Arrival in Afghanistan of First Four A-29s

01/21/2016
01/21/2015: The sun was shining and the mountains around Kabul were clearly visible, when the first A-29 Super Tucanos touched down at Hamid Karzai International Airport. The A-29 is a light-support aircraft capable of conducting close air support, aerial escort, armed overwatch and aerial interdiction. Four A-29 aircraft arrived to intense…

Helos At Sea: Unfolding the Wings of a Venom Aboard the USS Boxer

01/20/2016
01/20/2016: Marines, attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166, unfold the rotor blades of a UG-1Y helicopter on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4). The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is seen underway off the coast of southern California completing a certification exercise (CERTEX). CERTEX…

Harriers Train Aboard the USS Boxer

01/15/2016
01/15/2016: An AV-8B II Harrier, assigned to Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron (VMM) 166 (Reinforced), lands on and takes off from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4). The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is seen underway off the coast of Southern California completing a certification exercise…

F-35 Lightning II DT-II Wrap Up Video

01/14/2016
2016-01-14 The Second Line of Defense team visited Pax River's F-35 Integrated Test Force in early January 2016. We are preparing a set of interviews which highlight not only progress towards the introduction of the F-35C into the carrier air wing but the way ahead for the air wing under…

USS Ross Departs Souda Bay

01/13/2016
01/13/2016: SOUDA BAY, Greece (Jan. 10, 2016) USS Ross (DDG 71) prepares to pull out of Souda Bay, Greece Jan. 10, 2016. Ross, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, forward deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting a routine patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national…

Launching Aircraft for the Fight: The Truman Strikes ISIL

01/11/2016
01/11/2016: ARABIAN GULF (Dec. 29, 2015) Aircraft launch from the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during its first mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The Harry S. Truman carrier strike group is deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and…

MSC Tanker Resupplying the USS Ross at Sea

01/10/2016
01/10/2016: MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Jan. 5, 2016) Sailors aboard USS Ross (DDG 71) conduct a replenishment at sea with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) in the Mediterranean Sea Jan. 5, 2016. Ross, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, forward deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting a…