10/18/2013: In this video, a technician launches the Scan Eagle for a mission in Afghanistan.
Credit:American Forces Network Afghanistan:10/7/13
Prepping Scan Eagle for Flight in Afghanistan
10/17/201310/17/2013: In this video, a technician prepares the Scan Eagle for a mission in Afghanistan.
Credit:American Forces Network Afghanistan:10/7/13
Gators Conduct Field Training Exercise
10/15/201310/15/2013: Marines serving with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion conduct a field training exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan.
Credit:1st Marine Division:9/6/13
Flight of Scan Eagle in Afghanistan
10/15/2013: In this video, the Scan Eagle performs a mission in Afghanistan.
Credit:American Forces Network Afghanistan:10/7/13
Testing the Osprey on High-Altitude and Long Range Rescue
10/12/201310/12/2013: In September 2013, VMX-22 and the MARSOC participated in testing the capabilities of the Osprey and its upgraded software to perform long range and high altitude rescue missions.
According to the CO of the squadron, Col. Michael Orr:
As part of our operational test on a new Osprey software, we completed a 1400 mile TRAP mission with members of the Marine Special Operations command.
Launched from New River, conducted two aerial refuelings, and landed within a few meters of isolated personnel in the Pinon Canyon training area in Colorado.
We used long-range secure communications to receive updates on the “survivors” from a Joint Personnel Recovery Center in New River, NC.
And according to a USMC story:
“VMX-22 executed all planned testing and collected a great amount of data at the higher-density altitude,” said Maj. Sam Clark, VMX-22 projects officer.
Three MV-22B Ospreys took off early Friday morning and completed a 1,350-nautical mile TRAP mission, followed by shorter TRAP exercises.
“We focused on the TRAP mission starting with the long-range mission from New River to Pinion Canyon; the other missions conducted were shorter range TRAP missions to Pinion Canyon and Leadville, Colo.,” said Clark. “The longer TRAP mission provided the needed mission profile for our test to give us a broad range of test data that could be collected.”
MV-22B Osprey software update helped the pilots of VMX-22 have more control over the cyclic, commonly referred to as the “stick” while hovering 20-30 feet above the ground; the update also cleared up some other glitches within the system.
[slidepress gallery=’testing-the-osprey-on-high-altitude-and-long-range-rescue’]
The photos were shot during the exercise and are credited to Lance Cpl. Ryan G. Coleman.
We will publish an interview with Col. Orr later this month on the exercise and its significance.
For our comprehensive look at the Osprey and associated changes in the USMC creating new concepts of operations see our new edition of the Three Dimensional Warriors.
https://sldinfo.com/defense-security-publications/
Refueling Korean AF F-15
10/10/201310/10/2013: An F-15K Slam Eagle from the Republic of Korea Air Force approaches a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from Kadena Air Base, Japan, for mid-air refueling during RED FLAG-Alaska 13-3 Aug. 21, 2013.
The F-15K is equipped with state-of-the-art mission equipment to conduct air-to-ground, air-to-air and air-to-sea missions.
[slidepress gallery=’refueling-korean-af-f-15′]
Credit:354th Fighter Wing:8/21/13
P8 Poseidon in Flight
10/09/201310/08/2013: Footage includes various shots of the NAWCAD P8 in flight.
The P8 is a significant part of the USN’s transition and is a key part of the USN-Indian naval partnership as well.
For a look at the P-3 to P-8 transition see the following:
http://sldinfo.wpstage.net/transitioning-from-the-p3-to-the-p8/
Credit:Defense Media Activity – Navy:5/8/12
On the Challenge of Maintenance of Aircraft at Sea
09/24/201309/24/2013: An interview of U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cody Hill, native of Rome, Ga., and an AV-8B Harrier airframe mechanic assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 266 (Reinforced).
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), on the flight deck of the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), at sea, July 20, 2013.
The 26th MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force forward-deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility aboard the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group serving as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious operations across the full range of military operations.
Credit:26th Marine Expeditionary Unit:7/22/13