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2016-03-05 The Spanish Navy along with other European and NATO navies are engaged in operations in the Mediterranean in support of the fight against ISIS as well as dealing with the migration crisis.
In these photos, credited to the Spanish Ministry of Defense, Pedro Morenés, the Spanish Defense Minister, is seen onboard the Juan Carlos off of the Cadiz coast on February 23, 2016.
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Credit: Spanish Ministry of Defense
In the following interview by Esteban Villarego conducted in the Fall of 2015 and published in Defense News on November 3, 2015, the Minister provides insight into his views.
For four years, Pedro Morenés has led Spain’s Defense Ministry through a budget-cutting period that started in 2009. However, Spain has continued to play a role in international military missions — in Lebanon, wearing UN helmets; in the Indian Ocean, operating under the European Union; in Turkey under NATO command; in Senegal and Gabon, supporting French air operations in Mali and the Central African Republic; and in Iraq as part of the US-led coalition there. It has also signed two agreements with the US to host four Aegis destroyers at Rota Navy Base and a special US Marine Corps unit at Moron Air Base in Spain.
[Defense News interviewed Morenés several days before the Oct. 27 withdrawal of Spanish troops from Afghanistan.]
Now the Spanish Ministry of Defense has announced two new major programs, the 8×8 armored vehicle and new frigates; and an initial budget to purchase four MQ-9 Reaper drones….
What is the main threat which Spain faces from the national defense point of view?
Without a doubt, terrorism is the most important. We fight terrorism from Afghanistan to the Central African Republic or Mali in different ways. We still have a lot to do.
In addition, there are other serious threats: those that are affecting our allies in NATO. We belong to two political and military organizations, the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance, and the risk of our allies is our peril…..
You met with the US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter in October. How can the US and Spain strengthen their defense relationship with the four US Navy Aegis destroyers at Rota and the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force at Morón de la Frontera Air Base?
Our relations with the US have improved dramatically the last four years.
Firstly, we need to share military intelligence elements linked with the enormous capacity of the US to obtain certain information. That is essential to build a trust between two countries, which share a common goal: peace and stability around the world.
Secondly, we must identify common risks and threats, like the instability of North Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Thirdly, we need to integrate as much as possible our operational skills to multiply our capacity to respond.
Finally, we could develop together industrial and technological capabilities with some agreements between companies.
Do you mean the possibility of joint ventures or mergers between some American and Spanish companies?
For example, the possibility that Spanish tech companies could contribute to develop some fields of the defense industry of the United States; or, perhaps, we continue hosting technological capabilities developed by the US and could be used as a common exporter.
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia is on the short list to win a contract from the Royal Australian Navy to build two auxiliary oiler and replenishment ships. Are you optimistic?
Defense contract programs of this kind need a long time to materialize but I hope it can be achieved. We will see it very soon…..
2016-03-05 Lt. Cmdr. Daniel “Tonto” Kitts, an F-35 Lightning II test pilot assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, landed in the history books Feb. 10, 2016, when he performed the first arrestment of an F-35C with external weapons.
Flight 282 of aircraft CF-03 from the F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) was based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Dane Wiedmann).
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In our interviews earlier this year at Pax, Ed Timperlake highlighted a key comment from “Tonto.”
The cross learning from the USMC F-35B, the service’s first T/M/S to achieve IOC, to the USAF F-35A to the USN F-35C model — with the preparation of the first RAF F-35B squadron — has meant that the USN can operate its Cs more rapidly and with more confidence and capability than in a traditional single-model aircraft test program.
This fact was brought out five years later in early 2016, at Pax when “Dutch” a very accomplished Navy fighter pilot with over 600 cats and traps in the F/A-18 stressed how stable the F-35 will fly around the boat.
During the Vietnam War, there were tests done of carrier pilots’ heart rates which we actually higher when landing on a carrier than when being shot at over Hanoi:
“The flying qualities are excellent and the machine systems built into the plane significantly enhance the ease of landing and taking off from the carrier.
Basically with the F-35 you get your mission cross-check time back.
Normally once you start the approach your scan is solely meatball, line up, and angle of attack. Your mission cross-check time behind the ship is zero because you’re just doing that scan.
With the F-35 and its enhanced flight controls and superb handling, the aircraft doesn’t deviate much from the desired flight path, which greatly eases the workload on the ball and frees up your scan. —It almost makes flying the ball a relaxing task!”
The fact that the Navy Test Pilots will rotate back into combat was not lost when Tonto made a seminal combat point about the generational shift from F/A-18 Hornets to the USN F-35C:
“How do you see the F-35 affecting tactical training?
Answer: With the current air wing (i.e, with the Super Hornet and Hornet as the tip of the spear), we are wringing out our tactics for a tactical advantage, which is also, at the same time, at the edge of the envelope for survival.
