Русский корабль - иди нахуй

[B00M 6033]

Biden’s remarks were on the fucking money.

[Schulz2.0 28652]

 

[Schulz2.0 28652]

 

[KYHorn 16728]

4 minutes ago, Schulz2.0 said:

 

"Promoted" because loyalty is more prized than competency.

 

[JohnnyRage 1617]

Turtle Power! They're the world's most fearsome fighting team.

 

 

[lucious leftfoot 126]

18 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Russia is not on the brink of collapse internally, they can take a lot more pain and they will.

This is unfortunately true. 

I have a cousin that is married to a Russian Jew and they live in Tel Aviv. She fled Russia years back, but still knows a lot of people there obviously. 

Life in Moscow and St Petersburg is essentially unchanged. The war is not even on people’s minds. He likened it a bit to when the US was fighting the second Iraq war. Most people are against it, but it’s far away from most people and what are they going to do about it anyway? 

It doesn't look like a mobilization is imminent. They aren't having trouble recruiting because Putin doubled the pay. It's evidently a good bit of money for rural people. Also, their families are supposed to receive a lump sum in the event of their deaths. 

He thinks at this point the West will have to get more fully involved to stop Putin and wishes we had come in hard in the beginning and squashed him. Now that they’ve mobilized and transitioned their economy to war footing, this is going to last for a while. 

[Neonmoon 38126]

It’s going to take NATO troops to break the will. 

[atomheartbevo 89053]

29 minutes ago, KYHorn said:

Promoted" because loyalty is more prized than competency.

Yeah, I would be shocked if he had truly been pushed out of Putin’s orbit - he’s one of Putin’s St Petersburg cronies, and there’s no way he gets rid of that group. Shoigu was always a fuckup and not suitable for military command.

[lucious leftfoot 126]

47 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

It’s going to take NATO troops to break the will. 

Sounds like it. The question is when and how?

 

Another thing I found interesting was that a decent number of younger Russians that fled after the invasion are returning. It's hard to get visas and in the places that they get in like Turkey or Georgia, they are treated pretty poorly and end up going back. They're not afraid of mobilization. 

[Deej 76219]

1 hour ago, Schulz2.0 said:

 

Kill 'em all.

[atomheartbevo 89053]

1 hour ago, Neonmoon said:

It’s going to take NATO troops to break the will. 

Give Ukraine the weapons to deny Russia the ability to do anything meaningful in Crimea (weapons to remove the Kerch bridge and make it even more impossible for Russian ships to dock or land supplies in large quantities there) and make Russia commit a lot more troops to Crimea or the southern areas.  Make sure Ukraine can control their part of the Black Sea.  Keep up the sanctions and put the screws to China and India.  Help Moldova solve its Transnistria problem once and for all, and try to prop up Georgia and stir up Belarus. Spread Russia thin.

Nobody wants a stalemate, but if Ukraine removes the Kerch bridge and takes Crimea out of play militarily for Russia, that’s much worse for Putin.

[Parliament 14022]

delete

Edited May 12 by Parliament

[atomheartbevo 89053]

1 minute ago, Parliament said:

He'll be dead by morning.

If Putin starts offing his St Petersburg cronies, then something is up.  He’s going to keep Shoigu around.

[956 Worldwide 34019]

Shoigu is arguably getting a promotion. He will be overseeing Russia’s continuing shift to a full wartime economy (lots of $$$) and Belousov will be serving the role of the competent technocrat making some difficult and needed bureaucratic reforms at the MoD. I’ll expect uniformed military to get some promotions and have better oversight over operations. Patrushev is the loser, it’s unclear where he is going. 

Edited May 13 by 956 Worldwide

[PhillyD 1246]

1 hour ago, 956 Worldwide said:

 Patrushev is the loser, it’s unclear where he is going. 

[Schulz2.0 28652]

[Eastwood 4394]

9 hours ago, Schulz2.0 said:

Shoigu being replaced by a realtor who got his professional pic done at Glamour Shots. Dark times.

[B00M 6033]

16 hours ago, Schulz2.0 said:

 

 

[KYHorn 16728]

 

[B00M 6033]

Be specific or shut the fuck up. Nothing in war is a given or black and white

[bolverk 29104]

8 minutes ago, B00M said:

Be specific or shut the fuck up. Nothing in war is a given or black and white

Only thing I've seen so far:

One Ukrainian commander took the unusual step on Sunday of blasting his colleagues for what he said were terrible border defenses.

