In an effort to be in compliance with GDPR we are providing you with the latest documentation about how we collect, use, share and secure your information, we want to make you aware of our updated privacy policy here
Enter your name and email address below to receive our newsletter.
2017-11-27 If the USMC leadership and the Osprey nation of marine corps operators had not had the courage to introduce the Osprey to combat in 2007, we could still be debating the Osprey as some sort of prototype.
But by deploying the asset, building out its capabilities and learning how to use it in combat, the Marines began the process of a significant transformation of its mindset and approach to combat operations.
Operating at the speed and distance at which the Osprey could facilitate changed many aspects of how the USN-Marine Corps team had to think about the ARG-MEU and has led to entirely new ways to use the sea base.
Now with the introduction of the 21st century flying combat system, namely the F-35B and the addition of the CH-53K, the force is seeing the next phase of its transformation.
Bell Helicopter, has announced that the Bell Boeing V-22 fleet of tiltrotor aircraft, including both CV-22 and MV-22 variants, has surpassed the 400,000-flight hour milestone.
The V-22 Osprey has been continuously deployed since entering service in 2007 with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) in 2009.
The aircraft has seen extensive action in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and as part of a U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) supporting a long-range rapid reaction/crisis response force.
The MV-22B Osprey are operating all around the globe today, transforming the way the Marine Corps conducts assault support, humanitarian relief operations and the broad spectrum of MAGTF missions.“As the number of flight hours indicate, the V-22 Osprey is a mature platform that projects a versatile mission capability for military operations as well as humanitarian relief efforts” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew Kelly, V-22 Joint Program Manager.
The Bell Boeing V-22 is continuing to achieve outstanding mission success, performing missions only capable with tiltrotor technology. Since entering service, the V-22 has been deployed in numerous missions around the world, including casualty evacuation, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, resupply, VIP transport and theater security cooperation.
“This 400,000-flight hour milestone is an incredible testament to the V-22’s leap-ahead capability and is a tribute to the men and women of Bell Helicopter and Boeing who build and support tiltrotor aircraft,” said Vince Tobin, executive vice president of Military Programs at Bell Helicopter.
“The Osprey brings unprecedented range, speed and survivability to the warfighter and will continue to excel in combat and in executing some of the most difficult humanitarian operations.”
“The versatile V-22 Osprey is in demand and indispensable among commanders worldwide,” said Kristin Houston, vice president, Boeing Tiltrotor Programs and deputy director, Bell Boeing V-22 Program.
“In order to improve readiness for our servicemen and women, we are significantly investing for the long-term through modifications and upgrades to our V-22 factory in Philadelphia. Together with Bell Helicopter, we are proud of achieving this flight hour milestone.
Our strategic alliance enables the continued success of this program.”
The Osprey entered combat as Second Line of Defense was launched and we have covered the Osprey globally since that time.
And at the 8 year mark, we published our look back at the Osprey and its first 8 years.
2015-05-17 By Robbin Laird
This September, the Osprey will reach an 8-year mark in its operational deployment history.
In September 2007, the Osprey was deployed for the first time to Iraq.
The USMC Commandant Conway and Deputy Commandant of Aviation Castellaw announced and made the decision to deploy the Osprey into combat although virtually all public commentators thought this was too early for an “untested” airplane, as one critic put it.
The plane has not only done well, but in 8 short years has demonstrated its capability to have not only a significant impact on combat but to re-shape thinking about concepts of operations.
Now let us take the story forward as the first global sales of the Osprey have occurred, and the prospects for a new global phase of the Osprey evolution comes into view.
The First Five Years
During the first five years, the Osprey was introduced first into Iraq and then began operating in Afghanistan.
Early deployments were challenging in terms of support and taking the steps to begin to learn the transition from a helo enabled assault force to a tiltrotar assault force.
And at sea, this learning would take the USN-USMC team to rethink the deployment of the classic three-ship formation of the ARG-MEU and to move the ships further away from one another, and to expand the operational engagement area of the ARG-MEU.
It was used for assault operations from the beginning but over time, the role would expand as the support structure matured, readiness rates grew and airplane availability become increasingly robust.
The Osprey’s speed and range meant that the very large number of forward operating bases which rotorcraft require were not needed, and this became crucial as the drawdown in Afghanistan occurred.
And this would lead to the Osprey being tasked with the Army’s medevac mission as the golden hour could NOT be met by the Army with the draw down of bases.
The Marines were tasked to provide for this capability because of its ability to cover Afghanistan without numerous FOBs.
When Odyssey Dawn entered the picture in early 2011, the Osprey altered the performance of the ARG-MEU and provided a core capability ensuring that a downed pilot did not become a political pawn by Qaddafi.
The ability to link seamlessly support services ashore with the deployed fleet via the Osprey allowed the Harriers aboard the USS Kearsarge to increase their sortie rates dramatically.
By providing a whole new speed and range enablement of the strike fleet aboard a large deck amphibious ship, the future was being re-defined by the Osprey.
The USN began to see a whole new way to look at COD or carrier on-board delivery!
MV-22 Osprey Landing Aboard the USNS Robert E. Peary during the Bold Alligator exercise. Shaping an ability to move systems around on platforms, and islands or on Allied bases will be a key to shaping a new Pacific strategy.Credit: USN
As Lt. Col. Boniface, commanding officer of VMM 266, but the Osprey leader in Operation Odyssey Dawn, argued:
A complete transformation to how we are doing business has been involved by operating the Osprey. In order for the USS Kearsarge, the ARG and the 26th MEU to stay in their operational box during Operation ODESSEY DAWN, and enable the Harriers to continue their strike mission, we were reliant on other assets to supply us. For many supply items, the Osprey provided the logistical link to allow the ARG to stay on station and not have to move towards at sea re-supply points and meet re-supply ships.
Without the Osprey you would have to pull the USS Kearsarge out of its operational box and send it somewhere where it can get close enough to land or get close enough to resupply ships to actually do the replenishment at sea. Or you would be forced to remain where you are at and increase the time you’re going to wait for this part by three, four days or even a week.
The ARG ships are only moving at 14-15 knots. At best, let’s just say they move an average of 13 knots per hour, and add that up for the 300 miles that you have to sail. Now you’re looking at least a day to get the needed folks, parts or equipment and then the transit time back to the operational box. The V22 will do that in a couple hours and allow the ARG/MEU to keep executing its mission.
And the five-year transition was marked by a further demonstration of transformatory impact in the “return to the sea” associated with the initiation of the Bold Alligator exercises begun in 2011.
At the time of the launching of this series of exercises the goal was defined as follows:
Bold Alligator is designed to revitalize the fundamental roles of the Navy and Marine Corps team as “fighters from the sea” and will focus on conducting major amphibious operations simultaneously with a non-combatant evacuation exercise.
“The nature of amphibious forces is that we’re extremely flexible and can be specifically tailored to any mission at any time,” said Rear Adm. Kevin Scott, commander of ESG 2. “Bold Alligator 2011 represents the ongoing efforts in meeting the challenges of future warfare conflicts, overseas contingency operations and homeland defense, so we remain the world’s premier amphibious force.”
But the Osprey was redefining amphibious assault.
It was no longer about being close to shore and launching amphibious vehicles; it was defining your assault vector and moving into the objective area from a much greater distance with Ospreys as a tip of the spear insertion force.
The existence, deployment and appearance of the Osprey changed the entire approach to thinking about amphibious assault. During Bold Alligator 2012, while observers stood on the beach waiting for the assault, Ospreys were already part of taking an “enemy” fort deep in the terrain. And not only that but one of the Ospreys deployed from a supply ship!
The next three years from 2012 until now have seen the maturing of the Marine Corps in its use of Ospreys to the point whereby the Marines, as the only tiltrotar-enabled assault force in the world, are redefining force insertion.
A number of key developments have unfolded since 2012.
The Next 3 Years: The Battle Tested Osprey
First, the battle testing has continued for the Osprey and its ability to survive in tough conditions clearly proven.
The redundancy of systems aboard the aircraft, and the performance of the composite systems to take battle damage have been clearly combat proven.
The story of what two Marine aviators did to be the first V-22 Osprey pilots awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses is simple, elegant, and and tactically telling. The double-DFC incident underscores how the Marines are using the unique tilt-rotor aircraft — which can take off and land like a helicopter, then fly long distances at high speeds like an airplane — and its ability to perform in extreme battlefield conditions.
I interviewed the two pilots, Major Michael Hutchings and Captain David Haake, at New River Air Station.
Here’s what happened in Afghanistan in June 2012. Two Ospreys, operating with conventional helicopters — Hueys and Cobras — were supporting the insertion of a Marine reconnaissance battalion. The Ospreys, piloted by Maj. Hutchings and Capt. Haake, were flying in a two-ship formation and planning to put down Marines in two waves.
Major Hutchings after the SLD interview. Credit Photo: SLD
The first wave went well, and the Ospreys returned to insert the second group of Marines, to provide the enough armed manpower to perform the mission in Taliban infested territory.
As Hutching’s V-22 came down it took heavy fire, which so damaged the plane that the systems on board told the pilot to not fly the aircraft. Of course, not flying was to face certain death, so the task for the pilot and the crew was to find a way out. The plane was badly damaged, but because of the various redundant systems on board and the skill of the pilot and the crew, they were able to depart and to make it back to Camp Bastion in airplane mode. With a traditional rotorcraft, of course, you do not have the relative luxury of switching between two modes of travel.
