Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 was in the Atlantic west of Portugal ,taking up positions to protect Task Group 20.30 in an air defence drill.At one point,a warning is issued to an approaching aircraft.- Canadian, German, Spanish, Italian NATO SNMG2 pariticpate in Exercise St...

Steadfast Defender 2021:Looking to Reinforce Europe and Quickly Respond to Attacks

Currently underway is flagship NATO Exercise Steadfast Defender 2021, focused on securing the Atlantic to enable reinforcement of Europe by North American NATO Allies.In the drills,F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, Cyber and Space capabilities, and warships from 11 countries will demonstrate their ability to secure the strategic lines of communication across the Atlantic Ocean from Seabed to Space.Participants include the HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group and the US Navy Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, making up some of the 17 warships,80 aircraft and 15,000 troops from the more than 20 Allies taking part.More than 650 pieces of equipment will also be used to enact the Article V scenario of an attack on one being an attack on all.SD 2021 will improve NATO'S capability to respond collectively to an attack, refecting NATO'S resolve to deter and defend across the entire Euro-Atlantic continuum by practising military mobility to and throughout Europe.* Key to the drills are two new NATO commands:Joint Support and Enabling Command (logistics),or JSEC,out of Ulm, Germany, and the Atlantic-oriented Joint Force Command Norfolk,or JFCNF, out of Norfolk, Virginia.SD 2021 brings North America and Europe together in today's more challenging threat environment.Both JFCNF and the U.S. 2nd Fleet are under the command of VADM Andrew Lewis,US Navy. The dynamic NATO maritime live exercise phase (LIVEX) began off the coast of Portugal on 20 May.It posits the rapid reinforcement of NATO'S European Allies by North American forces.VADM Lewis explained that: This challenging mission serves to demonstrate the unity of NATO Allies and our readiness to deter conflict and aggression.It showcases our abilities,as an Alliance, to maintain freedom of navigation, rule of law and to effectively deter adversaries around the globe.* The drills are a test of NATO'S capability to move large numbers of troops, equipment and supplies across the Atlantic and Europe in response to the Article V scenario.A prompt deployment of forces from North America, their movement across the European continent, and the integration of multinational troops will strengthen the readiness and deterrence posture of Allied Command Operations,JFCNF said.The serialised programme over the course of two weeks will allow Allied submarines, surface ships and aircraft to work together in a dynamic environment, preparing them for challenging, high-end operations against near-peer competitors.. Command and control platform for the LIVEX is the USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), with the embarked U.S. 2nd Fleet staff under RADM Steve Waddell, Royal Canadian Navy,who is Vice Commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet.RADM Waddell noted that: The USS Mount Whitney plays a pivotal role with its communications capability.Second Fleet's role as the MCC (Maritime Component Commander) for the exercise demonstrates the United States' ironclad commitment to NATO, and the U.S.'s dedication to further revitalize its relationship with the Alliance.* The USS Mount Whitney is a Blue Ridge-class amphibious command ship, normally serving as flagship of U.S. 6th Fleet.It has a complement of 150 enlisted personnel,12 officers and 150 Civilian Mariners of the US Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC).The vessel can receive, process and transmit large amounts of secure data from any point on Earth through HF,UHF,VHF,SHF and EHF means, enabling Mount Whitney's Joint Intelligence Center to gather and fuse critical information while underway.She incorporates various elements of the most advanced Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence (C4I) equipment, giving the embarked Joint Task Force Commander the capability to effectively command widely dispersed air, ground and maritime units in an integrated fashion,U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet said.* Part 2 of the Exercise involves the enablement of Supreme Allied Commander Europe AOR, Military Mobility and the Deployment of the NATO Response Force.The NRF is a high readiness and technologically advanced multinational force comprised of land,air, maritime and Special Operations Forces components.It can be deployed quickly anywhere it is required by security challenges ranging from crisis management to collective defence. Within the NRF is a spearhead force, the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). The NRF is part of NATO'S Readiness Action Plan to improve responsiveness to changes in the security environment and strengthen collective defence.SACEUR is commander of the NRF, but it can only be deployed by the North Atlantic Council, NATO'S highest level political authority.*

