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I first met Captain Hall at the christening ceremony for the USS America in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on October 20, 2012.
A lot has happened since then with the ship, and its arriving combat capabilities.
The ship moved out of the yard last year and began a tour around South America and arrived in San Diego on September 15, 2014.
It then moved to San Francisco for its Commissioning ceremony on October 11, 2014 and then returned to San Diego for its further preparation to go to sea for its initial deployment in 2016.
Captain Robert Hall, Jr., Commanding Officer of the USS America, and the Ship’s Sponsor, Lynne Pace. Credit: SLD
I had a chance to discuss recent events with Captain Hall on February 5, 2015 in a telephone interview.
When the ship moved from its yard around South America to its home port, normally there would not have been as much aviation activity aboard the ship as the America experienced.
But because the ship was a launch point for four port visits and several foreign leadership engagement visits, aviation was a key part of the transit.
And the coming onboard of VMX-22 allowed the Marines to already begin to become familiar with the ship from a maintenance and operational point of view.
In an earlier interview with the Commanding Officer of VMX-22, Col. Rauenhorst, noted that the early Marine Corps experience with the ship was very positive.
Maintenance wise, the hangar bay provided two dedicated spots to perform maintenance with the wings spread, as compared to legacy amphib ships with only one dedicated spot in the hangar bay.
Additionally, when we encountered heavy sea states, freezing rain and snow in and around the Straits of Magellan, we were able to hangar all 11 aircraft, including four CH-46s from HMM-364 and three SH-60s from HSC-21, to protect them from the elements.
Once clear of the weather, the Air Boss was able to quickly return the aircraft to the flight deck and resume normal flight operations, that otherwise would have been delayed in de-icing the aircraft.
The Marines onboard were really impressed with the size of the hangar bay and being able to do maintenance in protected spaces, rather than having to do it on the flight deck as before on legacy large-deck amphibs.
This perspective was also emphasized by Captain Hall.
“Although normally, we would not have had aviation assets aboard during a ship shakedown, we were able to sail with Navy MH-60s and Marine Ospreys and CH-46s.
This gave the respective air detachments a great opportunity to start familiarizing themselves with the spaces aboard the ship for the maintenance and operation of their aircraft.
This was also an incredible training bonus for my crew driven by the desires of SOUTHCOM and 4th Fleet to highlight the ship and the Navy/Marine Corps team during our transit around South America.
And, although we were able to flex some of the capability AMERICA will bring to the Fleet, we didn’t have the full complement of Marines or their aircraft onboard to fully flex our capability.
Of note, the two high bays, with one near the aft end of the hangar, will clearly allow for an Osprey, or other aircraft, to go into long term maintenance without interrupting the flow through the hanger deck and up to the flight deck.”
Question: Secretary Hagel decided to visit USS America in his final days as Secretary of Defense.
What was the reaction of the crew to this honor?
Captain Hall: The crew was very excited about the visit and listened attentively to the Secretary’s message.
He highlighted his support for the USN-USMC team and the kind of integration we are doing aboard this ship.
He went out of his way to praise the crew for their dedication, sacrifice and technological competence in bringing this new class of ship to life.
Question: You went around the Straits of Magellan, and you were able to put your aircraft inside. This will be a nice maintenance bonus due to having an enlarged hangar bay, won’t it?
Captain Hall: It will. The size of the hangar definitely improves our capacity to get more aircraft out of the weather if necessary.
During our transit through the Straits of Magellan we actually sheltered our three MH-60S and four MV-22 Ospreys in the hangar due to icing conditions on deck.
The USS America during its South American transit. Credit: USS America
Question: How did the Osprey enhance your ability to do missions on the voyage around South America?
Captain Hall: The speed and range of the Osprey meant we could bring foreign leaders aboard the ship from some distance.
We had four principle port visits – Colombia, Brazil, Chile and Peru – but we were also able to fly out and do key leadership engagements with dignitaries from Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and El Salvador because of the Ospreys.
During each engagement, the key leaders were interested in our significant humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities and their reaction to the Osprey was very positive.
For some South American leaders, they saw the utility of the aircraft for their own fight against narco-terrorism and to provide for security over the large distances some countries need to cover.
Question: You were speaking of it being unusual to fly aircraft aboard a ship on its shakedown cruise. When did you get aircraft operational aboard the ship?
Captain Hall: Almost immediately.
Aircraft arrived on the first day and we launched Marines during the first week.
You have to realize that half the crew had never been to sea before, so the experience they were able to gain quickly was invaluable.
Captain Hall addresses the crew during a ceremony remembering September 11, 2001 aboard the USS America. Credit: USS America
Question: What is next?
Captain Hall: Between now and March, we will do some additional ship tests including operating in the range off of southern California to test the C2 and combat systems.
At the end of March we have our final contract trials scheduled.
In late Spring we move into a post-shakedown availability (PSA), where the ship receives some final modifications prior to moving into our training phase in early 2016 and eventual deployment.
Some of the modifications we’ll receive during PSA are the result of lessons learned from the F-35B operations and testing aboard the USS WASP.
So by 2016, the largest and most powerful assault ship ever built will be ready to answer the nation’s call.
And do the dedication of the officers and crew of the USS America and the hard work of NAVSEA and the men and women working in the yards, the United States will have a unique combat capability.
A large deck amphibious ship that can deliver a Marine Corps assault force with unprecedented capability able to operate in the dangerous waters of the 21st century environment.
Earlier, Col. Raenhorst provided his own evaluation of the tour seen from the Marine Corps perspective.
The crew was super motivated to the get the aircraft onboard the ship and to operate it.
We did a crawl, walk and run set of phases as we were settling into the flight operations, starting off with day and night Carrier Qualifications (CQ) off the coast of Pensacola.
And then by the end of the deployment, Captain Hall had a very seasoned crew there that were doing both tilt rotor and rotary-wing day and night operations without a flaw, from launch and recovery of aircraft that included air traffic control in international airspace throughout the Caribbean, Central, and South America.
Below are the comments made by Secretary Hagel during his visit to the USS America on January 14, 2015:
Well, it’s good to be out at sea. They don’t let old infantry guys do much of this, as you probably know for good reason. We cause problems: fall and stumble. But this is pretty exciting to be out here this morning on this particular ship with you. And this is a pretty special crew, as you I think all know, because of what you have done already, what you represent, and what you will do here in the future.
First, I want to thank — thank you for your service, your sacrifice, what you do for our country. I want to thank your families. I know it was not easy to make that move across country from the east to the west for your families and for all of you, there were tremendous additional pressure put on all of you.
That very, very acclaimed and successful trip around South America, where you received a tremendous amount of attention and positive response: I was in Peru and Chile a couple of months ago, and heard about what you all accomplished on that swing around South America. Not only how impressed everyone was with you, with the ship, with the capabilities, but you represent the best of America. And it’s, I think, appropriate that you’ve lived up to the name of this ship in every way, so thank you. And again, please thank your families for their sacrifice.
I’m on about a three day tour around the country visiting with the Marines and the Navy, Army, Air Force to thank each of the services for their service, thank them for the privilege I’ve had to serve as secretary of defense and be part of your team, which has been a great honor for me, and it’s an honor that I will always, always appreciate, and the privilege I had to be part of this enterprise. I will always appreciate it.
I thought I’d make a couple of comments about you, about your ship, about the future, at least from my perspective, and then we’ll talk about whatever you want to talk about.
First, we were talking with the admiral and captain, and some of us say we came on to the ship here a few minutes ago about three essential priorities that I have focused on since I have been secretary of defense, that I think capture the future of our country, the future of our military. And the future in every respect of opportunities of our security, and it is first people, second, capability, and third, partnerships. And you probably represent and this ship represents those three foundational elements of our future as well as any one group of people.
And I say that because this is a very select crew, as you all know, for the reasons you know why you were selected for this crew. This is a particularly important skillset that’s required. You are on-board and you run, maintain, and sail one of the most sophisticated Navy platforms we have with more capabilities than almost anything else. That’s first.
(Jan. 14, 2015) – Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Chuck Hagel speaks with Sailors during an all-hands call on board the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). America is the first ship of its class and is optimized for Marine Corps aviation. Credit: USN
Second, capabilities, as I’ve just — capabilities represented on this ship and the amphibious possibilities that our Marines are getting back to after 13 years of long war: two long wars. What you’re doing here, represent that in every way.
