Northrop Grumman In Build Phase Of SDA’s Satellite Mesh Network After Successful Critical Design Review - Avionics International

Northrop Grumman In Build Phase Of SDA’s Satellite Mesh Network After Successful Critical Design Review - Avionics International: Northrop Grumman recently completed the critical design review, paving the way to begin building its spacecraft for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer. L3 Harris Technologies (LHX),Lockheed Martin (LMT),Northrop Grumman (NOC)

Turkey Plans to Upgrade Its F-16 Cockpits in $259M Deal with Lockheed - Avionics International

Turkey Plans to Upgrade Its F-16 Cockpits in $259M Deal with Lockheed - Avionics International: Turkey secured a $259M foreign military sale agreement with Lockheed, approved by the U.S. State Department, to upgrade its fleet of F-16 fighters. Lockheed Martin (LMT)

U.S. Air Force Extends Contract with Joby by $55M - Avionics International

U.S. Air Force Extends Contract with Joby by $55M - Avionics International: The USAF extended its contract with Joby for a third time, bringing the potential value of the total contract to $131 million. US Air Force pilots test flew eVTOL aircraft.

USS San Juan (SSN 751) conducts brief stop off Iceland’s coast as Iceland implements new strategy for NATO

USS San Juan (SSN 751) conducts brief stop off Iceland’s coast: The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS San Juan (SSN 751) conducted a brief stop for supplies and personnel off Iceland’s west coast while operating in the High North, April 26, 2023.

US Military Evacuates Diplomats, Shuts Embassy in Violence-Torn Sudan (AP) Story provided by The American Legion

US Military Evacuates Diplomats, Shuts Embassy in Violence-Torn Sudan: Roughly 70 remaining American employees were airlifted from a landing zone at the embassy to an undisclosed location in Ethiopia.

Defending the Northern Flank:Dynamic Mongoose 2023

NATO exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2023 opens on 24 April and runs until 4 May.Iceland is the primary host nation.Other participants include Canada,Denmark and the Faroe Islands,France,Germany,the Netherlands,Norway,Poland,Portugal,Spain,the UK and the US.The drills will take place in the waters between Norway,the Faroe Islands and Iceland,the expansive waters of the Greenland-Iceland-UK Gap (GIUK).Thus they will demonstrate NATO's ability to operate in the area,maintaining freedom of navigation for the international maritime community.The exercise contributes to the security,stability and NATO's situational awareness in the North Atlantic.The high-tempo training will include dynamic scenarios to test all units' ability to confront any threat in the subsurface domain-skills that are inreasingly relevant as the Alliance continues to adapt to new security challenges,according to NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM) in Northwood,UK.* Taking part in the drills will be 14 warships,4 submarines and 6 aircraft.Airbases across the region will host the Maritime Patrol Aircraft.The vessels will venture into Faroe Islands waters and may dock at Faroe Islands ports.The Faroe Islands are an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.They are located 320 km/200 mi north-northwest of the UK,or halfway between Norway and Iceland.The purpose of the exercise is to hone NATO's ability to counter the threat posed by adversary submarines approaching NATO's Northern Flank.It will also include Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW) Tactics,Techniques and Procedures (TTPs).The drills demonstrate the readiness and mobility of the maritime component of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF),the spearhead of the NATO Response Force (NRF).* The Faroe Islands have a population of 54,000 (2022).There is some difficult,rocky terrain found among the 18 major islands.Denmark handles their defence and foreign affairs,but the Faroe Islands,a parliamentary democracy,negotiate their own trade deals.They do not belong to the EU.They have their own flag and national anthem.* During the course of Dynamic Mongoose,naval officers will stand watch in the combat information centre,observing and coordinating battle group actions as the submarines and warships take turns hunting and being hunted.*

Buzz Aldrin to be promoted to Air Force general - Orlando Sentinel

Buzz Aldrin to be promoted to Air Force general The Korean War combat veteran is one of only four surviving astronauts who walked on the Moon.

NATO Secretary General with the President of Ukraine 🇺🇦 Volodymyr Zelensky 20 APRIL 2023

The unannounced trip was Mr.Stoltenberg's first visit to Ukraine since the invasion last February.

