2016-06-06 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake

During our visit to Jax Navy On 22 and 24 May, we had a chance to meet with and discuss the P-8/Triton with Commander Miguel Martinez, CO of Patrol Squadron 16 and Commander Amanda Hawkins, the Executive Officer of the Squadron.

The Command has just undergone a Change of Command on May 19^th.

According to an article published by the VP-16 PAO:

Cmdr. Mike Martinez relieved Cmdr. Dan Boman as the 62nd commanding officer of Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 during a May 19 ceremony in Hangar 117 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.   

VP-16 is the Navy’s first operational Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) squadron to deploy with the P-8A Poseidon – a modified Boeing 737 aircraft designed to supersede the war-fighting capabilities of its predecessor for 50 years, the P-3C Orion. 

Poseidon’s primary missions include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. 

Martinez assumed executive officer duties at VP-16 in May 2015, during the Inter-Deployment Readiness Cycle that followed the squadron’s inaugural P-8A deployment to 7th Fleet.  He commended the War Eagles’ former commanding officer. 

“I want to pass along my congratulations to Skipper Boman and his family for an amazingly successful command tour. It was my honor to serve under his command and the leadership that he provided to every Sailor in VP-16. That resulted in our outstanding recent deployment to 7th Fleet and set the stage for the squadron’s future success.” 

During Boman’s command of VP-16, the squadron completed its second deployment in the P-8A to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan in support of 7th Fleet operations. Over the deployment, 3,700 flight hours were safely executed without a single class “A” mishap. 

Martinez graduated from Texas A&M University in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree, and received his Naval Flight Officer (NFO) “Wings of Gold” in July of 1999. He reported to the “Skinny Dragons” of VP-4 in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, in May of 2000 for his first operational tour.  He completed deployments to 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet immediately after 9/11 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  

He reported to VP-30 in May 2003 for duty as a Fleet Replacement Squadron NFO Instructor. Additionally, he served on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt as a catapult and arresting gear officer. He also studied at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. 

Martinez assumes command of VP-16 following the end of a seven month deployment to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.  As the new commanding officer, Martinez takes responsibility for nearly $1 billion of naval aircraft and personnel. He will lead more than 250 Sailors during the next tour.  

Martinez is joined by the squadron’s new executive officer, Cmdr. Amanda Hawkins. Boman’s next assignment will be in Washington D.C., as a staff member for the Office of Chief of Naval Operations. 

In the perspective of the CO, VP-16 has completed its transition from a P-3 to the P-8A era.

The squadron has successfully completed its first two deployments at sea.

“VP-16 is at the tail end of its transition. It takes a while to transition philosophically in the squadron.

Now that we’re on the tail end of our second deployment, we’ve really completed our transition because the operators that you’re seeing in the squadron, especially the junior officers and some of our junior enlisted operators, only know the P-8A.

We are taking the ASW skill sets and melding them with the new technology and new sensors onboard the P-8A.”

He emphasized as well that the evolution of software aboard the software upgradeable aircraft was part of the ongoing transition which might be characterized as a “permanent revolution,” if what is being experienced to date is continued into the future.

“We have just completed our second deployment.

A lot of the capability on that deployment did not exist during the first.

And the main difference was because of software upgrades.”

And as they prepare for their next deployment, more software upgrades are under way.

And the CO commented that the “operators are telling me that we will have capabilities through the software upgrades that would have been extremely useful during the last two deployments.”

To date, the working relationship between the squadron and industry is working well in updating the aircraft through the software development process.

“I would tell you part of the reason that exists is because everyone’s invested in the success of P-8A.

Boeing and a lot of the companies that are involved in software upgrades, they want us to succeed.”

The CO expressed his concern that the success to date needed to be maintained throughout the course of the program to get the full value of what a software upgradeable aircraft could yield to the force.

“We have fleet support techs and fleet support reps that support us on deployment and here at home.

And it’s a direct tie-in back to the software developer as he’s pumping out new software updates and they’re getting ready software for our allied partners: UK and Australia.

It’s a very direct inject.”

He provided an example of how the process worked on deployment.

“We were on deployment at Kadena.

We were having difficulty with our media, and the P-8 is very media dependent; if the media is not working properly, the plane is not going to work properly.

The software representative told us that he would look at the software logs. When we burn new media, it writes logs into the computer system. He suggested that he would send the logs back to the lab and they would modify the code and fix the problem.

And they did do so rapidly. We certainly did not have that on the P-3, but we have that now.

I hope that experience continues indefinitely into the future.”

The plane is different; the sensors and software is different; but so is the work style.