And third, partnerships. The reference I made to your tour around South America. Those partnerships that we are building, partnerships to assist our partners in their capacity and their capability, and their ability to not just defend themselves, but partner with us in a world that is now completely interconnected, as we all know. And so the threats are global. Opportunities are global. Relationships are all now more global than ever before. And that won’t decrease. That will only increase.
And what you do and what that trip represented, very much was a clear not just optic, but partnership building and capacity building, but in fact it went deeper and in more depth than just an optic.
I say that too, because you all are thinking about your futures. If you’re married, your husbands and your wives are thinking about your future. What is the future of this business? I know because of the last two years, especially because of sequestration and because of budget issues, we’ve been through a down-time, because of that. And that has created a tremendous amount of uncertainty in your families, and I suspect you, what kind of future you have. Is it a career that I can build on? What are the plans for the future?
Well, plans for the future are to continue to stay technologically ahead of every country in the world. We must. That technological edge has given us an important position in our own capabilities, but also in the assistance that we can provide our partners. And it’s clearly in our interest.
Also, as you look ahead, for the future of our defense enterprise, it is becoming more skill oriented than maybe ever before, even though today we have the best led, best trained, best educated, best motivated, best equipped force the world’s ever known. That won’t always be that way, just because it is that way today. It requires tremendous investment and leadership and thinking of future challenges and future opportunities. And that’s why I say those three components of our future, the people, the capacity, and the partnerships all come together in a critical way that represents our future.
We can talk about any more of these things or additional issues here once we get into questions, but I wanted to just at least give you a top line sense of my thinking, and I think it’s not just my thinking, but I think as we evolve and in our own geopolitical strategies and our thinking in the world, and how do we protect our interests, and you know, just in the last couple of weeks, what’s happened in the world in the cyber world, cyber has changed everything.
The Internet has changed everything. It’s given non-state actors, individuals capacities, capabilities empowered them in ways 10 years ago we’d never seen anything like this. All that is shifting and changing at these unprecedented historic rates, but they also represent opportunities.
One of the most significant accomplishments of the military establishment, certainly since World War II, certainly is keeping this country safe and securing this country, which is our principal responsibility.
But that cannot come divorced from other areas of social responsibility, whether it’s sexual assault or not paying attention to the human requirements and the individual needs of our sailors, our soldiers, our marines, our airmen and their families.
The military has done a better job of that than any institution. One reason is that is that we’re more cohesive, we’re more of a united community. So we have more opportunities to do that. But also, when you look at the cutting edge social changes that we’ve seen in the United States since World War II, all have begun here in the military.
And I know when you’re sitting out here and running through new trials at sea with this magnificent ship with the kind of capabilities and the clear mission you have, and the deadly responsibilities that you have, it becomes easy to maybe overlook or discontinue or disconnect some of the social, human responsibilities that we each have for each other.
But I want to tell you and assure you and reassure you that we will not do that. We are not doing that. And all the leaders that will come in behind me and the admiral and the captains and you represent leadership classes in every aspect of your profession, because you are leaders or you wouldn’t be on this mission, you wouldn’t be on this crew.
We won’t disconnect the individual and the human part of who we are. Because in the end, as advanced as our technologies are and as good as they will become, even better, without quality people it won’t matter. It won’t matter. And leadership does matter. Because one of the factors of leadership, and again, why you were chosen for this crew, is judgment. You can’t teach judgment. Skillsets, experience, motivation, all of that helps you form judgment, but in the end you all have to make tough choices and make judgments.
And that’s what leadership is about. And that’s what quality individuals are about. Can you make the right judgments at the right time, the right way?
So, I tell you these things not because you haven’t heard them and you don’t know them and you’re not living them, but I think it’s important that you hear from your leadership every now and then that these are fundamental aspects of who we are and what we represent, and why we’re so good is that we haven’t forgotten those and we’re not going to forget those parts of this institution.
And I particularly wanted to say that because I hope that’s some reassurance for your families. We’re going to continue to keep and must prioritize a cycle of bringing good people, the best people, into this business.
That just doesn’t always happen. Every day is a new day: new challenges, new opportunities. There’s no such thing as status quo. The world doesn’t stand still. Dangers, challenges, opportunities, they change. They evolve. And look at the world we’re in. So do quality people. Quality people have options. So, we want to keep the quality at the level and increase that as we go forward.
So, thank you again for what you do and your service and your sacrifices. I am very proud of you. Our president is. This country is. All America is.
So, we know that sometimes it gets a little lonely, and maybe sometimes you wonder if anyone’s paying attention. We are. And we are grateful. And you make us a better country in every way, so thank you.
The significance of the visit was enhanced by the fact that Secretary Hagel chose to go out of his way to highlight the importance of what we have called insertion forces in shaping a way ahead for U.S. military power.
An article in Stars and Stripes highlighted the importance of the visit by the Secretary to the USS America.
In a piece published on January 14, 2015, Jon Harper underscored that Hagel highlighted the Marine’s high tech future.
ABOARD THE USS AMERICA — The Marine Corps’ future will be high-tech and amphibious, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said Wednesday while visiting the Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship.
For more than a decade, the Marines have been slogging through counterinsurgency wars and essentially serving as a second land army. Now that they are out of Afghanistan and pivoting to the Pacific, the service is transitioning back to an emergency response force that operates from the sea.
As Marines return to their roots, their tools will be cutting-edge, Hagel said on what is expected to be his last trip as Pentagon leader. He visited the USS America to discuss what lies ahead for the military.
“You run, maintain and sail one the most sophisticated Navy platforms we have, with more capabilities than almost anything else,” he told troops aboard the ship, which is undergoing sea trials off the California coast. “Capabilities represented on this ship [showcase] the amphibious possibilities that our Marines are getting back to after 13 years of long war … What you’re doing here represents that in every way.”
The America, commissioned in October, is designed to carry Marines and their most technologically advanced aircraft, including the F-35B Lightning II fighter jet and the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor troop transport. Both can take off and land vertically.
The America’s design is different from previous amphibious assault ships. It has an enlarged hangar deck and no well deck, which frees up space for aircraft. It is as large as the aircraft carriers of some nations.
The realignment and expansion of aviation maintenance facilities provides a significant increase in available stowage for parts, support equipment and aviation fuel. Having two hangar bay areas with overhead cranes instead of just one greatly speeds up and facilitates aircraft maintenance, according to Navy Chief Petty Officer Leandro Suarez.
Capt. Michael Baze, the ship’s executive officer, said the America is optimized for aviation and “being able to deliver Marines very fast over great distance.”
He said the Osprey in particular “allows you the flexibility and maneuverability that you might not have with … a traditional landing force on the beach.”
The America can hold up to 31 aircraft, depending on the types in the mix, according to Baze.
“It’s awesome. I’ve got to pinch myself every once in a while,” he said.
He noted that, when deployed, the America will likely be the flagship of an amphibious ready group, which would include ships that could put Marines ashore using traditional sea-to-land connector vessels.
For earlier stories on the USS America see the following:
And for two articles published in other publications which address the capabilities being delivered by the ship and the USN-USMC team see the following:
The first slideshow shows technicians working to maintain USMC aircraft onboard the USS America.
The photos were supplied by VMX-22 and shows their maitenance work aboard the USS America.
The ship has a hanger deck below the flight deck where maintenance is performed, unlike legacy large deck amphibs where it is done on the flight deck.
This means among other things, when the weather gets dicey, the aircraft can be put below deck avoiding the need to maintain them for any damage from the weather when they would have had to be topside on a legacy ship.
The second slideshow highlights aboard the USS America as it transited around South America.
In the first photo, a U.S. Navy aviation boatswain’s mate (handling) directs an MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft carrying Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force South to land on the flight deck of the newly commissioned amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in the Caribbean Sea following bilateral training with Colombian service members July 19, 2014.
In the second, third and fourth photos, U.S. Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force South return to the newly commissioned amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in the Caribbean Sea following bilateral training with Colombian service members July 19, 2014. The America embarked on a mission to conduct training engagements with partner nations throughout the Americas before reporting to its new homeport of San Diego. The America was set to be ceremoniously commissioned Oct. 11, 2014.
