Gabriele Molinelli @Gabriel64869839 Twitter profile

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Gabriele Molinelli

3 years

STRIKE (as a formation) is dead. But it managed to drag down to hell one entire Armoured Brigade with itself, and all the IFVs of the two that partially survive. Unfortunately they were all british, not russian.

Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

3 years

The positioning of 2 AJAX regts in what is essentially 1st Arty Bde, tells you how much of a pain in ass the Army has turned AJAX into. Doesn't really know what to do with it, as it was meant to scout for armd bdes that no longer exist thanks to the self-destructive STRIKE stunt.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

Not a Starstreak, a Martlet. Same launcher but different tube, narrow at the back. Slower (mach 1.5 instead of 3) but with a unitary warhead that has a easier time against small drones than the triple dart of Starstreak. So, LMM Martlet is also already there.

BlueSauron👁️

@Blue_Sauron

2 years

Ukrainian serviceman of the 95th Air Assault Brigade firing with a British-made Starstreak MANPADS, reportedly downing a Russian Orlan-10 UAV in the process. #Russia #Ukraine

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

IT'S HAPPENING, BOYS. The Royal Navy is buying a 7-months campaign of demonstrations of General Atomics' MOJAVE capability that could allow MQ-9B PROTECTOR-equivalent capability to embark on the aircraft carriers as Short Take Off and Landing aircraft.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

7 months

Pretty clearly not bomb craters but collapsing tunnels, though. Bold choice of words and photos, UNRWA...

UNRWA

@UNRWA

7 months

No place is safe in📍 #Gaza 66 people have been killed & 540 injured sheltering in 50 @UNRWA installations this past month People sheltering under the @UN flag- seeking safety in @UNRWA schools- were killed in places that should be protected under International Humanitarian Law

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

GMLRS thread to round things off. The UK so far sent 6 M270B1 to Ukraine. For the non-initiated, the M270 uses the same ammunitions as the HIMARS. HIMARS is not the rocket, but the launcher vehicle. M142 HIMARS carries 1 pod of 6 rockets, while the tracked M270 has 2 pods.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

HMS Victorious's "second life" is one of the weird and little known facts of the second world war. The Royal Navy carrier was loaned to the US Navy and entered the Pacific in 1943 at a critical time in which the US Navy was temporarily down to the lone USS Saratoga.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

More ex-british army SPARTAN APC and SULTAN command posts heading to Ukraine, purchased privately by the ex president of Ukraine. The SULTAN is the tall one. Wonder if Ukraine still uses it as command post or perhpas has repurposed them as transports.

Mighty War

@MightyWar3

2 years

Mantan Presiden Ukraina Membeli APC Spartan Untuk Disumbangkan! Mantan presiden Ukraina Petro Poroshenko telah membeli sejumlah pengangkut personel lapis baja Spartan untuk pasukan Ukraina. (1)

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

4 months

Those blackened VLS lids from all the missile launches are not something we see everyday.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

4 years

We literally have audio and video proof of how the EU has deliberately used Ireland in the negotiations, how Barnier said all along he'd keep that issue deliberately unsolved, yet some people still believe nonsense about EU good faith. It will never cease to amaze and disgust me

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

Between Number 10, Written Answers and yesterday's statement, we know the UK has delivered to Ukraine: - 5800+ NLAW - 1360 anti-structure (LASM & ASM both, probably) - 5 "air defence systems" with 100+ between Starstreak and LMM/Martlet missiles ("high" and "low" velocity)

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

8 months

Holy shit. Any idea what hit this one...?

