UK agrees mutual security deals with Finland and Sweden

[DB]

"This video isn't available any more"

[Sardaukar]

Just now, DB said:

"This video isn't available any more"

Yea, noticed that myself too.

Well...

[Sardaukar]

The major concern now for the "party PM" seems to be the rights of Sami people.

Problem seems to be that not even them can agree who is Sami people....

[Yama]

10 hours ago, Sardaukar said:

The major concern now for the "party PM" seems to be the rights of Sami people.

Problem seems to be that not even them can agree who is Sami people....

They can, it's the outsiders who have a problem with it...

What was that video about?

[Sardaukar]

13 hours ago, Yama said:

They can, it's the outsiders who have a problem with it...

What was that video about?

It was about drones. Pity it was taken down, it was decent take on issue.

[Sardaukar]

On 11/10/2022 at 11:57 PM, Yama said:

They can, it's the outsiders who have a problem with it...

What was that video about?

About Sami...it seems that lot of claiming to be Sami people are peeved about some "clique" running Saamelaiskäräjät (Sami Parliament).

This always bodes well for any legislation concerning them. 

https://yle.fi/a/3-12677248

The legislation would change the way the register of voters is compiled for Sámi Parliament elections, eliminating the eligibility of those whose only claim to Sámi heritage is an ancestors' tax record as a 'Laplander'. 

What next, mandatory DNA test?

[Roman Alymov]

4 minutes ago, Sardaukar said:

 

What next, mandatory DNA test?

That is why some ethnic groups in Russia are lobbying for return of "ethnicity" to official ID papers.

[Sardaukar]

7 minutes ago, Roman Alymov said:

That is why some ethnic groups in Russia are lobbying for return of "ethnicity" to official ID papers.

They don't want to be Soviets (homo sovieticus) or Russians in nowaday-speak?

 

[Roman Alymov]

4 minutes ago, Sardaukar said:

They don't want to be Soviets (homo sovieticus) or Russians in nowaday-speak?

 

There are legal benefits of belonging to "small ethnic group" in Russia (as this Soiviet practice was kept and enlarged), so this behaviour is quite logical and rewarding financially. More over, politicians from this groups are directly interested in keeping their "voting base" not dissolved in increasingly urban envirionment of Russia.

[Sardaukar]

Just now, Roman Alymov said:

There are legal benefits of belonging to "small ethnic group" in Russia (as this Soiviet practice was kept and enlarged), so this behaviour is quite logical and rewarding financially. More over, politicians from this groups are directly interested in keeping their "voting base" not dissolved in increasingly urban envirionment of Russia.

That is interesting. Didn't know Russia had sort of minority policy. Well, not a positive one, that is...

What we do know is, that majority getting into Russian army are minorities, because it is often only viable economic route for them.

[Roman Alymov]

1 minute ago, Sardaukar said:

That is interesting. Didn't know Russia had sort of minority policy. Well, not a positive one, that is...

What we do know is, that majority getting into Russian army are minorities, because it is often only viable economic route for them.

No idea who are this "we" but it is simply wrong. 47 small ethnic groups are legally excluded from mandatory conscript service as they are considered too valuable to potentially loose their men. Still, majority of Army are "ethnic Russians" (it is very loose definition as there is no official track of ethnicity), but it unit is stationed in, for excample, Buryatia - Buryats will be overrepresented in this unit contract soldiers, quite logically. 

[Sardaukar]

@Roman Alymov

I just say as our president said.

 

[Yama]

On 11/15/2022 at 6:57 PM, Sardaukar said:

About Sami...it seems that lot of claiming to be Sami people are peeved about some "clique" running Saamelaiskäräjät (Sami Parliament).

This always bodes well for any legislation concerning them. 

https://yle.fi/a/3-12677248

The legislation would change the way the register of voters is compiled for Sámi Parliament elections, eliminating the eligibility of those whose only claim to Sámi heritage is an ancestors' tax record as a 'Laplander'. 

What next, mandatory DNA test?

The problem is that the current law is somewhat ambiguous, and Supreme Administrative Court has added people to the Saami voter register based on very old records of Saami ancenstry (in few cases back to the 1700s). Majority of the Saami view that these people can't be Saami, as they have never had a contact with a living relative who is a Saami. Also, such a criteria would mean there are suddenly hundreds of thousands of Finns who can legally claim to be 'Saami'.

