The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread

Vivendi

Well-Known Member
German company Rheinmetall can increase production of 155 mm shells to 450,000-500,000 per year, and production of 120 mm tank rounds can increase to 240,000 per year. I hope Germany can spend some of the 100billion Euro extra defence money to make those orders, to facilitate this increase in production. It's about time Europe becomes more self-sufficient.

In addition Rheinmetall is working with LM to start license production of HIMARS systems, including the rockets.
Rheinmetall in Talks With Lockheed to Produce HIMARS in Germany: CEO (thedefensepost.com)

French company Nexter is partnering with Australian companies in a new collaboration to produce 155mm shells for Ukraine: Australia and France to launch joint production of 155mm artillery rounds for Ukraine | Defense News January 2023 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2023 | Archive News year (armyrecognition.com)

It has previously been reported that Norwegian Nammo will increase production of 155mm shells 10-fold, however it is unknown what production used to be before the increase, so hard to tell how many they will produce after the expansion.

The US is aiming to increase production of 155mm shells to 90,000 -- per month. With demand high in Ukraine, US Army ramps up artillery production (defensenews.com)

In other news, France announced earlier this week they will ship another 12 Caesar -- these are in addition to those 18 shipped already, and 19 donated by Denmark, who will send 100% of their Caesars to Ukraine. France is also sending a Ground Master 200 radar. In addition France and Italy are still working on shipping a SAMP/T system to Ukraine. France to send more mobile artillery to Ukraine (france24.com)
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update. Dec 26th-28th

Kherson-Nikolaev-Odessa.

A Russian strike hit a maternity ward in Kherson. No information on casualties at this point.


Russian 2S1 ops on the Kherson axis.


Russian positions on the Kherson axis.


Zaporozhye-Dnepropetrovsk.

Russian 2S3 ops on the Zaporozhye axis.


Oskol Front.

Allegedly a Ukrainian ammo supply truck getting hit between Svatovo and Kremennaya.


Russian artillery fires on the Svatovo axis. Note they mention that one of the crews had completely exhausted the resource of two Msta howitzers. This makes sense in light of the appearance of D-1s.


Reports of Russian strikes hitting Kharkov.


Russian forces digging in on the Kupyansk axis.


LDNR Front.

Battle damage to a factory in Kramatorsk after a Russian strike.


Ukrainian volunteer btln of ethnic Russians, Free Russia, near Slavyansk.


Footage from Opytnoe, a southern suburb of Artemovsk/Bakhmut.


A video from the Ukrainian side near Artemovsk/Bakhmut. We can see a BTR-3 by the road and what appears to be two Mi-17s overhead. Note they look like they have rear ramps, suggesting a post-Soviet Russian variant but with ex-Afghan Hips supplied to Ukraine they could belong to either side.


Footage of battle damage to Artemovsk/Bakhmut.


Russian 150th Motor-Rifles operating T-72B3mod'16s in Mar'inka.


DNR forces using Krasnopol' guided shells. Note how well hidden the gun and the dugout are.


Russian National Guard riding an Ural-VV in the LNR.


Russia.

More footage of those improvised armored trucks from Bashkiriya.


The 929th Training Center GLITs at Akhtyubinsk built barriers to separate the aircraft.


Misc.


A Ukrainian improvised loitering munition attacking a Russian BMP-2 on the road. The outcome is unclear but it looks like it hit the target.


Russian Ka-52 strike, location and context unclear.


Russian VDV recon team carries out a raid against a Ukrainian position, but takes casualties from AGS-17 fires. They initially engaged with sniper fire, and RPG fires.


Russian Tor-M2 allegedly downing a Ukrainian UAV.


Ukrainain 2S22 Bogdana firing, location and context unclear.


A captured Ukrainian T-64BV, likely mod'17 (note the K-1 pattern on the turret) firing on Ukrainian positions.


Ukrainian MaxxPro MRAP hit a landmine.


A Ukrainian Kozak-2 knocked out, location and context unclear.


Another destroyed Krab howitzer, location and context unclear. Possibly Kharkov region.


Russian National Guard SpN coordinating fire from Giastint-B guns, likely MoD, possibly Coastal troops.


A collection of footage of Russian soldiers from Yakutia in the war.


Ukrainian Krab and Caesar ops, location and context unclear.


Ukrainian MaxxPro can't fit inside a typical garage.

 

KipPotapych

Well-Known Member
It looks like some longer range stuff is coming but no LRM’s yet.

The USAI funds would go toward the purchase of a new weapon, the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) made by Boeing Co (BA.N), which have a range of 94 miles (150 km). The United States has rebuffed Ukraine's requests for the 185-mile (297-km) range ATACMS missile.
No comment, really; just adds to context and timelines:


The long-range hybrid weapon combines two proven devices: an Air Force Small-Diameter Bomb guided by GPS satellites that’s currently in wide use and an Army rocket already being operated by Ukraine’s forces. Like some other equipment provided by the US and allies, it won’t be deployed in Ukraine anytime soon: An industry official said it would take about nine months for the first deliveries once the Air Force issues a contract.

 

Big_Zucchini

Well-Known Member
Solovyov says Israel provided Ukraine with drone tech and EW equipment. I personally only heard the former, but it's nice to receive formal confirmation on this.

