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02/17/2014: SK-14 is a large scale combined arms, live-fire exercise integrating ground troops from 1st MARDIV, aviation and logistical support from 3rd MAW and 1st Marine Logistics Group.
In the first 2 photos, a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 361, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, Calif., takes off from Range 210, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center during exercise Steel Knight 2014 (SK-14) in Twentynine Palms, Calif., on Dec. 13, 2013
In the third photo, two U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 361, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, Calif., prepare to land on Range 210, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center during exercise Steel Knight 2014 (SK-14) in Twentynine Palms, Calif., on Dec. 13, 2013.
In the final photos, U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (1/5), 1st Marine Division (MARDIV) from Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton, Calif., conduct an air assault at Range 210, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., while participating in exercise Steel Knight 2014 (SK-14) on Dec. 13, 2013
02/15/2014: Two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 35th Fighter Squadron land in sync after a training sortie at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Feb. 13, 2014.
The Wolf Pack ensures readiness by presenting pilots with different training scenarios to further reinforce the Wolf Pack’s ability to fight tonight.
South Korean Civilian leaders and military are looking to bring more focus on technology, their recently announced F-35 purchase and increasing space assets to immediately stop the Dear Leaders over-the-top ranting about unleashing his atomic bombs.
When President Obama announced a “Pivot to the Pacific,” the focus was really upon the United States and what it was going to do in the period ahead.
But the US is simply part of a very dynamic and fluid defense and security situation in the Pacific.
Much is changing; and little is under the control or direction of the United States. As a senior US commander in the Pacific put it to us in a conversation earlier this year:
“Viewed from Washington the US is either leading a process of allied defense or is facing off in a completion with China. Neither is the core dynamic. The reality is that multiple trends are happening at the same time which are creating a “steam roller effect out here.”
No trend is more significant to Pacific defense than shaping an effective strategy – warfighting and deterrent – against North Korean nuclear weapons and strike missiles.
In spite of a fantasy of a nuclear free world, the reality is that nuclear weapons are becoming a more important element in the world. North Korea and China are two key nuclear powers able to shape a fluid environment because of those weapons.
A key challenge is much thinking around South Korean defense remains rooted in 1954; but this is 2014 and we are dealing with a nuclear power seeking expanded regional reach with his weapons. It is not about preparing to repel the North Korean “legions” coming South.
It is about deterring regional war.
It is useful to put the difference in context by comparing 1954 to 2014.
First, China was a newly independent state under Communist rule moving beyond a brutal Japanese occupation. It was under the leadership of Chou En Lai and Mao Tse Tung and the Korean War would be part of its outreach into the Pacific and statement that an invasion like that of Japan would never happen again.
There is very little relationship between the PRC of 1954 and 2014. The PRC has become a regional power with global reach and is a key player in setting the table for the Second Nuclear Age. And clearly is working to expand its reach and assertiveness into the Pacific. North Korea is both barrier and ally to such an effort.
Second, Japan, Singapore, and Australia are major players in the Pacific and globally. They are building 21st century forces for self-defense and for participation in cross cutting multi-national efforts as well. They are all concerned with potential reach from North Korea into the region, and do not view the Korean defense problem, as a managing the threat from the “hoards” going South. It is about self-defense, and self preservation.
Third, the South Korea of today and 1954 are dramatically different. South Korea could not defend itself in 1954; now it has a very large army and growing arms industry to equip its forces and to export as well.
Fourth, the US and South Korean are in the throes of shifting the command structure in South Korean defense. Although the 2015 deadline for the transfer seems to be a moving, rather than fixed target, clearly the assumption operating with the OPCON is that the US Army will become a supporting command to the ROK Army and that the air role for the Air Forces will NOT follow that example, but with the USAF continuing to play the lead role.
In part, this is due to the realistic focus upon the threat from North Korean aerospace forces, notably missiles and nukes.
In addition to these differences, it is clear that there are a number of key building blocks, which can be leveraged in the period ahead to shape a new strategy.
First, the evolution of missile defense is a key element in any solution set to shape an effective approach. And the trend line here is to more effectively link the disparate systems into a system of systems to more effectively link these defensive systems into a more effective operational whole. This is clearly happening with THAAD and Aegis and needs to happen with regard to the Patriot systems in South Korea as well.