As Haake followed Hutching in, the Hueys and Cobras informed him that Taliban were occupying the area around the intended landing zone. Haake took his plane up and took stock of his options. While he did, he learned that Hutchings had landed and was under attack, which meant that Haake had little choice but to insert Marines to reinforce the reconnaissance battalion. He did, also under heavy fire. His plane was badly damaged as well and also had on board a wounded Afghan soldier working with the Marines.
In addition to battle damage to the aircraft, the plane was leaking fuel very badly. This meant that the pilot and crew knew they could not make it back to Camp Bastion, but would have to land at a Forward Operating Base, which also had medical support, about 20 miles away. Again, flying on helicopter mode, the plane and crew made it to the base.
But for Maj. Hutchings, the day was not yet over. This was a night insertion so the Marines needed to be extricated the next day. Hutchings flew an Osprey the next morning as part of the effort to pick up the Marines and get them out. Hutchings landed the plane and took onboard the Marines, who were firing at the enemy as they boarded the plane. The Osprey took off to altitude with speed. “I asked the crew chief after about 10 minutes how the Marines in the back were doing. He said they were asleep,” Hutchings added.
Although their tale is the most dramatic testimony to the maturing of the Osprey, it was not the only one I heard. Frank “Blaine” Rhobotham, the Remain Behind Element Officer in Charge of VMM-365, provided another example of the impact of the Osprey and its maturity. He was the head maintainer involved in preparing the Special Purpose MAGTF, which now operates out of Southern Europe and is available to support missions in Africa and the Mediterranean.
Rhobotham discussed the very short period from the generation of the concept of the Special Purpose MAGTF to its execution. It took about eight months from inception to deployment. He emphasized the flexibility of the force and its light footprint. “With a six-ship Osprey force supported by three C-130s we can move it as needed. The three C-130s are carrying all the support equipment to operate the force as well.”
The flexibility which the Osprey now offers Combatant Commanders and US defense officials is a major strategic and tactical tool for the kind of global reality the US now faces, requiring rapid support and insertion of force.
The Next Three Years: SP-MAGTF
Second, there has been the formation, deployment and now high demand use of what the Marines have called Special Purpose Crisis Response MAGTFs.
The first SP-MAGTF was formed in 2013 and leveraging the Osprey-KC130J combination provide a force for supporting humanitarian or crisis interventions.
The Operational Reach of the SP-MAGTF SR in miles. Credit Graphic: SLD
In an interview done at the time with Brigadier General James S. O’Meara then commander, U.S. Marine Forces Europe, and deputy commander, U.S. Marine Forces Africa, the role of the new force structure was explained.
The SP-MAGTF is the basic Marine Corps air ground team or MAGTF approach but applied to a Special Purpose Mission.
Special means it’s uniquely tailored to a particular mission or a few mission sets.
In this case, the focus is upon security embassy reinforcements or a noncombatant evacuation.
Also, it is a rotational force, which provides a crisis response force able, to deal with EUCOM and AFRICOM needs.
General Dempsey provided strategic guidance, which was looking for a force, which operates with a small footprint, and is low-cost, and rotational. This is the answer to that guidance.
The SP-MAGTF meets the need to respond rapidly to a developing situation either proactively or reactively with a small force with a small footprint and has its own organic air, which means that it has operational reach as well.
The force is trained and operational and currently operating from a USAF base at Moran in Spain.
SLD: The SP-MAGTF can reach into Africa or operate throughout the Mediterranean. Obviously, the Osprey is the enabler of such a force along with your organic lift and tanking.
Marines boarding Ospreys for the SP-MAGTF training mission in December 2013. Credit: Murielle Delaporte
If you had only helos, this kind of force capability would not be possible, I would assume?B.G. O’Meara: That clearly is correct. We can operate over a significant combat radius and of course, refueled with our C-130Js can reach throughout the region and all while carrying equipment, and/or two-dozen Marines inside.
It gives AFRICOM commander a unique tailored operational tactical level force with significant operational reach.
The V-22 allows for a paradigm shift and enables a force like SP-MAGTF. The V-22 gives you that C-130-like distance and speed with the versatility to land in confined, limited area, with no runway or an expeditionary LZ like a helicopter.
And when you add organic lift and tanking with our C-130Js, the reach is even greater and allows us to operate throughout Africa and the Mediterranean as needed.
And the self-deploying capabilities of the V-22 means that we can plus up the Osprey component as well as needed or other sites throughout the operating area.
And being Marines, it did not take long to go from formation of the capability to its use.
And when the co-founder of Second Line of Defense, Murielle Delaporte, visited the unit in Moran, Spain in late 2013, it was shortly before they deployed to South Sudan to deal with a crisis.
Her visit underscored the maxim that you train, deploy and train again to get the mission right.
The unit arrived in April 2013 and has engaged in extensive training and patterning with European and African units in preparing for missions in the AFRICOM and EURCOM areas of responsibility.
The Next Three Years: Reworking the GCE and the Osprey Tandem
Third, the impact of the Osprey on the Ground Combat Element is significant.
By operating off of the Osprey, the ability of the infantry to operate at distance, and range and to insert within a variety of access points is dramatically increased.
But to do so requires changes in Command and Control, and operational concepts.
And since 2012, these changes have been actively pursued through a variety of exercises and training efforts.
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 transport Marines on MV-22B Ospreys during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 to San Clemente Island, Calif., Feb. 14, 2014. Credit: 15th MEU
In a piece which Ed Timperlake and I wrote in May 2014, these innovations were highlighted.
The Marines have been experimenting over the past 15 months with new ways to connect the GCE within an insertion mission, and they are optimistic that their exercises can lead relatively soon to a deployed capability with Marine Expeditionary Units and Special Purpose MAGTFs focused on crisis response missions.
These units, then, can subsequently use the initial capability and drive further innovation.
The approach has been to deploy the Ground Combat Element (GCE) over a tilt-rotor-enabled distance and to insert the force with situational awareness, which can enhance mission success. By shaping new communications capability throughout the flight, the GCE getting off the Osprey is much better positioned for mission success.
With a shift from flying to engaging in a forward leaning operation, a number of key mobility requirements have been highlighted as well:
How to continue to provide SA to the insertion force throughout their mission on the ground?
How to simplify the communications packages and to make them easier to use?
How to shift from more static UAV concepts such as Shadow to a small “Kamikaze” UAV which can be pushed out of the Osprey and work with the mission?
How to leverage the F-35s Distributed Aperture System (DAS) capability and to push that information down to the lowest tactical level?
In other words, by working with a tilt-rotor-enabled force, the Marines are forward leaning their experimentation to procure technology that will enable new capabilities, and not simply fill legacy gaps.
The Next Three Years: The Arrival of the USS America
Fourth, a new ship is getting ready for deployment, the USS America which is built for the Osprey and the F-35B and will be part of the next phase of the evolution of the tiltrotar-enabled assault force.
The USS America is the largest amphibious ship ever built by the United States.
The ship has been built at the Huntington Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi and departed mid-July 2014 for its trip to its initial home part at San Diego, California and then was commissioned in San Francisco in mid-October 2014. It is now undergoing its final trials and preparing to enter the fleet.
The USS America has been built to facilitate this capability and will be augmented as the F-35B is added to the Ospreys, and helicopters already operating from the ship and as unmanned vehicles become a regular operational element as well.
The Osprey has obviously been a game changer, where today, the basic three ship formation used by the Amphibious Ready Group-Marine Expeditionary Unit can “disaggregate” and operate over a three-ship distributed 1,000-mile operational area. Having the communications and ISR to operate over a greater area, and to have sustainment for a disaggregated fleet is a major challenge facing the future of the USN-USMC team.
A major change in the ship can be seen below the flight deck, and these changes are what allow the assault force enabled by new USMC aviation capabilities to operate at greater range and ops tempo. The ship has three synergistic decks, which work together to support flight deck operations. Unlike a traditional large deck amphibious ship where maintenance has to be done topside, maintenance is done in a hangar deck below the flight deck. And below that deck is the intermediate area, where large workspaces exist to support operations with weapons, logistics and sustainment activities.
With the coming of the F-35B to the USS America, the tiltrotar-enabled force adds significant capability. This can work a couple of different ways.
The ship can hold more than 20 F-35Bs, but more likely when F-35Bs are being featured would have a 16 F-35B flying with 4 Osprey combinations. The Ospreys would be used to carry fuel and or weapons, so that the F-35B can move to the mission and operate in a distributed base. This is what the Marines refer to as shaping distributed STOVL ops for the F-35B within which a sea base is a key lily pad from which the plane could operate or could move from.
Alternatively, the F-35B could operate as the ISR, C2 and strike asset to work with the rest of the assault force. The beauty of the F-35B for the Marines is that it allows them to operate off of an amphibious ship with a plane which can do C2 or provide forward leaning ISR.
In other words, the F-35 working with an Osprey-enabled insertion force operating off of the USS American could well re-define the meaning of Close Air Support (CAS).
The F-35 could enter the objective area prior to the arrival of the combat landing team or CLT, push data back to the incoming force, and then provide fire support, “kinetic” and “non-kinetic,” C2 and ISR support during the insertion and operation.
The other new aviation, which will fly off of the USS America, is the CH-53K, which is the replacement for the CH-53E. Although less sexy than an Osprey or a JSF, the K is a backbone element for an airborne amphibious strike force. The CH-53K will be able to carry three times the load external to itself than can a CH-53E and has many operational improvements, such as a fly by wire system.
In short, when one looks at the outside of the USS America and sees a flight deck roughly the size of its predecessors, one would totally miss the point of how this ship fits into USN-USMC innovation.
