U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center personnel and civilian ground crews load the Advanced Extremely High Frequency-5 (AEHF) communications satellite onto a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft from Travis Air Force Base, at Sunnyvale, California, April 19, 2019.
SUNNYVALE, CA, UNITED STATES
04.19.2019
Video by Lan Kim
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
By Pierre Tran
BOURGES/AVORD AIRBASE, France
France and Germany need to resolve political, industrial and operational differences hanging over projects for a new fighter jet and a new tank, a French senator said Sept. 13.
A New Generation Fighter is key to the planned Future Combat Air System, backed by France, Germany and Spain, while Berlin and Paris are also looking to develop and build a new tank in the Main Ground Combat System.
French parliamentarians, chiefs of staff and top industry executives at a plenary session of a Sept. 12-13 conference heard a summary of problems hanging over the two arms projects seen as cornerstones for future European defense.
The conference, dubbed summer defense university, was organized by CEIS, a consultancy, and backed by Dassault Aviation. The event was held at Bourges and Avord airbase, central France.
The conference is run on Chatham House reporting rules which ask for anonymity of speakers.
“Today, there is concern over FCAS,”said the senator, pointing out that France wants to pursue “operational capabilities,” while Germany seeks industrial content for its companies in a drive for economic gain.
There is also a German call for close parliamentary oversight of the FCAS program through a release of funding in small tranches.
France leads on FCAS, with Dassault Aviation as prime contractor, while Germany steers the MGCS tank project and a planned European medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle.
FCAS and MGCS may be separate projects but they have become closely related, as German parliamentarians have linked supervisory approval of one to the other.
Progress on FCAS depends on Berlin finding work to be assigned to Rheinmetall in Germany’s 50 percent in MGCS, the senator said. A US pension fund holds a large stake in Rheinmetall, the senator added.
The assumption had been family owned Krauss-Maffei Wegmann would hold the German stake in MGCS, with state-owned Nexter holding the French 50 percent.
Talks are still going on for how to share out the work between KMW and Rheinmetall, and it cannot be assumed there will be a 25 percent stake for each company, a European official said on the sidelines of the conference.
Rheinmetall supplies the turret, while KMW works on the chassis on the Leopard 2 heavy tank.
A senior French executive, also speaking on the sidelines, made it clear it was only “certain parliamentarians” which were holding up FCAS rather than the full German Bundestag parliament.
An operational issue to be resolved is how the new fighter jet will be able to carry the French nuclear missile and Nato atomic bomb, as the German air force flies the latter, supplied by the US, the senator said.
A further concern is need for an agreement between Berlin and Paris on arms exports, as FCAS will need foreign sales to help fund its program, the senator said.
An export agreement will soon be reached, a senior French official said at the plenary session, declining further comment.
President Emmanuel Macron and chancellor Angela Merkel reached an agreement at the G-7 summit at Biarritz on Franco-German arms export policy, with Berlin foregoing a right of approval if there were less than 20 percent of German content in value in a French weapon being sold abroad, afternoon daily Le Monde reported.
France wanted a lower level of German content, as that would have given Paris more latitude in pitching French arms in overseas markets.
That 20 percent threshold also applied for French oversight of German arms exports.
“When there is a big deal, like a fighter jet, it has to be discussed,” said François Lureau of EuroFLconsult. “There should be rules, but it is hard to generalize and foresee the situation in 30 years time,” he added.
There should be discussion and compromise, he said, adding that the Debré-Schmidt agreement on foreign arms sales had never been observed. That was a Franco-German pact dating back to the 1970s.
Lureau is a former procurement chief.
The arms export deal was included in a Franco-German treaty signed Jan. 22 at Aix-la-Chapelle, magazine Der Speigel reported Feb. 15.
French executives point up a tardiness of German delivery of components, seen as a bid to slow sales of French weapons. France and Germany compete in the world arms market.
There was a deafening silence at the conference on the UK’s pursuit of its Tempest project, despite the Sept. 11 announcement British companies had signed a statement of intent with Italian partners on cooperation for a new fighter.
The senior French official, however, did predict there would be cooperation with the British on the new fighter programs.
It made no sense to have two new European fighter programs and it was likely there would be a merging of the projects, a British executive said.
BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and the British units of Leonardo and MBDA signed statements of intent with Avio Aero, Elettronica, Leonardo and MBDA in Italy to work on a “concept and partnership model,” seeking to share knowledge, product definition and technology development for development of a future combat air system
That industrial agreement followed Italy and the UK committing to work together closely on combat air capabilities including Typhoon, F-35 and Tempest.
There was no surprise Italy teamed up with the UK as both nations operate the F-35, a French executive said. It remained to be seen whether there would be funds for Tempest in view of the acquisition of F-35.
Italy had shown no interest in joining FCAS, and there is doubt whether Rome had sufficient funds, a French officer said on the sidelines of the conference.
On the proposal for the European MALE UAV, there is a vast difference between industry’s offer and what the governments are willing to pay, the officer said.
Armed forces minister Florence Parly said in her June 17 speech at the Paris airshow that industry needed to cut the price of the UAV.
“I say to them — and the companies know it — that this program will not get off the ground unless the drone they are proposing is competitive,” she said.
That pricing was not just for the launch nations —France, Germany, Italy and Spain — but prospective export clients, she said. An intensive negotiation was opening up, which she hoped would lead to announcement of a launch contract this year.
Airbus and Dassault are industrial partners, with the former in the lead on the UAV.
The French air force staged an extensive flying display of Rafale fighter, A400M transport plane and Puma helicopter at the airbase on the opening day. There was a display of ground troops attacking insurgents, supported by a low pass by Rafale and helicopter evacuation of a wounded soldier.
On the ground, there was display of armored vehicles including Jaguar troop carrier, high mobility vehicle, AMX10 RC fighting vehicle and Leclerc tank. The airbase supports the fleet of Awacs spy plane.
In a vast hanger, alongside an Awacs plane, there were many stands showing military programs and equipment.
Parly attended the conference.
For a look at Tempest, see the following:
The Next Phase of Airpower Transformation for the UK: Putting Team Tempest in Perspective
U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Operators assess, secure, open and secure airspace for a forward arming and refueling point mission from an MC-130J Commando II to two F-35A Lightening IIs and two F-15E Strike Eagles during Operation Rapid Forge at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, July 25, 2019.
Special Tactics is a U.S. Special Operation Command’s tactical air and ground integration force, and the Air Force’s special operations ground force, leading Global Access, Precision Strike, Personnel Recovery and Battlefield Surgery operations on the battlefield. The MC-130J Commando II, and aircrew, are able to execute refueling missions in austere, sensitive or hostile territories.
The Air Force’s newest operational 5th -generation fighter, the F-35A Lightening II, provides unmatched lethality, survivability and adaptability to the warfighter.
Operation Rapid Forge involves NATO territories in order to enhance readiness and improve interoperability between U.S. allies and partners in Europe.
ÄMARI AIR BASE, ESTONIA
07.25.2019
Video by Staff Sgt. Rose Gudex
24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
The Triton unmanned system is a key building block for 21st century maritime operations.
In effect, the Triton provides capabilities similar to a low-earth orbiting system which can serve directly the maritime task force commander.
Indeed, a key dimension of the coming of Triton is to ensure that intelligence communities not consider this their asset, but ensure that it is considered an operational asset for the fleet, and as part of the maritime domain awareness 360 degree capabilities for the fleet operating as three dimensional warriors.
After our visit to Jax Navy in 2016, we highlighted the importance of this aspect of the coming of Triton, or more accurately, of the coming of the P-8/Triton dyad to the maritime services.
Another key advantage is shaping domain knowledge of the key geographical areas where the dyad will operate.
“The Poseidon operates from 15-30,000 feet normally; the Triton will operate at 50,000 feet and take a broader view.”
The world looks differently at each altitude but by rotating crews, a unique perspective is gained by operating at the different altitudes and with different operational approaches to gain knowledge dominance.”
This is an approach for a new generation which “wants choice in their careers, rather than being locked in to a single platform.”
This is about crew resource management as well. It is abut shaping, developing and deploying the right skill to the task.
But the capabilities of the dyad are so good in terms of richness and fidelity of information there is already a tug of war between the intelligence community and the operators.
In an era of distributed lethality or distributed operations in the extended battlespace, the decision makers in the fleet, need the information to inform time-constrained decisions.
The fleet commanders need to make timely decisions; the intelligence community wishes to collect information, first, and inform decision makers later. This structural division will simply not work in the era of distributed decision-making and distributed lethality.
The information-decision cycle has to change to adapt to the technology.
“We need an effective cross-domain solution.
The huge divide between intelligence and operations has to be closed.”
Their experience is suggestive that there is a broader need for a very robust discussion on real time actionable intelligence information.
US National Command Authority enforcement of Rules of Engagement (ROE) has had a “good and other” progression over time. The “good” is thoughtful ROEs can save lives from fratricide and friendly fire while still allowing direct and indirect fires to destroy the enemy.
The “other” is what we have quipped is the new OODA loop, an OO-L-DA loop in which L stands lag time in combat tempo for Legal review. But after Navy Jax we came away with concern for what yet again is a roles and mission discussion on the flow of strategic and tactical “Intelligence ROE”
If not addressed and debated early, a template of actionable intelligence information going directly into IC NRO/NSA/NGO and upper echelon commands to be analyzed and disseminated may inhibit combat effectiveness and the decisiveness need to prevail in the contested and extended battlespace.
Time sensitive intel is critical at lower level direct action combat commanders from the Squadron pilots, CAG and Strike Group Commanders. The ROE in the traditional IC formula of “up and out” may not be in harmony with ever evolving speed of light sensor shooter technological advances.
Triton is part of the reshaping of the allied maritime domain awareness enterprise as well, with the Aussies operating the aircraft along with the US Navy in the Pacific region and with the prospects for European allies already scheduled to operate P-8s to either operate the aircraft or benefit from the US Navy’s operations of the Triton in their theater of operations as well.
In a recent article by Andrew McLaughlin published on August 28, 2019, the evolution of the US Navy-RAAF partnership was underscored.
The co-operative development program between the RAAF and the US Navy to develop capabilities for the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime surveillance system is ramping up, with the placement of eight RAAF personnel with the program in the US.
The eight cooperative project personnel (CCP) have joined the program over the past 12 months following the signing of the agreement in 2018, and the Commonwealth’s commitment to acquire up to six Tritons and associated mission control stations under the Triton development, production and sustainment cooperative program.
“This cooperative program aligns with [the US DoD’s] objective to strengthen alliances that are crucial to our National Defense Strategy,” US Navy Triton program manager, Capt Dan Mackin said in a statement. “We are working together with our Australian counterparts to jointly define new capabilities that benefit both countries.”
RAAF flight test team member, SQNLDR Neale Thompson added, “It is an absolute privilege to fulfil this role, working with my US Navy colleagues to develop and test this new, unmanned platform. The dedication and ingenuity displayed by the system administrator team in this example epitomized the US Navy’s genuine commitment to integrate their cooperative partners within the Triton program.”
SQNLDR Thompson is a former AP-3C tactical coordinator (TACCO) and is a graduate of US Naval Test Pilot School, and is the first international partner to operate the Triton. His responsibilities include managing mission systems during flight, and to perform the mission systems team-lead role at the integrated test team (ITT) where he manages specialised flight test engineers and project officers.
“This is the latest important milestone for our cooperative program, which allows our test team member to be fully involved in all facets of testing,” Australian National Deputy for the Triton program, WGCDR Troy Denley said. “The cooperative program continues to mature with all CPP embedded in key roles that will help ensure the success of the program for both nations. This is due in no small part to the dedication of Triton’s international team.”
To date, two MQ-4Cs have been ordered for the RAAF, with the first system due to be delivered in 2023.
The featured photo shows former RAAF AP-3C TACCO SQNLDR Neale Thompson. Thompson is the first international partner to operate the MQ-4C Triton. (US NAVY)
Also, see the following:
Standing up the P-8/Triton Maritime Domain Strike Enterprise in Australia: Visiting RAAF Edinburgh
The Arrival of a Maritime-Domain Awareness Strike Capability: The Impact of the P-8/Triton Dyad
The Japanese are working to enhance their capabilities for perimeter defense.
To do so, they are adding Ospreys and F-35Bs to their force mix which will allow them to operate from sea or island bases or both in a rotational island strategy approach to defense.
In an article by Andrew McLaughlin published on August 20, 2019, the formal approval by the Japanese government was highlighted.
The Japanese Defence Ministry has announced it has received formal approval to buy 42 Lockheed martin F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variants of the JSF for operations aboard its Izumo class helicopter destroyers (DDH).
The formal announcement follows last December’s announcement of Japan’s intention to buy additional F-35As, the F-35Bs, and to convert the two Japanese maritime Self-Defense Force 27,000t Izumo DDHs to operate the STOVL aircraft. A formal proposal from the US Government was reportedly received in June.
Japanese media says an initial budget allocation for 18 F-35Bs will be made by 2023, with the additional 24 jets to follow in a subsequent budget.
The featured photo shows an F-35B Flying at Beaufort Air Show, April 2019. Credit. Second Line of Defense.
The USMC, the RAF/Royal Navy, and Singapore plus Japan are the initial operators of F-35Bs but we expect other F-35 partners to buy into the flexibility of the B.
By Debalina Ghoshal
There is no doubt that China is working on sophisticated weapon systems.
While China is modernising its nuclear forces, it is also not neglecting its conventional firepower.
For example, China is working on electromagnetic technologies with the objective of fielding electromagnetic weapons for its ground, naval forces as the initial services to do so with the Air Force to follow later as the technology evolves.
In August 2018, there were reports that China is developing an electromagnetic surface-to-surface rocket with long firing range capability. The gun when fielded would provide China greater capability in high-altitude regions like Tibet and Himalayas. Their range though not specified, is believed to be greater than the range of China’s 150kms range rocket systems providing Beijing the leverage to fire the rocket away from the plateau region.
According to reports, China’s Navy has already tested sea launched versions of the gun in 2018 and the warship mounted gun is expected to enter service in 2025. The naval gun has a range of 200kms approximately. If reports are true, China had already successfully mounted the gun on a warship in 2017 itself.
Electromagnetic catapult systems could enable the rocket to reach greater range with an increased velocity thereby further making it difficult to intercept the rocket system. Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (RAMs) are most difficult to be intercepted and high velocity would only make the task of defending against these rocket systems further difficult.
In addition, rockets can be fired in several numbers in salvos that would make interception further difficult. These guns are also cheaper than guided missiles. This is reported to enable the gun to attack targets over much broader area and can launch projectiles at hypersonic speeds. The projectile is placed on an armature between two conductive rails following which an electric charge is driven into the rails resulting in two magnetic fields form to create ‘Lorentz force’ blast.
One of the advantages of electromagnetic rocket systems is that conventional firepower uses powder and fails to sometimes perform according to expectations at high altitudes due to the lack oxygen.
Electromagnetic artillery rockets negate this disadvantage by using electromagnetic force making them suitable weapon system for mountain and plateau regions where oxygen content in the atmosphere is less. The use of electromagnetic force enables the rocket to fly smoother and hit targets more accurately.
Such a system has an advantage for airborne platforms as airborne platforms may also find it difficult to cater to enough oxygen.
Increased range of these rockets would enable aircraft carriers to remain farther from enemy targets thereby increasing their chances of survivability.
These electromagnetic rockets are also reported to be more precise and stable during launch with increased maneuverability in comparison to conventional rockets at lesser cost than conventional rockets. The electromagnetic guns can help perform missile and air defence roles, anti-invasion missions and also can attack anti-aircraft missile systems thus increasing both China’s offensive and defensive capabilities.