Joint Warrior 21-1:NATO Readies for Crisis and Conflict

Joint Warrior 21-1 is currently wrapping up.The UK-led NATO exercise began 8 May and ends on 20 May.It has involved 31 ships, three submarines,150 aircraft and about 13,400 troops, including approximately 1500 ground troops, drilling off the coasts of Northern and Western Scotland and on ranges across the country. Nations participating are NATO members Denmark; France; Germany; Latvia; the Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; the UK; the US;and Partner Australia.* Air bases involved include RAF Lossiemouth, Prestwick Airport and Stornoway Airport.There have been joint firing drills at Cape Wrath Weapon Range,Garvie Island and the QinetiQ Hebrides Range.GPS denial operations took place off Western Scotland, The Northern Times reported.* The wargames reflected a broad range of crisis and conflict situations with real-world operational relevance.The JW 21-1 scenario posits a period of increasing political and military tensions.It will highlight intelligence-gathering and reconnaissance;anti-smuggling and counterterrorism operations; humanitarian assistance and evacuation operations.The exercise included a fast small boat drill for both civilian and military watercraft in the North Minch area off the Scottish coast.* JW 21-1 is linked with Exercise Strike Warrior-21, which certifies the UK Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group for deployment.Immediately the drills end,QECSG will go on a seven month deployment from the Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific following a stop at its homeport,Portsmouth.The CSG includes Netherlands and US warships,as well as a squadron of US Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighters.* Over the course of JW 21-1,high readiness warfighting capabilities were exercised across sea and air units in coordinated joint operations,Allied Maritime Command noted. The realistic,multi-threat scenarios were an opportunity for NATO and Australia to deploy their formations,units and staffs in collective training in preparation for any upcoming joint deployments that may arise, enhancing their responsiveness to deploy high-readiness military forces to conduct coordinated joint operations against current and future threats,in support of the NATO Readiness Initiative. During its deployment, the QECSG will showcase its flexibility and ability to act at all levels allowing political, diplomatic and military options.The Carrier Strike activity demonstrates power projection over large distances with its unparalleled combat capability, and are a critical element of NATO deterrence.* At one point, Task Group simulated a belligerent naval adversary for the UKCSG according to the fictional JW 21-1 exercise scenario.During the free-play phase of JW 21-1,units reacted to unscripted events as they happened and interacted with the UKCSG opposition forces in a variety of realistic operational scenarios.*

United Launch Alliance Rocket Launch - Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,Florida - Launch of the SBIRS V missile detection and early warning satellite for the US Space Force - 18 May 2021

Northern Edge 21 Elmendorf-Richardson flight line activity - Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,Alaska

Pacific Perspective:Northern Edge 21

From 3-14 May 2021,U.S. Pacific Air Forces is leading Exercise Northern Edge 21.The biannual drills are bringing together a massive joint force of some 15,000 US troops, including six US Navy warships and 240 aircraft,as well as US Army and Marine Corps units.The joint field training exercise draws military personnel from various bases in Alaska and beyond.Under U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the drills are intended to provide high-end, realistic warfighting training; develop and improve joint interoperability; and enhance combat readiness of all involved.This is achieved by providing a venue for large force and multi-domain operations; tactical training for the full spectrum of conflict; execution and advancement of adaptive basing joint tactics ,techniques and procedures; advancement of live-virtual-constructive capabilities; and support of USI-PC's experimental initiatives,USPAF said.* According to COL Mike Boyer,USPAF NE 21 lead planner: Typically, training happens within your units...but you never really get the volume or the complexity you would expect to see in a modern day conflict.NE 21 allows the joint force to put all the pieces of the puzzle together in the big picture and allows our younger generation within the armed forces to experience what future conflict could feel like in the complexities associated with it.* Among large units taking part are the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11); the Makin Island Amphibious Readiness Group and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit;Army 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne);25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska;17th Field Artillery Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord,Washington;3rd Expeditionary Air and Space Task Force;53rd Wing,Eglin AFB, Florida; and various total force mobility assets.This firepower makes NE 21 Alaska's largest military training exercise, featuring both virtual and live participation.The service members are conducting training over the huge Joint Pacific Area Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and the temporary maritime activities area.* Both of the Air Force's newly delivered F-15EX fighter aircraft will participate in the drills, allowing immediate deep-end testing in a complex jamming environment.The jamming environment will include GPS, radar and Link 16 jamming. The other main goal is to assess the F-15EX's interoperability with fourth and fifth generation assets, putting the aircraft in its designated role.So far, the warplane is performing admirably, the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron indicated.Evaluating the advanced cockpit system; large area displays;new helmet and digital Helmet Mounted Cueing System; the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System, which defends both the Eagle and other joint fourth and fifth generation platforms,are all being worked.* The Air Force Times pointed out that NE 21 is practise for how the US might react if tensions in the Arctic boil over.The Russian provocative flights near Alaskan air space last year reached levels not seen since the Cold War. COL Boyer explained: We are looking at what modern warfare could be in the future, and that includes scenarios like incursion into US air space.* Challenges of NE 21 include the snap setting up of a Command and Control centre in a school building; and testing the Air Force's new Agile Combat Employment concept of dispersing aircraft to austere, remote airstrips such as King Salmon, Alaska, the location of Katmai National Park and Preserve; and Cold Bay in the Aleutian Islands.*

