RazorWaltz

Old meets new... Foshan Shadi in 2022. #wz7 #an2 #plaaf

@fabsenbln.bsky.social @saladinaldronni.bsky.social

At some point in 2024, the unit changed its patch from a circle to a shield. Reminds me of Russian FSB special forces patches.

Dragon in particular appears to be Traore's personal bodyguard, appearing alongside or behind him in almost every photo since he took power. Note the karabiner and name tape.

Members of the unit appear to go by call signs or nicknames, rather than their real names. (Similar to Wagner call signs...) Notables include Tarzan, DUC, Papa and Dragon.

Another piece of characteristic kit carried by the unit is two leather briefcases. These appear in most photos and contain concealed kevlar shields manufactured by the French firm GKPro.

The AK-12s appear to have been acquired shortly after Traore and members of Azraël (and other units) attended the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit. Several members were photographed at the Kalshnikov Concern booth.

Arms used by Azraël include: CZ BREN 2 7.62s with Trijicon MRO sights, CZ Scorpion Evo 3s, various handguns and AK-12s with 1P87 sights.

The arms and uniform of the unit appear to change frequently, often after international visits or arms deals. Members are often dressed in Crye-like fatigues matching Traore's own expansive wardrobe.

While Azraël members are often seen in the background of images of Traore, clear shots of the unit's insignia are rare. An image taken of one member (Callsign: Tarzan) at the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit reveals the unit's motto: "La mission est sacrée" (the mission is sacred)

Captain Ibrahim #Traore, the acting President of Burkina Faso who seized power in a coup in 2022 is almost always photographed in military fatigues, flanked by a bodyguard unit that accompanies him everywhere. This unit, armed with cutting-edge weapons and gear, is known as "Azraël"

While much has been written about Russia's PMCs operating in Africa i.e. #africacorps #wagner #pmcBEAR etc., little has been written about the local units they've trained and/or supported. I'd like to shed some light on those units, beginning with #Burkina Faso.

Pintle mounts for attaching #DSHk and #type88 type machine guns (as well as other weapons) to motorcycles are also common. Its unclear if the mounts are welded to the frames themselves, but they bear the hallmarks of bespoke craftmanship.

This #SVD pattern rifle was captured from VEO's operating in #Mali by FAMa a few weeks ago... Check out the magazines that have been welded together, jungle-tape style. VEO's operating in the Sahel clearly have some skilled welders amongst them...

8) The Ningbo Apache also has a fiberglass cousin at the China Aviation Museum (中国航空博物馆) north of Beijing. This replica was built by a PLA colonel by the name of Meng Yifeng. This model lacks a Longbow radar and has strange, chopped rotorblades.

7) Recent images from the park show the Ningbo Apache in a state of disrepair suffering damage from both salty air and the garden planted at its landing gear. Other aircraft at the site suffer the same fate, each 7) ending up looking a bit like the robot from Castle in the Sky.

6) The website for the park even features an amazingly bizarre image of PLA soldiers diving out of the Apache's cockpit as if it were an air assault transport.

5) Today, the Ningbo Apache is on display near the entrance to the park, next to some conventional AAA guns, although its display area has been renovated a few times since its arrival.

4) In reality, this aircraft is a fiberglass clone. This particular replica arrived at the China Air Defense Expo Park (中国防空博览园) in Ningbo, China in mid-2011 according to local media. Images of its arrival show it on the same trailer from Western news articles published in 2013.

3) Rumors swirled about origins of the aircraft... Had it been shot down at the 2003 Battle of Karbala? A perfect clone being trialed by the PLA? Netizens even speculated it was an Egyptian Apache captured by Sinai-based militants based on the color scheme.

2) In 2013, images appeared in Western media of what appeared to be an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter being transported on a flatbed at a rest stop in China.

1) We'll start off this page with an oldie but a goodie from my old tumblr page... China's AH-64 Apache clone! #osint #china #aviation #plaaf

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