We are spending a lot of time making sure that we have the right tactics and the mastery of those tactics by pilots to survive and succeed.—It is about keeping a level of competence and capability where you’re not going to die.
There are points where you have a twenty second window.—You miss that window and you might be blown up!
When you’re traveling at those speeds, we are talking really only a couple of seconds that you have. And, if you’re not performing tactics exactly as they’re prescribed, you put yourself in a kill zone.
With the F-35, we are jumping a generation in tactics and now looking at the expanded battlespace where we can expand our impact and effect. You need to take a generational leap so we are the ones not playing catch up with our adversaries.”
While test pilots are wringing out the F-35 and ignoring critics, senior officers are constantly challenged to fly top cover against know-nothing second and third order derivative critics whose only contributions are creating crossed referenced ignorant public articles written by cubical commandoes whose only real skill is creating google search interlocking fields of fire.
The Australian government has recently released a new Defense White Paper along with two accompanying documents, a defense industrial policy statement as well as defense integrated investment program.
Together, these documents express the concern with the dynamics of change in the region and beyond, and Australia’s’ approach to shaping an agile, effective and integrated force to deal with these challenges and to enhance force interoperability with the U.S. and other allies in the region.
Reports which we issued earlier with regard to the Australian strategic reset, first with regards to the acquisition of the F-35, then with the launch of Plan Jericho by the Air Force, anticipated much of what is expressed in the new strategy.
And the launch of the Wedgetail as well as of the KC-30A program have presaged some of the key elements of the industrial strategy as well as the investment strategy.
Indeed, one can look at how the Aussies have worked with industry to deliver the most advanced air battle management system flying today as an example of working through a challenging program to deliver a core capability, and thereby shaping practical lessons for how to innovate.
The acquisition of the KC-30A is also a case in point of how the Aussies have pioneered innovations in 21st century air tanking, and they did this largely on their own in close consultation with industry.
Neither was an easy acquisition but laid down a path that could lead to a fundamentl rethink in terms of how the MoD should work with the forces and with industry in shaping new capabilities.
At the heart of the strategy is to shape a more integrated and effective air, land, naval force able to operate at greater distance within the region and beyond.
There is a clear understanding expressed throughout the documents of the need to get beyond stove-piped acquisition and to work differently with industry. This will be challenging for the government and the services, to get beyond the normal requirements process and hands on control over that process and industry which clearly wants to sell platforms.
Indeed, what is striking about most of the coverage earlier this week in the press with regard to the new strategy is that the primary focus has been upon the new platforms to be built, rather than how they would be acquired and integrated into the force.
And one can look with difficulty when searching for this: “Australian Defence White Paper 2016 + Plan Jericho.”
Not many hits I can tell you.
The Defense White Paper highlights the evolving strategic environment and identifies the kind of force, which Australia needs to deal with that environment.
The core strategic interests for Australia are highlighted in the table below from the White Paper.
A clear and core point about how to deal with China and others who seek to remake the world in their image is the following:
“A stable rules-based regional order is critical to ensuring Australia’s access to an open, free and secure trading system, and mimize the risk of coercion and instability that would directly affect Australia’s interests.
A stable rules-based global order services to deal with threat before they become existential threats to Australia, and enables our unfetter access to trading routes, secure communication and transport to su0ppor Australia’s economic development (page 70 Defence White Paper).”
To do so requires an enhanced air-maritime force with a more mobile, agile and projectable ground force.
And the Defence Integrated Investment Program lays out current thinking about how to best achieve such an integrated force.
In the word’s of the White Paper, “The government will ensure Australia maintains a regionally superior ADF with the highest levels of military capability and scientific and technological sophistication.
The future force will be more capable, agile and potent.”
To do so requires building, evolving, and enhancing the decision making superiority of the forces, which is indicated a key foundation for everything else.
In other words, 21st century C2 is at the heart of any ability to leverage a more lethal and capable force.
And with regard to industry, although new platforms are being added, “the Integrated Investment Program addresses underinvestment in the key enablers that support and maximize Australia’s defense capability.
The focus on enablers will ensure our future force is appropriately supported, works coherently together as a whole, and is sustainable (page 11, Integrated Investment Program).
And driving the point home, the investment program highlights that narrowly focusing on platforms and platform acquisition will not get Australia where it needs to go with regard to its integrated forces.
This is why the future force is discussed in terms of capability streams, not simply the buying of platforms.
How to work with industry differently is seen as a key foundation block for getting to a more agile and integrated force. This is the focus of the Defence Industry Policy Statement.
