Exercise Wirra Jaya 21 (ExWJ21) is an annual bilateral, mounted, and dismounted combined arms training activity between the Australian Army and the Indonesian Army.
2021 marked the eighth iteration of the exercise which rotates each year between Darwin and Java. ExWJ21 training deepens interoperability to maintain a safe, secure, peaceful, and prosperous region.
The exercise was held between 14 October – 4 November 2021.
Credit: Australian Department of Defence
November 16, 2021
By Richard Weitz
The Russian military obliterated a defunct Soviet-era Tselina radio-surveillance satellite, Cosmos 1408, that had been orbiting almost 500 kilometers above the Earth since 1982, with a single-short anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon on November 15.
Though intended to intimidate the West, like the Russian military mobilizations near Ukraine and the manufactured border crisis in Belarus, the ASAT test highlighted Russia’s growing capacity to attack U.S. and NATO space assets. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that the “cutting-edge system” Moscow employed hit its target “with precision worthy of a goldsmith.”
Though it is unclear that Russia’s Civilian Space Agency, Roscosmos, knew about the planned test in advance, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin later explained that “Anti-satellite weapons have been developed in Russia for a long time, so there is no secret about it. It is simply that time has come when the Defense Ministry has conducted tests.”
U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, U.S. Space Command commander, warned that the test demonstrated how “Russia is developing and deploying capabilities to actively deny access to and use of space by the United States and its allies and partners.”
Russia has amassed a portfolio of powerful counterspace capabilities to disrupt, degrade, deny, or destroy space objects and systems.
The most recent incident involved a direct-ascent (DA) kinetic kill vehicle, launched from the Earth on a ballistic missile, that destroys exo-atmospheric targets through force of impact.
Russia has tested this PL19/Nudol DA-ASAT system, which has been under development for almost a decade and can be launched from fixed or mobile platforms, on several occasions in recent years. Until now, these tests had intercepted specific locations in space and time to simulate hitting moving targets in orbit.
Furthermore, the Soviet Union and Russia have conducted extensive research and development of “co-orbital” systems. These satellites and other orbiting space vehicles maneuver near other space objects to study, shadow, disrupt, grab, hack, or smash them.
Additionally, satellites that conduct rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) for inspecting, servicing, refueling, repairing, and removing other space objects can potentially support military activities (such as placing explosives on another body or damaging it with a collision or robotic arm).
These co-orbital ASATs could establish a persistent presence in space to stalk a target (such as a high-value spy satellite), and then promptly attack it on command with microwaves, chemical sprayers, lasers, generated debris, or other means.
Russian academics have studied the employment of aerosol obscurants and nanoparticles in orbit that might block optical and radiofrequency signals from a targeted satellite or conceal Russian satellites from ground-based sensors.
Moscow’s Soviet-designed Burevestnik co-orbital system has the capability to disrupt space objects and potentially intercept communication links between satellites.
Additionally, Russian “nesting doll” satellites have expelled smaller objects that, traveling more than 17,000 mph, have the potential to damage a target through kinetic collision.
The Russian government claims the purpose of these nested satellites is to approach and assess the status of Russia’s own orbiting objects.
In 2020, however, one of these “inspector” satellites maneuvered near USA 245, a National Reconnaissance Office KH11 satellite in high geosynchronous orbits that provides geospatial imagery to the U.S. intelligence community.
After moving to a different location, that same Russian satellite configuration launched a projectile that sped at 700km per hour, a velocity sufficient to damage a target with kinetic energy alone.
Even if Russian satellites only “inspect” U.S. satellites through close-in data interception and photography, they still can study where these valuable assets are located, what capabilities they possess, and how they can be disabled and destroyed.
Despite the publicity surrounding Russia’s recent high-visibility test, Moscow’s most threatening ASAT weapons may comprise those capable of non-kinetic means of attack.
By using “soft-kill” technologies such as directed energy or cyber weapons, these weapons make attribution of any satellite loss more difficult since there are plausible alternative explanations for any damage, such as technical failures or natural phenomena. Furthermore, they tend to produce few if any debris, be more narrowly targeted, and can be more easily ended or reversible than kinetic strikes.
Russia’s national security space programs have explored directed energy weapons–such as laser, particle, or microwave beams with advanced pointing and control systems–that can track, disrupt, or, if sufficiently strong, destroy space objects.
Russia’s experimental Sokol-Eshelon (“Falcon-Echelon”) airborne laser project, started during the Cold War, has researched the application of a modified Il-76MD military transport plane, designated the Beriev A-60, equipped with a laser powerful enough to disable space- or air-based sensors.
Russia has constructed a Kalina stationary laser in the Krona space surveillance facility in the North Caucasus. Its purpose is probably to blind the electro-optical sensors of overhead reconnaissance satellites.
The Peresvet mobile laser dazzler system, declared operational in late 2019, has been deployed on missile transporter erector launchers at several of Russia’s road-mobile ICBM fields. The Peresvet has a limited-range point defense laser for temporarily dazzling the optical systems of low-flying reconnaissance satellites, as well as planes and drones, which might help track Russia’s mobile strategic missiles.
Like other Russian so-called “hybrid” offensive tools, such as employment of paramilitaries in Ukraine or militarizing migrants in northeastern Europe, using these instruments aims to allow Moscow to remain below the level of U.S. detection, attribution, and response.
Whether responding to a direct attack on the United States or its forces or coming to the aid of allies and partners, the U.S. defenders would face the dilemma of risking escalation with major kinetic retaliation or appearing too weak to dissuade follow-on Russian aggression.
To deal with the Russian space threat, the United States requires more comprehensive and detailed space monitoring. The USSPACECOM’s Space Surveillance Network, comprising telescopes and radars, can only track space objects in LEO that are 10 centimeters in size or larger.
U.S. defenders also need to prepare for the rapid degradation of U.S. space assets. A DA-ASAT can destroy a satellite in under ten minutes after launch. Co-orbital systems already positioned near a target can attack it suddenly without warning, while laser or cyber weapons can inflict damage almost instantaneously.
Other recommended measures include hardening satellites against different kinds of attack, ranging from kinetic strikes to cyber sabotage; deploying more satellites of various kinds and locations; and making critical national security space-based assets easier to replace through expanding the prompt-space-launch capabilities of the United States and its space partners.
Featured Photo: Illustration 267463 © Cristian andrei Matei | Dreamstime.com
According to an Australian Department of Defence article published on November 16, 2021, Australia and and the United States had reach the 10 year mark in their enhanced defense cooperation.
On November 16, we celebrate a decade of expanded cooperation between the Australian Department of Defence and the United States Department of Defense through two Force Posture Initiatives (FPI): Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) and Enhanced Air Cooperation (EAC).
The USFPI are an extension of Australia’s existing Defence relationship with the US and support the common interest of promoting regional security and stability.
The MRF-D has grown in size and complexity since the first rotation of US Marines through Darwin in 2012. In 2019, the goal of 2500 US Marines training with the ADF stationed in Darwin was reached.
The structure of MRF-D continues to evolve in response to the changing environment and advances in technology, with the focus shifting to capability rather than numbers. Highly complex joint training scenarios are now being executed, which continue to challenge our forces and better prepare us to rapidly respond in the region, if and when called upon to do so.
This year, about 2200 US Marines and sailors conducted a comprehensive range of training activities, including humanitarian assistance, security operations and high-end, live-fire exercises – exercises that develop enhanced interoperability between the ADF and US Marines and key partners.
These deployments also offer a valuable opportunity to develop working relationships with other government agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment; and the Australian Border Force.
The EAC has deepened air-to-air integration between the ADF and US air elements, particularly in the areas of maintenance, logistics, refuelling, aeromedical evacuation, and advanced warfighting.
Investments by Australia and the US in a range of infrastructure projects that support USFPI activities in the Northern Territory have benefitted local businesses, with several winning multimillion dollar contracts for the development of key infrastructure, including modular accommodation and aircraft maintenance facilities.
At AUSMIN in September 2021, Australia and the US announced the agreement to enhance US force posture cooperation in Australia in four key areas to:
These new areas of cooperation will increase interoperability and deepen alliance activities in the Indo-Pacific.
And an RAAF article published in the November 25, 2021 Air Force magazine focused on the EAC part of enhanced cooperation:
The United States Force Posture Initiative (USFPI), including the establishment of Enhanced Air Cooperation (EAC), are core to the alliance and a tangible demonstration of our shared interests and deep engagement with the Indo-Pacific region.
Since then, EAC and the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) – which make up USFPI – have grown in complexity and size.
EAC commenced in February 2017, as a second initiative under the USFPI. The EAC initiative is led by CAF and Commander US Pacific Air Forces.
GPCAPT Paul Nicholas, of AFHQ, said that EAC was designed to significantly enhance and strengthen not only our relationship with the US Air Force, but with all the aviation arms of the US military including the Marines, Navy and Army.
“EAC is more than partnering for combined exercises, it is an opportunity to focus on lines of effort to progress interoperability across areas such as combat support, health, air-to-air refuelling, engineering, and logistics,” GPCAPT Nicholas said.
“Through the EAC, exercises such as Talisman Sabre and Pitch Black have allowed SMEs from both nations to develop the necessary changes to policies, regulations, tactics, techniques and procedures, through hands-on collaborative work.
“EAC has a strong focus on logistics to ensure we are able to operate and sustain air forces across the full operational spectrum and basing locations.”
EAC provides the opportunity to test operating procedures under exercise conditions and being able to rationalise resources on those areas that are most important.
“We don’t need to be able to drive every air movements vehicle, although we may want to cross-qualify on key ones such as tow motors and forklifts,” GPCAPT Nicholas said.
The authorisation for RAAF and USAF maintainers to service each other’s C-17 Globemasters was a high-profile outcome.
“To have another nation service your aircraft is a key milestone that was built on a common understanding and trust in each other’s platform maintenance regulations and standards, common training systems and agreements,” GPCAPT Nicholas said.
The aim is now to progress additional agreements with common USAF and USN aircraft systems, such as C-130J, F-35 and P-8.
“We want the emerging capabilities such as F-35s to do more than just operate together from a shared location; we want them to operate seamlessly together as a truly integrated and coherent force package,” GPCAPT Nicholas said.
Noting the long, shared history of RAAF and USAF working together, GPCAPT Nicholas said the EAC is adding another layer of depth to the partnership.
“We’ve always had a sense of shared experience and great trust between the aviators of both nations, and with EAC we are building on that understanding” he said.
The EAC has deepened air-to-air integration between the ADF and US air elements, particularly in the areas of maintenance, logistics, refuelling, aeromedical evacuation and advanced warfighting.
Four F-15E Strike Eagle aircrews from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron conduct a rapid crew swap Oct. 3, 2021, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.
During a rapid crew swap, the aircraft lands, maintenance performs minimal actions for relaunch, aircraft is refueled, and a new crew takes over.
Rapid crew swap training further enhances the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s capabilities to project combat power.
10.02.2021
Video by Master Sgt. Traci Keller
332d Air Expeditionary Wing
By Ashley Calingo, Marine Corps Systems Command
Force Design 2030 details Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger’s vision for maintaining the relevance of the Corps in the new age of great power competition.
Developed to enable the Marine Corps to adapt and outmaneuver its adversaries, Force Design 2030 outlines the commandant’s goals and blueprint for ensuring America maintains its competitive edge. Critical to this effort is one of the Marine Corps’ latest and most advanced systems yet—the Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar, managed by Program Executive Officer Land Systems’ G/ATOR program office.
Initially fielded in 2018, the G/ATOR is an expeditionary, multifunctional radar system providing Marines with increased accuracy, tactical mobility and reliability over legacy systems. Replacing five of the Marine Corps’ legacy systems, the G/ATOR can support various missions, depending on the “block” of software used on a single hardware platform.
G/ATOR Block 1 provides air defense and surveillance capabilities, while Block 2 supports artillery operations. The system represents a key Marine Corps sensor capability.
“G/ATOR is designed to be flexible enough that the system can be used in different modes in support of different missions,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jack Linke, capabilities integration officer for G/ATOR Block 1 at Marine Corps Combat Development Directorate, Combat Development and Integration. “In the past, artillery—the [G/ATOR Block 2] Marines—had a separate radar. We—the [G/ATOR Block 1] Marines—had our own separate radar for air-breathing and missile targets. G/ATOR lets us accomplish both those missions with far better accuracy than either of us had before with our legacy systems.”
The G/ATOR enhances the Marine Corps’ ability to perform counter fires and air defense, such as defending against cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems. It provides real-time radar measurement data to Marine Corps communication and sensor networks, such as Common Aviation Command and Control System, Composite Tracking Network and Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System.
“G/ATOR is designed to be flexible enough that the system can be used in different modes in support of different missions.”Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jack Linke, G/ATOR Block 1 capabilities integration officer
The G/ATOR’s interoperability with Naval systems and transportability make it a critical component to achieving Force Design, said Linke.
“G/ATOR increases our ability to work together with the Navy and other joint forces in a way that we have not been able to in the past,” said Linke. “G/ATOR makes many of the things the commandant talks about in Force Design possible, especially with regard to our interoperability with the Navy.”
Last year’s Advantage at Sea joint strategy between the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard notes significant technological developments and aggressive military modernization efforts by America’s rivals have challenged the joint forces’ unfettered access to the seas in conflict.
Maritime power is an essential element of Force Design and the National Defense Strategy. The G/ATOR enhances sea-based air defense sensors and command and control capabilities. This provides the naval and joint forces with an expeditionary radar and cruise missile detection capability that extends battlespace coverage.
The G/ATOR’s expeditionary design enables Marines to transport it using a smaller footprint, and set it up more quickly and efficiently than its predecessors. These features are critical during the Marine Corps’ shift to expeditionary advanced base operations, said Linke.
“When it comes to EABO, being able to take a radar off a ship, set up quickly and go is critical for those sorts of operations,” said Linke.
The G/ATOR’s modernized capabilities are also an asset to Marines responsible for returning fire if engaged by the enemy.
“It’s an expeditionary radar system that tracks enemy [indirect fire] at much greater range than our legacy system,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Wayne Cooper, capabilities integration officer for G/ATOR Block 2 at MCCDD, CD&I. “The G/ATOR more than doubles the range capability from our previous system.”
This article was published on July 14, 2021 by the USMC with the original title of “Inside Acquisition: How the G/ATOR Modernizes the Corps for the Future Fight.”
A summary video highlighting the people and aircraft of exercise Northern Lightning, 2021.
CAMP DOUGLAS, WI,
08.20.2021
Video by Master Sgt. Erik Figi
Volk Field ANGB
An MV-22 Osprey, assigned to the “Fighting Griffins” of Marine Medium Tilt rotor Squadron (VMM) 266, delivers stores to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24), Aug. 18, 2021.
Arlington is deployed to U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts in Haiti following a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Aug. 14, 2021.
ATLANTIC OCEAN
08.10.2021
Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jack Aistrup
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet
By Robbin Laird
The Abraham Accords set in motion enhanced maritime security and defense capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The UAE, Bahrain, the U.S. and Israel cooperated in a five day exercise in the Red Sea to reinforce defense and security relationships in the maritime domain,.
Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of NAVCENT, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, said: “It is exciting to see U.S. forces training with regional partners to enhance our collective maritime security capabilities. Maritime collaboration helps safeguard freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade, which are essential to regional security and stability.”
Last week, Israeli Air Force F-15s escorted two US B-1B strategic heavy bombers and a KC-10 refueler over Israeli airspace on their way to the Gulf.
It was the second such flight in two weeks.
According to an IDF statement, it was “a significant step in maintaining the security of the skies of the State of Israel and the Middle East”.
Last month, the IDF held their Blue Flag exercise with seven other air forces, including the USAF, the RAF and other European partners, which including Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
As one source noted: “More joint military exercises among Abraham Accord partners are also anticipated in the future.”
The U.S. Fifth Fleet is headquartered in Bahrain.
During my two visits to Bahrain in 2019, I had a chance to talk about the evolving defense and security capabilities being reshaped in the region and in October 2019 provided a presentation on the final day of the BIDEC 2019 Conference.
One of the subjects which I raised during my presentation was the coming of maritime autonomous systems and the value to Bahrain of such systems,.
Significant investments are being made in Bahrain in science and technology, and applications to he maritime autonomous systems domain make a great deal of sense.
Also, the ISR capabilities which such systems can provide to Bahrain as a pillar for their evolving information base for security and defense also make a great deal of sense as well.
In a September 23, 2021 press release by NAVCENT, the cooperation between the U.S. Navy and Bahrain in this domain was highlighted.
BAHRAIN – During a visit to the U.S. Navy installation in Bahrain, Sept. 23, Bahraini leaders committed to partnering with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) to accelerate integration of new unmanned systems into regional maritime operations.
Major Gen. Ala Abdulla Seyadi, commander of the Bahrain Coast Guard; Rear Adm. Mohammed Yousif Al Asam, commander of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force; and Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of NAVCENT, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces discussed future opportunities for cooperation.
“We have an enduring strategic relationship with the Kingdom of Bahrain and our mutual commitment to advancing new unmanned systems demonstrates us strengthening the partnership in a new way,” said Cooper. “This initiative enables us to expand maritime domain awareness on, above and below the water and enhance regional deterrence.”
NAVCENT commissioned Task Force 59, Sept. 9, to rapidly integrate unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into U.S. 5th Fleet operations and drive discovery in human-machine teaming technologies.
Cooper briefed the Bahraini leaders on NAVCENT’s latest unmanned surface, underwater and aerial vehicles on site at U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain.
In October, Bahrain’s maritime forces will be the first regional partners to collaborate with Task Force 59 on a manned-unmanned teaming exercise to evaluate advanced unmanned surface vessels. The at-sea event will kick off a series of maritime exercises that integrate manned and unmanned systems during operations with regional and coalition partners.
The Middle East region’s unique geography, climate, and strategic importance offer an ideal environment for unmanned innovation. The area includes the world’s largest standing maritime partnership and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab-al-Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
And in October 26, 2021 update from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the evolving work in the region with allies with regard to maritime autonomous systems was provided:
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command is leading the way as the Navy tests out new operational concepts for unmanned surface vessels in front-line operations. On Monday, NAVCENT completed exercise New Horizon, the first at-sea trial for its new unmanned task force, which is among the first Navy units to integrate USV technology into real-world service – in this case, ensuring maritime security in the Persian Gulf.
During the two-day training exercise, the command’s newly-established Task Force 59 tested out its MANTAS T-12 USVs alongside U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Bahrain Defense Force manned vessels. It was the first time that NAVCENT has integrated USVs with manned assets at sea in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
The first phase of New Horizon, conducted Oct. 20, saw operators controlling the USVs aboard the Cyclone-class patrol ship USS Firebolt, while the small surfboard-shaped vessels conducted high-speed maneuvers in formation. Participating units included the cutter USCGC Maui, a Seahawk helicopter, a V-BAT unmanned aerial vehicle and a Royal Bahrain Naval Force patrol craft. Both U.S. and Bahraini forces practiced operating the vessels in formation.
“This is a significant milestone for our new task force as we accelerate the integration of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into complex, cross-domain operations at sea,” said Capt. Michael Brasseur, commander of Task Force 59. “Real-world evaluation is essential.”
NAVCENT established the task force on September 8, and it is the first unit of its kind in the Navy. Extended unmanned trials are key to the service’s push to figure out how to use (and sustain) these systems in the real world. In the years ahead, the Navy hopes to deploy full-size, oceangoing unmanned warships to augment the fleet’s lethality at low cost. In order to get there, the Navy’s leadership is well aware that it will have to work out several thorny technical problems – particularly comms, command and control, and keeping propulsion running – and operations like Task Force 59 will help with the practical shakedown process.
Featured Photo: Old and new: the 1986-built RBNS Abdul Rahman Al-Fadel, background, and a Mantas T-12 (5th Fleet)