Blackwater's "Grizzly" APC

Largely because it figured as an also-ran in the MRAP competitions, I have been slow to blog regarding Blackwater's Grizzly Armored Personnel Carrier.

Of all the photos of it I've seen, this is the one that makes it look least like an ungainly beast.

clipped from www.abovetopsecret.com

Notwithstanding, Blackwater put together a pretty nice presentation of their vehicle.

Blackwater on the job again in Baghdad

BAGHDAD - Despite opposition from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, US security company Blackwater was back on the streets of Baghdad on Friday, four days after being grounded over a fatal shooting incident.

Blackwater guards, whom a furious Maliki wanted replaced after they opened fire in Baghdad killing 10 innocent civilians, were on Friday protecting US personnel on limited missions, US spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said.

(Middle East Online)

Sounds like a good compromise. The Blackwater shutdown severely crimped U.S. operations in the Iraqi capital. This move permits operations to continue, but limits Blackwater while the investigations of the earlier shootings move along.

I wonder why al-Maliki opposed the move, though?

*****

Blackwater to purchase Super Tucano aircraft

August 27, 2007: Security company Blackwater U.S.A. is buying Super Tucano light combat aircraft from the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. These five ton, single engine, single seat aircraft are built for pilot training, but also perform quite well for counter-insurgency work. Brazil.
(StrategyPage)

Note that StrategyPage calls the Super Tucano a single-seat aircraft. That conflicts with my earlier report, though the plane does have a two-seat version for training. Blackwater is purchasing one of the trainers. Not a bad idea if they want to give their pilots training with the new planes.

There's just one thing that bothers me about this story, and that is that Wonkette wrote about the story before I did.

If my analysis is thin, theirs is thinner.

clipped from www.airforce-technology.com

More nice pics, along with some specifications, at this French page. One of the photos looks rather a lot like an artist's conception.