“The first line of fortifications and mines just didn’t exist,” Denys Yaroslavsky, a reconnaissance commander, wrote on Facebook. “The enemy freely entered the gray area, across the border line, which in principle should not have been gray!”

(“Gray” areas are the contested zones between the Russian and Ukrainian front lines.)

Other Ukrainian officials denied that the country’s forces were unprepared, saying that reports suggesting so were outright disinformation benefiting Russia.

Commander Yaroslavsky added that street fights had broken out in Vovchansk, a small town near Kharkiv, and that it was now surrounded. “I say this because we can die and no one will hear the truth,” he wrote. “Then why is it all for?!”

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/12/world/europe/russia-ukraine-kharkiv.html

[Bevo 13440]

Putin’s choice of new defence minister shows he’s preparing for confrontation with the West

Andrei Belousov is more at home with columns of data than of tanks, but he could be key to Moscow’s war effort and a conflict with Nato
James Kilner 13 May 2024 • 12:01pm

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/05/13/vladimir-putin-replaces-defence-minister-with-economist/?WT.mc_id=e_DM324171&WT.tsrc=email&etype=Edi_Edi_New_Reg&utmsource=email&utm_medium=Edi_Edi_New_Reg20240513&utm_campaign=DM324171

 

At first glance, Andrei Belousov does not appear to fit the mould of a Russian defence minister.

Known for his spreadsheet wizardry and grasp of Keynesian economics, he is more at home with columns of data than of tanks.

But Vladimir Putin has chosen Mr Belousov, described as the Kremlin’s most gifted and most illiberal economist, and given him a clear mission – to win in Ukraine and prepare Russia for a long-term conflict against Nato.

These are projects Putin regards as central to his legacy as Russia’s leader and he wanted a bureaucrat, not a military man, for the job.
Vladimir Putin has decided that the Russia ministry of defence should be headed by a civilian
Putin has decided that the Russia ministry of defence should be headed by a civilian Credit: MAXIM SHEMETOV/GETTY

Sergei Shoigu had been criticised for his inability to overcome bureaucratic inertia undermining Moscow’s war effort.

Mr Belousov, a 65-year-old Putin loyalist, is known for his sharp analytical mind and head for figures.

Putin has forced Russia’s economy and society on to a war footing. War has been normalised in the country. Appointing an economist as defence minister highlights this mental shift.

With Putin feeling confident about his armies’ performance on the battlefield in Ukraine, he has been able to make overdue changes to his top team.
Andrei Belousov, 65, who has taken charge of drone projects, previously worked in Russia's trade ministry as an analyst
Andrei Belousov, 65, who has taken charge of drone projects, previously worked in Russia's trade ministry as an analyst Credit: EKATERINA SHTUKINA/SPUTNIK

Belousov replaces Sergei Shoigu as defence minister. Shoigu was also a civilian, but after his appointment in 2012, he took on the rank of general and strutted around in various uniforms with rows of medals stuck to his chest.

Expect Belousov to take a very different, numbers-driven approach to Shoigu.

Recently Belousov has taken charge of drone projects, pushing through plans to build more of the key weapons and train more operators. He also reportedly has a good personal relationship with Putin.

Gen Shoigu has been shunted sideways to become the secretary of Russia’s powerful National Security Council, pushing out Nikolai Patrushev, the 72-year-old hawk who advises more conflict with Nato.

And there is the elephant in the room, the sullen General Valery Gerasimov, who is head of the Russian military. He survived the reshuffle, despite all the criticism aimed at him over the Russian military’s performance in Ukraine. Just like Shoigu, he must now be wondering how long he has left on the job.
Sergei Shoigu, the former defence minister, is set to be become the secretary of Russia's security council
Sergei Shoigu, the former defence minister, is set to be become the secretary of Russia's security council Credit: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/GETTY

Belousov has glided silently to the top. From 2012 he was a minister for economic development, then an economics adviser to Putin and then a deputy prime minister. Before joining the Kremlin’s team, Belousov worked in Russia’s trade ministry as an analyst and then in the prime minister’s office as a director of finances. This CV may sound boring, but this is just the sort of experience that Putin is looking for.