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

If you can and want to imagine big war with Russia, before asking for more British Army divisions you'd better ask for ground based air and missile defence, because cruise missiles are the 1 threat sure to rain thick on UK, and there is next to nothing in place to deal with that.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

8 months

Why build infrastructure for your people when you can turn the pipes into crappy rockets to throw at Israel's people instead.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

The Iveco MANTICORE for the Netherlands is pretty much a hybrid of the "italian Multi Role Vehicle Protected", which is a mix of 4000+ 4x4 LINCE and hundreds of ORSO. This is larger than LINCE yet smaller than ORSO. Interesting middle ground.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

6 years

The only thing that is really amazing about Brexit is that two years later there is still people who believe in "EU funding". The EU does not have money of its own. It is UK money going to Brussels before returning home under new labels. And with several billions missing.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

Asked specifically about the Kongsberg (implying the RT60, almost certainly) turret for BOXER, Director General Finance Air Marshal Richard Knighton confirms it is being looked at, and adds, unprompted, that consideration is being given to using the BOXER 155mm to replace AS90.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

7 months

What is the Mobile Fires Platform meant to be? A General Support or Close Support howitzer? Some considerations on why sharing a 155/52 howitzer does not make different weapon systems equally adept at the same mission.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 month

162 armoured vehicles in latest UK package for Ukraine consist of further AS90 howitzers (unspecified number) and of CVR(T)s, which i assume will include most or all of 76 SCIMITAR in storage. 78 ATVs a mix of BV206 and VIKING. That's gonna create a severe gap in short term.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

A Starstreak launch also "litters" with the first booster section detaching early. (1st) versus Martlet (2nd). Launcher supplied to Ukraine does not have Identifying Friend or Foe antenna as it wouldn't help there with no NATO IFF to interrogate; would only risk capture by enemy.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

9 months

The first 1620 of a potential 10,000 Project HUNTER rifles are now on order. Edgar Bros is importer, but type of rifle, sight and suppressor not disclosed. New weapon has been coded the L403A1. It's probably the Knight's Armament KS-1 but they are still not naming it openly.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

Recognizing Starstreak launcher is easy; recognizing what ammunition is using also is, due to Light Multi-role Missile MARTLET tube having a narrow back end. This Light Multiple Launcher (3 missiles on pedestal) is loaded with 2 training STARSTREAK (top & bottom) and LMM middle.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

In the end, the UK's airlift out of Sudan has rescued 1888 people. That is, pretty literally, as many as France (936, i see on their embassy page), Germany (700+) and Italy (200+) combined. The UK had far more people to care for and more people means more complexity.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

6 months

1st pic is very latest DDX CGI used by Fincantieri to brief italian Parliament's defence commission on incoming programs. It's unfortunately low quality, but overall configuration seems not to have changed. Possibly, but hard to say for sure, new CGI confirms space for 96 cells.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

I believe the UK procured some 14.000 NLAWs. It has sent 4000+ already, and now reportedly promised 6000 more. Add training use over the years... quite literally the whole stock will be gone soon. There better be funding to buy replacements!

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

8 months

The little Gazelle bows out of British service at the end of this month. But it might not yet be the end of the story.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

9 months

Within UK there is a single impact area for training with GMLRS and only with the tiny 70mm reduced range, under calibrated trg round. Recently, 26 Royal Artillery had a chance to exercise with live M31 rockets in Finland, and hopes to make it a twice-annual training deployment.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

No idea how accurate graphic is, when it comes to SSN-AUKUS. Approximate sizes must be known by now, but who knows how faithful the drawing is. No doubt it will be significantly larger than ASTUTE. The image is certainly interesting. All that space behind the tower is... telling.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 month

AS90 has fired the last ever shells in UK as Chestnut Troop, 1 Royal Horse Artillery, completed training ahead of Estonia. There are some 9 months left, then AS90 will bow out and go to Ukraine for good. There is no way BOXER RCH155 arrives in that timeframe: what is the plan?

