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(Newsweek) - The Pentagon is working to finalize a plan that will allow transgender people to serve in the military, anonymous sources told the Associated Press. The Pentagon is expected to make an announcement later this week. The Pentagon's plan would allow for a six month window in which "to assess the impact of the change and work out the details," the AP reported. In June, the American Medical Association said there was no medical reason transgender people could not serve in the armed forces. The National Center for Transgender Equality estimates there are over 134,000 transgender veterans and over 15,000 transgender persons in active duty. "Support for transgender veterans has improved, but they still face barriers from obtaining updated service records that do not out them as transgender, and from receiving VA coverage of necessary medical procedures," the center said on their website. "Furthermore, restrictions on open service continue to bring an early end to the careers of qualified service members, even though those rules lack any basis in medicine or military need." In 2011, the military lifted "don't ask, don't tell," allowing gay men and women to serve in the armed forces. This change is widely considered successful and advocates believe the plan to allow transgender persons to serve would follow suit.

S-350 Vityaz launcher (RT) - Russian air defense is getting ready to deploy S-350 Vityaz mobile SAMs to replace outgoing versions of S-300 anti-aircraft systems. The core of the new system features missiles with state-of-the-art active radar-homing warheads. Everything is ready for the production of Russia’s brand-new medium to short range mobile anti-aircraft missile complex. The system will replace S-300ps SAMs, which are armed with outdated V55R missiles due for decommissioning by the end of the year. “The next generation S-350 systems will be operational in the nearest possible future,†General-Major Sergey Babakov, the Commander of Russia’s anti-aircraft missile troops, told journalists in early July. “Deployment is expected to comply with the schedule, no failures on delivery are expected,†the general added. The S-350 Vityaz system consists of a launcher vehicle, all-aspect radar for scanning airspace and a command vehicle. The maximum number of launchers operating with one radar and command center is classified, as well as the maximum quantity of simultaneously tracked targets. The S-350 Vityaz is armed with two types of missiles. One is medium range also employed by anti-aircraft S-400 Triumph systems. The other interceptor missile is a brand-new modern projectile with an active homing head, which means it has its own radar station. The technical characteristics of this new missile “outperform missiles of previous generation systems,†Colonel Igor Klimov, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, told journalists. The new missile is smaller, lighter and more maneuverable, General Babakov said last weekend in an interview with Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine. “Though it is smaller, its characteristics are better than that of S-300ps. It is agile, does better at ultra-low and maximum heights and has longer range,†the general said. “I believe the new system is going to be die-hard,†Babakov said in an interview with the Russian News Service radio station. The S-350 Vityaz was unveiled to the public at the MAKS-2013 International Aviation and Space Show. Initially, the complex was expected to enter production in 2014, but the final tests of the new missile took more time than was expected. The S-400 Triumph and S-350 Vityaz complexes are replacing those of the outdated S-300 family systems. The principal difference between S-350 Vityaz and S-300 is the number of missiles ready for use: the S-350 launcher vehicle carries 12 missiles, whereas the S-300 has just four. This is due to modern missiles being more powerful, and so missiles become either smaller or achieve longer ranges with the same size.

(Defense News) - While the Army continues to upgrade existing M4s to the deadlier, more reliable M4A1, Army leaders have mapped out a whole new list of additional improvements to the legacy rifle. The Army has requested from industry new enhancements to create what's called an M4A1+. The "plus" components would give the M4A1 an extended Picatinny rail, a floating barrel to enhance accuracy and an optional sniper-style single-stage trigger. "We're always trying to modernize and upgrade the weapon to make sure we've got the best weapon available," said Lt. Col. Terry Russell, project manager for Individual Weapons at Picatinny Arsenal. "There are no deficiencies that we're trying to correct; we're just trying to make sure it remains a premier weapons system." Earlier this year, the Army asked industry for examples of existing weapon upgrades that could be applied to the M4A1. Russell said the desired enhancements should require more research and development for the M4A1, used by special operations since 1994. "We are very confident that these already do exist, or that (companies) can develop them for us in short order," Russell said. The solicitation stipulated that all of the components "seamlessly integrate with the current M4A1 Carbine," and "without negatively impacting or affecting the performance or operation." The Army's request to industry would allow for the M4A1+ to weigh slightly more than the M4A1. Unloaded and without accessories the M4A1+ specs say it should weigh less than 8 pounds. The unloaded M4A1 weighs 7.74 pounds. Here are eight key components that would give your M4A1 that added "plus." 1. Shoot with a straight elbow: The requested forward Picatinny rail, according to the Army specs, would be 12 inches long. That makes it about four inches longer than the current standard, and with reason. The M4 and M4A1 are designed to be held with a bent front elbow. But many soldiers utilize a technique in which they extend their arm and lock their elbow for better stability. That technique is a bad idea on current carbines because of a shorter rail, Russell said. For most shooters, extending the forward arm would put the hand past the end of the rail and require the shooter to hold the barrel instead — a good way to burn that hand. 2. Attach more gear: Along with hand placement, the longer rail would allow soldiers to attach more enablers to the weapon, such as laser sights and pointers, forward grips, bipods, optics and lights. "Right now, there's limited space," Russell said. "This allows you to put more than you are currently able to put on them." Russell said part of the reason for seeking enhanced mounting capacity comes with an eye toward the future: the Army's ongoing development of a rifle fire control system. The Army remains a few years away from a working prototype that meets its requirements, Russell said. But eventually, the system will effectively adjust the crosshairs in a scope to account for factors like distance, wind, humidity, barometric pressure, and ammunition characteristics. The longer rail of the M4A1+ will better facilitate the new tool, which Russell said the Army hopes will compare in size to today's optic systems. 3. Floating for accuracy: Encased in the new extended rail would be a floating barrel. In other words, the wrap-around rail would not touch the barrel. A rifle's barrel vibrates naturally when it fires, and altering the harmonics on the barrel can impact accuracy. When a rail is attached to the middle of the barrel as it is now, forces exerted on the rail do just that as they are exerted on the barrel. Forces can include the rigidity of the rail itself, weight of enablers, the pull of a sling mounted to the rail, or a tight grip by the forward hand on the rail. "A soldier holding it with a rigid grip can have an effect, and that causes some accuracy degradation," Russell said of an accessorized, non-floating barrel. "By having the floating barrel on there, it takes all those things out of the equation, which allows better accuracy." 4. Removable sights: The Army, Russell noted, wants to take weight off the soldier wherever it can. That's part of the reason the call to industry specifies removable front and rear iron sights. That feature would also allow for lower-profile enablers (that don't stick out as much). That would make for a less-bulky accessorized rifle with a lower center of gravity. It also would reduce the silhouette signature, Russell said, making it harder to spot. For soldiers who want the sights, there will still be a small, fold-down front and rear sight that can clip to the Picatinny rail, Russell said. 5. Better accuracy: In terms of system accuracy, the specs require a 5-inch mean radius from 300 meters, throughout barrel life. That means shots average no more than 5 inches from the target. Additionally, the Army hopes the weapon can limit the extreme spread of 5 inches at that distance and 10 inches at 600 meters, with a 90 percent probability. That goal, listed as "desired" rather than "required," means 90 percent of shots fit into a circle 5 inches in diameter (a 2.5-inch radius) at 300 meters, and a circle twice as wide at 600. 6. Flash suppressor. The specs request an improved flash suppressor to reduce both day and night firing signatures. That new muzzle break, Russell said, should make a fired M4A1+ a little more difficult to see and hear. The suppressor should, according to specs, include a blank firing adapter compatible with M200 ammunition. (The adapter is the muzzle-blocker used in blanks-based training to minimize injury should the gun accidentally fire a live round). 7. Optional sniper trigger: One modification won't go on every M4A1+, but the squad marksman will appreciate it. A specialized trigger will offer sniper-like sensitivity, Russell said. Current carbines have double-stage triggers, with some slack to pull before the weapon fires. The specialized trigger module will be single-stage: the gun will fire basically once the trigger moves. "It's very sensitive to the touch. When pulling the trigger you don't have to pull it as hard, which allows you to maintain accuracy on the target," Russell said. "At shorter distances it (the difference in accuracy) is not that significant, but at longer range, it becomes more significant." Specs call for a "single-stage trigger, free of creep, with consistent trigger pull weight" of 4-5 pounds. It should work on both semiautomatic and automatic settings. The trigger module would be procured separately, meaning a different company may produce it, rather than the one that supplies the rest of the upgrades. 8. Stealthier: To reduce visual detection, the Army wants the colors of the new parts to be "neutral (non-black) color" of a "rough, dull, non-reflective, coating/finish that retains paint." The request specifies a brownish color, one between Coyote 498 and Light Coyote 481. Even more M4 improvements In addition to the M4A1 and M4A1+, the service is weighing whether to pursue even more improvements via its Soldier Enhancement Program. SEP is designed to test off-the-shelf equipment that could improve a soldier's combat effectiveness. Many of SEP's ideas come directly from soldiers themselves. Leaders of SEP are considering testing the following commercially available improvements for the M4 platform. A better tool to clean the bolt, carrier and firing pin. Picatinny attachments that could insulate soldiers' hands from heat and protect accessory wires so they don't get caught on anything. A heat resistant rubber, plastic shield or other polymer shield that can wrap around the pistol grip to insulate heat and optics to provide protection. An integrated arms system including advanced fire control technology, with target tracking, environmental sensors, automatic ballistic calculation, heads up display and networking. A hand-guard system that weighs 20 percent less and is thermally insulated. A device that slightly raises the rifle combat optic and moves it back, improving ease of use. A device that allows soldiers to zero their weapons (calibrate the sights so it accurately indicates where the bullet will hit) in any environment without life fire. An ambidextrous, lightweight, rugged sling-mount adapter. The socket attaching a carrying strap to the gun should be mountable to a Picatinny rail in seconds and easily adjusted for comfort. A device to fill the gap between the trigger guard and the pistol grip, one that cushions the knuckle and prevents finger abrasions.

A Recovery of Airbase Denied by Ordinance vehicle, containing a laser, interrogator arm and manipulator claw. (Fox News) - The U.S. Army and Air Force are harnessing laser technology for bomb disposal in an ambitious project to minimize the risks posed by explosive devices to military personnel. The laser will be used by the military’s mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles, reducing the need for disposal specialists to manually disarm bombs, as terrifyingly depicted in the movie “The Hurt Lockerâ€. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Prototype Integration Facility (PIF) is working on the project with the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command and the Army’s Redstone Test Center at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The AMRDEC PIF will integrate the Air Force's laser, interrogator arm, console and other features of the technology into a Cougar MRAP, according to a statement. The laser-equipped vehicle is called a Recovery of Airbase Denied by Ordinance, or RADBO. The vehicle’s laser can detonate bombs at a distance of 984 feet, while an interrogator arm and manipulator claw can pull 50 pounds of debris. RADBO is also equipped with infrared cameras and two alternators providing up to 1,100 amps of power. "We may see hundreds to thousands of small unexploded ordnance items on a runaway or airfield but the RADBO will allow us to reduce the time it takes to get an airfield operational," said Marshall "Doc" Dutton, Air Force explosive ordnance disposal modernization program manager of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center on Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., in the statement. "Currently, if a runway gets hit it can take days to weeks to get cleared. With the RADBO, runways can be cleared and operational at a much quicker pace." The RADBO could also quickly clear Air Force bombing ranges after live-ordnance training exercises. The Army says that developmental testing of the technology will conclude next month at Redstone Test Center but additional tests will continue with airmen on Tyndall Air Force Base in September. The U.S. military is keen to harness the power of laser technology. The Office of Naval Research, for example, is building a laser weapon that will be able to shoot down aerial drones. Earlier this year defense giant Lockheed Martin demonstrated the power of its Advanced Test High Energy Asset (ATHENA) laser weapon system by blasting a small truck in a field test.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt4xLc-rkDI (Fox News) - “Star Warsâ€-style hoverbikes could become part of America’s high-tech arsenal, as the U.S. Army Research Laboratory looks to harness the unusual technology for military use. U.K.-based hoverbike specialist Malloy Aeronautics has joined forces with Belcamp, Md.-based SURVICE Engineering to develop the science-fiction-style vehicles for the Department of Defense. The two companies are working on the hoverbike as part of an ongoing research and development contract with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, according to a statement released at last week’s Paris Airshow. The technology may conjure up images of the ‘speeder bikes’ that appeared in “Return of the Jedi,†but could become reality. Malloy Aeronautics, which has been designing and developing the vehicles since 2009, says that the military hoverbike is being developed to operate as a new class of Tactical Reconnaissance Vehicle (TRV). However, a spokesman for the company declined to discuss specific details of the military hoverbike project, and referred FoxNews.com to the Army Research Laboratory. While the military partnership is attracting plenty of attention, Malloy Aeronautics told FoxNews.com that its technology also has great potential in the commercial sector. “It’s well suited to a lot of non-military and commercial uses, such as emergency services, agricultural use, search and rescue and moving cargo around,†said the spokesman. Malloy Aeronautics’ first hoverbike prototype was a two-propeller bi-copter. However, the company decided that with currently available technology, it could not design a bi-copter cheaply enough for safe and competitive sales, so shifted its development to a four-propeller quadcopter. The latest version of the technology also uses offset and overlapping rotor blades, designed to reduce weight and surface area. The hoverbike is being designed to function as both a manned and unmanned vehicle, opening up huge potential drone use. “Doctors and paramedics could fly their hoverbikes into disaster zones, assess the casualties and damage in local villages and then send their vehicles back to base as a drone, so they can bring back food, water and medical supplies,†the spokesman explained. Malloy Aeronautics is “extremely happy†with its hoverbike development work, according to the spokesman, who noted that the technology is performing well in tests. He added, however, that it could be three to five years before the general public gets its hands on the hoverbike. The hoverbike is 11.5 feet by 5.6 feet, and could reach similar altitudes to a helicopter. “The first prototype was estimated to fly at a height of 9,000 feet,†said the company’s spokesman. Consumers eager to get a glimpse of the future technology can buy a 1/3 scale radio-controlled model of the quadcopter hoverbike from Malloy Aeronautics for $1,653. The Army Research Lab has not yet responded to a request for comment on this story from FoxNews.com.

