Focusing on the Joint Effect: Air Marshal Leo Davies and the Way Ahead for the RAAF

Posted on | by Robbin Laird
04/26/2017

2017-04-19 By Robbin Laird

During my visit to Australia in April 2017, I had a chance to meet and talk again with Air Marshal Leo Davies, Chief of Staff of the Royal Australian Air Force.

During the Avalon Air Show, the RAAF released its long-term strategy document, Air Force Strategy: 2017-2027.

air-force-strategy-2017-2027

I will publish an article soon about that document and its core arguments about the way ahead.

When the document was released, Air Marshal Davies highlighted how central he saw the evolving joint context to defense modernization.

“Of the five vectors (of strategic development discussed in the strategy document), CAF said the capabilities which would require the most work and fundamental cultural changes were joint warfighting and people.

“I don’t believe we, as an Air Force, understand how joint we need to be. We have come a long way – we talk a lot about joint, but I am not sure we are culturally able to shift from doing Air Force stuff first.

“I would like the Air Force in a joint context to begin to put the joint effect before our own Air Force requirements.”[1]

This perspective was highlighted by Air Vice-Marshal (Retired) John Blackburn as a key element for shaping the next phase of development for the Australian Defense Force, namely, shaping a joint force by design, rather than pursuing an a la carte connection after the fact effort.

“Cultural change, as reflected in CAF’s strategic plan narrative, is required to prioritize the integrated force outcomes over the individual force priorities where appropriate.”

We started the interview by discussing precisely the cultural change aspect of transitioning to a fifth generation warfare approach.

Air Marshal Davies: When aircraft first arrived at the battlefield in the very early days of World War I, having just begun to learn how to fly in fact, it was the, “But it’ll scare the horses” type mindset from the cavalry in particular which limited thinking.

“But it didn’t take long even for the cavalry to work out that this thing could really make a change in warfighting.

“It was not the particular airplane, not what model you flew, but the advent of air power as an option for the battlefield became the, “Wow! How do we get more of that?”

“Fifth generation is as dramatic as that.

“We are trying to at least be prepared for and begin to understand that it is real is 5th generation methodology.

“It is as big a step as it was at the advent of air power in World War I.

“But we are not, in my view, the best at taking such big steps.

“We tend to fail to see that there is a step to be taken, and keeping doing what we have done well in the past.

“But more importantly, we revert to a Maslow type hierarchy. “Can I touch it? Can I see it? Can I be part of it? Does it fulfill me both in a technological sense, but as importantly, in a mental and emotional sense?”

“Because as an Air Force we recognize that we need to take a major step forward, we are confronting what it will be mean to have a fifth generation operating model, rather than just acquiring a new airplane.

“It is challenging, but you can’t meet the challenge if you do not recognize the strategic opportunity.

“We put in motion “Plan Jericho” precisely to shake up thinking and to get on with crafting the journey of becoming a fifth generation air force.

“We have to learn that there is a new way of doing business, and if we didn’t show some clear recognizable, understandable, and air force-involved steps along the way, it would’ve always been just a little bit too far.

“We’re demonstrating that it is possible by the rethink associated with Plan Jericho.

“We have acted under the assumption that Plan Jericho is a compass not a roadmap.

“The new strategy focuses on the five vectors of change and if we follow those vectors and implement the changes we can succeed in becoming a fifth generation air force and a powerful asset for the ADF in terms of enhanced joint effects.”

Question: It is clear that the challenge is not so much to connect a force via a network to become integrated as it is about training, shaping and empowering a 21st century network of 21st century warfighters.

And from taking to many of your key officers responsible for introducing or operating the new platforms, it is clear that they get the point it is not about simply operating a new platform, it is about becoming an integrated fifth generation combat force.

 How do you best support this transformation?

Air Marshal Davies: “A key benefit from the Plan Jericho approach is reshaping the language.

“It is not about how does this new platform fit into the force as it is, it is about how does this new platform enable the force to fight the way we need to be able to in the future?

“It has to be realistic but in a sense the reality we are looking at is not just the Air Force as it has fought in the past and present, but the Air Force as it vectors towards the future fight.

“If you don’t do this you will be only discussing and debating platforms in the historical combat space.

“And when we come to new platform decisions, we are positioning ourselves to ask the right question of the services: How does a particular platform fit how we will need to fight in 10 year’s time? Is the Navy or the Army or the Air Force entitled to that particular capability choice if it doesn’t fit that criteria?”

 

[1] “This is an investment in our future – CAF,” Air Force (February 8, 2017), p. 4.

The slideshow highlights aircraft at the 2017 Avalon Air Show and are credited to the Australian Ministry of Defence.

Transitioning to the F-35: The Aussies and the F-35 Global Enterprise

Posted on | by Robbin Laird

2017-04-21 By Robbin Laird

During my recent visit to Australia, I had a chance to talk with Wing Commander Steven Bradley, Deputy Director Air Combat Transition Office, which is located in Canberra at Brindabella Park close to the airport.

Last year, I visited Williamtown where the initial facilities for the F-35 are being built.

https://sldinfo.com/visiting-the-raaf-williamtown-air-base-preparing-for-the-future-and-remembering-the-past/

RAAF Williamtown F-35 facilities in process of construction. Credit: RAAF

And last month, visited RAF Marham where the F-35 facilitates are being built for the UK, and at RAF Lakenheath where F-35 facilitates for the USAF are being built.

During the visit to RAF Lakenheath, the point was driven home about the importance of cross-learning with regard to standing up F-35 facilities world wide.

Lt. Col. Vause: The cross learning is very important as we stand up our facilities here at Lakenheath. 

We are visiting a number of facilities to see what their lessons learned are, and we then apply them directly to our standup here at Lakenheath.

Recently, we visited Yuma, Luke, Hill and Eielson to see what they have done and are doing in setting up or operating their F-35 facilities.

https://sldinfo.com/raf-lakenheath-prepares-for-the-future-usaf-f-35as-and-f-15s-combine-with-raf-capabilities-to-provide-a-21st-century-deterrent-force/

The UK is training its initial squadron in the United States and that squadron will then transition to Marham.

Similarly, the RAAF is training its pilots and maintainers in the United States and then the first squadron will be stood up at Williamtown.

Both the RAF and the RAAF will then stand up their remaining squadrons based on the use of their own newly built facilities respectively in Marham and Williamtown.

The Arrival in Australia of the First Australian F-35s from SldInfo.com on Vimeo.

But the cross-learning will continue as US and allied F-35s operate with the RAF and the RAAF from their bases.

And cross learning across the services will be a high priority for both the RAF and the RAAF, although the senior service leaders in Australia have really hammered home the point that the F-35s flown by the RAAF will learn joint from the outset.

In other words, there are several transitions which will go on throughout the standup of the F-35 in Australia.

First, there is the transition from the US to Australia.

Second, there is the transition at Williamtown where the first operational squadron the second squadron, which is to be a training squadron, will spawn.

Third, there is the transition associated with the IOC of the F-35 in Australia, during which the RAAF will operate throughout Australia with the services getting a good initial look at the aircraft.

Fourth, there is the interactive transition where Aussie F-35s fly throughout the region and beyond and cross learn with other global F-35 partners and US and allied F-35s operate in Australia and learn from the Aussies with regard to the evolving approach to joint integration.

In other words, because the F-35 is being stood up at the same time in many allied countries as in the United States cross learning is built into the standup and initial operating experiences.

Put bluntly, cross learning with regard to next generation high intensity operations is built in, whereby the U.S. will learn as much from allies as the other way around.

During my discussion with Wing Commander Steven “Rooster” Bradley, we discussed the transition process and his sense of the impact of the F-35 on the force.

Question: How important has been your engagement at Luke in standing up your initial F-35 squadron?

Wing Commander Bradley: The pilot training center at Luke has been crucial for us.

Our first squadron is not a training squadron but an operational one, therefore we have focused our initial training efforts in the United States on generating the required number of pilots, maintainers and support personnel necessary to declare Number 3 Squadron operational in 2020.

The second squadron that we will stand up at Williamtown will be Number 2 OCU, or Operational Conversion Unit, which is the school where we will train our pilots and maintainers.

Once we have our school up and running, we’ll then look to transition our last two Classic Hornet squadrons, which are 77 Squadron and then 75 Squadron.

The transition is quite aggressive with each of the squadrons transitioning from the classic Hornet to the F-35 in a 12-month period.

When you look at other F-35 users and the stand-up rate for squadrons, they typically take around the 24-month mark to convert a squadron.

Question: So you are looking to innovate with regard to the US approach, which means in turn that as you learn how to shorten the process that learning approach could be available to the US or other allies for that matter?

Wing Commander Bradley: There may be the opportunity to share our training processes and procedures with other F-35 operators in the future, however that’s not our focus.

We will be concentrating our resources on the standup of 2 OCU and the generation of a training syllabus that meets our requirements.

We will then shape and refine the process to ensure that the remaining squadrons can transition efficiently.

We face a major challenge in that we are not going to shut down a Hornet squadron and then set aside time to transition; we have to keep the squadron operational while we transition to the new F-35 squadron.

That is a challenge, which we need to meet.

We have trained five pilots to date at Luke and our 6th, who is the first squadron commander for 3 Squadron, is just about to depart from Australia and start his training.

Wing Commander Darren Clare has both a Super Hornet and Classic Hornet background, and we have a mix pilots who have flown both types in our first squadron construct.

Question: As you bring your first squadron and prepare for IOC, presumably you be flying in Australia and different services will see the plane as well?

Wing Commander Bradley: That is right.

The first aircraft will arrive at the end of next year.

We will then have 2019 and 2020 to work towards Initial Operating Capability in Australia.

We will be putting the F-35 through its paces in the Australian environment.

Our overall verification and validation process will happen in that two-year period.

We’re basically examining every aspect of the F-35 system in the Australian environment and during that time, we will be working with army and navy as well.

By the end of 2023, we aim to have all three F-35 squadrons online and operational as well as the training school.

Question: How important is this transition for Australia?

Wing Commander Bradley: It is crucial.

We are looking at a very different kind of aircraft and a different kind of combat capability with the F-35 compared to our legacy fleet of Hornets and Super Hornets.

We had a saying as fighter pilots when talking fourth generation tactics which is – speed is life and more is better.

In a fourth gen fight, if I could get higher and faster more quickly than the adversary, I would give my weapons more energy and I could launch my weapons first. If I achieve a first launch, then chances are I’ll survive.

That’s a simplistic look at 4th generation tactics but that was why speed was so important back in the day.

A lot of people are still hanging onto that concept.

Whilst speed is still a factor in a 5th generation environment, the whole mindset has shifted to now ‘information is life, and more is better’.

The information dominance of this particular platform is purely outstanding.

We’ve seen in this most recent Red Flag where F-35As were participating for the first time, that even if the F-35s had dropped all their weapons and had fired their missiles, they were still remaining inside the airspace to provide situational awareness to the rest of the participants in that force.

The information gathering and information sharing capabilities of this aircaft are so far advanced compared to anything else out there.

The information sharing capability of the platform is purely outstanding.

Knowing exactly what’s going on in the battlespace at any one particular time is the key to success and the key to survival in a 5th generation fight.

In a fourth generation world, I had to manipulate multiple sensors to be able to do that.

I had to take my radar display, and other displays and work integration in my head while flying the aircraft.

I had to take in communications from our controllers.

I had to take in communications and data from a wingman to build the picture until my platform was in a position where I could see the adversaries.

I don’t have to do that anymore, because of the data fusion capabilities of the F-35, which provides extraordinary situational awareness to the pilot.

Question: You are also focusing in your description on the need to have multiple support assets flying with you to support your strike mission as well?

Wing Commander Bradley: There’s no actual requirement, as such, to fly with multiple support assets, as the F-35 can operate successfully without them.

Having said that, by executing in this fashion you won’t necessarily get the most out of F-35 system.

Flying with support systems such as E-7A Wedgetail, EA-18G Growler or the Air Warfare Destroyers in a maritime sense, ensures that the F-35 system is functioning as efficiently and effectively as possible, meaning that you are getting the most out of it.

This therefore results in the overall mission risk being lower and chance of survival and victory, being considerably higher.

In a fourth generation world, we would always deploy a minimum of two aircraft in relatively close proximity to each other.

That was because our radars were simply not powerful enough as a single entity to cover the entire airspace.

I’d have one radar effectively looking low, the wingman’s radar looking high, and we combine our data there to build the picture.

RAAF Tindal F-35 facilities in process of construction. Credit: RAAF

Basically, there’ll be times where I didn’t necessarily see a particular contact until I was about to employ a weapon against that contact.

The big difference now is, with F-35, I see virtually everything in the airspace.

It’s positively identified as a friend, foe, or neutral, which allows me to put myself into a more advantageous position earlier on in the fight.

That’s the part where people don’t quite understand the true capabilities of the F-35.

I know exactly what’s going on in the battlespace all of the time.

The critics will often fail to take into consideration the evolution of the threats as well, some on a very, very rapid timeline.

Basically, the development of those potential threats means that in the near future, fourth generation platforms, even four and a half generation platforms, will be effectively targeted at longer range and placed at a higher risk.

You need the capabilities of the F-35 to counter these potential threats.

If people are looking at this particular airplane in Australia’s instance as simply a classic Hornet or Super Hornet replacement, then they’re wrong.

This is the introduction of an entirely new system, a system which can be a catalyst for the entire Australian Defense Force to move to an entirely new level in warfighting capabilities.

 

 

The UN Looking to Cut Air Logistics Support Costs

Posted on | by Robbin Laird
04/24/2017

2017-04-24 According to a piece published on April 24, 2017 by defenceWeb, the UN plans to cut its air logistics spend.

Moving assets by air is by far the fastest way to get them where needed but it is expensive as evidenced by UN figures which show the world body spent close on $750 million from 2015 to 2016 on flights.

UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said the use of aircraft provided essential logistics and military enabling capabilities but their “significant cost implications” means more cost effective solutions have to be found.

The instruction to heads of field missions from Secretary-General António Guterres is to “systematically analyse and adjust the composition of their air fleets and to seek alternative solutions to be more cost effective”.

The world body currently deploys 58 fixed wing and 157 rotary-winged aircraft in 12 peacekeeping missions and six special political missions.

Immediate changes including reducing fleets, limiting passenger movement to essential needs and cutting the number of non-mission passengers travelling on UN flights. A reduction in the number of “special flights”, for which no further detail is provided, is also recommended.

The cost reduction effort on flights will be led by the UN Department of Field Support, responsible for logistical support to the departments of Peacekeeping and Political Affairs.

The change in flight policy is part of the UN Secretariat’s “ongoing review of costs and the use of resources provided by member states”.

South Africa is a member state and has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the world body that sees it currently supplying eight helicopters to MONUSCO, the single largest UN peacekeeping mission. Three of these are South African designed and manufactured Rooivalk combat support helicopters which have earned high praise while in service in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and five Oryx medium transport helicopters.