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

8 months

What gets British equipment where it need to be? Most often, a Point class ship. You won't always hear about it, you won't always see photos, you won't always care, but chances are the stuff moved through Marchwood and drove onto a Point class vessel.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

7 months

Rheinmetall Electronics UK Limited has been awarded the 2-year contract for fitting 359 WARRIORs with day/night rear area camera.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

The first prototype CHALLENGER 3s are planned to be handed over this year. Queen's Royal Hussars @ChurchillsOwn have it marked on their calendar. It certainly helps that the very first CR3 prototype was going through test firings already before being selected.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

7 months

The NAREW / CAMM ER cooperation with Poland really is a massive project. At 23 batteries, plus a 24th currently in the interim "Mala (little) Narew" configuration, that's 144 launchers. 8 missiles per launcher; 1152 missiles. That's all before building up a stock for reloading.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

It is a fact that RAF airlifted more people out of Afghanistan than the next major european air forces combined; it is not airlifting people out of Sudan that is difficult. It is getting people safely to an aiport/port from wherever they are. Please understand at least this much.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 month

Project EALING unveiled: the Radiofrequency "cannon" in development for the British Armed Forces seen with 7 Air Defence Group at Thorney Island. A lot different from the early concept art, it is shown carried on a smaller HX60 truck rather than an HX77 and is visibly demountable

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

Some Basic facts: CHARM 3 depleted uranium anti-tank used by Challenger 2 is not "nuclear". It is also not coming from US for very good reasons: US doesn't use it nor make it. They have their own DU types, NOT compatible with Challenger 2's 2-piece ammo because they are 1-piece.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

At cost of being proven spectacularly wrong, i will list here some of what i am expecting to see next month in the Defence Command Paper, on the basis of what is known or has been most recently communicated: Mobile Fires Platform is now aiming to 2027, not 2029.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

Did you know? Queen Elizabeth class can be refueled at sea from 3 different receiving points, 2 on port side, 1 starboard, between the aircraft lifts. The TIDE class tankers can, when necessary, hook up to the 2 port side receiving points at once to maximize fuel transfer rate.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

By the way, if the "ammunition" of Moskva "detonated", to say that the ship was "seriously damaged" is highly likely to be quite the understatement...

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

10 months

The Royal Navy is working towards trialing Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil fuel in a Type 45 next year (by june, all being well). A suitably certified HVO will be tested with the aim of reducing carbon emissions by up to 90% compared to regular naval diesel.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

11 months

New update to Parliament on assistance provided by the UK to Ukraine. 100 anti-ship munitions provided. Holy moly. That's a lot. Can't be all Harpoons, can they...? Wonder if some Brimstones are being counted: remember all the talk of Brimstone for anti-ship use...?

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

3 months

The uncrewed ROGUE, derived from JLTV, fitted with a GMLRS pod. Same rocket load as an HIMARS, but smaller and lighter vehicle overall. Adds to the NSM launcher configuration (NMESIS) and Long Range Fires (Tomahawk launcher).

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

7 months

Royal Navy is looking to add not 1 but 2 floating docks to enhance fleet time maintenance for submarine fleet, since nuclear-certified dry docks in Devonport are oversubscribed. The floating docks will be based in Faslane. Been a while since Royal Navy last used floating docks.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace confirms the UK has now granted Ukraine an undisclosed amount of Storm Shadow missiles. The UK had communicated to Russia back in December 2022 that it would supply Ukraine with new capabilities if the targeting of civilians continued.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

8 months

AJAX and ARES out and about as part of the 1st Deep Recce Strike BCT validation within exercise IRON TITAN.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

Finally, after talking about Apache and AS90, let us turn to CHALLENGER 2. Of the 3, it is the one that is virtually "irreplaceable", because production shut down many years ago. APACHEs in theory could be readily purchased, and AS90 replacement is coming. What about CR3?

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

LMM is the "slow" missile. STARSTREAK is more than twice the speed, by the way. Against drones, LMM is more rational pick. Cheaper, simpler, and possibly flat out more adequate. Its HE-frag warhead with proximity fuse does not need to physically hit the target, just get close.

