Deadly Chengdu J-10 by China

Army and Weapons | Deadly Chengdu J-10 by China | PLAAF aircraft Chengdu J -10 is the fourth-generation multirole fighter-made china developed since 1988 by the Chengdu, for 5 years of testing, test and training, finally in March 2003 J-10 passed the test to become a military aircraft in China. Resmii operated for the first time China's military in July 2004 at the Fleet Air Yuanan Prov. While the two series-10S A new crew officially in 2005. Aircraft Industries Corporation as a continuation of the Chengdu J -9 aircraft project. At first the development of J-10 is assisted by Israeli aircraft in the technology side bebobot lightweight, aerodynamic design, systems control "fly-by-wire" inspired by a prototype fighter aircraft made by Israel IAI Lavi. After the tragedy of Tiananmen began in 1990 china embargoed by the United States and the West Country. Mid-1990s Russia helped the development and supply of turbo jet engines Lyulka AL-31 F as the engine driving the jet.

And during 2004 to 2006, about 100 units of samples berpenumpang a crew and two crews that have been submitted to the PLA-AF. And China is estimated to require about 300 aircraft for the Air Force needs China. Sophistication and a cheaper price to make countries in the world to start very interested to order J-10 aircraft, as Paskitan, Iran and Thailand. And in March 2007, Chief of Pakistan Air Force St ap order of 32 to 40 units of J-10 fighter that will be delivered in 2009.
However, in 2005 the PLA air force tried to replace the turbo jet engine with a homemade jet engine that is Woshan WS-10 A Taihang turbofan previously created for a prototype fighter Shenyang J-11 and setela h through a series of trials began to be used officially began in 2006.

J-10 can do battle in the air and surface attack. The aircraft has 11 external hook for the various weapons. Or it can bring the target acquisition, navigation pods or fuel tanks berpenuntun tambahan.sedang PL-12 radar-homing air-to-air guided missile and PL-8-infrared missile tracker. To attack the surface of the J-10 took up to six laser guided bombs of 500 kg, 90-mm conventional bombs. The aircraft is also equipped with a single barrel 23-mm cannon.J-10 is equipped with pulse-doppler radar fire control, to be able to track 10 targets simultaneously and attack four of them. Estimated maximum detection range is 100 miles. The aircraft is also equipped with a fly-by wire system.
Variants that have been produced are:

    J-10 A: The first variant is still a Russian turbofan engines.
    J-10 S: variant as a trainer aircraft with a single seat or double seat.
    J-10 B: a variant with the latest improvements and new machinery homemade.
    J-10 c: variant carriers base the possibility powerful twin engines of the future.
    FC-20: new variant of Pakistan jointly developed countries.

Airframe and AvionicsConstructed from metal alloys and composite materials for strength and low weight, aerodynamic layout of the fuselage-wing configuration was adopted "tail-less delta canard". A large delta wing mounted in the middle toward the back of the plane, while a pair of canards (or foreplanes) are mounted higher and toward the front of the plane, behind and under the cockpit. This configuration provides a very high agility, especially at high speeds. A large vertical tail is present on the plane and a small belly fins under the fuselage provide further stability.
A rectangular air intake located under the fuselage, providing air supply to the engine. Also under the wing of the plane and there are 11 hook, used to carry various types of weaponry and an additional tank containing extra fuel.Landing gear consists of a pair of steering wheel under the air intake and two main gear wheels at the rear of the plane.

The cockpit is covered by two parts kanopicembung that provide 360-degree visual coverage for the pilot. appointed to the upper canopy mechanism for entry and exit. Control plane takes the form of a conventional center stick and throttle stick to the left of the pilot. also include the function of "Hands On Throttle And Stick" (Hotas) control. A zero-zero ejection seat is provided to pilots, enabling the bringing-up safe in an emergency even at zero altitude and zero speed.
AvionicsFlight Control SystemBecause the aerodynamic design of J-10 is not stable, digital flight control system quadruplex-redundant fly-by-wire to help the pilot fly the plane. Aircraft designer of China Yang Wei claimed to be the lead designer of the flight control system of a fly-by-wire, although this is disputed by the analysis of Richard Fisher who stated that the consultant who developed the system of Israel. flight control computer provides automatic flight coordination and keep the aircraft from entering potential dangerous situations such as accidental spills or slipping. because This frees the pilot to concentrate on tasks defined during the battle.
Instrument flightInformation is provided visually to the pilot through three LCD Multi-function (MFD) in the cockpit. Chief designer Han Zhou flight instrumentation panel in charge of both design of CRT display in the early stages of development and design of the LCD then the currently adopted by the J-10 in his duties.
LCD display panel at the latest to enter service after 2000. LCD displays and CRT displays prior to J-10 (as used WZ-10, J-11 and JH-7) produced by Suzhou Long Wind Plant Machinery, later reorganized as the AVIC Radar and Avionics Equipment Research Institute.
In addition to flight instrumentation, a hol ogram head-up display (HUD) China is also present. HUD shows the importance of aviation and war-related information such as targeting cues. It can also be used as radar coverage, this feature is believed to be inspired by Russian aircraft HUD, which allows the pilot to keep his eyes focused at infinity while working with his radar. Monochrome images of electro-optical avionics pods (FLIR and targeting pods) can also be displayed on the HUD. HUD is designed to overcome the problems with HUD Russian aircraft, which experienced significant problems when the fogging will digun in tropical and humid zones in China, because they were originally designed to be placed in the dry Arctic regions / sub-Arctic zone. The modular design of the HUD system databus architecture and the use of MIL-STD-1553B allows HUD from the West to be integrated if desired by the user.

Electronic WarfareAn internal set of electronic counter-measures (ECM) had been due to attend, which can be equipped with an active jammer pods carried as external BM/KG300G the hook plane. Besides a pod KZ900 signals intelligence (SIGINT) can be brought to reconnaissance missions.
An infra-red search and track (IRST) system developed by Sichuan Changhong Electric Appliance Corporation, Hongguang type-I (Rainbow Light-I) Electro-Optical Radar integrated with J-10. This is the third generation using the optronics system antenna with the ability to focus HgCdTe infra-red imaging (ImIR). Receiving certification on March 3, 2005 and subsequently entered service with the PLAAF, the system was announced to the public one year later at a conference in China's Sichuan province, where the system is demonstrated to the visiting officials. Based on the limited information released, Hongguang Type-I has a maximum range of 75 km.

Although Hongguang Type-1 is designed to be lighter and more compact than similar Russian system that can be mounted on the nose J-10 while leaving sufficient room for a suitable radar, current production model J-10 did not have enough space and must carry an external version in one of the hook plane. However, recently released a variant of the modification of the J-10 with what is believed to be the IRST device mounted to the upper right side of the nose (depending on variant). Hongguang Type-I is also designed to be compatible with Chinese fighter J-11 Shenyang, Shenyang J-8 and Xian JH-7, as well as the Xian H-6 bombers and fighter planes China-Pakistan JF-17.
According to officials Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation J-10 uses a multi-mode radar fire-control designed in China. The radar has a scan mechanism and the planar array antenna capable of tracking 10 targets. Of the 10 targets tracked, two can move together with radar homing missile semi-active or 4 can be actively involved with missile-tracking radar.
Radar is believed to be designed by the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (NRIET), with the name of KLJ-10 and the smaller variant is claimed to be installed on JF-17 fighter aircraft. Trust is based on technology from Russia, Israel, or a combination of both, the radar should be comparable to Western fighter aircraft radar design in the 1990s. It also may be replaced with other more advanced radar in the export version of J-10. FIAR Italy (now SELEX Galileo) Grifo 2000/16, has offered to Pakistan Air Force for installation on a J-10, On June 14, announced by Chinese state media that the version of the J-10 has been equipped with a radar array in stages.

In the exhibition of China's military-related technology, a helmet-mounted display (HMD) system developed by Chinese organizations have been displayed. It is believed that the J-10 that is integrated with such a system to assist pilots in aircraft targeting musuh.J-10 also appeared in photographs and models bring FILAT (Forward-looking Infra-red Laser Attack Targeting) pod for targeting the laser targets and Sky Blue forward looking infra-red (FLIR) pod for flight in low visibility.

General characteristics

•     Crew: 1 (basic), 2 (trainer variant)
•     Length: 15.5 m (50 ft 10 in)
•     Wingspan: 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in)
•     Height: 4.78 m (15.7 ft)
•     Wing area: 39 m² (419.8 ft²)
•     Empty weight: 9,750 kg (21,495 lb)
•     Loaded weight: 14,876 kg (32,797 lb)
•     Useful load: 4,500 kg (9,920 lb)
•     Max takeoff weight: 19,277 kg (42,500 lb)
•     Powerplant: 1× Saturn Lyulka AL-31FN orWS-10A Taihang turbofan

        Dry thrust: 79.43 kN / 89.17 kN (17,860 lbf / 20,050 lbf)
        Thrust with Afterburner: 122.5 kN / 132 kN (27,557 lbf / 29,101 lbf)

Performance

•     Maximum speed: Mach 1.9 at altitude, Mach 1.2 at sea level
•     g-limits: +9/-3 g (+88/-29 m/s², +290/-97 ft/s²)
•     Combat radius: 550 km (341 mi)
•     Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,055 ft)
•     Wing loading: 335 kg/m² (69 lb/ft²)
•     Thrust/weight: .89

Armament

•     Guns: 1× 23mm twin-barrel cannon

•     Hardpoints: 11 in total (6× under-wing, 5× under-fuselage) with a capacity of 6,000 kg (13,228 lb) external fuel and ordnance
•     Rockets: 90 mm unguided rocket pods
•     Missiles:
•         Air-to-air missiles : PL-8, PL-9, PL-11, PL-12
•         Air-to-surface missiles : PJ-9, YJ-9K
•     Bombs: laser-guided bombs (LT-2), glide bombs (LS-6) and unguided bombs
•     Others:
•         Up to 3 external fuel drop-tanks (1× under-fuselage, 2× under-wing) for extended range and loitering time

 

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Deadly Lockheed Martin C130 Hercules

Army and Weapons | Deadly Lockheed Martin C130 Hercules | Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport plane is a four-engine turboprop, was originally designed and built by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Able to use a runway that is not ready for takeoff and landing, the C-130 was originally designed as troop carriers, medical evacuation, and cargo aircraft. Versatile airframe has been used in a variety of other roles, including as a fighter (AC-130), for air strikes, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather research, air refueling, maritime patrol and air fire. This is the main tactical airlifter for military forces worldwide. More than 40 models and variants of the Hercules serve with more than 60 countries.

During his ministry, Hercules family has participated in many military assistance operations, civilian and humanitarian. Hercules family has the longest continuous production of any military aircraft in history. In 2007, C-130 became the fifth aircraft-after the English Electric Canberra, B-52 Stratofortress, Tupolev Tu-95 and KC-135 Stratotanker to mark 50 years of continuous use with the original primary customer, in this case the United States Air Force States. C-130 is also the only military aircraft to remain in continuous production for 50 years with the original customer, as the C-130J Super Hercules to date.

Design and DevelopmentKorean War, which began in June 1950, shows that the era of World War II transport as the C-119 Flying Boxcars, C-47 Skytrains and C-46 Commandos are inadequate for modern warfare. So on February 2, 1951, the United States Air Force issued a General Operations Requirement (GOR) for a new transport to Boeing, Douglas, Fairchild, Lockheed, Martin, Chase Aircraft, North American, Northrop, and Airlifts Inc. The new transport would have a capacity for 92 passengers, 72 troops or 64 combat troops in the cargo compartment is approximately 41 feet (12 m) long, 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and 10 feet (3.0 m) wide. Unlike transport from passenger planes, it is designed as a combat transport with loading of a road at the rear of the plane. This innovation for military cargo plane was first pioneered in WW II Germany, the Junkers Ju 252 and Ju 253 "Hercules" transport prototype in World War II. Boeing C-97 also has a way out through the door of the clamshell, but can not be used for cargo airdrops.

Also similar to his brother Hercules C-123 with the same wing and layout of road cargo. That plane evolved from Avitruc Chase XCG-20, which was first designed and flown as cargo glider in 1947. back door is not only possible to insert the vehicle into the aircraft (also possible with the front door at -124 C), but also to airdrop or use low altitude extraction for Sheridan tanks or even dropping the "daisy cutter" bombs.

Its main feature is the introduction of the T56 turboprop engine, the first developed specifically for C-130. At that time, the turboprop is a new application of a jet engine exhaust gas that is used to rotate the propeller shafted, which offers a greater range on the speed of the propeller-driven as compared with pure jet, which is faster but wasteful. As happened in the helicopter that era such as the UH-1 Huey, turboshafts generate more power for the aircraft weight than piston engines. Lockheed would then use the same machinery and technology at Lockheed L-188 Electra. That plane is a disappointment as an airplane, but it worked quite well adapted as a patrol aircraft P-3 Orion where speed and superior durability turboprops. 

Lockheed design new cargo planes have a range of 1100 nm (1,300 mi; 2,000 km), takeoff capability from short strips and emergency, and the ability to fly with one engine shut down. Fairchild, North American, Martin and Northrop declined to participate. The remaining five companies filed a total of 10 designs: Lockheed two, Boeing one, Chase three, Douglas three, and one Airlifts Inc.. Closed contest between two Lockheed (preliminary project designation L-206) proposals and four turboprop Douglas design.

Lockheed design team was led by Willis Hawkins, starting with a 130 page proposal for the Lockheed L-206. Hall Hibbard, Lockheed vice president and chief engineer to see the proposal and directed to Kelly Johnson, who did not care for low-speed, aircraft were unarmed, and said, "If you sign That letter, Will you destroy the Lockheed Company." Both Hibbard and Johnson signed the proposal and the company won the contract for the Model 82 on July 2, 1951. The first flight prototype YC-130 took place on August 23, 1954 from the Lockheed plant in Burbank, California. The aircraft, serial number 53-3397, is the second prototype but the first of two that flew. YC-130 piloted by Stanley Beltz and Roy Wimmer at the 61 minute flight at Edwards Air Force Base, Jack Real and Dick Stanton served as flight engineer. 

Kelly Johnson flew chase in the P2V Neptune. After two prototypes completed, production began in Marietta, Georgia, where more than 2,300 C-130 was built until 2009. Early production model, the C-130A, which is supported by the Allison T56-A-9 turboprops with three-blade propeller. Delivery began in December 1956, continued until the introduction of the C-130B model in 1959. Some models A re-designated C-130D after equipped with skis. C-130B had ailerons later with the encouragement of an increase in 3000 psi (21 MPa) versus 2050 psi (14 MPa) with uprated engines and four-bladed propellers that standard until the introduction of the J-model.

C-130A ModelThe first production C-130 designated as A-models, with deliveries in 1956 to the 463d Troop Carrier Wing at Ardmore AFB, Oklahoma and the 314th Troop Carrier Wing at Sewart AFB, Tennessee. Six additional squadrons were assigned to the 322nd Air Division in Europe and the 315th Air Division in the Far East. Additional aircraft modified for electronic intelligence work and assigned to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany while modified RC-130A was assigned to the division (MATS) Military Air Transport Service for photo mapping. The aircraft is equipped with giant skis designated as C-130D, but basically the model A except for the conversion. Australia became the first American forces to operate non-C130A Hercules with 12 samples sent during the late 1958 to early 1959's. The aircraft was fitted with three-blade propeller AeroProducts diameter of 15 '. 

 Like the C-130A operated by the Tactical Air Command (TAC), the lack of C-130 from the fuel capacity to reach clear and additions added in the form of an external pylon tanks mounted on the end of the wing. A model continued in service through the Vietnam War, where aircraft are assigned to the four squadrons at Naha AB, Okinawa and one at Tachikawa Air Base. Japanese do service Yeoman, including a highly secret operation, special operations missions such as missions BLIND BAT FAC / Flare and mission FACT SHEET leaflets over Laos and North Vietnam. Model A is also given to the South Vietnamese Air Force as part of the program Vietnamisasi at the end of the war, and has three squadrons based at Tan Son Nhut AFB. Last operator in the world is a Honduran Air Force, which was flying one of the five models A Hercs (Fah 558, c / n 3042) as of October 2009.

C-130B ModelC-130B model was developed to complement the model A which has previously been delivered, and incorporated new features, particularly increased fuel capacity in the form of additional tanks that are built into the center wing and AC electrical system. Four-blade Hamilton Standard propellers replaced propeller Aero Product three blades that distinguishes the A-model before. B-models replaced A-models in the 314 and 463 Troop Carrier Wings. During the Vietnam War four squadrons assigned to Carrier Force 463 / Tactical Airlift Wing based at Clark Air Force Base and Mactan Air Force Base in the Philippines is primarily used for tactical airlift operations in South Vietnam. In spring 1969, crews began Commando Vault 463 bombing missions dropping "daisy cutter" M-121 10,000 pounds (4534 kg) bombs to clear "instant LZS" for the helicopter. 

 It would later be used by South Vietnamese troops in an effort to support the last air to the return of communist forces. After the Vietnam War model B and model A 463 troops from the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing moved back to the United States where most were assigned to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units. Another important role for model B with the United States Marine Corps, where Hercules ditujuk as GV-1 replaces the C-119. Once C-130D Air Force proved its usefulness in the Antarctic, the U.S. Navy purchased a number of model B equipped with skis that are designated as LC-130.

An electronic reconnaissance variant of the C-130B C-130B set-II. A total of 13 aircraft have been converted and operated under the name SUN VALLEY programs. They operate mainly from Yokota Air Base, Japan. All planes returned to the standard C-130B cargo after their replacement in the reconnaissance role by another aircraft. C-130B-II is distinguished by one of the external wing fuel tank, posing as an antenna receiving signals intelligence. These pods are slightly larger than the standard wing tanks are found in other C-130B. Most features of the plane, sweeping the blade antenna on the plane, as well as an extra antenna cable between the vertical fin and the upper plane was not found in other C-130. Radio call numbers on the tail is regularly changed so that observers can confuse and disguise their true mission.

C-130E modelsModels extended range C-130E began operations in 1962 after being developed as an interim long-distance transport to the Military Air Transport Service. Basically the B-model, the new designation of the installation of 1360 U.S. gal (5150 L) Sargent Fletcher external fuel tanks under each wing and the central part of the engine more powerful Allison T56-A-7A turboprops. Increase the hydraulic pressure to the ailerons is reduced back to 2050 psi as a consequence of the weight of the external tank in the center of a wingspan. E model also featured structural improvements, avionics upgrades and a higher gross weight. Australia took delivery of 12 C130E Hercules during 1966-1967 to supplement the 12 C-130A model is already in service with the RAAF.

C-130F / KC-130F / C-130g modelKC-130 tankers, originally C-130F purchased for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) in 1958 (under the designation GV-1) equipped with a 3600 U.S. gal (13,626 l) stainless steel fuel tanks in the cargo compartment. two hose with a drogue pods for refueling in the air with each transfer up to 300 U.S. gal per minute (19 l per second) to two aircraft simultaneously, allowing for fast cycle time of multi-receiver aircraft formations, (typical of four-ship formation tanker aircraft in less than 30 minutes). C-130g The U.S. Navy has increased the power structure which enables operation with higher gross weight. C-130H ModelC-130H model has got updated Allison T56-engine A-15 turboprops, a redesigned outer wing, updated avionics and other minor improvements. Later H models further, improved endurance aircraft, the wing was upgraded on many models of H before.

H model is still widely used by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and many foreign air forces. Initial shipments began in 1964 (to the RNZAF), remaining production until 1996. An improved C-130H was introduced in 1974, with Australia the purchase of 12 types in 1978 to replace the original 12 C-130A model which first entered RAAF service in 1958. United States Coast Guard HC-hire 130H to remotely search and rescue, drug operations, illegal immigrants patrol, regional security and logistics. C-130H models manufactured from 1992 until 1996 are designated as C-130H3 by the USAF. H3 indicating the third variation in design for series H. Improvements include ring laser gyros for Inu, GPS receiver, a partial glass cockpit (ADI and HSI instruments), an APN-241 radar better color, night vision compatible lighting instruments, and radar integrated with missile warning system. Upgrade electrical systems including generator control unit (GCU) and Bus Switching unit (BSU) to provide stable power to the more sensitive upgraded components.

C-130K modelEquivalent model for export to the UK are C-130K, known as the Royal Air Force (RAF) as the Hercules C.1. C-130H-30 (Hercules C.3 in RAF service) is the wide version of the original Hercules, achieved by including 100 in (2.54 m) into the rear cockpit and 80 in (2.03 m) on the back of the plane. one C-130K was purchased by the Met Office for use by companies Meteorological Research Flight, where he was classified as Hercules W.2. This aircraft has been heavily modified (with the most prominent feature to probe the red and white striped long-atmosphere in the nose and moving from a weather radar pod on the plane to the front). This aircraft, named Snoopy, was withdrawn in 2001 and later modified by Marshall of Cambridge Aerospace as a flight-test bed for the A400M turbine engines, the TP400. C-130K used by the RAF Falcons parachute to test. Three C-130K (Hercules C Mk.1P) improved and sold to the Austrian Air Force in 2002.

Model variants and otherMC-130E Combat Talon was developed for the USAF during the Vietnam War to support special operations missions throughout Southeast Asia, and gave birth to a family of special mission aircraft. 37 initial models currently in operation with the United States Special Operations Command, is scheduled to be replaced with a new version of MC-130J production. EC-130 and EC-130H Compass Call is also the version used for Special Operations.

HC-130P / N is a variant of the SAR long-distance used by the USAF (to include Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard) who developed the HC-130P before. Equipped for deep deployment of Pararescuemen (PJs), rescue equipment, air refueling and combat helicopters, HC-130 is usually used as command aircraft for combat SAR missions. Early versions are equipped with a recovery system surface-to-air Fulton, designed to attract someone from the ground using a fine wire from a helium balloon. John Wayne movie The Green Berets using the feature. Fulton system is then removed during the air refueling helicopters proved safer and more flexible. The Perfect Storm movie depict real life mission involving SAR air refueling of the New York Air National Guard HH-60G to New York Air National Guard HC 130P.

C-130R and C-130T are U.S. Navy and USMC model, both equipped with external fuel tanks under the wings. USN C-130T is similar, but has the additional avionics repair. In both models, the aircraft is equipped with Allison T56-A-16 engine. USMC version called the KC-130R or KC-130T when equipped with underwing refueling pods and pylons and complete the night vision system compatible.

RC-130 is a reconnaissance version. A single example is used by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, aircraft that had originally been sold to former Iranian royal Air Force. Lockheed L-100 (L-382) is a civilian variant, equivalent to a C-130E model without military equipment. L-100 also has 2 stretched versions.C-130J Super Herculesin the 1970s, Lockheed proposed the C-130 variant with turbofan engines rather than turboprops, but liked the performance of the U.S. Air Force plane took off from there. In the 1980s, C-130 is intended to be replaced by the Advanced Medium STOL Transport project. The project was canceled and the C-130 remains in production.

In the 1990s, the C-130J Super Hercules upgraded developed by Lockheed (later Lockheed Martin). This model is the latest version and the only model in production. External similar to the classic Hercules in general appearance, the J has a new turboprop engine, propeller six-bladed, digital avionics, and other new systems.

