Former U.S. Secretary of Defense General James Mattis weighs in on the war in Ukraine

NATO Secretary General message to 🇧🇬 Bulgarian Parliament, 29 MAR 2022 - Note:A US Army Stryker Company will be part of the new Battle Group Bulgaria

Navy And Marine Corps Exercise Manned And Unmanned Helicopter Teaming - Aviation Today

Navy And Marine Corps Exercise Manned And Unmanned Helicopter Teaming - Aviation Today: The Navy and Marine Corps recently conducted a new manned-unmanned teaming exercise to demonstrate how a different combination of helicopters could be used in a potential littoral environment, the service said last week. In the exercise Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) Bell Textron UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters conducted attacks with …

Germany Selects Future Nuclear Strike Fighter

In a Bundeswehr (Federal Defence) Press Release,the German Ministry of Defence announced on 14 March 2022 it has selected the successor to the TORNADO weapon system.Secretary of Defence Christine Lambrecht has initiated the procurement of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter for the task of nuclear sharing,saying: The F-35 offers unique potential for cooperation with our NATO Allies and other Partners in Europe.* So the F-35A beat out competitor the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.The ageing fleet of 93 Panavia TORNADO fighter bombers needs replacement,and the 35 F-35As will remain assertive in future scenarios,the possible missions in the context of national and Alliance defence.In light of the current security policy situation (Russian aggression against Ukraine),the F-35A is the right system for credible Alliance unity,capability and deterrence.* For the electronic warfare mission,the MOD will rely on further development of the Eurofighter Typhoon.This will serve until the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) debuts in 2040.Thus the two-fleet concept is sustained,which has proven itself in the Luftwaffe (Air Force) for decades and made an important contribution to the operational readiness and resilience of the combat aircraft fleet,the Bundeswehr said.* Under NATO'S dual key nuclear deterrent programme,the US B61-12 tactical nuclear weapon is stored on German bases,as well as bases in NATO Allies Belgium,Italy,the Netherlands and Turkey.In the event of a crisis,tactical nuclear weapons may be mounted on Alliance nuclear-capable aircraft.* Lockheed Martin (LMT),Boeing (BA)

A new reality for our security - NATO

Welcome to Norway – Cold Response 2022

U.S. Army 3rd ID soldiers Arrive at Nuremberg Airport Europe - 28 February 2022,within four days of Russia invading Ukraine

Norwegian soldiers rehearse on-off drills with Marine Corps Super Stallions - Cold Response 22

Cold Response 22 : Huge NATO Drills Aim to Defend Norway

On 10 March 2022,NATO Exercise Cold Response 22 (CORE 22) began,the largest cold weather operations drills in 30 years.About 200 aircraft,20 warships and 35,000 troops from 28 countries,including US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers in Europe on a Bomber Task Force mission,will participate.The exercise integrates Land,Sea and Air assets which will execute Air-Land and Air-Sea combat manoeuvres,with Allied fighter aircraft practising bomber escort procedures,highlighting the Alliance's dynamic capabilities.Traversing vast wilderness,Allies and Partners will conduct live-fire drills and leap into freezing lakes,honing arctic warfighting skills to ensure our armed forces can respond to any threat or crisis in the extreme and rugged arctic environment of Norway,which ranges from fjords to seas and mountains.Norway has a 195.7 kilometer/121.6 mile land border,and a 23.2 kilometer/14.4 mile sea border,with Russia. Said US Air Force General Jeff Harrigian,Commander,Allied Air Command: Integrating and training with our Allies and Partners allows us to exercise our combined capabilities while deterring aggression against NATO.* The exercise scenario will show how a unified mutilateral force would defend Norway and Europe's Northern Flank from a modern adversary.Some 900 Royal Marines will spearhead UK involvement from Royal Navy assault ship HMS Albion.UK Merlin and Wildcat helicopters will patrol the skies,supporting commando operations under Brigadier Rich Cantrill alongside a wide range of warplanes from across NATO,including F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.The drills,which run through 10 April,will prepare for any contingency while providing the chance to learn how to work together.Besides the UK,other particiapnts include Finland,France,Germany,Italy,the Netherlands,Norway,Sweden and the USA.The flotilla of NATO warships is led by the UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and includes a British attack submarine,the name of which is classified.Also in the flotilla is the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80);Royal Navy frigates HMS Richmond and HMS Northumberland;and Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender.In the course of the exercise,UK commandos will raid positions along the coast to prepare the beachhead for larger amphibious forces.* The biannual drills were planned eight months before Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.*