The USS Gerald Ford is the first in a line of nuclear-powered ships being built at Newport News Virginia. It's set to join the Navy fleet in February 2016.

(Fox News) – The Army has the Green Berets, while the Navy is known for the SEALs. Now, an elite branch of the U.S. Marine Corps will officially be known as Raiders. The Marines will rename several special operations units as Marine Raiders at a ceremony Friday, resurrecting a moniker made famous by World War II units that carried out risky amphibious and guerrilla operations. The exploits of the original Marine Raiders — who pioneered tactics used by present-day special forces — were captured in books and movies including "Gung Ho!" in 1943 and "Marine Raiders" in 1944. The name will give a unique identity to the Marines' branch of U.S. Special Operations Command, which includes special forces from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The Marines' Special Operations Command, known as MARSOC, was formed more than a decade ago as part of the global fight against terrorism. "Whereas most people in the American public probably wouldn't have been able to tell you what MARSOC stood for, 'Raider' will jump off the page," said Ben Connable, a military and intelligence analyst at the nonprofit research agency RAND Corporation. After Friday, the formal names of eight units comprising some 2,700 Marines will include "Marine Raider." Representatives from the units will gather in formation with their commanders to unveil their new battle colors while renaming citations are read. In a news release, the Marine Corps said the renaming will give commanders a shorthand way to refer to special operations Marines, similar to the labels "Green Beret" or "SEAL," in what it called "an official identity." Connable, the military analyst, said special operations Marines carry out raids on insurgents or terrorists, conduct deep reconnaissance and train foreign military — similar to their special operations counterparts in other branches. Marines in MARSOC must pass a selection process that includes grueling swims and hikes, as well as specialized combat training. Some Marines have worn the Raider emblems unofficially since 2003 when the branch's first present-day special operations unit was activated for a deployment to Iraq. Connable said the resurrection of the Raider name was a positive move because it will tie a group set apart from the rest of the branch into the history of some of the most famous Marines. He said MARSOC wasn't initially popular with some Marines because of the branch's famous "esprit de corps" that includes pride in the group and the concept that all members are elite to begin with. "The whole idea of 'special Marines' is unpalatable to Marines in general," said Connable, a retired Marine officer. During World War II, the Raiders were organized in response to President Franklin Roosevelt's desire to have a commando-style force that could conduct amphibious raids and operate behind enemy lines. Raider commanders studied unconventional warfare tactics, including Chinese guerrillas, and were given their pick of men and equipment, according to Marine historians. Raider units were credited with beating larger Japanese forces on difficult terrain in the Pacific and they participated in key battles including Guadalcanal and Bougainville. They were disbanded toward the end of the war and the Raider name hasn't been used in an official capacity since, said Capt. Barry Morris, a U.S. Marines spokesman. "What the name 'Raider' does, it harkens back to the legacy that the Marine Corps has latched onto and has drawn a lot from, both in an esoteric and practical sense," Connable said. "It is a remarkable legacy."

I heard the commander Evans Carlson was stationed to work with Mao in China and then he sympathized with the Communist ideology, that's why the Raiders name lost prestige

https://www.e3expo.com/home It's coming up June 16 to 18. Anything you're hoping to see?

The Pentagon is developing a weapon with such incredible speed that it could fly from L.A. to N.Y. in about 30 minutes.

(RT) - The newest cutting edge weapons and military equipment have come on display in the Moscow region, as the unprecedented Army-2015 expo and forum gets underway. The expo is scheduled to last until Friday. On Wednesday, it opens to the general public, and anyone will be able to take a peek at the newest weapons, armor and aircraft that have been developed for the Russian military, some of which are on display for the very first time. With some 5,000 items on display in an area including 100,000 sq meters of open space and 40,000 sq meters of pavilion space, Army-2015 is divided into 50 thematic sectors, aiming to cover all possible fields of military technology. It shows off the newest, as well as some tried and trusted, firearms, tanks, armored vehicles and aircraft. It even includes an artificial body of water to display items built for the Navy. There are also sections dedicated to robotics and space tech, as well as a display of “non-traditional weaponsâ€. These include things with names more suited for science fiction: laser, particle beam, orbital kinetic and microwave weaponry. Of course, the exhibits are not all stationary. Viewers will be treated to flyovers and aerobatic stunts by combat helicopters and jets, as well as a “tank ballet†show in which ace tank crews and self-propelled artillery pieces will demonstrate their driving skills. Drones and robots are heavily featured at the expo. There are unmanned vehicles which can be operated on the ground, in the air, on water and underwater. Their functions are wide-ranging, from minesweeping and rescue work, to reconnaissance and armed defense. Russia’s Defense Ministry has developed a complex program to create and introduce new robotics technology which will span the next 10 years. The show’s overall aim is to provide a forum bringing together Russian military manufacturers and those who employ military technology in Russia and abroad. “This complex is, figuratively speaking, a defense supermarket, which other countries’ militaries can visit to take a look, to try things out, take a drive or a shot, and purchase something,†Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said, according to First Channel. President Vladimir Putin endorsed the exhibition himself, paying a visit on opening day. He said some of the items exhibited, which have no equal in other countries, are already being deployed in the Russian military. ---------- Post added at 18:46 ---------- Previous post was at 18:43 ---------- I'll be posting articles on some of the highlights of the expo here in this thread as they come out during the next few days. Many new military hardware.

E-Rifle: New device connects AK-47 to internet, GPS, GLONASS Girl holding Kalashnikov AK-103 The legendary Russian AK-47 rifle can now be now equipped with a special module to monitor the status and movement of military personnel or receive useful information during training and transmit the encrypted data via internet. This device is the first of its kind for the rifle according its developer Red Heat, and StarNet Alliance, a company which specializes in the Internet of Things. The technology was presented Tuesday at the Army-2015 expo outside of Moscow, which displays the newest cutting edge weapons and military equipment. AK-47 rifle has received “new functionality due to integration of special sensors working via Internet of Things technology in the handguard of the weapons,†StarNet Alliance wrote in press release. The sensor “is powered by a common battery, and transmits all the necessary information†to the networks, which are maintained both in Russia and abroad, the company says, adding that the online module can also be maintained by GPS and GLONASS systems. The module helps monitor the status and movement of military personnel and receives recommendations on how to improve the techniques of warfare or training. The price of handguard with the module will be about 25,000 rubles, or 465 USD. "According to our estimates, today there are more than 150 million AK-47 rifles. We are confident that our development will be sold on the Russian market, as well as in other countries,†says StarNet Alliance. The developers say that the new device can be used in both the military sphere and in outdoor games such as Airsoft. Meanwhile, Russian arms manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern presented its latest prototype pistol, known as the PL-14 or 'Lebedev Pistol,' during Army-2015 forum. The weapon is still in development, but the manufacturer hopes that it will be used by the Russian military once the final product has been completed.

Flying truck, back-arching all-terrainer: Russia shows off military and special vehicles On the second day of the Army-2015 expo near Moscow, Russian armed forces and special services are showcasing various ground vehicles, from the terrifying Iskander missile launcher to a gentle-riding GAZ-3344 all-terrain vehicle. In addition to a rare demonstration of an in-field loading of Iskander missiles, this day’s demonstration also included various armored military vehicles running an obstacle course. The show also featured a special guest, Eduard Nikolayev, the Paris-Dakar rally champion of 2013 piloting a race-built Kamaz truck. Starting Wednesday, the expo is open to all visitors wishing to see what the Russian military produces and what hardware visiting manufacturers from other countries have to offer. The expo is to continue through Friday.