Looking under the decks, understanding how a radical change in the workflow, enabling and operating with 21st century USMC strike and insertion assets, is how to understand the ship and its impact.
It is an enabler of 21st century amphibious assault operations and not simply an upgrade on the past.
And the result of eight years of operation and innovation is nothing less than creating a high demand force, the Osprey-enabled assault force, which is redefining ways to think about the insertion and withdrawal of force and new ways to engage, prevail and disengage.
V-22 Osprey in exercise at 29 Palms. Credit: USMC
This is part of the next phase of the evolution of the Osprey when married with the F-35B, namely to do some serious strategic rethinking on how to use newly crafted insertion forces.
Another part is the maturing of the production process, and the impact of the USAF and USMC in using the aircraft on perceptions of allies.
There are a number of allies interested in buying the plane.
But to get to this new phase, challenges need to be met and resolved to clear the path to the next phase, a global one for the Osprey.
The first slideshow highlights U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys begin flight operations on the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), off of the coast of South Korea, April 2, 2015.
The aircraft are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Credit:31st Marine Expeditionary Unit:4/2/15
The second slideshow highlights the USS America transiting through the US Southern Command and US 4th Fleet area of responsibility on her maiden transit.
In the first photo, an MV-22 Osprey prepares to land aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6).
In the second photo, the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) pulls into Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for a scheduled port visit July 21, 2014. The ship is embarked on a mission to conduct training engagements with partner nations throughout the Americas before reporting to its new home port of San Diego. The America is to be ceremoniously commissioned Oct. 11, 2014.
In the third photo, Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force South load onto a tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey on the flight deck of future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) to participate in bilateral training exercises with Colombia’s military.America is the first ship of its class, replacing the Tarawa-class of amphibious assault ships. As the next generation “big-deck” amphibious assault ship, America is optimized for aviation, capable of supporting current and future aircraft such as the Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter
In the fourth photo, an MH-60S Seahawk takes off from the flight deck of future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) to participate in bilateral training exercises with Colombia’s military.
In the fifth photo, from right, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, escorts Colombian Minister of Defense Juan Carlos Pinzon Bueno and U.S. Ambassador to Colombia Kevin Whitaker aboard the newly commissioned amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) July 17, 2014, in Cartagena, Colombia.
In the sixth photo, Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Charles Hill, assigned to the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), fires a .50-caliber machine gun during a sustainment shoot. The crew conducts routine, live-fire courses to maintain qualifications and improve proficiency. America is currently traveling through the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility on her maiden transit, “America visits the Americas.”
In the final photo, Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Trevor Vindelov, assigned to the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, performs a corrosion inspection on a MH-60S Seahawk helicopter in the hangar bay of future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6).
Credit:USS America: July 31, 2014
Editor’s Note: One contribution of the Osprey experience has been to the evolving composite manufacturing industry in support of both the commercial and military worlds.
More than 43 percent of the V-22 airframe structure is fabricated from composite materials.
The wing is made primarily with IM-6 carbon-epoxy solid laminates that are applied unidirectionally to give optimum stiffness.
The fuselage, empennage, and tail assemblies have additional AS4 carbon fiber materials incorporated during their fabrication.
Many airframe components such as stiffeners, stringers and caps, are co-cured with the skin panels.
This technique provides subassemblies with fewer fasteners, thus fewer fatigue effects.
The composite airframe delivers the necessary stiffness and light weight for V/STOL. It also provides additional resistance to environmental corrosion caused by salt water.
The composite airframe is fatigue resistant and damage-tolerant – a feature particularly desirable for ballistic survivability.
The composite structure provides a solid strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and damage tolerance compared to typical metal construction.
Battle damage tolerance is built into the aircraft by means of composite construction and redundant and separated flight control, electrical, and hydraulic systems.
2017-11-28 A U.S. Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) conducts an aerial refuel in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) near Welton, Ariz., Oct. 5, 2017.
After a long career in the USMC, the Prowler is being retired as the Marines shape a distributed EW force.
“For over 40 years the Prowler has served the DoD as an Electronic Warfare aircraft.
“The Prowler’s role has been to jam enemy radar and communications and perform electronic surveillance in support of air and ground forces.
“While the final sundown of the Prowler in the last operational unit (VMAQ-2) is not until the end of FY-19, MAWTS 1 is training for the future of the MAGTF with MAGTF EW.”
WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1 cadre, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force.
MAWTS-1 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.
The Marine Corps EW transition was highlighted in an article which we published earlier this year based on the Williams Foundation Seminar on Electronic Warfare.
2017-08-31 By Robbin Laird
On August 23, 2017, the Williams Foundation held a seminar on the future of electronic warfare.
With the introduction of the Growler, this has provided a natural hook into the broader discussion of the evolving payloads, which need to be part of an integrated 21st century combat force.
As Group Captain Braz put the objective of Growler introduction within the ADF:
“New thinking in terms of dynamic targeting, particularly of non-lethal effects, many of which may be temporary in nature, will be a key to success.
“Delegating these engagement authorities forward will be essential.”
Lt. General (Retired) Jon Davis, the former Deputy Commandant of Aviation, echoed these sentiments within his presentation to the Williams Foundation seminar.
He described the USMC transition from a core aircraft delivering an EW effect to building out the MAGTF to include ubiquitous access to non-kinetic tron warfare capabilities.
The core approach going forward is very clear.
“MAGTF EW transitions the Marine Corps from a focus on low density/high-demand EW platforms, to a distributed, platform-agnostic strategy – where every platform contributes/ functions as a sensor, shooter and sharer – to include EW.
“Under MAGTF EW the Marine Corps is leveraging emerging technologies and integrating multiple platforms, payloads, nodes, and capabilities to provide commanders with an organic and persistent air and ground EW capability.”
Lt. General (Retired) Jon Davis on a panel at the Williams Foundaton Seminar on Electronic Warfare, August 23,
2017
Davis underscored that with the changing nature of warfare and how the Marines operate, shaping a distributed strategy was a necessity, not an option.
“We operate on ships, from ships to shore and ashore.
“We cannot simply have an on call EW asset.
“We can confront the threat requiring an EW capability anywhere we operate.”
He described the sun setting of the unique EW aircraft, the Prowler, in favor of a sequential role out of distributed capability to the MAGTF.
He focused initially on Intrepid Tiger which is an EW pod being incorporated the Marine Corps legacy air.
It is on the Harrier and UH-1Y currently but will be added to other aircraft in the force.
“It’s made over 20 deployments now.
“It’s an open architecture system.
“It does electronic surveillance; it does electronic attack.
“We have a new one called Intrepid Tiger Block 2X which is being built to do radar jamming.
“It’s about 305 pounds for the Harriers and Hornets.
“It’s going to go next on V-22 then on C-130 and then on the CH-53 helo.
“We had about 120 we’ve built so far, we have 268 in the program of record.”
It’s completely an open architecture.
102956random1.05.0
“And we have invited manufacturers if they have a card that can fit into the system to propose putting it into the pod.
“If you have a card that fits in that slot and you can do so, bring it and you can plug it in, but do not ask us to change the box for us to take your card.
“You have to adapt your card to fix my box.”
The Marines are deploying the F-35 at the same time, which is a core capability for the USMC in delivering non-kinetic effects throughout the distributed force as well.
“The F-35 is part of our electronic warfare strategy for the United States Marine Corps. Indeed, it is a key part of our strategy.”
He then described an exercise involving the F-35.
“We were doing a drill, and the F-35 does a great job at a lot of things.
“It does a very good job in terms of electronic warfare as well.
“Bottom line, I was out there, I saw four ship of F-35s, and the scenario was a double digit SAM threat, it was 1,000 foot overcast, we had four Bs out there, we had a forward air controller on the ground, and these guys had launched off the ship and they were overhead, and they were going to go take out ground vehicles and suppress and shutdown the SAM.
“We brought in all of our senior one and two star generals. In short period of time, the F-35s got rid of the SAMs.
“They were operating more like a pack of dogs than ever seen in 36 years of flying strike airplanes including being the CO of the Weapons School.
“It was a work of art.
“The infantry officer came at the end came up says, “Hey, that was fantastic, but I think that’s not very realistic.”
“We need to capture it on live streaming video see we can see a confirmation of those targets.”
“I commented: Well it’s overcast, they’re not going to be streaming video, and you’re probably not going to have a Reaper out there, right? It’s going to get shot down.”
“He goes, “We need more time so we can review the video feeds.”
“I said, we have to remove the admirals and the generals out of the kill chain.
“If the pilots have got the right RoE, let them loose.
“If you inject too many decision makers from on high, you’re going to get Solders, Sailors and Airmen killed.”
Davis added: “We’re going to grow the F-35; We’re going to be very aggressive about growing capabilities in the F-35. It’s good at what it does right now; it’ll be a hell of a lot better in the future.”
He then went on to describe other roll-outs of evolving EW capability for the MAGTF.
The Blackjack UAV, which has a modular payload structure, has an EW payload inside as well and is currently working with the USS America amphibious group.
The goal is clear: “There will never be a Marine infantry unit or a group on the ground that will not have access to electronic warfare capability.
“The guys on ground can go up and e-connect.
“Almost like they’re going to a server in the sky and pulling the information for them, he or she can basically pull the capability down from the air asset.”
The next platform, which will provide an EW delivery capability to the MAGTF will be the Group 5 UAV, the Marines are working on right now.
This will be a VTOL UAV and will have an open architecture with modular payloads.
And clearly one of those payloads will be an EW one. And by having a VTOL asset this can provide MAGTF support throughout its operational cycle, whether on the ship, coming off the ship or operating ashore.
