An Update on the HMS Queen Elizabeth and the UK F-35s: August 2018

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on An Update on the HMS Queen Elizabeth and the UK F-35s: August 2018
09/02/2018

We have followed the building and preparation for the new Queen Elizabeth class submarines by the UK over the past few years.

Now the new carrier is coming to the United States for integration with the UK F-35Bs, which are in the United States, and working with the USMC as well as the ship prepares for the next phase of its development.

According to story published by the UK Ministry of Defence and published August 18, 2018, the HMS Queen Elizabeth is on its way to the United States.

Eight years since a British aircraft carrier last flew a fast jet from her decks, the 65,000-tonne carrier will embark two F-35B test aircraft, from the Integrated Test Force (ITF), based out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

Around 200 supporting staff, including pilots, engineers, maintainers and data analysts will be joined by two ‘orange wired’ test aircraft, belonging to the ITF, which are expected to conduct 500 take offs and landings during their 11-week period at sea.

The aim of these initial, or ‘developmental’ trials are to ascertain, through the specially equipped aircraft and sensors around the ship, the operating parameters of the aircraft and ship, in a range of conditions. Similar successful trials were conducted by HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea earlier this year for Rotary Wing aircraft.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“HMS Queen Elizabeth is a true statement of our national power, and the whole country can be proud to see this magnificent symbol of our engineering prowess and international ambition leaving port to sail onto the world stage.

“Her voyage to America not only shows her global reach, but strengthens our special relationship with the US Forces who we have worked hand-in-hand with on this iconic programme. As she sails along the east coast of the USA, she will signal our determination to keep fighting alongside our allies in all corners of an ever more complex and uncertain world.”

Four F 35B Lightning developmental test pilots, who are members of the ITF, will embark to fly the aircraft; three British, one American. The British personnel comprise a Royal Navy Commander, a Squadron Leader from the Royal Air Force and one civilian test pilot. They will be joined by a Major from the US Marine Corps.

The trials follow the recent arrival into the UK of the first joint Royal Navy, Royal Air Force F-35B jets, based at RAF Marham. ‘Operational testing’, utilising British F-35B aircraft are scheduled to take place on board HMS Queen Elizabeth next year.

The deployment, known as ‘WESTLANT 18’, will be the first-time HMS Queen Elizabeth will have sailed across the Atlantic. As well as the vital deck trials, it will also involve exercises to prove the ability to operate with other nations’ maritime and aviation assets, as well as the landing of Royal Marines and their equipment ashore in the United States, to conduct training with their US counterparts.

HMS Queen Elizabeth Commanding Officer, Capt Jerry Kyd said:

“This deployment to the United States will be another first for my ship. Crossing a major ocean with 1500 sailors, aircrew and Marines embarked and the spectre of the first F-35B Lightning landing on the deck in September is very exciting for us all.

“It has been an incredible journey since we left Rosyth just over a year ago and we are all looking forward to this next, seminal chapter in HMS Queen Elizabeth’s life.”

As the ship’s work-up continues, so too does the regeneration of the UK’s Carrier Strike capability. Commander UK Carrier Strike Group (COMUKCSG), Cdre Andrew Betton, will take command of the ship and other units of his task group, embarking in HMS Queen Elizabeth with his Carrier Strike Group headquarters staff.

He said:

“As a critical step towards delivering the UK’s new Carrier Strike Group, this deployment demonstrates the astonishing collaborative effort that will enable the new F-35 jets to fly routinely from our Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

“At the heart of the Maritime Task Group, the aircraft carrier is well protected and sustained, ready to operate around the world as a potent and exceptionally flexible instrument of our foreign policy. These first F-35B embarked trials in a UK aircraft carrier are not only key to future operational success, but represent an iconic moment for the modern Royal Navy.”

The ship will conduct trials in UK waters over the coming days, before departing for the USA later this month. She will be joined by RFA Tiderace and Plymouth-based type-23 frigate HMS Monmouth, as well as Merlin Mk2 helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Culdrose, Mk 4 Merlins from 845 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Yeovilton and a contingent of Royal Marines from 42 Commando, Plymouth.

In addition, progress has been made with regard to the UK F-35Bs in terms of their weaponization with UK weapons as well.

According to a story published on the UK Ministry of Defence website on August 30, 210, UK F-35s have carried out their first trials armed with UK-built weapons.

