Picture of the Day - "Progress" in Iraq / Update

Iraqi and Afgan war is a verry good affair for armour producers.


Engineered Support Receives Additional $57.7 Million Ceiling Contract for FMTV Armored Cab Kits


Source: Engineered Support;


"ST. LOUIS --- Engineered Support Systems, Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary, Radian Inc. (Radian), based in Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a new contract from the U.S. Army for vehicle add-on armor kits. Initial funding under the $57.7 million contract totals $28.8 million under which Radian will provide 1,049 Crew Protection Kits (CPKs) for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).

The recently awarded contract brings the Army's total procurement to 1,857 FMTV CPKs to date. The final contract value is subject to further negotiation with the Army pending the submission of more definitive costing data, according to Gerald A. Potthoff, Vice Chairman, CEO and President of Engineered Support.

This recent contract adds to a previously awarded contract for 808 CPKs, valued at approximately $45 million, which Radian and the Company's Systems & Electronics Inc. (SEI) subsidiary have nearly completed. Most of the original armor kits included under this earlier award are now in operational use by American forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The CPK will be produced at SEI's West Plains, Missouri facility, which will activate a second shift on the production line in order to field kits as quickly as possible for soldiers in harm's way.

Potthoff commented, "These expedited contract awards support the increasingly urgent requirement to improve the physical security and safety of U.S. forces supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The CPK-equipped FMTV vehicles in operational use have already proven themselves in theatre many times while under attack by enemy insurgents. This is a credit to the design, production and installation efforts of our Radian and SEI teammates, who are proud to provide this vital protective solution to the men and women of America's military. We will work diligently in completing this most important project by the end of fiscal 2005."

The major design benefits of the CPKs include substantial protection for the FMTV's crew and key components; simple bolt-on/bolt-off application to fit over the existing cab; and incorporation of an environmental control system for air conditioning these 'buttoned-up' cabs. "

Iama

Hear hear what we have here...

Valachus where were you in the 80s when the US supported, funded, equipped the WMD wielding national-socialist tyranny against Iran, during the top period of Saddam's genocidial behaviour (when he killed the majority of those Iraki civilians) ? Down in the streets calling for the removal of the Baghdad butcher ? Or rooting for him against the Ayatollas ?

The US is not attempting to build a democracy in Irak. It's just a hollow cover up that has already failed. There will be no elections and no democracy in Irak any soon. Civil war and libanization are down the road, which ends up in some form of Islamic republic and a less stable Middle East.

I don't know for sure. How many civilians killed per day when you're shelling a major urban center like Fallujah ? But let's consider, like all true believer must do, one of the less probable results : say 15000 deaths. You must be overwhelmed by pure joy at the idea that only 25 Iraki civilians are dying every day thanks to the support half the US is giving to the neocon foreign adventures ? That's freaking cool.

I posted in military tradings topic another releases with US Army Vechicles - armoured vechicles and some fragments related to Irak war, units and vechicles used there.

Iama

Rainbow Division Deploys 'Intel Snipers’ to Iraq


Source: US Department of Defense


"FORT DRUM, N.Y. --- The 42nd Infantry Division has deployed to Iraq with what leaders term a powerful, yet subtle, combat-multiplier — the sniper-trained Soldiers of the division’s 173rd Long Range Surveillance Detachment, and their newly-issued M-14 rifles.

The rifles are “part and parcel” of the changing LRS(D) mission, said the unit’s commander, Capt. Michael Manning.

“This is not a detachment of snipers,” said Manning. “This is a detachment of highly trained intelligence collectors. We have sniping capability. Now we can acquire targets, identify targets, and destroy targets with organic direct fire weapons. That’s the big change. That’s what these weapons allow us to do.”

Manning said LRS(D)’s mission used to be strictly reconnaissance and surveillance ? working in small groups 80 to 100 kilometers beyond friendly lines, reporting information on enemy movements and the battlefield to a higher command. The enemy and battlefield have changed, so the mission has changed, according to Manning.

“We’re not training for the Fulda Gap anymore,” said Manning, referring to the area in Germany that NATO forces were assigned to defend against Russian maneuver brigades. “We’re fighting insurgents who operate in small groups. That drives the way we conduct operations.”

Manning described the new mission as reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition ? in other words, LRS(D) will be assigned to observe areas for improvised explosive devices and indirect fire activity and, if ordered by the combatant commander, eliminate insurgents with their sniper rifles. The M-14, commented Manning, has redefined the unit's mission. “It’s a tremendous force multiplier. It’s a tremendous asset on the battlefield.”