He concluded by reminding the audience of the philosophy of the Marine Corps as the big green killing machine. It was not about the fair fight; it was about speed and combat success against a determined enemy.
He quoted the most famous Australian general officer from World War I, General Sir John Monash to provide perspective on how the Marines looked at the inclusion of EW as a ubiquitous asset for the MAGTF.
“The true role of infantry was not to extend itself upon heroic physical effort, not to whither away under merciless machine gun fire, not to impale itself upon hostile bayonets, but on the contrary, to advance under the maximum possible array of mechanical resources, in the form of guns, …tanks, mortars and aircraft; to advance with as little impediment as possible; to be relieved as far as possible of the obligation to fight their way forward.”
Editor’s Note: During the panel discussion after the presentations by Group Captain Braz and CDR Mike Paul, a question was asked about the challenge of working with the US Navy and its approach leveraging Growler and the USAF’s approach to leveraging fifth generation aircraft in shaping a way ahead.
The answers were quite noteworthy.
Group Captain Braz viewed the RAAF as in an interesting bridging function between the USN and USAF and playing a potentially useful and significant role in shaping integrated capability across the RAAF, the USN, and USAF as well.
“The diversity that we bring is very useful in shaping the combined team of US Navy and US Air Force capabilities.”
Lt. General (Retired) Davis from the floor added his thoughts on how integration is proceeding in the US.
He sees the schools, MAWTS-1, Nellis and Fallon as key elements in shaping an integrated force. He mentioned that a Marine is for the first time teaching at Nellis and a USAF pilot is training at MAWTS-1 and will be an instructor there as well.
“The more we learn from each other, the better we will be.”
And then CDR Paul added that it remains to be seen how the US Navy will employ the F-35 but that cross learning from the USMC and the USAF will be crucial in this process.
The Middle East is certainly in turmoil and transition.
The Turkish government under its current government is looking to expand Turkish influence in the region, certainly, in part, to bolster its own power position and to deal with Syrian instability.
The Iranians are working their own form of power projection in the region and have enhanced their power in Iraq.
The dramatic political changes in Saudi Arabia provide a significant input to further turmoil into the region and a very plausible restructuring factor as well.
The battle against ISIS in terms of dislodging them from control of physical territory has progressed with successes.
Yet the Christians in Iraq are in many way operating like a ping pong ball as they suffer from ISIS and then suffer from the forces liberating ISIS.
The Nineveh plain has been largely destroyed and needs to be rebuilt; and an obvious factor allowing for greater stability and ethnic autonomies in the region, namely greater autonomy for the Kurds has been attenuated as well.
The U.S. rejected the legitimacy of the Kurdish vote for independence and the Iraqi government unleashed an assault against Kurdish positions in Iraq.
Although the goal of an Iraqi nation remains and the hope for a peaceful federation is still articulated, providing greater autonomy for the Kurds and build out from that has been a position which we have argued for a number of years.
In a world which is evolving rapidly or breaking down rapidly, it depends where you look, taking a leverage point like the Kurdish vote can form a leverage point, both to aid other minorities, in this case the Christians, as well as to shape practical ways to reduce Iranian influence in Iraq.
Helping the Christians in Iraq is important in and of itself, certainly for the global Christian community.
But also it is part of re-energizing stabilization efforts within a more diversified Iraq itself.
We met with Joseph T. Kassab at the end of his most recent visit to Washington and interviewed him on November 16, 2017.
As Kassab put the situation in the region: “For the peoples of the Middle East, they are reaching a clear breaking point throughout the region.
“Christians going back to their homes in liberated Nineveh Plain are once again facing war challenging due to the fierce conflict between the Kurd and the Iraqi government on this longtime contested region”
“The level of corruption is so high and the inability to deliver stability and a decent quality of life to the to be returned population seems to have no end in sight.
“The recent developments in Saudi Arabia might presage a new round but well applauded of Arab Spring as a result.”
During his visit, he talked with both Iraqi government officials and US government officials.
Recently, both President Trump and Vice President Pence have spoken out clearly with regard to the need to support Christians in Iraq, specifically and with regard to the general challenge of stabilization.
According to Kassab, the Administration has made progress but efforts need to continue.
In his visit to USAID, he saw clear support for the Trump and Pence’s positions to support stability in Iraq and to hold a major conference to shape a way ahead with regard to funding and support, both on the national and international level.
Yet the general concerns which the President has focused upon with regard to immigration has clearly blocked the ability of Iraqi Christians to enter the United States.
He noted that President Obama was able to provide a way to bring 12,500 Muslims into the United States from Syria and he encourages President Trump to use a similar approach for the persecuted Iraqi Christians as well.
Joseph Kassab highlighted what he saw as a growing influence of the neighboring countries in Iraq and the genuine interest of Prime Minister Abbadi to marginalize this influence and to fiercely fight corruption in his own country as a key factor alleviating all realistic approaches to shaping stability.
He suggested that the rebuilding of the Nineveh plain might make an effective focal point for international efforts to reshape the area free from foreign influence and the ability of minority populations like the Christians to be able to be protected in the process.
It was also surprising and important to learn from Joseph that the tolerance of the Kurdish Islamic followers to accept Kurds of the region to intermarry with people of the Jewish faith.
This is another significant trend and a building block for solid international efforts embracing U.S. development programs in the area.
Recently, Kassab presented a series of proposal to the Honorable Dr. Saleem Al Jubouri, President and Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, who reacted kindly to the initiative, according to Kassab.
These proposals formed as well the basis for his various discussions during his most recent visites to Washington DC and were as follows:
Amend the Iraqi Constitution to reflect the recognition of civil rights and freedom of religion for all ancient religious minorities including the Christians. More of their representation in the Iraqi Parliament and Government Institutions should be also added,
Combine all non-traditional armed forces with the officially established Iraqi Army to ensure full loyalty to the whole nation and its people,
The US and the Western World should be asked to play instrumental role in helping the Central Government of Iraq and its Parliament to assist in resolving the mushrooming problems between the many disputed factions and political parties which assume power and govern the nation,
Normalize and seek good relationships with the Arab states neighbors,
Encourage interfaith Dialogue and minimize the role of religious institutions in the politics of the nation. Encourage civic institution and citizens to play this significant role,
Establish efficient National Reconstruction and Stabilization Council (NRSC) to rebuild prosper Iraq,
Call for International Conference in or outside the country to pledge support to reconstruct Iraq. This should take place under the auspice of United Nations, United States, Arab States League, and European Union. Also, Iraqi oil revenues should be invested in this initiative,
Reconstruct and strengthen the Iraqi Armed Forces, Police, and Security apparatuses,
Reconstruct the governmental infrastructure to support incoming goods cost and to significantly stimulate the private sector investments to prosper,
Cease and terminate all of shady deals and corruption among officials and their clans,
Secure the porous borders and stop foreign fighters from entering and harming Iraqis by taking Iraq as a sanctuary for their illegitimate attacks,
Limit the interference in the politics of Iraq by ALL of its neighboring countries,
Reactivate the Iraqi National Reconciliation Forum (Al Sahwa) and encourage dialogue between all Iraqi political parties, tribal people, technocrats, and members of the ethno-religious minority groups
Encourage the return of displaced and refugees by providing all necessary needs to re-establish promising future through justifiable protection, reconstruction, security, stabilization, and prosperity programs,
Establish governmental council for reparations and compensation for the war and seatrain violence impacted people like the minority groups in Nineveh Plain.
Editor’s Note: For earlier articles of interest, and our discussions with Joseph Kassab, please see the following
2017-12-04 The C-130J is clearly a very flexible combat asset.
The Marines have expanded the envelope of their KC-130J as they have added Harvest Hawk several years ago and are adding communication and ISR integration capabilities which allow the aircraft to be a key element in the evolving digital interoperability of the Marine Corps force.
As the US Navy emphasizes distributed lethality, the USMC looks to enhance the capabilities of the Osprey and the C-130J to provide greater capability for the distributed force known as the MAGTF.
The US Air Force has brought its Js to Germany and are working the plane into their support efforts based in Germany as well.
The J first came to Ramstein in 2009 and became the first overseas base to get a C-130J flight simulator in 2015.
In an article by Jennifer Sean published on August 24, 2015 by Stars and Stripes, the coming of the flight simulator was described as follows.
It looks like an alien spacecraft your kid might want to take for a spin.
But this is no amusement park ride.
Ramstein is the first U.S. Air Force base overseas to get a C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System — a fancy name for a flight simulator. It will be used to train aircrews that fly the C-130J Super Hercules from Ramstein and the maintainers who keep them ready to fly.
The 86th Airlift Wing hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday for the $25 million simulator and the new building that houses it, an $8 million military construction project.
The windowless simulator was open for visitors to take a peek inside, where Maj. Devon Cummings, an operations officer with the 86th Operational Support Squadron, practiced a “landing” on Ramstein’s runway. The physical features whizzing by on the video screen looked exactly as the pilot would see them approaching for landing, from the buildings along the airfield to the farm fields surrounding the base.
“Not bad. You’re qualified,” joked C-130J pilot Capt. Fred Backhus, who was leading Cummings through the drill.
Backhus said the simulator comes with a visual database system programmed to display most airfields to which the crews fly. “We just program it in: ‘We want to go here today.’ Boom, it’s there,” he said.
A recent video shows the C-130J operating from Ramstein.
The French are adding four C-130Js to their fleet and have taken their first aircraft this Fall.
France has placed orders for a total of four C130Js — two stretched C-130J-30 airlifters and two KC-130J tankers.