The war in Ukraine has shifted to a war of attrition that Putin feels that he can win. He has signed weapons supply deals with North Korea and Iran, and converted civilian industry to arms manufacturing, and also pushed the mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of men and convicts.

This has given Russia a material advantage in Ukraine and allowed it to soak up a casualty rate of nearly 1,000 men per day.

In other words, Putin believes that quantity over quality will triumph in Ukraine and, importantly, will challenge Nato more widely, a conflict he has prepared his armies for more intensely since his 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Belousov is Putin’s numbers man and the grey-suited bureaucrat is now preparing Russia for conflict with Nato.

 

Edited May 13 by Bevo

[Schulz2.0 28652]

51 minutes ago, B00M said:

Be specific or shut the fuck up. Nothing in war is a given or black and white

[Schulz2.0 28652]

 

 

[InkaUtexas 24933]

15 minutes ago, Bevo said:

Putin’s choice of new defence minister shows he’s preparing for confrontation with the West

Andrei Belousov is more at home with columns of data than of tanks, but he could be key to Moscow’s war effort and a conflict with Nato
James Kilner 13 May 2024 • 12:01pm

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/05/13/vladimir-putin-replaces-defence-minister-with-economist/?WT.mc_id=e_DM324171&WT.tsrc=email&etype=Edi_Edi_New_Reg&utmsource=email&utm_medium=Edi_Edi_New_Reg20240513&utm_campaign=DM324171

 

At first glance, Andrei Belousov does not appear to fit the mould of a Russian defence minister.

Known for his spreadsheet wizardry and grasp of Keynesian economics, he is more at home with columns of data than of tanks.

But Vladimir Putin has chosen Mr Belousov, described as the Kremlin’s most gifted and most illiberal economist, and given him a clear mission – to win in Ukraine and prepare Russia for a long-term conflict against Nato.

These are projects Putin regards as central to his legacy as Russia’s leader and he wanted a bureaucrat, not a military man, for the job.
Vladimir Putin has decided that the Russia ministry of defence should be headed by a civilian
Putin has decided that the Russia ministry of defence should be headed by a civilian Credit: MAXIM SHEMETOV/GETTY

Sergei Shoigu had been criticised for his inability to overcome bureaucratic inertia undermining Moscow’s war effort.

Mr Belousov, a 65-year-old Putin loyalist, is known for his sharp analytical mind and head for figures.

Putin has forced Russia’s economy and society on to a war footing. War has been normalised in the country. Appointing an economist as defence minister highlights this mental shift.

With Putin feeling confident about his armies’ performance on the battlefield in Ukraine, he has been able to make overdue changes to his top team.
Andrei Belousov, 65, who has taken charge of drone projects, previously worked in Russia's trade ministry as an analyst
Andrei Belousov, 65, who has taken charge of drone projects, previously worked in Russia's trade ministry as an analyst Credit: EKATERINA SHTUKINA/SPUTNIK

Belousov replaces Sergei Shoigu as defence minister. Shoigu was also a civilian, but after his appointment in 2012, he took on the rank of general and strutted around in various uniforms with rows of medals stuck to his chest.

Expect Belousov to take a very different, numbers-driven approach to Shoigu.

Recently Belousov has taken charge of drone projects, pushing through plans to build more of the key weapons and train more operators. He also reportedly has a good personal relationship with Putin.

Gen Shoigu has been shunted sideways to become the secretary of Russia’s powerful National Security Council, pushing out Nikolai Patrushev, the 72-year-old hawk who advises more conflict with Nato.

And there is the elephant in the room, the sullen General Valery Gerasimov, who is head of the Russian military. He survived the reshuffle, despite all the criticism aimed at him over the Russian military’s performance in Ukraine. Just like Shoigu, he must now be wondering how long he has left on the job.
Sergei Shoigu, the former defence minister, is set to be become the secretary of Russia's security council
Sergei Shoigu, the former defence minister, is set to be become the secretary of Russia's security council Credit: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/GETTY

Belousov has glided silently to the top. From 2012 he was a minister for economic development, then an economics adviser to Putin and then a deputy prime minister. Before joining the Kremlin’s team, Belousov worked in Russia’s trade ministry as an analyst and then in the prime minister’s office as a director of finances. This CV may sound boring, but this is just the sort of experience that Putin is looking for.