Republished with permission of our partner defenceWeb,

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47580:un-plans-to-cut-air-logistics-spend&catid=47:Logistics&Itemid=110

 

 

The Challenge of Shaping Future Capabilities Informing the Evolving Force: The Perspective of Air Commodore Chipman

Posted on | by Robbin Laird

2017-04-20 By Robbin Laird

I first met Air Commodore Chipman when he was leading the initial Plan Jericho movement.

He now has become Director General of Capability Planning in the RAAF and is now faced with the challenge of infusing the forward thinking represented by Plan Jericho into actual capabilities.

And doing so clearly is about shaping the evolving force into a more integrated direction.

https://sldinfo.com/the-co-directors-of-plan-jericho-group-captain-rob-chipman-and-group-captain-jake-campbell-discuss-the-way-ahead-for-the-raaf/

Plan Jericho is a compass not a road map; but now is working the challenge of shaping programs to move down the direction where the compass is providing some guidance.

And it is clearly not easy.

Notably, with the RAAF introducing new platforms across the board, weaving those into a comprehensive capability, let alone an integrated one, is very challenging.

Slide from Presentation by Air Commodore Chipman, Williams Foundation Seminar, April 11, 2017

In his remarks to the Williams Foundation seminar on force integration, he underscored the importance of generating key thrusts within force development that allow movement in the right direction.

In my interview with him, he underscored that one of the problems is clearly ensuring platforms stay on track, such as the F-35 transition effort which is under his office’s responsibility.

His office also has responsibility for the missile defense program discussed at Williams.

He highlighted that the challenge of generating a future direction comes into conflict with program management.

“The biggest danger, is that as things crop up, and one particular project has a crisis, a financial crisis or something that jeopardizes what government has approved you to achieve, then you get focused in on solving that problem at the expense of thinking more broadly about our strategic direction.”

He sees a key ahead as shaping a community of 21st century operators who have a shared perspective on shaping joint effects as the strategic direction.

Effective joint force design is essential, but it won’t deliver an effective joint force in the absence of greater collaboration in the operational community.

He saw the Air Warfare Centre and its service counterparts as a key locus where shaping such a community of thinking and interest in shaping a way ahead for building a joint force.

Slide from Presentation by Air Commodore Chipman, Williams Foundation Seminar, April 11, 2017

“I don’t own the Air Warfare Center, but I think what I can do is start to influence the goals that we set for the Air Warfare Center so that we start to drive the kind of collaboration we need to integrate Air Force, and the Australian Defence Force.”

And clearly there needs to be practical cases or thrusts within program development which can provide the push necessary for greater program design for integration.

“We need to have broad enough of a perspective so that we can drive programs towards joint outcomes.

“For example, it will be crucial to bring E-7, with F-35 and air warfare destroyers into a common decision making space so that we can realise built in capabilities for integrated air and missile defense.”

“And that needs to be informed by shaping a common perspective with the USN and USAF as well.

“Let’s take integrated air missile defense as an example, because the project part of that at the moment within Air Force is Air 6500, a project that I’m responsible for.

“We’ve received strategic guidance that we should be interoperable with the U.S. in their Pacific theater.

“We need to put a little bit more definition to that. What is our vision for a theater air missile defense system between Australia and the U.S.?

“We need to integrate our platforms with a clear view of how to maximize our working relationship with the USN and USAF as a key driver for change as well.”

Air Commodore Robert Chipman, Williams Foundation Seminar on Force Integration, April 11, 2017

He emphasized the need in effect for practical steps forward at the tactical levels as key drivers for change as well.

“The force is clearly innovating tactically and we need that innovation to be informing ways to reshape integrated capabilities going forward.”

For example, the RAAF is looking at a new UAV to add to the force, and the Air Commodore saw that as best done by shaping and leveraging the creation of the ISR hub at RAAF Edinburgh.

And any new UAV should emerge from the integrated P-8/Triton efforts from that hub.

“Our new platforms need to plug into a common organization that is thinking broadly about the mission rather than simply buying a new UAV and handing it to the common organization.

“Platform acquisition in future clearly will need to be informed by integrative innovations and the 21st century network of warfighters, as you put it.”

And the RAAF needs to find ways to prepare and promote disruptive change.

In part that will be done by shaping a community, which has confidence in its ability to promote change and work towards a joint effect from any acquisitions going forward.

“Predicting the future accurately is hard. What we need is to develop confidence in our ability to adapt quickly as the future changes and evolves in front of us and to be able to respond to those changes.

“It is about creating organizational capacity and confidence to be able to respond to an evolving future.”

The Jericho project team is now working on ways for the RAAF to understand and anticipate disruptive change.

They are focusing on a concept called disruptive thinking. We are working with the private sector and with academia to find pockets of excellence able to come up with new ideas and new ways of using fielded technology to help with defense’s mission.”

He articulated where he would like the RAAF to be able to position itself in the future.

“I would love to see Air Force become earlier adopters of technology. I think at the moment we wait until technology is too mature before we bring it into service.

“We live in a region where competitors are clearly innovating rapidly.

