Launch: NASA Lucy Mission / Atlas V 401 - Cape Canaveral Space Force Station - magnificent launch of the first-ever mission to the Trojan asteroids

China Launches New Threat,but the US Navy Builds Its Own

The Financial Times has reported that China had launched a hypersonic vehicle into space in July or August.The nuclear-capable weapon,capable of gliding to its target at over five times the speed of sound,was launched on an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.It circled the Earth and then landed about 40 kilometers/25 miles from its target.Admiral James "Sandy" Winnefeld,US Navy retired,who was Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,said the test was an important surprise: because it demonstrates the capability to have a very long reach hypersonic weapon that could cause a lot of damage without us able to do anyhting about it.China denied the report,saying it was actually a space vehicle sent up on a routine mission to develop reusable space vehicles.China has been known to use its space program to cloak other military projects,however.* Hypersonic weapons,which may have conventional or nuclear warheads,are so fast and fly so low to the ground,they can be nearly impossible to detect.For its part,the US Navy is currently developing the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic weapon.It is intended to add strategic capability to the new Zumwalt-class destroyers and Virginia-class attack submarines.Launched on an 86.63 cm/34.5 in diameter rocket from launch tubes,it is to be deployed on the three Zumwalt-class destroyers by 2025,and on the Virginia-class submarines by 2028.New,larger launch tubes will have to be added to the Zumwalts in an Advanced Payload Module,since the existing 20 MK57 VLS modules with 80 launch cells are too narrow to accomodate the CPS.They are actually intended for the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile,Tomahawk cruise missile or Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Missile.* Two of the three Zumwalt-class destroyers,the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) and USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001),have so far been commissioned.The future Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) has been launched and is being fitted out.The stealthy,heavily armed warships are built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.* General Dynamics (GD)

B-1B Lancers light the burners - 11 October 2021

B-1Bs Arrive in Europe,Testing Agile Combat Deployment

On 6 October 2021,the first two of four US Air Force B-1B Lancer strategic bombers,together with their support equipment and some 200 personnelfrom the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Wing out of Dyess AFB,Texas arrived at RAF Fairford,England for a Bomber Task Force mission.The bombers were escorted by Royal Air Force fighter jets as they entered the theatre.The rotational mission will allow the bomber crews to deploy to unfamiliar airfields for integration with coalition Allies and Partners to enhance readiness.According to U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa Commander,General Jeff Harrigian: BTF missions amplify our coalition reach and project our collective airpower across theaters.By training and integrating with our Allies and Partners,we are expanding our ability to adapt to challenges and counter adversaries in the global security environment.* The bomber crews will fly the warplanes to strategic areas including the Arctic,Baltic Sea and Black Sea Regions,developing their skills to integrate and use the weapon systems to their maximum capacity.This is in the context of Russia's having made the Arctic a more contested region and strengthened its Anti-Access/Area-Denial capabilities in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad;the Baltics;occupied Crimea;and on the Black Sea,posing a heightened threat to NATO's Eastern Flank. The Lancers are being deployed according to the Air Force's agile combat deployment concept.They will use ranges and conduct simulations from the high Arctic to the Horn of Africa,reducing reliance on traditional bases and shifting to dispersed forward operating locations,in accordance with the concept. Our NATO Allies and Partners seek engagement with the B-1Bs to ensure they can counter any adversarial threat within the region.Strategic bomber missions within USAFE-AFAFRICA theatres demonstrate the ability to rapidly deploy with NATO Allies and coalition Partners,providing necessary training to the joint force,U.S. European Command noted.

Two B-1 Lancers landing at Fairford #BomberTaskForce - callsigns Remus 01 and Remus 02

After accusations of espionage and sabotage, NATO expels Russian diplomats

Buddy Checks: a commitment to no veteran left behind

Buddy Checks: a commitment to no veteran left behind: American Legion National Commander Paul Dillard speaks before the NEC during annual Fall Meetings.