Pacific Perspective:New NORTHCOM Commander Focused on Defending Alaska

GEN Gregory Guillot,USAF,new Commander of U.S. Northern Command/NORAD,wants to secure Alaska's coasts from Russian and Chinese incursions.Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee,GEN Guillot said:The best way for us to counter them is to have presence of our own,so the execution of exercises and patrols is extremely important off all our coasts,primarily focusing right now on the region of Alaska.And the same applies on what we call the "two o'clock approach" of on the Northeast,making sure we have a presence there...strong exercise program,multinantional,a lot of Partners,showing that we have the resolve to defend that most strategic area.*Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee,GEN Guillot noted that:Fortunately,we haven't seen Chinese aircraft near our...Air Defence Indentification Zone (ADIZ) yet,but I think that's coming as early as this year.That shows our overall concern I have about the growing capability of China not only with aircraft;but also with ships and even submarines being able to range further from China and closer to our shores.China is conducting regional activities of a technical or scientific research,but we think it's certainly multimission to include military operations.And then I expect to see air activity in the Alaska part of the Arctic as soon as this year potentially.It's a very big concern of mine.Just last week,for the first time in over two years,down along that avenue we call the GIUK Gap-Greenland,Iceland and the UK-approaching the Commander and US ADIZs,we were able to track two TU-142 Russian Bear bombers the entire time thanks to the radar network and the information sharing between countries within EUCOM (U.S. European Command)-Norway is one I'll point out-and Northern Command.We didn't have to intercept them because we had aircraft flying to the point where we would intercept them before they crossed the Identification Zone.So we had aircraft,both Canadian and US fighters,posted along the line,which I think is probably disheartening for the Russians to fly all that way to find out that we're waiting for them...I view hypersonic as perhaps the most destabilising threat that we have out there because of the speed and the unpredictability on where it will impact-as opposed to a ballistic missile,which is fairly predictable...We do appreciate that the Coast Guard is procuring new icebreakers,but even with these we'll be severely outnumbered.And that does limit our freedom of manoeuvre in the region...Upon taking command,I began a 90-day assessment to inform the Department (of the Air Force),the Joint Force and Congress on NORAD and NORTHCOM's ability to execute assigned tasks,and make recommendations on where the Command could or should do more.Once complete,I look forward to sharing my findings and updated vision for how NORAD and NORTHCOM will best execute the noble mission of national defence.*USNORTHCOM conducts homeland defence,civil support,and security cooperation to defend and secure the United States and its interests.NORAD conducts aerospace warning,aerospace control and maritime warning in the defence of North America.*NORTHCOM leadership:GEN Guillot received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy.He also holds a degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the National War College.He has commanded a flying squadron;operations group;two Flying Wings;and a Numbered Air Force,including the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron;380th Expeditionary Operations Group;562nd Air Control Wing;55th Wing;and Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central).He has served on Numbered Air Force,major command,Headquarters Air Force,and command staffs;and was an Air Force Weapons School instructor.As a General Officer,his previous assignments include Director of Strategic Plans,Requirements and Programs;Headquarters Pacific Air Forces;Deputy Commander U.S. Air Forces CENTCOM;Director of Operations,Headquarters U.S. Northern Command;Commander,Ninth Air Force;Combined Force Air Component Commander,USCENTCOM;and Deputy Commander,USCENTCOM.His personal awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal;Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster;Defense Superior Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters;Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster;Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters;Meritorius Service Medal with silver and bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.The GEN is a senior air battle manager with more than 1380 flying hours in E-3B/C/G Sentry AWACS and RC-135 V/W/S Rivet Joint aircraft.*GEN Guilldot assumed command of USNORTHCOM/NORAD on 5 February 2024.USNORTHCOM has few permanently assigned forces.The Command is assigned forces whenever necessary to execute missions,as ordered by the President or Secretary of Defense.For example,a U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter was recently sent on patrol to monitor a flotilla of Russian and Chinese warships.Civil Service employees and uniformed service members representing all service branches work at NORTHCOM's Headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base,Colorado.The Deputy Commander of USNORTHCOM and Vice-Commander,U.S. Element NORAD,is LTGEN A.C. Roper,U.S. Army.

