Carrier Support Begins a New Era: The Arrival of the CMV-22B to VRM 30

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06/25/2020

By Robbin Laird

The first CMV-22B Osprey has arrived in San Diego at Naval Air Station North Island and is assigned to the “Titans” of Navy’s Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30.

The squadron was stood up in 2018 to operate the CMV-22B as a replacement for the Navy’s legacy C-2A Greyhound carrier onboard delivery (COD) aircraft.

I visited Amarillo Texas in February when the US Navy unveiled one of its first CMV-22Bs.

At that ceremony, Captain Dewon Chaney, Commodore of the Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing highlighted the coming of the new capability and what it meant for the US Navy.

What is the status of the CODs?

Every Carrier Air Wing Commander and Carrier CO has received that question numerous times from the Carrier Strike Group Commander while on deployment. And for good reason…

The COD, or Carrier On-board Delivery, aircraft is the only long-range aerial logistics platform providing logistical support for the Carrier Strike Group, ensuring its time sensitive combat capability.

Sure, there are ways to get some items to the carrier but that time lag in most cases is at the cost of readiness for the warfare commander.

The Navy saw the need to replace the aircraft providing this critical capability years ago and embarked on multiple efforts to inform that decision. The Navy selected V-22 as the future COD platform.

The first aircraft is being delivered today (well actually a week ago but who is counting). And our first deployment will be here in a blink of an eye!

But the devil in the details with this particularly accelerated program is making sure that the fleet can man, train, and equip those at the tip of the spear potentially in harm’s way.

As of October, last year as the Wing Commodore, I have the honor, privilege and responsibility, given to me by Vice Admiral Miller, to be the lead for the Navy’s CMV-22 community along with our partners at well into the 2040s. Delivery of this aircraft is a major milestone on the path to initial operational capability in 2021.

The CMV-22 has the capability to internally carry the F-35C engine power module. This capability is a game changer for the Air Wing of the Future and drove the need to match up the F-35C and CMV-22 operational deployments.

The first CMV-22 deployment is now less than a year from initial delivery of N3, which is scheduled for late June of this year.

Its success is key to maintaining combat lethality for the Air Wing of the future and our Navy,,,, CMV-22s will operate from all aircraft carriers providing a significant range increase for operations from the Sea Bases enabling Combatant Commanders to exercise increased flexibility and options for warfare dominance. If you’re in a fight.. .it’s always good to have options!

Every month following the first initial deployment, there will be a CMV-22 detachment operating with a US aircraft carrier somewhere in the world….

From another perspective, the CMV-22B is entering the US Navy as the entire fleet is going through a kill web transition.

I had discussed this transition with the US Navy Air Boss in San Diego a week before “Chainsaw” Chaney made his remarks in Amarillo, Texas.

VADM Miller discussed with me how he one might consider the change underway for the carrier Air Wing.

What is underway is a shift from integrating the air wing around relatively modest and sequential modernization efforts for the core platforms to a robust transformation process in which new assets enter the force and create a swirl of transformation opportunities, challenges, and pressures.

How might we take this new asset and expand the reach and effectiveness of the carrier strike group?

How might it empower maritime, air, and ground forces as we shape a more effective (i.e. a more integratable) force?

During a recent visit to San Diego, I had a chance to discuss such an evolving perspective with the Navy’s Air Boss, Vice Admiral “Bullet” Miller.

We started by discussing the F-35 which for him is a major forcing function change in the CVW.

But his focus is clearly upon not simply introducing the aircraft into the force but ensuring that it is part of the launch of a transformative process for shaping the evolving air wing….

The Air Boss is looking to focus his attention on enhanced combat lethality which the fleet can deliver to the maritime services and the joint force.

What is being set in motion is a new approach where each new platform which comes into the force might be considered at the center of a cluster of changes.

The change is not just about integrating a new platform in the flight ops of the carrier.

The change is also about how the new platform affects what one can do with adjacent assets in the CSG or how to integrate with adjacent U.S. or allied combat platforms, forces, and capabilities.

To give an example, the U.S. Navy is replacing the C-2 with the CMV-22 in the resupply role.

But the Navy would be foolish to simply think in terms of strictly C-2 replacement lines and missions.

So how should the Navy operate, modernize, and leverage its Ospreys?

For Miller, the initial task is to get the Osprey onboard the carrier and integrated with CVW operations.

But while doing so, it is important to focus on how the Osprey working within the CVW can provide a more integrated force.

Vice Admiral Miller and his team are looking for the first five-year period in operating the CMV-22 for the Navy to think through the role of the Osprey as a transformative force, rather than simply being a new asset onboard a carrier.

Hence, one can look at the CMV-22 innovation cluster in the following manner:

Such an approach is embedded in the rethink from operating and training an integrated air wing to an integratable air wing.

SAN DIEGO (Oct. 10, 2019) Vice Adm. DeWolfe H. Miller III, Commander, Naval Air Forces, speaks at the Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing (COMVRMWING) 1 establishing ceremony on board Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) Oct. 10. The Navy established its first CMV-22B Osprey squadron (VRM-30) Dec. 14, 2018 at NASNI. The Navy’s transition from the C-2A Greyhound to the CMV-22B Osprey is expected complete by 2028. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chelsea D. Meiller

Captain Dewon Chaney, United States Navy, Commodore, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing

​Captain Chaney was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.  Following high school, he enlisted in the Navy in 1993 and was selected to attend the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program following basic training.  He earned an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Morehouse College and commissioned via the NROTC program in the summer of 1998.

Captain Chaney was designated a Naval Aviator in July 2000 and then reported to HC-3 in San Diego for H-46 fleet replacement training after completing a brief H-60 qualification at HSL-40 in Mayport, FL.  Captain Chaney’s operational assignments include his junior officer tour with the “Providers” of HC-5 in Yigo, Guam where he deployed on the USNS San Jose (AFS 7), USNS Kiska (AE 35), and twice onboard USS Essex (LHD 2).  CAPT Chaney served aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as the V-2 Waist Catapult Branch Officer and V-1 Flight Deck Officer.  His department head tour was with the “Island Knights” of HSC-25 where he deployed to Basrah, Iraq.  He commanded the “Wildcards” of HSC-23 and the “Merlins” of HSC-3.

Shore and staff assignments include Flag Aide to the 53rd Chief of Naval Personnel, a tour at the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee as the Helicopter Sea Assignments Officer, and a Pentagon tour as Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs within the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy.  In October 2019, Captain Chaney reported for duty as Commander, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing.

Captain Chaney attended the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, completing his Phase I Joint Professional Military Education, and earning a Master’s degree in National Security and strategic Studies.

He has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours in various aircraft to include the H-46, H-60, and MV-22.  His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service, Medal Meritorious Service Medal (2), Strike/Flight Air Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), the Army Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and several unit, campaign and service awards.​

FLEET LOGISTICS MULTI-MISSION SQUADRON THREE ZERO (VRM-30) is the U. S. Navy’s first CMV-22B squadron.

Based at NAS North Island, San Diego, CA, the “Titans” of VRM-30 were established to begin the Navy’s transition from the C-2A Greyhound, which has provided logistics support to aircraft carriers for four decades, to the CMV-22B.

The CMV-22B is the Navy version of the V-22 Osprey, a multi-engine, dual-piloted, self-deployable, medium lift, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) tilt-rotor aircraft, which has an increased operational range, faster cargo loading/unloading, increased survivability and enhanced beyond-line-of-sight communications compared to the  C-2A.

For our look at the coming of the CMV-22B, see the following:

An FCAS Update: June 2020

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06/24/2020

By Pierre Tran

Paris – The French, German and Spanish air chiefs signed two key cooperative documents on the Future Combat Air System and interoperability of the present fleets of fighter jets, the French air force said in a June 19 statement.

“General Philippe Lavigne, general Ingo Gerhartz and general Javier Salto, respectively chiefs of staff for the French, German and Spanish air forces, signed two documents relating to cooperation on the Future Combat Air System  (FCAS) program and on national programs for fighter jets prior to FCAS, which will mark the way ahead,” the service said.

In the first document, signed soon after a high-level May 7 virtual meeting, “the air chiefs set out their vision on the priorities for the missions” on the Next Generation Weapon System, said general Jean-Pascal Breton, French air force program manager for FCAS.

The Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) procurement office also fields an FCAS program manager.

These priorities set out a definition of the common operational criteria, such as success of a mission, acceptable level of loss, and allows the evaluation of risk.

“That evaluation of risk allows an evaluation of architecture,” he said.

Industry will propose concepts of potential architecture for the Next Generation Weapon System, which will consist of a Next Generation Fighter, remote carrier drones, and the combat cloud, a network linking up the manned and unmanned aircraft.

The work on architecture stems from a joint concept study awarded to Airbus and Dassault Aviation, industrial partners on FCAS. That two-year contract began Feb. 20 2019.

A couple days after the signing of the first accord, the air chiefs signed a document on a Common Understanding of Connectivity, which seeks to boost interoperability between the present fighters flown by France, Germany and Spain, and those flown by Nato and multinational partners in European defense.

Sweden, while outside Nato, is a European ally and flies the Gripen fighter.

That interoperability document for the NGWS combined project team “also seeks to pave the path to NGWS/FCAS with respect to connectivity,” the air force statement said.

That interoperability aims to boost communications between the French Rafale and the German and Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon. Spain also flies the Boeing F-18.

Interoperability will also be sought for the replacement for the German Tornado fighter.

There are expectations the work on interoperability be supported by the planned European Defense Fund, a European Union project to part-finance research and development in the arms industry.

On the studies of remote carriers, there are more than seven types of disposable and non-disposable drones being considered. The studies have been running for more than a year and seek to draw up categories of unmanned air vehicles, to fly with manned aircraft.

Regarding work on the FCAS, Onera, a research and development organization, is in talks with the DGA for contracts, but any direct work for the procurement office was not expected before 2021, Bruno Sainjon, chairman of Onera, said in Challenges business magazine June 22.

Onera has a small contract with Dassault on the FCAS, but the aerospace research office hopes it will win more contracts, he said, adding that it seems the DGA has asked other companies to contract work with Onera.

A perceived lack of government support for Onera has stirred political debate, with a view that France was slipping behind Germany in research for FCAS.

Members of the French senate expressed concern Dec. 5 on the government planned annual funding for the research office of €110 million ($124 million) respectively for this year and 2021, compared to €106 million and €107 million previously planned.

That planned increase was too small, senators on the foreign affairs and defense committee said.

That French funding compared to the €200 million of financial support DLR, its German equivalent, received from Berlin, the senators said. The DLR had already signed research contracts for the German national FCAS program, while the French DGA had yet to award contracts to Onera.

Airbus displayed a life-size mock up of a remote carrier resembling a cruise missile next to a concept model of a next generation fighter at the Paris air show last year.

MBDA, a European missile maker, is also working on concepts for remote carriers.

The featured photo is of the mockup of the FCAS fighter as seen at the 2019 Paris Air Show. Credit: Second Line of Defense

See, also the following:

https://breakingdefense.com/2019/06/with-fcas-french-air-forces-renaissance-begins/

The Royal Australian Navy Re-Launches its Combat Training Exercises

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By Lieutenant Ryan Zerbe

Seven warships sailed in the past week from Navy bases on both sides of the country to undertake a range of training activities to test newly upgraded systems and exercise as part of a maritime task group.

HMA Ships Canberra, Hobart and Stuart departed Fleet Base East in Sydney, while HMA Ships Anzac, Arunta, Ballaratand Sirius sailed from Fleet Base West in Western Australia.

Anzac will undertake sea qualification trials following her recent mid-life upgrade and Ballarat will sail to the east coast for unit readiness training, while the remaining ships will sail in company for a period of force Integrated training, essential for maritime task group operations.

This training period will take place off Australia’s east coast and in northern waters.

Commander Surface Force Commodore Stephen Hughes said the ships were heading to sea for training that would enable them to test their systems, conduct mariner and warfare training in areas such as ship handling, damage control, emergency drills and task group warfare.

“This year has tested us in ways we would not have expected 12 months ago, but by putting multiple ships and more than 1300 Navy people to sea from both sides of the country we are demonstrating we’re seaworthy, adaptive and operationally ready,” Commodore Hughes said.

“Some of these ships will deploy as a task group for Exercise Rimpac 2020 off Hawaii, incorporating high-end tactical exercises and working with partner nations.

“Anzac’s sailing is an important milestone as the newly upgraded frigate completes her successful integration of new systems and capabilities as part of a scheduled trials period.”

Acting Commanding Officer of Ballarat, Lieutenant Commander Michael Forsythe, said the ship’s company was looking forward to returning to sea for high-end training and work-ups.

“We’ve spent the year so far in the west conducting mariner skills evaluations and sea qualification trials, so to sail out for some even more complex training to test us is welcome,” Lieutenant Commander Forsythe said.

“Getting back to sea for longer periods, putting Ballarat through her paces and continuously refining our training is the best way for us to stay ready to fight and win at sea.”

This article was published by the Australian Department of Defence on June 18, 2020 and was entitled, “Seven ships sail as fleet resumes training.”

 

HMAS Sirius departs Fleet Base West for taskgroup force integrated training in June 2020.
HMAS Sirius departs Fleet Base West for taskgroup force integrated training in June 2020.
HMAS Sirius departs Fleet Base West for taskgroup force integrated training in June 2020.
HMAS Anzac is pulled away from the wharf by tug boat Tancred as the ship departs Fleet Base West in Western Australia.
HMAS Ballarat pulls away from Fleet Base West with HMAS Arunta berthed alongside and HMAS Anzac positioned in Cockburn Sound.
HMAS Ballarat sails away from Fleet Base West with HMAS Arunta berthed alongside.
HMAS Hobart departs Fleet Base East in Sydney for a period of Force Integration Training.
HMAS Canberra departs Fleet Base East in Sydney for a period of Force Integration Training.
HMA Ships Stuart (foreground), Hobart and Canberra (background) depart Fleet Base East in Sydney for a period of Force Integrated Training.
L-R, HMA Ships Stuart, Hobart and Canberra depart Fleet Base East in Sydney for a period of Force Integrated Training.
L-R, HMA Ships Stuart, Hobart and Canberra depart Fleet Base East in Sydney for a period of Force Integrated Training.
L-R, HMA Ships Canberra, Hobart and Stuart depart Sydney Harbour for a period of Force Integrated Training.
L-R, HMA Ships Canberra, Hobart and Stuart depart Sydney Harbour for a period of Force Integrated Training.

Indo Pacific Bomber Deployment

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Approximately 200 Airmen and four 9th Bomb Squadron B-1B Lancers from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, arrived at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on short notice to conduct missions in the Indo-Pacific theater to support Pacific Air Forces’ training efforts with allies, partners and joint forces; and strategic deterrence missions to reinforce the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.

05.07.2020

Video by Tech. Sgt. David Scott-Gaughan

Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

The Royal Air Force and Qatar Emiri Air Force Typhoon Squadron

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06/21/2020

On June 19, 2020, the UK Ministry of Defence highlighted the next step in their cooperation with Qatar.

The Royal Air Force and Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) Typhoon Squadron, known as No.12 Squadron, have marked an important milestone as they commenced flying as a Joint Squadron

Based at RAF Coningsby, No.12 Squadron is a unique initiative between the UK and Qatar and will provide the QEAF with valuable experience operating the Typhoon as they prepare to receive their first aircraft. With deliveries commencing in 2022, the aircraft are part of a £5.1 billion deal between BAE Systems and the Government of Qatar.

The flags of both nations were raised at RAF Coningsby this week as Typhoons with new Squadron markings flew for the first time, signalling the Squadron’s readiness to train pilots and ground crew from both air forces.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

“No.12 Squadron is a testament to our enduring friendship and commitment to Qatar, the only nation with which the UK has a Joint Squadron. Together we are protecting populations and securing our mutual interests across the Middle East.”

His Excellency Dr Khalid bin Mohammad al Attiyah, Minister of State for Defence Affairs said:

“The first flight of No. 12 Squadron marks an important milestone in the commitment of the Qatari Emiri Air Force and the Royal Air Force to deliver on excellence.”

The raising of the flags of The State of Qatar and the United Kingdom side by side in commemoration of the first joint flight represents the alignment of vision and strategy in building for a stable and prosperous future for both nations and the world.

The UK has a long history of working with international partners in our Armed Forces, with such defence engagement recognised as key to strengthening partnerships and promoting our national interest. However, No. 12 Squadron is the first Joint Squadron in the RAF since the Second World War and Battle of Britain.

The Joint Squadron was stood up on 24 July 2018 and will drive closer collaboration between the RAF and QEAF, putting our bilateral security and defence relationship on a long-term and sustainable footing.

An article by Kirstie Chambers published on June 19, 2020 added:

Wing Commander Chris Wright, Officer Commanding 12 Squadron, told Forces News: “The joint squadron specifically will now grow its Qatari elements, to the point that we will train upwards of 16 pilots over the next few years ahead of the delivery of their own planes.

“So, 12 Squadron will continue to grow from where it is today, it will increase the complexity of the training that we do and will also involve some deployments out to the Middle East in support of their sovereign exercises.”

He also said the training is “truly is an exchange of ideas”.

“It would be naive of us at best to pretend that we don’t have anything to learn,” Wng Cmdr Wright added. 

12 Squadron was stood up in July 2018 and will now prepare for exercises at the end of the year.

Featured Photo: RAF and Qatari Air Force pilots. Crown copyright.

 

HMAS Toowoomba Returns from the Middle East

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06/20/2020

HMAS Toowoomba provided support to International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) coalition partners in the Middle East Region as part of the Ship’s six-month deployment on Operation MANITOU. Toowoomba’s Ship’s Company supported both the IMSC and the CMF as part of the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to support international efforts to promote security, stability and prosperity in the region.

This was the 68th rotation of a Royal Australian Navy unit in the Middle East Region since 1990 and is Toowoomba’s sixth deployment to the region and second as part of Operation MANITOU.

Credit: Australian Department of Defence

June 18, 2020