Lebanon’s MiGs on their Way

The 10 MiGs promised by Russia may hit the Lebanese skies very soon:

Russian military group of experts will be visiting Lebanon in the next few days, on a mission that consists of exploring the capabilities of Lebanese airports to maintain the MiGs. Days later, Lebanese military envoys will pay a visit to Moscow in order to put the final touches on the deal,

I’m not going to bore you with the analysis and criticisms that followed the initial news report. I recommend checking out Pierre Tristam’s post on the motives for the Russian move.

MiGs for Lebanon: Which button releases the ashtray?

Check out these great posts:

• The Enemy of My Enemy…
• Military Spending
• Army Goes Cubic

Army Goes Cubic

A press release from California:

Cubic Corporation has been awarded defense contracts totaling more than $5 million to supply combat training systems to the governments of Lebanon and Kyrgyzstan, new international customers for Cubic.
[...]
Manufactured by Cubic’s Simulation Systems Division in Orlando, the state-of-the-art systems use digital video projectors, high-definition screens, game-based computer graphics and simulated weapons to create realistic, ballistically accurate “virtual” combat scenarios. They are used to teach and maintain marksmanship skills, team and squad training, and provide “shoot/don’t shoot” training for soldiers and police officers.

In essence the army has got its hand on some Nintendo Wii’s.

Lebanon has purchased five 10-lane EST 2000s that will be used by the conventional and Special Operations Forces of the Lebanese Army at five locations throughout the country.

Actually, they weren’t ‘purchased’, but once again, are a donation by the US and part of their military assistance package.

Check out these great posts:

• Lebanon’s MiGs on their Way
• US Plans for Anti-Hezbollah Force
• The Enemy of My Enemy…