“If we’re able to bring ourselves forward on that technology acceptance curve, I believe that would be a really good outcome for us.”

 

The 15th MEU & America ARG Take Next Steps in Deployment Preparation

Posted on | by Robbin Laird
04/22/2017

2017-04-17 By Todd Miller

On board the U.S.S. San Diego all briefings are complete and mission execution is all that remains.

Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) gather their steroid induced rucks and pack into the tight confines of the Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV). 3 crew, weapons, support equipment and up to 21 Marines in each AAV. It is tight quarters among team.

The smell of diesel fills the air, the clang of metal on metal and slapping of water on the well deck speaks “go time.”

On cue, the ramp, and all hatches of the AAV close tightly and the vehicle is readied for launch.

Launch? Yes, launch into the deep blue sea off the back of the San Diego with as much grace as 29 tons on tracks can muster.

Any apprehension (and there must be some) is masked by focus on the mission at hand.

We are United States Marines, and this is what we do.

This is the defining mission set for Marines. Amphibious Assault. This forcible entry from the sea recalls revered Marine battles of the past; Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Okinawa – fought in conditions we cannot know.

Marines immortalized, their qualities of valor and determination to fight through to the finish now awakened in the hearts of this generation of US Marines.

Today’s mission; Gain a beachhead, assault and secure a village with a mixed hostile/civilian population, capture a high value target and secure intelligence.

Location; Red Beach, Camp Pendleton, CA.

The exercise is the culmination of PMINT (PHIBRON – MEU INTegration). The PHIBRON (AmPHIBious SquadRON) consists of the U.S.S. America (LHA-6), U.S.S. San Diego (LPD-22) and U.S.S. Pearl Harbor (LSD- 52), otherwise known as the “America Amphibious Ready Group” (ARG).

The 15th MEU is about 4 months deep in their 6 months of deployment workups.

Previous phases of the workups focused on individual skills followed by unit skills and included exercises such as Realistic Urban Training (RUT) (see previous articles on the 15th MEUs workups Part One & Part Two). PMINT is the stage when the ARG/MEU force integrates as a cohesive team, US Marines and US Navy.

Lt. Col Richard Alvarez, Executive Officer of the 15th MEU explained, “the most challenging thing we do is integrating all the assets, making them work as a team.

Leaving the ship, coming to shore.”

The amphibious assault represents the culmination of PMINT and the transition to the final two months of workups before the ARG/MEU deployment this summer.

The U.S.S. San Diego draws relatively close to shore and the ramp at the rear of the well deck draws down.

Go time.

One after another the AAVs “launch,” almost disappearing in the water before bobbing up to “float height.” Even still, they sit deep in the water ensuring a low profile if targeted. Two waves, one of 5 the other of 6 AAVs are formed. Quick math, and it is clear, hundreds of Marines are incoming.

Overhead the 15th MEUs Aviation Combat Element (ACE) is represented by VMM-161 UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters.

The Venom drops its nose making simulated rocket runs on… us. The Vipers gun turret swivels from side to side – pointing at… us. If the battlefield were real, the outcome of those looks – the last record in your memory bank.

It is tempting to jump to the conclusion that a battlefield scenario would include a massive Naval bombardment and airpower strikes – but it is not that simple.

The operational situation would define support levels.

On the table, everything from that Naval bombardment and fierce air attack to soften up the shore – to a stealthy approach in the dead of night.

The full extent of the ACE (not utilized in this specific exercise) provides even more options such as; distributed assault utilizing MV-22Bs where hundreds of Marines can land hundreds of miles inland and CH-53E Super Stallions can sling support equipment to positions of tactical advantage.

As the exercise progresses we see those very MV-22Bs and CH-53Es land in an adjacent area down the beach from the village.

The amphibious assault is just one of 13 mission sets the MEU is “certified” to execute during their deployment.

The forward deployed, rapid responding, broadly capable ARG/MEU provide the combatant commander with incredible flexibility and capability.

Even if not mission utilized, their mere presence offshore sends a strong message of deterrence.

The AAVs approach the shore and move quickly from the waves, to the beach and on to predefined positions flanking the village. Within moments Marines burst from the confines of the AAVs and move forward with purpose under their own notional covering fire. This assault quickly becomes Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT), it is dangerous and dynamic.

Marines must carefully assess surroundings, dynamic threats, and make life and death decisions in an instant.

Around any corner, in any number of buildings the Marines confront notional combatants both in uniform and civilian clothing utilizing a variety of weapons. In cases hostiles “play dead” only to open fire as Marines close, or use civilians as human shields.

Throughout the exercise trainers identify issues real time and miss steps or misfortune generate notional Marine injuries that subsequently require team support, medical attention and evacuation.

With the battle raging in the heart of the village “High Speed, Heavy Lifting” Assault Hovercraft -(officially “Landing Craft Air Cushion” vehicles (LCAC)) glide ashore to unload numerous Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs) and High Mobility Multi Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs – generally known as Humvees).

Soon, the village is teaming with Marines. AAVs, LAVS, HMMWVs with devastating firepower create a perimeter around the village to defend from counter attack.

