Military

Short clip of the new version of the VT4 tank made for export markets that has an integrated UAV.

From the tweet:

A new Chinese 500 tons displacement Combat USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) arrived at Doumen, Zhuhai. This USV is armed with 4 vertical launch cells (VLS), close in weapon system (CIWS), advanced radars and Electronic Warfare censors and a landing pad at the rear supporting a VTOL UAV.

In other words, this is a unmanned missile boat, of which 24 equals one magazine's worth of an Arleigh-Burke Destroyer. Probably just tech demonstration or intended for export at the moment.

From globaltimes:

China to display HQ-19 surface-to-air missile system with ballistic missile intercepting capabilities at airshow for 1st time

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Nov 07, 2024 09:37 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force is set to display for the first time the HQ-19 surface-to-air missile system at the Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province to be held from November 12 to 17, 2024.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force will for the first time display the HQ-19 surface-to-air missile system at the upcoming Airshow China 2024, to be held in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province from November 12 to 17.

Featuring large combat-protection coverage, strong defense penetration and countermeasure capabilities, the HQ-19 is China's new-generation surface-to-air missile system, and is mainly used to intercept ballistic missile targets in a region, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Thursday.

The launch vehicle of the HQ-19 uses a highly mobile 8x8 wheeled chassis, and each vehicle is equipped with six interceptor missiles stored in storage-transport-launch integrated launcher tubes, CCTV reported, noting that the interceptor missiles use cold launch.

Judging from the design of the self-adaptive launch pad at the rear of the launch tube, the HQ-19 is launched at a large angle close to vertical, CCTV said.

This indicates that a higher level of technology has been applied in the weapon, the report quoted experts as saying.

With the characteristic of "strong defense penetration and countermeasure capabilities," the HQ-19 is able not only to intercept conventional ballistic missiles, but also to counter hypersonic glide vehicles, maneuvering in the atmosphere to penetrate defense, and is capable of intercepting targets at various speeds with a large range, CCTV quoted experts as saying.

These traits showed that the HQ-19 has reached an advanced global level, experts said, according to CCTV.

Chinese military expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times on Thursday that the HQ-19 can generally be described as a dedicated anti-ballistic missile system, while the HQ-9 and the HQ-22, which are Chinese surface-to-air missile systems previously announced to be in service with the PLA, focus more on anti-aircraft missions and have less range in anti-ballistic missile missions.

Zhang pointed to ballistic missile threats in recent conflicts elsewhere in the world, noting that conventional air defense missiles showed limited efficiency in countering ballistic missiles, which is why a regional air defense system dedicated to ballistic missile interception is needed.

The HQ-19 has further enhanced the PLA Air Force's air defense and anti-ballistic missile capabilities, and is just as significant as the J-20, Zhang opined.

Among other things present at the Zhuhai airshow there is also the J-35, Su-57, and a bunch of drone stuff too.

Lostarmour currently counts two Leopard 2s, though more will inevitably will accumulate as the counteroffensive goes on.

Military Watch Magazine's article on Beijing's Aviation Museum

I have a strong urge to watch youtubes with lines moving on maps.

There's some dude in my city that works by blacksmithing knives, so I thought I could tell him to do a specific one and it'd be nice to have one from a communist country, but I'm having a hard time finding some online. I've only found the NR-40 and NR-43 Soviet ones but they're not so pretty, to be honest.

Took some time today to flip through the 2024 Pentagon budget proposal, the unprecedented $842B budget.

1. Production isn't being dramatically increased
2. Increased $ topline comes from inflation and switch to more advanced variants

Something basic, like the JLTV will not only cost more for fewer vehicles (3108) but will likely miss production goals in 2023 (3311 out of 3721 projected).

Same story for the AMPV, which instead of the 72 for $380m will only see 43 deliveries this year. 2024 has 91 projected.

Certain systems like the M1 Abrams and the PIM sp-arty production will be increased but seem to be capped out at a production capacity limit. Note the increasing costs over last year's projections. 2024 budget reduces order numbers substantially, though additional upgrades slated

As for defensive systems, no new Patriots complexes, but research on the next iteration of the system has been funded with a dramatically larger R&D budget. As for interceptors, fewer will be built at a higher overall bill. Navy, SM-3 and SM-6 will be procured in tiny numbers.

JASSM unit numbers steady but per unit cost expected to skyrocket as production shifts fully to ER variant. LRASM numbers increased. Could also include facility upgrades. Meanwhile modernization of tomahawks crawls. Naval strike missile, small numbers at greater cost.

Pictures are linked in the twitter thread. TL:DR is that the US MIC is not actually increasing production throughput despite all the proclamations being put out by the informal state media but is rather adjusting to inflation.