I know that I’m not alone on this, but if you had told me 30 years ago that you would see NATO and Warsaw Pact country AFVs operating together as allies on the same side one day, and not shooting at each other, I’d have said you’re crazy…
The world has gone mad!
I think of NATO airforces Mig-21s.
totally agree 100%…
Your friends today may be your adversaries tomorrow, and your enemy of yesterday may be your ally today. As one former President said, “Trust, but verify”.
This stuff kind of makes those old friend or foe playing cards obsolete, right? (some will remember these)
What about the new AI smart weapons, how will they be able to tell if certian items are a threat or not? The new Z-1 military widget is sold to 10 countries, five of them friendly to NATO (USA) and five being ememies of the state. The Z-1 is coming to and you have 3 seconds to make a decision of it is friendly or not???
The future swill not get any easier either as the gray area gets larger.
Ben
Iranian Tomcats + Phantoms Venezuelan F-16’s ISIS Abrams for a little while anyway Crazy stuff
A Klingon in command of Federation Starship. I’m familiar to this.
History repeats.
Folks need to remember to remember… or else!
USA and Japan, Most everybody and Germany, Mexico and the US…
Things change or do they really stay the same?
How 'bout ancient History?
Any Historians out there?
Nino
P.S. Geeze… F-16’s and Mig 21’s. Friend or Foe?
We knew years ago that the Poles were wanting to be a part of NATO. I was in Germany in 1990 when the former NVA became a part of the Bundeswehr. Top of the line Soviet vehicles now belonged to the West Germans.
Revell of Germany capitalized on this by reboxing several of the older DML Soviet kits with Bundeswehr markings and “new” nomenclatures in the 1990s.
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-03003-spw-40p2-brdm-2--144976
The Bundeswehr tried to get us to take a tank battalion’s worth of T-72 to use as OPFOR at the NTC. All we needed to do was pay to ship them. But the logistics and training would be too much and they continued to use VIZMOD vehicles as Soviet armor. One T-72 was sent to Ft Irwin and put through the paces.
Rob,
Is there a max Height requirement for crewmen in the T-72?
A taller guy wants to know…
Nino
Not as roomy as an M60 series tank, but for a short guy like me, it was more spacious than the Abrams. Both tanks are “more” better for shorter or average heighth guys than taller or big guys.
Yes, I do remember those. After IDing the vehicles in classes, for the ones used by Iran (M60, Chieftan, etc.), and with Iran being a potential foe in the mid 80’s, I would usually make some remarks to that effect… yeah its a “xxxx”, but it won’t necessarily be friendly.
The Soviets had the right idea there with their “monkey model” lower capability export versions. Many of their client states were less than reliable. Defections with equipment happened on occasion, or sometimes the governments gave their Soviet brothers the boot. Not to mention having to actually fight those countries on occasion to put down “counter revolutionary“ folks who came to power. 1956 Hungary and 1968 Czechoslovakia are perfect examples of Red on Red combat. Full bore fighting in Hungary, and with maximum force but minimal bloodshed to crush Prague Spring.
If you want small, you should try crameing into the Scimitar in that photo. Glad i never had to drive one. And the BMP loioks damn low in the back as well.
Yes, right now sure reminds me of the final verses of “Sympathy For The Devil”