Alvarez emphasized that this specific training event mimicked real world scenario, “it puts Marines in a place where they must differentiate and make decisions.”

The workup period is high tempo and relentless. Repeated exposure to intense “real world scenarios” discipline Marines physical and mental skills to respond like muscle memory when on mission.

With PMINT behind them, the final two months of workups remain.

1st Lt. Maida Zheng, Public Affairs Officer of the 15th MEU indicated the next stages as the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) where the ARG/MEU will exercise assigned mission essential tasks ensuring they are fully prepared for the Certification Exercise (CERTEX).

Upon successful completion of CERTEX, the 15th MEU will be officially certified for their Western Pacific (WESTPAC) / Central Command (CENTCOM) deployment with the America ARG.

Regardless where the ARG/MEU sails and what crises (if any) they are called to confront, Americans can be certain the Marines of the 15th MEU are well prepared and will get the job done.

Second Line of Defense expresses gratitude to; Lt. Col Richard Alvarez, Executive Officer of the 15th MEU; 1st Lt. Maida Zheng, Public Affairs Officer, 15th MEU; BLT 1/5 and the entire 15th MEU; the support team from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and the U.S.S. America ARG.

Todd Miller focused on the workup and the assets used in the workup, but the evolution of the ARG-MEU which is already underway will see a sea change in capability as new aviation assets are added to the MEU.

As Miller explains:

Given assets and training the MEU is more capable than it has ever been.

Yet the Marines are not standing still, they have a host of new capabilities and assets being adopted or incoming that will bring increased capability and lethality.

LHA America Class of Amphibious Assault Ships; This 2017 deployment with the 15th MEU is the first deployment for the U.S.S. America (LHA-6). This new class of amphibious assault ship replaces the well deck with substantially more space and resources for supporting Marine Aviation operations.

Lt. Col Richard Alvarez, Executive Officer of the 15th MEU explained that “there is no downside impact on the MEU, all the required amphibious assets are located on the U.S.S. San Diego (LPD-22) and U.S.S. Pearl Harbor (LSD- 52).

The upside is the potential to carry more MV-22Bs, CH-53Es, AH-1Zs, UH-1Ys and fixed wing assets, AV-8Bs or in near future, F-35Bs.”

The aviation centric model will provide the ability for “aviation driven amphibious assaults, or military operations” that can take place hundreds of miles inland.

An ideal capability to; Insert; execute missions against terrorist or high value targets; and exfiltrate.

F-35B; The capabilities of the F-35B represent a quantum leap in fixed wing capability for the US Marines.

The F-35B adds organic electronic warfare (EW), integrated command, control, communications, computers, ISR, and the resultant empowered decision making (C4ISR-D) and employment or action (The F-35 and the Future of Power Projection, Laird & Timberlake 2012).

F-35Bs supporting the MEU replace three airframes (EA-6B, F/A-18 & AV-8) and bring the capabilities within the ARG/MEU.

CH-53K; The King Stallion recently realized Milestone C and is approved for low rate initial production (LRIP).

The King Stallion provides up to 3 times the lifting capacity as well as a larger cabin to carry specific loads internally and scores of additional enhancements.

The capabilities open significant operational options moving Marines, artillery and/or equipment from ship to shore.

AAV-SU; The Amphibious Attack Vehicle Survivability Upgrade is underway and provides increased survivability against IEDs, as well as numerous additional upgrades.

RQ-21A; The RQ–21A Blackjack is a small tactical unmanned aircraft system (STUAS) that meets the requirements of the US Navy and the US Marine Corps (USMC).

The RQ-21As standard payload includes an electro-optic imager, mid-wave infrared imager, laser rangefinder, infrared (IR) marker, and automatic identification system (AIS) receivers. Additional payloads are available. *

MAGTF Digital Interoperability (DI); DI positions every platform a sensor, shooter, electronic warfare node and sharer, able to move information throughout the spectrum across the battlefield at light speed. All marine aircraft will be digitally linked with MAGTF and ship C2 across multiple waveforms.*

MAGTF Electronic Warfare (EW); Each platform carries EW payloads to provide persistent, organic and distributed EW & cyber capabilities (such as the Intrepid Tiger II precision EW pod). *

*Information from the 2017 U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Plan

 

Buy America or Defense Transformation?

Posted on | by Robbin Laird

2017-04-20 By Colin Clark

WASHINGTON: America cannot apply Buy America provisions on a widescale basis and buy the best weapons, no matter how much President Trump and his team may feel otherwise.

It’s a simple as that.

All the competitors for the Air Force’s next-generation trainer, the T-X, include enormous amounts of foreign content, some including the aircraft. The biggest weapon system built for the US military, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, includes enormous amounts of foreign content.

The F-35’s complex wiring bundles are done by a Dutch company. An Australian company builds vertical tailpieces. BAE, a British and American company, builds major portions of the plane.

Check out the graphic below by BAE Systems to see what they do. There’s even a Memorandum of Understanding between Australia, Denmark, Italy, Holland, Norway, Turkey, the UK and the U.S.A about the production, sustainment, and follow-on development of the F-35 that guarantees certain rights to the program’s original partner countries.

ANALYSIS

As those examples make clear, the world is really too interconnected to put America First in defense trade without harming American interests. American defense supply chains are inextricably tied to Europe, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

I don’t mention Canada because it is legally part of the US defense industrial base and is not subject to regulation. It was missed by many, but the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act added Australia and Britain to the US industrial base, so their companies also would not be subject to whatever the review finds.

One source familiar with the issue says Britain and Australia were added to fend off the worst effects of a Buy America crackdown that was already being discussed.

The global nature of America’s defense industrial base is the bedrock on which President Trump’s move to consider applying Buy America provisions to the Defense Department will probably crack. The Executive Order, signed Tuesday in a lackluster ceremony in Wisconsin, decrees a 150-day review requiring agencies asses how well they follow Buy American laws and decide whether they are issuing too many waivers.

Australias first F-35A Lightning II aircraft 01 and 02 on transit to the Australian International Airshow in Avalon.  The Australian Defence Force is proud to be part of the 2017 Australian International Airshow, with displays showcasing the latest military aviation assets and technology.

Also, the Commerce Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative will consider the World Trade Organization Agreement and related documents to decide if they are cramping our ability to Buy American.

Here’s the only mention of defense in the EO: “In order to promote economic and national security and to help stimulate economic growth, create good jobs at decent wages, strengthen our middle class, and support the American manufacturing and defense industrial bases, (emphasis added) it shall be the policy of the executive branch to maximize, consistent with law, through terms and conditions of Federal financial assistance awards and Federal procurements, the use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States.”

Rep. Duncan Hunter’s father tried to push Buy America provisions when he presided over his first National Defense Authorization Act.

It was a bad idea then, agreed everyone from Sen. John Warner, then chairman of the Senate Armed Services, to a senator named John McCain, the powerful Aerospace Industries Association, and a host of analysts and other lawmakers.

I know because I covered that debate.

Hunter and his few legislative allies lost that fight, utterly and completely — outmaneuvered and out-argued and, well, just out-thought.

A fellow named John Hamre, then Deputy Defense Secretary and now head of the hefty Center for Strategic and International Studies, commissioned a Defense Science Board study on globalization published in December 1999 that everyone involved in this debate needs to read as a primer.

The estimable Don Hicks, former Defense Undersecretary for research and engineering, wrote the report, with much help from international defense consultant Frank Cevasco and a host of others, including gentlemen named Ash Carter, Frank Kendall and Bill Schneider (who had the unique perspective of having served at the State Department and on the Defense Trade Advisory Group, of which he is still a member).

The most basic tenet of the DSB report:

“DoD once depended upon, and could afford to sustain, a dedicated domestic industrial base for the development, production and provision of its equipment and services. Today, the ‘U.S. defense industrial base’ no longer exists in its Cold War form. Instead, DoD now is supported by a broader, less defense-intensive industrial base that is becoming increasingly international in character.” That has only accelerated, as Carter made clear by creation of the DiUX network, the Rapid Capabilities Office and other innovation initiatives he championed while SecDef.

“The complex and often politically motivated statutes underlying the FAR and DFARS often restrict DoD’s ability to purchase some foreign products or products containing certain foreign material. Many of these (Buy America) statutes were be designed to protect the U.S. defense industrial base and U.S. suppliers of certain commodities from foreign competition.” (Our shipbuilding industry is a particularly intriguing example, I note.)

The report notes the persistence of Buy America pressure and makes clear the authors think such restrictions were something to be overcome, not embraced: “Attempts to increase DoD’s waiver authority have received limited political support because of the powerful constituencies represented in the governing statutes. On the positive side, however, most defense trading partners, including most NATO countries and selected others, have reciprocal procurement agreements with the U.S. Government that result in a waiver of the Buy American Act of 1933. The United States has such agreements with 21 countries and is in various stages of negotiations with several others, including some of the new NATO partners.”

If anything, the trends identified in the 1999 globalization report have only accelerated. Trying to redirect the flow of technology, capital and innovation is only likely to slow things down, add costs, deny us crucial technology and, perhaps most importantly, really irritate our close allies.

http://breakingdefense.com/2017/04/buy-america-again-sigh/

Republished with Permission of the Author.

Editor’s Note: This is an element of the turning point facing President Trump.

Either he wishes to invest in legacy systems or accelerates buying the new platforms and transforming the force into a truly world class high intensity fighting force.

And to do that Buy America poses barriers which simply make no sense and will add unnecessary costs to a force already having difficulties to accelerate transformation.

And indeed our closest allies are working with an operating the SAME new platforms which we are and we are in the process of learning together how to operate those systems in a fundamental defense transformation process.

And already we have dragged our feet because of past failures to grasp what foreign technologies even Americanized can deliver.

Why are the Aussies operating advanced battle management systems and tankers and we are not?

Why do the Brits deliver an advanced closed proximity weapon in combat systems which is the weapon of choice in the battles in the Middle East (Advanced Brimstone) and we do not?

Protectionism does not make sense in the face of allied global supply chains and cross learning.

