Robbin Laird, Author at Second Line of Defense

Remembering Bomber Command: Its 78th Anniversary in 2020

Posted on June 8, 2020 | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment

06/08/2020

In a small ceremony held at the Air Force Memorial in South Australia on 30 May 20, Royal Australian Air Force No. 462 Squadron (462SQN) marked the 78th Anniversary of Bomber Command – an enduring strategic bombing campaign against Germany during World War 2.

Senior Australian Defence Force Officer – South Australia, and Air Warfare Centre Commander, Air Commodore Brendan Rogers joined other ADF representatives, His Excellency Hieu Van Le, Governor of South Australia, the South Australian Premier, Honourable Steven Marshall, Opposition member and the President of the RAAF Association South Australia, Mr Robert Black, in laying wreaths in commemoration of those who served during World War 2.

In a small ceremony held at the Air Force Memorial in South Australia on 30 May, No. 462 Squadron (462SQN), Senior Australian Defence Force Officer - South Australia, and Air Warfare Centre Commander, Air Commodore Brendan Rogers and other VIPs, marked the 78th Anniversary of Bomber Command - an enduring strategic bombing campaign against Germany during World War 2.

His Excellency, the Honourable Hieu Van Le, AC, Governor of South Australia, salutes those who served during World War 2 at the 78th Anniversary of Bomber Command held at Air Force Memorial in South Australia.

In a small ceremony held at the Air Force Memorial in South Australia on 30 May, No. 462 Squadron (462SQN) marked the 78th Anniversary of Bomber Command - an enduring strategic bombing campaign against Germany during World War 2.

Senior Australian Defence Force Officer - South Australia, and Air Warfare Centre Commander, Air Commodore Brendan Rogers salutes those who served during World War 2 at the 78th Anniversary of Bomber Command held at Air Force Memorial in South Australia.

World War 2 Royal Australian Air Force Bomber Radio Operator, Warrant Officer Kevin Dennis CGM at the 462 Squadron Dining in Night on 6 Sep 14 at the Naval, Military and Air Force Club in Adelaide, South Australia.

The USMC and Mobile Basing: The Contributions of Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs)

Posted on June 8, 2020 | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment

When considering contributions which the USMC can make to the joint or coalition force in Pacific operations, an ability to put an air arming and refueling point on virtually any spot on the kill web chessboard is clearly a key contribution.

These are referred to as FARPs or Forward Arming and Refueling Points but are really Arming and Refueling Points because where one might put them on the chessboard depends on how one wants to support the task forces within a kill web.

In looking at a theater of operations, and certainly one with the tyranny of distance of the Pacific, one needs to be able to have a layer of fuel support for operations.

When I discussed ways to look at Pacific operations with Rear Admiral Peter A. Garvin, Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group, we focused on the layers of domain knowledge necessary to be successful for Pacific operations.

We started with a discussion of the reach of the maritime patrol enterprise by focusing on a way to conceptualize the way ahead for shaping an integrated distributed force.

If one conceptualizes the battlespace as layers of visuals placed one on the other, it becomes clear what is different in terms of leveraging the combat force within an interactive web.

The first layer would be the operational geography of the battlespace.

The second layer would be the threat elements most relevant to the blue force.

The third layer in the case of a maritime patrol enterprise would be commercial maritime shipping traffic. Unlike air traffic, maritime traffic is very diverse, very large, and provides a key masking function for any adversary.

The fourth layer would be the laydown of blue assets, including the geographic distribution of allied forces in the region or area of interest. The fifth layer would then be where the P-8 / Triton dyad operates.

When discussing basing for the integrated distributed force, clearly there is a need for another layer, namely, the ability to sustain the force, including the fuel to drive the force.

For the Marines operating from the sea, this clearly includes combat ships, MSC tankers and related ships, as well as airborne tanker assets.

By deploying a relatively small logistics footprint FARP or ARP, one can provide a much wider of points to provide fuel for the combat force.

And in Marine terms, the size of that footprint will depend on whether that FARP is enabled by KC-130J support or by CH-53E support, with both air assets requiring significantly different basing to work the FARP.

I had a chance recently to discuss FARP operations and ways to rework those operations going forward with Maj Steve Bancroft, Aviation Ground Support (AGS) Department Head, MAWTS-1, MCAS Yuma.

There were a number of takeaways from that conversation which provide an understanding of the Marines are working their way ahead currently with regard to the FARP contribution to distributed operations.

The first takeaway is that when one is referring to a FARP, it is about an ability to provide a node which can refuel and rearm aircraft.

But it is more than that. It is about providing capability for crew rest, resupply and repair to some extent.

The second takeway is that the concept remains the same but the tools to do the concept are changing.

Clearly, one example is the nature of the fuel containers being used. In the land wars, the basic fuel supply was being carried by a fuel truck to the FARP location. Obviously, that is not a solution for Pacific operations.

What is being worked now at MAWTS-1 is a much mobile solution set.

Currently, they are working with a system whose provenance goes back to the 1950s and is a helicopter expeditionary refueling system or HERS system.

This legacy kit limits mobility as it is very heavy and requires the use of several hoses and fuel separators.

Obviously, this solution is too limiting so they are working a new solution set.

They are testing a mobile refueling asset called TAGRS or a Tactical Aviation Ground Refueling system.

As noted in the discussion of TAGRS at the end of this article: “The TAGRS and its operators are capable of being air-inserted making the asset expeditionary.

“It effectively eliminates the complications of embarkation and transportation of gear to the landing zone.”

The third takeaway was that even with a more mobile and agile pumping solution, there remains the basic challenge of the weight of fuel as a commodity.

A gallon of gas is about 6.7 pounds and when aggregating enough fuel at a FARP, the challenge is how to get adequate supplies to a FARP for its mission to be successful.

To speed up the process, the Marines are experimenting with more disposable supply containers to provide for enhanced speed of movement among FARPs within an extended battlespace.

They have used helos and KC-130Js to drop pallets of fuel as one solution to this problem.

The effort to speed up the creation and withdrawal from FARPs is a task being worked by the Marines at MAWTS-1 as well.

In effect, they are working a more disciplined cycle of arrival and departure from FARPs.

And the Marines are exercising ways to bring in a FARP support team in a single aircraft to further the logistical footprint and to provide for more rapid engagement and disengagement as well.

The fourth takeaway is that innovative delivery solutions can be worked going forward.

When I met with Col. Perrin at Pax River, we discussed how the CH-53K as a smart aircraft could manage airborne MULES to support resupply to a mobile base.

As Col. Perrin noted in our conversation: “The USMC has done many studies of distributed operations and throughout the analyses it is clear that heavy lift is an essential piece of the ability to do such operations.”

And not just any heavy lift – but heavy lift built around a digital architecture.

Clearly, the CH-53E being more than 30 years old is not built in such a manner; but the CH-53K is.

What this means is that the CH-53K “can operate and fight on the digital battlefield.”

And because the flight crew are enabled by the digital systems onboard, they can focus on the mission rather than focusing primarily on the mechanics of flying the aircraft. This will be crucial as the Marines shift to using unmanned systems more broadly than they do now.

For example, it is clearly a conceivable future that CH-53Ks would be flying a heavy lift operation with unmanned “mules” accompanying them. Such manned-unmanned teaming requires a lot of digital capability and bandwidth, a capability built into the CH-53K.

If one envisages the operational environment in distributed terms, this means that various types of sea bases, ranging from large deck carriers to various types of Maritime Sealift Command ships, along with expeditionary bases, or FARPs or FOBS, will need to be connected into a combined combat force.

To establish expeditionary bases, it is crucial to be able to set them up, operate and to leave such a base rapidly or in an expeditionary manner (sorry for the pun).

This will be virtually impossible to do without heavy lift, and vertical heavy lift, specifically.

Put in other terms, the new strategic environment requires new operating concepts; and in those operating concepts, the CH-53K provides significant requisite capabilities.

So why not the possibility of the CH-53K flying in with a couple of MULES which carried fuel containers; or perhaps building a vehicle which could come off of the cargo area of the CH-53K and move on the operational area and be linked up with TAGRS?

I am not holding Maj. Bancroft responsible for this idea, but the broader point is that if distributed FARPs are an important contribution to the joint and coalition forces, then it will certainly be the case that “autonomous” systems will play a role in the evolution of the concept and provide some of those new tools which Maj. Bancroft highlighted.

Editor’s Note: Further information with regard to TAGRS is provided by the following USMC stories.

In an October 18, 2018 story published by the USMC< the nature of the TAGRS was described.

The Marine Corps has the capability to set up Forward Arming and Refueling Points. The Tactical Aviation Ground Refueling System is the improved method of fueling, allowing more mobility and speed by having already assembled basic equipment on the trailer,” said Lee Duncan, a fuel analyst with Marine Corps Systems Command.

Marine wing support squadrons have a responsibility to provide FARP teams to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The TAGRS is a versatile, mobile, and rapid ground refueling system that is MV-22 and CH-53 transportable. It is intended to improve the operational speed and mobility of ground fuel systems to rapidly establish mobile refueling sites in remote and austere locations.

“Our main effort has been improving the Marine Corps’ and Navy’s ability to do bulk fuel distribution in predictable and unpredictable environments,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Kelvin Chew, the technology and experimentation analyst for the Expeditionary Energy office. “The TAGRS is one of those capabilities that allows us to move fuel around the battlespace, whether it’s from the ship to shore or from the shore to distributive points.”

Testing of the system began in mid-2017 when the idea was first introduced with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172. The goal was to increase mobility and decrease overall fueling times. WTI 1-19 is one of the first places to experiment with the TAGRS, with the hopes of measuring the improvement in employment and refueling time of the TAGRS versus older methods.

“What we’re doing is designing and building prototypes that demonstrate this concept to show the Marine Corps that this works,” said Chew. “Based on the results from our testing, we can inform the requirements which would allow us to eventually build these and field these to the units out in the fleet.”

And in a story published by 3^rd Marine Aircraft Wing published on March 9, 2020, the use of TARGR during a FARP operation was described.

Five minutes. That’s the amount of time it took for Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 371 to refuel an F-35B Lightning II and get it back in the air. This was all part of a forward arming and refueling point (FARP) operation hosted by Marine Corps Air Station Yuma during which the tactical aviation ground refueling system (TAGRS) was employed.

A FARP is setup by a support squadron and can have one or several distributive fuel points across a landing zone that enable aircraft to land and obtain both fuel and ordnance during a mission.

“Our mission today was to support VMFA-122 with a one-point static-FARP,” said Staff Sgt. Steve Anderson, a bulk fuel specialist with MWSS-371. “We issue fuel to aircraft that come in to support their objectives in the area.”

The TAGRS was first implemented by MWSS-371 during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course 1-19 in October 2018. The TAGRS team, led by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Moser, the MWSS-371 fuels officer, succeeded in reducing the one-point FARP establishment time by 90 percent and the total refueling time by 50 percent. During this recent FARP operation, the MWSS-371 Marines refueled each F-35B Lightning II in under ten minutes.

The TAGRS includes all of the refueling components in one compact system allowing for rapid setup and breakdown. This makes it essential for expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO) which seek to further distribute lethality in austere environments. The EABO concept advocates employing mobile, relatively low-cost capabilities such as the TAGRS to create a foot hold in order to extend the area of operations.

Cpl. Jesus Jimenez, a bulk fuel specialist with MWSS-371 explained, “It can pump fuel faster than the helicopter expedient refueling system, and it has four filter separators in it to filter out water and sediment, along with two points and two fire extinguishers. So we’re able to establish a FARP with just this system. All we need is a fuel source.”

The TAGRS and its operators are capable of being air-inserted making the asset expeditionary. It effectively eliminates the complications of embarkation and transportation of gear to the landing zone.

“What makes this system so unique is its mobility,” said Anderson. “We can pack the entire system in the back of a trailer and tow it into MV-22 Ospreys, CH-53 Super Stallions, or KC-130J Super Hercules, and drop it into an austere environment to extend the area of operations for aircraft so that they can attack further inland or pierce directly into the heart of the enemy.”

Not only is the TAGRS a faster refueling system but it also requires half the manpower to operate than it normally would to conduct a FARP operation.

“We’re able to employ the entire system, maintain good radio communication –with not just the pilots but internally within the TAGRS team as well, provide limited security, and sustain the entire FARP operation,” Anderson said.

The system is only as effective as the Marines who operate it. The TAGRS team is responsible for guiding the aircraft within the FARP and testing the quality of the fuel. They are also trained is navigation displacement techniques. The team leader plays a crucial role of maintaining the immediate airspace in place of a mobile air traffic control team.

The TAGRS has revolutionized the way the MWSS conducts its FARPs. As America’s “Force in Readiness”, Marines must remain ready when others are not. Modernization is essential in maintaining lethality on the battlefield and 3rd MAW is leading the charge.

Featured Photo: U.S. Marine Corps bulk fuel specialists, with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 371, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, set up a tactical aviation ground refueling system in support of a forward arming and refueling point exercise during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-19 at Landing Zone Bull Attack, Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, California, Oct. 3, 2018.

WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of a Marine air-ground task force.

WTI provides standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness, and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.

10.03.2018

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Huff

Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 371, Marine Wing Support Group (MWSG) 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), operate a tactical aviation ground refueling system (TAGRS) during a forward area refueling point (FARP) operation at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Feb. 4, 2020. The TAGRS enables the MWSS to rapidly establish a high-throughput, dual-point refueling site while maintaining critical mobility in austere locations making it a valuable asset for the MAW. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Julian Elliott-Drouin)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 371, Marine Wing Support Group (MWSG) 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), prepare to refuel F-35B Lighting II’s using a tactical aviation ground refueling system (TAGRS) during a forward area refueling point (FARP) operation at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Feb. 4, 2020. The TAGRS enables the MWSS to rapidly establish a high-throughput, dual-point refueling site while maintaining critical mobility in austere locations making it a valuable asset for the MAW. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Julian Elliott-Drouin)

A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 371, Marine Wing Support Group (MWSG) 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), prepares to refuel F-35B Lighting II’s using a tactical aviation ground refueling system (TAGRS) during a forward area refueling point (FARP) operation at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Feb. 4, 2020. The TAGRS enables the MWSS to rapidly establish a high-throughput, dual-point refueling site while maintaining critical mobility in austere locations making it a valuable asset for the MAW. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Julian Elliott-Drouin)

Expeditionary Basing Contingency Response Group Style

Posted on June 8, 2020 | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment

We have visited the USAF’s Contingency Response Group at Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakenhurst, New Jersey and have discussed CRG operations in the Pacific with the CRG wing which operates from Anderson Air Base.

The CRG concept is designed to operate combat air capabilities from austere basing, or disrupted basing in as the name suggest contingencies.

There is now a broader challenge of rethinking more generally how to to operate USAF assets in a more mobile or expeditionary manner.

This past month the USAF worked “Exercise Agile Wolf” in Germany to test out skills and capabilities.

As Airman 1st Class Alison Stewart, 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs wrote in an article published by the USAF on June 2, 2020:

Airmen at the 52nd Fighter Wing partnered with the 435th Contingency Response Squadron during an Agile Combat Employment exercise on May 28 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

This ACE exercise was in conjunction with exercise Agile Wolf, and focused on “hot-pit refueling”, or the ability to refuel an F-16 Fighting Falcon in a fast paced environment without shutting off the aircraft’s engine.

The 52nd FW brought two of their aircraft to Ramstein AB, along with quality assurance and maintenance Airmen, to observe as Airmen from the 435th CRS, who normally refuel larger aircraft, tested their skills learned from training during the exercise.

“Exercise Agile Wolf is an exercise that the Contingency Response Group is conducting,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jayce England, 52nd FW superintendent, wing plans and programs. “We wanted to observe them cross-pollinate the aircraft, so we had C-130 guys refueling the F-16.”

In a normal setting, Airmen at Ramstein Air Base would rarely see F-16’s come through on their flightline.

It is important to exercise ACE frequently, so that Airmen are prepared to operate with a smaller, more flexible footprint.

“We need to remain agile,” said England. “It’s like a muscle memory. You want to do it routinely so that if we are called upon to execute this mission, we don’t think about it, we just go out and execute it.”

Many facets of ACE will continue in the coming weeks.

“A lot of these skills are expeditionary skills, and we try to develop multi-capable Airmen,” said Maj. William Tompkins, 52nd Operations Support Squadron senior intelligence officer. “It’s important to develop those skills not only for Spangdahlem, but for Ramstein and all of United States Air Forces in Europe as well.”

An earlier USAF article published on January 6, 2020 described how the USAF started the process late last year:

The 435th Contingency Response Squadron and 37th Airlift Squadron tested their port, maintenance and command and control functions during the first ever, Exercise Agile Wolf at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 17-18.

The exercise was designed to enhance the 435th CRS’s ability to coordinate and operate mobility operations with the 37th AS in a semi-permissive environment. Since the only thing that separates the two squadrons is Ramstein’s flight line, the 435th CRS went to the other side and they both got to work.

The 435th CRS command and control function paired with the air terminal operations center kicked-off operations on the ramp. Nearly a third of the 435th CRS worked seamlessly with the 37th AS for two 16-hour days. Maintainers prepared four C-130J Super Hercules aircraft while aircrew worked with mobile aerial porters to load small cargo pallets for airdrops and combat offloads.

“We are in a resource constrained Air Force and we’re always trying to do more with less,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Brad Seehawer, 435th CRS assistant operations officer. “We are doing this exercise to show that we can train our members without having to fly them across the continent or back to the United States.”

To maximize training opportunity and current operations, Airmen rotated from the squadrons to the exercise location. The rotation allowed Airmen from the two squadrons to get familiar with each other since they would be working together in a deployed location.

“This is the first time we’ve done exercises on Ramstein with the 37th Airlift Squadron,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt Deven Kauppi, 435th Contingency Response Squadron mobile aerial porter. “We usually go out with them to various countries like Romania, Poland or Bulgaria to conduct training.”

The exercise saved the Air Force thousands of dollars because it was on their home installation. The location reduced additional flight hours and personnel travel required to conduct an extensive training like Agile Wolf.

“Working alongside our partner nations is extremely important, so there’s incredible value in honing our skills in our backyard first, to add even more value to our effectiveness in the European area of operation,” Seehawer said.

Exercise Agile Wolf is planned to occur every quarter to further strengthen the 435th and 37th missions; to provide the region’s only airlift, airdrop, and aeromedical evacuation operations capability and provide professional airlift to any country, any time.

3-17-D42-Appendix-3-Response

U.S. Air Force loadmasters assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron and U.S. Army jumpmasters assigned to the 5th Quartermaster, Rhine Ordnance Barracks, pull static lines into a C-130J Super Hercules over Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 26, 2020. The joint effort contributed to the 435th Contingency Response Group’s airborne insertion training for Agile Wolf 20-04. Agile Wolf 20-04 is an exercise designed to sharpen the 435th CRG’s tactics, techniques and procedures for establishing expeditionary airfields on demand. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Devin Boyer)

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Levi Rodney, 435th Contingency Response Squadron unit training section chief, marks the drop zone for jumpers assigned to the 435th CRS and 435th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 26, 2020. The jumpers descended from a C-130J Super Hercules and landed in the field as part of Agile Wolf 20-04. Agile Wolf 20-04 is an exercise designed to sharpen the 435th Contingency Response Group’s tactics, techniques and procedures for establishing expeditionary airfields on demand. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Milton)

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 435th Security Forces Squadron and 435th Contingency Response Squadron jump from a C-130J Super Hercules over Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 26, 2020. The Airmen practiced airborne insertion into the base for Agile Wolf 20-04. Agile Wolf 20-04 is an exercise designed to sharpen the 435th Contingency Response Group’s tactics, techniques and procedures for establishing expeditionary airfields on demand. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Milton Hamilton)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kyle Volentine, 435th Contingency Response Group jumpmaster, lands in a field after jumping out of a C-130J Super Hercules during exercise Agile Wolf 20-04 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 26, 2020. After landing, the 435th CRG paratroopers packed their equipment and secured the landing zone perimeter. Agile Wolf 20-04 is an exercise designed to sharpen the 435th Contingency Response Group’s tactics, techniques and procedures for establishing expeditionary airfields on demand. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Milton Hamilton)

A U.S. Airman assigned to the 435th Contingency Response Group holds an M-4 carbine assault rifle while securing a landing zone during exercise Agile Wolf 20-04 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 26, 2020. The 435th Security Forces members provide security for expeditionary forces during base build-ups and airfield assessments. Agile Wolf 20-04 is an exercise designed to sharpen the 435th Contingency Response Group’s tactics, techniques and procedures for establishing expeditionary airfields on demand. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Milton Hamilton)

A refuel truck is parked on the ramp ready to gas up a F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base during a hot-pit refuel as part of Exercise Agile Wolf 20-04 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 28, 2020. A red 'Flammable Material' vinyl indicates the presence of products that can quickly ignite and create a fire (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Devin Nothstine)

U.S Air Force Master Sgt. Jayson Lyons, 435th Contingency Response Squadron current operations flight chief, awaits the arrival of aircraft to conduct hot-pit refueling as part of Exercise Agile Wolf 20-04 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 28, 2020. An International R-11 fuel truck can transport up to 6,000 gallons of JP-8 jet fuel and transfer 600 gallons of fuel per minute. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Devin Nothstine)

U.S. Air Force airmen assigned to the 435th Contingency Response Squadron observe a hot-pit refuel of a F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany as part of Exercise Agile Wolf 20-04 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 28, 2020. The aircraft travels through an end of runway checkpoint to safely secure the ammo before conducting hot-pit refueling. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Devin Nothstine)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Donovan Reid, 435th Contingency Response Squadron crew chief, observes hot-pit refueling as part of Exercise Agile Wolf 20-04 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 28, 2020. Hot-pit refueling is a capability to refuel aircraft while the engines are running in order to quickly return them to the air during contingency operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Devin Nothstine)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tyler Sommerfield, 435th Contingency Response Squadron crew chief, connects a grounding cable to a F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany to safely conduct a hot-pit refuel as part of Exercise Agile Wolf 20-04 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 28, 2020. Grounding points on the flight line ensure safe handling for members to remove static electricity generated by the friction of their uniforms while moving. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Devin Nothstine)

U.S Air Force Master Sgt. Jayson Lyons, 435th Contingency Response Squadron current operations flight chief, verifies the correct fuel output pressure during a hot-pit refuel as part of Exercise Agile Wolf 20-04 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 28, 2020. Each airframe can only receive a specific amount of fuel pressure to safely operate the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Devin Nothstine)

U.S Air Force Master Sgt. Jayson Lyons, 435th Contingency Response Squadron current operations flight chief, picks up the fuel hose to refuel a F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany during a hot-pit refuel as part of Exercise Agile Wolf 20-04 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 28, 2020. 435th CRS members travel to Spangdahlem Air Base for aircraft familiarization training to be qualified to conduct refueling on jets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Milton Hamilton)

Hypersonic Tests

Posted on June 8, 2020 | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment

The test team of the 846th Test Squadron, 704th Test Group, Holloman Air Force Base conduct a test simulation at the Holloman High Speed Test Track April 23, 2020.

The test was to evaluate key hypersonic braking technologies and enhanced workforce readiness for future hypersonic weapons tests.

04.23.2020

Video by Jason Austin

Arnold Engineering Development Complex Public Affairs

Remembering Flag Day for the Finnish Armed Forces, 2020

Posted on June 7, 2020 | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment

06/07/2020

Flag Day for the Finnish Armed Forces is held on June 4th.

Before we got too far away from the 4th, we wanted to highlight the event.

Celebrated since 1950, the 4 June is an official flag day of the Finnish Defence Forces.

It is the birthday of C.G.E. Mannerheim, Marshal of Finland, who was quite an historical figure.

In an article by Timo Vihavainen, a Finnish historian and professor emeritus of Russian Studies at the University of Helsinki, first published in February 2005, updated June 2017, the career of Mannerheim was reviewed.

C.G.E. Mannerheim (1867–1951) charted the course of Finnish history and was voted greatest Finn of all time.

He served in the Russian Imperial Army for decades, and later became a war hero in his home country of Finland. He was the symbol of the Finnish struggle against Soviet Russia during the Winter War of 1939–1940. He was hailed as a champion of liberty throughout the Western world during those 105 days of stubborn resistance against a vastly superior enemy.

This was not the first time that the stately representative of Finland’s Swedish-speaking aristocracy had been supreme commander in a war against Russia.

The War of Liberation in 1918 – later also called the Civil War – had been fought against Soviet Russia and against its allies, the Finnish “Reds.” And the Winter War was not the last war Mannerheim fought against Russia, either.

The period of combat known as the Continuation War, 1941 to 1944, during which German forces fought alongside the Finnish army, exacted a much heavier toll on Finland and Russia than the Winter War had.

Moreover, during the Continuation War, Finnish forces even advanced into Russian territory with the intention of annexing Eastern Karelia, a region which had never belonged to Finland.

Admittedly, Finnish policy towards the Russians and Finland’s methods of warfare substantially differed from those of the Germans. Finland declined to launch a ground attack or a bombing attack on Leningrad, despite German pressure to do so.

Mannerheim spent no less than 30 years in Russia, mostly in Saint Petersburg, serving in the Russian Imperial Army.

During this period he not only reached the rank of lieutenant general and was appointed commander of the Cavalry Corps of the Imperial Army, he was also known personally to the emperor and became a member of his suit

Mannerheim’s record as a soldier was impressive. He fought for Russia on the battle front in both the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05 and in the First World War between 1914 and 1917. General Mannerheim was decorated with the St George’s Cross for gallantry and was famous for his military skill and efficacy.

Mannerheim was also an able sportsman whose horsemanship won prizes. This was evidently one of the reasons why he was chosen for the formidable task of undertaking a reconnaissance mission, on horseback through Asia, that lasted two years.

You could add courteous manners to the list of Mannerheim’s merits. This contributed to the progress of the young cavalry officer in high society and at the imperial court itself.

A non-Russian officer in the Imperial Army was no rarity. In fact, there were thousands of them. Many of these inorodtsy or “non-orthodox” subjects of the emperor serving in the Russian army came from the Baltic provinces, spoke German as their mother tongue and were Lutheran by religion, as was Mannerheim.

However, Mannerheim’s background differed from that of his Baltic brother officers. He came from the Grand Duchy of Finland, which sent more than 4,000 officers to serve in the Russian army between 1809 and 1917. Almost 400 of them reached the rank of general or admiral.

Most of the officers from Finland spoke Swedish as their mother tongue, Finnish being used mainly as a second language, if they knew it at all. Mannerheim’s Finnish before 1917 was far from fluent.

However, in common with the Baltic German officers, the Finnish officers served the emperor impeccably. In fact, there are no records of disloyalty among the Finns, even during the period from 1899 to 1917 when Russia began to pressure Finland by undermining its juridical status. In lieu of disloyalty, some of the officers chose to retire from active service.

Mannerheim did not retire. He remained a faithful soldier even though he privately deplored the emperor’s policies, which he regarded as unwise. Even when his own brother was exiled to Sweden, Mannerheim’s loyalty to the emperor remained unshaken. His relatives understood his position.

It was only when the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 crushed the old order that Mannerheim realised his ties of loyalty to Russia had been cut. After the revolution he became a champion of the White Finnish cause.

His loyalty towards his native land was now total and he always respected its democratic institutions even though he was hardly a true democrat by conviction.

Mannerheim’s career in the service of two states is an intriguing story that excites curiosity. To Russians, Mannerheim is above all the cultivated young officer of the Chevalier Guards who stood by Nicholas II during coronation procession.

In Finnish eyes Mannerheim stands tall as the elderly marshal, a man of honour and a fatherly figure whose moral integrity and intelligence could always be trusted

And in an article we published prior to the Trump/Putin meeting in Helsinki, we looked back at Finnish history and what lessons these two leaders might take away from that history.

Presidents Putin and Trump will meet soon in Helsinki. At a time of uncertainty in the US-Russia relationship, the meeting is an important step forward in clarifying that relationship, one that should be not reduced to a Trump tweet or a Putin chess move.

Where it is being held is significant. Helsinki was part of the Russian empire for a century. It is now a century since the Finns have been independent, but always in the context of East-West realities. During the Cold War, “Finlandization” became a term of art for how smaller country could retain its independence on internal matters by bowing to a larger neighbor on international affairs.

Finland become independent as a result of World War I and the Russian revolution. If one visits Helsinki, the similarities to Saint Petersburg — just five hours away by car (or tank) — are obvious. And in the wake of the Russian revolution, Finland had its own civil war, its own clash of “Whites” against the “Reds,” with legendary Finnish leader Carl Mannerheimcommanding the German-backed Whites.

After withdrawing from Finnish politics, General Mannerheim would return to lead the fight in the famous “Winter War” against the invading Russians, who poured in more forces than the Western allies later did on D-Day. Amazingly, the Finns not only resisted but destroyed the initial forces which invaded Finland. As the Western Alliance would fail to stop the Nazis, however, they would fail Finland as well.

And when the Nazis took Western Europe, including Norway, the Finns bowed to realpolitik and worked with them to do a dangerous dance with them to keep the Russians at bay. What Finns call the Continuation War followed the Winter War, and the core ally of Finland in the Continuation War was Nazi Germany.

But the American leaders, working behind the scenes with Mannerheim and the Finnish leadership, de facto cut a deal with the Finns to not attack the supply lines coming through the North into Russia. While the UK declared war on Finland, the US did not. This was an enlightened move which provided flexibility for both the United States and Finland going forward.

The letter which Mannerheim sent to Adolf Hitler when leaving the war in fall 1944 highlights a core principle important to Finns and to any nation worthy of calling itself a nation – emphasized the absolute imperative to preserve the Finnish people and the Finnish nation. It read in part:

“In this hour of hard decisions, I’m impelled to inform you that I’ve arrived at the conviction that the salvation of my nation makes it my duty to find a means of ending the war…

“The Russian’s great assaults in June exhausted our reserves. We cannot expose ourselves to another such bloodletting without the whole future of the small Finnish nation being jeopardized.

“I wish specially to emphasize that Germany will live on even if fate should not crown your arms with victory. Nobody could give such assurance regarding Finland. If that nation of barely four million were militarily defeated, there can be little doubt that will be driven into exile or exterminated. I cannot expose my people to such a fate.”

It is clear that the Finns have not forgotten their history and are seeking today to protect themselves against the Russian actions in Europe. To do so, they are pursuing a strong relationship with Europe through the European Union, which it joined in 1995, adopting the common currency in 1999; enhanced regional cooperation with their Nordic neighbors, as we’ve covered in depth before; increased cooperation with NATO, contributing to operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan; and strong relationships with the United States and the United Kingdom, even as both countries faced significant domestic change.

What might President Putin learn from the Finns?

Above all, stop threatening the Baltic States for all that does is drive the Finns and the Nordics into a closer relationship both with each other and with NATO. The Russians complain about Finnish and Nordic action, but they have only themselves to thank.

President Putin might stand in front of the famous statue to Alexander II in the center of Helsinki and remember the Finns erected it, not simply to remember an important reformer, but to protest the reactionary policies of his successor Alexander III. The Russians cast a long shadow, and Putin may be trying to make Russia Great Again through old-fashioned hardball tactics, but it is at the expense of fundamental interests which could be better served by Russian reform and reworking his relationship with the West.

For his part, President Trump might reflect on his meeting with the Finnish President when he butchered his name, while the Finns did not care in their happiness that that their President met the US President. He might learn from the Finns that European security is not simply Germany and defense spending percentages; it is about the professional working relationship among the militaries and how Western solidarity has been built despite political differences. He might learn as well that for smaller countries, organizations like the European Union play an important role alongside NATO.

As the Finns consider how to augment their defense capabilities, it is important for President Trump to consider how a smaller nation looks at their strategic position. He would do well to learn from the subtler approach followed by Secretary Hall and President Roosevelt during World War II.

As I stood in front of the Finnish defense ministry this past February, I know what I learned looking at the very powerful statue honoring the Finnish people for their resistance to Stalin and his dictatorship: The Finns love their nation and will risk their lives to defend it. Both Putin and Trump need to remember that.

This article was published by Breaking Defense on July 11, 2018.

And for those who understand Finnish or can read Swedish, Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen had a coffee with conscripts while reminiscing his time as a conscript in the Helsinki Anti-Aircraft Regiment and has a message for you!

And the Finns have been busy working in their neighborhood to ensure that their security can be maintained in a challenging period of history.

For example, in this May 20, 2020 article on the Finnish Ministry of Defence website:

On Wednesday 20 May 2020, Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen will attend a ministerial meeting of the Northern Group. The meeting will be hosted by Latvia. The ministers will be meeting in a video conference.

They will discuss the impacts of Covid-19 on the defence forces, Military Mobility, strategic communications and cooperation in exercises.

Apart from the Nordic countries and the Baltic States, the Northern Group consists of the Netherlands, Great Britain, Poland and Germany.

Or in this May 19, 2020 article on the Finnish Ministry of Defence website:

On Wednesday 20 May 2020, Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen will hold a bilateral meeting with Sweden’s Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist as well as an additional meeting with Norway’s Minister of Defence Frank Bakke-Jensen and Minister Hultqvist. The meetings will be organised via video connection.

The ministers are to discuss Nordic defence cooperation and other related issues.

Or in this May 7, 2020 article not he Finnish Ministry of Defence website:

Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen will hold a bilateral meeting with Sweden’s Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist on Friday 8 May 2020. Due to the coronavirus situation, the meeting will be organised via video connection.

The ministers are to discuss the COVID19 situation from the perspective of the defence administrations of the two countries and the defence cooperation between Finland and Sweden.

In short, the Finns are not sitting on their hands waiting for someone else to take care of their security.

UK Adds Cyber Regiment to Its Military Toolbox

Posted on June 7, 2020 | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment

According to a June 4, 2020 article published by the UK Ministry of Defence, a new Cyber Regiment has been launched to protect frontline operations from digital attack.

The Ministry of Defence has launched 13th Signal Regiment, a dedicated Cyber Regiment, which will protect vital defence networks at home and on operations overseas.

The unit was formally stood up on Monday, June 1, at a ceremony at Blandford, home of the Royal Signals.

As the character of warfare evolves, and the weapons used to fight those wars shift from the industrial to the information age, digital and cyber capabilities are increasingly relied upon to ensure the nation’s security and the safety of our personnel overseas.

Our adversaries and hostile actors are operating in cyberspace right now, creating a new cyber frontline – alongside the traditional domains of Land, Sea and Air – without physical borders but also needing to be defended,

Secure communications are the foundation for any successful operation and 13th Signal Regiment will provide ‘digital armour’ around personnel operating overseas, giving commanders and their soldiers the ability to operate with confidence in their communications systems, often while working in challenging conditions.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

“This is a step-change in the modernisation of the UK Armed Forces for information warfare. Cyber-attacks are every bit as deadly as those faced on the physical battlefield, so we must prepare to defend ourselves from all those who would do us harm and 13th Signal Regiment is a vital addition to that defence”

The 13th Signal Regiment is a regiment of the British Army within 1st (UK) Signal Brigade, under the command of 6th (UK) Division, responsible for conducting information manoeuvre and unconventional warfare, in support of the whole Armed Forces.

The specialist unit will provide the basis of the new Army Cyber Information Security Operations Centre, focusing on the protection of Defence’s cyber domain, and it will work with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force to provide secure networks for all military communications.

And ensuring that UK defensive cyber capabilities remain ahead of adversaries and aggressors, 13th Signal Regiment will also provide specialist technical support for a hub to test and implement next generation information capabilities.

Based at multiple key locations around a Headquarters in Blandford, Dorset, 13th Signal Regiment will be built around a core of 250 specialist servicemen and women who possess relevant high-end technical skills.

A number of existing cyber functions are being brought together from across the Army to establish the regiment, with personnel from 15 different cap badges represented in the first intake, plus specialist Royal Navy and RAF personnel.

The regiment will consist of several Cyber Protection Teams as well as technical staff who will secure the cyber domain for troops deployed on military operations.

Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith said:

“13th Signal Regiment is the British Army’s brand new cyber regiment – matching cutting edge technology with cyber-fit soldiers to compete and win in the Information Age.”

13th Signal Regiment previously existed during WW2 as 1st Special Wireless Group, and helped to pioneer the use of wireless technology and high frequency wireless radios.

Renamed 13th (Radio) Signal Regiment in 1959, it had operators stationed in Berlin throughout the Cold War. The unit was disbanded in 1994, when its role in Germany was no longer required.

The new Cyber Regiment will take on the 13th Signal Regiment name and build on its predecessor’s proud legacy of innovation and operational excellence.

Brigadier John Collyer, Commander 1st (UK) Signal Brigade, said:

“The re-formation of 13th Signal Regiment is an exciting step forward as the Royal Signals, Army and wider Defence rapidly drives up their potency and resilience in the information environment and cyber domain.

“The stakes are high and our success is increasingly and critically reliant on focusing our brightest men and women onto the opportunities and risks that underpin our operations – both home and away.”

The featured photo shows a UK soldier holding a patch of the 13th Signal Regiment.

The photo is credited to an article by Alistair Bunkall in which he noted that “13th Signal Regiment previously existed during World War Two as 1st Special Wireless Group, and helped to pioneer the use of wireless technology and high frequency wireless radios.

“Renamed 13th (Radio) Signal Regiment in 1959, it had operators stationed in Berlin throughout the Cold War.

“The unit was disbanded in 1994, when its role in Germany was no longer required.”

The unit will work with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force to secure communications networks on the battlefield.

Remembering D-Day 2020

Posted on June 6, 2020 | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment

06/06/2020

Every year, U.S. European Command Components and historic-lineage military units from the U.S. participate in D-Day commemoration ceremonies in the Normandy region of France.

Due to COVID-19, most D-Day 76 events/ceremonies are cancelled this year.

While coronavirus has interrupted life around the world to an unprecedented degree, the D-Day tradition continues virtually with a joint video message from the five U.S. European Command Component Commanders.

WIESBADEN, GERMANY

06.06.2020

Video by Robert Sekula

U.S. Army Europe

Harvest the Best and Leave the Rest: The Land Wars and the Emergence of the Kill Web

Posted on June 5, 2020 | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment

06/05/2020

The strategic shift from the land wars to full spectrum crisis management is a very significant change.

Operating against adversary forces who have full spectrum capability requires building and training a force which can prevail in a wide variety of contested environments.

We have argued that shaping interactive kill webs which allow for flexible task forces to be assembled to prevail in such conditions is a key way ahead.

But this does not mean that what has been learned during the land wars is being jettisoned.

Several key ingredients of what was learned is being harvested and taken forward into the full spectrum crisis management settings.

One key element is earning how to provide C2 and ISR support to small insertion forces and to provide support from a full spectrum force.

A second is to learn how having an ISR manager based with the ground forces provides a key capability to shape the knowledge management side of informing the ground scheme for maneuver.

A third was to highlight the importance of tron warfare for the ground scheme of maneuver as well and to introduce new capabilities, such as the Growler into the battle space. From this standpoint, the introduction of the Growler is part of the reshaping of the tron warfare strand of the kill web moving forward.

The photos in the slideshow highlight the coming of the Growler to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 30, 2018.

The US Navy and USAF are clearly building a way ahead from this experience to incorporate tron warfare capabilities into the kill web.

As a recent discussion with the senior officer at NAWDC responsible for EW highlighted: “It is about full spectrum of warfare, not just the high-end fight.

“Being able to operate within and to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum is not a nice to have capability but is becoming a core requirement for effective engagement in conflict scenarios across the spectrum of warfare.

“HAVOC is not focused on the management of a single exquisite platform per se, but upon how that platform operates in the joint force with other joint or coalition force assets to deliver the broad non-kinetic effect required.

“In a core mission area, suppression of enemy air defenses, HAVOC is working closely with the USAF Weapons School at Nellis in shaping a variety of capabilities, including but not limited to F-35, Compass Call, space-based assets and cyber-war assets to deliver the best air suppression capability possible. They along with the USAF are looking holistically at the integrated air defense system.

“Within their domain, they are working a kill web approach to generate a synergy of effects enabling the force to take down air defense systems in a much more effective and efficient manner than if it was all about the Growler.

“In this case, it is about sensors and shooters working together through a non-kinetic kill web. When the CNO put out his FY21 Unfunded Priorities List (which includes Next Generation Jammer), it is interesting to note is that he equated NGJ and EW with increased lethality for the force.

“Integrating such capability into the overall strike mission is a virtual redefinition of what lethal strike actually means in a kill web approach.”

Harvest the best, leave the rest, and build on relevant combat experience to shape capabilities for the next generation fight.

When dealing with a peer competitor like China, which is not in a position to havest the best and leave the rest, the U.S. and its allies gain a significant advantage be being able to do so.

A U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowler, part of the last Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VMAQ-2), parked at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 30, 2018. After 40 years of faithful service, the remaining EA-6B Prowlers performed their last combat missions in support of Operations Inherent Resolve, Freedom Sentinel and Resolute Support Mission. Following this deployment the Prowlers will be preserved at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, Tucson, A.Z. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)

A U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowler, assigned to the last Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VMAQ-2), sits beside other aircraft at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 30, 2018. Replacing U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowlers, the EA-18G Growlers bear advanced electronic warfare technology, allowing the Growlers to adapt to current threats within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. VAQ-135 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)

U.S. Navy maintainers assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) perform post flight maintenance on an EA-18G Growler at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 30, 2018. Replacing U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowlers, the EA-18G Growlers bear advanced electronic warfare technology, allowing the Growlers to adapt to current threats within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. VAQ-135 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)

A U.S. Navy maintainer assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) performs post flight maintenance on an EA-18G Growler at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 30, 2018. Replacing U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowlers, the EA-18G Growlers bear advanced electronic warfare technology, allowing the Growlers to adapt to current threats within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. VAQ-135 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler pilot assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) deplanes an EA-18G Growler at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 30, 2018. Replacing U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowlers, the EA-18G Growlers bear advanced electronic warfare technology, allowing the Growlers to adapt to current threats within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. VAQ-135 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) taxis on the flight line at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 30, 2018. Replacing U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowlers, the EA-18G Growlers bear advanced electronic warfare technology, allowing the Growlers to adapt to current threats within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. VAQ-135 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) lands at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 30, 2018. Replacing U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowlers, the EA-18G Growlers bear advanced electronic warfare technology, allowing the Growlers to adapt to current threats within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. VAQ-135 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender waits on a taxiway while U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) land at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 30, 2018. Replacing U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowlers, the EA-18G Growlers bear advanced electronic warfare technology, allowing the Growlers to adapt to current threats within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. VAQ-135 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)

U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) land at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 30, 2018. Replacing U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowlers, the EA-18G Growlers bear advanced electronic warfare technology, allowing the Growlers to adapt to current threats within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. VAQ-135 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)