Mil News USA, Canada & Caribbean Nations Military News & Discussion Thread

[pigmode]

This Is The First F-35C Carrier Variant Joint Strike Fighter For The U.S. Marine Corps VMFA-314

Marines are also getting the F-35C CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off But Arrested Recovery) variant of the Lightning II. Here's their first Carrier

theaviationist.com

"VFA-147 will conduct the first deployment with the F-35C integrated into the Carrier Air Wing 2, aboard the Nimitz-class USS Carl Vinson in 2021..."

 

[pigmode]

B-1 Lancer readiness is in the toilet, here’s why

A House Armed Services subcommittee says the number of fully mission-capable B-1 bombers is now in single digits.

www.airforcetimes.com

"What’s more, B-1 aircrew are being rerouted from flying the bomber to other aircraft, because there aren’t enough Lancers for their necessary training."

 

[Buster23]

Video shows Russian destroyer nearly colliding with U.S. warship

A Russian destroyer nearly collided with an American guided-missile cruiser in the Philippine Sea, the U.S. Navy said on Friday, calling the incident "unsafe and unprofessional." The Russian Pacific Fleet, meanwhile, blamed the U.S. for the close encounter.

The U.S. Navy released an aerial photo and dramatic video of the incident.

U.S. Seventh Fleet spokesman Commander Clayton Doss said a Russian destroyer came within 50 to 100 feet of the USS Chancellorsville, "putting the safety of her crew and ship at risk." Doss said the U.S. ship was "on a steady course and speed when the Russian ship DD572 maneuvered from behind and to the right of" the American warship, forcing it to reverse all engines at full throttle to avoid a collision.

Video shows Russian destroyer nearly colliding with U.S. warship

U.S. called the incident "unsafe and unprofessional" but the Russian Pacific Fleet blamed the U.S. for the close encounter

www.cbsnews.com

 

[BravoZulu]

Fewer Than Ten U.S. B-1 Bombers Are Ready for Action

The U.S. Air Force’s fleet of B-1B bombers is undergoing a readiness crises that has resulted in less than ten of 62 bombers capable of carrying out missions. The low readiness rating is almost certainly the worst among the U.S. military’s combat aircraft and reduces the overall number of bombers by almost a third.
Air Force Times, which broke the news, reports that the number of fully capable B-1Bs is currently in the “single digits.” According to June 2019 issue of Air Force Magazine, the service is supposed to have 62 B-1Bs in operation. The problem is so bad that B-1 air crews are being temporarily assigned to other airframes.
A number of issues are likely involved. The B-1B fleet is reportedly not receiving the “resources and attention necessary” to keep the fleet going. The last bomber was produced 31 years ago, and as planes grow older they grow more expensive and difficult to repair. One problem in particular is that the bombers reportedly suffer from structural issues. Another issue is the high tempo of operations in the post 9/11 period. The heavy strategic bomber became a close air support favorite in the skies over Afghanistan, with its ability to dash to support troops in contact, stay aloft for hours on end, and drop bombs with precision.
The B-1B is one of three heavy bombers in the U.S. Air Force. Among the three types—B-1B Lancer, B-52H Stratofortress, and B-2 Spirit—the B-1B is the only non-nuclear capable bomber. The Air Force is supposed to have 157 bombers in operation, but the B-1B readiness problems take at least 52 bombers out of that total. The readiness rate for the B-52H and B-2 is unknown.
The B-1B is now focuses on conventional missions, including long range strike and maritime missions against enemy ships. B-1B bombers took part in the April 2018 strike on Syrian chemical weapons facilities, launching several Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missiles at regime targets. The B-1B will be replaced in the late 2020s by the upcoming B-21 Raider bomber.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/mi...ail&utm_term=0_694f73a8dc-f6443dff61-85340453

 

[BravoZulu]

Sikorsky has received a a $542 million contract to build six VH-92A helicopter for the presidential lift mission.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, was awarded the $542 million contract by the navy’s presidential helicopter program.
“The team has efficiently leveraged a proven platform with cutting edge government mission systems for rapid agile development of the next helicopters to fly Presidential missions,” said James F. Geurts, assistant secretary of the navy for research, development and acquisition.
The VH-92A is expected to achieve initial operational capability in late 2020. It will increase performance and payload over the current presidential helicopters, VH-3D and VH-60N, that have been serving over 40 years.
According to the navy, the new helicopter will provide enhanced crew coordination systems and communications capabilities, plus improve availability and maintainability.
In May 2014, the navy awarded the contract for the VXX Presidential Helicopter program to Sikorsky for six S-92 test aircraft and associated support equipment with production options.
In 2016, the design passed its critical design review, clearing it for production.
“The Presidential lift mission is a no-fail mission for the Marine Corps,” said Lt. Gen Steven Rudder, the deputy commandant for Marine Corps aviation. “We deliver helicopter and MV-22 transportation across the globe to support the requirements of the presidency. The authorization to move forward with procurement of the VH-92A will allow the Marine Corps to deliver the next generation of presidential helicopter support.”

https://navaltoday.com/2019/06/11/sikorsky-gets-contract-to-build-six-presidential-helicopters/

 

[BravoZulu]

Lockheed Martin won a $561.8 million FMS contract to Bahrain, Poland and Romania for the Army tactical missile guided missile.
The contract for the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, includes guided missiles and a launching Service Life Extension Program, or SLEP III. According to Lockheed, the rounds will include sensor technology that provides the recently qualified Height-of-Burst capability.
They will produce the rounds at the company’s Precision Fires Production Center of Excellence in Camden, Arkansas. Lockheed is expanding its Camden manufacturing facilities to include the capability to produce ATACMS and other upcoming missiles.
Estimated completion date is June 30, 2022.

