Latest news with #M109
The Guardian
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ukraine war briefing: Anti-corruption agencies endorse bill restoring their independence
The Ukrainian anti-corruption body, Nabu, said a new bill submitted to parliament on Thursday 'restores all procedural powers and guarantees of independence of the Nabu and Sapo'. Nabu investigates corruption cases and Sapo prosecutes them. A Nabu statement said both agencies took part in the preparation of the new law and they urged the parliament 'to adopt the president's initiative … in its entirety as soon as possible. This will prevent threats to criminal proceedings brought by the Nabu and the Sapo.' The EU welcomed Volodymyr Zelenskyy's move to reinstate the independence of the anti-corruption agencies after the shock adoption this week of a bill that stripped their autonomy. After protests on the streets and from international allies of Ukraine, the Ukrainian president said the further bill would ensure the rule of law and the independence of the anti-corruption agencies. An EU spokesperson said: 'We provide significant financial support to Ukraine and this is conditional to progress and transparency, judicial reform and democratic governance.' Those points were reinforced by European leaders with whom Zelenskyy consulted over the crisis, including Ursula von der Leyen, Friedrich Merz of Germany and the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer. There were tensions over the Ukraine war as EU officials met the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, in Beijing on Thursday. Antonio Costa, the European Council president, said the EU officials discussed 'at length' their expectations for China to discourage Russia in its war against Ukraine. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, prior to the meeting said China was 'enabling Russia's war economy'. Xi told EU to 'properly handle differences and frictions … The current challenges facing Europe do not come from China.' A Russian attack killed three family members already displaced by the war, authorities announced on Thursday. The father, mother and son had fled to the village of Pidlyman in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine after Russian forces invaded their home town. A strike later on Kharkiv city wounded 33 people, including a 10-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy and girl, the governor said. A separate Russian drone and missile barrage wounded seven people including a child in the central Ukrainian region of Cherkasy, emergency services said. The US state department on Thursday said it had approved military sales worth US$330m to Ukraine comprising $150m worth of maintenance, repair and overhaul capability for M109 self-propelled howitzers, and $180m to sustain air defences. The Pentagon said contractors involved would include BAE Systems, Allison Transmission, Daimler Truck North America, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Radionix and Systems Electronic Export. The US on Wednesday announced sales of $322m related to Hawk surface-to-air missiles and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Reuters are reporting that an Indian company shipped $1.4m worth of an explosive used in missile warheads, rocket motors and bombs to Russia in December 2024 despite the threat of US sanctions, according to Indian customs data seen by the news agency. One Russian company listed as receiving the compound, known as HMX or octogen, was an explosives manufacturer, which Ukraine's SBU security service has linked to Moscow's military. An SBU official said Ukraine launched a drone attack in April against one of the company's factories. The US government has identified HMX/octogen as 'critical for Russia's war effort'. The US state department did not comment to Reuters on the specific shipments but said it had repeatedly communicated to India that companies doing military-related business with Russia were at risk of sanctions. However, under Donald Trump, Russia-related sanctions work has slowed to a trickle. India's foreign ministry said in a statement: 'India has been carrying out exports of dual-use items taking into account its international obligations on non-proliferation,' adding that such exports were subject to 'holistic assessment'.