(Business Insider) - The US Army is finally set to phase out one of the most consistent images of modern American military power: the Humvee. Earlier this year, the US Army announced the three finalists for the massive contract to replace the iconic Humvee, which has been in service for almost three decades. Oshkosh Corporation, defense contractor Lockheed Martin, and Humvee-maker AM General each delivered 22 prototypes of their Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLVT) to military evaluators, who are running elaborate tests on the vehicles to determine the best fit. Since the 1990s, AM General's Humvee has been the US military's workhorse, first seeing action in the Gulf War. Despite its ubiquity, the Humvee has caused some serious headaches for American forces. As Wired notes, the Humvee was designed in the 1980s as an off-road carrier to transport troops and equipment quickly across Eastern Europe in a theoretical ground war against the then Soviet Union. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Humvee's mission changed. It was deployed to the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, where US commanders quickly discovered that it was dangerously under equipped to protect troops against close-combat urban fire and improvised explosive devices. With this problem in mind, the vehicles in this summer's competition are all far more resistant to explosive blasts. The new vehicles are smaller, so they can be more easily airlifted and transported. They're also light and better equipped to deal with the urban and off-road patrol duties that the Humvee took on in Afghanistan and Iraq. The winning payout for the contract will be huge. As the Dallas Morning News reports, the US Army plans to spend billions on at least 20,000 vehicles, and the Marine Corps will likely buy around 5,000. If the vehicle is more successful, it could be an even greater windfall — since the '80s, the AM General has produced 250,000 Humvees for the US military. Here are the three vehicles that could replace the Humvee: Oshkosh's L-ATV Oshkosh's entry into the competition is the Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle. The company has one advantage. After the Army realized in the early 2000s that the Humvee left troops vulnerable to blasts, the Pentagon ordered thousands of Oshkosh's Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles for deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the name suggests, Oshkosh's MRAP was much better suited to transport troops through these environments. Wired notes that the MRAP was so successful at sustaining blasts that some troops reportedly didn't realize when they ran over bombs. Oshkosh's entry in the JLTV contest attempts to expand upon the MRAP's success. The L-ATV is a lighter, smaller vehicle than the MRAP and can be more quickly and easily airlifted. This makes the vehicle preferable to the MRAP, which is large and can't be deployed to areas where it needs to maneuver in crowded spaces. Oshkosh believes that since the company demonstrated its proficiency with the MRAP, the JLTV is a natural transition. "The Oshkosh M-ATV is the only vehicle performing the JLTV mission profile in operations today," Oshkosh Vice President of Business Development Jennifer Christiansen told Business Insider in an email. "This is where Oshkosh is truly unique because no other company has successfully transitioned more new military vehicle programs into production for the US Department of Defense," Christiansen said. The vehicle also has some unique features. If the military wishes to make their vehicles a little greener, Oshkosh threw an optional hybrid-diesel engine into the mix to help increase fuel efficiency. Lockheed Martin's JLTV Designed with anti-guerilla combat in mind, Lockheed is playing on somewhat unfamiliar ground in the ground fight. Oshkosh and AM General both have troop carriers in use by the US military, while Lockheed is still more widely known for its high-tech aircraft and missile systems. Like the other competitors, Lockheed aimed to make its slightly boxier vehicle lighter and tested it for blast-resistance. "It can take a soldier everywhere, but can survive everything that they could survive in an MRAP," Trevor McWilliams, a former soldier whose truck was hit with an IED, said in a Lockheed promotional video. Lockheed is also hoping that the vehicle’s pricetag will persuade the military to adopt its proposal. The defense contractor’s website touts the vehicle’s gas mileage, low production cost, and easy adaptability in case mechanics want to add on or upgrade the car in the shop. “We are providing the most capable vehicle to our soldiers and our marines, and we’re going to do it a very affordable cost,†Lockheed Martin program director Katheryn Hasse Army Recognition in 2014.AM General’s BRV-O Though the Humvee itself may be on the way out, the lessons it learned have been passed on to AM General’s 21st century version. This time around, AM General has built the Humvee’s largest weakness into the vehicle’s name: the Blast-Resistant Vehicle Off-Road. The company is highlighting the renewed safety of their BRV-O, touting its blast-resistant frame and space for amour add-ons. “The Humvee was not designed for under body protection, so the BRV-O has a higher ground clearance and is able to apply a protection kit to the bottom of the vehicle,†AM General Vice President of Business Development Chris Vanslanger CNN in 2012.According to AM General, the BRV-O is also the only vehicle equipped with a system that allows all passengers to connect to the military’s C4ISR network, which helps troops, aircraft, and commanders link up and coordinate movements on the battlefield.

Russia demonstrates its first 'microwave gun' that can disable drones and missiles from up to six miles away at Army-2015 (The Independent) - Russia claims to have developed a high-frequency “microwave gun†that can disable military drones and missile warheads from a distance of up to six miles. Defence manufacturer UIMC, part of the state-owned Rostec Corporation, announced that it would be demonstrating the power of the weapon at the Army-2015 conference attended by Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. According to state media outlet Sputnik News, the gun has been developed for the use of the Russian military and can be fitted onto existing BUK missile systems. UIMC officials said the weapon is capable of firing super-high-frequency electromagnetic waves to suppress equipment on board low-altitude aircraft, as well as the precision targeting systems on board missiles. Speaking to Sputnik News, a UIMC spokesperson said: “The new system is equipped with a high-power relativistic generator and reflector antenna, management and control system, and a transmission system which is fixed on the chassis of BUK surface-to-air missile systems. “When mounted on a special platform, the ‘microwave gun’ is capable of ensuring perimeter defense at 360 degrees.†Mr Putin opened the Army-2015 international conference with a presidential address on Tuesday, during which he announced that Russia would be adding more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear arsenal. The military forum was planned to run until Friday. UIMC said it would be demonstrating the “microwave gun†during the closed portion of the conference.