Defence Minister Stuart Andrew revealed that a British F-35 Lightning jet reached the landmark milestone whilst he was on a visit to the Defence Electronics and Components Agency (DECA) in Wales.

The Welsh site is set to become a global repair hub for the cutting-edge aircraft, providing crucial maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade services for F-35 avionics, electronic and electrical components, fuel, mechanical and hydraulic systems.

The jet, which was flown by a British pilot from RAF 17 Squadron, took to the skies from Edwards Air Force base in southern California for the momentous flight carrying ASRAAM air-to-air missiles.

UK SQD17, First Flight with weapons, JOTT Edwards AFB, Ca., 14 August 2018

Defence Minister Stuart Andrew said:

“The F-35 Lightning fleet has moved another step closer to defending the skies and supporting our illustrious aircraft carriers with this landmark flight. Exceptional engineering from the UK is not only helping to build what is the world’s most advanced fighter jet, but is also ensuring that it is equipped with the very best firepower.

“This flight by a British pilot, in a British F-35 jet with British-built weapons is a symbol of the major part we are playing in what is the world’s biggest ever defence programme, delivering billions for our economy and a game-changing capability for our Armed Forces.”

The trials were the first-time UK weapons have flown on a British F-35, and represent a key part of the work-up towards Initial Operating Capability in December.

The ASRAAM missiles, built by MBDA in Bolton, are just some of the essential parts the UK is supplying the F-35 programme. ASRAAM stands for ‘Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile’. The missiles will enable pilots to engage and defend themselves against other aircraft ranging in size from large multi-engine aircraft to small drones.

British companies are building 15% by value of all 3,000 F-35s planned for production. It is projected that around £35 billion will be contributed to the UK economy through the programme, with around 25,000 British jobs also being supported.

The F-35B Lightning multi-role fighter jet is the first to combine radar evading stealth technology with supersonic speeds and short take-off and vertical landing capability.

The fighter jets will be jointly manned by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and can operate from land and sea, forming a vital part of Carrier Strike when operating from the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.

617 Squadron, based at RAF Marham, will carry out their own weaponry flights in the next few months.

 

 

 

 

RAF Typhoons Engaged in Enhanced Air Policing Mission in Romania

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on RAF Typhoons Engaged in Enhanced Air Policing Mission in Romania

In a Ministry of Defence article published on August 24, 2018. the engagement of the RAF in NATO’s extended defense was highlighted in terms of its involvement in Enhanced Air Policing while based in Romania.

Launching from the Romanian Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, the RAF Typhoons responded yesterday (August 23) to a Russian Be-12 heading south west over the Black Sea from Crimea.

It’s the second time in a week that RAF jets, on NATO’s Air Policing mission, have been scrambled to deter provocative Russian aircraft and reassure Romania and NATO allies.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“Our commitment to NATO and European security is unwavering. Whether in the skies over the Black Sea and the Baltic, or on the ground in Estonia our actions send a clear message – we are collectively ready to respond to any act of aggression and will support our Eastern European allies to deter any threats faced.”

1 (Fighter) Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth, is deployed to Romania as part of the NATO ‘Enhanced Air Policing’ mission, where assistance is provided to the Romanian Air Force’s own fleet of fast-jet aircraft.

A Typhoon pilot from 1(Fighter) Squadron, attached to 135 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) and on Quick Reaction Alert duty when the scramble was called said:

“We launched in response to a Russian Be-12 aircraft that was manoeuvring over the Black Sea. It is exactly what the RAF has been brought to Romania to do and it felt great to have been able to contribute towards the mission.”

The featured photo shows a Royal Air Force Typhoon taking off to interrupt a Russian maritime patrol aircraft’s path towards NATO airspace. Crown copyright.

Finland to Participate in Red Flag Exercise for the First Time

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on Finland to Participate in Red Flag Exercise for the First Time

The Finnish Air Force will participate for the first time in a Red Flag exercise held by the United States Air Force in Alaska from 4 to 19 October 2018.

Finland will deploy six F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters to the exercise.

The Finnish detachment consisting of around 70 personnel at a time will operate at Eielson Air Force Base.

Red Flag exercises held in Alaska and Nevada are considered one of the most challenging air combat training exercises in the world. Large areas of training airspace in Alaska enable to train an air component’s operation in its entirety in as realistic environment as possible.