This Defence Industry Policy Statement sets out the specific measures the Government will take to implement the Defence industry policy, including:
Streamlining the numerous Defence industry and innovation programs under two broad initiatives funded at around $1.6 billion1 over the decade to FY 2025–26:
Establishing a new Centre for Defence Industry Capability, led by an advisory board comprised of private sector and Defence representatives to drive the strategic partnership with Defence, involve industry in governance of the industry programs and provide a range of business and skilling services.
The Centre for Defence Industry Capability, and the associated collaborative activities with Defence, will be funded at around $230 million over the decade to FY 2025–26;
And fostering a new approach to innovation through closer collaboration between Defence, industry and research organisations to jointly develop game-changing innovation and commercialisation opportunities (pages 11-12 Defence Industry Policy Statement).
The Defence Industry Policy statement provides several examples of the Aussies are tackling the problem of innovation, which will get them where they need to go, rather than stove piped innovation.
An example cited is that of the Joint Strike Fighter program and the participation of Australia in that program.
The Joint Strike Fighter Program is about much more than just the delivery of a new fighter capability. It is a catalyst for change for both Australian Defence capability and outcomes for Australian defence industry.
The Program is an example of how a capability requirement can be used to build new global supply chain opportunities for competitive Australian defence industry.
The Program adopted a new capability acquisition strategy that allowed Australian industry to participate in all stages of the capability life cycle, from design through to sustainment.
Importantly, Defence’s Joint Strike Fighter Program Office includes an industry team which has brought about a cultural shift in the way industry and Defence capability managers engage.
As a result, the fifth generation aircraft is providing a pathway for industry to move closer to the heart of capability development and sustainment, effectively positioning industry as a Fundamental Input to Capability.
To date, a total of US$554.5 million in contracts has been secured by Australian defence industry in Joint Strike Fighter design and production, with more opportunities to become available as rates of aircraft production increase and the sustainment model develops.
The Joint Strike Fighter will be sustained by a global supply chain that will eventually service over 3000 F-35 aircraft worldwide.
Industry participation in the Joint Strike Fighter Program has been supported by other initiatives such as the Defence Industry Innovation Centre, enabling businesses to find competitive advantages through delivery of innovations, improved capacity, up-skilled staff, research partnerships and entry into export markets.
The improved competitiveness means Australian businesses are realising opportunities to diversify into other defence sectors and overseas markets, competing on the global stage.
Maximising opportunities for Australian defence industry in the global sustainment system for the Joint Strike Fighter will require an even closer relationship between industry and Defence in the future.
The global supply chain opportunities, provided to Australian defence industry through the Joint Strike Fighter Program, are a good example of how largescale capability projects can provide real benefit and growth to Australian small to medium enterprises.
Defence will, in collaboration with CDIC, seek to develop similar models for Australian industry involvement in future major ADF capability projects (pages 54-55 Defence Industry Policy Statement).
Deputy Secretary of Strategic Policy and Intelligence, Mr. Peter Baxter addresses members of the Australian Defence Force during the senior leadership group meeting following the Defence White Paper 2016 launch at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Credit: Australian Ministry of Defence
And interestingly, the Aussies have highlighted an aspect of the F-35 program which has been virtually invisible in the Inside the Beltway discussion of the program.
The Joint Strike Fighter will be interoperable with other ADF elements equipped with United States derived systems as well as United States forces.
The nature of the global partnership in developing and supporting the Joint Strike Fighter also extends an interoperability benefit more broadly with potential coalition partners, including within our region.
Regular updates to maintain a common and supportable configuration with the United States’ Joint Strike Fighter fleet will reduce the cost to Australia of upgrading the software and hardware to maintain its leading edge capabilities (page 96, Defence Integrated Investment Strategy).
I will be going to Australia next month for the Air Power Conference as well as the Williams Foundation’s latest contribution to supporting an innovative way ahead, this time with regard to air-land integration.
Air forces need to be capable of delivering air and space power effects to support conventional and special operations in the land domain. Air-Land integration is one of the most important capabilities for successful joint operations.
The last decade has seen a significant shift in how airpower has supported ground operations. With the introduction of systems like Rover, the ability of airpower to provide precision strike to the ground forces saw a significant change in fire support from a wide variety of air platforms. Precision air dropping in support of outposts or moving forces introduced new capabilities of support.
Yet this template of air ground is really focused on air support to the ground whereas with the shift in the global situation, a much wider set of situations are emerging whereby the air-ground integration approach will become much wider in character, and the ability to insert force rapidly, as a precision strike capability, and to be withdrawn will be a key tool in the toolbox for decision makers.
Fifth generation enabled operations will see a shift to a distributed C2 approach which will clearly change the nature of the ground-to air command system, and the with the ability of fifth generation systems to generate horizontal communications among air assets outside the boundaries of a classic AWACs directed system, the change in C2 will be very wide ranging.
