US Air Force, NATO. Powerful F-16C fighters refuel in the air during an exercise in Finland

U.S. Army, NATO. Airborne troops arrived in Turkey and Georgia.

Agile Sprit 23:Defending the Republic of Georgia

NATO Exercise Agile Spirit 23 is underway in the Republic of Georgia.It began on 21 August and runs through 1 September 2023.Led by U.S. Army V Corps and joined by Georgia Defence Forces,Turkiye and Multinational Division Southeast,it primarily is based in Goergia,with one additional site in Turkiye.The drills are meant to support theatre security cooperation and improve interoperability among NATO Allies and Partners,as well as bolster multinational readiness capabilities by exercising rapid mobility,posturing combat creible forces across the European theatre to the country of Georgia to hone their defence efforts and deter aggression in the Black Sea Region while also exercising the enduring U.S. State Partnership Program with the Georgia Army National Guard.Said Lt.Gen John S. Kolasheski,commanding general of U.S. Army V Corps:We are well-prepared to integrate with exercise participants and greatly look forward to a successful exercise that builds combined lethality and readiness.* Critical training includes a Brigade-level Command Post Exercise with NATO Multinational Division Southeast;a Brigade-level field training exercise;a Combined Battalion-level Joint Forcible Entry into Turkiye;Combined Battalion Live Fire and Field Training drills;combined special forces operations;combined medical and protection training;and other live-fire exercises in multiple locations within the country of Georgia.In a realistic training environment,the drills improve interoperability at the tactical level between joint U.S. Forces,Allies and Partner Forces;planning for GDF Special Operations Forces and conventional forces integration;and exercising with combined multinational units,improving Command and Control capabilities.It ensures that US,Allied and Partner Forces maintain our deterrence capability with a combination of combat-ready multinational forces.Some 3600 military personnel from 21 Allied and Partner Forces include:Azerbaijan,Belgium,Bulgaria,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Canada,France,Germany,Greece,Hungary,Italy,Jordan,Latvia,Lithuania,Moldova,Norway,Poland,Romania,Slovakia,Spain,Turkiye,the UK and the US.The breakdown of Forces is about 1200 US personnel;1900 Georgia Defence Forces personnel;and around 500 from the other participants.The drills will take place in the following Georgia Training Areas:Vaziani,Krtsanisi,Norio,and Senaki.Turkiye will host drills at the Kayseri Airbase Martyr BAK Drop Zone.Neighbours in the Black Sea Region,Turkiye and Georgia share a commen border.* The US and Turkiye have a renewed closeness as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wishes to meet with President Joseph R. Biden in the near future.

ESPAÑA | Primeras imágenes de la princesa Leonor vestida de militar - Princess Leonor after initial training

In addition,this blog viewed a photo of Princess Leonor crawling under barbed wire.

princess Leonor joined the army🎖️she entered the General Military Academy accompanied by her family

Princess Leonor will spend one year at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza (Army),one year at the Naval School of Marin in Pontevedra,and one year at the General Academy of Air and Space in San Javier.

U.S. Marines Seize Airfield During Exercises in Japan.

SDA Awards Over $1.5B to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for Tranche 2 Transport Layer - Via Satellite

SDA Awards Over $1.5B to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for Tranche 2 Transport Layer: The U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA) on Aug. 21 said that it has awarded two contracts worth more than $1.5 billion to Lockheed Martin’s General Dynamics (GD),Iridium Communications Inc (IRDM),Lockheed Martin (LMT).Northrop Grumman (NOC)

King Charles Receives Official Welcome on Balmoral Castle Arrival - 21 August 2023

Securing the High North:Air Force Global Strike Command Sends B-2 Spirits to Iceland