The exercise involves large-force combined air operations and air-to-ground, air-to-air, electronic warfare and air refuelling missions. In addition to fighters, participating aircraft include AWACS and jamming aircraft, tankers, simulated air defence systems and helicopters.

The adversary forces are made up of the U.S. Air Force’s aggressor unit which emulates the aircraft and tactics of the technologically advanced opponent. The aggressor unit operates with F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters as well as jamming aircraft. The adversary also employs simulated air defence systems in the exercise.

In addition to RED FLAG-Alaska 19-1 (4 to 19 Oct 2018), the Finnish Air Force will participate in the Distant Frontier 1 and Distant Frontier 2 exercises held in Alaska before (24 Sept to 3 Oct 2018) and after (22 to 26 Oct 2018) Red Flag bilaterally with the U.S. Air Force.

Participation in Red Flag will this autumn supersede the Ruska air exercise annually held by the Air Force. Ferry flights of aircraft and associated equipment and personnel are planned to start in September. A total of 110 airmen will be deployed to the exercise; at Eielson Air Force Base the strength of exercise personnel to be rotated at a time will be up to around 70.

RED FLAG-Alaska 19-1 will see, in addition to the Finnish F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters, United States Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft, AWACS aircraft and tankers as well as United States Navy EA-18G Growler airborne electronic warfare attack aircraft, United States Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet multi-role fighters and also Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K Slam Eagle multi-role fighters.

Participating in Red Flag will bring valuable experience to the Finnish Air Force because the operations training environment in the exercise is without equal and it cannot be implemented in the homeland as such.

Preparations for Finland’s deployment to Red Flag have been under way for a long time while for example the Swedish Air Force and Royal Norwegian Air Force have already taken part in it in earlier years.

The first steps towards a RED FLAG-Alaska exercise were taken in 2008 through familiarisation with the exercise and surveying the basis for continued planning after which the Air Force has participated in the exercise as an observer on a number of occasions. A detailed planning of this autumn’s exercise was started at the beginning of 2016.

Participation in a Red Flag exercise is included in the Defence Forces Exercise Plan 2018 that is based on the general outline of Finland’s participation in international training and exercises provided by the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy in December 2017.

Red Flag exercises have been arranged at Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska since 2006. On an average, one hundred aircraft and 1,500 personnel take part in each RED FLAG-Alaska exercise. Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, has hosted Red Flag exercises from the year 1975.

Article published by Finnish Ministry of Defence on August 15, 2018.

 

Trident Juncture 2018 Begins in Norway

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on Trident Juncture 2018 Begins in Norway

Trident Juncture 2018 is both a major NATO exercise to be operating from Norway and a major test of how the Norwegian Total Defense Concept can support Norwegian-Allied joint efforts in the defense of both Norway and the key countries in the Northern Flank of NATO.

According to an article published August 20, 2018 by the Norwegian Armed Forces Media Centre, the start of the effort

NATO’s exercise Trident Juncture 18 is still two months away, but the first shipload of military equipment arrived in Norway this weekend.

​An expected 40,000 soldiers and 10,000 vehicles are coming to Norway this autumn for exercise Trident Juncture – NATO’s largest military exercise since 2002. The field exercise starts in late October, but the first military materiel and vehicles arrived in Åndalsnes, Western Norway on Saturday 18 August. The equipment arrived with the Italian roll-on/roll-off cargo vessel “Capucine”.

FIRST KICK-OFF

NATO is in charge of the exercise, while Norway is the host country. This weekend’s arrival marks the start for the coming high profile exercise – an exercise of great importance for the Nordic country.

“Trident Juncture is vital for Norway’s defence capability. Our military forces get valuable training along with our allies. But equally important is to test our ability to receive reinforcements from NATO”, says Lieutenant General Rune Jakobsen, Chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces’ Joint Headquarters, adding:

“Parts of the civil society in Southern and Central Norway will contribute through Norway’s total defence concept. Military activity in these areas will also be significantly higher than normal, so we will provide the public with thorough information in the time to come.

HOME GUARD IN CHARGE

The arrival of the first equipment this weekend is part of a well-coordinated operation that also involves the Norwegian Home Guard and the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation. Personnel from the two departments worked all Saturday to unload the ship and prepare the equipment for further transportation to the exercise areas.