The aircraft are needed due to premature ageing of French Air Force C160 Transalls and an urgent requirement for additional medium tactical airlift capacity in operations.
The aircraft will be operated as part of a new joint Franco-German transport unit, to be based at the French AF base at Evreux.
First C-130J for the French Air Force, October 2017. Credit Lockheed Martin.
According to an article by Helen Chachaty published on October 20, 2017:
The first of four C-130Js to equip the French Air Force rolled out October 20th. Painted in the colors of the Air Force, Lockheed Martin’s transport aircraft is expected to be delivered by the end of this year.
The rest of the fleet, which will ultimately consist of four aircraft, is expected to be delivered in the next two years, with versions with in-flight refueling capabilities (KC-130J) expected in 2019.
Announced in December 2015 as part of the update of the Military Programming Act, the order of four C-130Js aims to overcome the A400M’s capacity shortfalls in terms of refueling of helicopters, but also to increase the capabilities transportation of equipment and personnel.
In a story which we published in 2014, we looked at the flexibility of the KC-130J which certainly is a good reason for the French to include the aircraft in their force with the retirement of the Transall underway and with the demand for helicopter refueling in the French expeditionary force.
2014-07-31 By Robbin Laird
During my latest visit to Second Marine Air Wing, I focused upon the USMC evolution of its use of the KC-130J.
I spent a morning in the KC-130J simulator watching Marine pilots hone their skills and did so from the tanker seat in the aircraft.
Captain Michael Jordan, VMGR-252. Credit: SLD
After the simulation experience, I sat down with one of the pilots, Captain Michael Jordan, to talk about his experience working with the Harvest Hawk in Afghanistan.
The Captain is of the new generation of USMC pilots who have flown the KC-130J from the beginning and so the Harvest Hawk experience seems a “normal” evolution and simply preparing for the next transition, whereby the “mother ship” can handle data, C2 or ordinance dependent on the evolution of USMC concepts of operations.
The Harvest Hawk was first introduced into Afghanistan by 3rd MAW so the squadron went to the West Coast to learn their skills in preparation for their use of Harvest Hawk in Afghanistan in 2012.
We trained as Harvest Hawk co-pilots right before we deployed for Afghanistan last year.
And I would say that at least half of the hours we flew in Afghanistan starting in July 2013 through February of this year were Harvest Hawk missions.
After that I went to Spain and became part of the Special Purpose MAGTF.
He emphasized as well that it was different type of flying than on other KC-130J missions.
A lot of what you are doing is working in orbits, circling around targets, talking with people on the ground and managing the battlespace. 95% of what you are doing is flying, holding your orbit and then waiting for that 5% of the mission where you prepare to and then launch your ordinance.
And in flying the plane the operation from the cockpit is different as well.
With the Heads up Display you are flying the aircraft. Now you need to not just focus on just flying the aircraft and executing the mission but also work with the navigation radar to see where you are going and what you are doing within the battlespace.”
Harvest Hawk system on KC-130J at 2nd MAW: Credit: SLD
Question: What are the trade-offs necessary to operate a KC-130J as a Harvest Hawk?
Captain Jordan:
We lose the external tank on the left side as a sensor is placed on that tank.
We can not fuel from the tank.
This means that we reduce total fuel capacity.
A typical J would have a max fuel capacity of 60,000 pounds dependent upon fuel conditions.
With the Harvest Hawk configuration we can have a max fuel capacity of around 42,000 pounds. This reduces our time on station.
The Marine Corps is looking at an upgrade which would put the sensor on the front of the plane rather than the external tank and would recover the use of the tank.
The other aspect is that we lose the left side Aerial Refueling pod.
We have four hard points on the left side for the missiles; we can do refueling but with only one hose on the right hand side.
We can not have two houses serving the tanker mission.
Question: How are operations different from inside the aircraft to operate the Harvest Hawk mission?
Captain Jordan:
It is quite different.
In Harvest Hawk the pilot becomes more of a battle manager, while the co-pilot flies the plane.
In the back of the aircraft we have a different crew as well.
We generally have two officers in the back; a Fire Controls Officer sits in the right seat and operates the sensor to provide for target acquisition.
Typically, we have an assistant in the left seat to aid with the communications traffic and to assist the FCO.
Question: Where does Harvest Hawk go next?
Captain Jordan:
The entire Harvest Hawk experience highlights the utility of a “mother ship” in an air dominance environment.
There is no reason that we cannot take data from UAVs or the F-35s or the Harrier litening pods and be able to contribute to combat management or support to the ground commanders.
2017-11-20 The new Queen Elizabeth class carrier is the largest warship ever built in the United Kingdom.
While most of the focus of the press coverage has been on the process of building the carrier and now its sea trials, the carrier is coming at a very interesting point in British history.
There is a clear need to shape a post-Brexit defense policy, and having a significant epicenter of national sovereignty able to operate throughout the region and beyond certainly can be worked into that as yet to be written policy narrative.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently on sea trials off the south coast of England.. Credit: UK Ministry of Defence
This narrative has begun to be written and was articulated as follows by the new defense minister in his visit onboard the ship earlier this month:
“This is very much about how Britain can project its influence and its power right across the world,” Mr. Williamson said.
“It is how we can say to the rest of the world, we are not a nation in retreat, we are a nation that wishes to play a significant part in world affairs.”
But it also also at the heart of integrating UK forces to deliver UK capabilities within the integrated battlespace, both in terms of an integrated carrier strike force as well as in terms of shaping the various war fighting systems which will come together onboard the ship.
It is however at the heart of shaping 21st century interoperability.
There is the interoperability being worked with the US Navy, as evidenced in the recent Saxon Warrior exercise off of Scotland.
There is the interoperability being worked as the USMC will operate its F-35Bs off of the ship.
This will require an ability for the ship to operate US weapons onboard as well as to accommodate USMC maintainers as well with their specific national maintenance approaches.
The ship is an F-35 carrier and will work its interoperability with other F-35s as well in the region, notably with the Dutch, the Norwegians, the Danes, the Italians, the Israelis, the US and perhaps others Europeans as well.
In other words, the carrier is at the vortex of a turn in British history, and a key element of shaping 21st century force integration and interoperability.
In an article published on the UK Ministry of Defence website on November 16, 2017, the forthcoming commissioning by the Queen was highlighted.
Her Majesty the Queen will formally commission her namesake aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, into the Royal Navy fleet in just three weeks’ time.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced the news as he made his first landing onto the deck of the carrier today, while she was at sea sailing around the South Coast of England.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
“In a world of intensifying global threats, this magnificent ship will be a leading force fighting to protect the values of the UK and our allies. It’s an honour to visit her at sea, and to meet such a passionate crew. I’m sure Her Majesty will be similarly impressed at next month’s historic ceremony for the nation’s new flagship, which proudly bears her name.
“The carrier is currently making great progress through her sea trials and will return to her home port in Portsmouth in a few weeks’ time. Her Majesty the Queen will then visit the ship in Portsmouth on 7 December for the formal commissioning ceremony.”
Her Majesty will be joined by a host of dignitaries from the Royal Family, Government and the military, before saying a few words as Lady Sponsor. The commissioning warrant will then be read and the White Ensign raised, symbolising the acceptance of HMS Queen Elizabeth into Her Majesty’s fleet.
It will be the first time Her Majesty the Queen has visited the UK’s new flagship since she formally named her in Rosyth, Scotland in July 2014.
Since then the ship has been completed, sailed into her home dock of Portsmouth for the first time and is now continuing her sea trials. Her identical sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, has also been formally named and is now structurally complete.
The Defence Secretary took a Merlin helicopter from RAF Northolt and landed on the flight-deck this morning, where he met the ship’s company, from the Captain Jerry Kyd to the most junior ranks.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently on sea trials off the south coast of England.. Credit: UK Ministry of Defence
Captain Jerry Kyd said:
“I was delighted to be able to welcome the Defence Secretary on board HMS Queen Elizabeth at what is a very exciting time for the ship, for the Royal Navy, and for Defence as we move into the final phase of our sea trials.
“We spoke about the progress made on our trials so far and the exciting future ahead as the UK regenerates its strike carrier capability.
“We’re glad the Defence Secretary took the time to visit us and really get under the skin of this aircraft carrier and see for himself the enormous potential of this ship that will be deployed across the globe for the next half century.”
Both of the UK’s aircraft carriers are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a unique partnering relationship between industry and the UK Ministry of Defence.
The recent exercise Saxon Warrior saw the participation of both the Queen Elizabeth and the George H.W. Bush carriers.
According to an article published in Naval Today at the conclusion of the exercise:
The joint US-UK exercise Saxon Warrior, held in waters off Scotland, concluded on August 10 after ten days of drills.
Surface combatants from the UK, US and Norway joined the US Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush as the Royal Navy is preparing to revive its carrier strike capability.
At one point of the exercise, the international group was joined by the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth for a photo opportunityand a group sail, just days ahead of her commissioning in Portsmouth.
As the Royal Navy explained, the exercise in broad terms involved a notional conflict between neighboring countries, one of which is Pastonia, supported by a multinational naval force, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 315.01.
The CSG included Type 23 frigates HMS Westminster and Iron Duke, Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad, United States ships USS Philippine Sea and Donald Cook, and the supercarrier George Bush (GHWB). Opposing this strike group was Task Force 606 of the Dragonian Navy composed of US destroyer USS Truxton and cruiser Leyte Gulf, led by the Norwegian frigate Otto Sverdrup.