General characteristics

• Crew: 5 (two pilots, navigator, flight engineer and loadmaster)
• Capacity:
  • 92 passengers or
  • 64 airborne troops or
  • 74 litter patients with 2 medical personnel or
  • 6 pallets or
  • 2–3 HMMWVs or
  • 2 M113 armored personnel carrier
• Payload: 45,000 lb (20,000 kg)
• Length: 97 ft 9 in (29.8 m)
• Wingspan: 132 ft 7 in (40.4 m)
• Height: 38 ft 3 in (11.6 m)
• Wing area: 1,745 ft² (162.1 m²)
• Empty weight: 75,800 lb (34,400 kg)
• Useful load: 72,000 lb (33,000 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 155,000 lb (70,300 kg)
• Powerplant: 4× Allison T56-A-15 Turboprop, 4,590 shp (3,430 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 320 knots (366 mph, 592 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,060 m)
• Cruise speed: 292 kn (336 mph, 540 km/h)
• Range: 2,050 nmi (2,360 mi, 3,800 km)
• Service ceiling: 33,000 ft (10,060 m) empty; 23,000 ft (7,077 m) with 42,000 pounds (19,090 kilograms) payload ()
• Rate of climb: 1,830 ft/min (9.3 m/s)
• Takeoff distance: 3,586 ft (1,093 m) at 155,000 lb (70,300 kg) max gross weight; 1,400 ft (427 m) at 80,000 lb (36,300 kg) gross weight

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Deadly Eurocopter Tiger ( EC 665 )

Army and Weapons | Deadly Eurocopter Tiger ( EC 665 ) | In 1984, the government of West Germany and France entered into a collaboration to create a modern multirole combat helicopter. A joint venture consisting of MBB and Aérospatiale then chosen as the supplier of choice. Because of the high cost of the program was canceled in 1986 but was relaunched in 1987. Subsequently, in November 1989, Eurocopter received a contract to build five prototypes. Three units as a testbed is not armed and the other two armed prototypes: one for the German anti-tank variant and the other for the French escort helicopter variant.

The prototype first flew in April 1991. When Aérospatiale and MBB joined in 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group, the Tiger program is also transferable. Serial production of the Tiger began in March 2002 and the first flight of the first production Tiger HAP for the French army came in March 2003. The first submission of the order 80 helicopters by France took place in September 2003.
At the end of 2003, deliveries began of the order 80 UHT version combat helicopters by the Germans to the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement. Due to technical issues, operational capability is not expected to be achieved before the end of 2012.

In December 2001, Eurocopter awarded the contract for "AIR 87" Australian Army for 22 Tiger ARH helicopters version of (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter). The first Tiger ARH was scheduled to enter the union in 2004. 18 of 22 aircraft will be assembled in Brisbane of the Australian Aerospace facility, a local subsidiary Eurocopter in Australia. However, due to delays in achieving operational capability, Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation should stop payment on the helicopter on July 1, 2007, In 2008 the main issue has been resolved and re-paid. But in October 2010 revealed that the helicopter will not be fully operational for another two years.
In September 2003, Spain chose a variant of the combat helicopter and the Tiger HAD Tiger HAP for its ground forces. 24 helicopters of this type that have been ordered will be armed with the PARS 3 LR and Mistral missile systems. They will also have MTR390 engine that can lift heavier loads. Delivery is scheduled in 2007-2008. France chose to upgrade the most recent versions of the HAP to the HAD helicopters, so the Varian HAC will not be built. In June 2006, the Rafael Spike-ER was chosen by the Spanish Army as an ATGM from HAD Spain, instead of the previous Trigat missile system.

In July 2006, the Saudi government signed a contract to purchase a total of 142 helicopters, including 12 Tiger attack helicopters. But the deal then failed. initially reported that Tiger will be competing with Kamov Ka-50 and Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters for the competition 22 by the Indian Air Force, Tiger then withdrawn from the competition. At end-2009 have revealed that the Tiger upgrade and thus can not participate in field trials of India.
Tiger body is made of 80% carbon fiber reinforced polymer and kevlar, 11% aluminum, and titanium 6%. The rotor is made from fiber-plastic able to withstand damage during the war and attack the bird. Protection against lightning and electromagnetic pulses ensured by embedded copper / bronze grid and copper bonding foil.

While the Tiger combat helicopter has a conventional configuration of two crew members sit tandem, rather unusual in the front seat pilot and gunner in the rear, unlike all other current attack helicopters. Chairs offset to opposite sides of the midline to improve the vision forward for the gunner in the rear.
Tiger has the ability to withstand attack 23 mm automatic cannon. Installed in a helicopter radar warning system AN/AAR-60 MILDS, laser warning systems, and missile launchers / detector developed by EADS DE, all connected to a central processing unit from Thales and the Saphir-M flare dispenser from MBDA. visual, radar, infrared, sound sensors have been minimized.
The navigation system contains two Thales units Avionique three-axis ring laser gyro, two magnetometers, two air data computers, BAE Systems Canada CMA 2012 four-beam Doppler radar, radio altimeter, global positioning system, and a suite of low-speed sensors and sensors to follow the terrain .Datalinks: Link 4A, Thales Proprietary PR4G, STANAG 5066.Radio: HF, MF, VHF, UHF, military SATCOM, GPS receiver, and datalink.

 

General characteristics:

* Crew: 2 (pilot & weapon systems officer)
* Length: 15.80 m main rotor to tail rotor; 14.08 m fuselage (51 ft 10 in)
* Rotor diameter: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
* Height: 3.83 m (HAP); 5.20 m with mast-mounted sight (UHT) (12 ft 7 in / 17 ft 1 in)
* Empty weight: 3,060 kg (6,745 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 6,000 kg (13,225 lb)

* Internal fuel capacity: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb)

* Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce plc/Turboméca/MTU MTR390 turboshafts, 873 kW (1,170 shp) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 280 km/h (175 mph)
* Range: 800 km combat; 1,300 km ferry (500 mi / 800 mi)
* Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,120 ft)
* Rate of climb: 10.7 m/s (2,105 ft/min)
* Disc loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
* Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)

Armament

* 1x 30 mm GIAT 30 cannon in chin turret (HAP,HAD,ARH) or 1x 12.7 mm or 20 mm gun in pod (UHT)
* 8x Trigat and/or HOT3 (UHT,French HAD) or Rafael Spike-ER (Spanish HAD) or Hellfire II (ARH) anti-tank missiles
* 4x Stinger air-to-air missiles (UHT,ARH) or 4x Mistral air-to-air missiles (HAP,HAD)
* Pods of 19x 70 mm SNEB (UHT,HAD) or Hydra (ARH), or 22x 68 mm SNEB (HAP), or 7x 70 mm SNEB (HAD) or 70 mm or 2.75" unguided rockets.

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Deadly M1 Garand (USA)

Army and Weapons | Deadly M1 Garand (USA) | Adopted oeh U.S. armed forces in 1936, the M1 Garand rifle proved to be a tough five years later. General Patton said at the end of World War II M1 Garand is the greatest war machines ever created. Although there are few defects, no doubt the M1 Garand rifle is the first successful semi-automatic M1 Garand and the accuracy of dominating the battlefield. More than 6 million rifles made ​​at that time and stopped his period at the end of 1960.

Specification:

 
Type: Semiautomatic Rifle
Country of Origin: United States
Caliber: 7.62 x 63 mm (.30-06 inch)
Cartridge Capacity: 8 rounds
Muzzle Velocity: Approximately 2.838 feet per second
Rate of Fire: 30 rounds per minute

 The story of the first semi-automatic rifle ever widely-adopted as a standard military arm began after the start of the First World War, when the inventor John C. Garand (Canadian, then living in USA) began to develop a semi-automatic (or self-loading) rifles. He worked at the government-owned Springfield armory and during the 1920s and early 1930 developed a number of design. Early rifles were built using somewhat rare system of the cartridge primer blowback, but due to some reasons this system was unsuitable for a military rifle, so he switched to the more common gas-operated system. He filed a patent for his semiautomatic, gas operated, clip-fed rifle in 1930, and received an US patent for his design late in 1932. This rifle was built around then-experimental .276 caliber (7mm) cartridge. At the same time, his rifle was tested by the US Military against its main competitor, a .276 caliber Pedersen rifle, and was eventually recommended for adoption by US Army early in the 1932. But a little bit later an US general MacArthur stated that the US Military should stick to the old .30-06 cartridge. Foreseeing that, Garand already had a variation of his design chambered for 30-06. Finally, at the 6th January, 1936, the Garands' rifle was adopted by the US Army as an "rifle, .30 caliber, M1".