When you work onto the plane, it is obvious that the operators are working on a track system with several screens adjacent to one another.

During our hands on visit to the plane, we talked to the crew and began to understand that there was an interactive team approach to managing the aircraft during operations, whereby the mission commander was more like a quarterback than a hierarchical decision maker.

The CO discussed that approach and its challenges.

“There is a certain empowerment which goes to the crew.

The mission commander has to know what is going on and off the aircraft affecting the mission.

He is doing so by empowering his crew whereby, for example, an acoustic operator will be talking to folks on the ground to determine how to deal with the acoustic reads which he getting.”

We noted that the Wedgetail which has a similar workflow to the P-8A also had experienced a similar decision making dynamic. The 2^nd Squadron commander in Australia noted that the mission leader on the plane had to lead not command.

The CO noted that “that is exactly it.

With the P-8 we have the opportunity to reach back for additional brain power, for additional analysis of what we are seeing on station.

And you are collecting information from the moment you take off until the moment you land.”

We noted that when we visited the plane, the crew was very young, and very technologically competent.

The CO agreed. “When I took my family who were here for the change of command and we went onto the aircraft, they also noted that the 25-27 year old mission commanders are operating a combat aircrew in an area like the South China Sea, and making decisions and doing things that could potentially affect our national strategy.

We want them to have that knowledge, that ability to make mission command decisions on their own.”

This younger generation was very “net and information management” savvy. And the CO highlighted that their capability to navigate among information sources was very impressive but also intuitive for them.

“It is hard to overload the current generation with information.

They are just used to it.

For example, when we go on station they are looking for various ways to get into the network.

They are thinking two or three steps down the road concerning different sources and different links, which can be tapped into including coalition assets as well. There’s so many different ways to enter a network of information.

They are very savvy with regard to that task.

We discussed as well the cross learning which is starting from the P-8A to the surface fleet.

“The surface fleet is beginning to experience being on deployment with a P-8A and getting massive amounts of information from the plane in a way we never did in the past.

There is a cross-learning piece which will accelerate in the period ahead.”

We discussed other cross-learning pieces as well.

The CO emphasized that as the software evolved in the P-8A/Triton world the mix of operators onboard the P-8A will evolve as well.

And as the cross-learning with Growlers and other combat assets such as the F-35 evolved as well the skill sets would evolve onboard the P-8A.

“We are the new kid on the block and advanced Hawkeye and Growler are already out there.

We are just now tapping into our EW capability and we will clearly cross-learn and cross-link with other capabilities in the fleet.

And I think if you took a look at how the P-8A operates now versus even five years from now it’s going to be significantly different.

The crew makeup is going to be a little bit different. I think you’re going to see a different mix of operators on the aircraft, perhaps more EW operators.”

The CO discussed as well the evolution of the maintenance team for the aircraft.

Obviously, with a new aircraft determining the actual maintenance requirements takes time and with it the need to adjust procedures and personnel.

In part, this is due simply to the fact that although the 737 is a commercial aircraft, as a military version of the aircraft, much of the commercial experience simply does not apply.

Another example is corrosion control.

Clearly, the way the P-8 operates will significantly enhance the corrosion challenge. The Navy is focused on ways to attenuate the corrosion challenge but this means paying significant attention from the outset to management of the airframe.

“I think that corrosion control will be a very important factor. It’s not negative. It’s simply something that we need to keep our eye on over the long term.”

The Executive Officer is new to the program but has significant relevant fleet experience, which will inform the evolution of the squadron as well.

She focused on the “family of systems” approach and how important that would be for the squadron and its evolution.

“By 2025 we will not have EP-3 and a VPU and P-3 squadrons; we are going to morph into P-8/Triton.

We need to understand what the EP-3 does as we move forward.

We are starting the cross-colonization now so that the family already has a healthy foundation when the EP-3 roles are subsumed as well.

(The EP-3 is the signals intelligence version of the P-3).

I view the Triton and the work that the weapons school is doing to integrate our family of systems as laying the foundation for the kill web.”

The CO discussed as well two of the allies flying the P-8A.

He noted with regard to the Australians that they had a tradition of keeping their P-3 crews intact for the long term.

When I was the instructor at VP30, I worked with the allied partners and their officers and enlisted operators are embedded in the squadron, and they bring a very unique and positive side in how to operate as a crew which works together regularly on station.

They man to keep their crews together; our manning is different in that we mix and match crews members over time and will do so even more as we rotate personnel among P-8A and Triton assignments.”

The CO has operated with the Indian P-8I community as well during the Malabar 2015 exercise.

