The Funeral of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 🔴 Live - BBC

NATO Secretary General w/the US Secretary of State and the US Secretary ...

SecDef Austin:More US Combat Power Headed to Germany

Some 500 more US troops will be deployed to Germany,US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III declared in Germany, where he met with German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.He also said that planning for implementing former President Donald Trump's order to withdraw 12,000 troops from Germany had been halted, effectively nullifying the order.According to Mr.Austin: This planned increase in US personnel underscores our commitment to Germany and the entire NATO Alliance.* The forces will be stationed in Wiesbaden,site of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, joining the 33,000-36,000 US Soldiers currently in Germany.Secretary Austin noted that: They will augment our existing abilities to prevent conflict and,if necessary, fight and win.* He also added that this move will create more space,cyber and electronic warfare capabilities in Europe, and will enable the US to more easily surge forces at a moment's notice in defence of NATO Allies.* The new US forces will consist of a Multi-Domain Task Force having artillery; composite air and missile defence; intelligence; cyber,space and electronic warfare assets-plus a Theater Fires Command to augment readiness and interoperability with NATO Allies. Both units had been prefigured in a US Army plan as long ago as 2018, which then sought to constitute the equivalent of division-level combat power with a field artillery brigade HQ;two multiple rocket-launch system battalions; and a short-range air defence battalion.The new plan has reduced the troop level increase fnrom 1500 to 500.* COL Joe Scrocca, spokesman for U.S. Army Europe and Africa explained that: The Theater Fires Command and Mult-Domain Task Force in Europe will enable U.S. Army Europe and Africa to synchronize joint fires and effects, control future long range fires across all domains, and will create more space, cyber and electronic warfare capabilities in Europe, integrating joint and multi-national fires in exercises and operations in support of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.* The planned activation dates are 16 September 2021 for the Multi-Domain Task Force and 16 October 2021 for the Theater Fires Command.* Additionally,three infrastructure complexes, including housing,in Mainz-Kastel and Darmstadt, that were to have been returned to Germany,are being retained in light of new strategies and a continually changing operational environment.The complexes are part of 21st Theater Sustainment Command.* The moves come at a time of heightened NATO concern about a large increase in Russian forces- by up to 80,000-in Russian-occupied Crimea and along the border with Eastern Ukraine.Ms.Kramp-Karrenbauer expressed relief at the restoration of close military ties with the US that had been frayed under former President Donald Trump.*

U.S. 2nd Fleet, U.S. 6th Fleet, and II Marine Expeditionary Force Collaborate during Joint Staff Discussions

U.S. 2nd Fleet, U.S. 6th Fleet, and II Marine Expeditionary Force Collaborate during Joint Staff Discussions: U.S. 2nd Fleet (C2F) staff met with U.S. 6th Fleet (C6F) and II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) staffs virtually to discuss best practices for maritime effectiveness, Apr. 7.

National Security Cutters At Coast Guard Base Alameda,California - National Security Cutters Bertholf,Waesche and Stratton

National Security Cutter Deployed to Europe:Russian Build-Up

For some weeks now,Russia has been bulking up its forces both in occupied Crimea, Ukraine and along the border of Eastern Ukraine.These forces include combat helicopters.Just what Russian President Vladimir I in Putin has in mind remains uncertain; but NATO is gravely concerned about its Partner Ukraine, with The New York Times reporting the U.S. European Command raising its WATCHCON (Watch Condition) from " possible crisis" to "potentially imminent crisis."This alert level was elevated with the approval of US EUCOM Commander/Supreme Allied Commander Europe GEN Tod Wolters.* The US Coast Guard is sending Legend-class National Security Cutter USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) from Puerto Rico to the European theatre.After escorting two Fast Response Cutters across the Atlantic to their new homeport in Bahrain, the Hamilton will conduct a patrol in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet AOR to maintain maritime security alongside NATO Allies and Partners, the Coast Guard said.* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants NATO to expand its naval presence in the Black Sea Region,he told NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a phone call: Such a permanent presence should be a powerful deterrent to Russia, which continues the large-scale militarisation of the region and hinders merchant shipping.In recent weeks,we have seen a very dangerous tendency with an increase in the number of ceasefire violations by the Russian occupying forces and the number of Ukrainian defenders killed (8).* Mr.Zelensky also noted Russia's build-up on Ukraine's borders with forces ready for an offensive.A NATO representative told German media outlet WELT: We remain vigilant and continue monitoring the situation very closely...destabilising measures by Russia undermine all efforts to de-escalate tensions within the ceasefire agreement of July 27,2020, concluded with the participation of the OSCE.The Allies share concerns about Russia's large scale military activities in and around Ukraine.* Indeed, it's been observed that, farther afield, three Russian ballistic missile submarines broke through the ice near the North Pole.Responding to a reporter's question during a briefing, Pentagon Press Secretary RADM John Kirby ,US Navy retired, said that: I think we've been very clear about threats that we see from Russia across domains.You mentioned some maritime issues,some air dimensions.There's certainly cyber threats and we're taking them very, very seriously.* As to EUCOM raising its watch level ,Mr.Kirby observed that: I can't speak to specifics in terms of EUCOM'S watch level,but just process-wise,a WATCHCON basically expresses a combatant commander's concern about a potential threat and the ability to provide potential warnings.So by setting a WATCHCON, basically the commander is better able to identify and track a threat and alert decision-makers.It's a way of improving and increasing a leader's visibility, noting that there's something worth watching-and "watching" is the operative word in there: that's what a WATCHCON is.I can't confirm or speak specifically as to what GEN Wolters did or didn't do with respect to his WATCHCON levels.* A National Security Cutter has an electronic warfare system, including chaff and rapid decoy launchers.It is armed with a MK110 57mm gun;1x20mm Block 1B Baseline 2 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System ;4 .50 caliber Browning M2 machine guns;2 M240B 7.62 mm machine guns;and is designed for additional weapons and sensors.As well,its communications are NATO-compatible. The NSC embarks an MH-65C Dolphin helicopter. * Fabrinet Nationale,SA of Belgium owns Browning and Winchester.Its stock symbol is FN. Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc (HII)

WORLD'S FASTEST Strategic Aircraft Tu-160 Take Off & Landing