Equipping and training LRS(D) on the M-14 rifles was a joint effort of the 42nd Infantry Division, the 1215th Garrison Support Unit at Fort Drum, the First Army Small Arms Readiness Group, or SARG, and FORSCOM, according to Lt. Col. Richard Ellwanger, chief of personnel, 1215th Garrison Support Unit.

“Our mission is to support the mobilization of the National Guard and Reserves,” said Ellwanger. “We work with the post to provide an infrastructure for the National Guard and Reserves while they’re here at Fort Drum.”

The M-14 rifles will increase LRS(D) Soldiers’ ability to neutralize targets without collateral damage, said Ellwanger. “The rifle gives the Soldiers the ability to engage targets out to 800 meters. Once the word gets out to the insurgents that the Soldiers have that capacity, they will be less likely to get inside the 400- to 500-meter range and engage with RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) or medium machine guns.”

The instruction of the SARG team was superb, according to Manning. “These guys are superb marksmen. They instilled in LRS(D) the techniques, tactics and procedures that make them good marksmen. They’re professional. To a man, they’re first-rate marksmen.” Most of the training took place at Fort Drum’s Range 21, where the sniper-trained LRS(D) Soldiers zeroed and engaged targets with their iron sights, and zeroed the scopes on their rifles.

“By virtue of going through this training, LRS(D) Soldiers now have the confidence in themselves that they can effectively operate this weapon system,” said Manning. “What the 42nd Division has done, by virtue of outfitting LRS(D) with M-14 rifles, is make us the cutting edge of the LRS(D) community.”

But the real edge in LRS(D)’s sniping capability are the LRS(D) Soldiers behind the newly issued M-14 rifles — graduates of the four-week National Guard Sniper School at Camp Robinson, Ark. With their M-14 training complete, the LRS(D) soldiers became trainers themselves, turning Soldiers from other 42nd Infantry Division units into designated marksmen.

“We’re a combat multiplier because we can give the division planners nearly real-time information, and a picture of the battlefield,” said LRS(D) sniper-trained Staff Sgt. Tim Halloran. “If we’re on a mission and we acquire a high-value target, we can not only report it to higher [headquarters], we can eliminate it.”

“Hopefully we can interdict the people placing the IEDs,” said LRS(D) Assistant Team Leader Cpl. Wayne Lynch, who, along with LRS(D) Team Leader Staff Sgt. Thomas O’Hare, served a tour in Iraq last year.

“That’s all I thought about when we were in Iraq last year: ‘how do we stop these people who are placing the IEDs?’ Now that we’ve got snipers in LRS(D), we’re able to do surveillance and take direct action,” Lynch said.

Deployed to Iraq with the 119th Military Police Company, Rhode Island National Guard, Lynch said he and O’Hare made it their job to find IEDs. Lynch said he hopes LRS(D) will be tasked with interdicting terrorists placing IEDs. He’s been a member of the unit for nine years and loves it. He does not regret going back to Iraq. “I’m going with a unit I’ve trained with,” he said. “I’m honored to go to war with them.”

Based in Rhode Island, LRS(D) ruckmarches to the north summit of New Hampshire’s Mount Mooslacki every year. All members of LRS(D) are airborne qualified, and nine are ranger qualified. They have to do a jump every three months to maintain their airborne status.

“We train on a higher plain,” said LRS(D) sniper-trained Soldier Spc. Richard O’Connor. “Most units do five-mile rucksack marches. We do 15-mile rucksack marches. Other units have 45-pound rucksacks. We have 80-pound rucksacks. We have to march farther and faster than anyone else.”

O’Connor was a scout/sniper with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He’s been on real-world missions to Tunisia and Liberia, and took part in the rescue of Air Force Pilot Capt. Scott O’Grady, who was shot down over Bosnia in 1995.

“Anticipation of the mission is awesome,” said O’Connor. He described the job as a “rush”, and said LRS(D) team members must be physically fit, mature, and disciplined, and must know each other’s jobs. Part of that job is going “subsurface”? patrolling to a location outside friendly lines, digging a hole, and living in it while observing enemy activity.

“They might live in that hole for two to four days,” said Manning. “It takes an unbelievably disciplined individual to do this job.”

“We’re just guys with rifles,” said O’Connor. “You have to have absolute confidence in everyone on your team. There’s nothing else in the Army I want to do.” "


Iama

Stryker Brigade Concept Proves Itself in Ninewa


Source: DOD


"BAGHDAD, Iraq --- The Stryker Brigade is well-designed for the decentralized war against insurgents the coalition is waging in Iraq, said Brig. Gen. Carter Ham, commander of Task Force Olympia, during an American Forces Press Service interview today.