DHS Creates New Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships and Additional Efforts to Comprehensively Combat Domestic Violent Extremism

DHS Creates New Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships and Additional Efforts to Comprehensively Combat Domestic Violent Extremism: Building on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to combating all forms of terrorism and targeted violence, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced today that DHS has established a new Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) to improve the Department’s ability to combat terrorism and targeted violence, consistent with privacy protections, civil rights and civil liberties, and other applicable laws.

Pres Biden jogs from the White House on Marine One en route to Camp Dav...

President Biden arrives in New Orleans - Air Force One - 6 May 2021

DEFENDER-Europe 21:Building Blocks for Combat Ops

The largest NATO exercise of the year, DEFENDER-Europe 21 has begun its active phase in the port of Durres, Albania in the Western Balkans Region of Europe.The initial activity is a Joint Logistics Over the Shore Operation Albania joined NATO in 2009, and NATO Partner and aspirant Bosnia-Herzegovina and member Croatia from the same region are also participants in D-E 21.After the Western Balkans, the drills shift to the Eastern Balkans of Bulgaria and Romania plus Estonia in the Baltic States,then on to nations such as Germany and Hungary.* So D-E 21 began with the arrival last week of USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300),a vehicle cargo ship belonging to the US Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC),in the Adriatic Sea off Durres, Albania.The logistics ship has a complement of 26-45 civilian mariners and up to 50 active duty troops.USNS Bob Hope is configured to preposition tanks, trucks and other vehicles and supplies in support of a US Army heavy brigade.It is a roll-on/roll-off vessel. Also arriving at Durres were US Army Logistics Support Vessels MG Charles P. Gross (CSV-5) and SP4 James A. Loux (CSV-6).These large landing craft can beach and discharge up to 15 M1 Abrams tanks each, plus other equipment and supplies.They are part of an Army fleet of about 500 vessels under the US Army Transportation Corps.The two LSVs in Durres are crewed by a complement of eight Army warrant officers and 27 Soldiers each.Few realise that the Army has its own fleet.* According to Pentagon Press Secretary RADM John F. Kirby,US Navy retired,D-E 21 is: focused on deterring aggression, while preparing our forces to respond to crisis and conduct large-scale combat operations if necessary.* Russia has recently built up a force of over 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine and in occupied Crimea, Ukraine, about which Mr.Kirby noted that: There's still quite a few-I mean there's still a lot of forces arranged against,or aligned along the border with Ukraine and in occupied Crimea.And it's still never been completely clear what the intentions were.* So the atmosphere of crisis instigated by Russia still hangs in the air as D-E 21 ramps up.* Mr.Kirby explained that: DEFENDER-Europe exercise is going to conclude in June, but not before demonstrating joint force readiness, lethality and interoperability, reinforcing the US commitment to our Allies and Partners...* Several component drills make up D-E 21: 1.Swift Response, which is airborne operations in Bulgaria, Romania and Estonia; 2.Immediate Response,which will have more than 5,000 troops from eight countries carrying out live-fire scenarios spread out over 12 nations; 3.Saber Guardian,with over 13,000 troops conducting more live-fire drills conjoined with air and missile defence operations; and 4.A large command post exercise with over 2,000 troops honing command and control skills over a multinational land forces contingent.* U.S. Army Europe and Africa leads the drills, with active support from the US Navy and Air Force.*

Vice President Harris Swears in Bill Nelson as the Administrator of NASA - He is a former Army Reservist,US Senator and Space Shuttle Astronaut.