On 13 August 2023,over 150 Airmen amd three B-2 Spirit strategic bombers out of Whiteman Air Force Base,Missouri arrived at Keflavik Air Base,Iceland.They will engage in Bomber Task Force missions,according to U.S. Air Forces in Europe amd Air Forces Africa.Across the globe,U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) routinely orchestrates BTF operations to not only showcase the US commitment to collective defence,but also to seamlessly integrate with operations conducted by our Geographic Combatant Commands.This BTF initiative was designed to bolster U.S. European Command's (EUCOM) overarching security mandate across the European continent,while also affording aircrews the opportunity to acclimate themselves to the intracacies of joint and coalition operations in foreign locations.Said General James Hecker,commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe,U.S. Air Forces Africa and NATO Allied Air Command:Each BTF mission underscores the prowess of our armed forces in navigating today's intricate and unpredictable global security terrain,with the focus on fostering stability,security,and freedom across Europe.In resolute unity,the US upholds our nation's commitment to foster peace and stability in Europe,unwaveringly collaborating with Allies and Partners to thwart challenges against the sovereignty of nations across the region.* The expeditionary bomb crew is led by Lt.Col. Andrew Kousgaard,commander of 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron.Lt.Col. Kousgaard emphasised Dynamic Force Employment,a strategy that combines strategic unpredictability with operational adaptability:The B-2 bomber is arguably the most strategically significant airplane in the world,but that doesn't mean it's inflexible:dynamically deploying the bombers forward is a unique and important capability.*The BTF mission bolsters combat readiness,providing the US and NATO leaders with strategic options to assure,deter and defend against adversary aggression against the Alliance,throughout Europe and across the globe,bolstering our collective response to any global conflict.The current BTF missions will integrate operations with our Icelandic Allies and expert capabilities within the European region.The 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron practises Agile Combat Employment (ACE),providing Airmen with the tools necessary to accomplish their mission in austere environments with lilited resources,ensuring the B-2 Spirit's mission of strategic deterrence,anytime and anywhere.Lt.Col. Kousgaard added that being able to:conduct operations out of anywhere and tactically unpredictable is really important to hold adversaries at risk and assure Allies that we're able to share in some national defence:Our host nation has been phenomenal and we're excited to continue our work here.*During their BTF missions,the B-2s will carry out real world surveillance and long range strike missions if necessary.* According to The War Zone blog,one of the B-2 Spirits flew from Iceland to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,Alaska on a mock strike mission,utilising its distributed and extremely long-range capabilties for bomber operations over the increasingly strategic Arctic Region.The B-2 flew first into the high north,deep into the Arctic Circle and close to the North Pole,The War Zone indicated.* Air Force Global Strike Command was stood up on 7 August 2009 to provide combatant commanders the forces needed to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations.They continue to adapt,innovate and modernise to always be prepared for emerging threats,such as Russia and China's forays into the Arctic Region with joint naval task forces and Russia's recent Arctic buildup on both old and new military bases.

USMC. MV-22B Osprey and Australian Navy helicopter carrier HMAS Adelaide (L01)

US Army, NATO. Armored Forces in Lithuania on the border with Belarus.

Boeing Aims to Use 5G for Aircraft Maintenance Improvements - Avionics International

Boeing Aims to Use 5G for Aircraft Maintenance Improvements - Avionics International: Boeing hopes to leverage 5G technology to improve aircraft maintenance and increase safety for military technicians. Boeing (BA)

Deterrence and Defence:NATO's New Plan for the Eastern Flank

According to NATO,the Alliance has increased its military presence in the Eastern Flank as a direct result of Russia's behaviour,which reflects a pattern of aggressive actions against its neighbours and the wider transatlantic community.Russia is the most significant and direct threat to Allies' security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.* Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022,Allies reinforced the existing Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroups.It was decided to form four more Battlegroups in Bulgaria,Hungary,Romania and Slovakia.This has brought the total number of multinational Battlegroups to eight,and has effectively doubled the number of troops on the ground and extended NATO's forward presence along the Alliance's Eastern Flank,from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south.* At the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid,the Allies decided to scale up the multinational Battlegroups from Battalion (US Army 100-1,000 troops under a Lieutenant Colonel) up to a Brigade (US Army 2,000-5,000 Soldiers under a Brigadier General or Colonel) where and when required.This scaling up of rapidly available forces would take place during a crisis and is being practised in drills.* Besides this capability,Allies have sent additional ships,planes and troops to NATO territory in Eastern Europe,further reinforcing the Alliance's Forward Defence and Deterrence Forces.The Battlegroups are not identical;their sizes and compositions are tailored to specific geographical sectors and threats.Forces from contributing nations rotate in and out of the Battlegroups at any given time.They may be deployed to Battlegroups or stationed in their home countries with the ability to deploy rapidly if needed.* All eight Battlegroups are integrated into NATO's command structure to ensure necessary readiness and responsiveness.The rapid reinforcement strategy ensures that Forward Defence and Deterrence Forces will be reinforced by NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF),the broader NATO Response Force (NRF),Allies' additional high-readiness forces and NATO's heavier follow on forces as needed.* Also at the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid,Allies agreed a new NATO Force Model that represents a broader expansion of our higher-readiness forces potentially available to NATO when and where required.The NATO Force Model is still being developed for implementation later in 2023.Further measures to boost NATO's ability to reinforce include developing more pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles;more forward-deployed cacpabilities,including air and missile defence systems;strengthened Command and Control;and upgraded regional defence plans,with specific forces pre-assigned in the defence of specific Allies.The pre-assigned forces will work with in-place forces-both national home defence and Allied forward presence forces-and become familiar with local terrain,facilities and pre-positioned stock so that they can reinforce the Allies even faster.* At the 2023 NATO Vilnius Summit,Allies approved a new generation of regional defence plans,which will significantly improve coherence of NATO's collective defence planning with Allies' national defence planning of their forces,posture,capabilities and Command and Control.The Alliance will continue to ensure that its posture remains credible,coherent and resilient,able to act immediately in response to any aggression.