In the fifth photo, a tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey, assigned to the “Argonauts” of Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 22, takes off from the flight deck of future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during flight operations.
In the sixth photo, an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handler) directs a pilot to an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, assigned to the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, in preparation for flight operations aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6).
In the seventh photo, an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, assigned to the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, takes off from the flight deck of future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during flight operations.
In the eighth photo, an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handler) directs a tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey, assigned to the “Argonauts” of Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 22, to take off from the flight deck of future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during flight operations.
In the 9th and 10th photos, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Kenny Vida, flight deck leading petty officer aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), observes an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter as it takes off.
In the 11th photo, Sailors assigned to future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) chock and chain an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter after it lands during flight quarters.
In the 12th 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).
In the 13th photo, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Jeff Acevedo, left, assigned to Air Department’s V-3 division, directs his tractor driver, Airman Robert Johnson, while moving MV-22 Osprey in the hangar bay aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6).
In the 14th photo, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Jeff Acevedo, left, directs Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Jeff Acevedo, both assigned to Air Department’s V-3 division, while moving an MV-22 Osprey in the hangar bay aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6).
In the 15th photo, Sailors assigned to the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, embarked aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), perform preventive maintenance on aircraft tie-down chains in the ship’s hangar bay.
In the final photo, Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Reginald Gilmore, assigned to the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, embarked aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), performs routine maintenance on an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter in the ship’s hangar bay.
Credit: USS America:Summer 2014
To set the proper landscape to discuss the changes within aviation and the amphibious fleet, one can go back a decade ago and look at the aviation and ship pairings and their operational reach.
The ARG-MEU a decade ahead operated within the LPD-17, without the T-AKE ship, without the Osprey and was primarily a rotorcraft, landing vehicle and mixture of Harrier fast jets force.
And the three ship ARG-MEU would operate largely in a 200-mile box affecting the objective area where it was located.
The Osprey has obviously been a game changer, where today, the ARG-MEU 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.
Earlier, we discussed the challenge as seen by on veteran ACE Commander, Lt. Col. Boniface.
Sustainability over distance is a key challenge as the geography covered expands and the ACE assets can operate over those greater distances as well.
Lt. Col. Boniface highlighted two key challenges.
The first is simply the challenge to the Military Sealift Command to support a disbursed ARG-MEU.
The second is having a responsive and effective parts availability pool to support the deployed but dispersed ARG-MEU. This is an especially important challenge for the Osprey because of relatively limited locations within which parts are available to be flown or delivered to the ARG-MEU on deployment.
Put another way, the deployment of the ARG-MEU is not constrained by Osprey operations, but the effectiveness of the logistics or sustainment operations. The carriers get supplied every week; the ARG-MEUs only every 10-14 days. This disparity no longer makes sense given the reality of ARG-MEU operations under the influence of the Osprey.
In effect, there is a tactical limitation posed by sustainment, which can have strategic consequences.
In many ways, the USS America can be seen as significantly enhancing the logistical or sustainment punch of the amphibious strike force.
Major Schreiner, the ship integration officer within Headquarters USMC Aviation, whose task it is to help work through the intersection between the ACE and the ships off of which the ACE flies and will fly, provided insights into the thinking surrounding the design of the new ship in an interview last year.
“The USMC as a tiltrotar-assault enabled force is clearly just now coming into its own as a unique combat capability for 21st century operations.
The USS America will provide a significant boost to the ability to both maintain and to provide operational tempo to support the force.
According to Major Schreiner, one of the key elements of maintaining the Osprey is the need to open the nacelles and to work on them. On current LHAs, this can only be done topside, but with the new ship, it will be possible to maintain the Ospreys completely in the Hangar deck.”
The synergy among the three decks, the flight deck, the hangar deck and the intermediate area will significantly improve the workflow and the ops tempo for the assault force.
The traditional LHA was sized primarily for rotorcraft operations; the new one is sized for the Osprey and the F-35B.
According to Major Schreiner, “the footprint of the new aviation assets are about 30-40% larger than the rotorcraft and fast jets they are replacing. With the change in operational capabilities and concepts comes the need to provide for a new logistics capability for the force as well.”
The logistics demands from the Ospreys on the traditional LHAs required work topside, which affects flight deck operations as well as facing daylight limitations within which the work needed to be done.
What we found with the MV-22 was that it needed some extra space.
It needed some space in the hangar for assault maintenance.
What we found in the legacy amphibious ships that we were unable to do that efficiently down below, so the workaround for the Marines, the only workaround is to do those modifications topside which are extremely time consuming and it is a delicate balance on doing them during a period of daylight where they could effectively see and then balance it out with flight operations.
To get the needed changes, the ship designers of the USS America look to the hangar deck and the intermediate areas. The hangar deck has no well deck and that provides extra space as well as overhead cranes and storage areas for parts.
The ops tempo for the assault force is enhanced as well.
According to Major Schreiner:
The idea was is not only to provide enough space to incorporate for the growth in airframes and the logistics footprints but also to provide for operational maneuver space down below as well.
We can cycle planes from the hangar to the flight deck to enhance sortie generation rates for the helos, the Ospeys and the F-35Bs in whatever package is appropriate to the mission.
Working the synergy among the three decks will be crucial to shaping the workflow to support operational tempo.D
For a text only version of this article in PDF format please see the following:
2015-02-22 According to an Australian Ministry of Defence story published on February 22, 2015, the Global Hawk has landed in Australia for the Avalon Air Show.
A United States (US) Global Hawk flew into Avalon airport on 21 February, 2015 for the Australian International Airshow.
The arrival of the US Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk marks the first time a military Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) has flown into an Airshow in Australia and the first time a military UAS has landed at an Australian commercial/civil airport.
The Australian Defence Force is proud to be part of the 2015 International Air show with displays commemorating the Centenary of ANZAC and 100 years of military aviation service to Australia.
The video ends with a comment that “we can expect these types of operations in the future.”
What the Group Captain might have had in mind is not just the United States but the Asian allies of Australia.
According to this story published December 17, 2014 by Seth Robson in Stars and Stripes, the sale of Global Hawk in the region was the focus of attention.
The U.S. government has approved the sale of four RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drones to South Korea.
The foreign military sale is included in a list of contracts announced on the Defense Department’s website Monday.
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.“has been awarded a $657,400,000 hybrid contract … for aircraft for the Republic of Korea,” the announcement stated.
The contract includes four RQ-4B Block 30 Global Hawk aircraft, two spare engines and ground control equipment. The first Global Hawk is to be delivered in 2018, the San Diego, Calif.-based company said in a statement. Each aircraft will contain an “Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite,” the DOD announcement said.
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration confirmed the sale but declined to provide details Tuesday.
Northrop Grumman said the contract is the first sale of the aircraft to an allied nation in the Asia Pacific under the Foreign Military Sales process.
Several other U.S. allies in the region, including Japan and Australia, have expressed interest in acquiring the Global Hawk or a naval version of the aircraft — the MQ-4C Triton.
“This will provide critically needed wide-area surveillance capability to military commanders so they can make more informed decisions,” the Northrop Grumman statement said.
The U.S. Air Force has flown Global Hawks out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, since 2010 and there are plans to base a pair of Tritons there from 2017.
The aircraft are seen as a key tool in keeping tabs on North Korea’s nuclear weapons development and Chinese naval maneuvers.
Hawaii-based Pacific Forum think tank President Ralph Cossa, a former Air Force officer, said South Korea’s acquisition of the drones is part of efforts to give the country’s military commanders operational control of forces on the peninsula during any war with North Korea.
Under the current arrangement, U.S. commanders would take command of all U.S. and South Korean troops in the event of war.
“Part of the concept of Opcon transfer to the Koreans involves them doing a whole lot of things to upgrade their capabilities,” Cossa said. “This (the Global Hawk) is a significant upgrade.”
The South Korean surveillance planes will add to American situational awareness in the region, he said.
“It is a force multiplier in many respects,” he said of the acquisition. “You are looking for greater contributions from allies and this is certainly a way they will be able to cooperate and add to our capabilities.”
The South Korean Global Hawks will focus almost exclusively on North Korea, Cossa said.
“They certainly won’t be looking at the Chinese but the more the Koreans are doing for themselves frees up U.S. assets to do other things.”