The war in Ukraine has shifted to a war of attrition that Putin feels that he can win. He has signed weapons supply deals with North Korea and Iran, and converted civilian industry to arms manufacturing, and also pushed the mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of men and convicts.

This has given Russia a material advantage in Ukraine and allowed it to soak up a casualty rate of nearly 1,000 men per day.

In other words, Putin believes that quantity over quality will triumph in Ukraine and, importantly, will challenge Nato more widely, a conflict he has prepared his armies for more intensely since his 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Belousov is Putin’s numbers man and the grey-suited bureaucrat is now preparing Russia for conflict with Nato.

 

So their Marshall Marshall?

[Schulz2.0 28652]

 

 

[atomheartbevo 89053]

I was already wondering why Putin would remove Shoigu, knowing is infinite loyalty for his boss and here we have the answer. According to RIA, Sergei Shoigu will receive the position of Secretary of the Security Council, which was headed by Nikolai Patrushev since 2008.

What happens with Patrushev is not mentioned. Shoigu once again proves that in Russia loyalty stands above expertise.

Putin is rewarding Shoigu, who always wanted to leave the DM post. But if Shoigu replaces Patrushev, it could be a dangerous move, as Patrushev is quite influential among the oligarchs and has been grooming his son to succeed Putin. My guess is Patrushev will replace Medvedev, who in turn will be given a more useless position.

[atomheartbevo 89053]

Yuriy Butusov's assessment of the situation in Kharkiv oblast. He says Russian advances have slowed now that they are running into defensive positions and their losses are increasing, though he says that some of existing fortifications were built in the wrong locations. He says the commander of OTU Kharkiv has been replaced, and the situation is complex but improving.

https://www.facebook.com/butusov.yuriy/posts/pfbid036SCwFftikwqXCT4PMXdR5n4WGhzPKaNwqTUG416YBffxXKCP8DwwRnwPTASg2xPYl

[PTINS 3422]

21 hours ago, Dahobbs said:

Somehow you're twisting one of the best performances of our intelligence services, correctly predicting that Russia was going to invade Ukraine despite Ukraine and many other countries saying otherwise, into a failure. We we're yelling from roof tops about what Russia was planning (take Kyiv in 3 days) and no one was listening. 

That said, you're conclusion that we need to fully Ukraine now is right on. 

My bad for trivializing the efforts of the intelligence services into a single sentence. The gathering, analysis, and dissemination of information before the invasion was exemplary. 

Giving Russia too much credit before the fact, the "Second Army of the World", was an oft used phrase that in hindsight, was in indictment of anybody who believed it, me included. The missile barrage on Day 1 was impressive, but after that... 

I, like most, was surprised about the effectiveness of Ukraine's response. Said another way, I was more surprised about the Keystone Cop mindset of the Putin's cronies/military leadership, and the repeated missteps that were so crucial in the first few days.

I recalled reading about Basher 52 and the rescue of F-16 fighter pilot Scott O'Grady, and his comment, "you want to go in and dominate a situation." Similar mindset in Desert Storm, plan, anticipate and manage the logistics tail before you start, specifically, making sure the front line people have plenty of ammo, fuel & food. The graphic depiction of the air campaign is the poster child for effective planning and organization. 

I had enough data points to recognize that was not the Russian way. I ignored them and just accepted what I heard and read. Later, I found this thread, and I saw the light.  

On 5/11/2024 at 9:01 PM, 956 Worldwide said:

We assessed that Putin believed and planned that he would capture and cut off Kyiv in a few days, not that we believed it would happen. Based on what the Russians actually did with their invasion force (which was too small and did not bring strategic aviation to bear right away), it’s a safe bet we were right on Putin’s planning and belief.  

If Hostomel airport goes a different way, then the war maybe also goes a different way. 

Russia failure to gain air superiority and the fighting at Hostomel Airport were pleasantly surprising. Kinda like recovering the fumbled opening kickoff.

20 hours ago, Gatorubet said:

100% this!   They thought once they took the airport with special forces, they would start landing troops and material sufficient to either arrest or cause Ukrainians leaders to flee the country.     Ivan takes Hostomel and maybe “I don’t need a ride. I need more ammo”  becomes a plane ticket to DC or arrest video - and resistance fades. 