BlueSauron👁️

@Blue_Sauron

2 years

Ukrainian paratrooper intercepting a Russian UAV using a UK-supplied LMM MARLET in Kharkiv Oblast. #Russia #Ukraine

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

6 months

Expectation is that contract for 2 DDX for Italian Navy will be signed before end 2024, for delivery 2029 and 2030. The first couple is expected to replace the obsolescent Luigi Durand de la Penne and Francesco Mimbelli destroyers. A 2nd pair would follow to replace the HORIZONs.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

Turns out that MOJAVE being in Queen Elizabeth's hangar in New York during the Atlantic Future Forum in late 2022 was actually pretty damn significant...!

Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

IT'S HAPPENING, BOYS. The Royal Navy is buying a 7-months campaign of demonstrations of General Atomics' MOJAVE capability that could allow MQ-9B PROTECTOR-equivalent capability to embark on the aircraft carriers as Short Take Off and Landing aircraft.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

11 months

A thread thrashing the Challenger 3 programme is doing the rounds on Twitter, and i want to offer a few counters to its claims. I do not, in any way or form, agree with anyone who tries to say "Challenger 3 is a Leopard, but worse". That's demonstrably nonsense.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

Package of aid to Ukraine: - 1 Sqn of Challenger 2 - 3 batteries of AS90 (3x8) - "hundreds" more AFVs including Bulldog APCs. With remaining CRV(T) vehicles leaving service this year, i expect SCIMITARs and SPARTANs to be prominent in coming months.

Defence Secretary oral statement on war in Ukraine

The Defence Secretary made a statement to Parliament updating members on the UK's continued programme of military aid to Ukraine, including Challenger 2 tanks.

www.gov.uk

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

YES! SO MUCH YES. This completely transforms the Type 31's capability and usefulness.

Navy Lookout

@NavyLookout

1 year

BREAKING: Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates to be fitted with Mk41 vertical launch system

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

6 months

With LMM / Martlet having gone through air to air firings recently, i wonder if there is any chance of attempting to fly drone-busting CAPs with HMS Diamond's WILDCAT helicopter. Now that would be pretty unique...

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

5 months

Reloading missiles at sea, the Sea Dart edition.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

8 months

British Army hopes to procure quite quickly another 10 ARCHERs so it can fully kit out a regiment (24 guns). Will depend largely on how fast Sweden is willing to part from existing guns as it starts receiving the 48 new production ones on MAN truck base.

British Army’s first Archer gun has arrived on UK soil

The Archer Mobile Howitzer 6x6 gun, the next generation of wheeled artillery systems, has rolled off the ship at the Marchwood Military Port in Hampshire.

www.army.mod.uk

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

On the topic of AS90. Sending 30 to Ukraine from an operational fleet that was reduced years ago to 89 is significant. That said, with 3 Royal Horse Artillery converting to M270 GMLRS, that leaves a requirement for only 2 AS90 regiments: 19 RA and 1 RHA, with 24 guns each.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

JS Kaga's now "nose" got lots of attention, but stern gets no love. Old CIWS sponsons were cut right off, along with existing gangway, and replaced by new, larger structure. And the opening for the AN/SPN-41 has been created, exactly as expected. QE class photo for comparison.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

11 months

Kudos to 16 Royal Artillery and 32 Royal Artillery for exercising together, the former trying to hide its air defence batteries, the latter trying to find them with UAVs. It might look ridiculous, but camouflage nets alone won't do the trick and getting creative helps.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

4 months

Future HMS Venturer progress. Bridge soon to go up, by the look of things. Also see future HMS Active growing up in foreground.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

130mm, 140mm... You can keep your puny toothpick smoothbore guns. Tank destroyer FV4005 with 183 mm L4 farts in your general direction.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

10 months

No longer any kind of shyness at all about displaying the SU-24 Storm Shadow/Scalp combination, i see.

Cloooud |🇺🇦

@GloOouD

10 months

Volodymyr Zelensky signs the «SCALP EG» cruise missile handed over by 🇫🇷 #France , suspended from the Su-24 Thank you France ❤️

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

6 months

The description of Type 26 frigate in Royal Navy website contains a interesting description of the Sea Ceptor fit, given as "12 VLS cells", each containing a quad-pack. If accurate, it points to adoption of ExLS, or of a similarly configured 3-cell module.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

11 months

Italy, which manufactures a very successful 76mm naval gun, has tried again and again to pitch it for use ashore too. So far, without much success. The idea did catch on in China, though...

彩云香江

@louischeung_hk

1 year

Three Chinese anti-aircraft weapons on display！

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

4 months

The first Challenger 3 has been shipped out to Germany where it is now undergoing trials.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

11 months

Amount of nonsense being spewed about poor Army being victim of an evil Navy CDS is unbelievable. Not one voice that tries to explain why cannot deliver a good Div from 73k regulars and 30k reserves. Italy around 90k without Reserve. Poland is 4 divs with circa 70k regulars.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

7 months

Babcock's General Logistic Vehicle is built upon Toyota Land Cruiser 70; 2.8 litre diesel, 24 volt power system; fitted with boiling vessel. The pickup variant can carry up to 4 pallets. It's one of the contenders for the General Utility Support Platform (Land Rover replacement)

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

6 months

The MOD has assigned a 55 million contract to Rosyth for a Capability Insertion programme for Type 31s to add key military capabilties and "additional capability beyond that provided during the vessel build phase". Are we looking at the MK41 insertion here...? Possibly!

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

In all of this, i remember the Royal Artillery's FIRE SHADOW and how close we were to a 10-hours, 150 km loitering munition with a serious punch. Can it be resurrected, and also turned into a tri-service asset, pretty please...?

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

Latest GCAP / TEMPEST mock up. The wing has changed the most from earlier TEMPEST concepts, as result of merging UK and Japanese work.

高橋浩祐（たかはしこうすけ）Takahashi Kosuke🐺

@KosukeGoto2013

1 year

🇯🇵🇬🇧🇮🇹次期戦闘機の模型 #DSEI2023

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

The 22nd and last (at least for now) A400M Atlas for the Royal Air Force has now been delivered to Brize Norton. There is a plan to order some 6 more in the next few years, budget permitting.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

4 months

The first Supacat HMT3 has been unveiled today. All 70 should be delivered by this summer; 62 coming from the new line in Devonport and 8 from Supacat at Dunkeswell. Orders for 170 more could follow.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

US Approval for Polish rocket mega-program, although actual purchase now will not be this large due to acquisition of korean K239 Chunmoo instead. Authorization covers another 18 complete HIMARS and 468 (!) launcher-loader modules, for installation on polish Jelcz 6x6 trucks.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

5 months

Royal Navy's manpower struggle "explained" with a simple international comparison: italian navy, without a nuclear deterrent & SSNs with the thousands of people they require, and with a smaller proportion of Marines, has roughly same overall headcount. This, really, is telling.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

8+2-strong Sections with organic drone, Platoon with Carl Gustaf team and a Manoeuvre Support Group with 3 JAVELIN posts and 2x 81mm mortars, plus BRIMSTONE missiles to call upon. Now this is a Company structure better attuned to actual battlefield needs!

British Army experiments with Dstl study on urban combat

The British Army’s Experimentation and Trials Group (ETG) have been testing improving future urban operations using a new experimental force concept.

www.gov.uk

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

Type 31 frigates for Poland come together with a wholesale redevelopment of shipyard, with construction of big build hall and other structures. Think Rosyth. Always worth remembering that the Rosyth 147x62x42 meters build hall did not exist until very recently. Work started 2020

Defence24

@Defence24pl

1 year

W sobotę na terenie PGZ Stocznia Wojenna odbyła się uroczystość wmurowania kamienia węgielnego pod inwestycje infrastrukturalne. Na uroczystości obecny był wicepremier – minister aktywów państwowych Jacek Sasin. @CislakJaroslaw

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

3 months

A look inside the Devonshire Dock Hall showing the last 2 ASTUTE-class boats. Somewhere in the vast facility there are also the first few blocks of future HMS Dreadnought.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

14 legacy Volvo-mounted ARCHERs will be passed to UK from Sweden as Interim artillery capability for the British Army. Guess Sweden does not feel quite so much urgency in building up of the new artillery battalion it plans.