And Australia itself will have its own Global Hawk in terms of the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance UAS system.
The MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), is a high altitude, long endurance (HALE) aircraft that will be used for maritime patrol and other surveillance roles.
Supporting missions up to 24 hours, the MQ-4C Triton is equipped with a sensor suite that provides a 360-degree view of its surroundings, for over 2,000 nautical miles.
Up to seven MQ-4C Tritons will be based at RAAF Base Edinburgh (SA) and will operate from the runway alongside the P-8A Poseidon when it enters RAAF service.
The MQ-4C Triton will operate alongside the P-8A to replace the ageing AP-3C Orion capability. The endurance of the MQ-4C Triton means it can stay airborne for longer than a traditional aircraft where the pilot is in the aircraft.
Like other Air Force aircraft, the Triton will be flown by a qualified RAAF pilots, experienced in complex airspace. However the Triton will be flown a ground station where pilots are supported by a co-pilot while the information gathered is analysed and disseminated by up to operational staff.
Operational staff may include aircrew, intelligence, operations and administration officers, engineers and logisticians, depending on the training or mission requirements.
Whilst building on elements of the Global Hawk UAS, the Triton incorporates reinforcements to the airframe and wing, along with de-icing and lightning protection systems. These capabilities allow the aircraft to descend through cloud layers to gain a closer view of ships and other targets at sea when needed and will complement theP-8A Poseidon.
The Triton platform has been under development by the United States Navy since 2008.
2015-02-24 U.S. Marines with the Second Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, a part of the Georgian Liaison Team, join forces with the 43rd Georgian Infantry Battalion during a Close Air Support Exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany.
Marines with the Georgian Liason Team participate in a Situational Training Exercise during a Mission Rehearsal Exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany.
The exercise is part of a month-long MRE to test capabilities of the 43RD Georgian Infantry Battalion before their deployment to Afghanistan.
And a look at the exercise through the day in the life of a Marine involved in the training exercise can be seen below.
A young motivated Marine infantry officer shows his dedication by volunteering to be a part of the Georgian Liaison Team to train and prepare Georgian soldiers before they deploy to Afghanistan.
The month-long Mission Rehearsal Exercise in Hohenfels, Germany is the final culminating training event for the 43rd Georgian Infantry Battalion before their deployment.
The Mission Rehearsal Exercise is part of the Georgia Deployment Program – Resolute Support Mission.
Credit: Marine Corps Security Cooperation Gorup
2/21/15
The Georgian and USMC working relationship has been built up over time during the Afghan operations.
The Republic of Georgia has offered up an infantry battalion to support the U.S. mission of bringing security to Afghanistan, and a Marine from Parris Island has stepped up to help train them.
Next week, one of the Depot’s own Weapons and Field Training Battalion Marines, Sgt. Michael Long, a combat marksmanship trainer, will become a member of a hand-selected Georgia Training Team.
The team will consist of about a dozen Marines. They’re tasked with the mission of developing a Georgian battalion capable of conducting counter-insurgency missions, said Gunnery Sgt. Antonio Foster, the Field Training Company operations chief. Foster, from Columbia, S.C., was one of the Marines who recommended Long for the job.
“He’ll be there for about six months supporting the Georgian Development Training Program,” Foster said.
The training program is scheduled to last about two years with training teams relieving each other after each 3- or 6-month period.
Marines and corpsmen will be selected from bases worldwide, however, Foster said it is unusual for Parris Island Marines to leave the Depot on international missions of any kind.
“It’s something that hasn’t happened too often in the past, but guys like Long are waiting for an opportunity like this,” Foster said.
The team he will become a part of has no shortage of lessons planned for the troops, Long said.
“We’re going to teach them marksmanship, combat patrolling, IED-(improvised explosive device) detection and interrogation techniques,” Long explained. “We’ll show them how to set up vehicle checkpoints and entry checkpoints and how to search suspects,” he added.
He said he has worked with foreign troops before in his career, and he feels confident in his ability to train the Georgians.
“I feel responsible for teaching them the right way of doing things,” said Long, from Akron, Ohio. “I know I can relate a lot of information to them from my own experiences.”
Before he begins working with troops in Georgia, he’ll go through about a week of preparation with the Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group in Fort Story, Va.
“We train advisory teams to deploy and work with host-nation security forces,” said Master Sgt. Brent Dorrough, the senior enlisted advisor for MCTAG.
“We can build a team of anywhere from 10 to 190 people,” said Dorrough during a telephone interview. “We train them and deploy them to Africa, South America, Europe – wherever.”
Dorrough, from Hogansville, Ga., said similar training done through MCTAG has been very effective for foreign troops in the past. The involvement of international militaries has helped to ease the burden of U.S. involvement in the Middle East.
“Looking at the big picture — a battalion of Georgians fighting keeps a battalion of Marines at home,” he said.
“The Georgians are going to support a Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Afghanistan,” he explained. “In order for them to support our Marines, who better to train them than us?”
Dorrough said he is pleased to have a Parris Island Marine represented in his unit. The fact that trainers on the Depot know how to break information down to its simplest form will prove especially useful for training troops, who are new to the M-16 family of rifles.
“The Georgians are going to learn the fundamentals,” Dorrough said. “We start with common skills to build a foundation.”
Though basic, the knowledge and exercises the advisory team passes on will be vital to the troops as they support the U.S.
“It’s going to be Marine Corps training,” he said. “The end product won’t be Marines, obviously, but we will give them the skills they need to occupy battle stations in Afghanistan,” he said.
Long remains equally enthusiastic about the mission and confident he is up to the task, he said.
“I’ll do everything in my power to get their men ready for any tactical situation they might see,” he said. “Marines are going to be depending on the skills of Georgian soldiers, and I’m going to make sure they have nothing to worry about.”
Or in this 2013 story by Master Sgt. Chad McMeen the training of Georgian soldiers with the Marines is explained:
TBILISI, Georgia —
Two battalions of soldiers from The Republic of Georgia stood side-by-side along with their U.S. Marine Corps counterparts in a departure ceremony hosted by the Georgian Ministry of Defense at the Vaziani Training Area Sept. 19, 2003.
Having completed six months of training, the 31st and Batumi battalions will now deploy to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan where they have been fighting shoulder to shoulder with U.S. Marines since 2009.
The training is officially known as The Georgian Deployment Program – ISAF (GDP-I) and formally concludes in 2014 but the Marines remain committed to a continued partnership.
“The GDP-ISAF program has grown over the years into one of the finest modern examples of how the Marine Corps can build a partner’s capacity through equipping, training, and advising,” said Col. Matt Baker, commanding officer at Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group located in Virginia Beach, Va. “The Georgian soldiers and U.S. Marines have worked exceptionally well together both in and out of combat; today, is a great day to celebrate the success’ of this program and the lasting partnership Marines have developed with our Georgian counterparts.”
During the ceremony the American Ambassador to Georgia, Richard Norland reminded the battalions of their importance to the region.
“Your contribution to ISAF will help stabilize a region that is a key part of the future of the global economy,” Norland said. “Afghanistan and Georgia both lie on the new silk road and as peace eventually returns to Afghanistan, the enormous commercial and investment opportunities that surround this entire region will be unleashed, and East and West will once again be linked by this historic trade corridor.”
Lieutenant General Richard Tryon, commander, U.S. Marine Forces, Europe presents Georgian LtCol Terashvili and LtCol Argvliani with awards for their actions during a recent deployment to Afghanistan Sept 19, 2013. The award presentations were incorporated into a departure ceremony for the 10th and 11th rotations of Georgian battalions as they prepare to deploy to the Helmand Province. The LtCol’s trained with U.S. Marines prior to their successful deployment under the Georgian Deployment Program – ISAF commonly referred to as GDP-I. Credit: USMC
This marks the 10th and 11th rotations of Georgian soldiers who have trained under the GDP-I program and according to LtCol. William Shannon, the training has been tailored to ensure mission success over the years based on feedback from previous training evolutions and as the mission in Afghanistan evolved.
Lieutenant General Richard Tryon, commander Marine Corps Forces Europe, reinforced the confidence in both the training and the ability of the Georgian battalions.
“The U.S. Marines and Georgian Armed Forces share the same warrior spirit. We have fought proudly side by side, sharing sacrifice and success since 2009,” Tryon said. “I have every confidence that you will upload the proud legacy of the Georgian Armed Forces, just as those who have deployed before you have done.”