The P-8I is different from the P-8A with a different sensor suite, one which provides more emphasis on coastal defense as well.

“We operated from their P-8I base at INS Rajali.

We found them to be very professional and we operated together from that base.

They are building the infrastructure there to support their P-8Is.

They see P-8I as critical to how they’re going to operate in the future.

They had a lot of questions about how we operated.

We had questions about how they operated.

And at the time they were the only other country operating P-8.”

In short, VP-16 has deployments under its belt and is getting ready for the transition with Triton and operating worldwide with other P-8 allies, the Indians, the Australians and the UK.

A solid foundation has been laid but the way forward is challenging and will see both the plane and the crews evolve their capabilities and skill sets.

The slideshow focuses on the recent change of command for VP-16.

And a piece published on April 27, 2016 by the PAO of VP-16 in the Jax Air News talked about the latest deployment:

Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 returned home this month after a demanding seven-month deployment to the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR).

This marked the second deployment VP-16 has taken in the P-8A Poseidon – both deployments having been based out of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. 

VP-16 has now deployed in the P-8A Poseidon for more months and executed more deployed flight hours with the new maritime patrol aircraft than any other VP squadron in the Navy. 

The deployment included detachments to a multitude of countries in the 7th Fleet AOR.  Within Japan, locations such as Atsugi, Misawa, and Yokota were visited by VP-16 aircraft.

Additionally, the Republic of the Philippines, Guam, India, Brunei, Australia, Thailand and Singapore were other countries visited by the “War Eagles” during their assignment to the region. In total, VP-16 was able to safely execute in excess of 3,700 flight hours over the course of the prior seven months.

The squadron excelled in all aspects of their operations. Mission sets included Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), plus Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). VP-16 was often tasked for these mission sets since the P-8A Poseidon has a full set of intelligence collection sensors with long-range capability and extended loiter time available.

For many in the squadron, this marked their first time on deployment. 

“This was my first deployment since joining the Navy. The experience was extremely rewarding because we were finally able to employ the many years of training we have undergone at NAS Jacksonville,” said Lt. j.g. Michael Reindl, a naval flight officer with VP-16.  As anyone who has served can tell you, first deployments come with many new situations that can be difficult to adjust to. 

For others, this was not their first experience within actual theater.  AWO1 Marcus Belew, for example, was previously deployed on the P-3C Orion but embarked on his first deployment on the P-8A Poseidon this time around. 

“This was my fourth deployment.  Deploying with the P-8A was more tactically engaging than it was in the P-3C. We utilize our sensors from takeoff until landing, and that makes me feel that I’m able to provide a better product for the Navy as a whole.”

The response from upper level leadership to VP-16’s deployment was tremendous. The squadron was able to perform above and beyond the required levels of proficiency. Now, with VP-16 back home at NAS Jacksonville, training for their next deployment has already begun.

 

2016-05-29 By Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird

The great historian Max Hastings in a seminal book about all the fighting forces of World War II said that after some very nasty set backs early in the war, the US and Royal Navies emerged as the most effective fighting forces in the war.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/books/review/inferno-the-world-at-war-1939-1945-by-max-hastings-book-review.html?_r=0

We have often spoken of the US Navy’s combat operational goal in WW II of creating a Big Blue Blanket over the Pacific via a vast deployed fleet.

This now evolved into a “Big Blue ‘Tron’ Blanket.

https://sldinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/21st-Century-Approach-to-Tron-Warfare.pdf

But what also can never be forgotten is the other war winning combat approach; the USN and RN Hunter-Killer teams of air and surface platforms working in harmony to win “The Battle of The Atlantic.”

In today’s 21s Century military world add in nuc attack subs, satellites and “remotes” and todays “Big Blue ‘Tron’ Blanket” and “Hunter-Killer Teams” now become global scalable “Kill Webs.”

When we visited at the end of March this year Admiral Gortney, NORTHCOM Commander and a proven fighting Carrier Admiral, he focused on the challenge of dealing with the threats at the 10 and 2 O’clock to North America.

He highlighted as well the centrality of shaping integrated air and maritime capabilities to deal with the threat and suggested that NORAD migrate from a pure air to an integrated air and sea command to deal with the 21^st century challenges facing his command.

https://sldinfo.com/north-american-defense-and-the-evolving-strategic-environment-admiral-gortney-focuses-on-the-need-to-defend-north-america-at-the-ten-and-two-oclock-positions/

http://breakingdefense.com/2016/04/northcom-defending-north-america-at-ten-and-two-oclock/

When we visited Navy Jax, we were able to talk with those creating an effective response to the challenges highlighted by Admiral Gortney, namely the P-8/Triton community.

