Web Page sponsored by MILLBROOK
Tel: +44 (0) 1525 408408
www.millbrook.co.uk/military
————————————————————————
17 Nov 16. Hezbollah parades new armour. The Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah showed off its recently established armoured unit in a parade held in the Syrian town of Al-Qusayr on 11 November.
Held to mark the group’s annual Martyrs’ Day, the parade involved dozens of armoured vehicles, including T-72 and T-54/55 tanks, BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, M113 and MT-LBu armoured personnel carriers (APCs), 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers, and ZSU-57-2 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.
Kuwait’s Al-Rai newspaper reported in September 2015 that the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) had delivered 75 T-72 and T-55 tanks to Hezbollah.
Photographs of the parade showed M113s armed with 14.5 mm ZPU-2 light anti-aircraft guns.
Heavier anti-aircraft guns, including 100 mm KS-19 and 85 mm KS-1 types, were seen mounted on various vehicles, including GM chassis that were probably taken from Syrian 2K12 Kub (SA-6) surface-to-air missile systems. Anti-aircraft guns of all types are widely used as direct-fire weapons in the Syrian civil war.
One photograph appeared to show launchers for 9K129 Kornet anti-tank guided weapons mounted on quad bikes.
Known for the asymmetric tactics it has developed to fight the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hezbollah’s armed wing, Islamic Resistance, has evolved into a more conventional military force since the latter half of 2012, when it first sent fighters to Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad.
“Hezbollah has a trained army now and the Resistance is no longer relying on guerrilla-style wars,” Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem told Lebanon’s Al-Safir newspaper on 16 November. “We are heavily-armed and well-trained and have acquired well-developed expertise in order to protect Lebanon and in the interest of Lebanon.” (Source: IHS Jane’s)
15 Nov 16. Australia receives two Hawkei vehicles from Thales. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has taken delivery of two new Hawkei vehicles from Thales, as part of a $1.3bn contract signed in October 2015. Under the contract, Thales Australia is required to produce 1,100 Hawkei vehicles and more than 1,000 companion trailers.
Australian Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said: “Hawkei production will involve about 170 jobs in the Bendigo region. It’s expected approximately 60 additional jobs will be created in Thales’ supply chain to support the production of the Hawkei vehicle.
“On top of that around 35 jobs, primarily in Queensland, will be created to sustain the vehicles.
“It’s expected approximately 60 additional jobs will be created in Thales’ supply chain to support the production of the Hawkei vehicle.”
“The vehicle represents an entirely new capability for the army, providing a similar level of protection to a Bushmaster at about half the weight.”
Full production of the pilot Hawkei vehicles will begin in 2018, while delivery of the vehicles and trailers to the ADF will be completed by late 2021.
The Hawkei carries up to four troops and provides protection against ballistic threats in high-risk areas.
The vehicles can be used to perform reconnaissance, liaison, command and utility functions, as well as troop movement and electronic warfare.
The Hawkeis are the last in an initial run of ten vehicles to roll off the Thales production line in Bendigo, the Australian Department of Defence said in a statement. (Source: army-technology.com)
15 Nov 16. The Serbian government is in talks with Russia over a potential acquisition of six Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets and an undisclosed amount of armored vehicles. The discussed procurements are to intensify Serbia’s military cooperation with Russia, which also offered to sell Belgrade Buk anti-aircraft missile systems on mobile launchers. However, Serbian officials said they cannot afford to purchase the sy