The formal ceremony had all of the standard pomp and circumstance one would expect but also included elements which reminded everyone of the combat mission ahead for the Georgian troops.
A moment of silence for allied service members who have been wounded or killed in the Afghanistan war set the tone for the ceremony while award presentations for actions above and beyond the call of duty reminded everyone of the sacrifice ahead. The ceremony culminated with a blessing of the battalions by the unit chaplains and an inspirational message by Lt. Gen. Tryon.
“These troops are ready, they are trained, and they are absolutely prepared to undertake the mission ahead in Afghanistan,” Tryon said. “The Marines in Regional Command Southwest are proud to serve alongside their Georgian brothers.”
2015-02-23 Recently, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the research arm of the German Social Democratic Party, sponsored a look at the future with regard to the European Union and the East.
According to the foundation:
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung has invited 20 experts from all over Europe to jointly develop four scenarios for relations between the EU, the Russian Federation, and their Common Neighbourhood in 2030.
Participants came from 12 countries – ranging from the UK in the West to Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan in the East.
The scenarios do not attempt to predict the future, but offer different visions of possible and plausible futures.Thus, they can be helpful in enabling decision-makers and stakeholders to adapt their strategies in order to achieve or avoid a certain outcome.
The experts who develop the scenarios are Russian, West European and East European.
And the four scenarios envisaged are really projections of a world in 2030 with really not adressing how the current crisis can be navigated and managed to get in the position to have anything but some very bad outcomes.
The four scenarios are as follows:
Scenario I: Shared Home
All Europeans share one home — for pragmatic reasons
After a »lost decade« characterised by political crises and economic stagnation, the EU and Russia focus on shared interests from 2020 onwards.A new free trade agreement also integrates the Eastern Partnership countries, who are no longer forced to decide for or against either side.
Scenario II: Common Home
Europe is home to nations bound together by common values
A deep economic crisis in Russia leads to democratic and economic reforms that clear the way for improved EU-Russia relations.As new global powers rise, Russia and the EU join forces not only to resolve conflicts in Europe, but also to counter common threats.
Scenario III: Broken Home
The European home lies in ruins
The current confrontation between the EU and Russia continues up to 2030.A relative successful authoritarian modernisation in Russia and the energy transition in the EU give both sides the opportunity to act independently.The countries in the common neighbourhood, which are the objects of intense EU-Russia competition, form a zone of instability.
Scenario IV: Divided Home
Europeans live next door, but apart from each other
The EU and Russia are locked in a stalemate: significant deterioration is prevented by continued economic interdependence.Improvements, however, seem impossible due to widespread mistrust.No political and economic transformation takes place.Europe increasingly loses touch with the new global power centres.
And the report includes a list of so-called “wild cards” which might affect the roll out of these scenarios:
Wild Cards«: What would happen if …
… the Eurozone broke up?
This would be the consequence of prolonged economic difficulties in Europe and disunity on how to remedy the situation.It would result in a substantial revision of the common market, reverse parts of the already achieved EU integration, and diminish the role of the EU as a common foreign policy actor.The revised European Union would be preserved, but its weakening would reinforce the trend towards rapprochement with the new Russian leadership after 2024.Hence, the scenario would be reinforced.
A global energy transition marginalised the role of oil and gas in the world economy?
For Russia, this would have profound effects, as it would force any Russian leadership to modernise the economy at a faster pace.It would deplete the state budget, erode the welfare system, and affect the ruling elite in a system largely dependent on hydrocarbon incomes.Although the energy transition is a gradual process, it would possibly speed up Russia’s transition to a modernising leadership described in this scenario.
China occupied contested territories in East Asia? Russia would initially view this as a vindication of its actions in Crimea.However, although Russia would not openly oppose China’s actions in international bodies, it would be increasingly cautious about Chinese influence.Resentment at Chinese dependence would drive the power shift as described above, and from 2024 EU and Russian views on China may start to converge.
There were an accidental use of force between NATO and Russia?
This would not substantially alter the scenario. If it occurs before 2024, the event would likely be contained between the weakening powers in Europe, but it would increase tensions and in effect accelerate developments.After 2024, this type of event would eventually be downplayed by both sides.
And the missing U.S. from any of this?
The answer lies in part in what is explained on page 34 of the report under the rubric “European Security Architecture Questioned.”
The lack of adherence to the rules jointly agreed upon since the end of the Cold War (and even before) considerably weakened the European security architecture.
Neither closer NATO-EU, nor wider EU security and military cooperation emerged.
With the US increasingly busy containing China in Asia and the spread of radicalism in the Middle East, global attention shifted away from Europe.
Against the weakened transatlantic link and confronted with rising China and Russia’s increasingly assertive foreign policy, the EU found itself more and more sidelined in the security domain.
As a consequence, the role of NATO in European security matters increased again.
In 2019, Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership, but voters rejected this idea in referenda in 2021.
NATO’s stance on Russia and its straightforward policy line vis-à-vis the EaP further fuelled the rivalry between Russia and the West.
Forty years after the end of the Cold War, relations between the EU, Russia, and their immediate neighbours are thus still marked by a power-based relationship and EU-Russia competition over the attractiveness of their differing models for regional cooperation.
One could ask how the US is expanding its Pacific role and dealing with mischievous Muslims and yet the role of NATO increases?
What clearly is missing from the analysis is how Europe will sort out its direct defense and how Northern Europe and Germany will get on the same page with regard to the Russian threat.
This is not some sort of an historical anomaly but with Europe under pressure with the Greek crisis, the Ukrainian crisis and the ISIL threat, it is hard to believe that domestic dynamics will not be central in the evolution of European policy and with that the emergence of significant fissures with regard to the proper way ahead,
2015-02-22 According to a story on the French Air Force website, the Atlas A400M flew to the United Arab Emirates to deliver cargo to the French military.
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The A400M demonstrates a bit more each day its extraordinary capacity for projection.
It can fulfill this type of mission without stoping over in the course of the mission as is necessary with the Transall C-160 or the Hercules C-130.
It has been deployed on several occasions during operations and it supports the armed forces engaged in external theaters of operations and can both ease logistical flows of supplies while providing cost savings operationally.
2015-02-22 Although on their way to retirement, the UK Tornados have been busy in Iraq.
The missions of the Tornados will be taken over in part as the Typhoons receive weapons currently being used by the Tornados in their missions, including Brimstone.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 18 February, two RAF Tornado GR4s from RAF Akrotiri conducted an armed reconnaissance mission over northern Iraq to provide close air support to the Kurdish peshmerga, who have conducted a series of successful offensives to liberate their countrymen from the terrorists.
The Kurds reported coming under rocket fire, and after an intensive search the GR4s were able to locate an ISIL truck-mounted rocket launcher, and attacked it, scoring a direct hit with a Brimstone missile.
The Kurdish peshmerga are also receiving infantry training from a team of coalition instructors, including British military personnel.
And since we published this piece, Eurofighter has provided a press release on the Eurofighter upgrade contract which will highlight in part the upgrades subsuming some Tornado missions.
Eurofighter has today released details of a new capability contract valued at EUROS 200 million delivering a suite of new enhancements to the Eurofighter Typhoon.
As well as introducing a number of upgrades to the Eurofighter’s mission and maintenance systems, the contract, known as Phase 3 Capability Enhancement, will equip the Eurofighter Typhoon to deploy multiple precision-guided air-to-surface weapons at fast-moving targets with low-collateral damage. It further confirms the aircraft’s full multi-role, swing-role capability.
Details of the new enhancements were revealed at a press briefing at the IDEX defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi, today, Sunday 22nd February 2015 at a contract signing in the presence of Philip Dunne, UK Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, accompanied by Alberto Gutierrez, CEO of Eurofighter and Air-Vice Marshal Graham Farnell and representatives from the other Eurofighter customer nations: for Germany, General Erhard Bὔhler, Director Defence Plans & Policy; representing Italy, Lieutenant General Enzo Stefanini; and for Spain, Ministry of Defence, Secretary of State, Pedro Arguelles, all showing their support for this essential capability.
