Arctic Edge

07/21/2023

U.S. Marines with 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, take part in Exercise Arctic Edge 23 on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, and Cold Bay, Alaska, May 8-9, 2023.

The battalion used Arctic Edge to increase their proficiency in HIMARS rapid infiltration operations and standardize preparation procedures.

ARCTIC EDGE 2023.

05.08.2023

Video by Lance Cpl. migel reynosa

Arctic Edge 2023

When the Iranian or Chinese Navy Come Calling Why Not Throw Them a Curve Ball?

07/19/2023

By Robbin Laird

We have heard a lot about A2D2 and about the authoritarian powers and their asymmetric threats,

Well two can play this game.

The U.S. Navy has within reach a new capability to throw curve balls into the con-ops of an Iranian or Chinese navy approach to challenging the U.S. Navy.

And a recent example comes from an event in the Arabian Gulf which has been relayed to me by a reliable Middle Eastern source, an advantage coming from my years of visiting the UAE and Bahrain.

What is the curve ball?

A highly maneuverable, high speed when needed, high-g capable autonomous asset that can operate up to sea state five and operate 24/7.

I am talking about a maritime autonomous vessel or as it is referred to as unmanned surface vessel (USV) operating today and not in the distant ghost fleet future.

This particular USV operates autonomously for significant periods of its operational time with control of the vessel able to be executed in multiple ways.

According to this source, a slow-moving U.S. Navy ship – not a high value capital ship – was being escorted by this USV in the Straits of Hormuz.

The Iranians sent a drone then a second drone to see what they could see.

Then they sent the kind of fast attack vessel which causes significant challenges to U.S. Navy capital ships. The problem which the fast attack boats cause is precisely around rules of engagement and when is the U.S. capital ship authorized to respond with lethal response.

The Iranians reportedly requested that the U.S. Navy withdraw the USV. Not having gotten the result they wanted they sent more fast attack boats in waves to try to disrupt the USV from its escort mission. Aided by the intervention of a USCG vessel, the USV continued its mission. Later the Iranians sent a warship.

With current capabilities, the USV can provide single ship escort. With further software and C2 development USVs can provide a defensive perimeter for U.S. Navy capital ships and to provide the picket fence for ROE enhancement – you attack my picket ship, and I can sink you.

This is something the Iranians need to experience from my point of view.

Take this capability to the waters west of Taiwan and the Chinese navy now faces a threat to their sea control.

The U.S. Navy does not have to have sea control of the waters west of Taiwan; it simply has to have sea denial.

With the acquisition of USVs and working their wolfpack con ops the Taiwanese and any allied navies who would operate these systems would be delivering a curve ball to Chinese plans for sea control of the waters off of Taiwan.

In other words, it is about time that the bad guys start worrying about our ability to mess with their con-ops.

There is no gray zone if you don’t accept it.

Credit Picture: Shutterstock

HIMARS Employment

U.S. Marines with 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, take part in Exercise Arctic Edge 23 on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, and Cold Bay, Alaska, May 8-9, 2023.

The battalion used Arctic Edge to increase their proficiency in HIMARS rapid infiltration operations and standardize preparation procedures.

05.09.2023

Video by Lance Cpl. migel reynosa

Arctic Edge 2023

Australian Amphibious Force Training

07/17/2023

In June 2023 the Australian Defence Force conducted Exercise Sea Explorer across the coast of North Queensland. Exercise Sea Explorer prepared the Amphibious Ready Unit for certification.

The Australian Amphibious Force train closely with the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Choules, as well as a beach landing force comprising of infantry, armoured vehicles, artillery, aviation and logistic elements optimised for amphibious raids and assaults.

The Sea Series of exercises enhances joint interoperability of the Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy’s amphibious capabilities.

July 6, 2023

Australian Department of Defence

Bastille Day 2023: Modi Brings an Indian Accent

07/14/2023

By Pierre Tran

Paris – President Emmanuel Macron welcomed on July 14 the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, as guest of honor to a prestige-laden military parade marking the 1789 French revolution, a day after New Delhi green lighted high-level talks to order 26 Rafale fighter jets and three attack submarines for the Indian navy.

Modi attended the televised event to mark the sun-soaked national holiday which celebrates a storming of the Bastille prison, sparking a revolution which led to the execution of King Louis XVI by the guillotine.

Three Indian air force Rafales flew with a Rafale from the French service in the highly orchestrated fly past, and 240 personnel from the Indian air force, army, and navy marched in the parade down the Champs Elysées.

Foreign tourists attended the parade, and French nationals were heard questioning why public spectators were barred from entering the famous avenue to watch the parade close up, rather than catch glimpses of the military showcase from neighbouring streets.

It has been on, off, then on again for the Indian arms announcement to coincide with Modi’s two day official visit, with the Bastille day parade serving as the media high point.

Finally, Indian defense minister Rajnath Singh said July 13 the high-level Defence Acquisition Council had that day approved plans to order 26 Dassault Aviation Rafale, and three more diesel-electric Scorpene boats from Naval Group, a French warship builder.

It remains for the Indian and French authorities to negotiate financial details, in what looks like a government-to-government deal, with Reuters reporting the total deal for fighters and submarines could carry a price tag of $9.75 billion.

“The price and other terms of purchase will be negotiated with the French government after taking into account all relevant aspects, including comparative procurement price of similar aircraft by other countries,” the Indian defence ministry said in a July 13 statement.

The prospective order consists of 26 Rafale M, a naval model with strengthened undercarriage for flying from an aircraft carrier. That planned order includes four Rafale for training navy pilots, Reuters reported.

France winning that fighter deal suggests India could order more French missiles and powered smart bombs, opening up sales prospects for MBDA and Safran.

This year marks 25 years of a French strategic partnership agreement with India, which includes defense cooperation, a senior officer of the Direction Générale des Relations Internationales et de la Stratégie (DGRIS), told journalists July 6. DGRIS serves as a think tank for international relations for the armed forces ministry.

Paris is keen to promote close ties with New Delhi to help strengthen the French presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

French Fighter for Indian Aircraft Carrier

The Indian navy will fly the Rafale from its new Vikrant carrier, built with a ski lift deck for short take-off and landing. The navy also sails the Vikramaditya, a modernized version of a Russian carrier, which dates back to the Soviet era.

For France to win an export deal for its carrier-based Rafale has been reported as an extraordinary feat, beating out the Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Harrier.

The contracts with France could be signed next year, media reports said, but it remains to be seen when the deals will be sealed as it has been previously noted New Delhi is inclined to stretch out negotiations.

Three Indian air force Rafale flew with a Rafale from the French service in the Bastille day fly past, just after the Patrouille de France display team opened the public event, flying the Big Nine formation.

A British RAF Typhoon and two Polish F-16, elements of the Nato enhanced air policing team, took part in the fly past, flying with a Rafale and Mirage 2000-5.

The French Rafale fighter had competed in the Indian navy competition against the Super Hornet, and Russia had reportedly offered its MiG-29K and MiG 29KUB carrier fighters for the Vikrant and Vikramaditya.

If New Delhi had picked the MiG fighter, even upgraded with a more powerful engine and active electronically scanned array radar, that would likely have drawn severe criticism from western allies, which have rallied around Ukraine’s struggle against Russian forces.

There were reported Indian concerns over the Super Hornet, which is nearing the end of manufacture in 2025 – unless Boeing won an export order.

There was a strong U.S. presence at the Bangalore air show in February, Reuters reported, with Boeing pitching its Super Hornet to the Indian navy, and Lockheed Martin presenting its F-21, an F-16 modified for the Indian air force.

There was close interest on social media of the Indian navy’s ski-jump tests of the Super Hornet and Rafale at the shore-based test facility at Goa, western India.

More Scorpene Boats

The planned order for three more Scorpene boats would be in addition to the six Scorpene subs ordered for the Indian navy in 2005. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders will build the three new boats if the deal goes ahead.

The navy has commissioned five of the Scorpene diesel-electric boats, with the sixth sub undergoing sea trials and due to enter service next year.

