US Army, NATO. Powerful M1A2 Abrams tanks on Parade in Lithuania.

NATO Secretary General with the 🇺🇸 US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken 28 NOV 2023

St Andrew's Day Parade

Pacific Perspective:US,Philippines and Australia Initiate Joint Patrols

On 21 November 2023,the US Navy,the Philippines Navy and Philippines Air Force began joint patrols of the South China Sea both by air and sea.The joint patrols lasted through 23 November and,separately,the Australian Defence Force and the Philippines Navy and Air Force conducted joint patrols a few days later.The US State Department has ascertained in a report that China's claims to most of the South China Sea are not in accord with international law.Hence the patrols were undertaken to assert a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.The US-Philippines patrols began at Movalis Island,the Philippines' northernmost point,100 km/62 mi from Taiwan.They ended in the West Philippine Sea,part of the South China Sea within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).*The Philippine Air Force sent two FA-50 light combat fighter jets and an A29B Super Tucano light attack plane on patrol,while the Philippine Navy sent three unspecified warships.The US Navy sent a Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft,armed with torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles for anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions,respectively;and a littoral combat ship.The littoral combat ships,after being criticised for being lightly armed,are now heavily armed with a number of deck guns,air-to-air and air to surface missiles,including US Army Hellfire missiles and Naval Strike Missiles.Indeed,some LCS's are now also armed with Lockheed Martin laser weapons.*Said Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos,Jr.:Unfortunately,I cannot report that the situation (in the South China Sea) is improved.The situation has become more dire than it was before.Through collaborative efforts,we aim to enhance regional security and foster a seamless partnership with the United States in safeguarding our shared interests.*In February 2023,President Marcos added four new US bases to the five extant ones,bringing them into the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.*The Philippines Navy and Air Force later staged patrols with the Royal Australian Navy and Air Force from 25-27 November 2023.Said Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos,Jr.:We endeavor to have bilateral interoperability in maritime security and domain awareness;test doctrines,existing protocols;and enhance efficiency;and foster closer cooperation between our countries' armed forces.This inaugural Maritime Cooperative Activity and those that follow are a practical manifestation of the growing and deepening strategic and defense partnership between our countries.*The Phiippine Navy sent two warships on patrol.BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15) is a former US Coast Guard Hamilton-class offshore cutter,currently armed with various deck cannons,including one by BAE Systems.The Devao del Sur (LD-6) is a Dock Landing-class amphibious warfare ship for Philippine Marines based on an Indonesian model.It is currently armed with eight heavy machine guns and carries two helicopters with hangar space for a third.The Philippine Air Force sent five surveillance aircraft.*The Royal Australian Navy sent the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156).Its armament features a 5" deck gun;Sea Sparrow and Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles;Harpoon anti-ship missiles;two triple torpedo tubes;and two heavy machine guns for extreme close-in defence.The Royal Australian Air Force sent a Boeing P-8A Poseidon on patrol.*For its part,China's Foreign Ministry said:Since November 21,the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command Navy Ship Yuenchung has conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea.During this period,the Philippines enlisted foreign forces to patrol the South China Sea,stir up trouble,and hype up regional peace and security,violating the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.* BAE Systems Plc (LSE:BA),Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT)

US Marines aboard the French ship BPC Mistral during a Joint Exercise.

NATO Secretary General with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia 🇲🇰 Dimitar Kovacevski 21 NOV 2023

Battle Management:USAF,NATO Select Boeing E-7A Wedgetail

The US Air Force and NATO have selected as a nextgen Command and Control aircraft the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail.NATO has ordered six of the aircraft,with Initial Operational Capability (IOC) expected by 2031.A consortium of NATO Allies approved of the massive project this month.Said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:By pooling resources,Allies can buy and operate major assets collectively that would be too expensive for individual countries to purchase.This investment in state-of-the-art technology shows the strength of transatlantic defence cooperation as we continue to adapt to a more unstable world.*The E-7A is an advanced Early Warning and Control aircraft that provides both situational awareness and control functions.Its powerful radar can detect hostile aircraft,missiles and ships at great distances and can direct NATO fighter jets to their targets.Australia,The Republic of Korea,Turkiye,the US and the UK either are flying the Wedgetail now or are planning to operate it.The Wedgetail is based on a militarised Boeing 737 airliner.Each country has a different name for the Wedgetail,so this blog is using the Australian designation for convenience.*The Wedgetail was originally developed for the Royal Australian Air Force.*The NATO E-7A is to have its main base at Geilenkirchen Air Base,Germany.It can also operate from several forward locations across Europe.The E-7A uses the Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA).This radar is located in a dorsal fin on top of the fuselage,or "top hat".It can simultaneously search air and sea,while also conducting fighter control.The array has a maximum range of 600 km/372.8 mi in look-up mode.It also doubles as an Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) array,with a maximum range of 850 km/528.1 mi at 9,000 m/30,000 ft altitude.Radar signal processing and central computer are installed directly beneath the antenna array.Defensive countermeasures are mounted on the nose,wingtips and tail.The cabin has eight operator consoles with space for four more.*On 21 April 2022,the US Air Force announced the E-7A would replace the E-3 Sentry AWACS,saying it was the only platform capable of meeting the Department of Defense requirements for tactical battle management,Command and Control,and moving target indicator capabilties within the time frame needed.Two new US-specific variants of the E-7A are planned,with a final production decision for a total fleet of 26 aircraft planned for 2025.The first USAF E-7A is to enter service in 2027.The E-7A has a cruise speed of 853 kmh/530 mph;a range of 6500 km/4,000 mi/3500 nmi;and a service ceiling of 12,500 m/41,000 ft.* Boeing (BA),Northrop Grumman (NOC)