European Defence News and Discussions

TWO Russian airmen have been killed after being ejected from their aircraft as it sat in a hangar – sending them hurtling into a concrete roof.

The unnamed pilot and the navigator reportedly “sustained injuries incompatible with life”.
It is unclear at which Russian base the alleged incident took place, nor is it clear what type of bomber was involved.

It was first reported by Russian propagandist Telegram channel Fighterbomber on 8 December.

“Yesterday, in one of the bomber aviation regiments, an ejection system was triggered on an aircraft standing in a shelter,” the channel wrote.

According to the outlet, a state commission is currently investigating how the incident took place.

Ukraine‘s Air Force spokesperson, Yurii Ihnat, used this as an opportunity to take a dig at Russia.


Reacting sarcastically to news of the incident on Facebook, he wrote: “I really hope the explosive charges in both ejection seats, which slammed into the reinforced concrete ceiling, caused a ‘small fire onboard’ – or at least triggered some other consequences ‘incompatible’ with further aircraft operation.”
 
they were on the ground, seats go up into the celling with pilots attached to the seats and compacted them onto the walls. Nasty way to go
feel bad for the cleanup crew , pilots probably didn't even know what happened
 
german army issues first new heckler koch g95s

The German Army, the Deutsches Heer, has begun issuing its new service rifle - the G95A1. The Heckler & Koch HK416 A8, designated as the G95A1 and G95KA1, will replace the G36.

The first formal handover ceremony was held on December 4, at the Grafenwöhr training grounds. Lieutenant General Heico Hübner, the Deputy Inspector of the Army, and Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, Head of the Armaments Department at the Ministry of Defense, presented members of the 4th Company of the Panzergrenadier Battalion 122 with the first rifles. "This handover is more than just a milestone in modernization. It is a visible sign of the progress and operational readiness of our armed forces,” said Lieutenant General Hübner, “a soldier's personal weapon is not simply a piece of equipment. It is an expression of the highest responsibility: the tool in the core mission of every soldier. It must be absolutely reliable under all circumstances."


In Grafenwöhr, the Deputy Inspector of the Army, Lieutenant General Heico Hübner (left) presented the first new G95 assault rifles to the troops. (Mario Bähr/Bundeswehr)

In Grafenwöhr, the Deputy Inspector of the Army, Lieutenant General Heico Hübner (left) presented the first new G95 assault rifles to the troops. (Mario Bähr/Bundeswehr)

The Bundeswehr initially launched their program to select a new service rifle to replace the G36 in the spring of 2017. The HK416 A8 was selected in 2021 following a hard-fought selection process followed by court proceedings and patent wrangling with Haenel. The HK416 had previously been selected as the G95 by the German KSK and KSM special forces units.

The G95KA1 configuration of the German Army’s new rifle (Bundeswehr)

The G95KA1 configuration of the German Army’s new rifle (Bundeswehr)

The G95KA1 as issued differs in a number of ways from the configuration initially announced. The issued rifle has a standard slim-line HK416 stock rather than one with a cheek riser. Most notably the initially unveiled rifle has a very steep grip angle at an angle similar to the G36s. The G95A1 and G95KA1 have a more modern straight grip angle. The issued forend has MLOK interfaces and a gas regulator cutout rather than the earlier much shorter HKey iteration. Interestingly, rifles of this exact G95A1 configuration have recently been widely issued to elements of Ukraine’s special operations forces.



According to the Bundeswehr the rifles will be issued with an ELCAN Specter DR 1-4X and a 1x red dot sight. The photos taken at Grafenwöhr, however, feature the Hensoldt 4x ZO and RSA-S reflex sight which originated from the Infanterist der Zukunft (Infantryman of the Future) program. The G95A1 has a 419mm (16.5in) long barrel while the G95kA1 has a 355mm (14in) barrel. The G95A1 and KA1 weight (unloaded and without accessories) in at 3.4kg (7.5lbs) and 3.3kg (7.3lbs) respectively. With optics, accessories and a loaded magazine the weapons' weights increase by a kilogram.

