Eurofighter to the F-16.
As technology progresses we start to run into limitations, back in the 1960's despite the U.S. Soviet Russian arms race there was a variety of combat aircraft. Today Europe has chosen with the RAF one type, but other N.A.T.O. countries also operate the U.S. F-16, it in its own right as a standard fighter.
Meanwhile despite the British Panavia Tornado, only Sweden has a stand alone fighter the AJ/JA-37 Viggen in Europe. Many former Warsaw pact nations have now adopted the F-16 as their main combat type.
The Ukraine stands alone with many former Russian types from the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23/27 to the 31/33 and a whole host of other advanced types. France has operated their own design of Mirage from first concept to the present Rafael, since they were outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Which is the best of this bunch, my money would remain on the F-16, because of its versatility, second choice would be the Viggen and last the Sukhoi SU-27. These to for me are the best fighters for interception and combat missions, One cannot really know much, because of the many secrets that all fighter aircraft have to have!
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
Gunboats to Fast Attack. Part-One.
The Smaller Navy?
One would like to think so, because big nations that have access to the seas or large lakes have Frigates, Corvettes and Minesweepers? But this is not so, the development of the Gunboat has matured into the FAC (Fast Attack Craft), these newer vessels are now usually armed with the latest missiles, radar and sonar.
The orgins of the FAC comes from the Cold War years, when the Soviet navy required their patrol boats to work against mini-subs in shallower waters and also to intercept at speed unidentified targets. The patrol boats of World War II were good up to a point, but they were limited compared to what is available today. Many countries initially received these new FAC Soviet boats, such as Angola, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, North-Korea and Cuba and from their on they made their own adaptions to meet their own requirements.
It was the rich Persian Gulf nations in the middle-east that preferred the FAC ability to change platforms and this opened the door to both the United States and Great Britain, with a few other countries to provide the latest versions.
One would like to think so, because big nations that have access to the seas or large lakes have Frigates, Corvettes and Minesweepers? But this is not so, the development of the Gunboat has matured into the FAC (Fast Attack Craft), these newer vessels are now usually armed with the latest missiles, radar and sonar.
The orgins of the FAC comes from the Cold War years, when the Soviet navy required their patrol boats to work against mini-subs in shallower waters and also to intercept at speed unidentified targets. The patrol boats of World War II were good up to a point, but they were limited compared to what is available today. Many countries initially received these new FAC Soviet boats, such as Angola, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, North-Korea and Cuba and from their on they made their own adaptions to meet their own requirements.
It was the rich Persian Gulf nations in the middle-east that preferred the FAC ability to change platforms and this opened the door to both the United States and Great Britain, with a few other countries to provide the latest versions.
Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Railcars and Railbuses.
British demand For.
One cannot speak for other nations, but it would seem that the 'Railcar is something unique to the British railway system. The first cars with twin cabs were built for the Great Western and saw service between Bristol and Swindon from the late 1940' to the early 50's, despite their popular appeal nothing more was done to improve them.
The 1950's saw the re-introduction of these one coach units operating on small lines, some where termed rail buses rather than cars and they were an essential link prior to Beaching. The Class 101 got the idea off with two to three car Diesel Multiple Units (DMU's), but the 117/121 were demanded for sharper bends in Cornwall.
Past smaller steam locomotives and limited stock could work these lines, but the newer carriages and locos were to long. By the 1970's plans where in progress for the Pacer Class 150 and 153 units, which is some cases were nothing more than a Leyland bus on a carriage chassis.
Northern-Ireland railways had developed a spread of single and multiple rail cars from the 1930's, many of these originated on the various narrow gauge lines that were still in operation in the province of Ulster. Some were sold to the Isle of Man, but very little was shared I believe with the mainland. NIR did by some unusual vehicles from the Southern Railway one-offs built at Norwood Junction?
One cannot speak for other nations, but it would seem that the 'Railcar is something unique to the British railway system. The first cars with twin cabs were built for the Great Western and saw service between Bristol and Swindon from the late 1940' to the early 50's, despite their popular appeal nothing more was done to improve them.
The 1950's saw the re-introduction of these one coach units operating on small lines, some where termed rail buses rather than cars and they were an essential link prior to Beaching. The Class 101 got the idea off with two to three car Diesel Multiple Units (DMU's), but the 117/121 were demanded for sharper bends in Cornwall.
Past smaller steam locomotives and limited stock could work these lines, but the newer carriages and locos were to long. By the 1970's plans where in progress for the Pacer Class 150 and 153 units, which is some cases were nothing more than a Leyland bus on a carriage chassis.
Northern-Ireland railways had developed a spread of single and multiple rail cars from the 1930's, many of these originated on the various narrow gauge lines that were still in operation in the province of Ulster. Some were sold to the Isle of Man, but very little was shared I believe with the mainland. NIR did by some unusual vehicles from the Southern Railway one-offs built at Norwood Junction?
Tuesday, 12 January 2016
Military Trucks. Part-Two.
Ever Changing World.
Most of the trucks that we looked at in Part-One of this series of articles have all over the years been in the process of standardisation for their compatibility to fit the NATO Lockheed Hercules C-130 transport aircraft.
But now we will take a look as what is available around the world and how they have either been exported or licensed built in other nations since, the break up of the old Soviet Warsaw Pact block in the 1990's.
The Czech Tatra T815 Kolos has been exported to India, while the 6X6 Tatrapan Armoured car was developed for the Slovak army.
Brazil is to soon replace its ageing Engesa EE-50 truck and variants, while it is still in Service in Angola. Western Star is the main producer for the Canadian armed forces, while the Austrian Styr is built in Canada under licence.
Most of the trucks that we looked at in Part-One of this series of articles have all over the years been in the process of standardisation for their compatibility to fit the NATO Lockheed Hercules C-130 transport aircraft.
But now we will take a look as what is available around the world and how they have either been exported or licensed built in other nations since, the break up of the old Soviet Warsaw Pact block in the 1990's.
The Czech Tatra T815 Kolos has been exported to India, while the 6X6 Tatrapan Armoured car was developed for the Slovak army.
Brazil is to soon replace its ageing Engesa EE-50 truck and variants, while it is still in Service in Angola. Western Star is the main producer for the Canadian armed forces, while the Austrian Styr is built in Canada under licence.
Tuesday, 5 January 2016
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016.
More of What?
It would seem that the idea of the drone was the future last year, but now with so many incidents of near misses with aircraft and many other machines perhaps not?
Military and Police drones are perhaps being perfected for future use, but not the near future. NASA has twins with a new rocket propulsion system and the first SpaceEX return rocket from 125 miles up in one piece, this is technology where money is to be made in the commercial satellite market.
With the drop in oil prices and other fossil fuels, the demand for alternative's has been put on hold. With diesel at less than a pound in the U.K. 'I am afraid pollution or carbon emissions are going to be a problem despite the recent Paris, France conference.
One has to wonder sometimes about all this climate change, when military jets and missiles are being fired again in the middle-east how much of a carbon footprint do they make?
It would seem that the idea of the drone was the future last year, but now with so many incidents of near misses with aircraft and many other machines perhaps not?
Military and Police drones are perhaps being perfected for future use, but not the near future. NASA has twins with a new rocket propulsion system and the first SpaceEX return rocket from 125 miles up in one piece, this is technology where money is to be made in the commercial satellite market.
With the drop in oil prices and other fossil fuels, the demand for alternative's has been put on hold. With diesel at less than a pound in the U.K. 'I am afraid pollution or carbon emissions are going to be a problem despite the recent Paris, France conference.
One has to wonder sometimes about all this climate change, when military jets and missiles are being fired again in the middle-east how much of a carbon footprint do they make?
Tuesday, 29 December 2015
Military Trucks. Part-One.
Multi-Role Amphibians.
Military requirements for their need to mover troops and other equipment means that they have to be far different from civil or commercial vehicles. Most military trucks are higher from the ground and today the amphibious capability, even on limited scale is a standard requirement.
The British army at one point relied on a limited number of home built British designs from Bedford TM 6-6 to heavy lifters and recovery such as the Scammel and Foden Alpha A36R. But today with the international market being so open and the various alliances which have had to be formed over the years to fight various wars and International terrorism the choice is limitless.
The German Man HX77 8x8 and Japanese/U.S. Izuzu-Okhosh has been one of the biggest providers to the U.K., with Japan providing other specialist trucks. These trucks are required to move Main battle tanks and missiles, from Nuclear to Surface to surface.
Many trucks are used for munitions re-supply, recovery, and hauling field artillery. ambulances, chemical, radioactive and biological units, radio, radar, and other command and communications.
But many Bedford and Foden's are still in use, by the British and have been exported to the commonwealth and other buyers.
Military requirements for their need to mover troops and other equipment means that they have to be far different from civil or commercial vehicles. Most military trucks are higher from the ground and today the amphibious capability, even on limited scale is a standard requirement.
The British army at one point relied on a limited number of home built British designs from Bedford TM 6-6 to heavy lifters and recovery such as the Scammel and Foden Alpha A36R. But today with the international market being so open and the various alliances which have had to be formed over the years to fight various wars and International terrorism the choice is limitless.
The German Man HX77 8x8 and Japanese/U.S. Izuzu-Okhosh has been one of the biggest providers to the U.K., with Japan providing other specialist trucks. These trucks are required to move Main battle tanks and missiles, from Nuclear to Surface to surface.
Many trucks are used for munitions re-supply, recovery, and hauling field artillery. ambulances, chemical, radioactive and biological units, radio, radar, and other command and communications.
But many Bedford and Foden's are still in use, by the British and have been exported to the commonwealth and other buyers.
Tuesday, 22 December 2015
Snow Patrol. Part-Two.
The elusive white Stuff.
This year the Britain, Ireland and Northern Europe are experiencing some of the warmest winter temperatures on record. But in the southern-hemisphere New Zealand and Antarctica, the warmest also for their summer.
Santa must of forgot something this year?
Despite the lack of snow here, America and Canada are having severe storms and drifting and even their specialised machines cannot operate because of the heigth of the drifts. Despite many clever designs that are available, there are just times when non of them can get out and do their thing.
Many modern snow ploughs now, do much more than shovel snow, they can heat the tracks, sand, de-ice and brush a path through. Italy-Switzerland employ such trains daily to keep their mountain railways open. Some of these machines have been adapted to work on air crafts, allowing them to continue to operate in snow and ice conditions.
This year the Britain, Ireland and Northern Europe are experiencing some of the warmest winter temperatures on record. But in the southern-hemisphere New Zealand and Antarctica, the warmest also for their summer.
Santa must of forgot something this year?
Despite the lack of snow here, America and Canada are having severe storms and drifting and even their specialised machines cannot operate because of the heigth of the drifts. Despite many clever designs that are available, there are just times when non of them can get out and do their thing.
Many modern snow ploughs now, do much more than shovel snow, they can heat the tracks, sand, de-ice and brush a path through. Italy-Switzerland employ such trains daily to keep their mountain railways open. Some of these machines have been adapted to work on air crafts, allowing them to continue to operate in snow and ice conditions.
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