Alberto Gutierrez, the CEO of Eurofighter, said: “This capability upgrade gives the Eurofighter Typhoon unrivalled full multi-role and swing-role capability. Although the prime focus is the introduction of the Brimstone 2 missile required by the UK RAF, P3E enhances the capabilities of the Storm Shadow long-range strike missile, the Meteor, Paveway IV and ASRAAM weapons, as well as introducing modifications to further improve the aircraft’s already impressive availability. Support for the contract will come from all four core nations and the enhancement package will benefit all who use it.”
Air Vice-Marshal, Graham Farnell, the General Manager of NETMA (NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency), who signed the contract on behalf of the core customer nations, said: “Over the last 18 months the Eurofighter Typhoon community has enjoyed a significant acceleration to the weapon system capability enhancement programme and I am pleased to say we have been able to agree a number of major contracts which really drive the weapon system’s contribution to air power.”
He said: “The agreement of the P3E contract is further evidence that this is a Programme which keeps on delivering. As the hugely successful Panavia Tornado moves towards the last decade of its life cycle, it is highly re-assuring to know that the mantle will be picked up by the Eurofighter Typhoon. Brimstone 2 capability is both a unique and welcome addition to the capability portfolio, and whilst it is just a part of the P3E story, Brimstone represents an extremely important capability to have.”
The four nation contract between the UK, Italy, Germany and Spain will form the basis for the next major Eurofighter enhancement, the Phase 4 Capability Enhancement contract, now in its ‘definition phase’. This will lay the foundation for the Nations’ Combat Air capability requirements into the next decade.
The Phase 3 Enhancement contract is scheduled for delivery in 2017. All four core nations will work on flight control and avionics and the contract will centre round a scheduled programme of weapon testing, the development and testing of flight control systems, and finally store clearing and store release testing. The initial fit for the Brimstone 2 missiles on the Eurofighter will see two launchers fitted to the outboard pylons of the Eurofighter each carrying three Brimstone 2 missiles.
The full swing-role, multi-role weapons compliment on the Eurofighter could now include a mix of: six Brimstone 2 missiles; up to six Paveway IV bombs, two long-range Storm Shadow missiles, four Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missiles and either two IRIS-T or two ASRAAM heat-seeking missiles.
2015-02-22 There certainly is one country in the West which does not act like nuclear threats and challenges are at the bottom of the defense list.
France as a nuclear power — and which pays significantly for being one — has had a long standing concern with the nuclear threat.
Discussions in France clearly underscore continuing concern with the actions and capabilities of Russia as well as the rise of a new source of threat, namely a nuclear Iran.
In a visit to the Istres Air base, President Hollande delivered a clear statement of concern about global dynamics.
What is interesting is the very scant coverage of this speech except by those who saw it as a blow to the nuclear free world visit of President Obama.,
“The international context does not allow for weakness and demonstrates that the time of nuclear deterrence is not over.”
He warned that “there can be no question of lowering our guard in the area of nuclear deterrence.”
He also clearly indicated that France needed to modernize both its submarine deterrent fleet and its cruise missile strike force delivered by air.
Undoubtedly, that is why he chose to make the speech at the air base where the Mirages fly from to execute their nuclear mission.
For those who are not paying enough attention to the modernization of the nuclear deterrent, President Hollande warned:
“It is not enough to proclaim the objective of nuclear disarmament.”
And he warned of what one might call the dangers of the second nuclear age as well.
“The increase in the number of states possessing nuclear weapons is a major risk for peace.”
Nuclear is not a substitute for conventional forces and the President underscored that the French Air Force was involved globally dealiong with a diversity of threats.
“The French Air Force operates today in Africa and Iraq and contribute every day.”
During our visit to the USAF Warfare Center, we had a chance to talk with leaders of Red Flag Exercises about the way ahead for this crucial airpower-training program in dealing with 21st century threats.
Most of us are familiar with the videos and photos generated by Red Flag Exercises.
Many of us have seen the Red Flag film at the Air and Space Museum and find the combat flying and tactics shown in the film to be amazing.
But in today’s world, those planes are simply the tip of the iceberg of a combat capability training to operate in an extended battlespace.
Our main interlocutor for the discussion was Col. Jeffrey Weed, the Commander of the 414th Combat Training Squadron.
Col. Jeffrey Weed, the Commander of the 414th Combat Training Squadron. Credit: USAF
As one can see from his biography, the diversity of his background permits him to bring a wide range of experience to his demanding job.
According to his biography:
The 414th’s mission is to develop, plan, execute, and direct Air Combat Command’s premier advanced combat training exercise, RED FLAG. RED FLAG is conducted over the Nevada Test and Training Range and annually trains over 350 multi-service and allied units.
RED FLAG creates the largest, most realistic and relevant air combat training in the world.
RED FLAG integrates live fly, space operations, and cyber effects in scenarios important to combatant commanders across the globe.
RED FLAG is responsible for training over 27,000 personnel each year.
Colonel Weed was commissioned in 1987 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Carnegie Mellon University.
He earned his wings at Columbus AFB, Miss., in 1989 and is a 1994 graduate of the Tactical Leadership Program and a 1996 graduate of the USAF Weapons School. Colonel Weed has served as the commander of the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Deputy Commander, 53rd Test and Evaluation Group, Nellis AFB, NV and Vice Commander, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, AZ.
Prior to Nellis, he served as Deputy Director of Operations, Nuclear Deterrence, and Strategic Integration at Headquarters USAFE/AFAFRICA, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
In June 2013, Col Weed took command of the 414th Combat Training Squadron (RED FLAG), Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air, space, and cyber forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise is hosted north of Las Vegas on the Nevada Test and Training Range — the U.S. Air Force’s premier military training area with more than 15,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land.
With 1,900 possible targets, realistic threat systems and an opposing enemy force that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world, Nellis AFB and the NTTR are the home of a simulated battlefield, providing combat air forces with the ability to train to fight together in a peacetime environment, and to survive and win together.
The 414th Combat Training Squadron is responsible for executing Red Flag. The exercise is one out of a series of advanced training programs administered at Nellis AFB and on the NTTR by organizations assigned to the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center.
More than 125 aircraft are scheduled to depart Nellis twice a day and aircraft may remain in the air for up to five hours. Flying times are scheduled to accommodate other flying missions at Nellis AFB and provide Red Flag participants with valuable training in planning and executing a wide-variety of combat missions.
Col. Weed clearly laid out the strategic direction for the evolution of Red Flag exercises in the period ahead.
With the need to train for a more difficult and more contested combat environments, training must adjust.
Adjustments are necessary both to deal with evolving threats over great distances and to train for ways to more effectively integrate evolving blue systems as to operate in a contested environment.
According to Col. Weed explained” “Although the airspace has not changed for the exercises — we still operate live fly on the NV Test and Training Range — we do use a MUCH larger geographic AOR for virtual and constructive participants.”
The challenge of synchronizing the various combat elements is increasingly complex; and the evolution of command and control to provide for synchronization in the expanded battlespace is a key requirement for enhancing the effectiveness of airpower.
The new Air Combat Commander, General Carlisle has placed a significant priority on C2 innovations to enhance airpower coordination in a distributed battlespace. And in our two interviews with General Carlisle, it is clear that the coming of the F-35 is seen as providing both challenges and solutions to reshaping C2 to operate in the expanded battlespace with distributed forces.
The F-35 was coming to the force in this evolving context, and its role will be shaped and defined by the evolution of Air Force, joint and coalition forces expanding their capabilities to operate effectively with the expanded battlespace.
There is clear concern that training be fully funded to ensure that the Air Force and their joint and coalition partners can adapt to the kind of rapid changes which the forces are facing. The team at Nellis argued effectively for a 4th Red Flag during the year. They moved from the three flags conducted the last couple of years under the pressure of fiscal stringencies.
Question: How do you set the agenda for the Red Flag exercises?
Col. Weed: Each year the ACC holds a Combat Air Force (CAF) weapons and tactics conferences where the training gaps are identified and priorities for the year. What collective training needs to be pursued in the year ahead in the advanced training venue?
Red Flag is a unique environment within we can create the complex, multi-domain training venues, which allow us to address combat air force training shortfalls.
Question: Obviously, you are focused upon C2 evolution to enable synchronization of the combat air force.
How are you doing that?
Col. Weed: We are definitely focused on that challenge.
One way is to generate disruptions in the C2 system to find ways to deal with any threats along those lines.
Another is to train to distributed operations, such as putting a Forward Operating Base (FOB) about 100 miles north of the base and where we connect rescue assets with the exercise force.
We were then joined in the conversation by Col. Matthew Smith, a key player in the C2 innovation, which is central to the evolution of Red Flag in the period ahead.
Colonel Matthew Smith, Commander of the 505th Test and Evaluation Group. Credit: USAF
According to his official USAF biography, Col. Smith is:
Commander, 505th Test and Evaluation Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
As commander, Colonel Smith is responsible for developing operational to tactical level tactics, techniques and procedures supporting air, space and cyber integration, conducting advanced training for air and space operations center personnel, conducting operational test for elements of the Theater Air Control System and selected intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance weapons systems.
In addition his group provides responsive worldwide radar-centric planning, optimization and constant evaluation to create the most operationally effective integrated radar picture.
The 505th TEG includes more than 600 personnel in four active duty squadrons, two detachments and 12 operating locations.
The group is a subordinate unit of the 505th Command and Control Wing located at Hurlburt Field.
Colonel Smith entered the Air Force in 1992 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of New Hampshire.
He has served as an Air Battle Manager Weapons Officer in the CRC and AWACS, in NATO’s Joint Air Power Competence Centre, commanded two Air Control Squadrons, a DARPA Service Chief Fellow, and on HQ Air Staff. Colonel Smith has participated in Operations Enduring Freedom, Air Defense of the Arabian Gulf, Iraqi Freedom, Southern Watch, Allied Force, Deny Flight, and counter drug operations.
He is a Senior Air Battle Manager with 449 Combat and 246 Combat Support hours in the AWACS with 1,000+ hours employing the CRC in combat.
A key point, which both Weed and Smith emphasized, was the expanded battlespace and the C2 challenges in connecting the systems operating within that battlespace.
According to Col. Smith, “from the operational level the exercise goes from Eugene, Oregon down to Phoenix, out to the Gulf Coast of Texas, up to Denver and across to San Francisco. It is a 1200 by 1400 mile AOR with blue, red and gray elements in play.
For the people who fly across the Nellis Range it feels like it ever was, but now they are connected to assets operating throughout the AOR.”
Obviously, this is a challenging C2 effort, even before one gets to the question of adversaries or conditions disrupting C2 in the expanded battlespace.
As Col. Weed underscored: “I get credit for Red Flag an awful lot, but connecting the space and cyber and other effects to whatever we are doing on the range is the contribution of the 505th.”
The two officers contrasted the past with where Red Flag is going. In the past, one would focus on putting a force package together, say AWACS, Wild Weasels and F-15s and working that package.
As Col. Smith commented: “Without tapping into other assets, such as cyber and space, you would not have a chance using that approach against the threats we face. Where we are going with Red Flag is linking the platforms and systems together to create the effects we need for mission success.”
They emphasized as well the sizable rupture between the wars of the past decade and the way ahead. It was clear that in the increasingly contested battlespace, that the USAF needed to shift from what it perfected in the past decade – support to ground forces in an uncontested environment into the ability to fly into more highly contested environments.
This means a managed and tested evolution between the skill levels honed in the past decade and those necessary for the next.
And that is where Red Flag comes in – to ensure that the skills and mindset for combat in contested environments are developed and honed.
Col. Smith argued that for Red Flag, with the F-35 coming to the force, they are not going to wait 20 years to come up with the perfect integration approach.
They are going to leverage the new fighter to provide an overall boost to the capabilities of the combat air force.
“We are going to try to figure out how to integrate now, and not in 2039 or whatever.”
And expanding the venue of Red Flag is seen as crucial to insert the realities of the expanded battlespace facing the combat air force.
According to Col. Weed, “if you have an uncomplicated air war, the operational C2 is relatively easy, and you have time.
But operating in a compressed time scale over a large battlespace is a very different matter.
The strike force is simultaneously working complex ISR tasks, missile defense task, protection against electronic and cyber attack and determining the targets to go after – this is the reality against which we need to train.
And that is where we are going with Red Flag.”
According to the USAF Fact Sheet About the 414th Combat Training Squadron “Red Flag”:
RED FLAG, a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies, is coordinated at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and conducted on the vast bombing and gunnery ranges of the Nevada Test and Training Range. It is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the United States Air Force Warfare Center and Nellis and executed through the 414th Combat Training Squadron.
RED FLAG was established in 1975 as one of the initiatives directed by General Robert J. Dixon, then commander of Tactical Air Command, to better prepare our forces for combat. Tasked to plan and control this training, the 414th Combat Training Squadron’s mission is to maximize the combat readiness, capability and survivability of participating units by providing realistic training in a combined air, ground, space and electronic threat environment while providing for a free exchange of ideas between forces.
Aircraft and personnel deploy to Nellis for RED FLAG under the Air Expeditionary Force concept and make up the exercise’s “Blue” forces. By working together, these Blue forces are able to utilize the diverse capabilities of their aircraft to execute specific missions, such as air interdiction, combat search and rescue, close air support, dynamic targeting and defensive counter air. These forces use various tactics to attack NTTR targets such as mock airfields, vehicle convoys, tanks, parked aircraft, bunkered defensive positions and missile sites. These targets are defended by a variety of simulated “Red” force ground and air threats to give participant aircrews the most realistic combat training possible.
The Red force threats are aligned under the 57th Adversary Tactics Group, which controls seven squadrons of USAF Aggressors, including fighter, space, information operations and air defense units. The Aggressors are specially trained to replicate the tactics and techniques of potential adversaries and provide a scalable threat presentation to Blue forces which aids in achieving the desired learning outcomes for each mission.
A typical RED FLAG exercise involves a variety of attack, fighter and bomber aircraft (F-15E, F-16, F/A-18, A-10, B-1, B-2, etc.), reconnaissance aircraft (Predator, Global Hawk, RC-135, U-2), electronic warfare aircraft (EC-130s, EA-6Bs and F-16CJs), air superiority aircraft (F-22, F-15C, etc), airlift support (C-130, C-17), search and rescue aircraft (HH-60, HC-130, CH-47), aerial refueling aircraft (KC-130, KC-135, KC-10, etc), Command and Control aircraft (E-3, E-8C, E-2C, etc) as well as ground based Command and Control, Space, and Cyber Forces.
A “White” force in RED FLAG uses the Nellis Air Combat Training System (NACTS) monitor this mock combat between Red and Blue. NACTS is the world’s most sophisticated tracking system for combat training exercises and allows commanders, safety observers and exercise directors to monitor the mission and keep score of simulated ‘kills’ while viewing the simulated air battle as it occurs.
As RED FLAG expanded to include all spectrums of warfare (command, control, intelligence, electronic warfare) and added night missions to each exercise period, the combination of NACTS, improved tactics, and increased aircraft/aircrew capabilities improved flying safety.
All four U.S. military services, their Guard/Reserve components and the air forces of other countries participate in each RED FLAG exercise. Since 1975, 28 countries have joined the U.S. in these exercises. Several other countries have participated as observers. RED FLAG has provided training for more than 440,000 military personnel, including more than 145,000 aircrew members flying more than 385,000 sorties and logging more than 660,000 hours of flying time.
This mock battle in the skies over the Nevada Test and Training Range has yielded results that will increase the combat capability of our armed forces for any future combat situation.
A number of F-22s participated in the first Red Flag Exercise this year as their mates were operating in operations in support of the coalition forces battling ISIL.
Some of these F-22s can be seen in this video shot towards the end of the exercise.
Video Credit:99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs: 2/10/15
And a recent story written by Airman 1st Class Joshua Kleinholz published on the Nellis website on January 22, 2015 provides a history of Red Flag with a look at this year’s upcoming Red Flags as well:
Some called them the “Iron Majors” though this group in particular went on to be known as the “Fighter Mafia.” Never mind the title, that was the last thing on their minds as the group of the Air Force’s best and brightest young officers congregated in the little known depths of the Pentagon’s basement offices.
Assigned to the Air Force Directorate of Operations tactics branch for showing consummate professionalism and ferocious pursuit of innovation, the officers of the early 1970s Fighter Mafia poured over a number of air combat studies conducted in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
“In Southeast Asia we were posting kill-loss ratios of around 2:1,” said retired Maj. Joel Reed, an F-4 Phantom electronic warfare officer and member of the original Red Flag staff. “It was pathetic compared to Korea where we had an overall average of 10:1 and in some periods 25:1.”