The seminar will explore how the ADF can take advantage of Army’s Plan Beersheba and Air Force’s Plan Jericho to enhance Air-Land integration.
The seminar will be unclassified, by invitation mostly and at no cost to Defence members and Williams Foundation members (who have taken membership before 1 Jan 2016). Defence members can also send an expression of interest to [email protected]
In other words, technologies, platforms and systems are driving changes in concepts of operations, and operational realities will, in turn, drive the demand for new technologies, and systems to enable the three dimensional warriors who will provide the agility, and reach which Australia is looking for to deal with 21st century strategic challenges.
For the White Paper and associated documents, please go to the following:
Last week saw one of the worst snow storms ever experienced in the Washington DC area.
And the weather the last couple of days have been rough as well with storms and heavy rain.
But yesterday after a stormy beginning, the sun peeked through at Naval Air Station, Pax River, and like “Lucky Lindy” landing “The Spirit of Saint Louis” at Le Bourget in France many years ago, all present witnessed an aviation historic first.
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At 1430 on February 5th, the first Italian made F-35A flew into the pattern at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland and touched down. Known to all Naval Aviators as “Pax” this historic flight of an Italian fighter pilot, wearing his cold water survival suit, flew the single seat, single engine F-35A flew in the dead of winter over the North Atlantic.
The Italian AF combat fighter pilot’s call sign was “Ninja” and as a Major he was also a very accomplished test pilot and former Tornado reconnaissance pilot.
He flew his Lightning II pushing against a 120 knot jet stream essentially hand flying the aircraft the entire way feet wet in a formation with a tanker in the clouds while refueling in the turbulent air of the North Atlantic.
It was remarkable flying that in his debrief Ninja modestly understated with a grin that he was just doing what the mission required.
Pax River is a famous Navy/Marine aviation test center airfield and within the global F-35 community functions in an integrated manner with the world famous USAF aviation test center at Edwards AFB California.
Together these bases are the home of aviators that Tom Wolfe’s famous book describes as having “The Right Stuff.”
And on February 6th “Ninja” was at the top of Wolfe famous aviation pyramid in doing something no other pilot has done while flying the newest F-35 in world. Ninja was very modest but it was a true day for Italian aviation pride and a reason to celebrate.
Historically, allies and partners who operated U.S.-generated fighter aircraft would do so sequentially over time as the type/model/series progressed, with U.S. fighter pilots first flying the newest jets and then allies next as production was generated off of U.S. lines.
For example, the first flight by the U.S. of the F-16 was in 1977, however, it took until 2001 for the first USAF F-16s to be introduced into the Italian AF. Under the terms of a USAF and Italian AF agreement named the “Peace Caesar” program was a lease of F-16s to make up for shortfalls in Typhoons in the Italian Air Force fleet.
The landing a Pax was the culmination of a very important and visionary effort by Italy.
Four years ago, on an empty field at the Cameri Air Base near Milan Italy, Italian leaders began development of an F-35 final assembly plant. In just four years Cameri became the first F-35 Final Assembly Facility (FACO) outside of the United States. The Japanese are currently assemblying their first F-35 in Japan currently, and came to Cameri as part of their learning process.
At Cameri, Italian industrial defense workers are both building wings for other global partners in the F-35 program, in fact, the first Cameri fabricated “wings” were integrated onto a USAF F-35 recently.
They are building full up and up planes (airframe and systems) for themselves and the Dutch.
The first F-35 came off of the line in early 2015.
On Sept. 7, 2015 the first F-35A assembled outside the US, made its very first flight from Cameri airbase.
Later in 2015, the Italian AF took delivery of AL-2, the second F-35 built in Italy.
In stark contrast to the F-16 experience, the first F-35A to cross the Atlantic was flown by Italy not the USAF.
Put in blunt terms, the Italians and the partners are flying the most advanced US combat jet in current production at the same time as the US services, which provides a unique moment in history and a clear opportunity for shaping new global capabilities.
The landing of AF-01, which flew first in Italy in September, was by one of the Italian pilots trained at Luke AFB in the Fall and highlighted the remarkable progress of the program.
The flight from Cameri to Pax River added some miles to the program which is nearly 50,000 hours flown by the fleet to date.
We previously interviewed Ninja when he flew the F-35 at Luke in the Fall of 2015.
During that interview, he highlighted the unique international quality of the program:
Question: What does an integrated F-35 fleet bring to coalition combat, from your point of view?
Answer: We will write the TTPs together.
The commonality from the very beginning will be built into any operation which you do with your coalition partners.
And we are working from the ground up with the USAF, which is different as well from before.
We have made significant progress in the past two years, which is often not grasped by those not involved in the program.
