Battlefield Update - 2023-03-16 (1)
🇷🇺🇺🇸✈️ About the crash of an American UAV off the coast of Crimea
The US Air Force European Command published a video from the camera of an MQ-9 Reaper drone that crashed into the sea off the coast of Crimea during a reconnaissance sortie on March 14.
▪️The video shows the approach of the Russian Su-27 fighter, which opens the release valve and douses the UAV with fuel. Then the RF ASF aircraft makes a second run, after which the picture disappears.
▪️At the end of the recording, one can clearly see the deformation of one of the blades, presumably caused by the impact of a fuel jet. Apparently, it was this damage to the main rotor that caused the MQ-9 to fall into the waters of the Black Sea.
What happened was a logical consequence of the provocative actions of NATO aviation in the Black Sea. For months, alliance drones have been coming close to the Crimean coast and coordinating Ukrainian strikes on the peninsula.
It is quite possible that what happened will force the United States, if not to reduce intelligence activity in the region, then at least to stay away from Russian airspace.
#UAV #Crimea #Russia #USA
🇬🇪🇨🇿🇫🇷🎞 World Protest Chronicle: Boiling Point Review March 9-16
🔻 In the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, mass protests broke out last week against the current authorities.
The assembled citizens opposed the law on the registration of "foreign agents". Among the initial demands was to withdraw the law, but later the protesters demanded that the government resign and hold re-elections to parliament.
Tens of thousands of people gathered at the parliament building and tried to take it by storm. This resulted in clashes with law enforcement officers, who used special equipment to disperse the protesters.
After the parliament refused to pass the bill and the detainees were released, the protests faded away. But there is a possibility that they will flare up again - the US is stepping up pressure on Georgia.
🔻 On Saturday, an anti-government rally was held in the Czech Republic, organized by the extra-parliamentary party Law. Respect. Professionalism".
Local residents are unhappy with rising prices, high inflation and spending on military support for Ukraine. Several thousand people gathered on Wenceslas Square in Prague and called on the government to resign.
The protests will not lead to a change in the course of the Czech authorities. However, holding such actions will increase pressure on the country's leadership, forcing them to adjust their policies.
🔻 Another nationwide strike took place in France last week. The population is dissatisfied with the decision of the authorities to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.
Hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets of Paris and other major cities. The action was attended by workers in key sectors of the economy, threatening to paralyze the country. The rally escalated into clashes with the police with mass arrests and the use of special equipment.
Despite the dissatisfaction of citizens, the French Senate adopted amendments to the legislation. Now the law is to be considered by the National Assembly. The country is waiting for a new wave of protests, in which up to one and a half million people can take part.
#Georgia #digest #protests #Czech Republic #France
❗️🇷🇺🇺🇦 Highlights of Russian Military Operation in Ukraine on March 15
▪️AFU have struck Belgorod region again. Russian air defence means intercepted three missiles over the regional capital.
Shebekino and Novostroyevka-Vtoraya were also hit by the enemy. Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure were damaged.
▪️In Lyman sector, Russian units continue to fight positional battles near Balka Zhuravka.
The artillery unit is receiving a great deal of fire support and is being targeted by unmanned aerial vehicles.
▪️North of Bakhmut, Wagner PMC fighters have taken full control of Zaliznyans'ke.
The liberation of the settlement opens the way for an offensive at the Bondarne-Vasyukivka line.
▪️To the south, Russian troops continue to storm AFU positions in Orekhovo-Vasylivka.
In attempt to hold back the advancing forces, the Ukrainian command moves additional units to the settlement.
▪️Fierce street battles continue in the north of Bakhmut. Over the past 24 hours, Wagner PMC fighters seized several AFU strongholds in the industrial zone.
Massive artillery fire is being directed at the retreating AFU units deep into the factory area.
▪️Russian troops, supported by artillery and aviation, continue the operation to encircle Avdiivka fortification.
Under the onslaught of the advancing forces, the enemy retreated from Krasnohorivka and the settlement came under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.
▪️In Zaporizhia direction, AFU units attempted offensive against Russian positions near Hulyaipole.
The attack by the reinforced tactical group was successfully repelled. At least four armoured vehicles were destroyed.
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NabrezhnyeIntel reports:
⚡️🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 Situation in the Krasnogorivka - Stepnove - Avdeevka Area: 11:00 16/03/2023
Fighting has largely progressed from Krasnogorivka as the village has been liberated by troops of the Donetsk Army Corps. During the past few days, the AFU have priotized a counteroffensive nearby to one of the Coal Deposits in the Avdeevsky Coke Plant. Fighting now is centralized on one of the entrances into Avdeevka and in the Stepnove direction.
Within the Avdeevsky Coke Plant - Kamenka area, fighting around the Coke plant has not progressed significantly, although Donetsk Army Corps units have been able to establish new artillery points over the Avdeevsky Plant, within the Kamenka area, fighting remains within the centre of the village.
https://t.me/NabrezhnyeIntel/1171
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What parts of a fallen drone can be useful to Russia: analysis of the military chronicle
After the crash of the MQ-9 drone in the Black Sea, the chairman of the US Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, said that the US would "look for an opportunity" to pick up the fallen drone. The Russian military will probably also be involved in lifting the debris. What exactly might be of interest to them?
Engine
The MQ-9 is equipped with a Honeywell TPE331-10 engine. This is a compact aircraft unit costing $500,000 and producing 944 hp. with., capable of dispersing the MQ-9 to 445 km / h. The scheme of its placement, materials and elements of the fuel system can help in the development of domestic engines for long-duration drones.
Airframe elements
The MQ-9 is 89% carbon fiber. Thanks to composite elements, an 11-meter drone with a wingspan of 20 m weighs less than 5 tons.
Onboard equipment
The MQ-9 is equipped with a sophisticated surveillance system. At the heart of the system is the AN / AAS-52 spherical turret with powerful optics and a laser for illumination of targets manufactured by Raytheon. It is controlled by a WRA-2 pulse transmission computer and costs more than $3 million.
Radar
One of the most expensive and secret components of the MQ-9 drone is the AN/APY-8 Lynx II synthetic aperture radar. It is located in a hanging container and can track targets at a distance of up to 80 km. The radar antenna is controlled by a separate computer and a special program and can work automatically, without operator intervention.
It allows the MQ-9 not only to observe any objects, but also to map movements on land, and, if necessary, to use the drone as an anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft.
Presumably, it was this software that the United States tried to remotely erase from the drone after the crash. Also, hanging containers may contain electronic warfare systems or acoustic reconnaissance buoys that the drone can drop into the water.
#source (https://t.me/milchronicles/1673)
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Russian President Vladimir Putin's statements on the Russian economy and the Western sanctions :
- Russia has managed to compensate for the closure of Western markets (when the Western companies stopped their activities in the Russian market and a number of financial institutions banned the participation of Russian companies)
- The Russian economy is acquiring a fundamentally different quality and is beginning to develop according to a new model;
- The Russian economy's downturn in the summer was due to sanctions; since last July, Russia has seen growth;
- GDP growth is expected in the second quarter of this year;
- On the whole, Russia's foreign trade turnover grew by more than 8% last year;
- Domestic demand has entered the trajectory of sustainable growth;
- Putin figuratively called Russia's trade surplus of $332 billion in 2022 "good music";
- Russian inflation is expected to be around 4% at the end of March;
- Inflation in Russia in March will be less than in Europe, which is waiting for a collapse in the Russian economy;
- Domestic demand has entered the growth trajectory; retail turnover will add at least 5% in April.
- Investments made in the Russian economy now will pay off handsomely tomorrow;
- Putin is convinced that the Russian Federation will overcome the threat of the medium-term negative effects of sanctions;
- The management system should reach a qualitatively new level, including on the basis of big data;
- We still have to solve a number of systemic issues with logistics, finance, and technology;
- The authorities will support responsible businesses and companies that are not focused on short-term results, but on strategic development;
—Putin set as an example a business that, instead of working offshore and withdrawing funds for things "not essential," makes life in the Russian Federation better;
— Responsible business does not separate itself from its locality and region, but invests in schools and other social facilities;
— The state will support responsible business in every possible way, for which a long-term reputation and good name, and the support of its employees, are important.
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#source (https://t.me/izvestia/124901)
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"What drone?" says Boris.