There were also a large number of other elements to the exercise including supporting aircraft providing air raids, plus 29 Commando and Swedish tactical air controllers providing forward observation to ships and aircraft dropping ordnance onto Cape Wrath.
The air participants included Navy and RAF Hawk aircraft, RAF Typhoons, a large number of United States carrier borne aircraft which are mostly F18 Super Hornets, as well as British, American and German surveillance and refueling aircraft.
On-board GHWB were staff from the UK Carrier Strike Group brushing up their skills for the arrival of aircraft on-board our own supercarrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
“Exercise Saxon Warrior is an incredibly important and exciting step in the regeneration of the UK’s Carrier Strike capability,” said JTEPS commander Captain Andrew Stacey RN.
“The generosity of the United States Navy in the provision of not only a Carrier Strike Group but also mentoring and exercise enablers has been crucial in ensuring that Royal Navy is on the right path to stand shoulder to shoulder with the USN with a shared Carrier Strike heritage.”
2017-11-28 An end of course video featuring the highlights of Weapons and Tactics Instructor course (WTI) 1-18 in Yuma, Ariz., Oct 23, 2017.
WTI is a seven week training event, hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) cadre, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Aviation in support of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
MAWTS-1 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.
And earlier, we discussed the latest WTI with the CO of MAWTS and his staff:
2017-11-01 By Robbin Laird
The Marine Corps is being shaped for the transition from a slow motion ground war to higher intensity warfare.
This reshaping is being driven by the new aviation assets, the introduction of broad range digital interoperability within the MAGTF and by evolving concepts of operations associated with distributed warfare.
At the heart of the transition is an ability to leverage all of the key combat assets, ground, sea or in the air and to deliver a force able to operate in the distributed battlespace.
Last August, Lt. General (Retired) Davis, former Deputy Commandant of Aviation, highlighted the nature of the transition as applied to the electronic warfare case.
He described the USMC transition from a core aircraft delivering an EW effect to building out the MAGTF to include ubiquitous access to non-kinetic electronic warfare capabilities.
The core approach going forward is very clear.
“MAGTF EW transitions the Marine Corps from a focus on low density/high-demand EW platforms, to a distributed, platform-agnostic strategy – where every platform contributes/ functions as a sensor, shooter and sharer – to include EW.”
“Under MAGTF EW the Marine Corps is leveraging emerging technologies and integrating multiple platforms, payloads, nodes, and capabilities to provide commanders with an organic and persistent air and ground EW capability.”
Davis underscored that with the changing nature of warfare and how the Marines operate, shaping a distributed strategy was a necessity, not an option.
“We operate on ships, from ships to shore and ashore.”
“We cannot simply have an on call EW asset.
“We can confront the threat requiring an EW capability anywhere we operate.”
An additional case study of the evolution was evident in the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course held in April 2017 by MAWTS-1 at Yuma Air Station.
During the exercise, the F-35B was being integrated into the overall MAGTF operations including integrated target identification and fire support to the new HIMARS system.
According to the USMC, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is described as follows:
HIMARS is a C-5 transportable, wheeled, indirect fire, rocket/missile system capable of firing all current and future rockets and missiles in the Multiple-Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions (MFOM).
The HIMARS launcher consists of a fire control system, carrier (automotive platform), and launcher-loader module that performs all operations necessary to complete a fire mission. The basic system is defined as one launcher, one resupply vehicle, and two resupply trailers.
HIMARS addresses an identified, critical warfighting deficiency in Marine Corps fire support. HIMARS employs the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rocket to provide precision fires in support of the MAGTF.
HIMARS is a transformational, responsive, general-support/general-support reinforcing precision indirect fire weapon system that accurately engages targets at long ranges (in excess of 40 miles) with high volumes of lethal precision fires in all weather conditions and throughout all phases of combat operations ashore.
But this is a platform-centric description not one which indicates how it can contribute to the fight in a distributed battlespace.
For the Marines, HIMARS can be used ashore or as they have just demonstrated can be fired from an amphibious ship as well during Dawn Blitz.
In the photo below, U.S. Marines with Battery R, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division are seen launching a rocket from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) off the USS Anchorage (LPD-23) during Exercise Dawn Blitz, Oct. 22, 2017.
Dawn Blitz 17 allowed the amphibious force to integrate the F-35B Lightning II and HIMARS into the exercise to validate a capability with platforms not traditionally used at the Marine Expeditionary Brigade/Expeditionary Strike Group or Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group levels.
In the most recent WTI exercise, the F-35 continued to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for HIMARS firing.
This development can be missed or simply look like legacy aircraft support to a ground firing capability.
But it is not.
The F-35s sensors provide significant range and ability to target discriminate which can be shared with the ground force to guide their operational trajectories as well as, in the case of HIMARS, a key target to destroy.
Due to F-35 sensor fusion, F-35 pilots can identify key targets to support ground fires and can themselves add weapons to the fight.
In other words, rather than just doing close air support, the F-35 is capable of integrating air and ground fires into an overall distributed strike force that was not possible with 4th generation platforms.
HIMARS integration with F-35 and the shipboard firing are case studies of the transition of the USMC, not simply case studies of more advanced ways to do what they have been doing.
On October 23, 2017, I spoke with the Commanding Officer of MAWTS-1, Col Wellons, and one of his officers involved in the WTI course.
In an earlier interview, we discussed how the Marines were looking at the impact of the F-35 on the MAGTF:
Question: How does the integration of the F-35 into your operations, change how you think about those operations?
Col Wellons: A lot of that can be quickly become classified but let me give you an example, which does not fall into that category.
Historically, when we could come off of an L class ship with MV-22s, CH-53s, H-1s and AV-8Bs we would be faced with a serious AAA or MANPADS threat that would force us to avoid part of or an entire objective area.
With the F-35, we can leverage its increased survivability over 4th generation platforms in contested environments to accomplish the mission.
In Afghanistan and Iraq we have not had prohibitive interference in our air operations. However, that cannot be assumed in other areas of operation due to the proliferation of double digit SAMS. The F-35 allows us to operate in such areas.
The situational awareness (SA) that the airplane provides is a game changer for us.
In the past, we would receive input from the Senior Watch Officer on the ground with regard to our broader combat SA. That type of information is now resident within the cockpit of the F-35. The F-35 pilot can share information, that situational awareness, with other airborne platforms and the ground force commander in ways that are going to increase our operational tempo and allow us to do things that historically we wouldn’t have been able to do.
The ability of the F35 to be able to recognize, identify, and kill the types of prohibitive threats that would prevent us from putting in assault support platforms and ground forces is crucial to the way ahead.
The F-35 can do this now, not some future iteration.
During the recent interview, we discussed further work on F-35 integration and the expanded role of digital interoperability within the MAGTF as exercised in the WTI course.
Question: The Marines are operating the F-35 in Japan and are standing up other squadrons as well.
That is what I would call F-35 1.0; you are focusing on F-35 2.0 at MAWTS, namely how the asset is part of the overall transformation of the MAGTF, both as cause and consequence.
Can you describe what you are doing with regard to F-35 2.0?
Col Wellons: “We have expanded the hot loading capability of the F-35, which is part of our distributed operational approach.
“To date, we have hot loaded GBU-12s and 32s and most recently have done so with AIM-120s.
“That process has gone very well.
“With the next block of software which is coming shortly, we will load weapons externally as well which will expand the envelope.
“All this is part of an overall distributed approach. We are using MV-22s to bring ordnance and fuel to remote sites in order to rearm and refuel F-35s, increasing sortie generation.
“What this means is that we can bring fifth generation capabilities to the fight by deploying from FARPS throughout the battlespace, rather than having to operate from a fixed airfield.
“When you combine the ability to operate from ships moving at sea with distributable FARPS on land, we are providing for a powerful distributed, survivable, and unpredictable force to support the Commander’s objectives in the battlespace.
“This capability is going to enable aviation operations, in an anti-access / area denial (A2/AD) scenario.
“We’ll be able to take an MV-22, fly it into a FARP somewhere and have the F-35s join.
“The MV-22s provide fuel and ordnance to the F-35s.
“We can do the hot load, hot refuel, and you’re in and out of there in a very short period of time.”
Question: Can you now describe the HIMARS integration with F-35?
Col Wellons: “This class we continued the learning process.
“We were able to validate and verify, via ground testing, the ability of the F-35 to share digital targeting information with a ground node
“But I will ask my Aviation Development, Tactics and Evaluation Department Head, LtCol Ryan Schiller, to further discuss the process.”
LtCol Schiller: “Utilizing the targeting capabilities of the F-35 and its inherent survivability as a 5th-gen fighter combined with the standoff range and capability provided by HIMARS gives us a key capability to fight and strike in the A2/AD environment.
“We are clearly expanding the aperture of our focus on how to leverage the F-35 for the MAGTF.
“With regard to HIMARS we are looking to shipboard use in certain scenarios as well.
“It is important to expand the adversary’s sense of uncertainty as to how and when we might strike, generating capabilities that support a distributed force will help us reach that objective
“We intend to continue developing TTPs for HIMARS integration with F-35.
“During the next WTI class, we plan to fire a HIMARS using digital targeting information passed via an F-35.”
Question: How did the last WTI course provide a way forward on the digital transformation approach?
LtCol Schiller: “This was the first WTI class in which we integrated digital interoperability, in the form of the Marine Air Ground Tablet (MAGTAB), into every single event.
“Digital interoperability is about distributed situational awareness to the force and the new platforms and new capabilities we are developing are key to the way ahead.
“We are shaping a fifth generation MAGTF, a MAGTF where important and time sensitive information can be distributed throughout the force in order to compress the OODA loop and be proactive vice reactive on the battlefield.
