International Russia/Ukraine Megathread V15

Northrop completes Manta Ray underwater drone prototype​


BB1llbh7.img



"The Virginia-based defense contractor teased a photo of the novel unmanned underwater vehicle, or UUV, on April 8, coinciding with the first day of the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space conference in Maryland. The image - darkened along the edges and sporting a sparse backdrop - shows its glider-like body and a rounded nose. Little can be seen of its tail, and its dimensions are unclear.


The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 2020 kicked off the Manta Ray program with the thought of creating a large underwater drone that can operate independently of manned vessels and ports once underway. DARPA later tapped Northrop and PacMar Technologies to design and build preliminary versions.

"At Northrop Grumman, we're creating a new type of unmanned underwater vehicle," Todd Leavitt, a company executive, said in a statement at the time. "Our design can carry large payloads over long distances without the need for maintenance or refueling."



I'm thinking this will be "field tested" in the Black Sea sometime in the near future.
 

Northrop completes Manta Ray underwater drone prototype​


BB1llbh7.img



"The Virginia-based defense contractor teased a photo of the novel unmanned underwater vehicle, or UUV, on April 8, coinciding with the first day of the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space conference in Maryland. The image - darkened along the edges and sporting a sparse backdrop - shows its glider-like body and a rounded nose. Little can be seen of its tail, and its dimensions are unclear.


The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 2020 kicked off the Manta Ray program with the thought of creating a large underwater drone that can operate independently of manned vessels and ports once underway. DARPA later tapped Northrop and PacMar Technologies to design and build preliminary versions.

"At Northrop Grumman, we're creating a new type of unmanned underwater vehicle," Todd Leavitt, a company executive, said in a statement at the time. "Our design can carry large payloads over long distances without the need for maintenance or refueling."



I'm thinking this will be "field tested" in the Black Sea sometime in the near future.
probably costs about half a million dollars each, meanwhile ukranians are sinking ships for about tree fiddy..
 
Some new rumors the Chinese are now providing Russia key machining hardware and technology towards the manufacturing of advance weapons and drone technology. Clearly breaking from the non-intervention idea the reason is Russia delivering 35 dollar a barrel oil to China way way below the world wide oil price per barrel. It comes with one requirement China needs to sell them technology so they can continue to produce and develop new weapons and drones. Some say Russia is underwater or break even and is even pissing off India in the bargain because they cannot give the same deal. This could be a very huge mistake by China because Japan, South Korea and the US are pulling even closer in their cooperation.

This may be a very good reason why Ukraine is really stepping up their attacks on Russian oil fields.
 


Those soldiers are going to think they'll have carte blanche when they get back to Russia.




Kadyrovites hit in that HIMARS strike!
 
From what I’ve read and listened to, I think this is what Ukraine needs to hold ground.

Going on the offensive against prepared Russian positions seems futile, even with the additional capabilities as you describe.

It’s all been too little, too late, especially from Europe.

Grim situation.
If Europe sources 2 million shells from outside Europe as well as what they supply it'll be enough to hold ground for quite a while. Russia has upped shell production but they're feeling the pinch as well. At the peak they were firing 60k a day. HIMARS arrived and that dropped to about 20k and from there it slowly dropped to around 10k... went up with NK help but then settled down around 10k again.

Ukraine right now about 2k hence losing. Ukraine doesn't need parity though. Certainly not to hold the line which is easier than attacking.

A PZH2000 doesn't cost 7x that of a Msts-a without you getting an ROI. When your gun shoots further and is more accurate it needs less bullets. Especially when fielded by an experienced crew.

So the 2 million shells will go a very long way if they're just being defensive even without American aid.

But it is just holding the line. Honestly not great. Feel that's where the wars at. Hold the line and attrite.
 
I thought this was interesting a number of Republicans in Congress are worried about not supporting Ukraine. So much so the claim that Rep. Jeffries has not committed to backing Mike Johnson if he puts a vote on the House floor.

Trying to make it sound like Mike needs assurance that Democrats will protect him from the MAGA wing voting him out. Well apparently Rep. Jeffries called that bluff by saying he will get Democrats behind him to protect Mike Johnson from MAGA.

Rep. Jeffries went one better an said he puts the Country first over party an that protecting Johnson is a bridge to far for many Democrats in Congress. Still no movement to bring it for a vote.
 
I thought this was interesting a number of Republicans in Congress are worried about not supporting Ukraine. So much so the claim that Rep. Jeffries has not committed to backing Mike Johnson if he puts a vote on the House floor.

Trying to make it sound like Mike needs assurance that Democrats will protect him from the MAGA wing voting him out. Well apparently Rep. Jeffries called that bluff by saying he will get Democrats behind him to protect Mike Johnson from MAGA.

Rep. Jeffries went one better an said he puts the Country first over party an that protecting Johnson is a bridge to far for many Democrats in Congress. Still no movement to bring it for a vote.
Johnson and MTG wants to change bill and orders. This automatically means that bill will be sent back to Senate most likely. And Congress wants to have next holidays really soon, so when bill will come back on the table there in best case will be May month....for discussions.
Yes, approx 50% MAGA supporters doesn't support Mike or MTG because Congress doesn't work also about other solutions etc. Mike and MTG had turned Congress into half death helix ( snail ) mode about xxx other solutions not connected with any foreign aid or loans.
It is real hell and we have some politicians in europe thinkg like this too. A lot of professional specialists who doesn't have debts unlike Donald and exactly this is awful reality.
 
A Republican just called a select group of Republicans "MAGA fruit I call them" Feral cats making it impossible for Mike Johnson to get anything up for a vote. But Mike going to be meeting with Trump so I am not buying what a lot of Republicans are selling because they are in swing states that support Ukrainian arms deals that most of that money goes back to their states.
 
Back
Top