That is what happens when politicians plan a military exercise instead of letting the military do it.   I doubt they have a long line of military vehicles without gas - but with the troops having dress uniforms for the Kyiv victory parade. 

Uniforms instead of food tells you everything you need to know.

16 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

Give Ukraine the weapons to deny Russia the ability to do anything meaningful in Crimea 

Nobody wants a stalemate, but if Ukraine removes the Kerch bridge and takes Crimea out of play militarily for Russia, that’s much worse for Putin.

And so much better for humanity.  Cyber wars and misinformation campaigns is a way of life today. Invading with tanks is no bueno. 

Ukraine has earned our respect and deserves our support.

Ukraine must win and Russia must lose.

13 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Shoigu is arguably getting a promotion. He will be overseeing Russia’s continuing shift to a full wartime economy (lots of $$$) 

 

 

This appears to be similar to an administrative role Putin had at one time, that allowed him to funnel money, and ultimately control the oligarchs.

Better for Putin and Shoigu, not so much for Russia. 

 

[B00M 6033]

33 minutes ago, Schulz2.0 said:

Unless I’m missing something, the border not being dragon teethed and mined and trenched to absolute hell is because it was under constant pressure by Russia. Hard to dig a trench when you’re in easy striking range of FPVs and artillery. Once the war started, Ukraine had little choice but to set up the defensive lines behind all the border towns. Obviously Ukraine should have spent the years following the annex of Crimea building the defensive lines along their borders. 

[atomheartbevo 89053]

20 minutes ago, PTINS said:

I, like most, was surprised about the effectiveness of Ukraine's response. Said another way, I was more surprised about the Keystone Cop mindset of the Putin's cronies/military leadership, and the repeated missteps that were so crucial in the first few days.

Yeah, a lot of us were fooled into thinking that Russia had a professional NCO corps like NATO countries and that their junior officers were competent.  That infamous convoy woke a lot of folks up.  Our logistics people would not have allowed something like that to happen, and our NCOs and field grade officers would have unfucked that convoy in short order. Hell we took Baghdad in three weeks, but we were using modern tanks and purpose-built logistics vehicles on the ground, and, B-52s, A-10s, and a slew of other aircraft to control the airspace.

Edited May 13 by atomheartbevo

[Schulz2.0 28652]

 

 

[SL Xpress 7492]

One thing I feel highly confident in saying. Whoever permanently replaces Putin is going to spend a lot of time tearing down his legacy in an effort to build their own. May not be whoever takes over directly after him if they're dependent on his legacy for their control. But if someone establishes their own loyal hierarchy, part of it is going to come from distinguishing themselves from Putin. 

Also, maybe Andrei Belousov can be their Robert McNamara.

[Clintonaldo 2539]

4 hours ago, SL Xpress said:

One thing I feel highly confident in saying. Whoever permanently replaces Putin is going to spend a lot of time tearing down his legacy in an effort to build their own. May not be whoever takes over directly after him if they're dependent on his legacy for their control. But if someone establishes their own loyal hierarchy, part of it is going to come from distinguishing themselves from Putin. 

Also, maybe Andrei Belousov can be their Robert McNamara.

The next leader will be even worse. Death is all those fucking idiots know and deserve. 

[bolverk 29104]

No gore. It looks like two of the four Russians may already be dead, but the drone captures this Ukrainian getting the other two.

 

 

Also, no gore, but DAAAAAMMMNNN!

 

[bolverk 29104]

 

Again, no actual gore.

 

[Schulz2.0 28652]

[atomheartbevo 89053]

Underwater drones are picking up the pace of development by a lot of navies.  These are much fancier than Ukraine uses,  but Ukraine is probably working on the underwater drones quite a bit.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/tech/australia-us-undersea-drones-ml-hnk-intl/index.html

Ghost Shark and Manta Ray protect the undersea realm. Sounds like the plot of a future Marvel movie, but in actual fact, it’s what could be the future of Pacific naval defenses.

Ghost Shark and Manta Ray are the names of prototype uncrewed underwater vehicles – UUVs or drones – introduced recently by Australia and the United States respectively.

Experts say the submersibles could represent the future of undersea warfare, showing the ability to exert power while minimizing the danger to human life.