Col Wellons: “Digital interoperability is one of the most important things we did in this WTI course.
“We have the ability to have a networked MAGTF, where Marines in the air and on the ground are able to see real-time position location information of friendly forces, watch sensor feeds, synchronize execution checklist items, publish 9-lines, and chat, among other key items.
“It is being fielded now although refinement continues.”
Col James B. Wellons
Commanding Officer, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-One
Colonel James B. Wellons grew up in Victoria, Virginia. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May of 1992, earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. After completion of The Basic School and Naval Flight Training, he reported to VMAT-203, Cherry Point, NC for AV-8B Harrier training.
Colonel Wellons completed AV-8B Harrier training in 1997 and reported to the VMA-231 “Ace of Spades,” where he served in various assignments and deployed twice with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, first in 1998 and again in 1999.
In March of 2000, Colonel Wellons returned to VMAT-203 for duties as an AV-8B instructor pilot and graduated from the MAWTS-1 Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course.
In January of 2002, Colonel Wellons returned to VMA-231 as WTI and was promoted to Major.
He then deployed as Future Operations Department Head for HMM-263 with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from August of 2002 through May of 2003, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM I.
In July of 2003, Colonel Wellons reported to MAWTS-1 in Yuma, Arizona for duties as an AV-8B instructor pilot.
While at MAWTS-1, Colonel Wellons served as AV-8B Division Head and TACAIR Department Head; he also flew as an adversary pilot in the F-5E with VMFT-401.
In June of 2006, Colonel Wellons reported to the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS) at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, graduating in June of 2007 with an M.A. in Airpower Art and Sciences. Upon graduation, Colonel Wellons reported to Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT) for duties as an operational planner. While at MARCENT he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
In August of 2009, Colonel Wellons reported to Eglin Air Force Base, FL, where he stood up and commanded VMFAT-501, the F-35B Fleet Replacement Squadron. In February of 2012, Colonel Wellons relinquished command and reported to the U.S. Naval War College, in Newport, RI, where he graduated with highest distinction in March of 2013 with an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies.
In March of 2013, Colonel Wellons reported to U.S. Southern Command in Doral, FL for assignment as Executive Officer to the Commander. He was promoted to Colonel during this tour.
In June of 2015, Colonel Wellons reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, where he assumed command in May of 2016.
Colonel Wellons has held qualifications in the AV-8B, F-5E/F, and F-16C/D. His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of third award, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.
Editor’s Note: In a story published by the USMC on September 21, 2017, a recent F-35B hot loading exercise during the WTI course was discussed and highlighted.
By Pfc. Ethan Pumphret
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. – Hot-loading is when an aircraft lands and has ordnance loaded while the engine is still running. Marines from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 conducted a hot-load in F-35B Lightning II’s at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Az. on Sept. 21, 2017.
This hot-load was conducted using AMRAMM AIM-120 missiles.
VMFA-121 is a part of Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
The exercise was a validation/verification conducted during Weapons and Tactics Instructors course 1-18.
WTI is an exercise that takes service members from all over the world in a joint training exercise for mission readiness. WTI is hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron one.
“They will now have a publication to use,” said Cpl. Matthew Donovan an aviation ordnance technician with VMFA-121. “we took it out there and we validated it. We know it works so now in the future they will have it in writing.”
The hot-load exercise was conducted to ensure both pilots and ground crew have a real example of operations should those units deploy.
The F-35B’s were loaded with the AIM-120 missile and took off horizontally immediately after.
The AMRAMM AIM-120 is an air-to-air missile AMRAMM AIM-120 that will be used in conjunction with a Tactical Air Launch Decoy.
The TALD was loaded onto an AV-8B Harrier II to be launched and used as a target for the AIM-120.
The TALD is an expendable glide vehicle that can mimic the heat and radar signatures of a full-sized aircraft.
“You can’t shoot an air-to-air missile unless you have something to shoot at,” said Donovan. “the TALD is just a glider that comes off of the Harrier and then it glides straight and the Harrier moves out of the way.”
This hot-load exercise is to verify theory and validate publication and give the Marines involved a chance to load live ordnance while the aircraft is still hot.
While the F-35B has been loaded hot before, this is the first time it has been conducted with these air-to-air missiles.
“Decreasing aircraft turnaround time and increasing sortie generation due to the aircraft not having to power down, receive maintenance and start up again,” said Staff Sgt. Kevin Knight an Aviation Ordnance Technician with VMFA-121.
“It’s critical in developing our expeditionary capabilities.”
During WTI, VMFA-121 will also use GBU-12 and GBU-32, laser and GPS guided 500lbs bombs in their F-35B’s.
This combat themed training will provide the training and practical application to project Marine Corps air power on the battlefield.
Denmark is a small country, but an important player in the NATO Alliance and part of the reworking of Nordic defense with Norway, Sweden and Finland to deal with resurgent Russia.
Notably, in mid-October 2017, the Danish government released its proposed new six-year defense guidance and defense spending guidelines.
The government was very clear about what the threats facing Denmark are, the importance of allies modernizing and working effective interdependence in the defense of the North Atlantic and beyond, and need to invest more in new equipment and personnel.
Here is how the Danish government in the document describes the way ahead for Denmark:
“Denmark faces more serious threats than in any other period following the fall of the Berlin Wall. The freedom and security we value so highly cannot be taken for granted.
“To the east, NATO faces a confrontational and assertive Russia. Instability in the Middle East and North Africa is fuelling militant Islamism, sowing the seeds for the threat of terror and irregular migration flows. Propaganda campaigns challenge our democratic principles and established rules, while in the Arctic, there is increased activity and military presence.
“These are challenges which we cannot afford to ignore. That is why the Government wishes to substantially increase military spending over the next six years.
“The substantial increase will be gradually phased in and ultimately result in the Danish Defence’s annual budget in 2023 being increased by DKK 4.8 billion.
This amounts to an increase of 20% compared to current military spending.
Threats in cyberspace have serious security and socio-economic consequences.”
During a recent visit to Copenhagen, which coincided with the release of the new defence guidance, there was a chance to talk with a number of Danes and various experts about Danish thinking and the approach they had in mind to deal with shaping a deterrent strategy.
In particular, the discussion with Rear Admiral Nils Wang, former head of the Danish Navy and now head of the Danish Royal Military Academy, was significant in characterizing the nature of the Russian challenge as well as a way ahead for the Danish forces.
Rear Admiral Wang clearly argued that the Russian challenge today and as it is evolving has little to do with the Cold War Soviet-Warsaw Pact threat to the Nordics.
Rear Admiral Nils Wang.
The Soviet-Warsaw threat was one of invasion and occupation and then using Nordic territory to fight U.S. and allied forces in the North Atlantic.
In many ways, this would have been a repeat of how the Nazis seized Norway during a combined arms amphibious operation combined with a land force walk into Denmark.
In such a scenario, the Danes along with their allies were focused on sea denial through use of mines, with fast patrol boats providing protection for the minelayers.
Aircraft and submarines were part of a defense in depth strategy to deny the ability of the Soviets to occupy the region in time of a general war.
He contrasted this with the current and evolving situation in which the Russians were less focused on a general war, and more on building out capabilities for a more limited objective, namely controlling the Baltic States.
He highlighted the nature of the arms modernization of the Russian military focused on ground based missile defense and land and sea based attack missiles along with airpower as the main means to shape a denial in depth strategy which would allow the Russians significant freedom of maneuver to achieve their objectives within their zone of strategic maneuver.
A core asset carried by the Russian forces is the Kalibr cruise missile, which can operate off of a variety of platforms. With a dense missile wolf pack so to speak the Russians provide a cover for their maneuver forces. They are focused on using land based mobile missiles in the region as their key strike and defense asset
“The Russian defense plan in the Baltic is all about telling NATO we can go into the Baltic countries if we decided to do so. And you will not be able to get in and get us out. That is basically the whole idea.”
Rear Admiral Wang argued for a reverse engineering approach to the Russian threat.
He saw the “reverse engineering” approach as combing several key elements: a combined ASW, F-35 fleet, frigate and land based strike capabilities, including from Poland as well.
Vladimir Putin with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, during the Zapad 17 exercise. Credit: TASS
The Admiral’s position is based in part on the arrival of the F-35 and notably the F-35 as a core coalition aircraft with a capability to work closely with either land based or sea based strike capabilities.
“One needs to create air superiority, or air dominance as a prerequisite for any operation at all, and to do that NATO would need to assemble all the air power they can actually collect together, inclusive carrier-based aircraft in the Norwegian Sea.
“This is where the ice free part of the Arctic and the Baltic gets connected. We will have missions as well in the Arctic at the northern part of Norway because the Norwegians would be in a similar situation if there is a Baltic invasion.”
Rear Admiral Wang argued as well for a renewal or augmentation of ASW capabilities by the allies to deal with any Russian submarines in the Baltic supporting the operation, notably any missile carrying submarines.
He saw a focused Danish approach to frigate/helo based ASW in the region as more important than buying submarines to do the ASW mission.
The importance of using the F-35 as a trigger force for a sea-based missile strike force suggests that one option for the Danes will be to put new missiles into their MK-41 tubes which they have on their frigates.
They could put SM-2s or SM-3s or even Tomahawks onto their frigates dependent on how they wanted to define and deal with the Russian threat.
The ongoing work on Aegis integration with F-35 or the USMC work on integrating their High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers is suggestive of their approach.
And leveraging the F-35 as the flying combat system part of the overall strike and defense force is a key part of Danish thinking.
During the recent stay in Copenhagen, there was a chance to discuss this as well with the new head of the Royal Danish Air Force, Col. Anders Rex.
“When I talk with F-35 pilots, the same message is drilled into me – this is not a replacement aircraft; this is not like any aircraft you have flown before. The aircraft enables our air combat forces to play a whole new ballgame.
“And from my discussions with Australians, the Norwegians, the Dutch and the Brits, it is clear that the common drive is to shape a fifth generation combat force, not simply fly the current 256 F-35s as cool, new jets.”
Col. Anders Rex, Danish Air Force. seen at the Copenhagen Airpower Conference, 2015. Credit: Second Line of Defense
He clearly had in mind working on leveraging the introduction of the F-35 to trigger a broader transformation.
And this makes sense, because in large part the F-35 is not simply a fighter which you define but what it does by itself organically, but, rather by what it can trigger in the overall combat fleet, whether lethal or non-lethal payloads.
“We need to focus on the management of big data generated by the F-35 and other assets that will come into the force.
“How do we do the right kind of command and control within a rich information battlespace?
“We need to build self-learning systems as well.
“The F-35 is a revolutionary man-machine system and sets in motion not only the challenge of new approaches to working information and C2, but new approaches to combat learning.
“How do we get there?
“That is what generating a fifth generation combat force is all about.”
An American colleague who has worked in Denmark for several years at the Centre for Military Studies at the University of Copenhagen highlighted the growing cooperation among the Nordics and how that cooperation was reshaping their operational approaches to dealing with the Russian threat.
Notably, the Swedes are introducing conscription, the Norwegians are enhancing their defense spending and the Finns are working new relationships in the region.
As Dr. Gary Schaub, Jr. put it during a meeting in Copenhagen:
“The Nordics are looking for practical ways ahead on credible deterrence with regard to the Russians.
“In this collaborative environment between equal—but small—powers, the suggestions of a Britain or US could smooth over the small barriers that might keep these otherwise pragmatic nations from doing what is in their own, and their region’s, common interests.
“There is a huge opportunity for the new Administration to shape a thoughtful proactive NORDIC agenda as the Nordics themselves seek a more regional approach.
“And as F-35s and P-8s come into the region, there is an opportunity to leverage common assets to shape a more proactive and common effort towards regional defense and security.
“The Administration should seize it.”
An earlier version of this article was published by Breaking Defense on November 17, 2017.
Editor’s Note: We were part of a unique Australian-Danish seminar on the future of airpower held in Copenhagen in 2015.
The discussions in that seminar presaged Danish thinking and actions seen in the actions of the government and in evolving Danish and Nordic thinking.
Ed Timperlake laid out at the seminar a set of arguments which have been factored in by the Danes in thinking ahead with regard to their deterrent strategy.
2015-05-01 Ed Timperlake, editor of the Second Line of Defense Forum, was the last speaker of the day prior to the wrap up of the Danish airpower symposium.
The title of his briefing was “Early 21st Century Warfighting Trends: Technology, Training and Tactics,” and focused on the intersection of the coming of the F-35 with the evolving warfighting environment for the US and its allies.
In effect, he provided a look at the synergy of what John Blackburn discussed through Plan Jericho between the F-35 as a trigger for change, and the evolving approach of the RAAF or what Lt. Col. Berke referred as the disruptive change associated with the F-35 and the evolving eco system associated with fifth generation warfare.
As a Marine Corps pilot engaged in both close air support and air-to-air missions, Timperlake completed his flying career as Commanding Officer of VMFA-321 with over 3000 hours of tactical flying.
Timperlake was looking forward from the perspective of the way ahead for performing the mixture of missions pilots would need to deliver in the coming decade.
A core element of working the evolving future is understanding that even with a disruptive change platform like the F-35, it is intersection of the training and tactics for the platform with the overall capabilities of the force which will drive change, And it is the squadrons and the squadron pilots who are the heart of shaping innovation.
As Lt Col. Berke had highlighted, change was a significant part of what the F-35 was all about for the pilots and their roles.
Timperlake underscored that in visits to the core warfighting centers in the United States associated with airpower – Nellis, Fallon and MAWS-1 – the warfighters had embraced change and were working across the services and with the allies in shaping new combat approaches.
As one who had met John Boyd and sat through his lectures a couple of times, Timperlake focused on how the famous OODA loop was being re-shaped with the coming of the F-35 fleet whereby the “Decide-Act” part of the OODA loop was increasingly important.
F-22 Raptors from the 94th Fighter Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and F-35A Lightning IIs from the 58th Fighter Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, fly in formation after completing an integration training mission over the Eglin Training Range, Florida, Nov. 5, 2014. The purpose of the training was to improve integrated employment of fifth-generation assets and tactics. The F-35s and F-22s flew offensive counter air, defensive counter air and interdiction missions, maximizing effects by employing fifth-generation capabilities together. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)
The ability of the pilots to share situational awareness across the fleet, and to support one another’s operations over significant distance in compressed time meant that the force would have significant capability to deliver kinetic strike either by itself or from other platforms.
And the passive sensing capabilities of the F-35 would introduce innovations in kinetic and non-kinetic strike as well.
One way to understand the evolving eco system associated with fifth generation warfare is the S-cubed revolution.
Stealth, speed and sensors are an interactive dynamic and underlay the emergence of fifth generation warfare.
The sensor-shooter revolution sees as well the emergence of the offensive-defensive enterprise.
Sensors, stealth and speed enable the air combat enterprise to find, kill and respond effectively to the numerous adversarial threats that global powers and pop up forces can present to the US and its allies.
The strategic thrust of integrating modern systems is to create a honeycomb that can operate in an area as a seamless whole, able to strike or defend simultaneously.
This is enabled by the evolution of C5ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), and it is why Secretary Wynne has underscored for more than a decade that fifth generation aircraft are not merely replacements for existing tactical systems but a whole new approach to integrating defense and offense.
By shaping a C5ISR system inextricably intertwined with platforms and assets that can honeycomb an area of operation, an attack and defense enterprise can operate to deter aggressors and adversaries or to conduct successful military operations.
The F-35 global fleet will help shape the new ecosystem and live off it. Synergy in shaping evolving capabilities to deal with the reactive enemy will be an essential part of the innovations associated with the offensive-defensive enterprise.
Ed Timperlake addresses the Copenhagen Airpower Symposium, April 17, 2015. Credit: SLD
Timperlake argued that the warfighting centers were interactively working together and with allies to shape the way ahead.
Each center has an evolving special focus that will carry forth innovation across the entire warfighting enterprise.
MCAS Yuma, MAWTS-1, VMX-22 and the F-35 squadron, were working together to shape an innovative approach to 21st century close air support within which the cockpit display gave the pilot a constant read of the AA and GA threats and in which electronic warfare was part of the CAS capabilities of the aircraft. And with the integration with the Osprey and with the MAGTF, the Marines were shaping a whole new approach to assault forces.
Visiting the Warfare Center at Nellis, Timperlake learned of the central importance of shaping a fleet wide mission data set correlated with the F-35 sensors in shaping wide ranging SA and engagement force decision making. With Red Flag exercises the USAF was leading the way in shaping the intersection of the F-35 with other combat assets to shape an air combat revolution that will help reshape an ecosystem that would evolve with the F-35 fleet.
At Fallon, the Navy is looking to lead the way on shaping a live virtual constructive range which will allow the complexities of a modern battlefield to be both inclusive and wide-ranging.
He saw the new carrier air wing evolving under the influence of the F-35 extending its reach and expanding the capabilities of the maritime force to deliver distributed lethality.
This is an open-ended learning process, but to use Lt. Col. Berke’s language, one which needs to be accelerated and to get on with it.
The systems making up the F-35 cockpit provide convergent capabilities but are driven by separate R and D paths to shape new 21st century capabilities. In other words, the F-35 and its evolving ecosystem are both inherent to change within the aircraft and synergistic with change in the entire air combat force.
The future is in the hands of the squadron pilots across the services, and the allies and change driven by any one service or F-35 nation will be part of the overall dynamic of re-shaping the eco-system.
This is a key advantage that the US and its allies can leverage to shape a more effective combat future and to position themselves effectively against adversaries like Russia, North Korea and China.
He concluded that “countless evolutionary and revolutionary aspects of 21st century combat will be in the hands of the squadron pilots – as it should be!”
For our Special Report on the evolution of North Atlantic and Nordic Security, please see the following:
2017-11-28 A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion and U.S. Army MH-60M Blackhawks assigned to Marine Corps Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) conduct an aerial refueling exercise in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor course (WTI) 1-18 in Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 6, 2017.
WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1 cadre which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps Aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force.
MAWTS-1 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.
Lt. General (Retired) Jon Davis on a panel at the Williams Foundaton Seminar on Electronic Warfare, August 23,
The Iranians are working their own form of power projection in the region and have enhanced their power in Iraq.
Helping the Christians in Iraq is important in and of itself, certainly for the global Christian community.
Joseph Kassab highlighted what he saw as a growing influence of the neighboring countries in Iraq and the genuine interest of Prime Minister Abbadi to marginalize this influence and to fiercely fight corruption in his own country as a key factor alleviating all realistic approaches to shaping stability.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently on sea trials off the south coast of England.. Credit: UK Ministry of Defence
Rear Admiral Nils Wang.
Vladimir Putin with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, during the Zapad 17 exercise. Credit: TASS
Col. Anders Rex, Danish Air Force. seen at the Copenhagen Airpower Conference, 2015. Credit: Second Line of Defense