India awarded that Project 75 deal, worth $3.75 billion, to Naval Group in 2005. The submarine project ran some four years behind schedule, and was part of Modi’s Make in India policy drive, seeking to boost jobs and secure transfer of technology.

The India navy is looking to add a further six, more advanced attack submarines with its competition for Project 75 (India). German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is seen as a serious contender in that tender, which seeks extensive technology transfer, an advanced air independent propulsion system, and advanced missiles and torpedoes.

Dassault last year completed delivery of 36 Rafale fighters to the Indian air force, meeting the timetable despite the lock down stemming from the Covid pandemic.

The French family-controlled company won the 2016 fighter order, worth €7.8 billion ($8.7 billion), and the Indian air force is looking to add more fighters to the three Rafale squadrons.

India has previously had effectively two air forces, namely French Mirage, and Russian MiG and Sukhoi fighter fleets, pursuing its policy of non-alignment in the Cold War.

That reliance on Russia has waned, as could be seen with Modi going to Washington D.C. last month to meet president Joe Biden, part of India’s plan to boost its place in the world, counter the power of China, and strengthen its border with Pakistan.

Featured Photo: PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 3, 2017 : The President of France Emmanuel Macron welcoming the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi for a working visit. Credit: Shutterstock.

Exercise High Sierra 2023

Exercise High Sierra 23-1 (HS23-1) is a No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) training exercise, with the squadron operating out of RAAF Base Townsville and into the Shoalwater Bay Training Area over the period 19 June to 06 July 2023.

The exercise is the final component of the F-35A Lightning II Operational Conversion Course.

The exercise will graduate Fast Jet Pilots capable of executing air combat operations from a forward operating base.

The exercise exposes the squadron to large force employment scenarios and hones the preparation and delivery of high explosive ordnance into the training range.

Supporting the exercise are No. 2 Squadron operating the E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control platform, No. 76 Squadron operating Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter aircraft, and KC-30A air-to-air refuelling aircraft from No. 33 Squadron.

This is the first time No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit has held the exercise at RAAF Base Townsville using the F-35A Lightning II.

July 7, 2023

Australian Department of Defence

Refueling a Devil Ray USV at Sea

07/13/2023

Recently, during an exercise in the Persian Gulf, a MARTAC Devil Ray USV was refueled by a USCG vessel. The production version of the Devil Ray can go more than 1000 nautical miles at normal speed but with refueling it obviously can stay on operations much longer.

And staying on station much longer is what it can do as well. During another recent exercise in the Gulf region, the Devil Ray went more than 1300 nautical miles while operating autonomously more than 90% of its time at sea.

With an ability to be refueled at sea, the Devil Ray USV becomes part of the at sea operational force. It can work with a wide variety of ships such as commercial ships, USCG vessels, all types of naval combat ships, and can empower them with its payload flexibility and with launch point agnosticism. With an ability to hand over command of the USV to various members of a maritime combat cluster, the USV can support a wide variety of assets to a variety of missions.

With the interchangeability of mission sets – ISR, C2, medevac, logistical support, and with a potential to carry weapons, this simple refueling at sea suggests the extent of change which USVs, notably operating as a wolfpacks of various sizes of the USVs – MARTAC currently operates three sizes of their USVs, the 12-foot MANATAS, its new productionized 24-footer or the 38-foot Devil Ray.

1st MAW Works with JDF

07/12/2023

MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, arrive at Chitose Air Base, Hokkaido, Japan, Feb. 4, 2020.

The arrival of the Osprey to exercise Northern Viper brings an added element, further advancing opportunities for continued bilateral coordination between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Northern Viper is a regularly scheduled training exercise that is designed to enhance the interoperability of the U.S. and Japan Alliance by allowing Marine Air-Ground Task Forces from III Marine Expeditionary Force to maintain their lethality and proficiency in MAGTF Combined Arms Operations in cold weather environments.

HITOSE AIR BASE, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

02.04.2020

Video by Lance Cpl. Dylan Hess 3rd Marine Division