These maritime war fighting assets are key elements in the evolving approach to crate effective “kill webs” to address a very real and growing threat to North America.

And an important asset in shaping this way ahead is provided by the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Weapons School (MPRWS) located in the Integrated Training Center.

In effect, this is where the Weapons and Tactics Instructors are being trained and shaped to win the tron wars being fought at 10 and 2 O’clock.

The training and successful use of all technology is ongoing a ensure that air-maritime force has both timely information, appropriate weapon technology and the appropriate level of decision con-ops it needs to deal with evolving threats.

We had a chance to interview Lt. Commander “KC” Campbell, the Weapons and Tactics Department Head, during our visit to the ITC.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=52596

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=77993

Obviously, the major challenge facing the ITC is implementing the transition from P-3 to P-8/Triton.

Half of the squadrons have transitioned but that leaves another half to go.

But Lt. Commander Campbell is not taking his eye off of the ball of shaping a transformation approach as the new capability comes into the fleet.

He emphasized that the capability was new and there was a need to shape new tactics for the new capability.

He fully recognized the dynamic iterative nature of his mission.

For example, the P-3 flew to an area of interest and then went on station.

“With the P-8 when we take off we are already in the area of interest.

We already have a tactical picture from the Mobile Tactical Operations Center and we are already working within and on the common operating picture.

This is a change in capability; and needs a change in approach.”

The new capability especially as the USN-USMC team works towards enhanced capabilities in the extended battlespace requires shaping new techniques, new tactics and changing the mental furniture of the entire warfighting community.

To do this, Navy Jax deploys personnel from Jax to the fleet to interactively reshape thinking.

“I have a team of about 25 junior officers who spread out from Jax to the fleet and shape training nodes.

They make sure common tactics are implemented and standardized across the fleet.”

And in the process, of course, the fleet interacts with the P-8/Triton community to reshape concepts of operations going forward.

“There are cross-functional teams throughout the fleet which are working the evolution of tactics.”

Fallon Air Station is one key piece of the training effort where Jax sends instructors.

“In effect, a university structure is emerging at Fallon to look to integrate the new technologies, platforms and approaches in the shaping and application of new tactics.”

P-8 has been to Red Flag and is starting its migration into the joint and combined world as well.

And twice a year there is a weapons and tactics course.

Of course, there is always feedback on the effectiveness of tactics, techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) from the Fleet and then assure that operational improvements are standardized and then go back out to the squadrons.

In effect, the P-8/Triton team is shaping a common approach or “theory” of ISR and C2 applied to the extended battlespace; and the two platforms are the applications of the theory.

In short, the USN is positioning itself for an innovative way ahead that is neither “manned or unmanned” but synergistically working through how new systems can work with one another to deliver the desired outcome or effect in the battlespace, notably in the ISR, C2 and anti-submarine domains.

Editor’s Note: The P-8s are deploying and learning with the Fleet as Lt. Commander Campbell has described.

One example of this deployment and learning cycle was with the Truman battle group last fall.

According to an article by the VP-5 PAO published 10/14/15 in the Jax Air News:

As September drew to a close; so did the Harry S. Truman Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). During the exercise, the “Mad Foxes” of VP-5 and “Fighting Tigers” of VP-8 provided real time support for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and maritime Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) to the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8. 

Patrol Squadron (VP) 5 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Alan D’Jock, stated, “I could not be more proud of the VP-5, VP-8, and Mobile Tactical Operations Center (MTOC-3) “Mad Tiger” team.  We look forward to deploying with the Fighting Tigers and continuing our relationship throughout the remainder of our home cycle and next year’s deployment.”

The VP-5 and VP-8 Mad Tiger team was well prepared for the uncertainties of such a dynamic environment.  A contributing factor to the success of the exercise was due to the VP liaison officers (LNOs) aboard Harry S. Truman.

These individuals were led by Cmdr. Alan Miller, executive officer of VP-10 and provided enhanced communication between CSG8 and the maritime patrol reconnaissance aircraft. Each crew was able to adapt to and overcome potential problems that may arise such as formidable weather or simulated hostile contacts.

“The experience that VP-5 and VP-8 garnered from COMPTUEX is invaluable. What our aircrews saw on station is very difficult to duplicate in a simulated training environment,” remarked D’Jock.

VP-5 and VP-8 provided 532.8 flight hours from 73 events to the exercise. The squadron’s participation was a valuable asset to both the surface forces, as well as to the aircrews in the aircraft.