British Army announces new artillery deal with Sweden

The British Army will receive modern artillery platforms to replace those supplied to Ukraine, as part of an agreement struck with Sweden.

www.gov.uk

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

3 months

The Laser Wolfhound demonstrator is coming. 15 KW laser for anti-drone defence, part of the MOD's programme for Directed Energy weapons. Laser by Raytheon, radar by Blighter. The vehicle is currently in hand at NP Aerospace.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

4 months

AJAX in Saudi Arabia, stripped of its Saab Barracuda IR camouflage blanket. Interesting use of digital desert camo. Same digital pattern, but in white for arctic, has also been observed. Looks like continuing work on "Multi Coloured Digital Camo 5" scheme first seen on Challenger

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

9 months

Over 660 million have gone into Sky Sabre so far, according to a 8 sept written answer by James Cartlidge. More investment is on way. Sky Sabre batteries these days rotate in and out of deployments that see them split: one Fire Group to Falklands, other to Poland (op STIFFTAIL)

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

4 years

MANTAS T12 semi-submersible, low observable USV procured for the Royal Navy (3x) and Joint Forces Command (2x) . This system can carry a whole lot of interesting stuff and even deploy its own "helicopter", a tiny BlackHornet nano UAV. Excellent for beach recce ahead of Commandos

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

Hate me, but: if we seriously believe Russia would strike NATO airports because Mig-29s are passed to Ukraine, we are basically wasting time because then it'll clearly find another reason to do so. Seriously.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

2 years

I'm an italian-born, british-loving person with a passion for military topics and british themes in particular. Nobody pays me to run this. If you like, you are welcome. If you don't, it's no problem. Just don't try and tell me what i should think or tweet. That's my decision.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

11 months

Now, I am aware i risk being accused of oversimplifying and being populist or whatever, but... does MOD really need to tender out construction of networks of trenches for Salisbury Plain and Stanford training areas? Can't Royal Engineers do job "in house" and probably save money?

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 month

Grant Shapps is technically right in saying IRON DOME for UK homeland defence makes no sense. It's a system that intercepts rockets and short range threats of a kind the UK doesn't face due to geography. UK would have to worry about cruise and ballistic missiles of high end kind.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

3 months

The last 102 of the FV107 SCIMITARs were withdrawn between Nov 22 and Apr 23. 1 was disposed off, 18 "sold externally", 5 Gate Guardians, 2 static training aids, leaving 76 in storage ahead of a final solution. Will also look at whether they can serve Ukraine, surely.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

4 months

Please, someone tell me that the "former chief" complaining about Royal Navy ships not having land attack missiles is NOT Lord West. Please. Because it was literally under his tenure, and with his party in power, that the Type 45s were designed and TLAM not funded.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

Regarding A400M ability to airdrop boats, which has come to be totemic in ability to support "special forces" (i'm probably more concerned about the Submarine Parachute Assistance Group...), process to procure an initial 25 Large Boat Air Drop platforms began last year.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

5 months

So, like, 8 Storm Shadows, or maybe 16 Paveway IVs from 4 Typhoons flying from Akrotiri with 1-2 Voyagers to fuel them there and back...? Unless Oman is game, then it becomes the annual MAGIC CARPET deployment, but with live fire on live targets.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

I saw image this morning but, honestly, it left me dubious and i did not share. But it reportedly does originate from a BAE Systems PowerPoint used in a talk which involved Robert May, Engineering Manager Type 26, and Neil Griffiths, Technical Authority Future Projects, so...

Jensy

@Zaphod2042

1 year

Well, that's certainly a big warship... Merlin fitted with Crowsnest on the flight deck for good measure. Could Type 83 be an AUKUS programme?

