Vantage Point North

The three major(ish) powers in the world are all looking to replace their assault rifles with a new system in a caliber between 6.2 and 6.8mm. Is this trend a logical development of the past century and a half of rifle development or is it an answer to a misunderstood problem? Peak WW1 Infantry rifle, the Mauser Gewehr 98:s, one with a trench kit consisting of an extended magazine and dust covers, The humble rifle has been the piece that holds terrain in war since it replaced the smoothbore musket sometime in the first half of the 1800’s. Two innovations, metallic self contained case and smokeless powder brought around the classic infantry rifles which fought the two world wars. The development up to this point was remarkably uniform across the militaries around the world and these rifles are the benchmark all following generations are compared to power wise. The initial power required from a military rifle were derived from two tasks. First was the ability to reliably stop a charging ...

 Azov Wallpaper 

As the war in Ukraine drags into its fifth year, one ugly truth stands out: Russia will not stop unless it is forced to stop.  Exercise Lively Sentry 25 that focuses on fighting the Russian army in a high intensity war (credit: FDF)  The Kremlin’s propaganda machine, from Pravda to milbloggers, continues to paint a picture of strength, but the reality on the ground tells a different story. Russia is bleeding resources, manpower, and legitimacy. Yet, despite this, Western voices still whisper about “peace deals” and “compromise.” That is not diplomacy; it is appeasement. Despite the Russian propaganda claiming otherwise, Ukrainian troops are still fighting hard in Pokrovsk. Russia is capable of expanding its armed forces despite the losses, but in the short term the quality of the troops is appalling. This is an advantage for the west, but it will turn into a liability if not capitalized quickly enough. Sanctions: From Symbolism to Systemic Pressure Sanctions do work, but only ...

China’s latest armored duo—the Type 100 Main Battle Tank and its support vehicle—are not just new machines. They’re a statement. A declaration that the PLA is ready to leapfrog into the realm of fourth-generation warfare, where sensors, drones, and data links matter more than raw armor thickness. Visual Identification: A Break from the Past Forget the familiar lines of the Type 99A or the boxy silhouette of the Type 96. The Type 100 MBT is a different beast: Unmanned turret with jagged, multi-faceted armor geometry. - Compact hull with a low profile and reduced weight (~40 t). - Remote Weapons Station perched atop the turret, often with a 12.7 mm HMG. - No visible reactive armor blocks—everything is integrated and digital. The support vehicle is equally distinct: - Smaller chassis with a 40 mm cannon. - Vertical launch cells (3×2) for missiles or loitering munitions. - A radar mast and drone bay—earning it the nickname “mini Aegis destroyer on land.” Capabilities: More Than Just Metal...

  The Russian army introduced a new self propelled artillery system to the Ukrainian battlefields.  Mystery SPG (Photo: mil.in.ua) Ukrainian journal Mil.in.ua speculates that it is based on the Uraltranshmash 2S43 Malva wheeled SPG, that is basically a rear mounted 152mm A64 gun from the MSTA-S out in the open. 2S43 Malva The new system has an independently rotating turret, but still an open turret. The layout is much closer to the Titan-Barrikady A-222 Bereg 130mm coastal artillery SPG, which has also seen combat in the Ukrainian southern front. A-222 Bereg isn’t a viable candidate for further production, as its non-standard caliber limits the available ammunition stocks and isn’t currently being produced in Russia. A-222 Bereg Russia is also suffering extremely hard attrition on all of its artillery systems, both from the Ukrainian counter battery fires and simply by barrels wearing out. There is a limited amount of machinery in Russia that is capable of producing a decent ...

  Chonma 2 tanks The Korean People's Army Ground Force, also known as the North Korean Army, has always been a slightly mysterious force, with very limited information on its daily activities and exact structure. It was recently pushed more into the limelight as the North Korean dictator Lil’Ki.. Rocketma… Kim Jong Un, sent tens of thousands of its troops to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine, by trying to recapture the Russian territory. Before this the DPRK had only sent ammunition and missiles to Russia. So far only North Korean infantry has seen any direct combat. Some KPAGF artillery pieces have been spotted in Russia, but haven’t been fielded by either Russian or Korean crews as of 9.12.2024. Could the DPRK provide Russia with other weapons in addition to artillery and meat? The KPAGF has roughly 3500 main battle tanks and 5-600 light tanks. With the Russian Army suffering catastrophic MBT losses in Ukraine, far out pacing the Russian industry’s capability to build new t...