With 14 months of combat experience under its belt now, the Stryker Brigade concept has proven itself. The brigade in Mosul now – the 1st Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division -- is using its flexible capabilities to hunt down insurgents and terrorists intimidating Iraqis who want a free and democratic country.

The brigade has substantially more infantry than a typical brigade, and uses technology to leverage the infantry when they dismount. The brigade also has more intelligence capabilities – including an unmanned aerial vehicle capability – and more internal options for firepower.

The Stryker vehicle itself has received glowing reports. The mission-capable rate dipped below 90 percent only once in the last year, and that was during the equipment hand-off from one brigade to another.

The wheeled vehicle also can move faster and farther than the typical infantry brigade. The smooth-riding vehicle also allows troops to arrive at a fight rested. "It doesn't shake the crew like a typical Bradley (fighting vehicle) does," Ham said.

The brigade demonstrated that capability many times in 2004. Strykers moved from Mosul to Kut and Najaf in April. They arrived ready for the fight. "We often launch strikes that go over 100 kilometers into the desert," Ham said. "That's tough to do in a Bradley.

"But it's important to remember that it's not an 'either-or' proposition," he continued. "There is a definite place for Bradleys and main battle tanks. We have tanks in Mosul right now, and I'm here to tell you that the insurgents don't like them." "

Iama

Where was I? I was a citizen of the Socialist Republic of Romania, if I remember correctly Not really a position from which to condemn Iraq or Iran (both, traditional "neighbouring and friendly countries" with SRR, and major trade partners or SRR too - one can only imagine what could Romania export to those two, but whatever it exported, it sure was well ahead the USA in overall trade volume). So unfortunately I couldn't be vocal about the ayatollah or mr. Hussein and his Ba'ath Socialist party.

Funny though, that no-one in the world was vocal about them at the time. Because at the time, peaceniks of the world were vocal 24/7 exclusively about Ronald Reagan Son of Satan who dared to name USSR "the Evil Empire", called for the dismantling of the Berlin Wall and provided some support to people who resisted communism in various places of the world. No word from anyone about Iraq, Iran or other peaceful forgotten places in the world.

As for the ancient claptrap about USA supporting Iraq and Saddam Hussein: the fact that the two parties had some contacts, trade relations and mutual interests (containing the Iranian mullahs' offensive) doesn't make the USA a major sponsor of Ba'athist Iraq (let alone the MOST IMPORTANT one). Please refer for the attchd image for a comparison.

Will the Iraq democratic process fail or succeed? Time will tell. In the meanwhile, though, please refrain from revealing your implicit disconsideration for Iraqis' compatibility with, and desire of, freedoms and democracy. It's disgraceful to say that, based only on the effects of the actions of the remains of the ruling murderous Ba'ath security detail, undercover agents of neighboring totalitarian countries, and operatives of the Al-Qaeda international terror network.

And also try to refrain from smearing me as "overwhelmed by joy" at the thought that people there are killed in all sorts of manners by terrorists of all types. You could instead ponder over the distasteful chuckling of you and your buddies over the photos of some poor guy being assasinated in plain daylight because of his involvement in the organisation of elections in his country.

This post has been edited by valachus on January 17, 2005 04:19 pm

Attached Image

By the way, here's how the chart breaks down:

1. Communist countries (USSR + Eastern Bloc + China) = 81%
2. France = 13%
3. Muslim countries = 2%
4. USA = 1%
5. Others (Brazil + Denmark) = 3%

Or, one could say that 94% of Irak's import of weapons during 1973-1990 originated from the Communist Bloc and France.

For the sake of clarity, let's compare it to Chandernagore's quote:

This post has been edited by mabadesc on January 17, 2005 05:03 pm

Oh ? And that prevents you from having your own opinion ? I see.

***edited by admin***

Let's not forget

This post has been edited by Victor on January 17, 2005 08:53 pm

I stand by my quote. It's not uncompatible with the graph.

This post has been edited by Chandernagore on January 17, 2005 08:12 pm

Insults will not be tolerated here and may earn the poster a week's suspention.

The topic will be closed for a couple of days until spirits cool down.

Check this link:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/20...a-torture_x.htm

No comments.

