Saturday, May 28, 2022
Pacific Perspective:Meet Pine Gap,the Crucial Joint Intelligence Base in the Australian Outback
Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap (JDFPG) is an ultra-secret intelligence base near the town of Alice Springs in Australia's Northern Territory.Its existence is not acknowledged,but over the years academics,photographers and a few former staff members have uncovered and/or shared a fair amount of information about one of the most critical national security facilities in the Indo-Pacific Region.US tenants at the facility nestled in a desert ecosystem with jagged hills include the CIA,National Security Agency (NSA),National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).NSA's signals intelligence (SIGINT) work here is code-named RAINFALL;while NRO operates the Australian Mission Ground Station (AMGS).
Among the assets at JDFPG are 38 radomes covering dish antennae and a vast computer complex in the operations centre,which is staffed 24/7/365.The total base staff,including US servicemembers,numbers at least 800.JDFPG is,among other missions,a control station for geosynchronous US spy satellites which pass over China,Eastern Russia,and the Middle East.It is a ground control and processing station for SIGINT satellites,to include those intercepting advanced weapons telemetry;anti-missile and anti-aircraft radar signals;communications satellite traffic;and microwave transmission (for instance,long-distance telephone calls).The base's departments include a Satellite Station Keeping Sector;Signals Processing Station;and Signals Analysis Station.*
Every morning,the US-Australian Joint Reconnaissance Schedule Committee chooses the spy satellite tasking for a 24-hour period.Formerly the US Air Force,but now possibly the US Space Force,maintains the control station for missile heat and emission-detecting satellites.JDFPG monitors Chinese and North Korean weapons and communications.It also plays a key role in gathering geolocation data and supports military operations such as air strikes.It was involved in the Afghan War.Additionally,Pine Gap controls spy satellites that gather intelligence over Eurasia,Africa,Southeast Asia,Eastern Europe and Atlantic Ocean nations.With an elevation of 589 m/1932 ft,the facility plays a role in US missile defence,early warning and drone strikes.It is a Commonwealth of Australia Restricted Area under the Defence (Special Undertaking) Act 1952.No Trespassing,No Photography,No Firearms.Maximum Penalty Imprisonment Seven Years,a sign proclaims.Security personnel patrol the base every ten minutes.*
Pine Gap has about twenty support buildings and what appears to this blog to be a tunnel entrance.An unconfirmed report mentions nine underground levels built to withstand three simultaneous nuclear strikes.The Australian Government believes it derives a lot of useful intelligence from the joint operation conducted in 20,000 square meters of operations space.Most of the Chiefs of Facility were senior CIA officials,but,in recent years,the NSA has had its share of COFs.The Deputy COF is always an Australian Government official.*
In 2015,there were 55 US civilian operations personnel and 105 US military operations personnel at Pine Gap.The Australian Government had 50 operations personnel and there were 45 contractor personnel,bringing the total of operations centre staff to 255.The remaining two-thirds of the base staff were engaged in support and maintenance activities.This information was garnered by Australian academics Desmond Ball,Bill Robinson and Richard Tanter in their report "Management of Operations at Pine Gap (2015)".*
The NGA manages imagery (IMINT) and geospatial intelligence functions involving foreign satellite/communications satellite interception systems,missile launch detection and tracking data.The Mission Ground Center (MGC) of the NRO at Pine Gap is an integrated data centre where IMINT and SIGINT is fused in a format providing ready integration of intel collected by other air and ground systems,as well as human intelligence (HUMINT).*
America supports you,our military men and women and Intelligence Community.*
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Vigilance:Navy Ships and Marines Placed Under NATO Command for Force Integration
Several US Navy warships have been placed under NATO command (STRIKFORNATO) as part of major warfighting drills in the Baltic,Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas,NATO announced.These include the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG 8) and the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).It is only the second instance of a transfer of a CSG to NATO since the end of the Cold War,NATO pointed out.This transfer of command is designated Vigilance Activity Neptune Shield 22 (NESH 22).It integrates high-end maritime expeditionary strike capabilities of Air,Sea and Land assets.NESH 22 will occur in the Baltic,Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas from 17-31 May.Participating in the Vigilance Activity are the following NATO Allies:Albania,Bulgaria,Croatia,Denmark,France,Germany,Greece,Italy,Latvia,Lithuania,the Netherlands,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Slovenia,Spain,Turkey,the UK and the US.*
The purpose of this Vigilance Activity is to overcome the complexities of integrating Command and Control of a Carrier Strike Group;an Amphibious Ready Group;and a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) into NATO.We will thus conduct the handover of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and Combined Task Force 61/2,which consists of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit,from U.S. 6th Fleet to STRIKFORNATO and the wider Alliance.It establishes the unity that NATO strives for throughout the Alliance,according to Supreme Allied Commander Europe US Air Force General Tod D. Wolters,who noted that:
Vigilance Activities like NESH 22 strengthen our ability to seamlessly integrate maritime strike capabilities to support deterrence and defence.We continue to do everything necessary to shield the Alliance.*