USAF Pilots Conduct First-Ever Crewed eVTOL Flight with BETA Aircraft - Aviation Today

USAF Pilots Conduct First-Ever Crewed eVTOL Flight with BETA Aircraft - Aviation Today: On March 9, 2022, two U.S. Air Force pilots became the first Airmen to fly an electric aircraft with military airworthiness approval—the ALIA, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, developed by BETA Technologies. BETA has partnered with the Air Force’s Agility Prime program since 2020 to develop and refine their eVTOL, and the …

USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) Arrives In Stockholm - U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet

USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) Arrives In Stockholm: The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) arrived in Stockholm, Sweden for a scheduled port visit to enhance U.S.-Sweden relations and build cohesion among key

US Navy Carrier Integrates With NATO Air Policing

In a unique display of Allied integration,the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) has contributed its strike fighter squadrons and electronic attack squadrons to NATO'S enhanced Air Policing (eAP) effort.In a series of patrols,the US Navy aviators provided enhanced vigilance,training and eAP in support of the Alliance's cohesive defence and collective resolve,Allied Air Command said.Thus they strengthened NATO'S interoperability and readiness.* According to Carrier Strike Group 8 commander,Rear Admiral Curt Renshaw: Conducting enhanced Air Policing from North Aegean waters further illustrates NATO'S continued ability to share and pool existing capabilities.We set out to prove that this dynamic employment of an Aircraft Carrier-in pretty restrictive waters-could be done,and in doing so,we have demonstrated the U.S. committment to Allies.* The Truman conducted fixed-wing flight operations in the North Aegean Sea from 4-5 March 2022,and was pivotal in ensuring the integrity of Allied air space,improving the Alliance aerial readiness and responsiveness in the dynamic environment.* There are presently more than 130 NATO aircraft actively defending Alliance airspace by maintaining 24/7 patrols in skies of NATO'S Eastern Flank.* The CSG,which included a US Navy guided-missile cruiser and several USN guided-missile destroyers,likely a US Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine,a Norwegian Royal Navy frigate;and an Italian Navy guided-missile frigate,supported the eAP missions,bolstering the defence of NATO territory.The Truman's embarked aircraft include the Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and EA-18 Growler,as well as the E-2C Hawkeye,C-2A Greyhound,MH-60S Seahawk and MH-60R Seahawk.CSG 8 is the first USN CSG to be placed under NATO command since the Cold War era,in light of Russia's belligerence toward Ukraine.* Captain Steven Bellack is CSG 8 Chief of Staff.* Boeing (BA)

NATO. Attack aircraft AV-8B Harrier II US Marines arrived in Norway - NATO Exercise Cold Response 2022

Dynamic Guard:Electronic Warfare/Anti-Ship Missile Defence

NATO Exercise Dynamic Guard 2022-01 wrapped up on 25 February 2022 off the coast of Norway,even as Russia's war on Ukraine was ramping up.The bi-annual drills are an electronic warfare series providing tactical training that helps build and maintain proficiency in maritime electronic warfare and anti-ship missile defence for the NATO Response Force and national units,Allied Maritime Command said.The five-day exercise showcased the Allied Forces' skills in quick integration of maritime patrol aircraft;submarines;helicopters;and warships.Those participating were Denmark,Germany,the Netherlands,Norway and the US.* The Joint Electronic Warfare Core Staff (JEWCS) provided specialised radar jamming and communications equipment to the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 flagship Federal German Ship Berlin.Besides the Berlin,the Royal Danish Navy's HDMS Peter Willemoes;Royal Netherlands Navy's HNLMS Van Amstel;and US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Donald Cook (DDG 72) and USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) participated in the drills.All of the ships practised gunnery,and the Royal Norwegian Air Force Falcon aircraft and planes from Draken Europe simulated air defence scenarios.Draken's modified Dassault Falcon 20 business jets act as paltforms for electronic warfare and naval gunnery training and other target facilities for the UK Ministry of Defence,U.S. Air Force Europe and Air Forces Africa,and NATO.The exercise involves increasing degrees of complexity for electronic warfare and anti-ship missile defence.The layered defence concept is critical to all NATO Forces in their highly contested environments.Said USS The Sullivans CO Commander James Diefenderfer: This exercise allowed us to plan,integrate and operate the full range of activities we need for electronic warfare,anti-ship missile defense and logistics in a complex environment.* SNMG1 is part of the core maritime capability of NATO'S Very High-Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF).Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022.*