military’s emerging needs, Russian engineers proceeded on two paths –- the evolutionary and...

Israeli company Rafael and Indian group Kalyani cooperate in upgrading Soviet BMP APCs Israeli-Indian cooperation: Rafael offers an upgrade for Soviet-made BMP Armored Personnel Carriers through a cooperative alliance with India's Kalyani Group. An experimental model of the upgraded APC has been showcased at the DefExpo exhibition in New-Delhi in February 2014. In the context of the cooperative effort, Rafael installed a Mark-II Remotely Controlled Weapon Station which includes a 30mm cannon, a coaxial MAG machine gun and launchers for two Spike ATGMs, along with a payload for the commander and gunner, which provides them with a 360-degree field of...

Israeli researchers engineered mesenchymal stem cells to repair tendons. Weekend athletes who overexert themselves running or playing basketball may one day reap the benefits of research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem that shows that adult stem cells can be used to make new tendon or ligament tissue. Tendon and ligament injuries present a major clinical challenge to orthopedic medicine. In the United States, at least 200,000 patients undergo tendon or ligament repair each year. Moreover, the intervertebral disc, which is composed in part of tendon-like tissue, tends to degenerate with age, leading to the very common phenomenon of low-back...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel...