Tuesday, September 25, 2018
The Donbas War:US Air Force Spy Plane Arrives as Ukraine Sets Up Its New Naval Base
A new front in the Donbas War in Eastern Ukraine may be opening up in the Sea of Azov,a bay-like body of water at the top of the Black Sea fronted by Ukraine to the west and Russia to the east.And with this development,the United States has taken a step in greater involvement in the conflict by sending a sophisticated reconnaissance aircraft to possibly assist NATO partner Ukraine with intelligence support for the naval base project.
On 22 September 2018,the Russian FSB (KGB successor) announced that ships of the FSB Coast Guard were dispatched to intercept two Ukrainian Navy ships that had entered the "exclusive economic zone" near Russian-annexed Crimea.These intercepted ships were the Ukrainian Navy's A 500 Donbas search&rescue ship and A 830 Korets seagoing tug.They had departed from Odessa,Ukraine on 20 September and were enroute to Mariupol and then Berdyansk,where the new naval base is going up.The two Ukrainian vessels were accompanied by small armoured artillery boats P 177 Kremenchuk and P 178 Lubny,which had been dispatched from the port of Berdyansk to support the Donbas and the Korets.
Meanwhile,at about 1200 hours local time,a US Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft began operations over the Kerch Strait area.The Kerch Strait is the narrow channel between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.Crossing the Strait is an illegal Russian-built bridge connecting the Taman Peninsula to Crimea which has been criticised by Ukraine and NATO.*
One of the FSB armed Coast Guard ships was the patrol ship Ametist (project 22460) which,with two other unidentified FSB patrol ships intercepted the Ukrainian Navy ships when they passed the Crimean city of Sevastopol.One of the FSB Coast Guard ships violated international norms by coming too close to the Ukrainians.Recall that the Ukrainian ships were transiting the Black Sea at this point to reach the Sea of Azov by way of the Kerch Strait.*
The Ukrainian ship Donbas will strengthen the Ukrainian Navy's fleet infrastructure on the Sea of Azov,helping establish the headquarters,barracks,warehouses and other critical facilities which are currently lacking.As well,on 12 September,Colonel General Serhiy Popko,commander,Ukrainian Ground Forces,said Ukraine would augment its ground forces near the Sea of Azov with permanent territorial defence structures,missile and artillery forces,plus Ukrainian Air Force assets,to provide a "reliable coastal defence."*
The RC-135V is considered a premier SIGINT collection platform.The US Air Force has 17 RC-135s,which are converted Boeing airliners that have been operational and upgraded since 1964.The RC-135 has participated in every major conflict since that time,and the UK has acquired its own Rivet Joint aircraft.*
As the Ukrainian ships approached the Kerch Strait,they were met by more than 10 FSB Coast Guard ships and Russian Navy warships,while also being buzzed by low-flying Russian aircraft.Nonetheless,the Ukrainian Navy ships made it safely to their objective.*
The Stratfor Company,a noted consultancy and publisher in the strategic and international studies field,made the following remarks on the Sea of Azov crisis:
The military buildup could lead to growing economic disruption of shipping in and out of the sea.Russia is stronger than Ukraine on the sea,but robust US support for Kiev could alter the situation in the area.
As a result of growing tensions,a flare-up is now entirely possible,especially if the United States brings its weight to bear in the conflict.*
The Boeing Company (BA)
On 22 September 2018,the Russian FSB (KGB successor) announced that ships of the FSB Coast Guard were dispatched to intercept two Ukrainian Navy ships that had entered the "exclusive economic zone" near Russian-annexed Crimea.These intercepted ships were the Ukrainian Navy's A 500 Donbas search&rescue ship and A 830 Korets seagoing tug.They had departed from Odessa,Ukraine on 20 September and were enroute to Mariupol and then Berdyansk,where the new naval base is going up.The two Ukrainian vessels were accompanied by small armoured artillery boats P 177 Kremenchuk and P 178 Lubny,which had been dispatched from the port of Berdyansk to support the Donbas and the Korets.
Meanwhile,at about 1200 hours local time,a US Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft began operations over the Kerch Strait area.The Kerch Strait is the narrow channel between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.Crossing the Strait is an illegal Russian-built bridge connecting the Taman Peninsula to Crimea which has been criticised by Ukraine and NATO.*
One of the FSB armed Coast Guard ships was the patrol ship Ametist (project 22460) which,with two other unidentified FSB patrol ships intercepted the Ukrainian Navy ships when they passed the Crimean city of Sevastopol.One of the FSB Coast Guard ships violated international norms by coming too close to the Ukrainians.Recall that the Ukrainian ships were transiting the Black Sea at this point to reach the Sea of Azov by way of the Kerch Strait.*
The Ukrainian ship Donbas will strengthen the Ukrainian Navy's fleet infrastructure on the Sea of Azov,helping establish the headquarters,barracks,warehouses and other critical facilities which are currently lacking.As well,on 12 September,Colonel General Serhiy Popko,commander,Ukrainian Ground Forces,said Ukraine would augment its ground forces near the Sea of Azov with permanent territorial defence structures,missile and artillery forces,plus Ukrainian Air Force assets,to provide a "reliable coastal defence."*
The RC-135V is considered a premier SIGINT collection platform.The US Air Force has 17 RC-135s,which are converted Boeing airliners that have been operational and upgraded since 1964.The RC-135 has participated in every major conflict since that time,and the UK has acquired its own Rivet Joint aircraft.*
As the Ukrainian ships approached the Kerch Strait,they were met by more than 10 FSB Coast Guard ships and Russian Navy warships,while also being buzzed by low-flying Russian aircraft.Nonetheless,the Ukrainian Navy ships made it safely to their objective.*
The Stratfor Company,a noted consultancy and publisher in the strategic and international studies field,made the following remarks on the Sea of Azov crisis:
The military buildup could lead to growing economic disruption of shipping in and out of the sea.Russia is stronger than Ukraine on the sea,but robust US support for Kiev could alter the situation in the area.
As a result of growing tensions,a flare-up is now entirely possible,especially if the United States brings its weight to bear in the conflict.*
The Boeing Company (BA)
Monday, September 24, 2018
Friday, September 21, 2018
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Rapid Trident 18:Preparing Ukraine for NATO
From 3-15 September 2018,troops from 14 nations assembled at Ukraine's International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Yavoriv for two weeks of intensive training.The Rapid Trident 18 drills were aimed at building the sophistication of the Ukrainian Land Forces while strengthening the bonds with and between the multinational cohort.Ukraine aspires to NATO membership,as does the Republic of Georgia.As part of their path to NATO,both nations must undertake defence reform to ensure their interoperability with Alliance and partner forces.
Those militaries participating in RT 18 included: Azerbaijan;Bulgaria;Canada;Denmark;Georgia;Germany;Lithuania;Moldova;Poland;as well as Romania;Turkey;the UK;Ukraine;and the US.
The annual exercise builds military interoperability through establishing professional relationships and fostering camaraderie in the process of building Ukraine's sustainable training capacity and supporting defence reform,according to US 7th Army Training Command.*
The multinational forces served as trainers,observers and mentors throughout the situational training in platoon-level tasks such as border control and security;cordon and search;medevac and combat lifesaving;convoy security;reaction to contact;countering IEDs;bomb disposal;checkpoint security;observation post operations;drone usage for aerial observation;and armour manoeuvre and tactics. The second week of the drills combined all the training objectives into a live action field exercise for the Ukrainian training battalions,which included the Ukrainian Special Forces;Conventional Forces;National Guard;and Border Guard.
Representing the US were about 100 Soldiers from the California Army National Guard and around 200 from the Tennessee Army National Guard,which is currently serving a nine-month deployment at Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.The US National Guard units have developed very strong ties with the Ukrainian Land Forces over several years of staffing the JMTG-U.
Those militaries participating in RT 18 included: Azerbaijan;Bulgaria;Canada;Denmark;Georgia;Germany;Lithuania;Moldova;Poland;as well as Romania;Turkey;the UK;Ukraine;and the US.
The annual exercise builds military interoperability through establishing professional relationships and fostering camaraderie in the process of building Ukraine's sustainable training capacity and supporting defence reform,according to US 7th Army Training Command.*
The multinational forces served as trainers,observers and mentors throughout the situational training in platoon-level tasks such as border control and security;cordon and search;medevac and combat lifesaving;convoy security;reaction to contact;countering IEDs;bomb disposal;checkpoint security;observation post operations;drone usage for aerial observation;and armour manoeuvre and tactics. The second week of the drills combined all the training objectives into a live action field exercise for the Ukrainian training battalions,which included the Ukrainian Special Forces;Conventional Forces;National Guard;and Border Guard.
Representing the US were about 100 Soldiers from the California Army National Guard and around 200 from the Tennessee Army National Guard,which is currently serving a nine-month deployment at Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.The US National Guard units have developed very strong ties with the Ukrainian Land Forces over several years of staffing the JMTG-U.
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
US Ups Its NATO Commitment to Germany
US Army Europe is increasing its troop strength in Germany,despite President Donald Trump's recent complaints that Germany isn't doing enough to defend itself and its NATO allies.Between now and 2020,USAEUR will be sending new units comprised of 1500 additional troops,mainly to Southern Germany.The move will round out existing US combat forces in Germany up to divisional strength.The new total commitment to Germany will be 34,800 American Soldiers in Deutschland.
Germany praised the decision.*
The new US forces will include:
1.a field artillery brigade HQ in Bavaria,Southern Germany;
2.2 multiple rocket launch system battalions in Bavaria;
3.a short-range air defence battalion in Ansbach,Bavaria;
4.support personnel at Grafenwoehr,Bavaria;and
5.support personnel at Baumholder,Rhineland-Palatinate,Western Germany,near the border with France.
According to USAEUR:
The addition of these forces increases US Army readiness in Europe and ensures we are better able to respond to any crisis.*
A Newsweek magazine investigation showed that the Trump administration has increased spending on USAEUR and its drills by up to 40%,or 1.4 billion dollars.
Germany praised the decision.*
The new US forces will include:
1.a field artillery brigade HQ in Bavaria,Southern Germany;
2.2 multiple rocket launch system battalions in Bavaria;
3.a short-range air defence battalion in Ansbach,Bavaria;
4.support personnel at Grafenwoehr,Bavaria;and
5.support personnel at Baumholder,Rhineland-Palatinate,Western Germany,near the border with France.
According to USAEUR:
The addition of these forces increases US Army readiness in Europe and ensures we are better able to respond to any crisis.*
A Newsweek magazine investigation showed that the Trump administration has increased spending on USAEUR and its drills by up to 40%,or 1.4 billion dollars.
Monday, September 10, 2018
Friday, September 7, 2018
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
West Virginia Soldier Killed in Afghanistan as New Commander Takes the Reins
A senior US Army non-commissioned officer was killed in a green on blue attack,an attack by a person disguised as an Afghan soldier or police officer against a coalition member,on Monday 3 September 2018 in Eastern Logar Province.CSM Timothy Bolyard of Thornton,West Virginia,42,was the sixth US combat death of the year in the Afghan War,and the second to fall in a green on blue attack.CPL Joseph Maciel was killed in a green on blue attack in July in Uruzgan Province.*
A second US Soldier was wounded in the most recent attack and is in stable condition.Reportedly, there had been a meeting of key Afghan leaders and US military advisors at Forward Operating Base Shark preceding the attack.Then of a sudden a spray of bullets from an Afghan National Police Humvee struck the two Soldiers in the back.An ANP officer was shot dead in response,and four others were arrested.