Second, fifth generation aircraft are already available in the region and will be augmented by the shaping of a Pacific fleet of F-35s. The fifth generation aircraft are not simply fighters as Lt. General (retired) Deptula often points out but are forward deployed sensors as well as strike systems. They could be used over time to tee up other strike elements, as well as to integrate with defensive systems to shape a strike and defense enterprise which can deliver a decisive blow to the North Korean nuclear and missile complex if war comes.
Third, the US Navy and USMC are shaping new capabilities for mutli-vector insertion of force, whether it be with the Ospreys, the Bs to come off of the amphibious ships (and with the coming of the USS America) and with the coming of the USS Ford,. Innovative new ways to integrate the air arm into a comprehensive strike and defense complex.
Clearly, a 21st century Inchon strategy is possible with the evolution of US Air Force, US Navy and USMC capabilities combined with evolving US Army ADA capabilities as well.
A key issue to address is the question of the use of nuclear weapons themselves. The Russians have made it clear that the modernization of their tactical nuclear arsenal is part of their response to the Second Nuclear Age and their defense of the Russian Far East, a region crucial to their future.
Assuming the United States does not want to go down that path, there will need to be a concerted effort to build out the strike and defense capabilities to ensure the credibility of a nuclear dismantlement, missile destruction and leadership decapitation strategy. Not accepting the “hoard goes South” as the initial feint followed by the Dear Leader determining when to strike is central to an effective strategy.
Hunkering down to defend and focusing on eliminating an artillery tube belt as a primary mission simply misses the point of the changes since 1954.
Clearly, there are a number of regional stakeholders in the evolution of South Korean defense strategy. Despite the tensions in the region and the historical rivalries, a North Korea unleashed is not in the interest of Russia, Japan, Australia or Singapore to mention simply the most obvious players.
And in the case of Japan, the key question will clearly be: If the US does NOT have a credible deterrent strategy against North Korean nukes, how do I build one?”
This is not an option in a wargame or on briefing slides.
This about the only country in the world with real experience with the consequences of nuclear war, not wishing to repeat the experience.
This is not a think tank exercise; it is a real world pressure point.
Another aspect to consider is shaping the future of US forces in the region.
The U.S. and its allies need to shape a new attack and defense enterprise in the Pacific. Credit Image: Breaking Defense.
In our book with Richard Weitz on crafting a 21st century strategy in the Pacific we highlighted the importance of what we called the strategic quadrangle.
Rather than focusing simply on the image of projecting power forward, what is crucial to an successful Pacific strategy is enabling a strategic quadrangle in the Western Pacific, anchored on Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore.
This will not be simple. Competition, even mutual suspicion, among US allies in the Western Pacific is historically deep-rooted; as a former 7th USAF commander underscored, “history still matters in impeding allied cooperation.”
But in spite of these challenges and impediments, enabling the quadrangle to do a better job of defending itself and shaping interoperability across separate nations has to become a central strategic American goal.
From this perspective, the focus is upon shaping more capability for the US and its allies to operate collectively and cohesively from the area of strategic quadrangle to deal with threats in the region, whether from the PRC, the North Koreans, pirates or whomever.
We are not going to have the luxury of a force for Korea, a force for Japan, a force for Australia, a force for the straits of Malacca, etc.
The reality is that it will be a joint and coalition force able to deal with a diversity of threats from the standpoint of strategic advantage.
For the United States, this clearly means leveraging air and naval power in innovative ways within which the US Army and its contribution is integrated and not the other way around.
In other words, it is about leveraging technology but to reshape concepts of operations and organizational structures to unleash further developments in technology to ensure the future capabilities of American joint force.
We clearly are at a crossroads.
And with all crossroads, there is no guarantee, we will take the most effective path.
02/14/2014: When these photos were shot in mid-December 2013, the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit was taking part in the Composite Training Unit Exercise in preparation for its scheduled 2014 deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group.
In the first photo, a U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 drops air-lifted supplies onto the flight deck of the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) during a replenishment at sea off the East Coast Dec. 11, 2013.
In the second photo, U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors move air-lifted supplies from the flight deck of the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) during a replenishment at sea off the East Coast Dec. 11, 2013.
In the third photo, U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 air lifts supplies from the USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5) dry cargo/ammunition ship to the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) during a replenishment at sea off the East Coast Dec. 11, 2013.
In the fourth photo, a U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 lands aboard the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) during a replenishment at sea off the East Coast Dec. 11, 2013.
In the fifth photo, A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), takes off from the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) off the East Coast, at sea Dec. 11, 2013.
In the final photo, a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), lands aboard the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) off the East Coast, at sea Dec. 11, 2013.
2014-02-13 An F-35C aircraft flies a high angle of attack intentional departure test flight in November 2013.
The video includes comments from the pilots and engineers testing the F-35C carrier variant’s high angle of attack capabilities at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.
Earlier we wrote about our visit to the Grim Reaper squadron at Eglin AFB:
A key aspect, which is not widely appreciated, is the impact of the design focus on a JOINT strike fighter (JSF) on the USN F-35C variant of the aircraft. As Commander “Rags” Dorn XO of F-35-C squadron the “Grim Reapers” put it during the visit:
The USN benefits from being co-located on Eglin, AFB with our JOINT Strike Fighter sister services.
Flying the last JSF variant to be introduced, the Navy has been harvesting the work the USAF and USMC have done on the plane as we stand up our squadron.
We have worked closely with our sister services as they received delivery and began initial flight operations over the past year and we are leveraging their experience to shape the way ahead for the JSF aircraft carrier variant.
The USN is going last among the three US services to operate the F-35.
Consequently they benefit from a number of efforts by the USMC and the USAF as they IOC their aircraft before the USN does.
There is simply the fact that Grim Reapers are literally across the hall from VMFAT-501 “Warlords” and also in close proximity with USAF 33rd Wing “Nomads”.
Both AF and Marine pilots will have logged significant flying experience with the F-35 and the pilots can freely discuss their experiences with the USN. Flying safety lessons learned will be invaluable.
The ready rooms are where the air power revolution occurs.
02/03/2014: The Spanish navy is a major allied navy, which deploys the Aegis system.
Now US Navy ships are coming to Spain as well to join in the effort.
According to a story by Steven Beardsley in a January 31, 2014 Stars and Stripes story:
The first of four U.S. Navy destroyers to form the centerpiece of Europe’s missile defense shield departed the U.S. East Coast on Friday for its new home port in southern Spain.
Plans call for the USS Donald Cook to be joined by three more Arleigh Burke-class missile-guided destroyers, which carry the Aegis weapon system, in the coming two years. All are to be stationed at the U.S. Navy base in Rota, Spain, on the Atlantic coast north of Gibraltar.
Other pieces of the missile defense shield, known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach, include land-based Aegis interceptor batteries in Romania and Poland, radar in Turkey and a command center at the U.S. Air Force base in Ramstein, Germany.
The plan has caused a major rift with Russia, which says the shield is aimed against its own nuclear missile arsenal. The U.S. and its NATO allies insist the defense system is meant to protect Europe from potentially hostile countries in the region, such as Iran.
The destroyer detachment expands the Navy presence in Europe at a time when other services are drawing down across the continent. It follows the Navy’s current emphasis on forward deployment, or having ships stationed closer to areas of interest.
In photo 1, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) steams off the coast of Norfolk, Va. Donald Cook is underway in preparation for a homeport shift to Rota, Spain
In photo 2, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) transits the Atlantic Ocean. Donald Cook is underway enroute to Rota, Spain, as the first of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to be stationed in Rota.
In photo 3, Seaman Anthony Fox uses binoculars to observe an object near the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75). Donald Cook is underway enroute to Rota, Spain, as the first of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to be stationed in Rota
02/03/2014: Red Flag 14-1 is an air-to-air combat training exercise in the skies over the Nevada Test and Training Range. The purpose of the exercise is to increase the combat capability of U.S. and allied air forces for future combat situations.
In photo 1, two Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornets assigned to 77th Squadron take off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan. 28, 2014, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev
In photo 2, an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 64th Aggressors Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., takes off during Red Flag 14-1 at Nellis AFB.
In photo 3, an F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, takes off during Red Flag 14-1 at Nellis AFB, Nev.
In photo 4, a Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 assigned to the IX Bomber Squadron from Royal Air Force Station Marham, United Kingdom, takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan. 28, 2014, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
In photo 5, a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan. 28, 2014, at Nellis AFB, Nev.
In photo 6, a Royal Air Force E-3 Sentry assigned to the VIII Squadron at RAF Station Waddington, United Kingdom, takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan. 28, 2014, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
02/02/2014: Bataan sailors involved with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines are seen underway for Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), designed to present the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group with scenarios seen on deployment.
In the first photo, Commodore, Amphibious Squadron 6, Capt. Neil A. Karnes observes the recovery of an MV-22 Osprey from primary flight control aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5).
In photo 2, visitors from the Washington, D.C., area watch an AV-8B Harrier land on the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5).
In the third photo, a landing craft air cushion approaches the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5).