U-2S Dragon Lady Aircraft Deployed to Protect NATO's Eastern Flank

According to the essanews.com website,a Lockheed Martin U-2S Dragon Lady aircraft was spotted over Denmark on 5 January 2024.Another U-2S was spotted over Poland in December 2023.These are part of operations mainly focused on the Eastern Baltic Sea Region,including surveillance of the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad between Poland and Lithuania,plus mainland Russia,Finland and Belarus.This surveillance of Russian movements is considered vital to the defence of NATO Allies.In particular,the US Air Force needs to gather intelligence about Russian activities intended to disrupt the lines of communication of NATO Allies.*The U-2S has recently received upgrades such as advanced communications;navigation;imagery technology;avionics gear;and new mission computers compatible with the new Open Mission Systems (OMS) standard of the US Armed Forces.*The Department of the Air Force (DAF) plans to retire its fleet of U-2S aircraft and the uncrewed RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft in favour of new uncrewed aircraft because of the high expense of operating the U-2S and the need to accelerate technologically.*The DAF wants to do this by 2026.One likely candidate for the programme is the Northrop Grumman RQ-180 stealth uncrewed aircraft,which is a highly classified project.Secretary of Defense General Lloyd J. Austin III,US Army retired,has signed a waiver to make the move a reality.The Air Force has a fleet of 27 U-2S aircraft,including a small number of TU-2S two seat trainers.Congressional regulations prevent the retirement of the U-2S and RQ-4 Global Hawk unless they are replaced with a capability equal to or exceeding the current fleets.Congress reserves the right to limit the retirement of the U-2S and RQ-4 if it is dissatisfied with the justification of the waiver.*The DAF told The War Zone publication that:it must move into the future and begin to field more capable systems providing decision-quality intelligence throughout competition,crisis,and conflict.The DAF is developing and investing in various technologies to address critical National Defense Strategy (NDS) priorities focused on Great Power Competition.The DAF plans to invest in more survivable and persistent space-based sensors,along with exisiting and planned Joint Force assets.The ability to win future high-end conflicts requires accepting short-term risks by divesting legacy Intelligence,Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets that offer limited capability against our pacing challenge.*The RQ-180 is thought to resemble other Northrop Grumman stealth aircraft,such as the B-2 Spirit and B-21 Raider strategic bombers.The RQ-180 is believed to be close to entering service,if it is not already operating.*For its part,the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works may be working on a complement to,or even replacement for,the RQ-180,acccording to a new,unconfirmed report.Lockheed had previously suggested it had produced an uncrewed hypersonic aircraft called the SR-72.*Last year the DAF awarded to Leidos Holdings a contract to design a new,uncrewed hypersonic aircraft as part of classified Project Mayhem.A network of space-based sensors and uncrewed aircraft are the DAF's vision for future ISR capabilities.*Leidos Holdings Inc (LDOS),Lockheed Martin (LMT),Northrop Grumman (NOC)

Air Force Department Celebrating Milestones

With the commissioning of 86 US Air Force Academy cadets into the US Space Force and the impending Launch America mission to the ISS by NASA Astronaut COL Robert Behnken,US Air Force, things have seldom been more exciting at the US Department of the Air Force.The new Space Force 2nd lieutenants include 57 space operators;3 intelligence officers;4 cyber experts;10 engineers; and 12 acquisition professionals.
As well, about 1800 personnel from 23 USAF organisations are to be transferred within 180 days to the USSF.Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, however,expects some of them to be shifted within closer to 60 days, Space Force vice-commander LTG David Thompson told a Space News virtual chat in April 2020.*
The USSF also aspires to recruit from the general public.For now,though, aspirants are being directed to Air Force recruiting.*
On 21 May 2020,SecAF Barrett and USSF chief of space operations GEN John Raymond held a phone conversation with COL Behnken.Ms.Barrett and GEN Raymond both expressed intense pride in Behnken's achievement.On 27 May,Behnken and his NASA colleague COL Doug Hurley,US Marine Corps (retired) are to be launched to the ISS by the SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft from Launch Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida.The public is barred from the launch because of COVID-19.Nevertheless, Raymond said:
I tell you, we are excited for your upcoming mission.It's going to be great to have an Airman on that first rocket launch (since the Space Shuttle retired in 2011) and an Airman on the ISS.We're cheering for you.*
Both Behnken and Hurley are Space Shuttle veterans.They will spend 1-5 months on the ISS, NASA said, depending on how the mission evolves.It could include up to 5 spacewalks to replace a battery and refurbish other ISS parts.*
COL Behnken noted:
We've had some interesting twists and turns.Our mission was originally a test mission exclusively focused on a week or a week and a half or so to make sure we achieve the test objectives and get this flight certified for the next set of crews so they would do a long duration mission.*
The mission has been upgraded to ensure there isn't a gap in American presence on the ISS until the next launch of NASA astronauts to the space station.*
Thunderstorms may cause a postponement of the launch.*