Atlas V rocket launches 'Silent Barker' spysat for the US Space Force and the DOD National Reconnaissance Office

Silentbarker/NROL-107 is a joint mission of the US Space Force and the DOD National Reconnaissance Office.According to the United Launch Alliance,a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin,it will serve the needs of the DOD and the Intelligence Community by:providing the capability to search,detect and track objects from a space-based sensor for timely custody and event detection.Silentbarker/NROL-107 will strengthen the NRO's ability to provide a wide range of timely intelligence information to national decision makers,warfighters and intelligence analysts to protect the nation's vital interests and support humanitarian efforts worldwide.*The mission was launched from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,Florida.* Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT)

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

Agile Combat Employment:Air Force Special Operations Forces Train on Wyoming Highways

Exercise Agile Chariot 23 on 30 April/2 May 2023 saw U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen practise operating in austere environments.Members of the 15th Special Operations Squadron out of Hulbert Field,Florida landed aircraft on U.S. Highways 287 and 789 in Southern Wyoming to simulate military operations in areas with minimal infrastructure while demonstrating maximum flexibility.The Airmen landed a Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II aircraft,as well as two A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs;an MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle;and two MH-6M Little Bird helicopters on the remote roads.The highways had been closed down with the support of State agencies,including local emergency services,according to 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs.* The Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept uses smaller,more dispersed locations and teams to rapidly move and support aircraft,pilots,and other personnel as needed.In ACE,Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs) and Integrated Combat Turnaround (ICT) are utilised.15th SOS Commander Lt.Col Adam Schmidt observed that: Having the capability to land on a highway or a road can absolutely present some unique challenges to our adversaries.We can take the concepts from this exercise and apply them to any road,and in the most austere environments.* The AFSOC MC-130J,weighing about 160,000 lbs,landed on the highway at speeds nearing 140 mph/225.3 kmh.Indeed,Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron parachuted from the MC-130J to establish and secure the highway landing zone for the incoming aircraft.In an historic first,an MQ-9 Reaper UAV assigned to the 919th Special Operations Wing out of Duke Field,Florida made the first ever landing on a U.S. highway by a UAV.The drills were intended to help plan and execute future real-world missions.Said USAF Lt.Col. Dave Meyer,deputy mission commander for EAC 23: An adversary that may be able to deny use to a military base or an airfield is going to have a nearly impossible time trying to defend every square linear mile of roads.It's just too much territory for them to cover,and that gives us access to places and areas that they can't possibly defend.* The Integrated Combat Turnarounds involve areas working to recover and relaunch aircraft in a minimum amount of time.* The MC-130J Commando II has a mission set of infiltration,exfiltration and resupply of Special Operations Forces,as well as the refueling of special operations helicopters and tilt-roter aircraft.It has a crew of two pilots,one Combat Systems Officer (CSO) and two loadmasters.It can cruise at 417 mph/671 kph at 22,000 ft and has a range of 3,000 miles/4800 km.The CSO executes electronic warfare,navigation and aerial refueling tasks.The Commando II is to support Special Operations Forces insertion and extraction into denied areas from strategic distances.It features an Enhanced Cargo Handling System;more powerful electrical generators;an electro-optical/infrared sensor;a CSO station on the flight deck;provisions for the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures System;and armour.* Lockheed Martin (LMT)

BAE Systems to Receive USAF Contract to Support Mission Data Loads for F-35 - Avionics International

BAE Systems to Receive USAF Contract to Support Mission Data Loads for F-35 - Avionics International: U.S. Air Force Test Center plans to award BAE Systems’ electronic systems sector a 5-year contract before Oct. 1 to support testing of mission data loads. BAE Systems PLC (OTCM:BAESY)

Boeing Delivers P-8A Poseidon Aircraft To US Navy

On November 2,Boeing delivered the fifth P-8A Poseidon aircraft  to the US Navy.The plane is part of an initial low-rate production order of 24 of the ultra-sophisticated maritime intelligence,surveillance and reconaissance planes,which also have anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capability.
It was the final P-8A delivery of 2012;there will be 12 deliveries in 2013,including some P-8I planes to India.Initial operational capability for this P-3C Orion replacement will be reached in 2013.Until then,the Navy is testing the new jet,which is based on the Boeing 737 commercial airliner,at Naval Air Station Jacksonville,Florida.
The sixth P-8A will be delivered to the Navy in early 2013.The Navy plans to purchase a total of 117 of the planes,and Australia has expressed interest in acquiring some as well.Equipped with advanced radar and infrared sensors,the P8-A has a range of 1200 nautical miles radius with 4 hours onstation.It is armed with torpedoes and cruise missiles.
The Poseidon has a ceiling of 41,000 feet.It can fly at up to 490 knots true air speed.
Boeing(BA)

Wintry Hints

Hard freezes have descended on the Mid-Atlantic region,greeting motorists with frosty windshields in the morning.It was below 0 Celsius in some locations.The winter ahead is predicted to be average for the region,which will seem mild after last winter's multiple blizzards.
Snowbirds were seen at feeders this morning,and some human snowbirds are already making their annual migration to Florida from Canada and New England.The cheaper sacks of birdseed are stacked at the store for today's budget-conscious shoppers.

Frigate Participates

An Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate,the USS Halyburton(FFG40),participated in the anti-pirate operation off the coast of Somalia that freed Captain Richard Phillips,the merchant mariner who commanded the Maersk Alabama at the time it was attacked by the pirates.A replacement crew has since boarded the freighter in Mombasa,Kenya.The Perry class frigates are armed with a 76mm/62 caliber gun,as well as a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System and six torpedo tubes.They can sail at 29 knots and have a complement of 209.The Halyburton was built by Todd Pacific Shipyards,Seattle.She is homeported in Mayport,Florida.Frigates are among the smaller warships in service today.They are relied on for escort and patrol missions by many navies.The U.S. Navy has 30 of the frigates,keeping eight of them for reserve use.