Initial iteration of the G95A1 with HKey forend and alternate furniture (Bundeswehr)

Initial iteration of the G95A1 with HKey forend and alternate furniture (Bundeswehr)

One of the soldiers issued the new rifle, Sergeant Major Alex S., noted that "I immediately noticed that the G95 has better weight distribution. Compared to the G36, it's not as front-heavy. This allows you to maintain a shoulder position for longer, and you don't have to lower your aim as much."


The G95KA1 configuration of the rifle enters German Army service (Bundeswehr)

The G95KA1 configuration of the rifle enters German Army service (Bundeswehr)

According to the Bundeswehr’s announcement Germany has allocated an initial 25 million Euros ($30 million) to procure 13,929 G95A1s and 3,104 G95KA1s. In December 2022, the German Federal Ministry of Defence stated in a press release that the Bundeswehr could procure 118,718 new assault rifles for around 209 million Euros but the most recent announcement suggests as many as 250,000 new rifles could be procured.

Matthew Moss

Matthew Moss
Managing Editor: TheFirearmBlog.com & Overt Defense.com. Matt is a British historian specialising in small arms development and military history. He has written several books and for a variety of publications in both the US and UK. Matt is also runs The Armourer's Bench, a video series on historically significant small arms. Here on TFB he covers product and current military small arms news. Reach Matt at: [email protected]

More by Matthew Moss
 
dani191 said:
you can never know need to be ready
Click to expand...

ready for death ?
If Greece inflicts 1 unit of damage, then Turkiye can inflict 10 units of damage for response

But it doesn't matter, Israel will be happy anyway because it's not the Jews who will die, it's the Greeks.

Israeli weapons can never change balance of power
LORA can not reach all air Bases in Turkiye .... not even close

----------------------------------

Turkish Defense Industry has reached a level of strength and capability to deal with all threats in the region

BORA and TAYFUN Ballistic Missiles are already in service
Greece will need THAAD or ARROW-3 to intercept TAYFUN Block4 and CENK hypersonic Ballistic Missiles ( MRBM )

The Greeks should act wisely and resolve their problems with Turkiye through diplomacy and dialogue.

If Greece enters a war that ultimately leads to the loss of the islands, it will face defeat just like Ukraine.
 
MMM-E said:
ready for death ?
If Greece inflicts 1 unit of damage, then Turkiye can inflict 10 units of damage for response

But it doesn't matter, Israel will be happy anyway because it's not the Jews who will die, it's the Greeks.

Israeli weapons can never change balance of power
LORA can not reach all air Bases in Turkiye .... not even close

----------------------------------

Turkish Defense Industry has reached a level of strength and capability to deal with all threats in the region

BORA and TAYFUN Ballistic Missiles are already in service
Greece will need THAAD or ARROW-3 to intercept TAYFUN Block4 and CENK hypersonic Ballistic Missiles ( MRBM )

The Greeks should act wisely and resolve their problems with Turkiye through diplomacy and dialogue.

If Greece enters a war that ultimately leads to the loss of the islands, it will face defeat just like Ukraine.
Click to expand...
we can sell them jericho missile
 
12,000 tanks
A lucky number
That’s about the size of the future tank armies of the Bundeswehr.
The Germans participate an attack by the Russians in few years. Putin will not stop at Ukraine.

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Viet said:
12,000 tanks
A lucky number
That’s about the size of the future tank armies of the Bundeswehr.
The Germans participate an attack by the Russians in few years. Putin will not stop at Ukraine.

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For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
Click to expand...

Of course Putin will stop at Ukraine. He will continue to provoke and engage in hybrid war tactics against the west but the Russkies have suffered way too many losses in Ukraine to go on adventures anywhere else. The west got what it wanted from the Ukraine war.
 
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