And let me return to the point we discussed earlier about the difference between multi-mission and multi-tasking and the impact on operations.
You do not have to switch your configurations for air-to-air to air-to-ground or whatever the mission for which you have been pre-configured.
You can do what you need to do with the situational awareness built into the jet and the fleet and then fly to the mission.
During the Luke interview, the Italian pilots underscored the importance of being able to work with different partners and services in order to shape the way ahead with the aircraft, the fleet and preparation for combat.
Notably, an F-35 A, in this case an Italian F-35A, came to Pax River for electromagnetic wave form testing, although this is a navy test facility. In our forthcoming interview with the head of F-35 testing at Pax River we will focus on how Pax and Edwards work together and how testing is being shaped quite differently from how it is widely perceived.
And Ninja also thanked the Marines for their help in shaping his way ahead with regard to the flight.
He specially mentioned in his interview that the Marines who had come to Pax River to fly over the Atlantic to Farnbourgh in 2014, but did not do so, and in turn flew back to Yuma, helped him prepare for his transatlantic flight.
And he is more than willing to pay back the Marines with advice based on his experience.
“I will give them all the help they need to do this.
Semper fidelis!”
After Ninja landed, reporters had a chance to discuss the flight with Ninja, and we will provide a full report on that interview in the near future, for it was comprehensive and wide ranging in discussing the jet and its clear capabilities right now resident in the aircraft.
It should be noted that the jet flew with a Eurofighter, an Italian KC-767 tanker and with two C-130s for support for air/sea rescue in case needed. Flying across the Atlantic in winter against heavy head winds is no picnic, but the jet not only had no “maintenance discrepancies” in both legs, but flew with ease and comfort according to Ninja.
Although the jet has just enough fuel, winds permitting, to fly from the Azores to Canada without refueling, it was refueled in flight four times for safety and security. It was refueled twice in the clouds, and the stability of the computer assisted flight controls allowed the aircraft to do the air refueling extremely well.
Relying on the cockpit fusion engine and his second generation helmet using the DAS system built into the jet the pilot was able to see all members of the formation even through the clouds, including the rescue C-130s flying below him.
He shifted from autopilot to hand flying as appropriate throughout the flight of seven hours from the Azores.
He emphasized that the plane was rock solid and a dream to fly.
“I had no maintenance gripes” and as we previously saw at Nellis AFB he could adjust the very flexible cockpit screens to provide fused 360 situational awareness (SA) data which he needed to manage the flight across the Atlantic in formation.
The helmet was very comfortable and worked well; and the ergonomics were excellent for the flight as he was comfortable throughout the flight.
It was noteworthy that he was doing all of this after having only 50 hours of flight time in the jet!
Although accompanied by much more attention and publicity, the famous formation flight by Balbo and his mates with 12 hydroplanes from Rome to Rio de Janeiro, the flight by a Ninja more than 70 years later was also a first of historic significance.
But in this case, an Italian delegation, and five journalists were all that were present welcoming Ninja and his AF-01 at Pax River to greet him.
11/07/2015: Two Italian pilots completed their first flights in the F-35 at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.
One of the jets used was an Australian F-35, highlighting the integration of the F-35 global partners.
Credit: 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
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The link below provides a 1930 video from British Pathe of the flight by Balbo and his crew:
“Italy – First “Formation” Atlantic Flight. 12 giant Hydroplanes set out on great adventure from Rome to Rio de Janeiro, with General Balbo, Italian Air Minister, in command.”
A hand points to a route drawn on a map depicting the route General Italo Balbo and his men will take from Italy to Brazil. Balbo poses with his crews.
A S.55A twin-hulled flying boat is wheeled out on a dolly in preparation for launch.
The crews attend a religious Mass before departure.
Men hoist a flag while another man is playing the trumpet.
2016-02-08 The week prior to the first transatlantic flight of the F-35, this one done by an Italian pilot, a USAF pilot became the first pilot to fly 500 hours on the F-35.
Lt. Col. Matthew Hayden, 56th Fighter Wing chief of safety and pilot attached to the 61st Fighter Squadron, made history as the first Thunderbolt to achieve 500 flight hours in an F-35 Lightning II today at Luke Air Force Base.
Hayden achieved this milestone flying his 270th sortie, a routine training mission, which took off from Luke at approximately 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
“This is a testament to Luke and all the work we’ve done here to build up our experience and operations,” Hayden said. “This is a reflection of our efforts to set up a high-quality training program for new pilots.”
Hayden is one of the most experienced F-35 pilots in the world, and has flown and instructed new pilots at Luke since the inception of its program.
“The [61st FS] Top Dogs are incredibly lucky to have an F-35 instructor pilot who has been with the program since the beginning flying with us on a daily basis,” said Lt. Col. Aaron Jelinek, 61st FS director of operations. “Lieutenant colonel Hayden’s depth of knowledge when it comes to both F-35 systems and tactics add incredible value to squadron operations each and every day. This is an impressive milestone for lieutenant colonel Hayden as he continues leading the way when it comes to experience flying the F-35.”
As Luke transitions from its mission of training F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots, maintainers and support specialists to training equivalent Airmen in operation of the new F-35 platform, Hayden’s 500th hour in the air marks a significant leap of progress in the development of Luke’s F-35 program.
“When our most experienced instructor pilot only has 500 hours in the plane, it goes to show the F-35 program is still young,” Jelinek said. “However, it also shows that we are reaching a point where operations are normalizing, and we are able to transition our syllabus from training initial cadre to training less experienced fighter pilots.”
Luke Airmen are among the first in a global generation of pilots to fly the F-35, and will continue to reach milestones such as this for the duration of the aircraft’s development.
“The fabulous thing about this is that there are a lot of guys who are right behind me, who are really close to getting the same kind of milestone in their flying experience,” Hayden said.
As today’s pilots become more and more experienced with the F-35 platform, they position themselves to become the instructors and mentors of future generations of pilots flying more advanced versions of the fighter jet as they are developed and produced.
“As we build our cadre of instructors here, they’ll be able to look back at their experience flying the airplane and have credibility and a solid background that they can use to teach their students,” Hayden said.
The program is rapidly maturing.
By the end of 2015, the F-35 program has achieved the following:
More than 45,000 hours flown
More than 16,000 sorties
F-35 stationed at 10 bases
F-35 completed five deployments to sea
6 nations are currently flying the F-35
More than 160 F-35s are in the field
229 Jets on Contract
150 More with LRIP 9 and 10
More than 300 pilots and 2700 maintainers
And for a video which provides a comprehensive look at the program and one of its critics, see the following:
At 1430 on February 5th, the first Italian made F-35A flew into the pattern at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland and touched down. Known to all Naval Aviators as “Pax” this historic flight of an Italian fighter pilot, wearing his cold water survival suit, flew the single seat, single engine F-35A flew in the dead of winter over the North Atlantic.
The Italian AF combat fighter pilot’s call sign was “Ninja” and as a Major he was also a very accomplished test pilot and former Tornado reconnaissance pilot.
He flew his Lightning II pushing against a 120 knot jet stream essentially hand flying the aircraft the entire way feet wet in a formation with a tanker in the clouds while refueling in the turbulent air of the North Atlantic.
It was remarkable flying that in his debrief Ninja modestly understated with a grin that he was just doing what the mission required.
Pax River is a famous Navy/Marine aviation test center airfield and within the global F-35 community functions in an integrated manner with the world famous USAF aviation test center at Edwards AFB California.
Together these bases are the home of aviators that Tom Wolfe’s famous book describes as having “The Right Stuff.”
And on February 6th “Ninja” was at the top of Wolfe famous aviation pyramid in doing something no other pilot has done while flying the newest F-35 in world. Ninja was very modest but it was a true day for Italian aviation pride and a reason to celebrate.
Historically, allies and partners who operated U.S.-generated fighter aircraft would do so sequentially over time as the type/model/series progressed, with U.S. fighter pilots first flying the newest jets and then allies next as production was generated off of U.S. lines.
For example, the first flight by the U.S. of the F-16 was in 1977, however, it took until 2001 for the first USAF F-16s to be introduced into the Italian AF. Under the terms of a USAF and Italian AF agreement named the “Peace Caesar” program was a lease of F-16s to make up for shortfalls in Typhoons in the Italian Air Force fleet.
The landing a Pax was the culmination of a very important and visionary effort by Italy.
Four years ago, on an empty field at the Cameri Air Base near Milan Italy, Italian leaders began development of an F-35 final assembly plant. In just four years Cameri became the first F-35 Final Assembly Facility (FACO) outside of the United States. The Japanese are currently assemblying their first F-35 in Japan currently, and came to Cameri as part of their learning process.
At Cameri, Italian industrial defense workers are both building wings for other global partners in the F-35 program, in fact, the first Cameri fabricated “wings” were integrated onto a USAF F-35 recently.
They are building full up and up planes (airframe and systems) for themselves and the Dutch.
The first F-35 came off of the line in early 2015. On Sept. 7, 2015 the first F-35A assembled outside the US, made its very first flight from Cameri airbase.
Later in 2015, the Italian AF took delivery of AL-2, the second F-35 built in Italy.
In stark contrast to the F-16 experience, the first F-35A to cross the Atlantic was flown by Italy not the USAF.
Put in blunt terms, the Italians and the partners are flying the most advanced US combat jet in current production at the same time as the US services, which provides a unique moment in history and a clear opportunity for shaping new global capabilities.
The landing of AF-01, which flew first in Italy in September, was by one of the Italian pilots trained at Luke AFB in the Fall and highlighted the remarkable progress of the program.
The flight from Cameri to Pax River added some miles to the program which is nearly 50,000 miles flown by the fleet to date.
HMAS Darwin has conducted a passage exercise with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) Escort Task Group 152 off the coast of Queensland.
The task group consists of three ships—the Luyang Class destroyer Jinan, (DDG-152), the Jiangkai Class frigate Yiyang (FFG-548), and the Fuchi Class replenishment ship Qindaohu. (AOR-886).
The task group spent five days in Brisbane from 2 January 2016.
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The PLA-N task group, completed counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden in 2015 before embarking on a global deployment that has seen the task group visit more than a dozen countries during the past five months.
The task group is in the final stages of its global deployment and will return to China in early 2016.
Australia’s Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, said the activity was a valuable opportunity for the Royal Australian Navy and the PLA-N, to operate together.
“The Royal Australian Navy works with China and all of Australia’s regional partners to provide a stable and cooperative security environment and encourages constructive relations between all militaries in the region,” VADML Barrett said.
“Activities such as this provide both countries with an opportunity to operate in close proximity and increase their knowledge of each other’s operating procedures.”
HMAS Darwin departed Sydney on 30 December to assume duties as part of Operation MANITOU, which is the Australian Government’s contribution to the international effort to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region.
HMAS Darwin is the 62nd deployment of an RAN ship to the Middle East.
As Edward Johnson noted in a Bloomberg news story published January 1, 2016:
Australia walks a diplomatic tightrope between its most important security ally, the U.S., and its largest trading partner, China.
The balancing act has come under pressure amid criticism by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s government of China’s territorial expansion into waters off its eastern and southern coasts.
One could add as well that the US Navy is forging its own relationship with the Chinese Navy even while the Chinese lay claim to more territory in the South China Sea.
The challenge is clear: how does cooperation impact on Chinese behavior?
Is it part of a reshaping of relationships or simply an input into the data bank of Chinese strategies to get what they want in the Pacific?
And last Fall, the Royal Australian Navy conducted port calls and exercises with the Chinese Navy.
The Royal Australian Navy conducted a port visit and naval exercise with the People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) in Zhanjiang, China during the period 31 October to 2 November.
The port visit by HMA Ships Stuart and Arunta to Zhanjiang included a combined planning session for the exercise, official functions with local dignitaries, sporting activities, discussions on the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, and other mariner skills training.
The visit concluded today with a combined exercise involving joint search and rescue training, tactical evolutions, communications drills, and a live fire activity.
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC said the professional and cultural exchanges included in the visit will strengthen Australia’s defence ties with China.
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“The conduct of these activities between navies is the oldest form of international diplomacy and is fundamental in developing our understanding and cooperation between the RAN and the PLA-N.”
It builds on previous visits RAN ships have made to China in 2010, 2012 and 2014 including when HMASWarramunga conducted the first live fire activity between the RAN and the PLA-N in 2010.
Australia is committed to maintaining strong and positive defence relations with China, and the Australian Defence Force works with the People’s Liberation Army to build mutual understanding and facilitate transparency.
The visit to China is part of the Royal Australian Navy’s routine regional engagement activities in both North and South East Asia. HMA Ships Stuart, Arunta and Sirius are participating in the deployment, which also includes exercises and port visits to the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The ADF has a long history of engagement throughout Asia and regularly conducts such activities as part of its broad regional engagement program.
01/22/2015: Earlier, we have argued that the training of the Peshmerga is a significant element of not only defeating ISIS but in building a post-Baghdad transition in Iraq.
Here we are providing a series of updates on that training effort, being engaged in by the United States and several key allies.
In this video from the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, training is seen provided on gas masks and various weapons.
The video is dated 1/20/16.
According to a December 18, 2015 story published by the US Department of Defense about the training of Peshmerga:
WASHINGTON, December 18, 2015 — Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are rotating through coalition training in northern Iraq at the rate of 800 personnel every 25 days, enabling them to continue their fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant with minimal interruption, the commander of the Kurdistan Training Coordination Center said yesterday.
Speaking to reporters traveling with Defense Secretary Ash Carter, German army Col. Bernd Prill described the type of instruction the Peshmerga receive at the training center.
Located in northern Iraq, the center is staffed by seven coalition countries — Germany, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands and Hungary — and works with Peshmerga units to improve their capabilities, Prill said.
The troops receive basic infantry training, including individual combat skills, squad tactics, and company maneuvers, Prill explained. The training also includes counter-improvised explosive device training, sniper training and combat life-saving medic courses. “We train them on offense and defensive operations … in rural areas and urban areas,” the colonel said.
The center also holds special courses for Peshmerga officers, he said, up to the battalion level.
Overall, the center has trained some 8,000 Peshmerga fighters, who’ve then returned to the 1,200-kilometer front line to fight ISIL.
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And in a recent article published January 15, 2016 on Rudaw which is a Kurdish media network funded and supported by the Rudaw company:
A Peshmerga Ministry official told Rudaw that the United States has promised to equip and train the Peshmerga the same as a US army brigade.
Advanced weapons and training will be provided in the Kurdistan Region where US and Western military advisors are working closely with Kurdish forces in fighting the Islamic State (ISIS).
Germany, Italy, Canada and other Western powers have helped the Peshmerga. The German military has provided anti-tank Milan missiles which have proven deadly accurate against ISIS suicide trucks.
The Canadian military has provided mine detecting and bomb disposal robots.
The US, UK and France have also supported the Peshmerga with air strikes in most of their offensives against ISIS, especially for the capture of the Kurdish Yezidi town of Shingal in November.
And recently, the Federal Republic of Germany announced their continued support for training and supporting Peshmerga.
Germany is stepping up its fight against the terrorist organisation IS. Up to 150 German soldiers are to train Peshmerga fighters and members of the Iraqi security forces. The German Bundestag must still approve the Cabinet decision.
The German government is to expand the action it is taking against the IS terrorist organisation. For one year Bundeswehr troops have been providing support in the form of training for security forces around Erbil in northern Iraq. This mission is to be extended for another year. The motion must still be approved by the German Bundestag.
The Bundestag mandate is to be extended until 31 January 2017, and the ceiling on troops is to be raised from 100 to 150 soldiers.
Joint action against terrorism
Up to 150 German soldiers are to train Peshmerga fighters and Iraqi security forces in Erbil Photo: Bundeswehr/Sebastian Wilke
The terrorist organisation IS has become a global threat to peace and security. The terrorist attacks in Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, against Russia and in France provide ample evidence of the threat to world peace. The UN Security Council has already noted this in various resolutions, most recently in November 2015.
The United Nations Security Council called on the international community to take all necessary steps to prevent the terrorist activities of IS.
Strengthening the ability of Iraqi authorities to ensure security
One core element in the fight against the IS is the development of permanent capacities within the Iraqi security forces and the Peshmerga, the security forces of the regional government in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.
Since the multinational training mission began on 15 February 2015 around Erbil, more than 4,800 members of the security forces have undergone training in northern Iraq and in Germany, in line with the German government’s principle of ensuring that all population groups are involved in training.
Germany’s armed forces are acting within the framework and in line with the rules of a system of collective security as laid out in Article 24.2 of the German Basic Law or constitution.
Training centre in Erbil
The training support is centred on the area in and around Erbil. Under exceptional circumstances troops can also be deployed outside this immediate region, for purposes of consultation and coordination across the entire Iraqi territory.
In addition, a limited number of German troops will continue to be assigned to staff units of the international alliance against the IS, mainly in Iraq and Kuwait.
Further support planned
The Peshmerga and the security forces of the Iraqi central government are also to receive more military equipment. Only well equipped and well trained troops can hold their own against the IS.
In addition to training and equipment, Germany is considering treating wounded members of the security forces in Germany and offering air transport for the wounded.
And in a story published on July 21, 2015, the Daily Mail provided photos which told a lot about the Peshmerga and their training.
And some of those photos are seen in the slideshow above.
Close air support in the context of the fight against ISIS is about providing support for those forces on the ground engaged in the fight against ISIS.
A key force in the fight is the Peshmerga who clearly need supplies and air support to enhance their effectiveness against the radical Islamic force.
The discussion of how to provide CAS is not simply a technical issue of providing JTACs and US or allied airpower; it is about positioning support in a way that the forces on the ground, in this case the Peshmerga can see strategic as well as tactical support.
The problem for the US and its allies is simply that the Peshmerga know how to fight; the Iraqi government does not.
Now the US is using Turkish bases to prosecute the fight, but Turkey is at best an ambiguous player in this fight, and certainly is no friend of the Kurds.
Kassab added that the President of Kurdistan has offered a former Iraqi air base to the US and its allies from which to fight ISIS, a move which would not only reinforce the relationship with Kurdistan but be recognized instantly by ISIS as a significant threat to their activity in Iraq.
“We really do prefer that we use it for the Kurdistan itself rather than coming from Turkey because this will give a lot more strength to the Kurds.”
Such a base would be far enough from indirect fire weapons yet close enough for CAS and perhaps a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for helos as well.
