Mexico just had it's big yearly independence day military parades. Things of note:>1 Squad level light mortars and vehicle mounted auxiliary mortars are being mass implemented similar to French doctrine. >2 Integrated squad & platoon level FPV drones will see mass incorporation as well as loadbearing ground drones for some divisions>3 Semi-automatic grenade launchers at the squad level replacing the 1 UBGL per squad current policy>4 The hodgepodge of Humvees and various truck based APCs are being fully replaced by the Ocelotl, a local assembly variant of the Streit Cobra but with composite cab and roof armor from the factory & cloned Mercedes 6 cylinder engine if they haven't already been replaced by the DN-XI which is a localized Plasan Sandcat>5 Pickup trucks & behind the line utility vehicles are all being replaced by the Holkom, a domestic armored pickup truck using licensed Mercedes Unimog drivetrain>6 SARAF Balaam, a domestic RWS system will soon appear on most combat vehicles and the open top machine gunner will disappear >7 Infantry squads appear to finally be getting standard LMGs. This replaces the setup where each squad just has the dismountable GMPG on the roof of their vehicle but no dismounted SAW natively. Likely because it's no longer feasible to take the MG out of the RWS systems>8 Squad level anti drone electronic weapons systems>9 The ancient fleet of tracked French and German armor is retired and will be replaced by tracked and 8x8 vehicles in coming years>10 More Blackhawks have been ordered and will replace aging out Mi17 units, no word if these will be sent to Ukraine like a few have previously>11 The army has released an official doctrine of how it will lay out future proper armored divisions meaning old light armor may be replaced by MBTs/IFVs in the future>12 Heavy investments into interdiction, detection &surveillance tech. There is now direct communications & intel exchange with US forces for anti drug & human trafficking
>>65517255>7 Infantry squads appear to finally be getting standard LMGs. This replaces the setup where each squad just has the dismountable GMPG on the roof of their vehicle but no dismounted SAW natively. Likely because it's no longer feasible to take the MG out of the RWS systemsIt's because Mexico was trying to make their own LMG within the Xiuhcoatl family but there was too much friction as to whether it would be 5.56 or 7.62. Notice how the FX05 has also already fully replaced the G3 on paper but you still see the G3 being used in combat footage even when you can see an M4 or FX05 on the same soldiers back. The Mexican army tries to always engage at a range they know the narcos struggle to hit them at, hence their affinity for battle rifles, Barretts and now mortars. The country us mostly mountains and woods, not actually desert and long engagements are normal.
>>65517255Mini drones with flags dropped pastries
>>65517255Holkom domestically made pickup trucks. The frame and drivetrain are based on some sort of locally re-engineered UNIMOG type frame but have a domestically designed cab with composite armor. It's lighter than the core UNIMOG and retains the portal axels but has some sort of light duty Mexican made Mercedes clone engine designed to be faster on roads and handle better with lighter weight, more similar to a light truck. Cab has LVL2 composite armor and the rear can also be uparmored. Holkom means fighter in Yucatan Mayan. Limited to 70mph electronically but can do more with governor removed.
>>65517255>There is now direct communications & intel exchange with US forces for anti drug & human traffickingPotentially biggest thing in the list, if this actually works out.