Let's no forget, indeed - and Chandernagore, please try to refrain yourself from further public nervous outbursts - if you have anything off-topic to hurl at me, please do it in PM:

"In September 1975, Hussein traveled to Paris, where Chirac personally gave him a tour of a French nuclear plant. During that visit, Chirac said, “Iraq is in the process of beginning a coherent nuclear program and France wants to associate herself with that effort in the field of reactors.” France sold two reactors to Iraq, with the agreement signed during Hussein’s visit. The Iraqis purchased a 70-megawatt reactor, along with six charges of 26 points of uranium enriched to 93 percent -- in other words, enough weapons-grade uranium to produce three to four nuclear devices. Baghdad also purchased a one-megawatt research reactor, and France agreed to train 600 Iraqi nuclear technicians and scientists -- the core of Iraq’s nuclear capability."

"France agreed to sell Iraq $1.5 billion worth of weapons -- including the integrated air defense system that was destroyed by the United States in 1991, about 60 Mirage F1 fighter planes, surface-to-air missiles and advanced electronics. The Iraqis, for their part, agreed to sell France $70 million worth of oil.

"During this period, Chirac and Hussein formed what Chirac called a close personal relationship. As the New York Times put it in a 1986 report about Chirac’s attempt to return to the premiership, the French official “has said many times that he is a personal friend of Saddam Hussein of Iraq.”
(Stratfor.com)


But wait, there's more:

"The list in Iraq's 1998/current chemical weapons declaration contains 31 "major suppliers", 14 from Germany. The 1996/current nuclear suppliers list has 62 company names on it, 33 from Germany."

"Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said in his January 27 report that tons of Iraqi chemical and biological agents and precursors were unaccounted for. Over the years, well over half of the precursor materials and a majority of the tools and know-how for their conversion into weapons were sold to Iraq by German firms - both prior to and after the 1991 Gulf War."

"In April 2001, August Hanning (BND intelligence chief) told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that Iraq was developing a new class of chemical weapons, reiterated his alert on Iraq's missile and nuclear programs, and said that several German companies had continued to deliver to Baghdad components needed for the production of poison gas. In March 2002, he told the New Yorker magazine that, "It is our estimate that Iraq will have an atomic bomb in three years."

"Included on the Iraqi suppliers' lists are other world-renowned (eg, Hoechst, Daimler-Benz, Siemens, Kloeckner, Carl Zeiss, Schott Glas, etc) and smaller German firms. Notable are Karl Kolb/Pilot Plant and WTB (Walter Thosti Boswau) who built and equipped Iraq's two major "pesticide and detergent" plants which, said a WTB employee, produce "detergents to exterminate two-legged flies" (Spiegel 4/1989, p 24). The WTB undertaking was supported by a credit guarantee for several hundred million German marks by Hermes, a German government export and credit insurer. Noteworthy also is Rhein-Bayern, which supplied Iraq with eight mobile toxicological labs housed in sand-colored, camouflage-painted Magirus trucks."

(Asia Times)


Epilogue: "This... might have been the beginning of a beautiful friendship." (J. Chirac and S. Hussein visit a French nuclear plant, about 1975):

This post has been edited by valachus on January 24, 2005 11:43 pm

Attached Image

Paladins – Have Guns, Can Travel


Source: US Army


"CAMP TAJI, Iraq --- At 32 tons with the ability to fire up to four rounds per minute, the M109A6 Paladin 155mm self propelled Howitzer is the most technologically advanced cannon system in the US Army’s vast field artillery arsenal.

Reinforcing the 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment, soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division’s Battery B, 2nd Battalion 82nd Field Artillery, maintain and operate the Paladins as a piece of the 39th Brigade Combat Team’s artillery firing battery.

“This baby can be on the move, get a call to fire and be ready to respond in a matter of minutes,” explained Hampton, Va., native Sgt. Donald Quash, an artilleryman with 2-82nd FA. “We can carry up to 32 conventional rounds, two copper head (laser guided) rounds and 44 propellants, in addition to the four crew members inside every vehicle.”

While mobility is a key aspect of the Paladin, the battery has operated from a static gun-line as the 1st / 206th used the Paladin’s ability to fire over long distances. Last June, the battery reinforced the 1st of the 206th as more and more of the attacks on Camp Taji came from areas outside the range of the the unit’s M102 towed howitzers.

“With the ability to fire up to 30 kilometers, the Paladins allow us to respond to attacks outside the range of our guns,” said Maj. Damon Cluck, operations officer for the 1st/206th.

Cluck said Paladins have become a vital piece in the counterfire missions against enemy mortars and rockets that are core to field artillery in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“So far,” he said, “the Paladins have been called to fire for 74 missions with a total of 504 rounds being shot.”

Cluck explained said some of the shots fired were for registration, “zeroing the rifle” to make certain that the 155-millimeter weapon is on target when it delivers its brand of fury.

All told, the team will fire 10 rounds, two for adjustment, eight for effect. The impacts are monitored and relayed back to the fire direction center by an observation team stationed at the range. As the mission comes to a close, 2nd Lt. Bryan Shipman, fire direction officer, Battery B, 1st-206th walks out to congratulate the soldiers for an impressive shoot.

“Only two rounds for adjustment and all eight of the rounds for effect where within ten meters of each other,” the lieutenant tells them. “That’s just awesome guys, great shooting.”

Working on Camp Taji has allowed the soldiers of the battery to maintain their proficiency with their primary weapon system. Many an artilleryman has assumed the role of the infantry; patrolling the streets of Baghdad, spending more time inside a Humvee and conducting raids than putting the skills of their chosen Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) to use.

“The battery does a really good job of rotating its soldiers up here,” observed Cluck. “So guys are still out there on the streets patrolling and doing that mission, but then get a chance to come up here and maintain their core competency.”

The Paladins has also proven beneficial to artillery soldiers of the 1st /206th. The paladins and M102 Howitzers share the same fire direction center -- the computer nerve center of the gun-line.

“Many of sldiers had no previous experience operating the computer systems used by the Paladins,” Cluck said. “As we work together to accomplish the mission, they’ve had to learn how to use them and can now add that to their knowledge base.”

Having completed their registration fire, the team of soldiers is conducts an informal After Action Review; what could have been better, what went bad and what they can improve. Sgt. Richard Castro, of Fresno, Calif., notes the shoot was supposed to include 20 rounds, but for reasons unspecified called short at ten.

“That’s OK,” Castro exclaimed as he rinses the accumulated dirt from his face. “[That] just means we’ll have to do it again sometime soon and there isn’t any job better in the Army then this one right here!” "

Iama

ATK Matrix System Selected by Army for Accelerated Deployment to Iraq


Source: ATK Alliant Techsystems


" MINNEAPOLIS --- Alliant Techsystems has been notified that the U.S. Army will accelerate fielding of the Matrix remote munitions control system. Twenty-five Matrix systems will be delivered to U.S. forces in Iraq by June 2005. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Matrix is a portable, reusable, soldier-in-the-loop system that can be used in either a lethal, or a non-lethal mode. ATK developed Matrix with its joint venture partner Textron Systems for the Project Manager Close Combat Systems and the U.S. Army Armaments, Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) based at the Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey.

A follow-on program to Matrix is the ATK/Textron Systems Spider program, an advanced man-in-the-loop area denial system designed to give U.S. forces unmatched capability for perimeter defense, flank protection and more. ATK is a $2.4 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 14,000 people in 23 states. "

Iama

Report: Pentagon Created Internal Spy Agency


Source: Voice of America news


" A published report says U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has created an espionage unit in the Pentagon that gives him wide authority over spy operations abroad.

The Washington Post says the Strategic Support Branch reaches into what has normally been Central Intelligence Agency territory. The report in Sunday's newspaper says the unit has been secretly operating for two years in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

A Defense Department statement released Sunday denies the existence of such a unit, but says it is consulting with other agencies in the U.S. intelligence community, including the CIA, to improve human intelligence capability.

The Post says its information comes from interviews with participants, and documents obtained by the newspaper. The unit is said to deploy special operations forces and experts such as linguists and interrogators into both friendly and unfriendly nations."



Statement From Pentagon Spokesman Lawrence DiRita on Intelligence Activities of the Defense Department


Source: US Department of Defense


"There is no unit that is directly reportable to the Secretary of Defense for clandestine operations as is described in the Washington Post article of January 23, 2005, entitled "Secret Unit Expands Rumsfeld's Domain". Further, the Department is not attempting to "bend" statutes to fit desired activities, as is suggested in this article.

It is accurate and should not be surprising that the Department of Defense is attempting to improve its long-standing human intelligence capability.

A principal conclusion of the 9-11 Commission report is that the U.S. human intelligence capability must be improved across the board. The Department of Defense has a longstanding human intelligence capacity in the Defense Human Intelligence Service, a component of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Prior to the 9-11 commission issuing their conclusion that the nation's human intelligence capability must be improved, the Defense Human Intelligence Service has been taking steps to be more focused and task-oriented for the global war on terror. One of the objectives of this effort is to make better human intelligence capability available to assist combatant commanders for specific missions involving regular or special operations forces.

The demands of the Global War on Terror necessitate a framework by which military forces and traditional human intelligence work more closely together and in greater numbers than they have in the past. These actions are being taken within existing statutory authorities to support traditional military operations and any assertion to the contrary is wrong. The department remains in regular consultation with the relevant committees in Congress and with other agencies within the intelligence community, including the CIA. "

Iama