Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Slovakia is NATO, We Are NATO - #WeAreNATO


Changing of the Guard, Windsor - Army Air Corps - Thursday 6th August 2009


2016:First deployment of the AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 Battlefield Reconnai...


2015:IHS Jane's speaks to the Army Air Corps on the introduction into service...


Panavia Tornado | Luftwaffe | German Air Force | HD


UK Leads Massive NATO Exercise in Scotland

NATO Exercise Joint Warrior 18-1 has commenced at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde,Scotland.The expansive,all-domain drills are being staged from 21 April to 4 May 2018.More than 11,600 personnel from 17 NATO Allies and Partners are participating,including:
Australia;Belgium;Canada;Denmark;Estonia;Finland;France;Germany;Latvia;Lithuania;the Netherlands;Norway;Spain;Sweden;Turkey;the UK;and the US.*
Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 is taking part along with six extra ships.For example,the US Navy is sending two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers,the USS Ross (DDG 71) and the USS Gravely (DDG 107),as well as the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12).
Besides the ships,the US Navy is detailing a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from the "Tridents" of Patrol Squadron (VP) 26.*
JW 18-1 scenarios include multiple sovereign nations disputing resources and territory;counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling activity;information warfare;and evacuation operations.JW 18-1 gives the NATO Allies and Partners the chance to practice high-end warfighting between near-peer adversaries,across air,land,sea and cyber domains.According to the exercise commander,Captain Joint Tactical Exercises Planning Staff,CAPT Paul Pritchard RN:
This exercise gives the UK participants a chance to train with our Allies and Partners,honing our skills and developing our tactics.It is hugely important in making sure we can fuse all elements of our capabilities,enhancing our ability to conduct joint operations now and in the future.*
For their part,the US Marine Corps Reserves' Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company,Force Headquarters Group,will assist with airborne assaults;amphibious landing;and training in counter-insurgency,counter-piracy and interstate war.Live-fire exercises are also on the programme at various weapons ranges.
Said 3rd Brigade platoon commander MAJ Graham Perry:
The area we will be conducting the exercise is unique in that it is the only location in the UK where you can practice live combined arms and naval gunfire integrated with ground indirect fire as well as close air support.*
Close air support will be provided by aircraft such as the Apache and Wildcat helicopters,as well as the Panavia Tornado fighter-bomber.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

E-8 Joint STARS Mission Launch • Crew Prep & Takeoff


Eyes on ISIS


Jordanian Arab Revolt Day Hashemite Army Parade W King/Crown Prince Army


Eager Lion 18 Launched in Jordan - protecting the desert kingdom and US national security

From 15-26 April 2018,some 3600 US Marines and Sailors will join the Jordanian Armed Forces in Exercise Eager Lion 18,one of US CENTCOM's premier drills.The annual,countrywide exercise involves scenarios ranging from strategic bombing missions to maritime security operations,and even a ground forces attack by a fictional adversary.*
The drills seek to improve the troops' collective ability to plan and project presence in a coalition environment.They will increase US-Jordanian security and warfighting skills,allowing them to better address common threats to regional security.For example,in one scenario,Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will stage an embassy reinforcement and noncombatant evacuation,conducting bilateral sustainment training in a variety of combat skillsets.
According to 26th MEU commanding officer COL Farrell J. Sullivan:
Eager Lion allows us to practice key mission essential tasks that span the range of military operations to resolve conflict and conduct combat operations against an enemy in remote,austere environments that would otherwise be inaccessible.This exercise will allow us to demonstrate how we can project combat power across great distances and sustain those forces from amphibious shipping.When it comes to crisis response,the amphibious ready group/MEU team is the force of choice.When called upon,we will be ready.*
US Navy ships participating include the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51),carrying components of the 26th MEU.The ships and personnel constitute the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group.*
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,led by His Majesty King Abdullah II,is 75% desert,with one small stretch of seacoast in the west of the country.It has long been one of America's closest allies in the Middle East.





Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Canada is NATO, We Are NATO - #WeAreNATO


GD Electric Boat's Lennon on Columbia-, Virginia-Class Submarines, Integ...


US Navy launches Trident II D5 missile from USS Nebraska


USS Nebraska Earns Top Award


USS Nebraska Test Firing Sends Powerful Message - plus the US and UK's new ballistic missile submarines

On 26 March 2018,the US Navy's Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) successfully launched two Trident II D5 missiles.The unarmed missiles were part of a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) in the Pacific Test Range off the California coast,the US Navy said.According to Captain Mark Benning,Deputy Director of Strategic System Programs (SSP):
The successful completion of DASO 28 was not only an important milestone in USS Nebraska's return to service,but also an important demonstration of the reliable and credible sea-based leg of the US nuclear deterrent triad.*
The primary objective of DASO 28 was to evaluate and demonstrate the readiness of the Nebraska's strategic weapon system and crew before its first operational deployment after its midlife refueling overhaul.The Nebraska is assigned to Submarine Group 9,one of eight Ohio-class submarines homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor,Washington State.Ballistic missile submarines are an element of the US Strategic Command (STRATCOM).*
DASO 28 was carefully monitored by the Military Sealift Command's USNS Waters (T-AGS 45).Its instrumentation and personnel,including scientists and engineers,tracked the submarine and its missiles through the launch process.*
Both the US and the UK are currently engaged in procuring new classes of ballistic missile submarines.The US is procuring the Columbia-class,which will consist of 12 submarines armed with 16 D5 missiles;while the UK is procuring the Dreadnought-class,which will have 3-4 submarines armed with 8 D5 missiles.The two classes will share a Common Missile Compartment (CMC) design,and the US is providing the UK with technical assistance;while the UK has provided substantial initial funding for the CMC.
The Columbia-class is named for the first submarine in the class,the USS Columbia (SSBN 826),named in honour of the District of Columbia.Procurement of the new submarine will run from 2019-2033,with the first SSBN entering service in 2029,a Congressional Research Service report to Congress indicated.*
General Dynamics (GD)

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

B-1 Bombers Arrive Back in CENTCOM AOR - plus more on MSGT Johnathan Dunbar

The B-1B Lancer bomber has arrived back at Al Udeid Air Base,Qatar,to resume strategic bombing missions after two years during which the B-52H Stratofortress had served in that role.The number of B-1s involved was not disclosed.
Airmen had been training intensely for several months for the CENTCOM precision strike missions at Ellsworth Air Force Base,South Dakota.They are rejoining Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria,and Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan.*
The US Soldier recently killed in action in Northern Syria,Master Sergeant Johnathan J. Dunbar of Austin,Texas,had served three tours in Iraq and three in Afghanistan.He was awarded three Bronze Star Medals,which are given for heroic or exceptionally meritorious service in a battle zone.The Bronze Star ranks just above the Purple Heart.*
He was described as being a member of Headquarters,US Army Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg,North Carolina-a designation which often implies being a member of the elite Delta Force.*
MSGT Dunbar had earned a Ranger Tab,which does not necessarily mean he actually served in the 75th Ranger Regiment.It does mean he graduated from Ranger School,signifying a high degree of expertise in small unit combat tactics.
He also had completed the Special Forces Sniper Course,and was awarded six Army Achievement Medals,as well as four Army Commendation Medals.
Certain US Airmen,Marines and Canadian Forces members have also earned the Ranger Tab.