The Other Chris
@TotherChris
Followers
15,816
Following
1,269
Media
6,829
Statuses
47,778
Defence, Science, Tech and History. Opinions and Red Teaming. I reserve the right to change my opinion based on new information. TheOtherChris over on BSky.
Joined December 2014
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
Rich Homie Quan
• 453654 Tweets
Argentina
• 238997 Tweets
The NFL
• 184315 Tweets
Ravens
• 148182 Tweets
San Marino
• 135383 Tweets
Bills
• 109439 Tweets
Linkin Park
• 75103 Tweets
Lamar
• 44609 Tweets
Lamar
• 44609 Tweets
Mahomes
• 43645 Tweets
Bolivia
• 39424 Tweets
Chester
• 38128 Tweets
Kelce
• 31406 Tweets
Super Bowl
• 29125 Tweets
Emily Armstrong
• 28284 Tweets
Alexis
• 28150 Tweets
Pacheco
• 25841 Tweets
Xavier Worthy
• 24131 Tweets
National Anthem
• 23086 Tweets
Vargas
• 22058 Tweets
De Paul
• 22006 Tweets
Lautaro
• 15367 Tweets
Dybala
• 14995 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
⚙️ CHARTING AN IFV PATH
---
A new IFV for the Army is inevitable.
🟠 Ajax has a Fire Support turret, but as a Recce platform doesn't carry Dismounts for an Armoured Assault;
🟠 Boxer has dismounts, but does not yet have a Fire Support turret and is a Mechanised platform.
1/10
15
18
255
British Army operating Toyota HiLux... disguised as a BMP-3 using a VisMod kit.
63
240
2K
Underbarrel shotgun attachment for last-ditch point-blank dealing with FPV drones?
Birdshot or Buckshot?
142
120
1K
The penny-wise pound-foolish Apache/JAGM saga continues.
The UK is now buying 3,000 JAGM missiles for $957.4M.
That equates to $319,000 per missile for a system already integrated onto our AH-64E's, that the UK has already trained on, which the UK has already paid for and
62
203
1K
⚙️ Amongst the news that a Ukrainian PzH 2000 has fired a record-breaking ~20,000 shots through a barrel is the more important detail that the PzH 2000's L52 is rated for a barrel life of 4,500 Equivalent Full Charge.
EFC is an interesting measure:
1/
24
159
1K
You've just learned that the RAF has a squadron of Vulcan B.3's mothballed in a sealed rail tunnel...
108
63
1K
Unless the UK commits to new-build Challenger 3 hulls, the future does not look bright for British Army MBT numbers or further MBT design.
The realistic alternatives are:
1) Buy via FMS or similar Abrams M1A3 which means General Dynamics and very little input on the design
76
77
932
A C-17 is so big that an MRZR is often needed to shuttle the crew from the ramp to the cockpit.
14
53
792
💬 "Commander, I object to what is currently over there. Remove it for me."
38
132
738
If we can build atom splitting hunter killers that repeatedly murder Virginia-class submarines on exercise, we can build a tank hull.
35
38
723
1/ A thread on Argentinian equipment during the Falklands War taking a look at how a nation can rapidly become a near-peer for conflict through peer-arming and the danger of underestimation.
48
176
670
ARCHER 155mm orders
48 ARCHER 6x6
- 24 Sweden
- 24 Norway
Norway withdrew their order of 24 after delays caused by technical issues. Sweden took delivery instead.
12 to be sent to Ukraine
14 bought by UK
22 left for Sweden.
24 more ARCHER 8x8 MAN ordered by Sweden June 2022
9
44
628
⚙️ Why are Western NATO armies turning to wheeled artillery, why is wheeled artillery the British Army's preference, and why is this the right answer in both a NATO and British context?
Russia's invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 destroyed relationships with Europe and drove
35
86
626
🚀 Storm Shadow, co-developed with France with their SCALP variants, is normally an air launched, low observable, precision cruise missile with a British designed BROACH warhead. The warhead is now also used by Allies.
8
55
617
⚙️ According to British Army insiders, the price for an RCH155 155mm is around €8M, and the price for a CAESAR Mk II 155mm is around €6.5M.
Why is the narrowing of this gap now important?
A quick thread on the importance of Full Cost Accounting over Unit Price... and Boots.
45
76
613
Storm Shadow carried by Ukrainian Su-24M/MR.
The UK snd Ukraine successfully integrated this Anglo-French missile onto a Soviet-era aircraft with a completely different technology-base in a matter of weeks.