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

8 months

The TerraHawk, made by MSI in Norfolk, uses pretty much the same gun mount that is already found on most Royal Navy warships (known as SeaHawk on the market). The gun is a 30x173 mm, a NATO standard, with a good choice of ammo suppliers and natures.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

4 years

New italian LHD Trieste seen moving north towards La Spezia where her fitting out will continue. Note 76 mm gun-CIWSs already fitted, small guns and even a SITEP MASS CS-424 LRAD acoustic cannon for non lethal engagement. It has become a common fit on italian ships.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

9 months

Tornado could haul 4 Storm Shadows, if you really, really wanted to. In practice, it was never done on operations. Look at that sweet ability to add in a couple of ALARMs to suppress enemy radars on the way in, too...

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

4 months

Mounted Overwatch doesn't really need to be on a BOXER hull. It would be nice in some ways, sure, but there are areas in which BOXER hulls will be more useful. Give me the container option; seek survivability by looking just like another TEU when not firing, & be a NavyPOD too.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

5 months

Looks like my guess was on target, with 4 Typhoons each armed with 4 Paveway IVs. Air to air load is a "standard" self defence fit of 1 Meteor and 2 ASRAAM, commonly seen for SHADER sorties too. Number of jets was pretty much fixed by the distance flying from Akrotiri and back.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

Charge of the immortal FV432. The dog is old but stubborn.

MilitaryLand.net

@Militarylandnet

1 year

🎥British FV432 armoured personnel carriers in use by one of the Ukrainian mechanized brigades. #UkraineRussiaWar

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

7 months

Foxhound Command Post variant is now a thing. Up to 50 of the 398 existing Foxhounds will be converted into the new variant. Enhanced VHF, HF and UHF fit, reworked rear compartment (of course) and enhanced battery power provvision.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

8 months

Slick photos from Marham by Cpl Caswell and AS1 Mayfield. Some of these british weapons, as photo itself kind of suggests, are still some time away. (Meteor left (?), and SPEAR, SPEAR EW right). Weird to include the triple rail Brimstone, unless it is being added back into plans.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

The turret is armed with STARSTREAK tubes, though, not LMM. LMM tube is narrower at the back end and the cover with the 3 "holes" is typical of STARSTREAK. LMM cover, at least so far, has always looked like this, or anyway been shown without "holes".

Xavier Vavasseur

@xaviervav

1 year

. @NexterKNDS and @ThalesDefence introduce at #ParisAirShow a new version of the RAPIDFire naval gun system / CIWS featuring four Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM)

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

The ODIN turret, with thermal camera and .50 HMG, was a UOR addition for SPARTAN APCs used in AFghanistan, but of all the UORs it is probably the least commonly seen and known. Not sure how many were made, suspect a small number.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

44 CAMM launchers for Poland's PILICA+ batteries, and "several hundreds" of missiles in a 1,9 billion pounds order to MBDA UK. For what i understand, each PILICA+ SHORAD battery has 2 CAMM launchers in addition to the 23mm guns / PIORUN sam mounts. 2 launchers for training.

Krzysztof Płatek

@krzysztof_atek

1 year

W kwietniu 🇵🇱Agencja Uzbrojenia zawarła umowę z 🇬🇧 @MBDAGroup na dostawę 44 wyrzutni #iLauncher i kilkuset pocisków #CAMM na potrzeby zestawów rakietowo-artyleryjskich ZRA #PILICA +. Wartość umowy wynosi ok. 1,9 mld GBP a dostawy zostaną zrealizowane w latach 2025-2029.

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Gabriele Molinelli

@Gabriel64869839

1 year

So, it appears we are going to get (at noon London time) official confirmation that UK is supplying long range (c 300 km) weapons to Ukraine. Probably a mixture of systems procured internationally (turkish rockets have been reported by some) and Storm Shadow from UK's own stock.

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