CH-53K Infantry Lift

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11/30/2021

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, are transported by a CH-53K King Stallion assigned to Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 across multiple locations near Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 20, 2021.

The CH-53K will replace the CH-53E, which has served the Marine Corps for 40 years, and will transport Marines, heavy equipment and supplies during ship-to-shore movement in support of amphibious assault and subsequent operations ashore.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC

10.20.2021

Video by Sgt. Damaris Arias 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

For an update on the progress of the CH-53K into the force, see the following:

 

The Bataclan Attack in 2015: Now the Trial Six Years Later

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By Pierre Tran

Paris. Can you remember where you were on Friday 13 November 2015 is the big question, following the opening of a criminal trial for what has become known as the Bataclan attack.

The court hearing, which opened Sept. 8,2021 has heard survivors, police, intelligence officers, and political leaders give testimony on that night when assailants claiming allegiance to the Islamic State killed 130 people and wounded 400 in the French capital six years ago.

Salah Abdeslam, the sole survivor of that cell of extremists armed with AK 47 assault rifles and suicide bomb vests, is on trial for murder. Nineteen other suspects are charged with lesser offences for helping the attack team. The latter include six being tried in absentia, some of whom are thought to be dead.

There have been other killings by Islamist extremists but the sheer scale of that attack has marked that date in November as a date of mourning. The authorities spent €8 million ($9 million) to fashion a special room for the hearings held at court rooms of the Palais de Justice, cordoned off for high security.

A high-profile, far-right political commentator, Eric Zemmour, who may or may not stand as candidate in the presidential election in April, has used the closely followed trial to stir up public controversy on the vexed issue of immigration. Zemmour, standing in front of the Bataclan concert hall, said Nov. 13 the then president François Hollande failed to stem the flow of migrants into France and was to blame for the deadly attacks. Those assailants had French nationality.

Zemmour has stoked public feeling against the Moslem community in France, including calling for the compulsory use of European names for baptism and banning foreign names such as Mohammed for the child’s first name, while allowing their use as middle names.

“They knew and they did nothing,” Zemmour said in his attack on Hollande, who had given testimony Nov. 10 in the court hearing, the first time a former French head of state has been called as witness to a trial. “The authorities knew of the danger and they preferred French people die rather than stop the ‘migrants’ from coming into France,” he said. “François Hollande didn’t protect the French and he took an absolutely criminal decision, leaving the borders open.”

Zemmour, who has attracted media coverage in his remarks against migrants, has recently seen a drop in public opinion polls. Previously, Zemmour had enjoyed a rise in the polls, eroding support for Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, a rebranded far-right political party previously known as National Front.

Hollande rejected Zemmour’s remarks and called on the former journalist to show some “dignity” to the victims of the Nov. 13 attack. “I took decisions, the sense of those decisions was to assure the security and protection of our citizens, to fight against Islamist terrorism and to watch over the unity of the country,” Hollande said, while denouncing the nationalist polemics being used to split the nation.

A family association of victims of the attack also rejected the remarks of Zemmour. Zemmour was using immigration as a political issue, a senior executive at an arms company said, but that topic will decline as the election date draws nearer, when other concerns such as employment will rise in the campaign debate.

“All the political parties agreed not to politicize the Bataclan,” said Gilles Dorronsoro, political science professor at Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne university. “Zemmour broke that.”

The far-right commentator was promoting the idea of the “great replacement,” he said, a “neo-Nazi” idea assumed by the French far right after the second world war and which has since gained political ground.

A French writer, Renaud Camus, has popularized the racist nationalist idea of people from North Africa and the Middle East, mostly Muslim, taking over France from white Europeans, with his 2011 book titled The Great Replacement, television channel France 24 has reported.

That notion of cultural purity dates back to 1900, when the French father of nationalism, Maurice Barrès, wrote of the concept of a foreign population taking over, leading to the “ruin of our homeland.” That appealed to the idea of racial purity for the Nazi party in Germany, which the French far right adapted to cultural purity after the second world war, leading to a spread of the idea of great replacement around the world.

Zemmour sought to tap into that nationalist fear by using the Bataclan killings in his criticism of Hollande, Dorronsoro said. Recent opinion polls show he has lost ground, with Marine Le Pen regaining in the polls.

It remains to be seen whether Zemmour will declare his running for the presidency, but commentators note the center right has moved toward seeking votes from the far right. Michel Barnier, a former commissioner on the European Commission, seeks to run as candidate for the center-right party The Republicans, and says he would suspend immigration if he were elected as president of France.

The trial of the Bataclan attack is expected to run to May, with the voters going to the polls in April.

Six years ago, the attackers claiming allegiance to the Islamic State used guns and suicide bomb vests to kill 130 people, including 90 concert goers at the Bataclan, where the American rock band Eagles of Death Metal was playing. The coordinated assault included the Stade de France football stadium just outside the capital, when Hollande was among the spectators watching a friendly match of France playing against Germany. The then head of state was evacuated at the sound of the first suicide vest bomb going off outside the stadium.

There were people enjoying a sociable Friday night at cafés and restaurants, until the militants swept in with drive-by shootings and detonated their vest bombs. The Islamic State was reported to have ordered the attack in response to Hollande ordering French air strikes against the IS in Iraq and Syria in 2014 and 2015.

The then U.S. president Barack Obama made his first stop at the Bataclan, to lay down a white rose in mourning, when he flew Nov. 30 2015 into Paris for the United Nations COP 21 conference on climate change. Hollande accompanied the then American head of state.

Featured Photo: PARIS, FRANCE – Nov 29, 2015: Flowers near theater Le Bataclan in tribute to victims of the Nov. 13, 2015 terrorist attack in Paris. © Palinchak | Dreamstime.com

A Discussion with Major General James F. Glynn: The CG of MARSOC

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on A Discussion with Major General James F. Glynn: The CG of MARSOC

By Robbin Laird

The Marine Forces Special Operations Command provides an interesting case study for the USMC transformation path. It was stood up in 2006 and was clearly part of the response to the land wars and to enable the Marines to work more effectively within the key role which Special Operations Forces were playing in how the land war was being fought.[1]

With the land wars over (although counter-terrorism operations sadly not) should MARSOC be abolished? Some have argued this. But as the Marine Corps is reworking how to operate force distribution and integration, why isn’t the small unit operational capabilities of the Raider teams not a key element of the next phase of transformation?

The idea behind the Inside Force is to find ways that smaller clusters of Marines can deploy within a Weapons Engagement Zone, and connect with an Outside Force, either to empower that Outside Force or to deliver decisive effect in a special area of operations.

Also, a key element of the peer fight is to understand how to deal with a core challenge posed by our peer competitors, namely, being able to counter their focus on operating at a level of lethality below outright war but using military and other means to coerce outcomes in their favor.

It would seem that MARSOC forces could contribute significantly to working at this level of warfare, and with focus on ways to connect more effectively indigenous or partner groups with the Outside Force, whether Marines, or the joint or coalition forces, the work which MARSOC has done with joint and coalition forces in the past would seem as well to be a key asset to leverage going forward.[2]

MARSOC while preparing for a peer fight could also provide a significant real world force element for innovation at the small group level, which can be leveraged and introduced into the wider Marine Corps force. They also could assist in rethinking how to use the assets the Marines already have to enhance combat capability now rather than waiting for whatever innovations arrive and are credible the decade out.

Given the importance of small group operations distributed but integratable with a larger force, the Marine Raiders should be a key part of this next phase of transformation.  In effect, the Marines need to take full advantage of MARSOC opportunities and to leverage their potential contributions to shape change going forward.

I had a chance to discuss in November 2021 the challenges and opportunities for shaping the way ahead for MARSOC within the overall transformation of the USMC and its role in the Joint Force with Major General James F. Glynn, the CG of MARSOC.  Major General Glynn assumed command of Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in June 2020. His previous assignment was the Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Eastern Recruiting Region. A native of Albany, New York, his service as a Marine began in 1989 after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

His initial assignment was with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, in Hawaii where he served as a rifle platoon commander throughout Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and later as the Mortar Platoon Commander.  He has served in a variety of command and staff billets at: Marine Barracks 8th & I, Washington, DC; 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, California; Marine Corps Recruiting Station, San Antonio, Texas; I Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, California, and Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command’s (MARSOC) Special Operations School, Camp Lejeune, NC.

More recently, MajGen Glynn served as the Deputy Commanding General of Special Operations Joint Task Force, Operation Inherent Resolve (Forward).

Previously, he served at Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC)—first as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, and then as the Director of the Office of U.S. Marine Corps Communication.

We started by discussing the nature of the change being focused upon at MARSOC. As MajGen Glynn put it: “From the outset of the standing up of MARSOC, we focused on a concept often referred to as I-3: Interoperability, Integration, and Interdependence. And I believe, based on competitors and what their study of our Joint Force capabilities are, the time is now to focus very purposefully on interdependence as a core element going forward.”

“How are we going to be ready for the future? A stand in force approach means that we need to be very deliberate about the development of our capabilities going forward, with a thought towards the interdependencies of what special operations forces are expected to do in support of, and as part of, such a force.”

“By virtue of Title 10, services tend toward the responsibility to engage in crisis response as a core function, and certainly the Marine Corps is crucial to such a mission.  The Navy performs some actions in competition, such as freedom of navigation, and all the services focus on reassuring partners and allies. But SOF in general, and MARSOC in particular, focuses on activities that begin before crisis. We are part of the overall engagement in pre-crisis actions and do so by operating and developing relationships with partners and allies to enable them to do their own crisis prevention and response and enable them to tamp down violent extremist organizations that can turn into insurgencies. What we do on behalf of the naval services is provide access and placement to friends, partners and allies in shaping relevant capability in that pre-crisis to crisis phase.”

We then discussed the advantages which flow from smaller group operations to drive innovation in the larger force. I argued that one of the advantages of having small groups like MARSOC is you can be more cutting edge because you’re smaller, and you have less large force consensus building to try something new. And in my view, the Marines have capabilities from the aviation side, right now, Ospreys, F-35s, Vipers/Yankees, and CH-53Ks which can be tapped in new ways to shape innovation going forward while other innovations are shaped in the decade ahead, which in my view will be shaped by actual modular task forces in operations and combat.

MajGen Glynn provided his perspective on this aspect of driving change as follows: “Our size is our strength. We have the agility to make a decision, take one step and pivot 90 degrees to enable that decision. We’ve demonstrated that in a number of areas. That’s obviously considerably more cumbersome to larger formations.”

“What that enables SOCOM, and the Marine Corps is an outsized return on investment for a relatively miniscule investment in time, money and equipment.  We can leverage the SOCOM acquisitions mindset of buy, try, decide; in other words, get one, try it. If it’s not good, then don’t use it. If it just needs to be modified, make some modifications, and try it again. And if it’s worthy of investment, then on behalf of the service we can turn it into a program of record and a larger scale investment.”

“We are focused on strategic shaping and reconnaissance with a specific emphasis in the electromagnetic spectrum and information environment. Our ability to bring multi domain awareness and effects to the pre-crisis and crisis phases to, for example, the MARFORPAC commander in his role with the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander, is a key focus for us.”

“Returning to my point with regard to interdependencies, I look at MARSOC operations as part of a Venn diagram, or the image of the Olympic rings. If the capabilities of the service and the SOF component are thought of as rings, how purposeful can we be about where, how, and why they overlap?  What are those capabilities that intersect and represent purposeful interdependencies? The Marine Corps prides itself on mission analysis and task organizing for the mission. We have that opportunity on a larger scale right now, and MARSOC, as the Service SOF component, is optimized to be the vanguard of experimenting with interdependencies required for stand-in forces.”

The focus on MARSOC as an Inside Force or Stand in Force, as the Marines call it, does highlight the interdependency nature of their operations. What do they bring to an area of operation? What do they link to enhance their own impact, and to enhance the other elements of the force which operates in or comes to an area of interest? Working innovations in interdependencies to shape effective pre-crisis and crisis responses is a core driver of change for the evolving MARSOC force.

This is how MajGen Glynn put it: “Our name, Marine Raiders, highlights an innovative tradition dating back to 1942. Our company commanders in this organization are Majors and each unit has the capability to engage in multi-domain operations. Throughout these initial 15 years, MARSOC units have significant experience in expeditionary operations, sets and reps as expeditionary advanced operators and that experience is crucial in shaping the way ahead as we work with new approaches and new technologies. At the same time, we have joint and coalition experience, and working with partners and allies is a key part of our operational DNA.

“For the naval forces, our approach to basing and logistics is a key driver of change as well. We are agnostic to where we operate from, but it is influenced by aspects of support like logistics. As long as we get what we need to operate, we are not concerned with how it arrives. If it is by a CH-53, or an unmanned USV, it’s that the logistics capability contributes to enabling where we are. We operate from ships, ashore, can be air dropped, however, we will stay where necessary for the time needed, and a noteworthy aspect of it is about logistical enablement for what can be done in the area of interest.”

“From this perspective, we are clearly interested in adopting new technologies. We can operationally test, evaluate, and take equipment and techniques to a remote location where we’re training or deployed and learn from it. With that experience, we’ve said, “Hey, we’re going to need to fix that thing, but the other thing works. From there, we’ve been able to influence the pace of investment and adoption. I think this approach can become very impactful to the way ahead for the coming Marine Littoral Regiments.”

“Our ability to leverage what we already have, but to do so in new ways, is crucial to innovation with today’s force, as we develop tomorrow’s force. Our ability to operate with the Viper, with the 53K, with the F-35 now, we definitely have an opportunity and are working towards realizing enhanced combat effects from such interdependencies.”

We then concluded by discussing the changing nature of warfare, and how MARSOC can enable the force to enhance its ability to prevail within that changing warfare calculus. In my view, the 21st century authoritarian powers who are peer competitors operate in the warfare spectrum from the use of lethal force designed to achieve tactical or strategic objectives below the threshold of triggering a wider conventional conflict up to the level of nuclear force informed conventional operations.

MARSOC from this perspective is a clear player in frankly both ends of the spectrum, but certainly is a meat and potatoes player in deploying to counter the lethal force supporting the political objectives of what people like to call “hybrid warfare” or operating in the “gray zone.” And with its focus on shaping the kind of relevant interdependencies with other force elements, which can play from either partner or coalition or joint forces, can learn how to be an effective tip of the spear, but even more importantly help shape what indeed the most relevant spear would be in such situations. From this perspective MARSOC is not a force focused on irregular warfare, but on regular warfare 21st century peer competitor style.

MajGen Glynn noted that from such a perspective one could consider MARSOC as focused on optimizing for the 21st century version of regular warfare. “We’re leveraging capabilities in order to bring cross domain awareness of peer adversary actions and activities that are going on right now.”

He argued that bringing their combat experience to the evolving warfare context is a key advantage for the MARSOC force. “The reality of our deployments around the world is that our force is getting very relevant warfighting sets and reps. They know what it’s like to be in a denied environment, at least for a period of time, they know what it’s like to be in a contested environment for extended periods of time. That they’re adapting and adopting both the technology, the techniques, and the manner in which they do business on an evolving basis to operate in such environments.

“We take lessons from our deployed forces now and apply them into the process that we have to certify, validate and verify every formation that we send in support of Special Operations Command. We run a validation process flexible enough to adapt to emergent requirements to make sure we stay relevant and remain current, because that’s our assessment of how quickly things are changing, particularly below the threshold of declared armed conflict.”

[1] Sgt. Jesula Jeanlouis, “Marine Forces Special Operations Command Celebrates 15th Anniversary,” (February 22, 2021), https://www.dvidshub.net/news/389559/marine-forces-special-operations-command-celebrates-15th-anniversary.

[2] An interesting look at some of these dynamics is an article by Paul Baily, “Enabling Strategic Success; How MARSOC can help overcome ‘simple minded’ militarism,” Small Wars Journal (January 11, 2021), https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/enabling-strategic-success-how-marsoc-can-help-overcome-simple-minded-militarism.

Featured Photo: A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom is staged during a Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command night raid exercise at Tactical Air Combat Training System Airfield, near Yuma, April 21, 2016. This exercise was conducted during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-16. Photo by Lance Cpl. Zachary Ford. Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1

RAAF Receives Latest Delivery of F-35s: November 2021

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on RAAF Receives Latest Delivery of F-35s: November 2021
11/29/2021

By Flying Officer Bronwyn Marchant

Air Force has now received 44 of the planned 72 F-35A Lightning II aircraft after three more aircraft touched down at RAAF Base Williamtown on November 18.

The newest aircraft to join the fleet have been accepted by No. 77 Squadron, which transited the three F-35As from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, United States, through Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, to Australia as part of Exercise Lightning Ferry 21-4.

Commanding Officer No. 77 Squadron Wing Commander Tim Ireland said it was an important step for the squadron’s growth after re-equipping with F 35A aircraft this year.

“Our focus in 2021 has been to stand-up an F-35A combat ready team,” Wing Commander Ireland said.

“The additional aircraft will help us generate a ready force able to integrate into a high-end all domain fight.”

Before the transit to Australia, No. 77 Squadron participated in Exercise Lighting Spear 21 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, from November 1 to 5.

Wing Commander Ireland said Lightning Spear was an operational test activity for No. 81 Wing aimed to verify weapons integration.

“The consecutive activities of Lightning Spear and Lightning Ferry demonstrates No. 77 Squadron’s agility and maturity at operating with our latest F-35A capability,” he said.

“The F-35A is the seventh fighter that No. 77 Squadron has operated. It’s humbling to be a part of such a significant phase of our proud 79-year history.”

The latest aircraft ferried across the Pacific as part of Exercise Lightning Ferry 21-4 was the final delivery task of 2021.

This article was published by the RAAF on November 23, 2021.

Exercise Lightning Ferry 21-4 saw the arrival of three additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft to join the No. 81 Wing fleet on November 20.

The aircraft travelled from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, United States, to RAAF Base Williamtown.

The exercise was conducted by No. 77 Squadron, who also completed Exercise Lightning Spear 2021 preceding the ferry at Eglin Air Force Base from 1st to 5th November.

Australia has committed to 72 F-35A aircraft for three operational squadrons at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal, and a training squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown.

Australia has now received 44 of the planned 72-strong F-35A fleet.

The photos are credited to the Australian Department of Defence.

A F-35A Lightning II aircraft A30-045 taxis to the lines at RAAF Base Williamtown, in New South Wales. *** Local Caption *** Exercise Lightning Ferry 21-4 saw the arrival of three additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft to join the No. 81 Wing fleet on November 20. The aircraft travelled from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, United States, to RAAF Base Williamtown. The exercise was conducted by No. 77 Squadron, who also completed Exercise Lightning Spear 2021 preceding the ferry at Eglin Air Force Base from 1st to 5th November. Australia has committed to 72 F-35A aircraft for three operational squadrons at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal, and a training squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown. Australia has now received 44 of the planned 72-strong F-35A fleet.
A F-35A Lightning II aircraft A30-044 taxis to the lines at RAAF Base Williamtown, in New South Wales. *** Local Caption *** Exercise Lightning Ferry 21-4 saw the arrival of three additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft to join the No. 81 Wing fleet on November 20. The aircraft travelled from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, United States, to RAAF Base Williamtown. The exercise was conducted by No. 77 Squadron, who also completed Exercise Lightning Spear 2021 preceding the ferry at Eglin Air Force Base from 1st to 5th November. Australia has committed to 72 F-35A aircraft for three operational squadrons at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal, and a training squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown. Australia has now received 44 of the planned 72-strong F-35A fleet.
F-35A Lightning II aircraft A30-045 lands at RAAF Base Williamtown, in New South Wales. *** Local Caption *** Exercise Lightning Ferry 21-4 saw the arrival of three additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft to join the No. 81 Wing fleet on November 20. The aircraft travelled from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, United States, to RAAF Base Williamtown. The exercise was conducted by No. 77 Squadron, who also completed Exercise Lightning Spear 2021 preceding the ferry at Eglin Air Force Base from 1st to 5th November. Australia has committed to 72 F-35A aircraft for three operational squadrons at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal, and a training squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown. Australia has now received 44 of the planned 72-strong F-35A fleet.
The RAAF's newest F-35A Lightning II aircraft taxis to the lines at RAAF Base Williamtown, in New South Wales. *** Local Caption *** Exercise Lightning Ferry 21-4 saw the arrival of three additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft to join the No. 81 Wing fleet on November 20. The aircraft travelled from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, United States, to RAAF Base Williamtown. The exercise was conducted by No. 77 Squadron, who also completed Exercise Lightning Spear 2021 preceding the ferry at Eglin Air Force Base from 1st to 5th November. Australia has committed to 72 F-35A aircraft for three operational squadrons at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal, and a training squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown. Australia has now received 44 of the planned 72-strong F-35A fleet.
F-35A Lightning II aircraft A30-042 lands at RAAF Base Williamtown, in New South Wales. *** Local Caption *** Exercise Lightning Ferry 21-4 saw the arrival of three additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft to join the No. 81 Wing fleet on November 20. The aircraft travelled from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, United States, to RAAF Base Williamtown. The exercise was conducted by No. 77 Squadron, who also completed Exercise Lightning Spear 2021 preceding the ferry at Eglin Air Force Base from 1st to 5th November. Australia has committed to 72 F-35A aircraft for three operational squadrons at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal, and a training squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown. Australia has now received 44 of the planned 72-strong F-35A fleet.

B-2 Engagement

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on B-2 Engagement

A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit from the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., links up with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., during an aerial refueling flight, Oct. 14, 2021.

The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.

Its low-observable, or “stealth,” characteristics give it the unique ability to penetrate an enemy’s most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most valued, and heavily defended, targets.

10.14.2021

Video by 1st Lt. Sam Eckholm

375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

USS Essex Replenishment at Sea

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on USS Essex Replenishment at Sea
11/26/2021

ARABIAN GULF (Oct. 16, 2021)

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Corey Martin signals to an MH-60S Sea Hawk attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during a vertical replenishment-at-sea, Oct. 16.

10.16.2021

Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class John McGovern

USS Essex-LHD 2

INS Visakhapatnam Commissioned into the Indian Navy: November 2021

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on INS Visakhapatnam Commissioned into the Indian Navy: November 2021
11/24/2021

By India Strategic

Mumbai. INS Visakhapatnam, a P15B stealth guided missile destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on November 21, 2021.

The event marks the formal induction of the first of the four ‘Visakhapatnam’ class destroyers, indigenously designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organisation Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai.

In his address, the Defence Minister termed INS Visakhapatnam as a symbol of the growing maritime prowess of the country and a major milestone in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.

He added that the ship is a reminder of ancient and medieval India’s maritime power, shipbuilding skills and glorious history. Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that the state-of-the-art ship, equipped with latest systems and weapons, will strengthen the maritime security and protect the interests of the Nation. He defined the ship as one of the most technologically advanced guided missile destroyers in the world which will cater to the present and future requirements of the Armed Forces and the Nation as a whole.

Rajnath Singh appreciated the self-reliance efforts of the Indian Navy, terming Navy’s order of 39 of the 41 ships and submarines from Indian shipyards as a testament to their commitment towards achieving ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

He described the development of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ‘INS Vikrant’ as an important milestone in their path to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’.

“The carrier will increase our reach from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. Its commissioning will be a golden moment in the history of the Indian Defence. It will be the best occasion to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence and the 50th anniversary of India’s victory in 1971 war,” he said.

The Defence Minister praised the Indian Navy’s consistent efforts to participate in various outreach programmes of the industries and increase indigenised items under ‘Float’, ‘Move’ and ‘Fight’ categories.

Stressing on the need to maintain the momentum, he expressed confidence that “the steps taken by the government will continue to provide boost to the self-reliance efforts and we will soon build ships not just for India, but for the entire world”. He assured of Government’s continuous support to achieve this vision.

Saying that global security reasons, border disputes and maritime dominance have forced countries to move towards strengthening their military power, Rajnath Singh exhorted the public & private sector to take advantage of Government’s policies, work together and make India an indigenous shipbuilding hub.

He listed out a number of reforms undertaken by the Government through which the public and private sector companies can make their mark in the international market. The steps include simplification of licensing process; speeding up Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) & Request for Proposal (RFP) process; setting up of Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; positive indigenous lists of over 200 items; Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 and earmarking around 64 per cent of its modernisation funds under capital acquisition budget for 2021-22 for procurement from domestic companies.

The Defence Minister emphasised on the need to keep the Indo-Pacific region open, safe and secure, terming it as the primary objective of the Indian Navy. He asserted that India’s interests are directly linked with the Indian Ocean and the region is crucial for the world economy.

“Challenges such as piracy, terrorism, illegal smuggling of arms and narcotics, human trafficking, illegal fishing and damage to the environment are equally responsible for affecting the maritime domain. Therefore, the role of the Indian Navy becomes very important in the entire Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

The Defence Minister underscored the importance of a rule-based freedom of navigation and security of sea lanes in the present era of globalisation to ensure stability, economic progress and development of the world.

Rajnath Singh reiterated that India, as a responsible maritime stakeholder, is a supporter of consensus-based principles and a peaceful, open, rule-based and stable maritime order.

“In the ‘United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea’ (UNCLOS) of 1982, territorial waters of nations, exclusive economic zones and the principle of ‘Good order at sea’ have been propounded. Some irresponsible nations, for the sake of their narrow partisan interests, keep on giving new and inappropriate interpretations to these international laws from hegemonic tendencies. The arbitrary interpretations create obstacles in the path of a rule-based maritime order. We envision a rule-based Indo-Pacific, with freedom of navigation, free trade and universal values, in which the interests of all the participating countries are protected,” he said.

The Defence Minister lauded the Indian Navy for taking forward the Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) with the spirit of friendship, openness, dialogue and co-existence with the neighbours.

INS Visakhapatnam measures 163m in length, 17m in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes and can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India.

The ship is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration, capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots.

The ship has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) achieved through efficient shaping of hull, full beam superstructure design, plated masts and use of radar transparent materials on exposed decks.

The ship is packed with sophisticated state-of-the-art weapons and sensors such as Surface-to-Surface missile and Surface-to-Air missiles. It is fitted with a modern surveillance radar which provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems of the ship. The anti-submarine warfare capabilities are provided by the indigenously developed rocket launchers, torpedo launchers and ASW helicopters. The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.

A unique feature of this ship is the high level of indigenisation incorporated in the production, accentuating the national objective of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

Some of the major indigenised equipment/systems onboard INS Visakhapatnam include Combat Management System, Rocket Launcher, Torpedo Tube Launcher, Integrated Platform Management System, Automated Power Management System, Foldable Hangar Doors, Helo Traversing system, Close-in Weapon System and the Bow mounted SONAR.

Named after the historic city of Andhra Pradesh on the east coast, Visakhapatnam, the ‘City of Destiny’, the ship has a total complement of about 315 personnel.

Enhanced crew comfort is a significant feature of INS Visakhapatnam, which has been ensured through ergonomically designed accommodation based on ‘modular’ concepts. The ship will be under the command of Captain Birendra Singh Bains, a Navigation & Direction specialist.

With the changing power dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region, INS Visakhapatnam will augment the Indian Navy’s mobility, reach and flexibility towards accomplishment of its tasks and goals.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Member of Parliament Arvind Sawant, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited Vice Admiral Narayan Prasad (retd) and other senior civil & military officials of Ministry of Defence were present during the commissioning ceremony of INS Visakhapatnam.

This article was published in November 2021 by India Strategic.

 

Italian F-35 Pilot in Estonia Air Policing Mission

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on Italian F-35 Pilot in Estonia Air Policing Mission

The militaries of each NATO Ally rely on machines and vehicles to help them perform at the highest levels.

Meet the men and women who operate those vehicles and learn how their machines help keep people safe.

This Italian pilot, who must remain anonymous for security reasons, flies the F-35A fighter jet, a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft.

Learn about the aircraft, what equipment he needs to fly it and why he enjoys being in the skies in one of the most technologically advanced aircraft available to NATO.

The pilot was part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission and was stationed at Ämari Air Base in Estonia.
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STONIA

06.30.2021

Natochannel