AWO3 Dymer, an electronics warfare officer with VP-5, said, “Being a part of the exercise was physically and mentally demanding but also taught some of the most senior crews lessons and tips for real world scenarios. It opened the eyes of many new sailors by showing the massive coordination required to accomplish many jobs.”

With this exercise complete, Oct. 2, VP-5 and VP-8 continued their training for a successful deployment next year.  The Mad Foxes of VP-5 and Fighting Tigers of VP-8 will continue training, and participating in exercises abroad as well as at home.

And as Lt. Commander Campbell noted, the P-8s have started their joint learning engagements in Red Flag.

The slideshow above highlights the Pelicans engagement in Red Flag earlier this year.

In an article published March 30, 2016 and written by the PAO of VP-45 and published in the Jax Air News, the first deployment to Red Flag was described:

Members of Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 participated in Red Flag 16-1 at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nev., Jan. 25through Feb.12, with the Navy’s newest maritime patrol aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon.

As part of the squadron’s Fleet Response Training Plan home cycle, Red Flag is an exercise held periodically at Nellis AFB since 1975. The exercise provides pilots, aircrews and support personnel from the U.S. and allied countries the opportunity to practice their skills in a simulated combat environment.

“These scenarios largely involved the P-8 performing advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and preparing the battlespace with timely and accurate information on threats to multiple platforms,” said Lt. Cmdr. Annie Gilson, a naval flight officer with VP-45.

“These platforms were able to use this information to neutralize targets more efficiently and effectively in a highly dynamic environment.”  

Those in attendance of this year’s Red Flag exercise were members from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and United Kingdom Royal Air Force.

“Working with the foreign militaries provided a better understanding of what they do,” said AWO2 Irma Sanchez, acoustic operator with VP-45. “Getting an opportunity to work with these militaries was a real eye opener into the bigger picture.”

“As a squadron, I feel that we did really well,” said Sanchez. “For our first Red Flag exercise as a P-8 squadron, I felt that we exceeded the standards that were set for us.”

Participants said one of the reasons VP-45 had such a successful exercise was because of their ability to work as a team.

“During Red Flag, our communication and capability to work together was very important,” said AWO2 Mathew Pereida, a VP-45 electronic warfare operator. “Working together as a team led to successful takeoff times, mission completeness, and overall coordinated operations effectiveness.”

Overall, members of VP-45 felt Red Flag has prepared them for the future.

“Red Flag does a great job of detecting and resolving squadron and aircraft deficiencies and how we can improve,” said AWO2 Jason Foor, “It really showed us what level we are operating at and where we can be in the future.”

For the USMC approach to Tron Warfare in the distributed battlespace, see the following:

https://sldinfo.com/ea-6b-prowlers-in-final-four-flight/

https://sldinfo.com/visiting-2nd-marine-air-wing-the-role-of-electronic-warfare-and-vmaq-3/

https://sldinfo.com/the-deputy-commandant-of-aviation-down-under-plan-jericho-marine-corps-style/

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016-05-31 RAF Lossiemouth is a Quick Reaction base and supports the Baltic Air Policing Mission as well.

This ensures that Typhoon pilots and crews are getting used to dealing with the Russian Air Force.

According to David Mackay of The Press and Journal in a piece published May 31, 2016, Lossie crews have scrambled six times in nine days to intercept Russian aircraft.

RAF Lossiemouth fighter pilots were scrambled six times in just over a week while keeping a watching brief on the Russians.

The Typhoon crews intercepted 17 planes in nine days earlier this month during a busy start to their peacekeeping mission in Estonia.

The Moray jets from II Squadron have been called to shadow eight Sukhoi fighters as well as spy planes and military transports.

Yesterday a former RAF Kinloss serviceman described the mission as essential to keep Vladimir Putin “in his place”.

He said: “The crews will have been briefed before they went out on what to expect and will know how busy they will be kept.

“Going from the pictures of what’s been going on, the Russians are just getting in the way, creating a nuisance and causing mischief. They’re just making sure we’re still there, basically.

“When they fly in our airspace they run without any air-navs, so the air traffic control doesn’t know what it is, so a Typhoon has to go up there and fly alongside. That’s exactly what they’ll be doing in Estonia.”

Crews are ready 24 hours a day to investigate unidentified aircraft in international airspace along Estonia’s northern coast and border with Russia.

The Baltic state does not have any planes to run the missions itself so relies on Nato nations to carry them out.

The former RAF serviceman said: “It’s absolutely imperative that Nato is there. What we don’t want to happen is the same thing as Crimea in Ukraine.

“We need to make sure that Putin knows we are there protecting Estonia and the other Baltic states.”

The slideshow highlights Typhoons operating at Lossiemouth and are credited to the RAF.