SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches classified USSF-67 Space Force mission - NASA Kennedy Space Center - 15 January 2023

F-22 Raptor Brings Down China's Spy Balloon

Four Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fifth generation fighters were scrambled at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia Saturday.They were needed to bring down the Chinese military balloon that attempted to gather intelligence over US territory in a blatant violation of US sovereignty and international law.The balloon was loaded with tons of surveillance equipment directed at sensitive military bases with an apparent emphasis on strategic systems such as the Minuteman III ICBM and B-2 Spirit bombers.* The Raptors arrived on scene off the South Carolina coast and loitered while they awaited the balloon's arrival.The balloon had first violated Canada's sovereignty before heading south into Montana and surveilling Malmstrom Air Force Base and its missile fields.It had traveled from China to the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands of Alaska before violating Canadian air space,all the while tracked by NORAD.Eventually it wandered east over to Whiteman Air Force Base,Missouri,home of the B-2 Spirit strategic bomber.NORTHCOM,out of Peterson Air Force Base,Colorado,provides protection for the US mainland and took charge of the hostile incident.Two air refueling tankers flew a pattern off South Carolina,standing by to refuel aircraft as needed.* On Wednesday,US President Joseph R. Biden ordered the Pentagon to shoot down the balloon in the safest way as soon as possible.The Pentagon chose the sea option.* Climbing to an altitude of 58,000 ft.,one of the F-22s fired a Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeking missile at the balloon at short range.It punctured the balloon with a thud,rendering it limp as it plunged for about five minutes to the coastal waters below within the 12-mile territorial zone of the United States.Whatever lands within the zone is legally under US Government control.The balloon ended up at a depth of merely 47 feet,easily retrievable by even novice divers.The US Navy and Coast Guard secured the scene by establishing a perimeter.A salvage vessel made its way to the wreckage of the ill-fated Chinese contraption.Electronic warfare measures had been applied to its technology by US Forces as it was blown along,ensuring that it couldn't achieve its unlawful mission unhindered.The debris field had been ascertained by NORTHCOM and NASA in advance.* Analysis:So China ended up with its surveillance technology in the hands of the US Intelligence Community,embarrassed by this bizarre mission of the People's Liberation Army.For its part,Canada expressed its appreciation for the US downing of the balloon.* Lockheed Martin (LMT),Raytheon Technologies (RTX)

Airbus Launches Two R&D Projects As Part of the European Defence Fund - Avionics International

Airbus Launches Two R&D Projects As Part of the European Defence Fund - Avionics International: Airbus is coordinating two research & development projects: European Defence Operational Collaborative Cloud and EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies.

Airbus to Provide Tactical Satellite Communications for Belgian Ministry of Defence - Avionics International

Airbus to Provide Tactical Satellite Communications for Belgian Ministry of Defence - Avionics International: Airbus signed a contract with Belgian Ministry of Defence to provide tactical satellite communications services for the Armed Forces over a 15-year period.

Royal Marines Drill US Marine Security Forces in Europe

US Marines assigned to a Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) of Marine Corps Security Forces (MCSFR) recently trained in European theatre wintry conditions with UK Royal Marines during Exercise Tartan Eagle,a biannual exercise conducted with 43 Commando Royal Marines (43 Cdo RM),a US Marine Corps press release revealed.No location was disclosed,but this blog assesses it was possibly His Majesty's Naval Base Clyde,Faslane,Scotland,homeport of the UK nuclear deterrent.It was a chance for the Americans to expand their horizons in a critical NATO Ally setting.FAST Marine teams are qualified infantry Marines who guard high-value defence installations,vessels and nuclear weapons.For its part,43 Cdo RM protects the UK nuclear deterrent force, which consists of ballistic missile submarines carrying Trident II D5 ICBMs.Such a role requires skill sets of fieldcraft;close quarters-combat;vehicle manoeuvres and so on.These were instilled in the the FAST Marines by RM professional military educators.* The first week of Tartan Eagle was a firing package ranging from simple static shooting to battle sight zeroing and natural points of aim.The FAST Marine Alpha Platoon trained on the Royal Marines' C8 assault rifle,which is similar to Marine Corps weapons such as the M4 and legacy M16 design and build.The FAST Marines also had to pass the RM Annual Combat Marksmanship Test (ACMT) in order to train on RM firing ranges.To pass the ACMT,you must fire quickly and accurately from postures including prone,standing and from a defensive position.The second week of Tartan Eagle was a field exercise exposing participants to cold,wet wintry conditions of typical British weather where they learn maintaining themselves,their kit (gear) and equipment in challenging circumstances.Phase 3 of Tartan Eagle was a Forward Operating Base exercise where they conducted security against a simulated enemy and were appropriately pushed and tested. The FAST Marines learned to camouflage paint themselves within the burnt red and yellow fern colours of European countryside.They awoke to morning dew and chilling temperatures with a cool breeze.Indeed,shivering and wet,they exercised stillness for concealment.How to walk,stay alert,await orders,provide security and issue orders outside of garrison were considerations.The Tactics,Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) exchanged with the Royal Marines helped the FAST Marines pass the culminating Marine Readiness Exercise.The Marines of Alpha Platoon,FAST Company,MCSFR surpassed both mental and physical barriers while executing Exercise Tartan Eagle 2022,furthering our partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence forces and honing their overall lethality.At all times,they were under the professional supervision of 43 Cdo RM instructors.

US Space Force Seeks to Bolster Domestic Electronics Capacity for Future Systems

US Space Force Seeks to Bolster Domestic Electronics Capacity for Future Systems: The Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) space vehicles directorate is seeking innovative industry solutions to bolster domestic capacity to build Northrop Grumman (NOC)

USAF Selects Electra for up to $85M in Funding for eSTOL Development - Avionics International

USAF Selects Electra for up to $85M in Funding for eSTOL Development - Avionics International: The USAF’s AFWERX program chose Electra for a Strategic Funding Increase award. This award secures up to $85 million for Electra's eSTOL development.