Space Force Chief Warns Against Complacency in Space Operations - Via Satellite

Space Force Chief Warns Against Complacency in Space Operations: The head of the U.S. Space Force wants to shake up how the U.S. military works in space, challenging the “comfort” that comes out of continuity, success,

New Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R Ford Set For First Full Deployment

The Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 77) has successfully completed its Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPUTEX) off the East Coast and is to be deployed on its first full-length deployment (at least six months) in the first week of May.Accompanied by Carrier Strike Group 12 and embarking Carrier Air Wing 8,it will depart its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk,Virginia.The Ford had been deployed to Europe in September 2022 on its first mission,integrating with other NATO warships for a bit less than two months.Rear Admiral Gregory Huffman commands CSG 12 and Captain Paul Lanzilotta is commanding the Ford.* CSG 12 includes the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normany (CG 60) and Destroyer Squadron 2 (DESRON 2).DESRON 2 consists of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61);USS McFaul (DDG 74);and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).An undisclosed nuclear-powered attack submarine customarily accompanies a CSG.The next member of the Ford-class is currently in testing,the Pre-Commissioning Unit John F Kennedy (CVN 79).She was christened by the ship's sponsor,the late president's daughter Caroline,and delivery is expected in 2025.The Ford-class features 23 new technologies,some of them with a view to increasing sortie rates by 30%.These innovations include a dual-band radar custom-designed for the class,providing unprecedented ability to find and track targets and to compress combat data into a single stream;a faster aircraft elevator;the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS);and the Advanced Arresting Gear.The deployment will mark the first time the full Carrier Air Wing 8 will deploy with the Ford.In 2022,only 80% of the CAW deployed to Europe with the Ford.So one of the missions this time will be comprehensively testing the limits of the sortie-generation capability of the Ford-class.* In a previous iteration,CSG 12 had supported both the Afghan War and the Iraq War,flying more than 13,000 combat missions.Having completed the COMPUTEX,the Ford is now certified for integration with CSG 12 and conducting combat operations.Said Rear Admiral Huffman:COMPUTEX serves as a doctorate-level test of the strike group's ability to operate collectively across the spectrum of warfare,while incorporating the Gerald R Ford into the strike group.* The carrier will be ready to provide maritime security,power projection or strike operations.Captain Brian Metcalf,program manager for the Ford-class,said that he fully believes the aircraft carrier,her air wing,and her battle group are capable of defending themselves.* No one has revealed the Ford's destination,but,as a member of US 2nd Fleet,the Atlantic Fleet,it would be logical to deploy her back to Europe,as there is currently no US Navy CSG in theatre to anchor NATO's response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine,bolstering deterrence alongside NATO Allies and Partners.

Lockheed Martin Seeks To Combine 5G Data Transfer With AI-Driven Military Aircraft Maintenance - Avionics International

Lockheed Martin Seeks To Combine 5G Data Transfer With AI-Driven Military Aircraft Maintenance - Avionics International: Lockheed Martin demonstrated analytics-driven maintenance capabilities that are compatible with the DoD’s 5G flight-line ecosystem. Lockheed Martin (LMT)

Will Russia survive Putin’s war? by Alan W. Dowd - American Legion

Will Russia survive Putin’s war?: Ethnic tensions, private armies and the threat of rebellion spell trouble for the regime.

U.S. Strategic Command Commences Annual Nuclear Command and Control Exercise - USSTRATCOM

U.S. Strategic Command Commences Annual Nuclear Command and Control Exercise: U.S. Strategic Command will commence its annual nuclear command and control exercise, Global Thunder, April 11, 2023.Global Thunder 23 (GT23) involves personnel throughout the strategic enterprise

