Pacific Perspective:US and Indian Armies Train in the Himalayas

The 18th annual Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2022 provides high altitude training in India's Himalayan Mountains for the US Army and Indian Army.They are taking place in the Auli area of Utterakhand State in North India.Participating are the US Army's 11th Airborne Division (Arctic Airborne),which was recently reactivated to provide forces adept at cold and rugged Arctic terrain,having previously been known as U.S. Army Alaska.Indian Soldiers of the Assam Regiment will drill with their American counterparts.The aim is to exchange best practices,Tactics,Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) between the two armies,the Indian Ministry of Defence said.They will employ an integrated battlegroup under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate on peacekeeping and peace enforcement.They will also practise Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The Field Training Exercise includes validation of individual battlegroups;force multipliers;establishment and functioning of surveillance grids;validation of operational logistics;mountain warfare skills;casualty evacuation and combat medical aid in adverse terrain and climate conditions.There will also be a focus on combat skills such as combat engineering;employment of UAS/counter UAS techniques;and information operations.Thus both armies will share their broad range of experiences and skills,while enhancing techniques through information exchange,IMOD noted on 15 November 2022.The drills will take place near the Line of Actual Control (LAC),where conflict has occurred between the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Indian Army,resulting in casualties including deaths on both sides.So Yudh Abhyas is a signal to China that these two powerful democracies are intent on improving their crisis coordination.* The Indian Army numbers 1,237,000 active duty and 960,000 reserves,plus 136 aircraft.There are also an Indian Navy and Indian Air Force,the third largest air force in the world.Indeed,next year the population of India will surpass that of China.* On 6 June 2022,the 11th Airborne Division's 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team was reactivated at Fort Wainwright,Alaska;and the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team was reactivated at Fort Richardson,Alaska (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson) in separate ceremonies.The 11th Airborne also includes headquarters,logistics and other support forces.* From 15-16 June 2020,Indian and PLA forces clashed in hand-to-hand combat incidents involving rocks in the Galwan River valley on the Indian side of the LAC,resulting in several deaths.India says it lost 20 troops in the Galwan skirmish (Operation Snow Leopard).According to a member of the US Intelligence Community,20-35 Chinese PLA members were killed in the clashes.This blog examined a handful of photos of the incident.These include a PLA photo of Chinese regimental commander Qi Fabao being carried with a bloodied face and a head bandage.A few other photos show up to several dozen Indian forces crossing the Galwan River with riot shields and walking sticks.An Indian trooper appeared to have a rifle slung over his back in a rather blurry image.On 7 September 2020,gunfire erupted along the LAC,apparently without further casualties.*

Appropriations Bills Provide $194 Million for F-15 Upgrades - Avionics International

Appropriations Bills Provide $194 Million for F-15 Upgrades - Avionics International: The F-15 upgrades include nearly $37M for the Honeywell Advanced Display Core Processor II, integrated by Boeing on the F-15E and F-15EX, and more than $28M for the MIDS-JTRS. Boeing (BA)

Rocket Lab Completes Final Rehearsal Ahead of First Virginia Launch

Rocket Lab Completes Final Rehearsal Ahead of First Virginia Launch: Rocket Lab has completed the final launch rehearsal before its first mission from the U.S. set for December. It will be the inaugural launch from Rocket Lab (RKLB)

US Space Force Signs CRADA With Blue Origin to Restart Certification of New Glenn Rocket

US Space Force Signs CRADA With Blue Origin to Restart Certification of New Glenn Rocket: U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Blue Origin for the

Space Operations:After More Than Two Years in Orbit,US Space Force X-37B Lands at Space Shuttle Landing Facility