The Sunday Times’ Snowden Story is Journalism at its Worst — and Filled with Falsehoods by Glenn Greenwald in The Intercept.

The M-ATV is an MRAP, not a light utility vehicle. The one in the article competing against the Humvee is the L-ATV.

You might want to ask in the Bethesda forums for that. Many players there that put countless hours into it.

Which one would you bet on?

X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (The Washington Post) - The last time the Air Force's super secretive X-37B space plane launched, it didn't come down until almost two years later--674 days to be exact. On May 20th, it launched again, and was scheduled to stay in orbit for 270 days. Or maybe more. No one knows for sure because the largely classified project is shrouded in mystery. The Air Force will only say that it will test a new, experimental thruster. The rocket carrying the space craft will also deliver a small satellite that would fly using a "solar sail." But the broader mission of the Boeing-made X-37B, which looks like a miniature version of a the space shuttle, is not publicly known. Space has become an increasingly important part of national security, a realm the Pentagon and the intelligence community is keenly focused on. And the ability to keep an unmanned space craft that could circle the Earth for months at a time and then land on an airstrip so that it could be used again could have all kinds of potential, from keeping an eye on the weather as well as the enemy. "Space is so vitally important to everything we do," Maj. Gen. Tom Masiello, the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space and Missile Systems Center, said in a recent statement. "Secure comms, ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance], missile warning, weather prediction, precision navigation and timing all rely on it, and the domain is increasingly contested." In Congressional testimony last month, Air Force Lt. Gen John Raymond said that space has become a "warfighting domain," and he warned that other countries, particularly, China and Russia, "remain concerns for us as we assess threats in the space domain." Officials have said the countries have the ability to blind satellites with lasers or blow them up with missiles. "We are quickly approaching the point where every satellite in every orbit can be threatened," Raymond said. U.S. Rep Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) argued in an op-ed published in the Hill this month that the U.S. "must take these threats seriously and respond accordingly in order to defend ourselves and our allies." "How do we prevent reckless actions in space, or even worse, a war in space? Our best option is to deter bad actions." Wednesday's launch, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla, was the fourth mission of the X-37B, which before takeoff had spent a total of 1,367 days in space. Also on board was a a tiny satellite, known as a cubesat, no bigger than a shoe box, that was developed by the Planetary Society, a non-profit space advocacy group, which plans to test the deployment of a giant, reflective sail measuring 344 square feet. The society hopes to eventually fly satellites through space as if they were sailboats on the sea. But instead of being powered by wind, the space sails would be propelled from light protons hitting it, Bill Nye, the Planetary Society's chief executive said on ULA's live broadcast of the launch Wednesday. "Light has momentum, even though it has no mass," he said. The satellite is very small, the sail is very big--though thin, a quarter the thickness of an average trash bag-- and the sun provides a continuous stream of energy. LightSail