Pacific Perspective:USMC,ROK Marines and Royal Marines Join Forces

Exercise Ssang Yong 23 brought together Marines from three nations-the US,Republic of Korea and the UK-for ten days of high intensity training in ROK.The US Navy Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and ROK Navy supported the drills.Live-fire ranges,ROKMC ranger training,fast roping and rappelling,military free-fall and subject matter expert exchanges characterised the exercise.The drills culminated in an amphibious assault.According to Captain Jonathan Eaton,combat cargo officer,Amphibious Squadron 7:Conducting an over-the-horizon assault from the ARG is an advanced manoeuvre.Conducting an OTH assault as a multinational unit under a single commander of the Amphibious Task Force,across the same beach,demonstrates advanced capabilities as an Allied force.* Said Captain Christian Thiessen,technical information operations officer,13th Marine Expeditionary Unit:This event rehearsed combined forcible entry operations in the event the ARG/MEU is required to join the ROKMC for combat operations.* For its part,40 Commando Royal Marines deployed to Korea for the first time since the Korean War.Their Bravo Company trained in crisis response,disaster relief,amphibious landing and coastal defence scenarios with the USMC and ROKMC.It was part of ongoing Royal Navy efforts in the strategically important region,where the security situation is challenging and complex,the RN said.* Ssang Yong 23 involved around 28,000 Korean and US Sailors and Marines;30 warships;70 aircraft;and 50 amphibious assault vehicles.It took place near the port city of Pohang,on the South Korean coast about 160 mi/257.49 km from the capital Seoul.40 CDO operated as part of a combined surveillance team,helping exercise commanders make crucial operational decisions through reconnaissance actions ashore,and directing strikes onto targets.* Said Major Aran Sandiford RM,RM exercise commander:This deployment has provided a fantastic opportunity to further the Royal Marines' partnership with the ROK Marine Corps and US Marine Corps;two of the foremost amphibious forces in the world.Ultimately,Royal Marines must be able to deploy,sustain and fight anywhere in the world alongside our Allies and Partners.*

Thule Air Base Gets New Name

Thule Air Base Gets New Name: Thule Air Base, the Department of Defense’s northernmost installation, has been renamed to recognize Greenlandic cultural heritage and better reflect its role in the U.S. Space Force.Following a

Boeing and CAE to Enhance P-8 Training Solutions - Avionics International

Boeing and CAE to Enhance P-8 Training Solutions - Avionics International: Boeing and CAE signed teaming agreements to expand multi-mission platform collaboration for the P-8 Poseidon program in Canada, Norway, & Germany. Boeing (BA),CAE Inc (CAE)

Orion Program Update:Here are the Artemis II astronauts that will fly around the Moon and even beyond it

Three of the astronauts are serving in the military:Captains Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover,US Navy,and Colonel Jeremy Hansen,Royal Canadian Air Force.The Artemis II mission will take astronauts 4600 mi/7402.9 km past the dark side of the Moon,which is farther into the solar system than humans have ever gone before.

SpaceX launches Space Force satellites to track missiles & more, nails landing - mission for the US Space Force's Space Development Agency

Views of the second stage are classified.According to Space.com,eight of the ten spacecraft launched on 2 April 2023 from Vandenberg Space Force Base,California,will relay data,and two will track missiles,though this first set is intended primarily to demonstrate capabilities the SDA satellites will take operational.Falcon 9's first stage landed at Vandenberg Landing Zone 4.

NATO Land Forces:Army Begins New Cycle of Deployments to Europe,plus what massive activity NATO is considering

On 7 March 2023 the US Army began unit deployments to Europe under Operation Atlantic Resolve to support European Allies and Partners in light of Russian aggression.The units include about 500 Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum,New York.They will replace Soldiers from 101st Airborne Division Headquarters.Said Major General Gregory K. Andersen,commander,10th Mountain Division:The 10th Mountain Division is proud to be called to serve alongside our Allies.The Mountain Division is no stranger to deployments across the globe.Our formations are trained,ready and prepared.* At the same time,a larger force of around 3800 Soldiers from 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team,101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) out of Fort Campbell,Kentucky will replace Soldiers from 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team,101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).According to Colonel Kevin Sharp,commander,1st BCT:The Bastogne Brigade is ready to assume the critical mission of assuring our NATO Allies and deterring Russian aggression on NATO's Eastern Flank. Nearly 80 years ago,Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division fought in the Battle of the Bulge and our brigade proudly claims the nickname of Bastogne.Today,we are ready to secure the peace in Europe that was built on the sacrifices of those first Soldiers of the 101st Airborne.* The Army points out that this is not an increase in current force posture levels,and the redeploying units will return to their home stations.* The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Screaming Eagles) is a light infantry division capable of executing multiple air assault operations for seizing terrain in austere environments.Its World War II engagements included Operation Overlord (D-Day);Operation Market Garden;and Western Allied Invasion of Germany.It also served in the Vietnam War;the Persian Gulf War;and the Global War on Terrorism (Afghan War,Iraq War,Operation Inherent Resolve and the Somali Civil War). Mission:The 101st provides our Nation an unmatched expeditionary Air Assault capability to conduct forcible entry and other worldwide unified land operations in support of combatant commanders.* Leadership:Eagle 6 is Major General J P McGee and Eagle 7 is Command Sgt.Major Veronica Knapp.* NATO is reportedly considering a massive reinforcement of the European theatre with up to 300,000 more troops.The first 100,000 would go to the Eastern Flank.