On 12 November 2022,a US Space Force Boeing X-37B spacecraft landed at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Space Shuttle Landing Facility.Its mission,labeled Orbital Test Vehicle-6 (OTV-6),lasted a programme-record 908 days-or about 2.5 years.Some of the payloads were classified,while others were disclosed.The spacecraft,resembling a smaller version of the Space Shuttle,is believed to be one of two the Space Force owns and had formerly belonged to the US Air Force.Indeed,it still bore the Air Force lettering.The X-37B's secretive missions have grown longer with each launch.An Atlas V rocket has served as the launch vehicle.* This time,the OTV-6 featured the introduction of a service module,described as being a ring attached to the rear of the vehicle.The service module detached from the OTV before landing because of the aerodynamic forces affecting the OTV upon re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere.It will be disposed of in accordance with environmentally sound best practices,ensuring that space junk will not be left behind.* Among the disclosed experiments were the Naval Research Lab's Photovoltaic Radio Frequency Antenna Module,which harnesses solar rays above the atmosphere,seeking to transmit power to the Earth as RF microwave energy.The US Air Force Academy sent the FalconSat-8,developed with the Air Force Research Laboratory.It provides hands-on space operator training to USAFA cadets before their commissioning as officers in the Space Force. NASA sent two experiments on OTV-6.These were the Materials Exposure and Technology Innovation in Space-2 (METIS-2),which carried thermal coatings for testing;printed electronic materials;and candidate radiation shielding materials.After 908 days in space,these will be compared to ground simulations,validating and improving the precision of space environment models.NASA also sent a study of the effects of long-duration space exposure on seeds,in order to guide space crop production on interplanetary missions and permanently inhabited bases in space. Said Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Fritschen,Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office X-37B Program Director: The X-37B continues to push the boundaries of experimentation,enabled by an elite government and industry team behind the scenes.The addition of the service module on OTV-6 allowed us to host more expriments than ever before.* The undisclosed payloads would have perhaps tested the rapid deployment of space assets such as intelligence collection systems or satellite warfare components.For example,short notice could have been given of a Space Force need and the rapid deployment of it on the X-37B carried out.* Upon landing,technicians in biohazard-type suits safed the X-37B.* Boeing (BA) #usspaceforce #x37b #nasa #spaceshuttle #boeing #navalresearchlab #airforceresearchlab

🌎 NASA Artemis I Mission Capture Earth Views from Orion Spacecraft - Orion Program update

Orion spacecraft trans-lunar injection and separation - Orion Program Update

Naval Warfighting:New Carrier Being Put to the Test

Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder,US Air Force,said the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG 12) were participating in Exercise Silent Wolverine in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.The drills are in support of multi-domain carrier training,enhancing NATO interoperability and deterrence.Those participating are Canada,Denmark,Germany,France,the Netherlands,Spain and the US.The exercise demonstrates the US commitment to regional stability and security through seamless interchangeability among NATO Allies.It started on 7 November and runs through 14 November.It is the Ford's first deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Area of Operations.The Ford departed Naval Station Norfolk,Virginia on 4 October 2022.* The NATO warships participating,besides those of CSG 12,include German frigate FGS Hessen (F221);Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal (FFH 336);Spanish Armada frigate Alvaro de Bazan (F101);Netherlands frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provincien (F 802);French frigate FS Chevalier Paul (D 621);and Danish frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes (F 362).* According to Admiral Stuart B. Munsch,commander,U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (USNFEA) and Allied Joint Force Command Naples: The challenges of tomorrow are upon us-in the here and now.Silent Wolverine demonstrates our commitment to deepening interoperability with our Allies and Partners while testing the advanced,cutting edge warfighting capabilities of the Ford-class aircraft carrier in a highly relevant operational environment.* The Navy points out that the Ford-class incorporates 23 new technologies in propulsion,power generation,ordnance handling,and aircraft launch systems.The Ford-class generates increased aircraft launch and recovery capability with a 20% smaller crew than the Nimitz-class carriers.CSG 12's participation in Silent Wolverine previews the decisive,precise and lethal advantage the Ford brings to the future naval operations.The integrated high-end naval warfare scenarios,which were not disclosed, are testing the first-in-class aircraft carrier's capabilities,increasing our proficiencies and demonstrating the warfighting capabilities the Ford brings to the fight,according to Rear Admiral Greg Huffner,commander,CSG 12.* CSG 12 consists of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78);Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60);and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS McFaul (DDG 74) and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116);and typically an undisclosed nuclear-powered attack submarine.* The "Eastern Atlantic" refers to such areas as that between Greenland and Iceland;the Norwegian Sea;the Barents Sea and down towards the UK and Ireland;and from the Denmark coast west to Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea.*

NATO Secretary General with the Prime Minister of Italy 🇮🇹 Giorgia Meloni 10 NOV 2022

Meet Italy's new Prime Minister.