Such Vigilance Activities ensure the appropriate strategic awareness and force readinesss required to sustain peace.Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO),headquartered in Oeiras,Portugal,is SACEUR'S premier,rapidly deployable and flexible maritime power projection HQ.It plans and executes full spectrum joint maritime warfighting activities.*
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Sunday, May 15, 2022
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Swift Response 22:Expansive NATO Airborne Drills
Exercise Swift Response 22 began on 2 May and runs through 20 May.It demonstrates the U.S. Army Europe and Africa's ability to conduct near-simultaneous airborne operations from the Arctic Circle to the Balkans.About 9,000 service members from 17 Allied and Partner nations are taking part,USAEURA said in a press release,including some 2700 US Soldiers and Airmen.The drills test the Army's ability to rapidly deploy beside European multinational forces on short notice across the globe.It presents combat credible Army forces and enhances readiness by building airborne interoperability with European Allies and Partners.Over the course of 96 hours,there are to be five near-simultaneous Joint Forcible Entries (airborne operations).*
Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade and 82nd Airborne Division,along with Allied airborne units,conducted separate JFEs into Italy,Lithuania and North Macedonia,the newest NATO Ally.Upon completion of the airborne assaults,each brigade task force is to conduct land tactical operations and follow-on training such as rotary wing deep-strike attacks;air assault operations;live-fire drills and field-training exercises.*
On 8 May 2022,elements of the British Army's 16 Air Assault Brigade deployed with the US Army's 1st Air Cavalry Brigade,1st Cavalry Division and the UK 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team boarded 1st Air Cavalry UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for an air assault mission.This was at Krivolak Military Training Centre,North Macedonia.Also taking part was the British Army's 1 Aviation Brigade Combat Team.The US and British Soldiers planned and drilled as a multinational team.Also involved were US and UK CH-47 Chinook and UK AH-64 Apache helicopters.The Chinooks and Blackhawks demonstrated personnel deployments and air assaults,and the UK Apaches executed attack and defence manoeuvres.*
Swift Response is an annual exercise for the Allied and Partner airborne troops.According to NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu,the defensive drills were:
planned well before Russia's brutal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine,but they help to remove any room for miscalcualtion or misuderstanding about our resolve to protect and defend every inch of Allied territory.*
Friday, May 13, 2022
Raytheon Technologies’ New Venture Arm Invests In Hypersonic Aircraft Company Hermeus - Aviation Today
Raytheon Technologies’ New Venture Arm Invests In Hypersonic Aircraft Company Hermeus - Aviation Today: RTX Ventures, a capital investment group recently set up by Raytheon Technologies, on Thursday said it made a strategic investment in the start-up company Hermeus Corp., which is developing hypersonic aircraft for commercial and defense applications. The value of the investment wasn’t disclosed but is part of a $100 million Series B financing round announced in …
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
OUR KOREAN WAR STORY: ‘You, Mr. Citizen, Are Civil Defense’
OUR KOREAN WAR STORY: ‘You, Mr. Citizen, Are Civil Defense’: Traveling exhibits take nuclear-age threat and preparation across the country.
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Saturday, May 7, 2022
NATO Approves Nomination of General Christopher G. Cavoli
On 3 May 2022,NATO announced that the North Atlantic Council has approved President Joeseph R. Biden's nomination of US Army General Christopher G. Cavoli as the next Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR),a post first held by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.General Cavoli will also be the Commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM).He is currently the Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.Pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate,he will succeed US Air Force General Tod D. Wolters and will take up his appointment at a change of command ceremony at Supreme Allied Command Headquarters in Mons,Belgium this summer.*
General Cavoli was commissioned as an Infantry Officer from Princeton University's ROTC program in 1987.A veteran of the Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan,he assumed command of U.S. Army Europe (USAEUR) as a Lieutenant General in 2018.When Africa was added to the command,General Cavoli was promoted to four star rank in 2020 and continued his service in Europe.*
The son of an Italian-American US Army officer,he was born during the Cold War period in Wurzburg,West Germany.He is an Eurasia Foreign Area Officer,having graduated from Yale with an MA in Russian and East European Studies in 1997.He went on to be the Director for Russia on the Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate.*
General Cavoli was Commander of 1st Battalion,32nd Infantry Regiment of 3rd Brigade Combat Team,10th Mountain Division.1st Battalion deployed to Kunar Province,Afghanistan in 2006.He then commanded 3rd BCT,1st Armored Division and was Deputy Commander,Regional Command West in Herat,Afghanistan.*
General Cavoli speaks French,Italian and Russian.His awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal;the Legion of Merit (3);the Bronze Star Medal (2);the Joint Meritorious Unit Award;the Kuwait Liberation Medal;and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three service stars.He is married and the father of two children.*
Thursday, May 5, 2022
OUR KOREAN WAR STORY: 13 resolutions for a new generation
OUR KOREAN WAR STORY: 13 resolutions for a new generation: American Legion National Executive Committee calls for VA, GI Bill benefits on par with those who served in World War II.
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