The Taliban miltants have an office that promotes and encourages green on blue attacks.*
CSM Bolyard was a member of 1st Squadron,38th Cavalry Regiment,currently a unit of the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) out of Fort Benning,Georgia.The SFAB concept was formulated by the Trump Administration as part of its South Asia Strategy.It assigns members of non-special operations units to train,advise and assist the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces on the frontlines,thus freeing up Special Operations Forces and Brigade Combat Teams to concentrate on counter-terror missions against the Taliban,ISIL-K and al-Qaida Islamist extremists.*
Another US service member was killed in Afghanistan on 4 September in a so-called non-combat incident,the seventh US military death in Afghanistan for 2018.This service member's identity is being withheld pending family notification.Both incidents are under investigation.*
CSM Bolyard,who was married and the father of two,was on his thirteenth deployment and had been repeatedly decorated for his accomplishments,having been awarded six Bronze Star Medals,two of them with combat V device for valour;six Army Commendation Medals;nine Army Achievement Medals;four Meritorious Service Medals;the Iraq Campaign Medal with four Campaign Stars;the Kosovo Campaign Medal;and the Combat Action Badge.
BGEN Scott Jackson,commander of 1st SFAB,said of CSM Bolyard that:
He will live in our memories and the hundreds of Soldiers he led and cared for throughout his exceptional career.*
On Sunday 2 September 2018,the former Commander,US Special Operations Command,GEN Austin Scott Miller,US Army,assumed command of NATO Resolute Support Mission and US Forces-Afghanistan from GEN John Nicholson after his 30 months of service.GEN Miller has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan,as well as Somalia,having been decorated with the Bronze Star Medal,Purple Heart Medal and the Legion of Merit,among other awards.
A second US Soldier was wounded in the most recent attack and is in stable condition.Reportedly, there had been a meeting of key Afghan leaders and US military advisors at Forward Operating Base Shark preceding the attack.Then of a sudden a spray of bullets from an Afghan National Police Humvee struck the two Soldiers in the back.An ANP officer was shot dead in response,and four others were arrested.
The Taliban miltants have an office that promotes and encourages green on blue attacks.*
CSM Bolyard was a member of 1st Squadron,38th Cavalry Regiment,currently a unit of the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) out of Fort Benning,Georgia.The SFAB concept was formulated by the Trump Administration as part of its South Asia Strategy.It assigns members of non-special operations units to train,advise and assist the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces on the frontlines,thus freeing up Special Operations Forces and Brigade Combat Teams to concentrate on counter-terror missions against the Taliban,ISIL-K and al-Qaida Islamist extremists.*
Another US service member was killed in Afghanistan on 4 September in a so-called non-combat incident,the seventh US military death in Afghanistan for 2018.This service member's identity is being withheld pending family notification.Both incidents are under investigation.*
CSM Bolyard,who was married and the father of two,was on his thirteenth deployment and had been repeatedly decorated for his accomplishments,having been awarded six Bronze Star Medals,two of them with combat V device for valour;six Army Commendation Medals;nine Army Achievement Medals;four Meritorious Service Medals;the Iraq Campaign Medal with four Campaign Stars;the Kosovo Campaign Medal;and the Combat Action Badge.
BGEN Scott Jackson,commander of 1st SFAB,said of CSM Bolyard that:
He will live in our memories and the hundreds of Soldiers he led and cared for throughout his exceptional career.*
On Sunday 2 September 2018,the former Commander,US Special Operations Command,GEN Austin Scott Miller,US Army,assumed command of NATO Resolute Support Mission and US Forces-Afghanistan from GEN John Nicholson after his 30 months of service.GEN Miller has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan,as well as Somalia,having been decorated with the Bronze Star Medal,Purple Heart Medal and the Legion of Merit,among other awards.
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Saturday, September 1, 2018
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