Trace Adkins-Til the Last Shot's Fired ft. the West Point Glee Club - posted for Remembrance Day/Veterans Day

Cybersecurity is Uniquely Critical to the Space Domain, US Space Force Col. Smail Says - Via Satellite

Cybersecurity is Uniquely Critical to the Space Domain, US Space Force Col. Smail Says: “Our adversaries are coming after us in cyberspace,” U.S. Space Force Col. John Smail did not mince words in a Nov. 4 CyberSatGov keynote.  The U.S. needs

Pacific Perspective:Eyeing Beijing's Growing Might,Pentagon to Invest At Least 1 Billion in Northern Australia Upgrades

It was recently brought to light by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the Pentagon is bulking up its infrastructure in Australia's Northern Territory (NT) to improve the US-Australia force posture in the event of a China-generated security crisis,such as a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.In the course of preparing a recent documentary called "War Games" for its Four Corners programme,the ABC viewed US Government documents setting out the defence plans.The unannounced project is centered on two areas,one of them being Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal,which is just south of the NT capital Darwin.The US Air Force admitted to the project,saying: The ability to deploy U.S. Air Force bombers to Australia sends a strong message to adversaries about our ability to project lethal airpower.* At RAAF Tindal,the Pentagon is building an aircraft parking apron that can accommodate six B-52H Stratofortress nuclear-capable bombers.There are also detailed designs for constructing a US Air Force Squadrons Operations Facility and a maintenance center.These assets will facilitate training missions during the NT dry season.The Pentagon is furthermore building a fuel farm of 11 giant fuel storage tanks in Darwin to sustain military flight operations and an ordnance storage bunker.* A second area,the military intelligence base Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap in the Australian outback near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory,is also being enhanced.Over the past seven years,the base's antenna farm has grown from 33 up to its current 45 antennae.Pine Gap is considered the most critical intel base outside of the United States.Its monthly Australian-US tasking meetings respond to the needs of combatant commanders and civilian policy makers.The base can provide exact locations of Russian and Chinese missiles and silos,and can eavesdrop on the satellites of authoritarian regimes.So it was deemed prudent to give it a midlife upgrade,as the ongoing project has been described.* These projects should come as no surprise.Since at least the Obama presidency,US-Australia defence ties have been steadily increasing.At that time,President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Julia Gillard established the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin on 16 November 2011.On 16 September 2021,US and Australian Foreign and Defence Ministers gathered in Washington,D.C. to sign the Enhanced Force Posture Cooperation and Alliance Integration.It includes greater air cooperation through rotational deployments of all types of US military aircraft to Australia;establishment of combined logistics sustainment and capability for our submarines and surface combatants in Australia;and supports a robust US presence in the Indo-Pacific Region,plus the provision of US extended deterrence and increasing Australia's defence budget to 73.7 billion dollars by 2029-2030.The combined logistics,sustainment and maintenance enterprise will support high-end warfighting and combined military operations in the region.Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton expressed the aspiration to increase the number of US troops through the rotations and to enhance air and maritime capability.If that includes basing and storage of different ordnance,that is in Australia's best interest at this point in time.*

Army, Air Force face off Saturday on gridiron - American Legion

Army, Air Force face off Saturday on gridiron: Matchup is second of the 2022 Commander’s Cup between the three military institutions.

BAE Systems Receives £80M in Typhoon Avionics Support Contracts - Avionics International

BAE Systems Receives £80M in Typhoon Avionics Support Contracts - Avionics International: International defense, aerospace, and security company BAE Systems was awarded avionics support contracts for the Eurofighter Typhoon totaling £80 million.