SP, MLRS and SPAA Developments

[MarkSheppard]

Originally Posted by MarkSheppard

Lithuania is starting the groundwork to withdraw from the cluster munition pact.

A draft resolution was put forth by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense; if it's ratified by the President and Parliament, Lithuania will withdraw from the Convention and the country will no longer be prohibited to procure, stockpile and use cluster munitions.

https://www.delfi.lt/ru/news/politic...asov-120037152

Google translated

Lithuania withdraws from convention banning cluster munitions

On Thursday, the Seimas decided to denounce the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans their use. After Lithuania's withdrawal from this international agreement, there are no longer any restrictions on the purchase, stockpiling, and, in the event of war, use of cluster munitions. The withdrawal from the convention was supported by 103 members of the Seimas, one deputy voted against, and four abstained.

One of the initiators of the issue, Minister of Defence Laurynas Kaščiūnas , claims that the change in the geopolitical situation prompted the withdrawal from the convention.

"Such conventions are significant when all countries adhere to them. In this case, the problem is that the Russian Federation, which is carrying out aggression against Ukraine and has imperialist ambitions, does not follow these rules," L. Kaščiūnas said at a session of the Seimas. "When we ratified this convention and joined it, it was a different era. Now everything is much more complicated. Therefore, it would be very wrong if the state, preparing for its defense, immediately said what capacities it will not use for its defense," the Minister of Defense noted.

L. Kaščiūnas also assured that modern cluster munitions are much safer, and the consequences they cause can be controlled. Discussions about Lithuania's withdrawal from the Oslo Convention banning the use of cluster munitions began last summer, when then-Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas expressed such an expectation. The Defense Ministry called for a reassessment of the provisions of this international document for reasons of national security. Lithuania ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2010.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Still cleaning!

USA: I completely forgot the next as the date of the article will clearly show. That being said it has happened and we got them. I speak of the French BONUS rounds. Concerning Ref. 1 & 2 we purchased additional BONUS rounds on Mar 03, 2020.
https://www.edrmagazine.eu/u-s-army-...om-bae-systems
https://www.baesystems.com/en/product/155-bonus
(Good review of capabilities an "click" on News to confirm above and additional orders.

So, we have the above date for what I believe to be the second order.

I found a couple of sources to show the USA and by extension the USMC (I had posted an article of Marines in an exercise I believe in Africa with the French firing the BONUS from our 155mm about the time of the above date.) had these rounds in 2000. I've thrown the BS Flag in the air when I saw that date. That was the year that France and Sweden put them in service. In 2008 the French used them in combat for the first time.

I can't find an initial START for them but, based on the above information I feel comfortable in recommending A START for BOTH the USA and USMC of UPDATED NOW TO JAN 2019. See next.

Found the following during my UK BONUS informational search. This dated 09 OCT 2018.
https://www.baesystems.com/en/articl...ided-munitions

And like the tanks the CORPS had, they get their ammo from the Army as well; they "own" the arsenals (Picatinny, N.J. etc.) and are responsible for the procurement of the same from private industry.

UK: Are operationally now using what is considered probably still the best SPA out there ("Shoot and Scoot" 30s or slightly less. ). The British Army has been training on these for quite some time so they're ready to use them now.
UK/ADD/ARCHER/COPY/SWEDEN/BW L52 ARCHER/UNIT 416/START JUN 2024/END DEC 2030/AMMO/BONUS ALSO PROCURED. //
https://www.armyrecognition.com/news...oogle_vignette

As a side note SWEDEN has purchased the latest version of ARCHER 8x8.
https://www.edrmagazine.eu/additiona...ion-for-sweden
(This will require further research, seem to remember posting a different article from Military-Today on it-miss that site from the Ukraine.)

MBT will have to wait it's late I'm tired and go back to work later this afternoon.

So Good Whatever!!

Regards,
Pat