“Our soldiers are in charge of force protection and ensure that vehicles, materiel and other equipment are safe”, says Lieutenant Colonel John Arvid Svindland, Chief of the Norwegian Home Guard’s 11th District.

CIVILIAN-MILITARY EFFORT

The Home Guard is also in charge of the dialogue between civilian and military departments. Among others, the Norwegian Armed Forces work closely with the police and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, all of them present during the arrival of the Italian ship.

“The civilian–military cooperation works very well. We have been planning this for more than two years, and we have already learned a lot that will be useful also after the exercise. This is the Norwegian total defence concept in practice – and it works”, Svindland says.

Featured photo shows the first equipment to be used in exercise Trident Juncture arriving in Norway Saturday 18 August 2018.

Photo by: Torbjørn Kjosvold, Norwegian Armed Forces

 

F-35C Operational Testing Onboard USS Abraham Lincoln

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on F-35C Operational Testing Onboard USS Abraham Lincoln
09/01/2018

In a story by USNI News’s Megan Eckstein published on August 27, 2018, the operation of F-35s onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln was highlighted.

ABOARD USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, IN THE ATLANTIC

The Navy’s F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter has been incorporated into a carrier air wing’s cyclic flight operations for the first time alongside aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 7.

Since the JSF naval variant conducted its first takeoff and landing on a carrier in 2014, the plane has done extensive testing ashore and at sea. But never has the fighter been normalized in this way, with the ship’s flight deck crew treating it the same as any other aircraft onboard. 

For the first time, F-35Cs launched, recovered and maneuvered around the flight deck alongside F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growlers and E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes. Previous periods at sea had the F-35Cs operate by themselves in controlled test settings…..

Rear Adm. Dale Horan, director of Joint Strike Fighter Fleet Integration for the Navy, told reporters on the ship that this first operational test event was meant to validate “how the airplane handles on the aircraft carrier, how we do maintenance, how we sustain it while we’re at sea. And then how it integrates with the ship, how it interoperates with communications, data links, other aircraft, and then how we conduct the mission and tie into the other aircraft that are conducting that mission and how effective they are when they do it.”

He said the F-35Cs – which came from both Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125 and VFA-147, an F-35C fleet replacement squadron and operational squadron, respectively, out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. – were not simply launching and recovering but also, “conducting missions they would do in combat, if required. Conducting that training.”

https://news.usni.org/2018/08/27/f-35cs-operating-first-joint-strike-fighter-integrated-air-wing-test-aboard-uss-abraham-lincoln

 

 

 

Working the Logistics Con-Ops as the CH-53K Enters the Force

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on Working the Logistics Con-Ops as the CH-53K Enters the Force
08/31/2018

By Robbin Laird

The heavy lift transition from CH-53E to CH-53K is one of the last modernization efforts of Marine Corps Aviation set in motion when Lt. General Trautman was Deputy Commandant of Aviation.

Although this essential capability is last replacing the readiness challenged 30-year-old CH-53E, it is leveraging lessons learned from previous transitions of the MV-22, H-1, and F-35. 

These lessons learned will be key into the maintainability and reliability ending up in increased readiness for future MAGTF heavy lift.

The shift from the CH-53E to the CH-53K is a significant one for the USMC.

And preparing for that shift to support the aircraft in operations is a key pillar for the change, and key enabler for a more combat ready aircraft.

The shift from a mechanical to a digital aircraft is a significant one, and the CH-53K has been designed from the ground up with sustainability in mind.

Marine maintainers have been involved from the outset in the design of the aircraft to facilitate more rapid and more effective logistical support for a combat fleet creating a front-loaded aircraft from a maintenance point of view.

Now at New River MCAS, the first CH-53K has arrived for the Marines, and Marine Corps logisticians who have earlier been involved in the design of the aircraft are being joined by other logisticians in working through the procedures to maintain the aircraft prior to having that aircraft be part of the first operational squadron.

The loggies are shaping the template to then be used by the first operational squadron, which in turn will refine and evolve the template.

I will visit New River later this year to see these efforts first hand, but can clearly recall my experience more than a decade ago visiting the Marines as they stood up the Osprey and made the transition from the CH-46.

I will return to those experiences and compare and contrast them with the E to K experience as well in a future article.

Recently, I had a chance to talk with several Marines involved in the log demo as the effort is referred to. 

LtCol Stu Howell, CH-53K LOTD, VMX1 CH-53K Det as well as SSgt Curtis A. Kelly, SSgt Jeremy C. Lombard and SSgt Mike V. Farina provided insight into the progress with regard to working the maintenance and logistics procedures as the Marines prepare to stand up their first operational squadron.

In that discussion on August 29, 2018, much of it revolved something similar to the transition from other mechanical to digital aircraft, namely, the ability of the aircraft to self-diagnose and the data rich sensors built into the aircraft provided a very different environment within which to work procedures.

But of course, computer aides have their own dynamics and challenges and as this is a young aircraft from the standpoint of getting ready for operations.

A significant part of the effort is parts validation and taking maintenance procedures shaped by the manufacturer to refining them by the operating force logisticians.

The team working the log demo is a mixture of Sikorsky reps and Marines, although many of the Sikorsky employees are former Marines, if there really is such a thing.

The core point from the Marines: “Everything is much more straightforward to work on.”

The design process has yielded an easier aircraft to work on in terms of the accessibility of systems, as well as the digital nature of the aircraft has seen several aspects of the E are simply not on the K.

The flight controls aspect especially noted as a key improvement due to the fly by wire system onboard the K.

“This aircraft is much more plug and play compared to the E.

“A lot of the systems on the E have been eliminated with how the K has been designed and built.”

In other words, there is a three-fold shift. 

First, there is the simplification provided by the design for maintainability process.

Second, there are ways in which the shift from a mechanical to a digital aircraft removes mechanical systems which require maintenance.

And third, there is the challenge of validating and working with the computer information and sensor systems on the aircraft to get comfortable with how they work and to modify them with evolving maintenance procedures.

“Log demo is synonymous with maintenance evaluation and validation; we are not flying the aircraft.

“We are assessing the procedures and improving them.”

“The access to a dynamic component is significantly easier with this aircraft compare to an E.

“This aircraft does not have the miles of cable and boxes.

“It is now about install a box, validate and move forward.

“We are looking at each component and evaluating it.

“And then putting it back in as part of the evaluation and validation process.”

The goal is to turn over to the first squadron an aircraft with effective and efficient maintenance procedures.

The team emphasized the importance of learning how to marry those procedures with the tools to provide for maintenance as well.

As the Marines are operating this both on ships and in austere operating areas, learning how to ensure that the match between the executed procedures and the tools required is a key part of the log demo as well.

“Do we have the right torque wrench?

“Do we have the right socket?

“Do we have the right stand to work on gear box?”

This will be applied to similar other issues, like engine boxes, to things like the containers necessary to transport maintenance tools and parts.

In other words, it is about maintenance procedures with a core focus on sustainable deployability and conducting expeditionary operations

The goal is to be able to run out of the gate rather than to slow down initial operations because of incomplete maintenance procedures and training.

With regard to training, there is a challenge similar to the F-35 where maintainers need to be able to understand the operation of the aircraft as a system, rather than being simply federated maintainers focused on simply repairing core parts and remaining largely focused on the core elements.

There is a need to understand the overall system and how to plug in your area of expertise to the overall performance of the aircraft.

“We need revisit training to understand how the magic boxes work overall with regard to the whole aircraft.

“Everybody needs to be digitally competent.

“The component EOSs need to understand how the aircraft talks to us digitally from a systems point of view.”

This aircraft is clearly not CH-53E 2.

“It is a shift to conditions based maintenance which is a significant change for sure.

“It is much easier to navigate through the maintenance process with the digital information process.

“It is not that hard to move from the E to the K.

“But not sure that those who will be K guys could make a transition to working on an E.”

“You are more of technician on the K; with regard to the E, you are more of a mechanic.”

For an archive of our articles on the CH-53K, see the following:

https://defense.info/system-type/rotor-and-tiltrotor-systems/ch-53k/

 

 

 

 

 

Pitch Black 2018: RAAF Perspectives

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on Pitch Black 2018: RAAF Perspectives
08/30/2018

By Robbin Laird

During my visit to Australia in August 2018, I was in country as the Pitch Black 2018 exercise was wrapping up and will have more on this exercise later.

Very good coverage of Pitch Black 2018 was provided by Jaryd Stock on the website Aviation Photography Digest and readers are encouraged to read his various pieces to be found there.

From one his stories, he highlighted comments made by RAAF Air Commodore Mike Kitcher who is the Commander of the Air Combat Group with regard to what was identified as a “typical mission” from the second week of the exercise.

“As you are aware Pitch Black has been running for a couple weeks now and so far the exercise has been really successful, and during the second week we have managed to launch (From RAAF Base Darwin and Tindal) some big packages and they are some of the biggest missions that ever been launched since I have been associated with Pitch Black.

To give you an insight in how that’s going and give a bit of an idea into the missions undertaken, yesterday (Thursday, August 9th) we flew a mission where we had RAAF Classic Hornets (77 Squadron), RAAF Super Hornets one of which I was flying (from 1 Squadron). We also had Indian Air Force Sukhois Su-30s (102 Squadron), USAF F-16s (80thFighter Squadron) also with Indonesian F-16s (3 Skuadran), Singaporean F-16s (143 Squadron) and Thai Gripens (701stSquadron) and a bunch of aircraft that were all designed to escort a couple of transport aircraft.”

A skill set associated with the strategic shift, battlefield extraction, was exercised in this context as well.

In the escort scenario that was played out on August 9thduring the second week of Pitch Black 2018, a RAAF C-27J Spartan from No. 35 Squadron at an airfield strip in the Delamere weapons range was tasked to provide extraction for ground forces (35 Squadron were also partaking in humanitarian relief missions during the exerecise but du tot the complexity of this particular scenario it would suggest the C-27J Spartan and crew seems as though they were operating in the battlefield air-lifter role, with the squadron harnessing their skills to successfully extract ground forces from a conflict battle-space and return to home base safely).

Clearly, during the exercise the RAAF and the allies were playing through a number of key skill sets which are being highlighted by the strategic shift to higher tempo operations.

Those skill sets were highlighted by the RAAF’s official Air Force newspaper.

One of those skill sets which was  highlighted was the need to evolve greater capabilities to execute mobile basing.

During our visit with the Commander of the Combat Support Group, Air Commodore Robinson, earlier this year, this skill set was identified as follows:

What mobile basing might mean in today’s world is a work in progress, but one which will need to deserve more attention going forward….

The RAAF works closely with the USAF as well both in terms of cross learning with the USAF’s Contingency Response Groups as well as the USAF sorting through the growing demand for supporting mobile basing in the Pacific, in terms of flexibly moving away from an over-reliance on fixed basing in the region in times of crisis.

But as the Air Commodore pointed out, the two Contingency Response Groups in the USAF can focus full time on contingency response whereas the RAAF has to include that capability within the overall force.

We discussed at some length the challenge of rethinking mobile basing in times of crisis, which is a work in progress.

“We are having to reacquaint ourselves with some tasks and challenges which we parked to the side a bit while we were in the Middle East for so long.

“We did not have to worry so much about mobile basing to counter the principal threats in that theatre. 

“The mindset is in transition now.”

This clearly is an Army and Air Force challenge.

“We are good at supporting maneuver with our tactical transport aircraft and Australia’s Army aviation capability, including the Tiger Reconnaissance Helicopter, but what we need to do is move to the next level of support to maneuver the most lethal part of our air power capability across a range of airfield options.”

In an article published August 23, 2018, the Air Force newspaper discussed the exercising of these skill sets as follows:

The article was entitled “Takeoff for Airbase”.

It was written by Leut Harley Slatter and focused on the creation of mobile basing.

Constructing an austere airbase over two days at Bachelor in the Northern Territory was a great training platform for our combat support personnel

FLTLT Michael Fox, operations officer No. 382 Contingency Response Squadron, said the location and exercise were ideal to train and showcase Air Force’s ability to rapidly set up and steer airbase in Australia is remote north.

“Bachelor proved challenging, given the he significant proximity from infrastructure,” FLTLT Fox said.

“Pitch Black gave us the opportunity to verify our actions to deploy at short notice to an austere airfield activate it and receive aircraft.”

FLTLT Fox said the joint effort involved establishing the base as a hub for many complex missions and serials throughout the exercise.

“The Insertion into Bachelor airfield, was done by both road and air. Army assisted greatly by transporting cargo,” FLTLT Fox said.