We need to get on with accelerated modernization and not wallow in the past.

Indeed, instead of protecting military depots for a 20th Century military, we need to get on with 21st century global sustainment systems.

Buy American or lead global military transformation for a cutting edge US military.

The choice is stark and real.

 

 

UK Government Contracts for 6th Astute Class Attack Submarine

Posted on | by Robbin Laird

2017-04-22  The MOD has negotiated a new £1.4 billion contract for the Royal Navy’s new attack submarine, the sixth in a total fleet of seven, which will protect the UK’s new aircraft carriers and nuclear deterrent.

The submarine, named Agamemnon, is part of the Astute Class, the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever to enter service with the Royal Navy. The submarines are being built by BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, which employs around 8,000 people in its Submarines business, with thousands more working in the UK submarine supply chain.

The new contract guarantees a better deal for the UK taxpayer and for the Armed Forces, with an incentivised contract arrangement that will help to save money and demands the best possible work from industry.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

“This latest investment means we are well on our way to completing our fleet of Astute submarines. These are the most advanced submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy and are already providing unprecedented levels of stealth and attack capability across the world.”

“Backed by a rising defence budget and a £178 billion equipment plan, Barrow will remain the hub of our submarine build programmes providing high skilled jobs for years to come.”

Construction of the 7,400 tonne, 97-metre long Agamemnon began in 2012, and is well underway in the Devonshire Dock Hall at Barrow, alongside Boat 5 – Anson – and the yet-to-be-named Boat 7. Their sister submarines, HMS Astute, Ambush and Artful are already in service with the Royal Navy, contributing to operations around the globe.

Rear Admiral Paul Methven, Director Submarines Acquisition for the Submarine Delivery Agency, said:

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon with BAE Systems apprentices inside Devonshire Dock Hall where HMS Agamemnon is under construction. Picture: Michael Vallance, BAE Systems.

“The signature of this contract secures another world-class nuclear submarine for the Royal Navy. These are the most technologically advanced submarines we have ever operated, offering much greater firepower, better communications and more advanced stealth technology than their predecessors.

“Today marks another significant milestone for the Astute programme, that demonstrates the UK’s ability to deliver complex engineering projects, providing a fleet of submarines which will protect the UK’s interests around the globe.”

Featuring the latest nuclear-powered technology, the Astute Class submarines can circumnavigate the world submerged, manufacturing the crew’s oxygen from seawater as they go. They also have the ability to operate covertly and remain undetected in almost all circumstances despite being 50 per cent bigger than the Royal Navy’s current Trafalgar Class submarines which are being replaced by the Astute Class.

Will Blamey, Managing Director of BAE Systems Submarines, said:

“Securing the contract for the sixth Astute class submarine is a significant milestone for BAE Systems and the result of many years of hard work by our highly skilled workforce. The Astute class submarines are amongst the most highly capable and technologically advanced in the world and we’re immensely proud to build them for the Royal Navy.”

Alongside work on the Astute Class, BAE Systems is also the industrial lead for the Dreadnought programme, the Royal Navy’s next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/14-billion-deal-for-royal-navys-new-attack-submarine

UK Maritime Forces Onboard French Task Force Visit Vietnam

Posted on | by Robbin Laird

2017-04-22

In an article published on the UK MoD website, and published on April 21, 2017:

Around 60 Royal Navy and Royal Marines are currently taking part in a five-month French naval deployment to the Indian Ocean and Far East, aboard French assault ship FS Mistral.

The arrival of UK maritime personnel in Ho Chi Minh City further strengthens the UK’s Defence relationship with Vietnam, and while docked, UK sailors and marines, alongside French colleagues, will meet with personnel from the Vietnam People’s Navy to compare national maritime operating procedures and exchange experiences.

Two Royal Navy Merlin Mk3 helicopters are also embarked with France’s annual Jeanne d’Arc naval deployment, which will include port calls in Singapore, Sri Lanka, Japan, Guam and Australia.

UK Royal Marines onboard Jeanne D’Arc. Credit: UK Ministry of Defence

Minister of State for the Armed Forces Mike Penning said:

“Alongside French forces, our world class Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel are flying the flag for Britain in Vietnam, one of our important partners in the region.

“This deployment continues to show the flexibility of our Armed Forces to work with our partners, particularly with France, and contribute to international maritime security.”

The UK continues to work globally alongside Vietnam, both of our countries contributing personnel to the UN peacekeeping mission South Sudan.

Additionally, the UK regularly carries out Defence Engagement with Vietnam, and last year a Royal Navy dental team deployed as part of Pacific Partnerships 16, a multinational capacity building exercise led by the US. This year a small team of Army medics will travel to Vietnam to take part in Pacific Partnerships 17.

During the Jeanne d’Arc deployment, UK maritime personnel will also take part in multilateral amphibious exercises. This reflects our commitment to exercise at the highest levels with close partners in the Asia Pacific region, including Japan and the US, and demonstrates the UK’s ability to operate seamlessly alongside French forces in particular.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-maritime-forces-visit-vietnam-with-french-naval-task-group