20
60
569
B-21 has definite Tacit Blue vibes. With the edges/chines and the curves.
9
60
563
People forget that all Challenger 2 tanks in service or in storage use a still-classified armour called Dorchester (see Chobham). This family of armour was kindly shared with NATO allies and can also be seen on the M1A2, albeit with a different mix.
1/
5
48
508
Demonstration of Chobham Armour vs 120mm APDS and 5" Shaped Charge warheads.
6
90
534
Raytheon's Pike turns every M320 grenade launcher in a British Army Section (underslung or drop-pouch) into a 2km guided 10m effect weapon.
Combine with standard 40mm grenades ($30 ea) or 40mm programmable air-burst for close-in counter defilade or cUAS.
Grenadiers Maximised.
27
68
494
Starstreak Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML), normally used to launch Starstreak HVM missiles but also capable of slotting in Martlet (aka LMM or Starstreak LVM).
The shelf on top is to sprinkle flash powder on for when taking a targets Daguerreotype in poor light.
16
40
465
Bullpups: So badass that America had to invent a whole new type of cartridge as an excuse not to use them.
15
20
476
One of the more significant pieces of news from
#DSEi
last week was the announcement of BAE's Next Generation Adaptable Ammunition.
155mm artillery ammunition that is earmarked to replace the existing L15 shell and L106 mechanical fuze used by the Army.
1/
12
72
463
Royal Marines storming ashore during Operation PALLISER, the UK military intervention in Sierra Leone, 2000.
14
115
451
⚙️ MLRS and the UK
---
The Future Artillery Conference this week released new information on the UK's rocket artillery programmes as well as provided more information we can intuit from.
An M270, HIMARS and PULS thread 🧵
#artillery
#M270
#PrSM
#LPS
9
74
452
Phenomenal alertness, foresight, reactions and skill to drift that bus around that car in those conditions. Seriously impressive.
'The passengers didn't really say anything,' says the hero bus driver whose quick actions in dodging a car in Edinburgh have gone viral.
20
317
1K
2
47
431
⚓︎ SSN-AUKUS
---
A few personal thoughts and opinions with the SSN portion of AUKUS announcement this week that do not seem to be often discussed.
SSN vs SSK
The US and UK have shared how much of Australia's ocean regions can be covered by an SSN. Australia is well aware of
12
56
446
💂♀️ This is the KAC KS-1.
----
A direct gas operated AR in 5.56 made by Knights Armament Co of Titusville, Florida.
Scuttlebutt says this is Project HUNTER's selection to equip the Rangers and Royal Marines.
This is a colossal error, but not for the reasons some may think.
🧵
39
54
424
The Bundeswehr have ordered 19 Skyranger 30 air defence systems.
1 x Prototype
18 x Skyranger 30 on Boxer
8 x MAN 15t armoured resupply vehicles
8 x Workshops
18 x Training systems
1/
11
44
437
Does the British Squaddie yearn for a Battle Rifle?
Skipping an incredibly brief dalliance with .280 British, the British Army is famed historically for its use of .303 and 7.62 NATO Battle Rifles.
1/
43
15
446
The UK modular CAMM air-defence missile based on ASRAAM is a triumph.
One of the few weapon systems adopted Cross-Service, arguably leading to its export success and growth into CAMM-ER and the Anglo-Polish FCM.
How long until a Meteor-based module "Hyper-CAMM" is developed?
12
35
428
Ukraine RCH155 order increased to 54.
Anglo-German RCH155 potential increased to 400 systems.
7
35
425
Guided/specialist munitions reduce the impact of differences between howitzers. If there is to be significant artillery investment, it should be here to drive down costs far below guided missile prices, develop multi-purpose rounds, increase range and reduce time to target.
1/
6
60
393
British service personnel should have greater access to shooting ranges and be encouraged in their use both scheduled and as an option for their spare time.
Strict firearms laws restrict civilian practice, but this should not limit our military who are dependent on these skills.
36
20
414
Moog RIwP Configured for (and to be made in) the UK.
Martlet / Starstreak, Brimstone and M230LF cannon.
22
33
423
ICYMI
⏺️ UK is spending nearly $1B on newly designed JAGM missiles for Apache
⏺️ UK has an existing sovereign alternative called Brimstone 3 that is both effective and battle-proven
⏺️ Brimstone 3 is as modern as JAGM, both missiles were developed due to preferences beyond what
The penny-wise pound-foolish Apache/JAGM saga continues.