“We also had security forces and a Contingency Response Group from the US Air Force and Army’s 9th  Force Support Battalion working at Bachelor Airfield.”

Once construction was complete these groups, along with the No. 2 Security Forces Squadron, continued to support operations at bachelor during the exercise.

FLTLT Fox said the objective of 382 CRS during Pitch Black was to be capable of receiving C-27 J Spartan aircraft and turn them around in support of the wider operation.

“Our services included an air load team, refueling, a 24-hour-day operations cell and an integrated US Air Force contingent including air traffic controllers,” FLTLT Fox said.

The ability to train in this environment and test themselves was also a great practical benefit for the members of 382 CRS, as a squadron often has to move at short notice.

A second article focused on the air traffic control skill sets which were performed by coalition forces during Pitch Black.

The story was entitled “Tracking Red and Blue in the Mix.

It was published on August 23, 2018 as well.

Exercise Pitch Black’s busy airspace over the Northern Territory gives our air battle managers a chance to work with controllers from the other nations to target, track, and direct friendly and deal with enemy aircraft.

For the first time controllers from India, Germany and Canada joined our integrated fighter control teams.

CO No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit Wing Commander Brett Risstrom said the exercise provided new opportunities to develop skills with foreign air forces during simulated aerial combat.

“At Pitch Black we have been able to integrate fighter control teams, which helped blue force crews in the air find, track and destroy enemy red force,” WGCDR Risstrom said.

During the exercise air battle managers directed dozens of friendly aircraft from multiple nations at once

Sgt. Ryan McGee of No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit, was put through his paces while working foreign militaries.

He said success meant putting blue aircraft in the right place at the right time.

“We were looking at where the red aircraft were and where they were coming from to ensure we had a safe air picture, or able to dominate the skies,” Sgt. Mckee said

Meanwhile, 114 MCRU operated the Tactical Air Defense Radar System, AN/TPS 77, to provide tactical aerospace battle management and air traffic surveillance during the exercise.

114 MCRU senior engineering officer SQLDR Mark Wilson said the deployed air defense radar was used for safety of flight and direct aircraft on target during exercise.

“Positioned at Poll Hill, 300 km south of Darwin in the Northern Territory, the radar had 15 technicians supporting it during the exercise,” he said.

“Conditions was harsh but morale was high and the capability had proved itself as an asset to defense.”

Cpl. Martin Larocque, a technician with the Royal Canadian Air Force, visited the remote site to learn about the deployable radar and speak with our personnel about their experiences.

“We have a similar radar but it’s a bit older.  It’s been great to see how the Aussies do their job with the radar and how they set up a remote camp.”

The featured photo shows a Royal Australian Air Force No. 4 Squadron ‘A Flight’ Forward Air Control PC-9A aircraft (bottom) providing an escort to a United States Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey in support of Exercise Pitch Black 2018.

 

 

 

The Australian Army and Integrated Air Defense

Posted on | by Robbin Laird | Leave a Comment on The Australian Army and Integrated Air Defense

It is obvious that the Australian Army needs to play a key role in providing longer range fires and active defense both on Australian territory as well as in operations not on Australian soil.

This subject was discussed at the recent Williams Foundation Seminar held in Canberra on August 23, 2918 when the focus was upon the need for Australia to develop independent strike capabilities.

This is clearly a work in progress.

With the introduction of the new NASAMS  system, the topic has gained more prominence.

(More on NASAMS below).

An article published in the official Australian Army newspaper on August 9, 2018, provided an update as seen at the Integrated Air and missile Defence seminar held in Canberra on July 25, 2018.

Through the lens of integrated battle space command, talk centered on new missile and detection technologies that afford new levels of protection for ground forces.

Maj-General Gus McLachlan said developing interoperability was key to Australia’s future defense capability.

“This is an incredibly important step for Army with genuine collaborative engagement with the Air Force and Navy.

“We are about to move into an incredible new era and we are intellectually preparing for it.”

“It is the first advanced machine assistance to help decision-making.

“We got plenty of thinking and learning to do about what this capability means for the ADF and Army has a real responsibility and opportunity to help design an integrated air and missile system.

“This is just the first part of what would truly be a joint system…..