NZ Herald
07-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Drones have made the war more brutal, with people on the move targeted within expanding zone
An artillery unit of the 28th Mechanised Separate Brigade fires an M109 howitzer on Russian positions, on the outskirts of Kostiantynivka, eastern Ukraine, in May. As ceasefire talks have flared and faltered, the battle for eastern Ukraine has only intensified under drone attacks around the towns of Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk and Kupiansk. Photo / Tyler Hicks, the New York Times Even several kilometres from the front line, anything that moves is a target. That's because as Russia's summer offensive gains momentum, it is increasingly relying on drones of all kinds to gain control over Ukraine's territory. Under attack by drones, Ukrainian soldiers are struggling to maintain supply lines around the
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Eye-Watering Bill for Trump Birthday Parade Includes Paint Job for Tanks
Amry tanks got a paint job before being moved to Washington D.C. for a parade on Donald Trump's birthday, a retired general has revealed. Armor including M1A2 tanks, Stryker armored fighting vehicles and M109 self-propelled howitzers have been arriving the capital for the parade—ostensibly to celebrate 250 years of the Army. But the total cost was already disclosed to have hit $45 million, which will include repairing roads not designed to take heavy armor. Now, the bill has been revealed to include sprucing up the materiel before it rolls in front of the president on his 79th birthday. Retired Army Lt. General Mark Hertling, speaking Tuesday on MSNBC's Morning Joe, expressed reservations about the parade's scale and cost. To pull off the spectacle, the armor was brought by rail from bases across the country, while helicopters and planes will fly overhead during the parade. Hertling commanded the 1st Armored Division in combat in Iraq in 2007 and 2008, has a Purple Heart and multiple Bronze Stars and Distinguished Service Medals. 'I'm personally, truth be told, not a parade kind of guy,' Hertling said. 'Even when I was a cadet at West Point, I hated parades.' Initially conceived as a small event, the parade's scope expanded significantly, now involving nearly 8,000 soldiers marching alongside armored vehicles transported from various military bases across the country. The birthday celebration could cost as much as $45 million in taxpayer dollars, with an extra $16 million reportedly set aside for road repairs. Hertling described the parade as 'mission creep foisted upon the Army by politicians,' reflecting concerns that the military is being tasked with an expensive political spectacle. The logistical challenges are significant, too. According to Hertling, the vehicles have been freshly painted to present a polished image—because of a previous, rushed deployment of military hardware that Hertling says 'looked bad' and 'were not a good reflection of the Army.' 'How much is this going to cost? It's going to cost a lot,' he said. 'Not only [do] those vehicles use a lot [of fuel], they have been transported from different military bases, [and] as you can see, looking at those tanks and Bradleys that you're showing right now, they've all been freshly painted,' he said. 'The last time a bunch of tanks were brought to Washington, D.C. it was at a last-minute time frame and they looked bad. I mean, they were not a good reflection of the army. So obviously the commanders and the soldiers who take a great deal of pride in their vehicles, want them to be looking well.' He said all of this has contributed to the spiraling cost of the event. 'And, you know, that's created more cost other than the train load and the railhead and the helicopters [that] are going to be flying overhead and the and the fuel that's going to be used and the support for the almost 8,000 soldiers that are going to be marching inside of that column with the other vehicles to represent wars that the nation has fought in different period dress and uniforms. 'It was a good idea by the army to celebrate this and use it as a recruiting tool. It's just generated a lot more interest because of the connection with the president's birthday, that's for sure.' While the Army has defended the event as a recruiting tool and a celebration of the nation's military heritage, the timing—coinciding with the president's birthday—has raised questions about the parade's true purpose. Meanwhile, as much as $16 million has been earmarked for filling in the damage left by tanks rumbling down civilian streets, according to U.S. military officials. Steel plates at least an inch thick will be laid across sections of the route where M1A1 Abrams tanks, each weighing around 140,000 pounds, and other treaded vehicles will make turns. Similar protection will not be laid out along straight sections of the roadway. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has previously voiced her concerns about damage to city streets. 'Military tanks on our streets would not be good,' she said at an April 7 news conference. 'If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied by many millions of dollars to repair the roads.'