Also, electromagnetic catapult would allow more number of fighter jets to take off in a shorter interval of time boosting the jets’ combat capabilities. The catapult would be capable of launching heavier fixed wing planes that include airborne early warning and control aircraft that would help them gather more real time battlefield information.
Deploying the land-based version in reportedly Qinghai-Tibet plateau region would strengthen China’s conventional deterrence vis-à-vis India.
China is reported to have large areas of mountains and plateaus that could be invaded by adversaries and hence, rocket artillery would allow destruction of these forces from a considerable range with lesser involvement Chinese soldiers.
In the plateaus, temperatures are extremely low during winters and the atmosphere is thin with much low air pressure than at the sea-level. This means tail-fins could find it difficult to generate adequate force to control a conventional rocket’s position during flight affecting its precision.
India and China have had stand-offs especially as seen in the Dokhlam issue and such cases, such weapon systems would prove fruitful for China to deter India’s conventional capabilities.
Naval guns especially would be a useful conventional capability in the South China Sea as well as in the East China Sea. Such guns would also limit China’s need to forward deploy large quantities of heavy explosive tipped shells that would increase the safety of the naval vessels and reduce logistic costs.
This would allow the ships to remain at sea for longer time with lesser need for resupply and reduced burden of sea replenishment operations.
Development of electromagnetic weapon systems is challenging. China has been experiencing several failures and conducted ongoing tests to check the credibility of the weapon system.
There is a signifiant challenge associated with electromagnetic guns, and rockets.
China would need adequate electricity and this could be a challenge for China especially when ships is on sail.
Perhaps one technology source for the electromagnetic technologies comes from a foreign acquisition.
China’s railway firm ZhouZhou CRRC Times Electric acquired the British semiconductor company Dynex Semiconductor in 2008.
The British company produced insulated-gate bipolar transistors, a component critical in railguns and catapult type technologies.
Debalina Ghoshal is Non Resident Fellow, Council on International Policy and an AsiaPacific Fellow, EastWest Institute
For the featured photo, see the following:
See also the following:
https://www.popsci.com/an-electromagnetic-arms-race-has-begun-china-is-making-railguns-too/
Paratroopers assigned to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division conducted an airborne operation on Sicily Drop Zone at Fort Bragg, N.C., Aug. 7, 2019.
The 82nd Airborne Division is America’s Global Response Force and is capable of deploying forces within 18 hours of notification to conduct the full range of military operations anywhere in the world.
2BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. White Falcons Conduct Airborne Operation
NC, UNITED STATES
08.07.2019
Video by Staff Sgt. anthony johnson
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs
The Brazilian foreign minister recently was in Washington DC and was very visible in providing an update on what the new Brazil was seeking in its relationships with the United States, notably with the Trump impact on U.S. policies.
As Lauren Meir of The Washington Times wrote in an article published on September 11, 2019:
President Trump and Brazil’s conservative populist President Jair Bolsonaro have an opportunity to forge a new “universal insurgency,” an anti-globalist movement that stands up for those whose voices and views are not respected by traditional political forces, Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said Wednesday on a visit to Washington.
Like Mr. Trump, Mr. Bolsonaro — dubbed the “Trump of the Tropics” — is given to politically incorrect statements and maximalist demands that infuriate his liberal opponents but energize his socially conservative, political base.
“Trump and Bolsonaro are a part of the same insurgency, what I would call universal insurgency against [BS],” Mr. Araujo said in an address to the Heritage Foundation.
In a speech dubbed “Brazil is Back,” the foreign minister applauded Brazilians and Americans who are “no longer buying the traditional lies of the system.” He said Brazilian voters and Mr. Trump’s “MAGA voters” have created a “revolt against ideology,” and touted Mr. Bolsonaro for being “the only political leader capable to bring the people to power.”
And in a joint press conference at the U.S. State Department, the Minister highlighted the coming of the new Brazil.
The Minister expanded on his remarks at a presentation at the Heritage Foundation during his visit as well.
For articles by Dr. Kenneth Maxwell, on the new Brazil, see the following:
Professor Kenneth Maxwell: Perspectives on Brazil and the World