“There’s a lot of work to do,” Army’s Director General Training and Doctrine Brig. Gen. Ben James closed the seminar saying that missile defence was integral to delivering a “one defence” approach to the battlespace.”

“This is not business as usual; this is breaking new ground for Army,” BG James said.

“It’s essential we start learning from our sister services, from our industry partners and from our coalition allies analysis of similar systems in service already.”

Appendix:

With regard to the Australians and NASSAMs, an October 4, 2017 press release from Kongsberg announced the purchase of the NASSAM by Australia.

The Australian Government has announced that a National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) solution will be developed for the Land 19 Phase 7B project – the Ground Based Air and Missile Defence capability for the Australian Army through a Single Supplier Limited Tender process to Raytheon Australia.

Raytheon Australia has been identified as the Prime System Integrator and KONGSBERG will be a major sub-contractor in the program. NASAMS is a proven and fielded mobile air defence system in service with seven nations today, including Norway and the United States.

“We are pleased to see that NASAMS is recognized as the preferred ground based air defence capability solution for the Australian Army and we are looking forward to the process leading to a contract”, says Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence Systems.

The inherent flexibility and modularity of NASAMS makes it a world leading solution with unique capabilities to combat modern airborne threats, as well as having the ability to integrate with networks and a variety of different sensors and weapons.

“NASAMS is one of the most successful KONGSBERG products internationally and we are proud to be part of the Raytheon Australia team for delivery of this capability to the Australian Army”, Lie said.

And by participating in the F-35 global enterprise, Kongsberg is developing a very flexible joint strike missile which will be launched by the F-35 initially, but can operate off of ships and land as well.

And by being part of the F-35 program, the JSMs Kongsberg builds for the Norwegian planes are integrable from the ground up with other F-35 partners, two of which have shown advanced interest, namely Australia and Japan.

In a February 26, 2015 press release from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the partnership was announced between Australia and Kongsberg.

The Norwegian Ministry of Defence and the Australian Department of Defence have agreed to cooperate on the development of the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), following talks between Norwegian State Secretary Mr. Øystein Bø and his Australian colleague Mr. Stuart Robert during the Norwegian State visit to Australia this week. The agreement seeks to support the introduction of an advanced maritime strike weapon on the F-35 in the early 2020’s time frame.

Although far apart geographically, Norway and Australia share many of the same challenges. We are both maritime nations on the periphery of our immediate regions, with a large land mass and even larger maritime territories, yet relatively limited populations. This means that we have to maximize the effects of the capabilities that we invest in to ensure that they cover as much of the spectrum of operations as possible, said Norwegian Minister of Defence, Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide.

Norway and Australia have maintained a close dialogue for several years regarding the JSM within the framework of the multinational F-35-partnership. This agreement takes the process one step further, with Australia agreeing to provide expertise in missile control and guidance systems.

The cooperation between Norway and Australia on the JSM was announced at Avalon Air Show earlier today. From the left, Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Leo Davies, Norwegian State Secretary of Defence Mr. Øystein Bø, and Executive Vice President of Kongsberg Defence Systems, Mr. Pål Bratlie

– The JSM is already a very capable missile, but with the support of Australia, we hope to make it even better. Though Australia is still a few years away from making any final decisions on its future maritime strike capability, we are encouraged by the interest they have shown for both the missile and for the capabilities of Norwegian industry. We should now continue talks between our two governments, and aim to formalize this agreement in the near future, said Norwegian Minister of Defence, Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide.

The Joint Strike Missile is an advanced long range precision strike missile, tailor made to fit the internal weapons bay of the F-35. The F-35, combined with the JSM, provide the ability to both locate and defeat heavily defended targets, both on land and at sea, at extended ranges, significantly enhancing the strategic capabilities of the aircraft. The missile utilizes advanced navigation, a passive infrared seeker, low signature and superior manoeuvrability to ensure mission effectiveness, thereby providing user nations with significantly enhanced combat capabilities.

Norway intends to procure up to 52 F-35A aircraft to enhance the ability of its Armed Forces to meet future security challenges, with first delivery planned for late 2015. Norway’s first four aircraft will be based at the F-35 International Pilot Training Centre at Luke Air Force Base Arizona, while the first F-35 will arrive in Norway in 2017. Australia has so far committed to procuring 72 F-35A, out of a planned 100, with the first two aircraft delivered in 2014.