Posted on 07/02/2011 12:48:03 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Edited on 07/02/2011 1:21:40 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Germany has allowed the sale of 200 Leopard tanks to Saudi Arabia after decades of blocking heavy weapons sales to the kingdom, the Der Spiegel said Saturday.
The federal security council approved the sale last week, the weekly news magazine said without citing sources.
(Excerpt) Read more at expatica.com ...
You need to understand that the Saudi's are SO well armed its beyong comprehension. They just don't have all that many qualified soldiers to use what they have.
The breadth of Saudi military hardware is extremely vast and ready at a moments notice for somebody to climb into the cockpit that knows what they're doing and go to town.
The Saudi's spend billions just maintaing the hardware in a state of perpetual readyness according to engineering design specs. That means the M1A2's are fired up at minimal time intervals and brought to minimal operating temps per design specs Likewise w/the fighter jets: engines spooled up and run for X engineer specified amount of time to prolong storage life and absolute instantaneous readiness.
Just think of the Saudi military showcase to be akin to Jay Leno's car vault. They have everything but nobody to use it.
IF the Saudi's squeal, guess who comes running (and guess what they'll have at disposal)?
The amount they've spent on archival of their hardware is staggering to the knees.
Have you ever read “Secrets of the Kingdom” by Gerald Posner?
Quite right about the Saudis — they have tons of equipment. I question not only whether they have the manpower to use the hardware, but whether they have the maintenance personnel to maintain it. Saudis are not renowned for there technical skills.
“Quite right about the Saudis — they have tons of equipment. I question not only whether they have the manpower to use the hardware, but whether they have the maintenance personnel to maintain it. Saudis are not renowned for there technical skills.”
Its not a question. They don’t. Saudi contracts out most of its maintenance and over half of its US armor is in storage because they do not have the personnel to man it. De facto US prepositioning equipment funded by Saudi and supported by US FMS via MAAG Riyadh.
The first day of class, six Saudis showed up. The second day it was five — No. 6 was never seen again.
Attendance in class was spotty at best. No. 4 and 5 disappeared during week two. No. 3 would show up about one-third of the time and No. 2 seemed to come on the days No. 3 was off. No. 1 got showed up enough to absorb half the course.
A week before graduation was supposed to happen, the Lockheed instructor was asked how many would graduate to be certified as C-130 mechanics. The answer was none. Asked why, he responded “because the either weren't there or just took off and never came back.”
The Saudis eventually subcontracted the C-130 maintenance to the Pakistanis.
It hasn’t changed since.
Saudi has a small population to begin with.
The number willing to actually work is a very small minority of that.
Yeah, the Iraq war was total stupid. Not only did we take out Iran's enemy, we set it up for them to take over Iraq.
“Ze drem vil finali kum tru.”
In other news: "The sale of AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) surveillance planes to Saudi Arabia by the United States administration of President Ronald Reagan was a controversial part of what was then the largest foreign arms sale in US history. The sale saw objections from a majority of Americans, prominent US Senators, the State of Israel and the Israel lobby."
"More weapons for Israel to one day face. Thanks USA..."
Panzer literally means “armor”.
“More weapons for Israel to one day face.” .............................. Its all about “training” and “the will” to fight. Which military is the better lead and better fed? This is more about Iran than Israel.
Lest we forget all the arms we sold Iraq a few decades back...
“Its got a better gun system”
I doubt this, because they both share the same smooth bore gun.
Yeah, I know its the same gun, but the “system” pointing it is the key. Some folks rate the Leapord’s as better than the Abrahams’.
Where the Leapord shines IMO is in its range and mobility. Its not hard to “soft kill” Abrahams. Just take out their fuel train. >PS
Actually, there’s an export industry for those used cars. Run by expats. Been going on for decades.
The Saudi dumps his broke car and buys another. The expats buy the abandoned car cheap, fixes it up and sells it for a profit in countries nearby that are not so rich...
Recycling before it was “cool” to recycle. I love capitalism at work.
You answered:
...........“Its got a better gun system”
I doubt this, because they both share the same smooth bore gun..........
Although it is true that the Abrams uses the same cannon like the first Leopard 2 (Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44), the current models Leopard 2A6 and Leopard 2A7 use a improved and longer cannon (Rheinmetall 120 mm L/55). Since US tanks do not mess around with Leos, there is no millitary need for an upgrade in the moment. Nevertheless we love to sell you some new cannons that are up to date.
Regards from Europe!
Andreas
You said:
“...More weapons for Israel to one day face. Thanks Germany...”
What I heared was that the Israelis were in favor of this deal since they want the Saudis being able to defend themselves aganinst Iran.
Regards from Europe!
Andreas
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