LHD 6 in the Talisman Saber 17 Exercise

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
07/21/2017

07/21/2017: CORAL SEA (July 16, 2017)

MH-60R Sea Hawks, assigned to the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, land on and take off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during Talisman Saber 17.

Talisman Saber is a biennial U.S.-Australia bilateral exercise held off the coast of Australian meant to achieve interoperability and strengthen the U.S.-Australia alliance.

CORAL SEA

07.16.2017

Video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron McCulloch

Commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet

USCGC Healy Prepares for Arctic Deployment

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
07/20/2017

2017-07-20 The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Healy, a 420-foot Medium Icebreaker homeported in Seattle, conducts a shakedown cruise around the Puget Sound, May 22, 2017.

As part of Healy’s preparations for their Arctic West Summer 2017 deployment, they conducted flight operations with an aircrew from Coast Guard Sector Field Office/Air Station Port Angeles.

PUGET SOUND, WA, UNITED STATES

05.22.2017

Video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross

U.S. Coast Guard District 13

In our 2011 interview with Rear Admiral Garrett, we discussed how the ice breaker plays a key role in Arctic region.

SLD:    A lot of folks Inside the Beltway say that these Arctic missions are very futuristic, and some would argue that we’re in a financial crisis and we can’t afford an Arctic presence. How does our inability to play going to affect our interest in the very near-term?

Garret: To get to the first part of your question, the Icebreakers are clearly very expensive ships compared to others.  But really, the perspective should be what is the cost of not having an Icebreaker?  If you have a major contingency in the Arctic, whether it’s security related, oil spill related, or something like that, even search-and-rescue, or tourism ships getting in trouble, you have no way of responding. And the cost of not being able to respond to those things may be very high.

The Icebreaker is an insurance policy against future contingencies in a rapidly transforming Arctic.

SLD:    We were talking a little bit earlier about, in effect, about a fleet concept, which would include the Arctic.  The way we’ve looked at it is a Pacific strategy from the Arctic to Australia.  And you were focusing very much on building some commonality of the National Security Cutter fleet that would be in the Pacific and with the Coast Guard with a evolving icebreaker fleet.  How would that work?  What’s your vision of integrating NSCs and future Icebreakers?

Garret: What’s changed for the Coast Guard is that the Icebreaker fleet no longer is just performing science and missions for other agencies.  It’s now becoming a core Coast Guard asset in terms of being able to execute Coast Guard responsibilities in the Arctic, and in the Antarctic, for that matter.

A future Icebreaker is essentially a national security cutter set of capabilities with the additional ability to operate in ice covered waters, and for extended periods of time.  So really, it’s not an odd animal that’s kind of an add-on to the Coast Guard fleet; it’s really central to the whole core concept of being able to do Coast Guard missions at sea a long way from homeport.

And I think the ability for these kinds of ships to exert a surface presence, in a whole range of things from the most simple peacetime task, such as search-and-rescue, to all the way up to security and defense related issues is a highly effective tool that the United States needs.

SLD: And I guess the final point is when you say surface presence, of course, there are air assets coming off of these Icebreakers as well.  And as we go over time, we’re going to have to build out the capabilities of what could be on that ship.

Garret: Absolutely.  I think having rotary wing assets on the ship is a key part of this.

The icebreakers have a lot of other capabilities, which include the ability to have sophisticated command-and-control communication systems, to carry cargo, to have container spots on deck so you can modularize a lot of your mission packages when you want to specialize it for certain missions.  There are other aspects as well such as extra berthing, an ability to carry small boats, etc. 

It’s really a floating base in the Arctic, in a place where there really is no infrastructure.

Saber Strike 17

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
07/19/2017

2017-07-19  About 11,000 U.S. and NATO service members from 20 countries took part in the 2017 Saber Strike exercise.

The exercise took place in various regions in the Baltics and Poland from May 28-June 24.

Saber Strike 17 is a long-standing Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed, U.S. European Command-scheduled, U.S. Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise.

The key exercise objectives were training and exercising the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Groups with a focus on promoting interoperability with allies and regional partners and improving joint operational capability in a variety of missions.

The Saber Strike exercises helps facilitate cooperation amongst the U.S., Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and our allied and partner nations.

Nations participating in the exercise include Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The exercise was held in multiple locations throughout Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

07.13.2017

Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Harry Andrew Gordon

DoD News

Exercise Diamond Storm 2017

Posted on | by Caroline Teames

2017-07-19 Exercise Diamond Storm, run by the RAAF Air Warfare Centre, is one of the practical components of the Air Warfare Instructors Course, which graduates students who are experts in Australian Defence Force capabilities and integration across the services, and also have technical mastery of their own roles, capabilities and systems.

According to the Community Fact Sheet released by the RAAF prior to the June exercise:

Exercise Diamond Storm will run between 5th June 2017 and 27th June 2017, from RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal continuing the training regime of the Air Warfare Instructors Course (AWIC).

This exercise involves Pilots, Intelligence Officers and Air Combat Officers across a range of Air Force platforms, including F/A-18A Classic Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, E-7A Wedgetail, and C-130J Hercules aircraft.

Conducted by the Air Warfare Centre, the aim of the AWIC is to graduate expert leaders and instructors capable of tactics development, validation and instruction.

The last in a series of training exercises, Diamond Storm will be conducted from RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal and will operate over the Northern Territory training areas.

The Diamond Series of exercises is designed to integrate people and systems; an objective which is now achievable with the introduction of fifth generation capabilities into the RAAF.

As ADF platforms interact, electronically, so too must the human elements interact more closely to get the greatest benefit from this technology.

The AWIC, developed by the Air Warfare Centre, has done that and each component of the course has prepared our instructors to be effective in the integrated Air Warfare space.

Graduates will provide leadership in the development of future tactics and help determine how those tactics can be used to enhance the ADF’s joint warfighting capability using fifth generation platforms.

The course exercises complex war-like scenarios and the students put their newly developed skills into practice and make decisions which will shape the way Air Force fights in the future; in an integrated war-space using fifth generation platforms.

More than 1000 personnel and around 40 aircraft will participate.

Exercise Diamond Storm details

A four week exercise

From 5 June to 27 June 2017

Flying activity: 9am  – 11pm, Monday – Friday

The exercise will use airspace over Bradshaw Training Area and Delamere Air Weapons Range to practice large formation offensive and counter air and offensive air support operations.

The exercise will involve day and night flying from Darwin and Tindal, as well as a number of land elements in each location.
http://www.airforce.gov.au/diamondstorm17

Part of the exercise was highlighted in this June 27, 2017 Port Stephens Examiner piece as follows:

Up to 35 fighter planes will ‘strike’ on Williamtown RAAF Base at dawn on Friday but residents are being told not to worry – it is just a training exercise.

The dawn strike is the final exercise in the RAAF’s inaugural air warfare instructor course.

“Exercise Dawn Strike is the culmination of the air warfare instructor course and represents the final mission prior to graduation,” Air Commodore Joe Iervasi AM, commander of the Air Warfare Centre, said.

“These RAAF air warfare instructors will put their newly developed skills into practice on this final mission.”

The new air warfare combat instructors will return to Williamtown on Friday after taking part in an intensive five-month course called Exercise Diamond Storm.

Up to 30 F/A-18A Hornets and two Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter aircraft will return to base, flying in formations of up to four fighter jets.

Two C-130J transport aircraft and an E-7A Wedgetail will join them.​

As part of Friday’s final exercise, up to 10 aircraft will depart to ‘defend’ the base at 6am, flying over water 50 kilometres off the mid-north coast.

It is expected that they will return between 7.15am and 7.30am.

The air warfare instructor course is one of the most challenging courses in the Air Force.

Exercise Diamond Storm involved ground and air-based activities from the Amberley, Williamtown and Tindal, near Katherine in the Northern Territory, RAAF bases.
It was conducted throughout June.

“The graduates will form a nucleus for tactics development which will shape the way the Air Force conducts air power in the future,” AIRCDRE Iervasi said.

“Graduates will provide leadership in the development of future tactics and help determine how those tactics can be used to enhance the ADF’s joint war fighting capability using the fifth generation platforms.”

http://www.portstephensexaminer.com.au/story/4754688/fighter-planes-to-strike-williamtown-at-dawn-photos/

Working the Challenge of Software for a 21st Century Combat Force

Posted on | by Caroline Teames

2017-07-19  San Diego, CA

Mr. Ritesh Patel discusses the new approach to developing, testing, integrating and deploying software systems for the Navy while working at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific).

SSC Pacific is accelerating warfighter advantage through science, engineering and discovery.

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

07.05.2017

Video by Aaron Lebsack

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific

A recent article by Mark Wallace entitled “How Software is Eating the Military and What That Means for the Future of War,” provides some interesting thoughts about the challenge of managing the new generation of software based combat systems.

While war is still conducted with fighter jets, assault rifles, and roadside bombs, the world’s governments and armed forces are increasingly bringing new kinds of weapons and information systems to bear.

And these software-based systems may soon eclipse most others in the effect they have on the battlefield.

At the very least, a shift is under way that will see software come to have a deeper and deeper impact on almost every aspect of conflict….

“More and more of what [the military] is doing is going to be software, and software-enabled,” says Pat Antkowiak, Northrop Grumman’s chief technology officer.

“Throughout the [defense] community, there seems to be an awakening that this is all becoming much more fundamental.

“The potential for rapid integration and introduction of new capabilities built into a software framework, this is clearly part of the promise.

“This notion of being able to have rapid, highly automated prosecution of really complex tasks against an adversary who’s moving rapidly against you, that is certainly part of the benefit on the operational side….”

Just being able to update a software system without having to rethink things from the ground up is something of a new trick for the Department of Defense, strange as it may seem.

Reaping the benefit of up-to-date software development practices isn’t something that’s limited to experimental autonomous fighter jets, of course.

“Being able to upgrade, that’s really something that’s applicable to any platform that has any amount of software capability–which is really all of them [emphasis added] at this point in time,” says Renee Pasman, Lockheed’s director of Mission Systems Roadmaps for Advanced Development Programs.

Also, see the following article:

Software Upgradeability and Combat Dominance: General Ellen Pawlikowski Looks at the Challenge

Italian Defense Minister Visits the Pentagon

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
07/18/2017

07/18/2017: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Italian Minister of Defense Roberta Pinotti focused on NATO issues during their meeting at the Pentagon, July 11, 2017.

07.11.2017

Video by Chief Petty Officer Alma Paschall

DoD News

According to an article published on July 12, 2017 on the Italian Ministry of Defence website:

Italy and the United States of America are close friends, bound by their shared commitment in the fight against terrorism and in supporting security at the international level, as stated by .Minister Pinotti and Defense Secretary James Mattis at the end of their meeting at the Pentagon.

“A friendship that the U.S. has shown also in understanding Italy’s current security problems, for example, on NATO’s southern flank.”, Roberta Pinotti said, after offering her condolences for the death of 16 Marines in a plane crash in Mississipi.

The Minister has informed her U.S. counterpart that Italy is ready to contribute to Mosul’s stabilization phase, if required, by training local police forces. Talks also focused on Libya and the migration crisis.

“Italy is going through very complex times, as it is tackling the migration crisis almost by itself. Moreover, we have to be vigilant about threats coming from the south to prevent terror attacks”.

That is why the support of the United States on the southern flank and the ensuing establishment of a NATO hub for the Mediterranean in Naples are so important.

“Italy is an old friend”, Mattis said during the meeting, underscoring Italy’s deep commitment in tackling the migration crisis: “…your country has shown remarkable humanity in its life-saving efforts in the Mediterranean” he concluded.

Furthermore, Mattis thanked Italy for its contribution in Afghanistan and Iraq, within the framework of the global campaign to defeat Isis. Italy may increase the number of its trainers, while maintaining its current commitment of 950 troops.

Italy was among the first countries to join the International Counter-Daesh Coalition(engaged in the U.S.-led mission Inherent Resolve), where it is the second troop contributing country with its national mission Prima Parthica.
Approximately 1,400 Italian military are deployed in Iraq and Kuwait within this framework. The Italian Armed Forces are mainly engaged in training local police forces.

In particular, Secretary Mattis commended the work of the Carabinieri Corps in training the Iraqi Police Forces. He also thanked Minister Pinotti for having agreed to host the next Counter-Daesh Coalition Small Ministerial.

During the bilateral meeting the possibility for Italy to extend its contribution by carrying out training activities also in Raqqa, shoult the political situation change, was also briefly discussed.

http://www.difesa.it/EN/Primo_Piano/Pagine/mcc.aspx

Red Flag 17-3

Posted on | by Caroline Teames

07/18/2017: Exercise Red Flag 17-3 Commences in Nevada

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Andrew Sarver, 99th Air Base Wing

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev., July 11, 2017 — Red Flag 17-3, a three-week air-to-air combat joint training exercise, commenced here yesterday, Air Force officials said.

Officials said Red Flag consists of a variety of attack, fighter and bomber aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, airlift support, search-and-rescue aircraft, aerial refueling aircraft and ground-based command and control, space and cyber forces.

The exercise concludes July 28.

Base leadership reminds southern Nevada residents they may notice increased military aircraft activity during the exercise.

Aircraft will depart here twice daily to participate in combat training missions on the Nevada Test and Training Range north of Las Vegas in one of the Air Force’s largest joint exercises.

Joint Warfighting Exercise

“For Red Flag, we bring in our joint warfighters with their capabilities and their equipment,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Sadler, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander. “We come together and fight as a team. And, we get to learn from each other as we do that.”

Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighter jets will participate alongside the Air Force’s F-35A’s for the first time in Red Flag history.

“We get to learn in a realistic training environment as we continue to progress down the road with this platform and other fifth-generation or fourth-generation aircraft,” Sadler said.

Having two F-35 units at Red Flag provides a team-building opportunity, he said.

‘We’re Not Going to War Alone’

“We’re not going to go to war alone,” Sadler said. “The more we can do joint exercises like Red Flag — where we get everybody together and learn from each other — the more we can better use each other’s tactics, techniques and procedures to successfully go after whatever the problem set is.”

More than 2,500 joint warfighters will participate in Red Flag 17-3, officials said.

“Red Flag gives our joint warfighters the opportunity to promote their readiness through innovation,” Sadler said.

“They may have to go outside their comfort zone and take risks with their innovation. But at the end of the day if they see positive, successful outcomes toward the objectives, then that’s immediate positive feedback on readiness we’re looking for here at Red Flag.”

The video provides documentation of two F-35 units as they participate in this Red Flag. 

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NV, UNITED STATES

07.13.2017

Video by Airman 1st Class Christina Ensley, Airman 1st Class Julian Kemper and Airman 1st Class Megan Qualls

99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1243169/exercise-red-flag-17-3-commences-in-nevada/