Although Iron Dome is currently in a spotlight, along with Spike and Harpy (in the Twitter-verse), there is reason to be skeptical about a significant change of policy. If Israel chooses to advertise some donated weapons, I speculate it would still keep 90% under wraps.
 

Vivendi

Well-Known Member
The long-range hybrid weapon combines two proven devices: an Air Force Small-Diameter Bomb guided by GPS satellites that’s currently in wide use and an Army rocket already being operated by Ukraine’s forces. Like some other equipment provided by the US and allies, it won’t be deployed in Ukraine anytime soon: An industry official said it would take about nine months for the first deliveries once the Air Force issues a contract.
Hmmm. Given how urgent it is to get the GLSDB to Ukraine, I wonder if it really will take 9 months. I suspect it might happen quite a bit faster. Others seem to agree. NOËL on Twitter: " https://t.co/y6PCtUqphg" / Twitter
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
It appears Ukraine is getting Leo-1s possibly from Germany, possibly from Belgium. Rheinmetall has 88 of them in storage, FFG has 99 available. There's a question of where the ammunition will be sourced and what upgrades if any will be performed on the vehicles.

 

Vivendi

Well-Known Member

Vivendi

Well-Known Member
Latest package from the US:
  • Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
  • Additional 155mm artillery rounds;
  • Additional 120mm mortar rounds;
  • 190 heavy machine guns with thermal imagery sights and associated ammunition to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems;
  • 181 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles;
  • 250 Javelin anti-armor systems;
  • 2,000 anti-armor rockets;
  • Claymore anti-personnel munitions;
  • Demolitions munitions;
  • Cold weather gear, helmets, and other field equipment.
In addition, under USAI:
  • Two HAWK air defense firing units;
  • Anti-aircraft guns and ammunition;
  • Equipment to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine’s air defense systems;
  • Equipment to sustain Ukraine’s existing air defense capabilities;
  • Air defense generators;
  • Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems;
  • Four air surveillance radars;
  • 20 counter-mortar radars;
  • Spare parts for counter-artillery radars;
  • Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems;
  • Precision-guided rockets;
  • Secure communications equipment;
  • Medical supplies;
  • Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment.
Total value: USD 2.175 Billion, of which USD 425 million is "US presidential drawdown" and USD 1.75 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds -- as most of you probably know, the "US presidential drawdown" is pulling from existing inventories, whereas the USAI implies orders from industry, thus, it takes a bit longer to deliver. Total US military aid since February 24 2022: more than USD 29.3 billion. And more to come.
Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine > U.S. Department of Defense > Release

In other news, France and Italy have finally finalized their "technical talks" and seem ready to deliver SAMP/T to Ukraine. Expected arrival: spring 2023. France, Italy ready to deliver SAMP/T anti-missile system to Ukraine | Reuters

In other other news, EU will double the number of UKR soldiers being trained, from 15,000 to 30,000. Also the 7th EU package is coming, not sure yet what it entails. Total EU support to Ukraine since February 24 2022: EUR 50 billion, of which more than half is non-military. Nice complement to US military aid. And more to come. European Union to double military training for Ukraine, lines up new sanctions package - Breaking Defense

When will Russia accept the reality of the situation? The combined GDP of Europe and North America is massive compared to Russia's. And we are just getting started. In particular Europe needs a few more months to kick-start the European MIC and get those rusty production lines up and running again.
 

vikingatespam

Well-Known Member
It appears Ukraine is getting Leo-1s possibly from Germany, possibly from Belgium. Rheinmetall has 88 of them in storage, FFG has 99 available. There's a question of where the ammunition will be sourced and what upgrades if any will be performed on the vehicles.

Ehhh... If the T-62s time has passed, the Leo1 is in the same boat. Does it really have a place on the battlefield, other than a training slot ? Im all for giving equipment to UKR, but is the cost in additional logistical strain more than the value of the tank on the battlefield ?

Can the gun use the same ammo as the 105mm Stryker ?
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Not sure about the 105 mm ammo but there is likely some surplus rounds available. Leo 1 support and the logistics required, yes an issue, but with a Russian offensive looming, I think Ukraine will make do with every piece of kit they can lay their hands on.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Ehhh... If the T-62s time has passed, the Leo1 is in the same boat. Does it really have a place on the battlefield, other than a training slot ? Im all for giving equipment to UKR, but is the cost in additional logistical strain more than the value of the tank on the battlefield ?

Can the gun use the same ammo as the 105mm Stryker ?
Ukraine's 47th Assault Bde is operating upgraded T-55s.. so why not Leo1s?
 

swerve

Super Moderator

Big_Zucchini

Well-Known Member
Ehhh... If the T-62s time has passed, the Leo1 is in the same boat. Does it really have a place on the battlefield, other than a training slot ? Im all for giving equipment to UKR, but is the cost in additional logistical strain more than the value of the tank on the battlefield ?

Can the gun use the same ammo as the 105mm Stryker ?
Versus tanks, the Leopard 1 is still effective. T-62 much less so.
Still, due to advances in sensors, they are both easy prey to the average Ukrainian and Russian tanks.
 

KipPotapych

Well-Known Member
Looks like we are first:


Also saw somewhere, but cannot recall where now that there is a lot of tension in Europe over Leupold 2 tanks to the point that there is no certainty that they’ll be sent at all. The article was referencing a Spiegel article, which I can neither access nor understand. If anyone has insight there, I’d appreciate some details.
 
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