The use of drones in aerial warfare has become commonplace. The US used them extensively during conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan beginning in the 1990s, and newer, cheaper drones have become key pieces of military hardware for both sides in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Kyiv has also built naval surface drones, which have inflicted heavy losses on the much larger and more expensive ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

“Ghost Shark will provide Navy with a stealthy, long-range autonomous undersea warfare capability that can conduct persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and strike,” a statement from the Australian Defense Ministry said, adding that it expects the first production models to be delivered by the end of next year.

Australian officials and those from manufacturer Anduril Australia said they could not share any of the specs on Ghost Shark as those remain classified.

But they touted the speed with which the submersible has gone from idea to testing, with the program having started just two years ago.

“Being ahead of schedule, on budget, it’s pretty unheard of,” Shane Arnott, Anduril’s senior vice president for engineering, told reporters.

..

“I assume that they are all intended for roughly similar mission sets – persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike capability, particularly in the anti-submarine domain,” Salisbury said.

The US Navy called the Boeing-built Orca UUV “a cutting-edge, autonomous, unmanned diesel-electric submarine with a modular payload section to execute a variety of missions” in a December news release on the delivery of a first Orca test platform, an early prototype.

..

Besides Australia, the US and China, other countries working on UUVs include Canada, France, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, according to Sutton.

 

[atomheartbevo 89053]

Andrey #Belousov’s appointment as Defense Minister is a direct result of the ongoing conflict between the ministry, as the customer, and the military-industrial complex as the producer (#Shoigu vs #Chemezov/#Manturov). Questioning who won or lost misses the point—#Putin's goal is to enhance arms production effectiveness and optimally meet military needs. In this context, Belousov is a logical choice. 1/5

Importantly, #Belousov will not manage military combat operations; this responsibility will bolster the autonomy of the General Staff. Although the Kremlin confirms that Valery #Gerasimov remains in his post, there are uncertainties about the permanence of his position.2/5

#Shoigu has been appointed Secretary of the Security Council. To understand this move, consider why Putin appointed Dmitry #Medvedev as his deputy at the Security Council in January 2020: to keep him close yet detached from the 'system' where finding an alternative role would be challenging. This appointment also indicates that the actual significance of the Security Council in the hierarchy may not be as great as observers typically assume.3/5

Notorious hawk Nikolay #Patrushev has been dismissed, but will not disappear (we'll know soon). The post of Nikolay Patrushev is Nikolay Patrushev. He played an important ideological role but not so as the Secretary of the Security Council, but as an old Putin proxy and former head of the #FSB. He will continue to hold this role regardless of the official position he assumes.4/5

Despite the surprising nature of these reshuffles (and it's not the end), the overall policy and decision-making mechanisms will remain unchanged. Putin's primary objective is to enhance the state's capacity to support military needs more effectively, while most elements of the existing "structure" will stay intact.5/5

——-

Tom Clancy’s ghost writers are taking notes.

[KYHorn 16728]

 

The Chinese car industry has turned out to be deadly for Russians

A GAC crossover almost burned the driver alive.

The incident occurred on the highway between Moscow and Orenburg. The door of the Chinese car caught fire, the seat belt jammed and the brakes failed.

The man miraculously escaped from the death trap. He was hospitalized with numerous burns.

Now Russians have a dilemma: should they buy a domestic Lada without seat belts or a burning Chinese car?

[KYHorn 16728]

 

 

[B00M 6033]

9 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

Underwater drones are picking up the pace of development by a lot of navies.  These are much fancier than Ukraine uses,  but Ukraine is probably working on the underwater drones quite a bit.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/tech/australia-us-undersea-drones-ml-hnk-intl/index.html

Ghost Shark and Manta Ray protect the undersea realm. Sounds like the plot of a future Marvel movie, but in actual fact, it’s what could be the future of Pacific naval defenses.

Ghost Shark and Manta Ray are the names of prototype uncrewed underwater vehicles – UUVs or drones – introduced recently by Australia and the United States respectively.

Experts say the submersibles could represent the future of undersea warfare, showing the ability to exert power while minimizing the danger to human life.