[Yama]

On 11/15/2022 at 7:24 PM, Sardaukar said:

That is interesting. Didn't know Russia had sort of minority policy. Well, not a positive one, that is...

It dates back all the way to Russian Empire. Soviets could not completely dismantle the system as the country was hard enough to govern as it was.

[Sardaukar]

Finland just used option to purchase 38 more K9 Thunder SPGs.

That will increase number of those SPGs to 96. 

[Yama]

Cool. There were rumours of some guns being in poor condition, but the problem can't be too serious if the option is exercised. I wonder if this means that our towed field artillery will be reduced - or possibly some of it is already shipped to Ukraine...?

[bojan]

96 with 18 per bn is 6bns, or 2 regiments. IMO there should be at least 1 arty rgt per mech/armored bde + bde integral Bn.

[Yama]

Well great news! We have no armored brigades anymore 

I'm pretty sure that long-range field guns often have just 12 per battalion anyway.

Edited November 17, 2022 by Yama

[Sardaukar]

14 hours ago, bojan said:

96 with 18 per bn is 6bns, or 2 regiments. IMO there should be at least 1 arty rgt per mech/armored bde + bde integral Bn.

We don't have that many brigades, most of organization nowadays is Battalion Task Groups/Battalion Combat Teams. Basically mechanized/motorized BTGs in operational level and Inf BTGs in more local defence. 

"Battalion Combat Team" can be bit misleading, since it often has c. 3000 troops and is capable of independent operations. 

 

[Sardaukar]

https://yle.fi/a/3-12679817

The purpose of the annual parade is to commemorate Finland's independence, to display to the public the equipment FDF holds, and to raise the spirit of national defence. The event also honours war veterans as well as members of the Lotta Svärd, a Finnish voluntary auxiliary paramilitary organisation for women.

"Independence is not self-evident, it must be cherished - sometimes even defended," Salo noted.

The will among Finnish people to defend the country has risen to record levels since last spring, and Salo said that ordinary citizens coming to see the Independence Day parade can also contribute to national security.

"The Finnish will to defend their country has always been at a very high level, but it is good that it has been strengthened. Everyone has a part to play," he said. 

 

Since I started my professional military career there and before that did my Reserve Officer Course there as conscript, fond memories.

 

[Sardaukar]

More stuff from USA to Finland:

https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/finland-aim-9x-block-ii-tactical-missiles-and-agm-154-joint-standoff

The Government of Finland has requested to buy forty (40) AIM 9X Block II tactical missiles; four (4) AIM 9X Block II tactical guidance units; and forty-eight (48) AGM-154 Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW). Also included are Dummy Air Training Missiles (DATM); Captive Air Training Missile (CATM); Captive Flight Vehicles (CFVs); Free Flight Vehicles (FFVs); containers; mission planning; integration support and testing; munitions storage security and training; weapon operational flight program software development; transportation; tools and test equipment; support equipment; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services; books and other publications; training; training aids and devices; space parts; support equipment; weapon system software support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; studies and surveys; missile technical assistance; other technical assistance; and other related elements of program and logistics support. The total estimated cost is $323.3 million.

[DB]

Presumably for carry on the locked up US systems that Finland already has in service or on order. From the contract value, this looks like a completely new type.

[Sardaukar]

2 hours ago, DB said:

Presumably for carry on the locked up US systems that Finland already has in service or on order. From the contract value, this looks like a completely new type.

Considering the value, it apparently includes lots of logistic support etc. 

[Colin]

On 11/15/2022 at 9:20 AM, Roman Alymov said:

There are legal benefits of belonging to "small ethnic group" in Russia (as this Soiviet practice was kept and enlarged), so this behaviour is quite logical and rewarding financially. More over, politicians from this groups are directly interested in keeping their "voting base" not dissolved in increasingly urban envirionment of Russia.

Happening here in Canada with indigenous groups and debates of how is one and how much blood do you need. 

[Sardaukar]

More Stingers:

https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/finland-stinger-man-portable-ground-air-missiles

The Government of Finland has requested to buy three hundred fifty (350) FIM-92K Stinger Man Portable missiles; and five (5) Production Verification Flight Test (PVFT) FIM-92K Stinger Man Portable missiles. Also included is support equipment; production support, engineering and technical services; transportation services; and other related elements of program and logistics support. The total estimated cost is $380 million.