Space to Ground: Four for 7: June 23, 2023

NASA Astronaut Lt.Col. Jasmin Moghbeli,USMC,is commander of the NASA SpaceX Crew-7 mission.She is a combat veteran (Bell AH-1 Super Cobra) and test pilot.

Arkansas National deployed to Lithuania, after MQ-9 Reaper successfully mapped nukes in Belarus

B-1B Bombers Make History in Sweden - plus the Air Force ACE doctrine

On 19 June 2023 two US Air Force B-1B strategic supersonic bombers landed at Lulea Kallax Air Base,Sweden for the first time ever,said U.S. European Command (EUCOM).The bombers are out of the 7th Bomb Wing,Dyess Air Force Base,Texas.The landing fortifies the collective defense of Europe,EUCOM added.Speaking at a key leader event,US Air Force Brigadier General Byron A. Terrell noted that:the US and Sweden have a long history together in exercises and training,cooperation,and operations,of which today is one key example.The more we can integrate forces and equipment to maneuver across Europe,the more ready we are to face security challenges,now and in the future.*Such training with joint Partners and Allied nations forges the enduring and strategic relationships necessary to confront a broad range of global challenges,EUCOM stated.* In a similar vein,a USAF RC-135 Rivet Joint Intelligence,Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft flew the first ever mission by an RC-135 over Finland on 23 March 2023.The flight of the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft demonstrated EUCOM's shared committment to enhance readiness and provide training for improved interoperability with Finland.The flight was at the invitation of the Finnish Defence Forces.These types of sorties support Agile Combat Deployment (ACE) concepts and enable participation in regional exercises that ensure interoperability of NATO Allies and Partners in the EUCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR). Such operational readiness of US Forces across all domains is critical to building partnerships;responding to crisis;providing deterrence;and supporting Allies and Partners.ISR is one of the USAF's core missions.The ISR mission is integral to global vigilance and enables the operational agility needed in a dynamic security environment,according to EUCOM.* Agile Combat Employment,according to Air Force Doctrine Note 1-21 issued on 23 August 2022,is defined as:a proactive and reactive operational scheme of maneuver executed within threat timelines to increase survivability while generating combat power.When applied correctly,ACE complicates the enemy's targeting process;creates political and operational dilemmas for the enemy;and creates flexibilty for friendly forces.ACE is an operational concept that supports Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO).Joint force operations are increasingly interconnected,interdependent,and challenged.Anti-Access and Area Denial threats,reduced freedom of maneuver,and rapid proliferation of advanced technologies,challenge the Air Force's ability to operate.The successful employment of ACE positions the force to observe,orient,decide,and act in concert across all domains.* Key concepts are defined in the document,such as Proactive Maneuver:A scheme of maneuver by which forces and assets are moved between operating locations to assure Allies and Partner nations of US support,alter adversary or enemy understanding of friendly intentions and capabilities,posture to deter aggression,or gain advantage.Reactive Maneuver:A scheme of maneuver employed in response to observed,anticipated,or realized enemy aggression using mobility and dispersion of forces and assets to complicate enemy targeting;redistribute forces from concentrated hubs;increase survivability;and reposition forces for follow-on operations.Threat Timelines:Theater-specific planning factors based on the time required for an adversary to accomplish its find,fix,track,target,engage,and assess cycle.* ACE shifts operations from centralized physical infrastructures to a network of smaller,dispersed locations that can complicate adversary planning and provide more opportunities for joint force commanders.Its value is derived from the ability to hold adversary targets at risk from multiple locations that are defensible,sustainable,and relocatable.Airmen should expect to conduct operations at a speed,scope,complexity,and scale exceeding recent campaigns from distributed locations.

Worry Lithuania falls prey to Russia, US-Canada Armor vehicles Deploys For First Time

NATO. German paratroopers jump from USAF C-130 Hercules aircraft.

USAF 435th Security Forces Squadron jumped with the Germans.One of their missions is airborne insertion into crisis situations.

Arrived! More than 7,000 US troops were activated in response to Russian nuclear threat

US spy satellite launched by powerful Delta IV Heavy rocket - Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Canada to deploy more troops to Latvia in order to reinforce enhanced Forward Presence

Canada to deploy more troops to Latvia in order to reinforce enhanced Forward Presence: Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) with its Headquarters located in the Baltic Barracks in Szczecin is a part of the NATO Force Structure.

Dozens F-16 Fighter Jets Arrive Near Russian Border Amid Russian Nuclear Threats

Bulletin:Rapid Response to Russia's Deployment of Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Belarus

In recent weeks,NATO has been bulking up its forces-especially on the Eastern Flank of the Alliance-apparently in response to Russia's threat to deploy,and then actual deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia has many more tactical nuclear weapons than NATO does.Last week,the NATO Nuclear Committee held its classified meeting and very likely discussed the potential crisis.* The US Air Force has deployed a squadron of eight fighter jets to Lithuania;the US Army deployed members of an Armored Brigade Combat Team to Germany;the British Army has been deployed to Poland;the US Army deployed a massive 5,000+ troops to Latvia's border,all in apparent response to the new threat.It is in line with Operation Atlantic Resolve,the deployment of US troops to reassure Allies and deter adversaries in light of Russia's illegal aggression against Ukraine.The US has warned Russia that any use of tactical nuclear weapons would have unspecified devastating consequences for the Kremlin regime.* At the NATO Summit in Vilnius,Lithuania in July,NATO will agree further deterrence and defence measures in response to Russia's brutal war against Ukraine.* This blog is hearing about even more troop movements than these going on.

NATO Approves New Maritime Centre for Protection of Undersea Infrastructure

The Maritime Centre for the Security of Critical Infrastructure located at NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM) in Northwood,UK was approved by the NATO Defence Ministerial held at Brussels last week.The Centre will create a new surveillance system for part of the Atlantic Ocean and areas of the North Sea,Baltic Sea,Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea.In charge of the Centre is retired Bundeswehr Lieutenant General Hans-Werner Wiermann.NATO has received information that Russian ships have been mapping critical seabed infrastructure.Said Wiermann:There are heightened concerns that Russia may target undersea cables and other critical infrastructure in an effort to disrupt Western life.* The Centre will bring Allies and the private sector together to help improve information sharing about evolving risks and threats,Mr.Wiermann said.Although it isn't possible to continuously monitor thousands of kilometres of undersea infrastructure,it will be possible to collect intelligence and obtain information from the private sector to connect the dots with.Undersea infrastucture includes underwater data systems,networks and grids,as well as oil and gas pipelines.* In 2022,the UK's Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radikin,KCB,ADC,told The Times newspaper he was concerned about the phenomenal increase in Russian submarine and underwater activity.Russia's underwater programme was intended to put at risk and potentially exploit the undersea fibre optic cables that provide the world's real information system,noting:That is where predominantly all the world's information and traffic travels.Russia has grown the capability to put at threat these undersea cables and potentially exploit these undersea cables.* Indeed,as early as 2017,then Chief of Defence Staff Chief Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach told the BBC that if these lines of communication were hit,it would immediately and catasrophically hit the economy.An estimated 77% of global communications and 10 trillion in daily financial transactions depend on the transmission cables.The vulnerability poses a new risk to our way of life.Said Sir Stuart:Russia in addition to new ships and submarines continues to perfect both unconventional capabilities and information warfare.The UK and its Allies need to match and understand Russian fleet modernisation.Russia is prepared to use unconventional assymetric warfare.* In the past decade,Russian undersea traffic has increased significantly in the North Atlantic,especially in the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap (GIUK).Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander (SACEUR) Admiral James Stavridis,US Navy retired,said more dark cables should be kept in reserve and NATO must be prepared to defend global undersea cables.They are the backbone of the world's economy.*Russia's threat to the cables comes primarily from submarines and spy ships deploying deep sea submersibles.Russia might attack the cables in retaliation against NATO for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.In response to this threat,NATO has increased its naval presence,including warships,submarines,Maritime Surveillance Aircraft and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV),in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea Region.* The new Centre is a coordination cell that brings key military and civilian stakeholders together,according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.The coordination cell will help broaden coverage;enhance deterrence;augment response capability;and increase opportunities to identify risks.Since 2021,seabed cables have been mysteriously severed off Lofoten,Norway;Svalbard,Norway;and the Shetland Islands,UK.

More than 5000 US Army Sent to Latvia Border, After Russia's first Nuclear Weapons Arrived in Belarus

NATO Secretary General - Doorstep statement at Defence Ministers Meeting 15 JUN 2023

Pacific Perspective:Space Force Focuses on the Indo-Pacific Region - plus an excerpt from the USAF Academy Class of 2023 Fact Sheet

U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific has been established as a service component command of the unified combatant command U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).Its first commander is Brigadier General Anthony J. Mustalir,U.S. Space Force.BGEN Mustalir said they will double down on incorporating space across all components and domains.The component's Guardians,as Space Force personnel are now designated,number 21 at present,including enlisted,officers and civilians.BGEN Mustalir said they are really focused on: integrating space into the operations plans,contingency plans-ensuring that other component commands absolutely,wihout a doubt,maximize the combat effects available from the space capabilities the nation has.* Guardians will advise on satellite communications across the Pacific tyranny of distance,while fighting through intentional interference with communications and GPS.In light of North Korea's launching of missiles,Guardians will understand what the profiles look like;projected impact points;making sure that US service members are safe,which is something Guardians can bring a lot of expertise to.In light of Chinese threats with ballistic and hypersonic missiles,Guardians can help bring clarity to such topics.* U.S. Forces Korea and U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) will be the next to get their Space Force component commands;then U.S. European Command (EUCOM) will follow.However,the rest of the component commanders will be colonels,because the Space Force cannot afford the expense of supporting general officers.Chief of Space Operations General Chance B. Saltzman said that: given today's multi-domain character of war,space must be deeply integrated with the rest of the joint team.This is never more true than in this AOR (Area of Responsibility) where we find ourselves competing against a thinking adversary who continues to field counterspace systems as well as their own exquisite space-based support systems for their increasingly capable terrestrial forces.* Concluded BGEN Mustalir:As of today,you are the Guardians of INDOPACOM.You are outranked and outnumbered by every other compnent here-I don't care.I expect you to be confident and bold.* So the new component command's personnel are expected to make themselves a seat at the table and take command and control of space assets for INDOPACOM,while maintaining close ties to U.S. Pacific Air Forces.* The U.S. Air Force Academy held graduation on 1 June 2023.President Joseph R. Biden delivered the commencement address.From the USAF Academy Class of 2023 Fact Sheet-Graduating:921,Men 651 (71%),Women 270 (29%);International Students:12 from Cambodia,Jordan,Malaysia,Peru,Poland,Republic of Korea,Romania,Sri Lanka,Taiwan,Thailand,Tunisia;Assignments:419 pilots;Space Force:93;cross-commissioned:Army 3,Navy 3,Marines 2;total Space Force commissioned for all years:391;Service Academy graduates entering active duty incur a five-year service commitment.

USAF, NATO. B-1B Lancer bombers and AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles.RAF Fairford,England Bomber Task Force Mission

Top US general says Ukraine war has 'greater meaning' for the world

U.S., UK Navies Respond to Merchant Vessel Distress Call in Strait of Hormuz

U.S., UK Navies Respond to Merchant Vessel Distress Call in Strait of Hormuz: United States and United Kingdom Royal Navy forces responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, June 4, as Iranian fast-attack boats harassed the commercial ship.

BALTOPS 2023 Shapes Maritime Forces Rapid Response

On 4 June 2023,NATO's most significant maritime exercise in the Baltic Sea Region,Baltic Sea Operations 2023 (BALTOPS) began in Tallin,Estonia.It will run through 16 June.Partcipating will be 50 warships,over 45 aircraft,and 6,000 personnel from 20 countries.The drills are intended to demonstrate NATO's commitment to preserve regional peace and security by exercising a team of international forces that can rapidly respond to a crisis.Nations taking part include Belgium,Canada,Denmark,Estonia,Finland,France,Germany,Italy,Latvia,Lithuania,the Netherlands,Norway,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Spain,Sweden,Turkiye,the UK and the US.This will be Finland's first partcipation as a NATO Ally. It is the 52nd iteration of BALTOPS.BALTOPS remains an Alliance proving ground vital for honing the edge of combined interoperability in mine countermeasures;unmanned surface vehicle operations;and integrated air and maritime operations.This version will include the first ever robust drills in peronnel recovery by unmanned surface vehicles.Another enhancement will be a military chaplain exercise that enables Sailors and Marines to accomplish the mission with honour.All drills will build on last year's scenario story lines,including the undersea and space domains,such as the integration of the NATO Space Centre for space domain scenarios.* BALTOPS 2023 is led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet,but will be command-and-controlled by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) out of Oeiros,Portugal.During BALTOPS 2023,NATO will exercise a myriad of capabilities demonstrating the inherent flexibility of maritime forces,to include amphibious;gunnery;anti-submarine;and air defence operations;as well as mine-clearance operations;explosive ordnance disposal;unmanned underwater vehicle capabilities;and at-sea medical responses.Command ship for the drills is USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20).A submarine from the Royal Swedish Navy,HSwMS Uppland,will play a key role in the exercise.* Overseeing BALTOPS 2023 is Vice Admiral Thomas E. Ishlee,USN,Commander,U.S. 6th Fleet and STRIKFORNATO;Deputy Commander,U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa;and Joint Force Maritime Commander Europe.A graduate of Officer Candidate School,Rhode Island,VADM Ishlee is highly experienced in submarine operations,having served as an officer at several levels of submarine command,including command of Submarine Squadron 11,ensuring the readiness of six fast attack submarines,amomg other tasks.He also served as Director,Global Operations at U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).VADM Ishlee's decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal;the Legion of Merit;the Meritiorious Service Medal;Navy Commendation Medal;and Navy Achievement Medal; as well as various unit and service awards that are most meaningful to him.* Deputy Commander of BALTOPS 2023 is Rear Admiral James Morely,Royal Navy.A Warfare Officer,his commands have included Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea.He is a graduate of the Advanced and Higher Command Staff Course and the United States Capstone.

USAF, NATO. B-1B Lancer Supersonic Strategic Bombers in the United Kingdom. - RAF Fairford - Bomber Task Force Mission

NATO Secretary General with the 🇺🇸 US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken,O1 JUN 2023 - Oslo,Norway