The use of drones in aerial warfare has become commonplace. The US used them extensively during conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan beginning in the 1990s, and newer, cheaper drones have become key pieces of military hardware for both sides in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Kyiv has also built naval surface drones, which have inflicted heavy losses on the much larger and more expensive ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

“Ghost Shark will provide Navy with a stealthy, long-range autonomous undersea warfare capability that can conduct persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and strike,” a statement from the Australian Defense Ministry said, adding that it expects the first production models to be delivered by the end of next year.

Australian officials and those from manufacturer Anduril Australia said they could not share any of the specs on Ghost Shark as those remain classified.

But they touted the speed with which the submersible has gone from idea to testing, with the program having started just two years ago.

“Being ahead of schedule, on budget, it’s pretty unheard of,” Shane Arnott, Anduril’s senior vice president for engineering, told reporters.

..

“I assume that they are all intended for roughly similar mission sets – persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike capability, particularly in the anti-submarine domain,” Salisbury said.

The US Navy called the Boeing-built Orca UUV “a cutting-edge, autonomous, unmanned diesel-electric submarine with a modular payload section to execute a variety of missions” in a December news release on the delivery of a first Orca test platform, an early prototype.

..

Besides Australia, the US and China, other countries working on UUVs include Canada, France, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, according to Sutton.

 

sandboxx dropped a great episode on this the other day

 

 

sub brief is also a good follow

https://youtube.com/@subbrief?feature=shared
 

 

 

[Schulz2.0 28652]

 

 

[B00M 6033]

1 hour ago, KYHorn said:

 

 

It’s time to quietly lift that restriction. I can’t believe we were actually enforcing it. Russia getting within artillery range of Kharkiv is going to be a disaster 

Edited May 14 by B00M

[Schulz2.0 28652]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/05/14/putin-plotting-physical-attacks-west-gchq-chief/

[atomheartbevo 89053]

These are the kind of leaflets that are given to moronic soldiers of the Russian army to motivate them not to retreat. Move forward or you'll go to jail for 10 years. It's better to kill yourself than surrender to the enemy.

And only thanks to God’s chosen Vladimir Putin can you win. Kneel before him and kiss his feet.

This is no longer an army, this is a cult, the likes of which we have not seen for a long time, this is Aum Shinrikyo multiplied by 1000. Who would have thought that such a medieval approach would be possible in our era?

[Schulz2.0 28652]

 

 

[Horn Under a Bad Sign 20304]

 

 

 

[Steel Shank 9338]

^^^^ Badass!

[bolverk 29104]

French, Dutch seek EU sanctions on financial institutions helping Russia military

BRUSSELS, May 14 (Reuters) - France and the Netherlands are seeking European Union sanctions on any financial institution in the world that helps Russia's military pay for goods or technology for making weapons, according to a proposal seen by Reuters.

The EU has been trying to prevent circumvention of 13 packages of sanctions already imposed on Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Existing sanctions include a ban on selling to Russia certain dual-use goods and technologies that have both civilian and military application.

Ambassadors of EU governments will discuss the proposal on Wednesday as part of the 14th package of sanctions against Russia now under preparation by the EU.

Under the proposal, anyone in the EU could be banned from doing business with any financial institution in the world, identified by the EU as directly or indirectly helping Russia's military obtain forbidden dual-use goods and technologies.

Such a ban could be a powerful incentive for financial institutions in the Middle East, Turkey or even China not to engage in deals to supply EU-sanctioned dual-use goods to Russia as they could lose access to European business and the EU's financial markets.

EU officials said the European Commission would be likely to coordinate any such sanctions on financial institutions with the U.S., making the tool even more powerful.

"The Netherlands and France propose to introduce a legal basis ... providing for a transaction ban with financial institutions in Russia or other third countries when the Council has determined that these entities to be involved in transactions that significantly support Russia’s military by facilitating exports towards Russia of essential goods for the war effort, such as dual-use goods and technologies or goods listed in annexes VII and XL of the Regulation," the Franco-Dutch proposal, seen by Reuters, said.

Hungary, which has warm ties with Moscow despite the invasion of Ukraine, may oppose the proposal, and possibly Germany, keen not to jeopardise close business ties with China. The European Commission said last month there were signs that Beijing was supplying components to Russia that could be used to make weapons.

The EU expects to have the 14th sanctions package, which requires unanimity among all of the EU's 27 governments, ready in June.