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
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.
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.
E
STONIA
06.30.2021
Natochannel
By Guy Martin
As part of a regional visit, the US military’s Africa Command chief, General Stephen Townsend, has met with senior members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in order to strengthen bilateral defence relations.
“South Africa is a partner of choice for Africom. It is the regional anchor in sub-Saharan Africa,” he told defenceWeb. “We are here to improve relations with South Africa.”
After visiting Mozambique between 16 and 18 November, Townsend spent three days in South Africa, where he met with the top leadership of the SANDF. He said the meetings went well, with “a great exchange of ideas,” and exploration of ways to improve military-to-military relations.
Townsend admitted that defence relations between the two countries have “seen their ups and downs” but “now it’s a good time to elevate those relations.” He said the South African side was receptive to that and Townsend hoped his visit was just the first of many engagements.
When asked what strengthened US-SA military relations might look like, Townsend envisions everything from military students attending schools and courses to the supply of equipment and training as well as joint exercises. Medical training and humanitarian assistance is a key focus, especially in light of COVID-19 – the United States has provided medical assistance and equipment to numerous African countries, including South Africa, in response to the pandemic.
Townsend was confident that military exercises will take place in the future, such as Shared Accord – the 2017 edition of this exercise was held in South Africa. Since then, engagements have included ship visits, with the most recent being the USS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams visiting Cape Town between September and October this year.
Regarding the supply of equipment and spares, Townsend said airlift is another area that he would like to see renewed, with discussions underway with the SANDF. The United States previously provided surplus C-130 Hercules aircraft, spares and training to the South African Air Force.
When it comes to cementing military-to-military cooperation, Townsend reiterated that the United States will take its cues from South Africa to determine what this will look like.
His visit to southern Africa would have taken place earlier but was delayed by roughly a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It coincides with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarking on a wide-ranging Africa tour.
“Partnerships are important to the United States. President Joe Biden wants to strengthen relationships around the globe. That’s why we’re here,” Townsend told defenceWeb during his stop in Pretoria.
Whilst in Mozambique last week, Townsend and US Ambassador to Mozambique Dennis W Hearne met with Mozambican Minister of Defence Cristóvão Chume and Chief of General Staff Admiral Joaquim Mangrasse. The officials discussed the importance of the US-Mozambique security partnership and progress in stabilizing the situation in northern Mozambique, according to the US Embassy in Maputo.
“The United States and Mozambique are building a strong security partnership,” said Hearne. “We share a mutual goal of establishing and maintaining peace and stability in Mozambique.”
“I came here to discuss with Mozambique’s security leaders our shared challenges,” said Townsend. “We have a good bilateral relationship and US Africa Command is looking for ways we can strengthen that to address those mutual concerns.”
Townsend’s visit to Mozambique came a month after Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams visited Maputo. Earlier in the year, the US Department of Defence conducted two Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) programmes between US Special Operations Forces and Mozambican Commandos and Fuzileiros. Other cooperation saw Mozambique participate in the Cutlass Express exercise.
When asked about the biggest challenge facing Africa, Townsend told defenceWeb the main threat Africom sees is Al Shabaab in East Africa, but the terror threat is growing in southern Africa and the United States is concerned about that.
As the insurgency in northern Mozambique began to grow several years ago, the United States began engaging with the Mozambican government and other international partners. Townsend said the United States is not leading any military efforts in Mozambique but is willing to assist the country. He added that it is nice to see other international partners like France, Portugal and the United Kingdom becoming involved, and the European Union establishing its Training Mission in Mozambique.
“US efforts will remain modest in Mozambique,” he said, in line with Africom’s view of helping African countries come up with African solutions to African problems.
In Mozambique, Townsend believes a part of solving the insurgency will be addressing governance issues and development. Africom will continue to engage at a modest level, with port calls, niche training events and development opportunities.
Apart from Mozambique, Townsend said terrorism is a threat across the whole of Africa, and it is spreading across West Africa with Islamic State West Africa Province and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM). He cautioned that the Islamic State is expanding into the Gulf of Guinea region.
After concluding his visit to South Africa, Townsend heads to Botswana, which he said is another strong partner. He would like to see engagements with other countries in the region, including Namibia and Angola.
This article was published by defenceWeb on November 22, 2021.
Featured Photo: Africom chief, General Stephen Townsend.
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