Early issue rifles, however, showed a quite poor characteristics, jamming way too often for a decent military arm, so a lot of noise was raised that eventually reached the US Congress. In the 1939, the major redesign was ordered, and Garand quickly redesigned a gas port system, which greatly improved the reliability. Almost all M1 rifles of the early issue were quickly rebuilt to adopt a new gas system, so very few "original" M1 Garand rifles survived to present days, and those are extremely expensive collectors items. When the USA entered the World War 2, the mass production of the M1 rifles was set at the Springfield armory and at the Winchester. During the war, both companies developed about 4 millions of M1 rifles, so M1 Garand is a most widely used semi-automatic rifle of the World War 2. During the war, M1 Garand proved itself as a reliable and powerful weapon. There were minor attempts to improve it during the war, but these did not left experimental stages, except for two sniper modifications, M1C and M1D. Both were approved for service in the 1945 and both featured a telescope sight which was off-set to the left due to the top-loading feature of the M1. After the end of the WW2 the production of the M1 in the USA was stopped, and some rifles and also licenses to built it were sold to other countries, such as Italy and Denmark. With the outbreak of the Korean war in 1950 the production of theM1 for US forces was resumed early in 1952. Rifles were manufactured at Springfield armory, and also at Harrington & Richardson Company (H&R) and International Harvester Company. Those companies manufactured M1s until the 1955, and Springfield Armory produced the Garands until 1956. With the official adoption of the new rifle and ammunition in 1957, M14 and 7.62x51mm NATO, respectively, for US service, the M1 rifle became obsolete. It was still used during the later years, however, due to the lack of M14 and M16 rifles, and saw some service during the early period of the Vietnam war. Later, many M1s were transferred to the US National Guard, used as a training weapons by US Army or sold to civilians as a military surplus. Few M1 are still used by all branches of the US Military as a ceremonial weapons. Other than USA, M1s were used by Italy (where these rifles were lately redesigned and rebuilt into 7.62mm BM-59 rifles). Denmark, France and some other countries. There also were attempts to rebarrel the M1 for 7.62mm cartridge in the USA and to adopt a detachable 20-rounds magazines from Browning BAR rifles, but these were less than successful and haven't seen any significant service.

M1 is a gas operated, magazine fed, semiautomatic rifle. Original M1 were using the gas, that was tapped from muzzle by the special muzzle extension, but this was proven unreliable, and since the 1939, M1 rifles were built with gas system that used a gas port, drilled in the barrel near the muzzle. The tapped gas was directed into the gas cylinder, located under the barrel, where it operated a long-stroke gas piston, integral with the operating rod. Long operating rod housed inside it a return spring, and ended with the extension, that carried a bolt operating groove at the left and a charging handle at the right. The groove was connected with the rotating bolt, located inside the receiver. Bolt had two locking lugs that locked into the receiver walls. When gun was fired, hot powder gases were led to the gas chamber and to the gas piston, that drove back the operating rod. The bolt operating grove, interacting with the stud on the bolt, rotated bolt to unlock it and then retracted it to commence the reloading cycle.

M1 was fed from the integral box magazine, which was probably the weakest point of the whole design. The magazine was fed using only the 8-rounds clips, which stayed inside the magazine until all 8 rounds were shot. As soon as the magazine (and clip) became empty, bolt was stopped at its rearward position by the bolt catch, and the empty clip was automatically ejected from the magazine with the distinctive sound. The main drawback of the system was that the clips could not be easily reloaded during the action. However, there still was the possibility to refill the clip in the rifle, but this was not the fastest procedure.

M1 featured a wooden stock with separate handguards and a steel buttplate. The forwardmost part of the muzzle served as a bayonet mounting point. Sights of the M1 consisted of the front sight with dual protecting "wings", dovetailed into the gas block at the muzzle, and the adjustable peephole rear sights, built into the rear part of the receiver. Sniper versions (M1C and M1D) also featured scope mounts on the receiver, offset to the left from the axis of the rifle, so it was possible to load it with clips and also to use its iron sights with scope installed (in the case of the scope damage, for example).

There were some attempts to make a handier and more compact version of the M1 by shortening the barrel by some 6 inches (152 mm), with standard wooden or skeleton metallic buttstocks, but these attempts never left the experimental stages. Some short barreled "tankers" M1 rifles, appeared in the post-war period, are not the genuine designs, but the "sawed-off" variations of the standard "long" rifles.

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Deadly Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947 - AK 47

Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947 atau yang lebih dikenal sebagai AK-47 dalah senapan serbu yang dirancang oleh Mikhail Kalashnikov, diproduksi oleh pembuat senjata Rusia IZhMASh. Dibuat dengan desain yang sama dengan StG.44, AK-47 diisi dengan peluru 7.62 mm dan dibuat dari bagian yang dirakit. AK-47 tidak hanya mudah diproduksi dan murah, tetapi juga mudah dirawat dan “kebal” terhadap kondisi yang bisa merusak senjata lainnya. Akurasinya tidak terlalu bagus, tapi AK-47 menggantinya dengan kemampuannya melepaskan serangan mematikan.

The main advantages of the Kalashnikov rifle are its simple design, fairly compact size and adaptation to mass production. It is inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to clean and maintain. Its ruggedness and reliability are legendary. The AK-47 was initially designed for ease of operation and repair by glove-wearing Soviet soldiers in Arctic conditions. The large gas piston, generous clearances between moving parts, and tapered cartridge case design allow the gun to endure large amounts of foreign matter and fouling without failing to cycle. This reliability comes at the cost of accuracy, as the looser tolerances do not allow for precision and consistency. Reflecting Soviet infantry doctrine of its time, the rifle is meant to be part of massed infantry fire, not long range engagements. The average service life of an AK-47 is 20 to 40 years depending on the conditions to which it has been exposed.

The notched rear tangent iron sight is adjustable, and is calibrated in hundreds of meters. The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation in the field. Windage adjustment is done by the armory before issue. The battle setting places the round within a few centimeters above or below the point of aim out to about 250 meters (275 yd). This "point-blank range" setting allows the shooter to fire the gun at any close target without adjusting the sights. The field adjustment procedure for AK-47, AKM and AK-74 family requires 4 rounds to be placed in a 15 cm group at a distance of 100 meters. Longer settings are intended for area suppression. These settings mirror the Mosin-Nagant and SKS rifles which the AK-47 replaced. This eased transition and simplified training.

The prototype of the AK-47, the AK-46, had a separate fire selector and safety. These were later combined in the production version to simplify the design. The fire selector acts as a dust cover for the charging handle raceway when placed on safe. This prevents intrusion of dust and other debris into the internal parts. The dust cover on the M16 rifle, in contrast, is not tied to the safety, and has to be manually closed. Soviet army handbooks for AKM and AK-74 do not cover target engagement using the semi-automatic setting, and advise the use of short and long bursts (but still recommend short ones).

The bore and chamber, as well as the gas piston and the interior of the gas cylinder, are generally chromium-plated. This plating dramatically increases the life of these parts by resisting corrosion and wear. This is particularly important, as most military-production ammunition (and virtually all ammunition produced by the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact nations) during the 20th century contained potassium chlorate in the primers. On firing, this was converted to corrosive and hygroscopic potassium chloride which mandated frequent and thorough cleaning in order to prevent damage. Chrome plating of critical parts is now common on many modern military weapons.

The construction of the AK magazine is very robust with reinforced feed lips that contribute to the reliable functioning for which the design is noted. Most Yugoslavian and some East German AK magazines were made with cartridge followers that hold the bolt open when empty; however, most AK magazine followers allow the bolt to close when the magazine is empty.

Specifications :

Type: Semi or Fully Automatic Assault Rifle

Country of Origin: Soviet Union

Caliber: 7.62 x 39 mm (.30 inch) Cartridge Capacity: 30 rounds Muzzle Velocity: 2,329 feet per second

Rate of Fire:600 rounds per minute

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Deadly Lee-Enfield SMLE

Standard British infantry rifle of World War I to the Suez crisis, Lee-Enfield SMLE build a reputation of accuracy, reliability, and the number of shots per minute is phenomenal. Magazine carrying 10 bullets, the largest number of any gun in 50 years of the early 20th century.

Bolt action was cocked when closing, and head of the barrel to prevent dust and mud into the rifle. In the hands of well-trained army, Lee-Enfield could perform what is called a "mad minute" that is, 30 bullets fired at a target distance of 200 feet in one minute. The number of shots that rival modern semi-automatic rifle.

 

specification

Type: Bolt-Action Rifle
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Caliber: 7.7 x 56 mm (.30 inch)
Cartridge Capacity: 10 rounds
Muzzle Velocity: approximately 2,438 feet per second
Rate of Fire: 15-20 rounds per minute

The Lee-Enfield series of rifles was born in 1895 as a marriage between the magazine and bolt action, designed by the J. P. Lee, and the new pattern of barrel rifling, designed at the Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF) at Enfield. Originally known as Lee-Metford, this design was adopted by British army in 1888 and used a Metford pattern rifling with shallow groves, intended to be used with ammunition loaded with black powder. Introduction of the smokeless powders in the form of the Cordite showed that the Metford rifling was very short-living, so it was soon replaced with Enfield rifling, with 5 traditional land and grooves and left hand pitch. Early Lee-Enfield rifles, officially known as a ".303 caliber, Rifle, Magazine, Lee-Enfield", were carried by the British army through the Boer war (South Africa) of 1899-1902, and Boers, armed with their Mausers, taught to the Brits some hard lessons. And, unlike some other Empires, Brits were quick lo learn. In 1903, they introduced a new design, which improved over the older Lee-Metfords and Lee-Enfields in some important respects. The main improvements was the introduction of the "universal" rifle idea. The common thinking of the period was to issue the long rifle for infantry and the carbine for cavalry, artillery and other such troops. The Brits decided to replace this variety of sizes with one, "intermediate" size, that will fit all niches. This "one size fits all" rifle was called ".303 caliber, Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield, Mark 1", or, in short SMLE Mk.I, where "short" referred to the length of the rifle. This rifle passed some improvements during the following pre-WW1 years, finalizing in the 1907 as a SMLE Mk.III. Development and introduction into service of this rifle was accompanied with constant complaints of some "theorists", which stated that this rifle would be no good neither for infantry, nor for cavalry, so RSAF was set do design another rifle, patterned after the German Mauser, which also should be more suitable for mass production, than the SMLE. This rifle finally appeared in 1914 as an ".303 caliber Enfield Pattern 1914 rifle", or simply a P-14. With the outbreak of the Great war British troops were still armed with the "poor" SMLE Mk.III rifles, which soon turned far from any "poor", giving some hard time to the Germans. In fact, the SMLE Mk.III was a really good rifle, quite accurate, reliable and suitable for rapid and accurate firing. British soldiers were rigorously trained for both individual and volley fire marksmanship, and were routinely capable of firing 30 aimed shots per minute, which was quite a rate of fire for any non-automatic rifle. There were times when advancing Germans were impressed that they were under the machine gun fire, when Tommie used their salvo-firing techniques. During the war time the basic Mk.III design was slightly simplified to better suit the mass production needs, with omission of "volley" sights and magazine cutoffs, and with some production shortcuts. When the World War One was over, there were no questions of quality of basic SMLE design, but some improvements were suggested and introduced in later patterns, such as peep-hole, receiver mounted sights. These "interwar" patterns were not issued in any significant quantities until the 1941. In 1926, Britains, quite confused with numerous 'Marks' and 'Marks with stars' of their weaponry, decided to adopt a new numbering system, so the SMLE Mark III became the "Rifle, No. 1 Mark 3". The "Rifle No.2" was a training version of the SMLE No.1 but chambered to .22LR ammunition. The "No.3" was assigned to the P-14 rifle, which was used in limited numbers. And the "Rifle No.4 Mark 1", widely known as a SMLE No.4 Mk.1, appeared in 1941. This was an improved and strengthened SMLE design, with heavier and stronger receiver, which also was faster and easier to machine, and with heavier barrel. The stock shape was shortened at the front part, giving away with the characteristic Mark III snub-nosed appearance. The barrel-mounted open rear sights were replaced with the receiver-mounted peep-hole sights, which were micrometer-adjustable. The latter feature was substituted by the simplified flip-up rear sights for wartime production, and this version became the No.4 Mk.1* rifle. By the end of the World War 2, when British and Commonwealth troops (also armed with SMLEs) started to fight in jungles of the South-East Asia, it was soon discovered that a "short" SMLE was still not short enough for the jungle combat, so a carbine version was adopted late in the 1944 in the form of the No.5 "jungle carbine". This gun was somewhat lighter and handier than No.4, but suffered from the "wandering zero" problems, which meant that the point of impact wandered during the time. The muzzle flash and recoil were also too strong, despite the flash-hider and rubber buttpad. The last, and by some opinions the finest "general issue" version of the SMLE was the No.4 Mk.2 rifle, which appeared in 1949. It was made by higher peacetime standards of fit and finish, than a wartime No.1 Mk.3s and No.4 Mk.1s, and served with British army until the mid-1950s, when the self-loading L1 SLR (semi-auto copy of the Belgian FN FAL) rifle in 7.62mm NATO was introduced into general service. But some SMLEs were left in military service, as a training, target and, especially, sniper rifles, known as Enfield L39 and L41, rechambered to the new standard 7.62mm NATO ammunition, and served well until the late 1980s, when there were replaced by the L96 sniper rifles. It should be noted, that SMLE rifles were produced and used not only in the UK. Australian, Canadian and Indian factories turned out more than million of the No.1 rifles with various improvements, which were used during both World wars and thereafter. During the WW2, Britain also acquired quantities of SMLE No.4 (marked No.4 Mk.1*) made under contract at the Savage Arms company in USA. In the 1950s, Indian Isaphore arsenal turned out some SMLEs rechambered to the 7.62mm NATO (.308 win) ammunition. These are distinguishable from .303 caliber rifles by the more squared outline of the magazine. Total numbers of all 'Marks' and 'Numbers' of the SMLE made during the 60 years in various countries is not less than 5 000 000 (yes, five millions) rifles.

The SMLE is a manually operated, rotating bolt action magazine fed rifle. The Lee-designed SMLE magazine is a first easily distinguishable feature. It holds 10 rounds of ammunition in staggered column form, and while the magazine itself is detachable, it is not intended to be reloaded when detached from rifle. Early Lee-Enfields (Long Lee-Enfields and SMLEs prior to Mark III) were loaded only by single rounds via the top receiver opening. Latter, the clip (charger) loading was introduced, and a rear receiver bridge with charger clip guides was added to the design. Some of the earlier marks were then retrofitted with charger loading ability during the 1907 - 1910. To load the magazine, one must use two standard 5-rounds clips. Loading by loose rounds was still available, but some care must be taken when loading cartridges into clips or in the magazine, due to the rimmed ammunition cases. Prior to the 1916, all SMLEs (and earlier Long Lee-Enfields) were issued with so called "magazine cut-off" - a simple device, located at the right side of the receiver and intended to cut off the cartridge supply from magazine to the action when engaged, so rifle could be used as a single-loader, and ammunition in the magazine could be saved for the hottest moments of combat. This was an outdated idea even when it was first introduced, so it was easily discarded when the need to speed up production arose. The magazine itself should be detached only for cleaning, maintenance and repair, and every rifle was issued with only one magazine. The magazine catch is located inside the triggerguard.

The bolt action, another invention of the James Paris Lee (along with magazine), is the other most famous feature of the SMLE. The rotating bolt has two lugs that lock into the receiver walls at the rear part of the bolt, thus saving some part of the bolt length and bolt pull, when comparing to the forward lugs locking. This shorter bolt pull, along with charging handle, located at the rear part of the bolt and bent down, lent itself to quick reloading. Add a relatively high capacity magazine with fast clip reloading and here you have one of the fastest practical rates of fire along with contemporary designs. The SMLE was a striker fired gun, with cocking on the bolt close action and a dual-stage trigger. The bolt head with the extractor was a separate, non-rotating unit, screwed into the bolt body. The safety was located at the rear left side of the receiver and was easily operated by the firing hands' thumb finger. One notable feature of the Lee bolt action was that the bolts were not interchangeable between different rifles of the same mark Each bolt must have been fitted to its respective action, thus making the production and in-field bolt replacement more complicated. The insufficient headspace problem on the pre-No.4 SMLEs was solved my manual sandpapering the respective bolt-head, and since the No.4 rifle, there were 4 standard sizes of the bolt heads, from which armourer could select one, most suitable for the particular action.

The sights of the Mark III / No.1 Mk.3 SMLEs were a combination of the barleycorn front (an inverted V-shape) and V-notch adjustable rear sights, mounted on the barrel. The front sights were protected by the two "ears" on the stock nose-cap. Latter the front sight were changed to post type, and the rear - to the U-notch type, and since the introduction of the No.4 rifle the barrel-mounted open rear sight was replaced with peep-hole one, mounted on the receiver, which made the sighting line much longer and improved the long-range accuracy. Sniper No.4 Mk.1(T) rifles, made during the WW2, were equipped with detachable optical scope mounts at the left side of the receiver. The scope was carried in the separate box when not in use. No.4 Mk1* rifles, made during the WW2, were equipped with the simplified, two position aperture (peep-hole) sights, marked for 300 and 600 yards ranges only. Pre-1916 Lee-Enfields were also equipped with interesting device, called the "volley" sights. This device was mounted at the left side of the stock, ahead of the magazine, and was used to provide an indirect fire capability at the ranges from 2 000 and up to outstanding 3 900 yards (1800 - 3550 meters). While the individual marksmanship at such ranges with rifle was a nonsense, the salvo firing by large squads at the distant and large targets (such as tight infantry or cavalry formations) can do some damage to the enemy. This was, obviously, an idea of the pre - machine gun and pre - light artillery period, and it was happily dropped during the WW1.

The famous by its distinguishable shape stock of the SMLE featured a semi-pistol grip, a steel buttplate with a trapdoor and a compartment in the butt for tools and cleaning equipment. The "flat-nosed" forend covered the barrel up to the muzzle, and has a small stud, protruding forward under the muzzle for bayonet mounting. Most SMLEs have a small brass disc inset into the right side of the butt, which was used for regimental markings (unlike the German Mausers, where the similar steel disc was used as a bolt unit disassembly tool). The conventional sling swivels were mounted on the frond handguard band and under the butt. Mk.4 No1.(T) sniper rifles also featured an additional wooden cheek rest on the top of the butt for more comfortable sighting while using the scope.

In general the SMLE were ones of the best bolt action battle rifles, fast-firing, powerful and reliable. While being less suitable for "sporterizing" than Mausers, they are still popular among civilians as a hunting and plinking weapons, and also as a part of the history. The key deficiencies of the SMLE were probably the rimmed ammunition and non-interchangeability of bolts, but the advantages of this design were mush bigger and Lee-Enfields in all its guises served the Britain and the British Commonwealth for more than 60 years in the front line service and much longer as a specialized weapon (training and sniper).

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Deadly M-16 Rifle

 

M16 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas operated, magazine-fed rifle, with a rotating bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. The rifle is made of steel, 7075 aluminum alloy, plastic composite and polymer materials.

U.S. Air Force Rifle, M16, and the United States Marine Corps and Army rifle, XM16E1, is the first version of the M16 rifle fielded. Soon, the U.S. Army as a standardized XM16E1 M16A1 rifle, an M16 with a forward assist feature requested by the Army. All the early versions of room to fire the M193/M196 cartridge in a semi-automatic and automatic firing mode. This happened in the early 1960s, the Army issued in late 1964. Commercial AR-15 was first issued to Special Forces troops in spring 1964.

M16 rifle was primarily produced by Colt and Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (under contract with the U.S. military since 1988 by FNH-USA; currently in production since 1991, especially the M16A2, A3, and A4), with variants made ​​elsewhere in the world . A version for the U.S. military has also been made by H & R Firearms [10] General Motors Hydramatic Division and most recently by Sabre Defence.Semi-automatic version of the popular AR-15 rifle shot recreation, with versions produced by other small and large producers U.S.

 

Specification :
Type: Semi or Fully Automatic Assault Rifle
Country of Origin: United States
Caliber: 5.56 x 45 mm (.223 inch)
Cartridge Capacity: 20-30 rounds
Muzzle Velocity: Approximately 3,281 feet per second
Rate of Fire: 700-950 rounds per minute

The story of the M16 rifle is one of most turbulent and controversial episodes in the whole history of US small arms. It was hastily adopted as an iterim measure, but eventually soldiered on to see more than 40 years of active service. Its early days were full of controversy and scandals, its present is full of competition, but it appears that this weapon will serve with American armed forces and abroad for at least several years (if not decades) more. Today it can be considered as adequate military rifle with good current service record. Obviously, it is far from being ideal, but no rifle in the world is ideal as well. We only have to see, if the American armed forces will eventually step up and produce a better rifle and / or cartridge in a foreseeable future.

 

The origins of the M16 rifle lay in the research, conducted soon after the Korean war by Operations Research Office (ORO), founded at Hopking University and sponsored by US Army. Among the reports, produced by the ORO, two are most significant in this respect, the so called Hall and Hitchmann reports. One report stressed the fact that most hits, achieved by soldiers in battle, were made at relatively short ranges (within 300 meters) and, mostly, at random. This significantly undermined the obsession for long-range aimed fire, promoted by the Army. Second report suggested, that the most effective way to increase the probability of hits in the battle is to fire multiple small caliber, high velocity projectiles with controlled dispersion instead of one, relatively heavy and large projectile as used in conventional rifles at the time. The latter concept initiated so called "Project SALVO", which was conducted between 1952 and 1957 to develop a proper concept of a new, small bore military rifle. There were several basic concepts, including different projectile types (standard bullets or small, arrow-like finned projectiles known as "flechettes"), fired by score from single round (to achieve 'shotgun' effect) or in rapid bursts of several rounds, each firing single projectile. Eventually, army selected the concept of weapon, firing controlled bursts of single flechettes (steel arrows with body diameter of amout 1.5mm) to go ahead, and called this APHHW - All Purpose Hand Held Weapon, later renamed to SPIW - Special Purpose Individual Weapon. In teh mean time, some elements within Army also sponsored a more conventional approach to the same problem, and oredered development of conventional automatic rifles, firing ordinary small-caliber bullets. During late 1950s and early 1960s there was a lot of experimentation and development in regard of new ammunition, optimal calibers and rifle designs. The problem was, that widely promoted SPIW program seemed to have no end, and the recently adopted "full-power" 7.62mm M14 rifle faced serious production problems.

Enter the Armalite. In the year of 1957 The US Army requests the Armalite Division of the Fairchild Aircraft Corp to develop a rifle of .22 caliber, lightweight, select-fire, and capable to penetrate the standard steel helmet at 500 meters. The Eugene Stoner, then a designer at the Armalite, began to develop this rifle, based on his earlier design, 7.62mm AR-10 battle rifle. At the same time, experts at the Sierra Bullets and the Remington, in conjunction with Armalite, began do develop a new .22 caliber cartridge, based on the .222 Remington and .222 Remington Magnum hunting cartridges. This development, initially called the .222 Remington Special, was finally released as .223 Remington (metric designation 5.56x45mm). Next year Army tests new rifles, known as Ar-15, and rejects these in favor of the M14. Feeling that the Ar-15 rifle has poor chances to compete with the recently adopted M14 in the US Military, in 1959 the Fairchild Corp, a parent company of the Armalite, sells all rights and manufacturing documentation for this rifle to the Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, which had long-time relations with US Military and proven track of selling military guns both in USA and abroad. Colt instantly begins aggresive marketing campaign for the new rifle, stressing its accuracy, low recoil, light weight and modern design. In the 1962, US DoD Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) purchases 1000 AR-15 rifles from Colt and sends those rifles to the South Vietnam, for field trials. Same year brings glowing reports about the effectiveness of the new "black rifle", used by South Vietnamese forces.

 

Following the delays in introduction of the ill-fated 'next generation' SPIW system and production troubles with M14, in 1963 Colt receives contracts from US Government for 85 000 rifles for US Army (designated as XM16E1) and for further 19 000 rifles for US Air Forces (designated M16). The US AF M16 was no more than an AR-15 rifle with appropriate markings. The XM16E1 differed from AR-15/M16 by having an additional device, the so called "forward assist", which was used to manually push the bolt group in place in the case of jams. Next year US Air Forces officially adopted new rifle as M16. Same year US Army adopted the XM16E1 as a limited standard rifle, to fill the niche between discontinued 7.62mm M14 rifle and the forthcoming SPIW system (which newer got past the prototype and trial stages).

With rapidly growing presence of US troops in Vietnam, in 1966 US Government makes the first large purchase of the Ar-15 / M16 rifles, ordering 840 000 rifles for US Armed forces, worth almost $92 millions, and in 1967 US Army officially adopts the XM16E1 rifle as a standard "US Rifle, 5.56mm, M16A1".
During immediately following years, a number of negative reports apears from Vietnam. M16A1 rifles, issued to US troops in the Vietnam, severely jammed in combat, resulting in numerous casualties. There were some causes for malfunction. First of all, during the introduction of the new rifle and its ammunition into the service, US Army replaced originally specified Dupont IMR powder with standard ball powder, used in 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. The ball powder produced much more fouling, that quickly jammed the actions of the M16 unless the gun was cleared well and often. It also had different pressure curve, resulting in increased stress on operating parts of the gun. This pitifully combined with the fact that the initial M16 rifles were promoted by the Colt as "low maintenance", so, for the sake of economy, no cleaning supplies were procured for new M16 rifles, and no weapon care training was conducted fro the troops. As a result, soldiers did not knew how to clean their rifles, and had no provisions for cleaning, and things soon turned bad. Another cost-saving measure on the part of the Army was to give up with cromium plation of the barrel bore and bolt group, which made these parts much more sensitive to corrosion and rust that originally designed.

After several dramatic reports in US press and Congressional investigation of the troubles, several actions were taken to remedy the problems. The 5.56mm ammunition was now loaded using different powders that produce much less residue in the gun action. The barrel, chamber and bolt of the rifles were chrome-lined to improve corrosion resistance. Cleaning kits were procured and issued to troops, and a special training programs were developed and conducted ever since. Earliest cleaning kits could be carried separate from rifle only, but since circa 1970 all M16A1 rifles were manufactured with the containment cavity in the buttstock, that held the cleaning kit. At the same time (circa 1970) the new 30 rounds magazines were introduced into service instead of the original 20 rounds ones, to equal Soviet and Chinese AK-47 assault rifles, which had 30-rounds magazines from the very beginning.

Therefore, by the end of the US involvment in Vietnam war, the M16A1 rifle eventually became more or less mature. It gradually replaced older rifles in US service, and also influenced the work on the small-caliber ammunition and automatic firearms in other countries, including the USSR. This work culminated in the NATO trials, held in 1977 - 79, with intent to adopt a small-caliber, high-velocity cartridge to replace the potent, but somehow overly powerful 7.62mm NATO round as standard infantry rifle ammunition for the whole NATO organisation. Not surprisingly, the winner of the trials was the american 5.56x45mm cartridge, although in a version loaded with Belgian SS109 bullet, which provided better long-range ballistics than the original US 5.56mm M193 ammo.

In 1981, Colt developed a variation of the M16A1, adapted for the SS109/5.56mm NATO cartridge, and submitted it to the military trials as the M16A1E1. This rifle differed from the M16A1 by having the heavier barrel with faster 1:7 rifling, a different type rear sights (adjustable for both range and windage), round handguards instead of triangular ones, and by replacing the full-auto fire mode with the burst (limited to 3 rounds per trigger pull), to preserve the ammunition. It was officially adopted by US DoD as the "US Rifle, 5.56mm, M16A2" in 1982, which still is the primary infantry rifle for US Armed forces and a number of other armies and law enforcement organizations.

The development of the M16 rifle continued. By the mid-1990s, Colt, at the request of the US Special Forces, produced a carbine version of the M16A2, designated M4. This carbine traces its roots back to the 1960s vintage Colt CAR-15 carbine, but has several improvements. Actually, it was the M16A2 rifle, fitted with a shorter barrel and handguards, with the gas port moved back. The fixed buttstock was replaced by a retractable telescoping buttstock, originally designed in the mid-1960s by a Colt employee, Robert E. Roy for the Colt “Commando” carbines. The M4 was supposed to become the standard US Special Forces rifle, and could be fitted with the standard M16A2-type bayonet and the M203 40mm grenade launcher.

By 1996, the two newest versions of the M16 appeared, the M16A3 and M16A4. These differ from the M16A2 by having a removable carrying handle, with the upper receiver being fitted with a Picatinny-type accessory rail. Otherwise the M16A4 is similar to the M16A2, while the M16A3 also replaced the infamous three-round burst mode with a full auto mode. The key advantage of both the M16A3 and A4 rifles is the ability to quickly mount and re-mount a wide variety of optical, red dot or night vision / IR sights with MIL-STD 1913 (Picatinny-type) compatible mounts. The M4 carbine was also upgraded to “flat top” configuration, which is now standard.

The M16 is still a general-issue rifle with the US Armed forces. It is also widely used by the US Law Enforcement agencies, either in military form (for example, the LAPD had some M16s, retired from the Army), or in "civilian" semi-automatic only form. The AR-15 style rifles are made in the USA by at least a dozen large companies, such as ArmaLite, Bushmaster, Colt, FN Manufacturing, Hesse, Les Baer, Olympic, Wilson Combat, and by a number of smaller companies, many of which assemble their rifles from components made by other major manufacturers. M16-type rifles are also manufactured outside the USA, most notably in Canada, by Diemaco Co (now Colt Canada). China also makes some AR-15 type rifles at the NORINCO state factories, known as CQ. M16 rifles are used by many foreign military groups, most notably the British SAS, who preferred the M16 over the infamous L85A1 rifle, and by many others.

At the present time almost all of the initial flaws of the M16 have been removed and it is considered among the best assault rifles in the world. While its reliability in harsh conditions cannot match that of its main rival, the Kalashnikov AK-47 and AK-74, it is still a quite reliable weapon, especially when well maintained. It is also comfortable to fire and quite accurate.

It must be noted that during recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq (2002 and 2003, respectively), there were several controversial complaints about the effectiveness and reliability of the M16A2 and M4 rifles. It seems that most complaints about the reliability of the M16A2 rifles came from inadequate troop training and the resulting improper handling of the rifles. The M4 carbines are a somewhat different story, since the problems can be partially traced to the shortened gas system, which now operates at higher pressures, thus more violently. The M4 also rapidly overheated. Another general complaint was about the poor effectiveness of the standard M855 ammunition, which lacked stopping power especially from shorter M4 carbine barrels. To partially cure this problem, the US SOCOM recently issued a new type of 5.56 mm ammunition, the Mk.262 mod.0, which is loaded with heavier Sierra Match King bullets, weighing 4.99 gram compared with the 4.0 gram bullet in the M855 cartridge. The most recent experience also clearly showed the excessive length of the M16A2 rifles, which are too clumsy for motorised troops, riding in cars, armored carriers and helicopters. At the present time, many M16A2 rifles are being replaced in the hands of US troops with more compact and maneuverable M4A1 carbines.

One of the key advantages of the Stoner design, that must be especially stressed, is the extreme flexibility of the construction. At the present time the interchangeable complete upper receiver assemblies ("upper" in short) are available in various barrel lengths and profiles (from 7 to 24 inches long, slim and heavy), in dozens of rifle and pistol calibers (from tiny but fast .17 Remington and up to monstrous .458 SOCOM, and from .22LR and 9mm Luger up to mighty .50AE). Special, manually single-shot uppers are commercially available in the extremely powerful .50BMG (12.7x99mm) caliber. Various "lower receiver" assemblies offer a broad variety of trigger units, buttstocks and other options. This advantage is viable for both military (especially Spec Ops), Law Enforcement, and civilian applications, as it allows to tailor any particular AR-15 type rifle to the current situation and tactical needs.

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