US Army, NATO. Tanks at combined arms exercises with live firing in Poland.

USAF Moving to Field KC-46A Communications "Backbone" - Avionics International

USAF Moving to Field KC-46A Communications "Backbone": The U.S. Air Force intends to field a communications “backbone” for the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus in the next year as part of the service’s ABMS effort. Boeing (BA)

U.S. Army. 25th Infantry Division paratroopers on exercises in Australia.

NASA's Artemis II Moon Mission Preparations: Latest News and Updates (Official NASA Briefing) - slated for launch in November 2024

Three of the astronauts are active duty military:Captain Reid Wiseman USN,Captain Victor Glover USN,Colonel Jeremy Hansen RCAF.

Aleutian Provocation:As Destroyers Dispatched to Signal Russia and China,Navy Orders Several More

Last week,a combined force of 11 Russian and Chinese warships operated together off the coast of Alaska's Aleutian Islands,according to U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM).The combined force was larger than one the two US adversaries sent through the Bering Sea last September,which had seven warships,four Russian and three Chinese.These were detected by the US Coast Guard Legend-class national security cutter Kimball (WMSL 756).As capable as the Kimball is,it was deemed to be an inadequate response.Hence four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers were assigned to escort the adversary vessels this time. NORTHCOM told the Wall Street Journal that the 11 vessels did not appear to enter US territory:Air and maritime assets under our command conducted operations to ensure the defense of the United States and Canada.The patrol remained in international waters and was not considered a threat.* On Tuesday 1 August 2023,the Navy awarded two five-year procurement contracts to Huntington Ingalls Industries Ingalls Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works for nine Arleigh Burke-class Flight III guided-missile destroyers.Huntington will build six destroyers and General Dynamics will build three between 2023 and 2027.The contracts also provide an option for additional destroyers if funded.No cost figures were disclosed.* According to USNI News,Flight III is built around the new AN/SPY-6 Air and Missile Defense Radar.It is to replace the Ticonderoga-class guided-missie cruisers as the primary air defence of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG).Said Bath Iron Works President Chuck Krugh:Flight III destroyers have significantly increased capability,and our skilled shipbuilders are committed to producing ships that meet the quality standards that our Navy Sailors deserve.*Flight III capability is considered critical for the nation,Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) indicated.* Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII),General Dynamics (GD)

NATO. US and UK deployed troops to Lithuania from Poland.

U.S. Army, NATO. Soldier Expert At Forward Operating Site In Poland. - Expert Infantry/Expert Soldier Badge

Qualifying for these badges sharpens skills and increases readiness.

Xona Space Systems Wins $1.2M in AFWERX Funding - Avionics International

Xona Space Systems Wins $1.2M in AFWERX Funding - Avionics International: The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded $1.2 million in funding via AFWERX to Xona Space Systems.

US Space Command to Reach Full Operational Capability In August - Via Satellite

US Space Command to Reach Full Operational Capability In August: U.S. Space Command is set to achieve full operational capability (FOC) this month, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the

Poland reinforces border troops, claims airspace incursion by Belarusian helicopters

Mi-8 and Mi-24 Belarusian military helicopters were ascertained to have crossed into Poland at only 50-60 metres/164-196 feet in altitude,below the radar level.Polish residents and tourists submitted videos and photos proving an incursion had occurred and NATO was notified.Lithuania,Latvia and Estonia,as well as NATO,have gone on alert in consequence of the Belarusian incursion and the insertion of Russian Wagner Group mercenaries into the Belarus border with Poland.