The Fighter Mafia was hungry to know why.
One of the most impactful studies was the Red Baron reports, which was presented to the group by Maj. Richard “Moody” Suter. The reports brought to his attention a disturbing trend of general inexperience and resulting fatalities, within our pilots’ first ten combat sorties. The problem was apparent.
“The analysis exposed a costly lack of experience,” said Reed, who experienced the feeling of general disarray illustrated in the Red Baron reports during his first 10 combat sorties over the skies of Southeast Asia. “Our training was adequate to get us in the airplane, but once you got to combat it was a whole new deal; every day was an entirely new learning experience.”
Unfortunately for many U.S. aircrews involved in operations over Vietnam, war doesn’t always allow for a learning curve. Losing aircrew at such a rate was deemed unacceptable by an Air Force aspiring to be the best in the world. Suter and company brewed some coffee and got to work.
Their proposal came in early 1975 in the form of Red Flag, an exercise that would pit student “Blue Forces” against dedicated aggressor piloted “Red Forces” in a series of combat scenarios over the vast Nellis Range in Nevada. The Fighter Mafia engaged in fiery debates over various aspects of the project, but the basic objective of exposing warfighters to those crucial first 10 combat sorties had the Mafia in mutual agreement.
Prior to the Red Flag project, students flew identical aircraft against each other, with class “top guns” assuming the aggressor role attempting to outfly their student counterparts.
“It was F-4 Phantom II against F-4, so all of your reactions and all of the training you employed was based on your understanding of that adversary in the same aircraft that you were flying,” said Reed, a contracted senior graphics analyst at Red Flag. “Then to be put up against something like a MiG 21 like we saw in Southeast Asia – then we had a whole new ballgame.”
Red Flag, as drawn up and articulated by Capt. John Vickery, the youngest of the Fighter Mafia on the Air Staff at the Pentagon, and briefed to leadership by the ever-ambitious Suter, would thrust students into simulated combat against legitimate air and ground threats.
In theory, aircrew would be “skipping” those deadly first ten combat sorties and ensuring that no matter what conflict might arise in the future, our aircrews were already ten sorties into the flow.
After hundreds of enthusiastic briefings and a series of stern rejections from the three-star general in charge of Air Force budgets, the Mafia was finally given orders to go fourth with Red Flag 75-1 on July 15, 1975, from Tactical Air Command boss, Gen. Robert A. Dixon, who was swayed by a persuasive Moody Suter brief.
A squadron of F-4 Phantoms from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, arrived just five months later in December 1975 and Red Flag was born.
Retired Lt. Col. Jack Lefforge, a member of the original Red Flag staff as a white force analyst, now Red Flag Plans and Engineering Division deputy division chief, worked tirelessly with his colleagues in a makeshift office to lay the framework for the first exercise scenarios.
“We realized that just like any other unit, we’d only be as good as our foundation was,” said Lefforge, who along with other original Red Flag staffers adopted a ‘do what needs to be done’ mindset in rapidly establishing a brand new exercise from the ground up. “We knew we’d be the pedestal upon which the statue would be continually constructed.”
Red Flag continued to expand dramatically in the following years as word got around to the rest of the Air Force about the training innovations taking place at Nellis AFB. Simulated electronic threats like jammers, simulated surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery guns on the range grew more advanced; attack packages grew more complex with inclusion of different units and airframes from around the service; and debriefs became infinitely more fruitful with the addition of GPS tracking, advanced radar and digital video, among others.
“When the exercise first started, putting everything together in a debrief was left up to a person essentially standing in front of a chalk board, although very skilled at doing that, you lose some element of fidelity,” said Col. Jeff Weed, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander. “Now because of the systems that the Nevada Test and Training Range is equipped to employ, we’re narrowed down to tracking within the feet of where an airplane was, or a person or vehicle on the ground was, then play it all back in a thorough debrief so that everybody can see it at the same time.”
This kind of overwhelmingly thorough feedback is just one of the attributes that sets Red Flag apart from every other air, space and now cyber, exercise in the world 40 years later. Word of resounding Red Flag successes spread not only among all four U.S. military branches, but to 28 partner nations around the globe who have also sent units to participate.
“A lot of the lessons we learn during Red Flag are about communication,” said Weed, who participated in his first Nellis Red Flag in 1997. “We share, to some degree, certain tactics, we fly some of the same types of airplanes, and every nation has their own niche in what they bring to the fight. It’s that kind of partnership that makes us stronger and that all starts with Red Flag.”
General Dixon, Moody Suter and the Fighter Mafia brought Red Flag to Nellis AFB at a time when Nevada’s tallest hotel peaked at just three stories; the population of Las Vegas was just 149,000; and the single airstrip was an aging reminder of the Second World War
The Nellis Range made it a diamond in the rough that a few great minds refused to ignore.
As the scope, complexity and resulting logistical challenges have increased over the years, Nellis AFB and it’s countless other units have expanded greatly to support the cause when needed.
The Combined Air Operations Center hosts hundreds of the world’s finest cyber operators. The 99th Force Support Squadron guarantees food for the thousands of service members visiting the base temporarily for the exercise. And the 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron races to unload, offload and fuel the more than 120 aircraft involved in a modern Red Flag.
To Lt. Col. Erin Cluff, 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, a successful flag means putting together the ultimate base-wide effort.
“Red Flag allows our people to get training on a myriad of aircraft at a very fast pace that they would not get at their home station,” said Cluff. “So in addition to the amazing things happening on the cyber and aviation fronts, our support Airmen are getting very similar opportunities to practice skills inherent to our mission set.”
Red Flag 15-1, the first of four exercises scheduled for the year, is set to kick off Jan. 26 and will welcome an entirely new group of aircrew, maintainers and cyber warriors, among others, ready to get their taste of the “first ten.” For the folks of the 414th CTS, there will be little time to reflect on achievements of the past.
“It takes a year of planning to get Red Flag off the ground,” said Weed, crediting the men and women throughout the years who’ve worked tirelessly to maintain the Red Flag standard. “It’ s important to remember that it wasn’t normal and natural in 1975; that it was during a time of difficult budgets; and it was a high amount of risk they were taking. But thank God they did because it’s made all the difference when we’ve gone to war.”
In the video above, the Australians discuss their participation in Red Flag and Col. Weed is seen highlighting their contribution to the first Red Flag exercise of 2015.
In the slideshow above, the beginning of this year’s first Red Flag exercise is highlighted.
In the first photo, a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion from 10 Squadron, Edinburgh, Australia, sits on the tarmac awaiting the start of Red Flag 15-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 22, 2015.
In photo 2, An F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, launches during Red Flag 15-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 26, 2015.
In the third photo, Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules assigned to 37 Squadron, RAAF Richmond, Australia, taxis to the runway during Red Flag 15-1, as an F-15 Eagle assigned to the U.S. Air Force Weapons School takes off at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 27, 2015. Flying units from around the globe deploy to Nellis AFB to participate in Red Flag. The exercise is held three to four times a year and is organized by the 414th Combat Training Squadron
In the fourth photo, two Royal Australian Air Force aircraft maintainers wait for their aircraft to return from a training mission during Red Flag 15-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 27, 2015. Red Flag exercises provide allied air forces the opportunity to train in a joint combat environment.
In the fifth photo, an F-15 Eagle assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, taxis for flight during Red Flag 15-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 27, 2015.
In the sixth photo, two maintainers assigned to the 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, work on the wing of an F-15 Eagle during Red Flag 15-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 27, 2015. Maintainers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day maintenance of aircraft, including diagnosing malfunctions and replacing components, and conducting various inspections to ensure the aircraft is functioning properly.
In the final photo, Royal Air Force weapons technicians assignment to 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, prepare a Typhoon FGR4 fighter to receive a live bomb load prior to a Red Flag 15-1 training sortie at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 27, 2015. Aircraft tasked with carrying live weapons are towed to a live ordnance loading area to ensure their safest application possible.
Credit Photos: Defense Imagery Management Operations Center
For our other articles highlighting our visit to Nellis AFB in January 2015, see the following:
