03/04/2015: Working with Latvian partners, Canadian and American soldiers experience winter conditions, training to spot enemy positions and call in indirect fire support at Adazi training grounds in Latvia, as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Credit:Natochannel:2/26/15
03/03/2015: As part of Operation IMPACT, a CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft prepares for take-off in Kuwait.
The Aircrew observe landscape below after take-off from the window of the CP-140.
Credit: Canadian Ministry of Defence:2/12/15
And in this Washington Post story published January 26, 2015, the role of Canadian Special Forces in the operation is highlighted.
Canadian Special Operations troops have engaged Islamic State militants in Iraq in firefights at least three times in recent days while training Kurdish troops, a turn of events that has raised questions about how the military advising mission in Iraq may be evolving.
A week after an announcement that Canadian forces had engaged in their first firefight in Iraq, Navy Capt. Paul Forget told reporters Monday that they had fired on Islamic State militants twice more in recent days. In each case, Canadian officials have said, their troops have only opened fired after coming under attack.
“In both cases, Canadian Special Operations forces, again acting in self-defense, effectively returned fire, neutralizing the threat,” Forget said Monday.
The incidents, however, illustrate how close Canadian forces are coming to enemy fighters. Canadian troops are now engaged in guiding bombs toward targets with laser guidance, a level of involvement that is not believed to have been authorized by U.S. commanders. Most of the airstrikes are carried out by U.S. aircraft, although a variety of partner nations also involved.
According to a Canadian Air Force description of the CC-150:
The CC-150 Polaris (Airbus A-310) is a multi-purpose, twin-engine, long-range jet aircraft that can be converted for passenger, freight or medical transport and air-to-air refueling (or any combination of these configurations).
The Polaris can reach a speed of up to Mach 0.84 (1029 km/h) carrying a load of up to 32,000 kilograms (70,560 pounds). Passenger loads range from 28 to 194 people, depending on the particular aircraft tail number and configuration.
The five Canadian Forces CC-150 Polaris aircraft are stationed at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario. During its years in service, the Polaris fleet has transported vast amounts of supplies to Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed on operational missions all over the globe.
In October 2005, two Polaris carried the advance party and main body of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Pakistan to conduct a humanitarian operation in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. In 2014, the CC-150 transported Canadian soldiers to eastern and central Europe as part of Canada’s contribution to North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) reassurance measures towards Op Reassurance.
The CC-150 Polaris (Airbus A-310) long-range transport aircraft was in service with the Canadian Armed Forces in southwest Asia in 2001, when a Polaris deployed with about 40 personnel to the Persian Gulf region on Operation APOLLO. The Strategic Airlift Detachment moved approximately 3.5 million kilograms (about 7.72 million pounds) of cargo and more than 2,300 passengers during Op APOLLO.
During Operation ATHENA, the CC-150 Polaris fleet operated between Canada and Afghanistan in support of Joint Task Force Afghanistan moving men, women and material over thousands of kilometres.
As part of the Air Force Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) program, two CC-150 Polaris aircraft have been converted to strategic air-to-air refuellers for Canada’s fleet of CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. The Polaris MRTT is capable of transferring 36,000 kilograms (79,380 pounds) of fuel to receiving aircraft over a journey of 4,630 kilometres (2,875 statute miles).
Consequently, one Polaris tanker can ferry a flight of four CF-18 Hornets non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. When configured for VIP passengers, the CC-150 Polaris is used to transport high-ranking government officials and foreign dignitaries, including the Prime Minister, the Governor General and members of the Royal Family across Canada and around the world.
03/05/2015: The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force(JMSDF) submarine JS Hakuryu (SS 503) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Credit:Commander Submarine Forces Pacific:2/27/15
According to Wikipedia:
With regard to the Australian option, this Bloomberg story from December 17, 2014 highlights the way ahead for Australia.
Australia is considering buying top-secret technology from Japan to build a fleet of new generation submarines, a move that would risk reigniting diplomatic tensions with China only recently smoothed over.
China and Japan are competing to build their domestic arms industries, and for China the export of Japanese military technology is particularly sensitive given their wartime history and territorial disputes. Choosing Japan to play a role in the multi-billion dollar submarine project could prompt a stern response from Australia’s biggest trading partner.
Australian Defense Minister David Johnston has confirmed “unsolicited proposals” to build the submarines had been received from Japan, Germany, Sweden and France, with a decision on the replacement of the country’s aging diesel-powered submarines expected by March. Alongside Australia, countries such as Vietnam and India are expanding their submarine fleets as China seeks greater military clout in the Pacific.
“The government’s preference seems to be the Japanese, but there are still lots of hurdles,” said Mark Thomson, a defense economics analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. “Japan hasn’t exported sensitive military technology before and while a deal would mean ties between two close U.S. allies would strengthen, it would be seen in China as a dark cloud.”
03/02/2015: USS Makin Island (LHD 8), USS Comstock (LSD 45) and San Diego (LPD 22) return to their homeport of San Diego.
The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, which included nearly 4,500 Sailors and Marines, returned after a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations.
Credit:Navy Public Affairs Support Element West:2/25/15
According to a story by Jennifer Hlad in Stars and Stripes and published February 26, 2015:
As the USS Makin Island made its way around Point Loma and into San Diego Bay on Wednesday morning, sailors took advantage of the cell phone signal to text loved ones awaiting their arrival.
A tugboat pulled the amphibious assault ship into Pier 13 as family members on shore shouted, waved and held up signs for their sailors, who stood at parade rest along the edges of the flight deck. When they were released from formation, sailors cheered, and a few began singing the theme song from “Team America: World Police.”
About 1,900 sailors with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group had returned home to Naval Base San Diego after a seven-month deployment that sailors called rough but rewarding…..
During the seven months away from home, the Makin Island made stops in Hong Kong, Singapore, Oman and Hawaii, but also spent 115 straight days at sea, sitting off the coast of Yemen. Typically, a ship on deployment goes into port every 30 days or so, said Capt. Jon Rodgers, the ship’s commander.
The Makin Island, USS San Diego and USS Comstock also rescued 11 researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who were trapped on Pacific atolls during a hurricane in August.
The ship was also involved in other rescue attempts.
In October, a Marine Osprey crew member was lost at sea after he and another Marine had to bail out shortly after takeoff from the Makin Island.
In December, Navy SEALs were able to reach Luke Somers, an American journalist, and South African teacher Pierre Korkie being held in an al-Qaida compound in Yemen, but both were shot by their captors. One died on the rescue aircraft, the other during surgery on the Makin Island…..
03/01/2015: In the first two photos, U.S. Marines post security on patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan.
Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills.
The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. In the next three photos, Japanese Self Defense Forces engage in the fight.
Credit: III Marine Expeditionary Force / Marine Corps Installations Pacific:12/9/14
02/26/2015: By Robbin Laird
I had not visited the Final Assembly Line or FAL in Fort Worth since late 2012.
Much has changed as the line has matured, and a line stood up in Cameri, Italy and one being built in Japan.
The first Italian FACO F-35 rollout will happen soon in Italy.
A key aspect of the program is the joint buys of the US services and the partners in common contracts with Foreign Military Sales customers like Israel, Japan and South Korea purchasing via the FMS route.
The F-35’s nine partner countries are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Nearly 50% of F-35s to be delivered in the next five years are for international customers.
Currently, F-35s are flying on nine operating bases with 120 airplanes flying and the fleet as surpassed 25,000 flight hours.
There are nearly 100 jets under construction at the Fort Worth plant, and one can see already on the line jets being built which will surpass the numbers of F-22s which were built.
A single line is building three different variants of the aircraft – the F-35A, the F-35B and the F-35C – and can accommodate configuration differences for the allies, such as the chute for the Norwegian F-35A, which is being built to deal with icy runways.
When I visited the factory the last time, I talked with the manufacturing line guru of Lockheed Martin, Dr. Donald Kinard.
At that time, he highlighted the challenge of building three different airframe variants on a single manufacturing line,
Because the Navy is coming in last among the three they are starting at a point in the learning curve significantly different than if they were building an aircraft just for themselves.
Because we’re building the other variants together with the CTOL, we’re getting a combined learning curve for those aircraft that you wouldn’t see if you were just building them by themselves.
If you were off in some other place, another factory, you wouldn’t have the commonality, and you wouldn’t have a learning curve.
I would say that CVs are being dragged down a path by the other aircraft, down a very excellent learning curve.
And frankly, the challenge of building three variants on a single line was one, which has been significant.
As a manufacturer, I was not certain that the three variants would be able to come down a common learning curve because structurally, the parts are different.
We will publish an updated perspective on the manufacturing line in an interview with Don Kinard, whose official title is Lockheed Martin, Senior Fellow.
But looking at one of the Norwegian aircraft on the line, Kinard made this point about modifications which are being made when desired and paid for by partners.
The Norwegians want a drag shoot mod on their aircraft due to the need to land on icy runways.
We had a drag shoot on a test aircraft, but not on a production aircraft.
Every country has some unique requirements, and weapons they might want to operate from their aircraft.
There is then potential for even greater variety on the line than the differences among A, B and C models, which already from an air structure point of view is different.
Visiting the FAL in Fort Worth highlights the process of moving planes from one end of the assembly line to the other over a year and a half.
The planes move on average every five days, and the process of building aircraft is clearly accelerating.
The result will be seen in the numbers of deployed aircraft in the period ahead, more than 600 by 2020.
In the second photo, the numbers of aircraft – more than 400 – deployed in various global locations by 2018 is portrayed.
During my visit, I saw several partner airplanes on the line including British, Norwegian and Italians, and there may have been more but that is what I saw while visiting the FAL.
And the numbers are clearly ramping up for all three models, and note BF-51 which is the 51st STOVL jet, as I was touring the line.
The remaining photos provide various views of the line and aircraft in various phases of production.
The photos towards the end of the slide show highlight planes at the end of the production line or in the paint shop.
Having a long production one and a high technology production process has allowed the FAL to incorporate changes, which enhance reliability and lower cost.
There are many examples of this, which have built into the line since I was last there in late 2012.
We will focus on several examples of this process in later stories.
The photos were shot by Angel DelCueto, Lockheed Martin photographer, on February 20, 2015 and were subsequently cleared by the Joint Program Office.
And the second photo — the briefing slide — was provided by Lockheed Martin but has been approved by the Joint Program Office as well.
02/25/2015: The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) pulls into Sepanggar, Malaysia, for a scheduled port visit.
Bonhomme Richard is the lead ship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, comprised of USS Ashland (LSD 48), USS Germantown (LSD 42) and, the newest member, USS Green Bay (LPD 20).
The purpose of the port call in Malaysia is to continue to build key diplomatic and military relationships and to illustrate the U.S. Navy’s commitment to broadening the robust ties with their regional Asia-Pacific partners.
During Bonhomme Richard’s visit, the crew will engage in community relations events and sports activities and will host tours of the ship for the local residents.
Credit: USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6):2/23/15
02/25/2015: United States Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force’s maintainers work together during Cope North 2015.
Credit: Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs:2/23/15
According to a PACAF story published on 2/19/15:
by Staff Sgt. Melissa B. White
Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
2/19/2015 – ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam — More than 300 military members from six different countries joined together to conduct the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief portion of Exercise Cope North 15 here and throughout the region of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Feb. 15 through 18.
“The Pacific theater and Pacific Command cover an enormous span of area, and every day we’re encountering new issues,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Mark Nexon, CN15 HA/DR mission commander. “Natural disasters are very common — there’s a lot of volcanic activity, there’s earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons that remain a threat throughout the region, so practicing our capabilities and improving our capacities, and not just the United States, but all our partners in the region … working together, we can cover more area together.
The U.S. Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard partnered with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Philippine Air Force to accomplish the training exercise. This marked the first time the RNZAF and PAF participated in Cope North to assist with the aeromedical evacuation portion of the HA/DR exercise. Members from the Singapore and Vietnam air forces also observed this portion for the first time.
The scenarios of the event varied to meet seven main objectives — airfield assessment team insertion, deployment of contingency response Airmen, expeditionary medical support, multinational aeromedical evacuations, substandard airfield operations, humanitarian assistance airdrops, search and rescue and redeployment of the contingency response Airmen.
This year’s Cope North also marked a first where Airmen deployed off Guam to the nearby islands of Tinian and Rota for the HA/DR exercise, versus the method of deploying troops to the local Northwest Field on Guam in the past.
Rota was used as the hub location to support and provide relief to the spoke location of Tinian which was fictitiously impacted by an earthquake and tsunami for the training scenario.
“The interoperability during this exercise was amazing,” said Sharon Rohde, CN15 HA/DR lead planner. “Everyone was very well integrated, and this was a positive reflection of our ability to coordinate with other agencies who have been very accommodating and extremely helpful in supporting us, especially the local civilian airports in CNMI.”
To start off the exercise, members of the 36th Contingency Response Group from Andersen Air Force Base,Guam, and RAAF contingency response Airmen deployed to Rota and also opened the airfield and accomplished substandard airfield operations on Tinian. There was also EMEDS established at Rota to aid exercise victims who were hypothetically transported from Tinian for medical care. When necessary, EMEDS members arranged some patients for aeromedical evacuation by multinational AE crews to be transported to a higher echelon of care.
“We observed how the U.S. and Australian aeromedical evacuation teams manage patients and set up the hospital,” said Philippine Air Force Tech. Sgt. Wilfredo Uiado, aeromedical technician. “We learned a lot, and it was great to be part of Cope North and to establish relationships with the other countries.”
The four-day HA/DR scenario on Rota and Tinian mirrored the team’s real-world capabilities of being able to maintain operations for five days in the event of a disaster until civilian agencies would be able to support the impacted area. During that timeframe, the air forces demonstrated these capabilities by treating 70 patients, moving more than 216 passengers, transporting approximately 700,000 pounds of cargo and conducting approximately 25 airdrops before concluding and redeploying back to Guam.
The exercise culminated with a joint, multinational search and rescue event off the coast of Guam Feb. 18.
This year marks the 86th iteration of the Cope North multilateral training exercise which is a long-standing, multinational event designed to increase interoperability, improve combat readiness, and develop a synergistic disaster response capability between the countries involved. The second half of Cope North will shift the focus to air combat training which will include air-to-air and air-to-ground combat and a large force employment exercise.
For the broad exercise landscape in the Pacific see the following:
