Sizzorkay:
And the tears turn to wine

Lurker4Long:
Mali, Guinea-Conakry, Burkina Faso. 'Tis the season of the coup!

Guinea-Bissau loading!

Wat da heck is happening in guinea biza biza

jl115:
Just an [/b]OPV that can be armed....but yeah much closer to a corvette than light frigate....

Armed... I
1. Is this not a contradictory statement to the purpose of OPV... So rather if u agree with Corvette, then it a Corvette that could be downgraded to play OPV...
It is rational to create a better vessel and then downgrade it for cost efficiency, than to say, the ship is already a downgrade but waiting to be upgraded.
What am saying is, One cannot properly classify it as an OPV neither can u call it a frigate, it lies myopically somewhere in btw .. because even in case of emergency where upgrade is needed, such cannot be achieved optimally within available time constraints.

2.. An OPV should never be capable of playing effectively any of these roles below, whether now or in the future.
"If we had no history, and we could start ship designations on “a clean sheet of paper” we might define ships types based on their missions and equipment, saying destroyers are vessels designed with robust capacity to perform well in all three major surface combatant warfare areas, AAW, ASuW, and ASW. Frigates are designed to perform well in only two missions areas (with possibly modest self defense capability in the third). Corvettes would be single mission specialists with only modest capability in the other two missions (if at all). OPVs would be vessels equipped for missions that did not require robust capabilities in any of these three mission areas."
[/b]If u call it an OPV at this present time, then would u call it a frigate or Corvette in the future when it armed fully to the teeth?...

jl115:
Just an OPV that can be armed....but yeah much closer to a corvette than light frigate....

Does it really matter?. Israel and Russia have lines of Corvettes that pack heavy destroyer destructive power. In fact Israeli OPVs field the most potent SAM batteries in the world and very effective and long range anti ship missiles.
Size is related only to power projection (fuel capacity/engines/crew rotations/supply ships) beyond EEZs and even if you have the ship, you may not have the operating capacity because of logistic factors.

GeneralFarouq:

Armed... I
1. Is this not a contradictory statement to the purpose of OPV... So rather if u agree with Corvette, then it a Corvette that could be downgraded to play OPV...
It is rational to create a better vessel and then downgrade it for cost efficiency, than to say, the ship is already a downgrade but waiting to be upgraded.
What am saying is, One cannot properly classify it as an OPV neither can u call it a frigate, it lies myopically somewhere in btw .. because even in case of emergency where upgrade is needed, such cannot be achieved optimally within available time constraints.

2.. An OPV should never be capable of playing effectively any of these roles below, whether now or in the future.
"If we had no history, and we could start ship designations on “a clean sheet of paper” we might define ships types based on their missions and equipment, saying destroyers are vessels designed with robust capacity to perform well in all three major surface combatant warfare areas, AAW, ASuW, and ASW. Frigates are designed to perform well in only two missions areas (with possibly modest self defense capability in the third). Corvettes would be single mission specialists with only modest capability in the other two missions (if at all). OPVs would be vessels equipped for missions that did not require robust capabilities in any of these three mission areas."
[/b]If u call it an OPV at this present time, then would u call it a frigate or Corvette in the future when it armed fully to the teeth?...

Modern Frigates can preform AAW, ASuW and ASW....however designations are mostly based on size and role.... However the difference between frigates and destroyers in modern times are indistinguishable

My point is simply that if(which it is) Meko200 which is for all intensive purposes a light frigate..... How can a ship 75% smaller be a light frigate? In fact it can barely be classed a corvette @ 1000tons

RiceProducers:


Does it really matter?. Israel and Russia have lines of Corvettes that pack heavy destroyer destructive power. In fact Israeli OPVs field the most potent SAM batteries in the world and very effective and long range anti ship missiles.
Size is related only to power projection (fuel capacity/engines/crew rotations/supply ships) beyond EEZs and even if you have the ship, you may not have the operating capacity because of logistic factors.

Im not disputing anything you've just said my bru simply saying that misclassing a ship for chest beating purposes is stup1d

QuietMynd:
Wat da heck is happening in guinea biza biza

Situation is under control. President is safe. President Buhari has just spoken with him which goes a long way to reassure the region.

Ghana's leadership of ECOWAS under President Nana Akuffo Addo is weak.

The Republic of Ghana other than the speaking of fine Queens English lacks the diplomatic finesse, weight, financial and military muscle to make anyone in Mali, Guinea or Burkina Faso pay attention.

Everyone expects Nigeria to always pick up the baton everytime but since the ECOMOG wars that cost over a billion dollars and in which some 1000 Nigerian servicemen perished bringing peace, stability and democracy to Liberia and Sierra Leone including having permanent combat troops on Standby in Guinea Bissau, successive Nigerian Presidents since Obasanjo have shied away from taking leadership roles in the African Union and ECOWAS knowing doing so heaps a lot of pressure on Abuja to intervene with the full weight of its diplomatic and military power in any crises. The expectation has been that established institutions will hold the forte and everyone will play by the rules but sadly the world has never worked that way.

So far Ghana has not fully deferred to Nigeria in its chairmanship of ECOWAS like Liberia did under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's tenure as ECOWAS chair during The Gambian imbroglio which saw Nigeria effectively taking over the airspace of The Gambia, funding and galvanizing regional military deployments to its border which saw the flight into exile in Equatorial Guinea and political oblivion of erstwhile strongman His Excellency President Sheikh Prof. Dr. Alhaji Yahya Jemmus Junkung Jammeh.

Africa and ECOWAS need Nigeria's leadership. President Muhammadu Buhari must respond.

PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA SPEAKS WITH EMBALO

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday evening spoke with Umaro Sissoco Embalo, shortly after the Guinea-Bissau leader survived a military attempt to overthrow his government.
The president congratulated Embalo on surviving the coup attempt and commended the loyal troops in Guinea Bissau for their show of patriotism leading to their “spectacular victory” over the disloyal elements of the military.
According to a statement by his special media aide, Garba Shehu, President Buhari condemned the attempt to subvert the established constitutional order in Guinea Bissau and extended the goodwill and support of the government and people of Nigeria to the Guinea-Bissauans and the Embalo administration.
“I look forward to working with you to strengthen the existing bilateral ties between our sisterly nations, and the defence and promotion of democracy and its values throughout the sub-region, and the entire continent,” President Buhari told Embalo.
In the course of the conversation, President Embalo assured President Buhari that the situation had been brought under control and that “all is well, and normalcy has been fully restored.”

A Good Read For Preventive Diplomacy

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/02/02/falana-writes-ecowas-chair-on-preventive-measures-against-coup-in-west-africa/

Military Command & Academia

UN Names Nigeria’s Maj. Gen. Sawyer UNISFA Force Commander

New Force Commander, UNISFA, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has announced the appointment of Maj. General Benjamin Sawyerr of Nigeria as the Force Commander for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, UNISFA.

This was confirmed Tuesday, 1 February, 2022 by Air Commodore WM Maigida, the immediate past Acting Director of Defence Information while handing over to Major General Jimmy Akpor who, on Friday, took over as the new Director of Defence Information.

TheFact Nigeria reports that UNISFA is a United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei, and was approved on 27 June 2011 by the United Nations Security Council in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1990 after a flareup in the South Kordofan conflict earlier in June 2011.

Abyei is an area of 10,546 km2 on the border between Sudan and South Sudan that had been accorded “special administrative status” by the 2004 Protocol on the Resolution of the Abyei Conflict (Abyei Protocol) in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War.

Sawyerr, who takes over from Major Gen. Kefyalew Amde Tessema of Ethiopia, has a military career spanning more than 34 years with the Nigerian Army, including serving as the Director of Defence Information of Nigeria’s Defence Forces since 2021.

Erstwhile Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School in Bauchi State, North-East Nigeria between 2020 and 2021, the new UNISFA Force Commandant held the position of Brigade Commander twice in North-East Nigeria. He was also Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Battalion with the United Nations Mission in Liberia between 2009 and 2010.

Sawyerr also served as the Director of Plans at the Nigerian Army Headquarters between 2019 and 2020, and Deputy Director of Doctrine and Combat Development from 2017 to 2018.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Nigeria and a Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras in India.

TheFact Nigeria

NASENI to start ASSEMBLING INDONESIAN MADE MILITARY EQUIPMENTS..

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has commenced the manufacture of Armoured Personeel Carriers (APC),in order to curb insecurity in the country.



The agency will also be fabricating Mine- Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP) for the military.

Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive (EVC/CE) NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna said the agency engineers will be collaborating with the Nigerian Machine Tools Limited Osogbo in the manufacturing.

He explained that they intend to start by assembling the technology and then proceeded to replacing the parts by producing local components.



Haruna said this yesterday in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Chief of Transformation and Innovation of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen Charles Ofoche and a delegation from the University of Abuja, led by its Vice Chancellor Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah.

He said, “The Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and the Mine- Resistant Ambuse Protected Vehicles (MRAP). We are doing the technology to domesticate and be able to produce it locally in Nigeria. The good thing is that our engineers can produce it and we are collaborating with the private sector, the Nigerian Machine Tools Limited Osogbo.

“The process is long but how we try to make it easier is we start assembling and gradually start replacing the parts by producing local components, which is why it is done conventionally, we try to commence by bringing the complete knock-down (CKD) components, producing them and assembling locally and God willing you will see the first version this year.”

In his response Maj. Gen Charles Ofoche said the essence of the collaboration is to give protection to the fighting troops which is exactly what the Army seeks.


He added, “My department deals with Research and Development (R&D) which is important to the Nigerian Army because we can’t just be consumers of products, we can’t keep buying and when the technology goes out of fashion, we dump it and buy a new one. In the Army, we don’t just execute wars but ensure peace.”

Vice Chancellor, Uni. Prof. Na’Allah said the University signed an Memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NASENI in 2014 for the establishment of a centre for reverse engineering and innovation but the University did not explore the opportunity.

He said they intend to reintroduce the MOU for the establishment of the center which will be located within the University but managed by the collaborative efforts of NASENI and the institution.

Na’Allah said the focus of the center will be for the manufacturing of furnaces, energy and power equipment, miscellaneous components and manufacturing of devices and systems.

This military technology is from Indonesia, last week Indonesia embassador visited NASENI and discuss about assembly Indonesia made warplanes, APC and MRAPs and others.

How true is it that the Chinese Y-20 would replace our C-130s?? Confirmation please.

What if the Nigerian Airforce leadership stopped deliveries of the JF-17 because of the J-10C? Do anyone know if they are being considered?

Lurker4Long:
Nemesis4you, is this the same chopper that someone claimed was unreliable, with spares and service support questionable?


https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/military-helicopters/hal-to-export-dhruv-helicopter-to-mauritius/

Yeah

Maintaining and servicing 300+ helicopters of the same type running around almost 24/7 in all the harsh op conditions possible ain't done with unreliable spares and service support

Pour money all the servicing will be there

kikuyu1:


Part of the difficulty in interpreting these moves is identifying the exact players: eg which faction is responsible for China's Himalayan brinkmanship with you guys? Is it a united Politburo play? PLAAN hardliners undermining the latter? Or Xi Jinping and a clique of these forces with their own financial and political agenda?

Well such things will be privy to those who make the moves , not us mere mortals bro

Well i lay emphasis on having both feets planted and grounded regarding own affairs , threats which will decapitate will always be internal with or without external help

Borders can be changed , one only needs to await for the appropriate time / capability buildup infact one can even wait 100 years

Stormtrooper11:
How true is it that the Chinese Y-20 would replace our C-130s?? Confirmation please.

Highly, Highly unlikely.
Unless you heard something that the rest of us haven’t heard.
The entire infrastructure of the NAF ( Training, spare parts, Pilots Maintenance) has been centered around the C-130s for the last 40 years. Not something that can be easily switched around.
Besides there is not a need to do so.
PDM for the 4 th C-130 will take place in 2022.

LTGEN:

Highly, Highly unlikely.
Unless you heard something that the rest of us haven’t heard.
The entire infrastructure of the NAF ( Training, spare parts, Pilots Maintenance) has been centered around the C-130s for the last 40 years. Not something that can be easily switched around.
Besides there is not a need to do so.
PDM for the 4 th C-130 will take place in 2022.

Yeah, I understand that it takes time for structures to change, but my this my source is someone who's familiar with the MOD acquisitions. In fact, I heard about the M-346FAs from him before anyone else. He was adamant that the NAF is getting these planes from China instead of the CASA 295. He claims NAF has selected an AWACS aircraft from China too.

Time will tell tho.

Botswana SF (and FADM elements) at the BDF base in Mueda, Mozambique, lining up for the visit of Pres Ramaphosa of SA.

SA Special Forces, providing close protection during Pres Ramaphosa's visit to SAMIM in Mozambique.

Chief of the SANDF, Gen Maphwanya, visiting various SAMIM contingents in Cabo Delgado...

...last.

6 months since SAMIM deployed, and Botswana SF is the first to complete rotation.

BDF CONDUCTS POST DEPLOYMENT REINTEGRATION

BDF members who recently completed their deployment as part of SAMIM have undergone a reintegration process (also referred to as community reintegration).

This deliberate programme was facilitated by various professionals within the defence force and entailed among others, pyscho-social impact assessment, post deployment alcohol and substance abuse and zero tolerance of gender-based violence.

Rendering advice and support to these members will further extend to their respective duty stations.

Lurker4Long:
6 months since SAMIM deployed, and Botswana SF is the first to complete rotation.

Time flies! it's 6 months already. Hopefully it doesn't end as one of those interventions that will change to UN hands and last a generation

Defence Partnerships & National Security

Nigeria's General Leo Irabor @CDS_Nig & UK Chief of The Defence Staff @AdmTonyRadakin

Odunayaw:
Time flies! it's 6 months already. Hopefully it doesn't end as one of those interventions that will change to UN hands and last a generation

My fear is a triumphalist Moz govt -buoyed by military success - again ignores the real socioeconomic grievances that birthed the insurgency.

Lurker4Long:
6 months since SAMIM deployed, and Botswana SF is the first to complete rotation.

Many people don't realise how important such missions are! How else would light inf and specops get real world trigger time? Why are forces from Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal participating in the Mali operation? Its the best way the only way to check out your equipment,weapons and tactics battlefield performance,what the US calls TTPs,Tactics,Techniques and Protocols.These same guys return to their units with invaluable real world experience. Fyi,Germany discovered their ishyt just doesn't work in 45 c+ desert environments of Mali.

Mali too hot for half of Bundeswehr MINUSMA vehicles
Bundeswehr service vehicles can't take Mali's heat, a German newspaper reported. According to the daily, only about half of German military vehicles sent to a UN base in the West African desert are still running.

[https://www.dw.com/en/mali-too-hot-for-half-of-bundeswehr-minusma-vehicles/a-38481363][/url]

Low threat environment,large public support and low operational cost compared to P2P engagement-what's not to like for DoD bosses?

Stormtrooper11:


Yeah, I understand that it takes time for structures to change, but my this my source is someone who's familiar with the MOD acquisitions. In fact, I heard about the M-346FAs from him before anyone else. He was adamant that the NAF is getting these planes from China instead of the CASA 295. He claims NAF has selected an AWACS aircraft from China too.

Time will tell tho.

Hmmm...I've heard it said jet turbines don't handle unimproved airstrips well. Dust is sucked into the engine eroding the blades: given the nature of W Africa and the Sahel,both likely operational areas I'm curious to see if this is true.

Lurker4Long:

My fear is a triumphalist Moz govt -buoyed by military success - again ignores the real socioeconomic grievances that birthed the insurgency.

Legitimate fears honestly

kikuyu1:


Many people don't realise how important such missions are! How else would light inf and specops get real world trigger time? Why are forces from Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal participating in the Mali operation? Its the best way the only way to check out your equipment,weapons and tactics battlefield performance,what the US calls TTPs,Tactics,Techniques and Protocols.These same guys return to their units with invaluable real world experience. Fyi,Germany discovered their ishyt just doesn't work in 45 c+ desert environments of Mali.


[https://www.dw.com/en/mali-too-hot-for-half-of-bundeswehr-minusma-vehicles/a-38481363][/url]

Low threat environment,large public support and low operational cost compared to P2P engagement-what's not to like for DoD bosses?

Have you read this?
https://actualcontrol.substack.com/p/a-french-convoys-very-bad-weeks

kikuyu1:


Hmmm...I've heard it said jet turbines don't handle unimproved airstrips well. Dust is sucked into the engine eroding the blades: given the nature of W Africa and the Sahel,both likely operational areas I'm curious to see if this is true.

Meine Gott!!
You mean Nigeria doesn't have paved airports and airbases or what?

I hope you're aware that the Y-20 is comparable to the American C-17 III Globe master, so it needs expanded runways and it might not be able to land on remote tiny airstrips on the front lines. Currently, the Kanji airbase is being expanded to accommodate those kinda aircraft. Yola airbase, Makurdi airbase and a host of airbases can accommodate these kinda aircrafts.