India.com
04-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Can Pakistan Afford War With India? Shortage Of Artillery Ammunition Reveals Its Military Capacity
India-Pakistan Tension: The tensions between India and Pakistan, which soared after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, are not likely to die down soon, as New Delhi is making big diplomatic moves now and then to keep the jittery Pakistan, which is fearing a heavy retaliation from India, on the edge in anticipation. As the LoC remains on the boil due to Pakistan's continuous unprovoked firing, India has taken a slew of measures, from halting all sorts of imports from the neighbouring country to banning social media accounts of its cricketers, celebrities and leaders. Amid the unrest at the border following the heinous act, Pakistan's military is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition, which has severely dented its warfighting capabilities, limiting it to just four days. The shortage is attributed to the country's recent arms deals with Ukraine, which have drained its war reserves. The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), which supplies the military, has struggled to replenish supplies amid surging global demand and outdated production facilities, news agency ANI reported, citing sources. As a result, Pakistan's ammunition reserves can sustain only 96 hours of high-intensity conflict, leaving its military vulnerable. Pakistan's military doctrine, centred on rapid mobilisation to counter India's numerical superiority, hinges on artillery and armoured units. Without sufficient 155mm shells for its M109 howitzers or 122mm rockets for its BM-21 systems, the army's ability to blunt an Indian offensive is severely compromised. The social media posts on X in April 2025 claimed that critical 155mm artillery shells, vital for Pakistan's artillery-heavy doctrine, were diverted to Ukraine, leaving stockpiles dangerously low. The POF, designed to first meet domestic needs, struggled to replenish supplies amid surging global demand and outdated production facilities. However, with the sale of 155 mm ammunition to Ukraine, all 155 mm gun systems, including their self-propelled and MGS artillery, are without adequate ammunition stocks. The shortage of artillery ammunition has severe implications for Pakistan's military doctrine, which relies heavily on artillery and armoured units. Without sufficient ammunition, the Pakistan army's ability to blunt an Indian offensive is severely compromised. A source told ANI that due to a lack of critical ammunition, the Pakistani Military hierarchy is deeply concerned up to some limits about panic. The same was discussed in the Special Corps Commanders Conference on 02 May 2025, among many other things. Earlier, former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa acknowledged these limitations, stating that Pakistan lacks the ammunition and economic strength to engage in a prolonged conflict with India. Intelligence reports suggested that Pakistan has constructed ammunition depots near the India-Pakistan border in anticipation of potential conflict, a source told ANI. Pakistan sent its ammunition to distant wars, only to find itself stranded, its arsenals empty, and its defences teetering on the edge. The pursuit of short-term gain has left a long-term wound, one that could prove fatal in the next crisis. Pakistan's economic crisis, characterised by high inflation, mounting debt, and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, has further impacted the military's operational capabilities. The army has been forced to cut back on rations, suspend military exercises, and halt scheduled war games due to fuel shortages.
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First Post
04-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Pakistan military has 4 days' worth of warfighting capabilities amid artillery shortage: Report
While Pakistani politicians are flexing their muscles, the country's military is facing a major artillery ammunition shortage, limiting its warfighting capabilities to just 4 days amid tensions with India read more As Pakistan flexes its muscles, reports are emerging that the country's military is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition. Sources close to the matter told ANI that this shortage could severely limit Pakistan's warfighting capabilities to just four days. As per the report, Pakistan is facing a shortage because it was involved in an arms deal with Ukraine, which has drained its war reserves. Sources told ANI that the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), which is tasked with supplying the military, has been struggling to replenish ammunition. The factories are struggling to fulfil the global surge in demand as they work with outdated production facilities. Because of the deplorable state of these factories, Pakistan's ammunition reserve can sustain only 96 hours' worth of high-intensity combat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This can be concerning for the Pakistani military amid tensions with India following the Pahalgam attack. In the past few days, the personnel from the cash-strapped nations have frequently violated the ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC). The country's leaders often boast about Pakistan's military capabilities by indulging in war-mongering. Why does it matter? It is pertinent to note that for time immemorial, Pakistan's military strategy has centred around rapid mobilisation to counter Indian forces, which are already superior in numbers. Without sufficient 155mm shells for its M109 howitzer or 122 mm rockets, the country's prospective offence against India would be compromised, ANI reported. As per the report, the artillery shell, crucial for the country's military, was diverted to Ukraine, leaving its own stockpiles low. Since then, POF has been struggling to replenish the demands. Sources told ANI that this shortage is deeply concerning to Pakistan's leadership, with some expressing a bit of panic. In the past, former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa acknowledged these limitations, emphasising that Pakistan lacks the ammunition and economic strength to engage in any sort of prolonged conflict with India. Meanwhile, sources have also told ANI that Islamabad is setting up ammunition depots near the India-Pakistan border in anticipation of a potential conflict. With inputs from ANI.