This customized sniper rifle seized from ISIS weeks ago operates by remote control. (Fox News) – Captured ISIS weapons show the black-clad militants are developing an arsenal of sophisticated arms, and Kurdish fighters told FoxNews.com they fear the terrorist force's expanding manufacturing capability is making it more formidable by the day. In a dusty outpost near the Kurdish-held northern city of Kirkuk, a Peshmerga commander recently displayed two weapons that show his enemy's increasing adaptability on the battlefield. One was a scoped sniper rifle, customized and mounted on a welded steel platform and built to track targets by computer and fire by remote control. The other was a much different type of weapon - a truck reinforced with two-inch thick steel plates to ensure its load of explosives could crash through checkpoints and make it to its target before detonating. "They have more weapons than us, they have mines, C4, sniper rifles, humvees and tanks," said Peshmerga Commander Kemal Kurkuki. In Anbar Province, where ISIS is fighting the U.S.-equipped Iraqi army, the terrorists are using weapons taken from their vanquished foes. But on the northern front where the Peshmerga clash daily with ISIS, the militant fighters have powerful equipment either modified or built within the so-called caliphate known as Islamic State. Kerkuki revealed the captured weaponry along with bullet riddled black flags and photographs of other ISIS munitions captured during a successful Peshmerga operation against ISIS just weeks ago. The gun was operated attached to a computer by four long cables that controlled barrel elevation, gun rotation, the trigger and the camera. An operator could place the weapon at an elevated vantage point, and then hide out of sight while controlling the weapon via the computer screen like a lethal video game. Kerkuki said it was not clear who built the weapon or where it came from. Controls and labels on the wires were written in English, but the deadly innovation of the device led some to suspect it was built by Chechen fighters, who have poured in to join ISIS. "[iSIS] has all types of weapons, heavy machine guns, tanks," said Peshmerga Maj. Gen. Sirwan Barzani. "They are using high-tech (weaponry), and have the know-how from all over the world." The truck, which looked like something driven off the set of an apocalyptic zombie movie, featured an armored turret on top with space for heavy machine guns. But its cargo left no need for speculation about its true purpose. Packed with hundreds of containers of C4, it was the ultimate suicide vehicle, impervious to small arms and built by ISIS mere miles from the Kurdish lines. The Kurds deemed the bomb-laden truck so dangerous they requested and got an American air strike to destroy it. Kurdish military sources said the improvised weapons show ISIS is adapting from its use of conventional weapons easily spotted from air and vulnerable to coalition sorties. Peshmerga commanders say that, while coalition air superiority has changed the dynamic of the war, they need weapon for troops on the ground to combat ISIS. To a man, they complain that the central government in Baghdad, which has always eyed the semi-autonomous Kurds suspiciously, is slow to send supplies needed for the fight they share. Advanced weapons in the hands of Kurds, they say, would negate any need for U.S. boots on the ground. As ingenious and frightening as ISIS arsenal in northern Iraq may be, the Kurds say, vehicles such as the suicide truck would be no match for advanced weapons such as the American or European surface-to-surface missile systems. But the Peshmerga, whose name translates to "Ones who confront death," will fight ISIS with whatever they have on hand. "Their weapons are strong, but our goals are bigger than theirs," Kurkuki said. "ISIS has no future in Kurdistan." Two-inch thick steel plating on this truck was intended to ensure it delivered its deadly payload past Kurdish checkpoints.

Here's the list of robots coming up for disaster response. Some skeptics are worried about making them lethal, but I think it's neat. http://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/robots/

Boeing has developed a weapon that can target and destroy electronic systems in a specific building.

Old game that you can find on GOG. Pretty underrated in my opinion, was very creepy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Barker's_Undying

RT - Innovative technologies used in the Russia’s fifth generation T-50 fighter jet, which is currently undergoing tests before the start of production in 2016, makes it more of a flying robot than a plane, the developer said. The Sukhoi PAK FA fighter jet, also known as T-50, is “already to some degree a flying robot, where the aviator fulfils the function not only of pilot, but is actually one of the constituent parts of the flying apparatus. That is, the reaction of the aviator is a part of the control loop,†Vladimir Mikheev, an advisor to the deputy head of the Radioelectronic Technologies Concern [KRET], said. According to Mikheev, another innovative featured employed in the T-50 jet fighter is “smart paneling.†"If we take the wingtip, from one perspective it functions as a wing, but from another it's also a part of the Himalaya active defense system," the official is cited by Sputnik news agency KRET, which is a unit of state-run Rostech Corporation, has delivered the batch of Himalaya systems for the aircraft in October last year. “The unique system of active and passive radars and optical rangefinders is integrated into the aircraft body and acts as a 'smart skin'. Its use not only enhances the aircraft’s protection against jamming and its survivability, but also counters, to a great extent, the effects of low-observability [stealth] technology of enemy aircraft," the developer explained back then. Previously, KRET said that T-50 is going to have the most advanced stealth capabilities, leaving even the only combat-ready fifth-generation fighter, the US Air Force's Lockheed F-22 Raptor, behind. “The T-50 is now ahead of not only all other fighters of the Russian Army, but also foreign models. For example, the visibility of the American fifth-generation F-22 fighter is 0.3-0.4 square meters," the developer stressed. The Sukhoi PAK FA’s visibility stands at between 0.1 and 1 square meters, KRET added. Such high level of stealth was achieved by moving all weaponry s the inside of the jet and redesigning the shape of the air intake channel, which was also lined with a material that absorbs radio waves. According to KRET, T-50 is the first jet fighter in the Russian Air Force to be “made from a high proportion of composite materials, making up 25 percent of the mass of the aircraft and covering 70 percent of its surface." The T-50 is set to replace the Sukhoi Su-27 and Mig-29 fourth generation fighter jet, which entered service in 1985 and 1983, respectively. Five T-50 jets have already been produced and three more are now under construction at the Sukhoi facilities in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Russian Far East, Vladislav Goncharenko, deputy director of the United Aircraft Corporation's (UAC's) combat aircraft department, said in December. The Russian Air Force plans to purchase 55 T-50 fighter jets between 2016 and 2020, Goncharenko said in December.