The UK is now buying 3,000 JAGM missiles for $957.4M.
That equates to $319,000 per missile for a system already integrated onto our AH-64E's, that the UK has already trained on, which the UK has already paid for and
62
203
1K
26
53
407
⚙️ Deconstructing the Syrian Airstrikes in 2018 and identifying why the RAF is lacking a long range payload truck.
🧵 1/
20
56
367
You've just learned that the Royal Navy has a Batch of 5 Type 42 destroyers in concealed drydock storage...
28
13
378
Tracked Boxer & Boxer image sporting identical Infantry Carrier Vehicle modules. Mechanised and FV432 Infantry.
Note where the Tracked chassis is wider, tackling track ratio and adding protection. Potential for storage or very heavy appliqué.
Also, AFV's look better in Green 😉
15
42
359
A400M is a heavy transport aircraft with a large dimension cargo bay. It can carry ~50% more than your average C-130 Hercules at almost C-17 speeds.
It's a big uplift in lift.
For context, an A400M can loft ~20 tons from Ascension or St Helena direct to the Falkland Islands.
21
19
372
The American mind cannot comprehend that the British mind is not the European mind.
21
40
372
Challenger 3's turret has been designed by RBSL, manufactured by Pearson, not only to support EPSOM and FARNHAM armour, but also to support Trophy APS. By designing these in, Challenger 3 avoids needing several tons of deadweight needed to counterbalance an older turret design.
8
48
368
Puma VJTF, German politics and the German press.
Just before Christmas, it was reported that 18/18 Puma's working up for NATO deployment has suffered "total failure" (Der Spiegel) and that Marder IFV's would cover the next deployment instead (good Janes follow up article).
1/
11
43
353
⚙️ M2 Bradley and the UK
---
A thought experiment exploring M2 Bradley's introduction to the British Army. How, why and what next.
23
31
335
Devonshire Dock Hall is vast. Currently the UK builds 3 SSN or SSBN in there at a time. Strictly speaking, 6 Astute sized vessels *could* be built in the 260m long hall although 4 might be easier to arrange. Build schedule is artificially slow at present.
11
31
342
7.62 stood upright (with lean) on full auto.
FN Herstal’s EVOLYS 7.62 mm ultralight machine gun. Soon to enter service in France and Belgium and hopefully in the UK too.
143
269
2K
25
32
339
BAES to return barrel manufacture to the UK, only if ARCHER selected for MFP.
While that would be a little bit of good news, I am bitterly disappointed in the utter lack of manufacture / fabrication being onshored in this pitch.
What is being offered is an IKEA-Lego
27
27
332
AVX's submission to life-extend OH-58D Kiowa's by converting them into coaxial rotorcraft.
6
41
327
🛠️ Quick observation on the recent CAESAR production increase, as opposed to CAESAR itself.
Nexter managed to keep CAESAR production running at a level that can be described as Low Rate Production.
8
54
328
Upcoming pods for the MQ-9 family. A couple of interesting enablers here.
7
91
305
💂♀️ The 120mm Mortars are coming!
---------------------------------------
120mm mortars are coming to at least Battalion level in the British Army, and perhaps Company level, supplanting 81mm (pictured).
The driver is that both British Army development groups (Dstl, ETG and NGCT)
24
40
316
Thales FZ275 Laser Guided Rocket, a lower cost alternative 70mm guided rocket compatible with launchers able to fire Hydra and APKWS.
9
26
300
🚀 Tactical Precision Strike
Platoon-level Loitering Munitions will supplant 60/81mm mortars. Similar weight and effect of warhead but lighter "round" and launch tube. Range and ISR benefits. Downside is volume and cost, latter offset by a far greater first-round-hit rate.
1/4
12
28
301
💬 "Fighting bad guys since 1936"
BAE Systems Tridon Mk2. Extends the 40mm Bofors naval mount to land, with 40mm 3P ammunition availabkle.
Importantly, the flatrack pallet it is mounted on can be dismounted and used as a fixed emplacement.
14
21
298
F-117B or F-117C (depending on source). A UK modified version of an improved Nighthawk offered simultaneously to both the RAF and USAF in 1995. Followed on from the F-117N which had been turned down by the USN.
Note EJ200 engines, used by the Typhoon.
7
23
286
🚀 Carl-Gustav M4 and the Land Industrial Strategy
---
The UK is replenishing munitions with Saab-produced Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles in a £5M contract.
These are non-disposable launchers firing 84mm natures from Anti-Tank to Illumination.
How does the LIS fit in?
10
23
284
Utterly outstanding.
Jet engine sustaining Mach 3.5 with increased efficiency.
Ideal for GCAP.
🇬🇧FASTER THAN CONCORDE! British aerospace manufacturer Reaction Engines is celebrating a major hypersonic propulsion system milestone.
The Abingdon-based firm has successfully demonstrated the integration of its innovative precooler technology with existing jet-engine
7
255
818
19
21
293
Close up of the CZ Bren 3, an evolution of the Bren 2 based on direct feedback from soldiers using the rifle in the defence of Ukraine.
8
23
286
The BS.100 engine. This was the first real supersonic VTOL engine. Instead of reheat/afterburner, it used Plenum Chamber Burning.
Bristol Siddeley before they merged into Rolls-Royce. Unsure from the angle but may be my grandpa at the front by the fan.
6
18
276
🚀 Air Defence Alerting Device (ADAD).
Not the Starstreak HVM missile, or the STAIRS C based thermal sight on the Stormer vehicle in front of the launcher.
It's the little ball on top of the launcher itself.
Watch how it's rotating in this slow motion gif.
1/
10
30
279
⚙ Poland are due to receive the first 24 K9A1's from Korea. Great news for Poland and NATO!
But this isn't the rapid/advanced Artillery program being promoted and it's nothing like the K9A2 being offered to the UK, which is a red flag for the UK.
Read on.
#artillerytwitter
1/
11
33
273
Storm Shadow being blamed for every explosion east of the Dnipro tonight.
10
19
273
New Supacat closed armoured cab variant of the Common Base Platform shared with HMT.
13
17
272
[Thread] A brief history of a modern 155mm gun development for the Royal Navy: The 155 TMF.
11
72
261
⚙️ A thought experiment exploring extending Warrior.
1/🧵
12
18
271
A few serious notes and observations on the submarine aspect of AUKUS specifically. I don't have much time today so these will be more bullet point style, with few pretty stock pictures.
11
61
268
The Borsuk is powered by the same MTU (East Grinstead) 199 TE20 as AJAX, sports Horstman (Bath) InArm suspension and transfers power through a Perkins X300 transmission. Perkins (Peterborough) provides the X300 in Europe via CAT's defence agreement with Allison.
15
17
267
There are 4️⃣ general categories of options for Challenger 2 moving forward given the announcement to supply Ukraine.
With some minor variations and blends available, a quick Twitter-limited look at these options.
1/🧵
24
22
262
Not going to be long until the Royal Navy sees four of its new Frigates being built indoors simultaneously in the UK:
2 x T26 indoors at Govan
2 x T31 indoors at Rosyth
Add to the 3 x SSN/SSBN's plus 1 x FSS in build at the same time in Barrow-in-Furness and in Belfast.
Latest photos from within Babcock’s Venturer Building in Rosyth showing the first blocks of HMS ACTIVE. It’s the 2nd in the T31 Class ahead of its keel laying ceremony next month - a day for employees both Babcock and MoD to celebrate this milestone.
@Babcockplc
3
40
200
9
24
262
Per Kongsberg Australia, the NSM Coastal Defence system uses the same common Naval Strike Missile as seen aboard ships, operated with the same architecture as the NASAMS air defence system. Whether mounted to a Jelcz or Bushmaster (Strikemaster) chassis or dismountable pallet.
6
22
258
Very apparent from comments and DM’s that not many know what these are.
Don’t expect rows of Grad style MLRS barrages.
Brimstone missiles are smart hunter killers. Tell them where tanks* are, they’ll fly there and kill them, dividing targets up between themselves.
Rarely seen footage of Ukrainian forces launching Brimstone missiles toward Russian targets.
H/t
@GlobalGeoNews
#Russia
#Ukraine
184
1K
7K
15
33
254
⚙️ Napkin process for introducing a common hulled Heavy APC, Heavy IFV and MBT to the British Army.
STEP 1: Start with the latest Namer 1500. It forms the foundation of your common hulled fleets.
Israel are open to licensed production and further partners.
19
14
252
British air defence is in demand having being proven effective against drones, helicopters, strike aircraft and cruise missiles.
This is where the MOD, HMT and FO should sense opportunity: Industrial and soft/hard power.
Britain has proven expertise in this area and is in
12
30
252
Boxes of 5.56x45mm NATO. The UK has recently moved over to the Enhanced Performance Ball, a 62 grain hardened steel core with gliding metal envelope also manufactured by BAES. Similar to the 7.62 HPB these can also punch through 5mm RHA at 2x-3x to range of the previous rounds.
14
16
243
Ricardo have added a third, powered, axle to the Ford Ranger via a bolt-on system they call HEX.
The axle is an addition that does not void the warranty, and increases overall hp/tonne by including an electric motor which I believe is from the Ford Mach-E based on specs.
1/
7
29
244
Megatron is one of the test bed MBT's used by the ATDU and is based on a Challenger 2 MBT. Here it equipped with a plethora of EW sensors and devices. Note the Ajax behind equipped with Orion sight. It is able to receive, process and present info from it's own and other sensors.
20
16
237
About the size of a Hawk, stored and transported in a container, a pair of internal bays and a 1,500nm operational radius (about 2-3x Typhoon / F-35B).
This is the longer ranged payload truck type of thinking the RAF needs.
(Plus P-8A / Rapid Dragon)
13
45
238
Good photograph on the vast size of the EBRC Jaguar.
The Jaguar scout car is a lot larger than I thought, usually "reconnaissance vehicle" isn't something you think the size of a house!
33
61
853
26
7
236
A fast and loose thread on the broad history for the *sensible* reason why Nimrod MRA.4 was scrapped.
WARNING: Nimrod MRA.4 is an emotive subject. There is a lot of genuinely good work, blood, sweat, tears and lost lives behind the Tweets. Tread sensitively please.
24
35
229
After the 148 Challenger 3's are delivered, the I in CADMID allows for through-life fleet management which includes fleet and supply sustainability.
A way to achieve both is to contract for Low Rate Production of C3's after the main delivery.
This would be 1-3 Challenger 3's
19
13
237
⚙️ Quick vision of a UK-built Army:
Wilder: Leverages UK automotive. 4 tons.
Spartan Mk.2: Goes anywhere. 8-12 tons.
Boxer: Mass dismount backbone. 30-40 tons.
Challenger 3: Main Battle Tank. Wrecks other tons.
18
10
229
You've just learned that there's a Cavalry Regiment of CVR(T) Scimitar mothballed in a nearby underground bunker...
20
9
231
If the Royal Navy are not all over this like a rash, enthusiastically supported by the RAF and backed by DE&S, then MOD procurement is utterly broken.
Seaspray 7500E AEW & Sonobuoy dispensers on a platform we've invested in, established training/support & operated since 2004...
19
24
227
1914 systems reappearing in 2024.
⚡🇺🇦💪💥A good solution for waging trench warfare.
48
293
3K
7
31
231
Moog RIwP Stormer HVM replacement concept.
8 x Starstreak HVM launchers plus M230LF cannon.
Twice as many ready missiles as the Rapid Ranger on a VAMTAC, more reloads carried, cannon for cUAS.
Swap Starstreak with Martlet for multipurpose goodness.
Not just limited to Boxer.
16
11
231
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories positioned together at as close to true scale as possible without map distortions.
Not shown is the British Antarctic Territory which is almost double the landmass again.
14
23
224
In 2016 Think Defence tweeted about FPV racing drones equipped with grenade sized packages being in the future of modern warfare.
1/
Now imagine this drone was carrying a hand grenade, this is the future of urban war
57
236
596
11
37
217
I am a real fan of the Akıncı aesthetics. The Bayraktar team nailed the look of this aircraft.
1
15
211
20 Things! That you might not know about the RCH155 Howitzer system. And Boxer in general too. e.g. RCH155 combines a Boxer Drive Module, Rheinmetall 155mm/52 gun and an autoloader from the PzH 2000. All mature systems to de-risk a refined Gun on a Truck (GOAT) concept.
9
64
207
In Liverpool, even the robots rob your cars.
This video shows a robot in Liverpool removing an illegally parked Volvo XC60 from a disabled parking spot before delivering the SUV to a nearby tow truck.
133
649
7K
6
20
220
The original Otokar Cobra armoured car was based on a HMMWV chassis.
The Cobra II is an all-new monocoque hull design.
6
13
217
The RAF receiving Taurus in exchange for supplying Storm Shadow to Ukraine is bonkers.
Germany should supply Taurus to Ukraine.
Taurus is not integrated on Typhoon.
The RAF risks a battle proven Anglo-French built missile to be supplanted.
All to allow Scholz to save face?
34
20
219