NATO Land Forces:Eagle Troop Certified for the Fray

In November 2020, enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland's Eagle Troop conducted an evaluation exercise at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland.The unit,part of the US Army's 2nd Squadron,2nd Cavalry Division as well as of Battle Group Poland's Task Force Cougar, was put through fast-paced, comprehensive drills including a dismounted attack with fire support from General Dynamics ICV Stryker vehicles; a breach by combat engineers; seizure of a trench; and defending a forward position in gained territory.* Eagle Troop was shown to be battle-ready to defeat any threat an aggressor might pose in the region, with a quick and lethal response as needed,BGP Public Affairs said. According to CAPT Stephan Murray, Commander Eagle Troop, this was an opportunity: to get a chance at a repetition of actually manoeuvring multiple platoons simaltaneously.* CAPT Murray explained that before the exercise,squad leaders had to familiarise themselves with manoeuvring teams through various situations and terrain environments.Then they moved to the platoon level, where lieutenants and platoon sergeants gained valuable experience manoeuvring multiple squads through larger exercises, including a live fire drill.Once the squads and platoons were certified, Eagle Troop was prepared for testing as a whole.* The ICV Stryker is an armoured 8-wheeled vehicle armed with machine guns and protected remote grenade launcher /30mm Bushmaster II gun /105mm M68A2 gun, depending on the version* General Dynamics (GD)

Fifth Generation Flight Test Demonstrates Military IoT with XQ-58A and gatewayONE Platform - Aviation Today

Fifth Generation Flight Test Demonstrates Military IoT with XQ-58A and gatewayONE Platform - Aviation Today: The Air Force completed a flight test that demonstrated the ability of two fifth-generation aircraft and an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) to communicate in their secure native languages without the need for legacy tactical data connections, according to a Dec. 9 U.S. Air Force press release. The test flight also marked the first time …

NORAD Holds Drills in Nunavut

On 10 December 2020, NORAD conducted All-domain Awareness drills near the capital of Canada's Nunavut Territory,Iqaluit.According to Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) Deputy Commander BG Vaughn: While we strive to balance interests of all stakeholders, global competitors seek military expansion in the Arctic.* The exercise was intended to sharpen Arctic operational skillsets.In the course of the drills, which were flown out of Iqaluit Airport,an RCAF Airbus CC-150T Polaris multirole aircraft refueled a Boeing CF-18 Hornet multirole fighter,and CF-18s patrolled the massive expanse of the snowy Territory and contiguous maritime domain.A Canadian Armed Forces press release explained that: NORAD routinely conducts exercises with a variety of scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings and responses to unknown aircraft.* 1 Canadian Air Division (1 Cdn Air Div) provides NORAD with air defence forces for Operation Noble Eagle, the North American internal air defence operation begun following the 9-11 attacks.Its combat-ready CF-18s are on continuous alert.* The drills occurred over sparsely populated Arctic areas at high altitude.Air crews remained with their aircraft prior to refureling at the airport,and appropriate COVID-19 precautions were observed.They departed from the airport at the conclusion of the exercise.* On 16 June 2020, the US State Department greenlighted Canada's purchase of an upgrade package for 36 CF-18s to bridge the legacy fleet of 77 CF-18s and the future fighter.In 2021, Canada will choose from among the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter;F/A-18 Super Hornet; and Saab Gripen E.* The upgrade will enhance the sensors, weapons, survivability, security and mission support for the CF-18 to maintain parity with evolving threats, with initial delivery in 2023, Canadian Forces said.It will be a two-squadron bridge that continues meeting NORAD and NATO requirements while the future fighter is phased in. The purchase includes 50 Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II tactical missiles;38 APG-79(V)4 electronically scanned array radars;38 APG-79(V)4 AESA radar AI kits; and 46 F/A-18A wide-band RADOMEs.Firms involved are Raytheon Technologies; General Dynamics; Collins Aerospace (Raytheon Technologies subsidiary); and Boeing.* Nunavut has a population of 35,944 (2016 census),85% of whom belong to the Inuit First People, formerly referred to as "Eskimos".* Raytheon Technologies (RTX), General Dynamics (GD), Boeing (BA)

US Air Force Facilities Re-designated as Space Force

On 9 December 2020,an historic re-designation ceremony changed the names of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base,Florida to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Station, respectively.This was done because the facilities' mission is now central to the US Space Force.The announcement was made by Vice President Mike Pence at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,who then unveiled updated signs for the facilities. Chief of Space Operations GEN John "Jay" Raymond explained that: Today their titles will reflect the missions of the 45th Space Wing that it and its mission partners execute with passion, precision, and pride every day.Moving forward,we will integrate our service, elevating the power that space brings to the nation, the joint force, and our allies.* The US Air Force retains ownership and command of the re-designated facilities until they are transferred to the Space Force at a lateral date.* On 15 December,GEN Raymond told journalists that the US Space Force is in the process of becoming the 18th member of the Intelligence Community.Intelligence is one of the six career fields set forth by the Space Force for its personnel.* The curriculum studied by Space Force personnel is highly classified.According to GEN Raymond: The higher classification level gets more after the strategic and the contested strategic environment they'll be operating in.* Updates: The first group of seven Space Force enlistees from the general public have graduated from Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base,Texas.Of the 6400 Air Force personnel selected for transfer to the Space Force,2400 have made the switch so far.This year,86 Air Force Academy graduates were commissioned into the Space Force;next year,98 of them are to be commissioned into the Space Force.*

WATCH LIVE: Icebreaker Polar Star departs Seattle for Arctic mission - KING TV - 4 December 2020

Coast Guard Cutter on Arctic Sovereignty Mission

On 4 December 2020,US Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) departed its Seattle homeport for an Arctic deployment lasting several months.The move echoes the US Navy's policy of unpredictability,giving pause to our adversaries.* In a news release, the Coast Guard said the Polar Star will protect the nation's maritime sovereignty and security throughout the Arctic Region.Indeed,it will project power and support national security objectives throughout Alaskan waters and into the Arctic,including along the Maritime Boundary Line between the US and Russia. In the course of the deployment, the heavy icebreaker will detect and deter illegal fishing by foreign vessels in the US Exclusive Economic Zone and conduct the Arctic training essential for developing future icebreaker operators.* According to the cutter's CO,CAPT Bill Woitry: Polar Star is poised to head into the cold, dark Arctic winter to carry out a historic mission...We will defend US interests in the region, and continue to hone our proficiency to operate in such a harsh, remote environment.* Normally, the Polar Star conducts Operation Deep Freeze during the winter months, resupplying the US McMurdo Station in Antarctica in support of the National Science Foundation.This year,because of COVID-19 restrictions,only aircraft will deliver limited supplies to the Station, with a full resupply being put off till next year.* The Coast Guard is the nation's main maritime guardian in the Arctic, advancing US national interests through its unique set of polar operational capability, regulatory authority and international leadership across the full spectrum of maritime governance. To bolster this mission, the Coast Guard,part of the Department of Homeland Security, awarded VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Mississippi a contract for design and construction of the lead Polar Security Cutter, including options for the construction of two more PSCs.There are plans for a total of six of the powerful heavy icebreakers.* The Polar Star has a complement of 142 personnel, plus 33 scientists and a 12-member helicopter detachment.It carries two MH-65 Dolphin helicopters,which routinely deploy aboard certified cutters, providing critical crewed airborne surveillance and interdiction capabilities, being armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun and a .50 caliber rifle. The Polar Star is armed with two .50 caliber machine guns and various small arms.*

USS Ross DDG-71 Northbound on the Bosphorus Strait,Turkey

USS Ross Intercepts Ballistic Missile During Exercise

USS Ross Continues Northern Europe Patrol

On 28 November 2020, the USS Ross (DDG 71) conducted air defence and fighter control drills in the Baltic Sea,a press release from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer said.During the exercise, German Eurofighter Typhoon F 2000 jets made a series of flyovers while the destroyer's air-intercept controllers directed the planes in a series of air defence manoeuvres in the dynamic Baltic Sea environment. According to Ross CO CDR John D. Johns: Being able to conduct these exercises with our NATO Allies provides all of us with the opportunity to maintain our warfighting readiness and improve interoperability.* A week earlier, the Ross had conducted similar drills in the Baltic with Italian Eurofighters; and in September with Portuguese F-16 Fighting Falcons.This is part of the Ross' 10th Forward-Deployed Naval Forces Europe (FDNF-E) patrol, which began on 29 August 2020.* Homeported at Rota,Spain,the warship has a complement of 281 personnel and can embark up to two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.The Seahawk is multirole,having such capabilities as Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface Warfare,as well as Naval Special Warfare insertion.The Ross is currently moored at Tromso,Norway,350 kilometers/217 miles north of the Arctic Circle.*