 

[BravoZulu]

USA:
A large missile defense radar mounted on a modified floating oil platform has returned to Hawaii.
The $2 billion Sea-Based X-Band Radar was back at Pearl Harbor for regular maintenance and installation of system upgrades, Missile Defense Agency spokeswoman Maria Njoku told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser .
Shore personnel will conduct inspections and surveys, and crew members will receive training, she said.
The Missile Defense Agency plans to keep the radar, which resembles a giant golf ball, at sea for more than 300 days in the next fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 to “address the continued missile test activity in North Korea.”
The agency plans to have the radar spend 330 days at sea each year between 2021 and 2024.

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your...utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Socialflow+NAV

 

[BCNTM]

Stealth Suprise: U.S. Air Force Builds First B-21 Raider 'Test' Bomber

Good news.

nationalinterest.org

 

[Chazman]

President Trump rescinds medals for Eddie Gallagher's prosecutor.

Trump directs Navy to rescind medals for Eddie Gallagher's prosecutors

President Trump on Wednesday called on the Navy to rescind medals that had been awarded to the lawyers who prosecuted Edward "Eddie" Gallagher, just weeks after a jury in San Diego found the Navy SEAL not guilty on six of seven charges for his connection to the killing of a teenage Islamic State...

www.foxnews.com

 

[BravoZulu]

The Fincantieri Marinette Marine-built Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Billings (LCS 15) is scheduled to enter US Navy service during an August 3 ceremony in Key West, Florida.
The ship is named in honor of Billings, the largest city in Montana, as well as the people and military veterans of the state. The future USS Billings will be the first ship of its name in naval service.
Future USS Billings enters service after completing trials in December 2018 and delivery to the navy in February 2019.
Billings is the 17th littoral combat ship (LCS) to be delivered to the navy and the eighth of the Freedom variant to join the fleet.
The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom variant and the Independence variant, designed and built by two industry teams. The Freedom-variant team is led by Lockheed Martin, Marinette, Wisconsin (for the odd-numbered hulls). The Independence variant team is led by Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., (for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls).
“The future USS Billings and her crew will play an important role in the defense of our nation and maritime freedom,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer, who is also performing the duties of Deputy Secretary of Defense.

https://navaltoday.com/2019/08/01/freedom-variant-lcs-billings-entering-service-in-florida/

 

[bdpopeye]

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) visits Manila, Republic of the Philippines.

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[BravoZulu]

US Army inks Iron Dome deal

The contract to purchase two Iron Dome systems for the U.S. Army’s interim cruise missile defense capability has been finalized, according to the deputy in charge of the service’s air and missile defense modernization efforts.
Iron Dome was co-developed by American company Raytheon and Israeli defense firm Rafael. It is partly manufactured in the United States.
Now that the contract is set in stone, the Army will be able to figure out delivery schedules and details in terms of taking receipt of the systems, Daryl Youngman told Defense News at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, on Aug. 8.
The Army was shifting around its pots of funding within its Indirect Fires Protection Capability (IFPC) program — under development to defend against rockets, artillery and mortars as well as unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles — to fill its urgent capability gap for cruise missile defense on an interim basis. Congress mandated the Army deploy two batteries by fiscal 2020 in the service’s fiscal 2019 budget.
Iron Dome could feed into an enduring capability, depending on how it performs in the interim, Youngman said during a separate interview shortly before the symposium.
https://www.defensenews.com/digital.../12/its-official-us-army-inks-iron-dome-deal/

 

[BravoZulu]

The US Navy contracted Raytheon with a $190 million low-rate initial production contract for ESSM Block 2 missiles featuring a new guidance system with a dual mode active and semi-active radar.
Raytheon says in a press release that the award follows the Navy's decision to shift from development to production on the enhanced intermediate-range, surface-to-air missile, placing the Block 2 variant on track for initial operating capability in 2020.
The ESSM Block 2 program is a co-operative effort between the USN and its 11 NATO SeaSparrow Consortium partners to develop an upgraded ESSM 'front-end' to counter current and future threat capabilities within the existing envelope. These include anti-ship cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and surface threats.

 

[BravoZulu]

USN:
The US Navy’s eighteenth Virginia-class submarine, Delaware (SSN 791), has returned to Newport News after completing the initial set of sea trials.
The submarine, in the final stages of construction, spent three days at sea proving all of its systems, components and compartments.
Delaware submerged for the first time and performed high-speed maneuvers on the surface and underwater.
“Delaware performed well during sea trials, which is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the incredible team of shipbuilders who are working to uphold our high standards of quality,” said Dave Bolcar, Newport News’ vice president of submarine construction. “We look forward to continuing our testing program to deliver the submarine to the US Navy later this year.”
The final Block III submarine, featuring a redesigned bow with enhanced payload capabilities, is scheduled to undergo a round of acceptance trials before it is delivered.
More than 10,000 shipbuilders from Newport News and teaming partner General Dynamics Electric Boat have participated in Delaware’s construction since the work began in September 2013.
The boat was launched in December 2018 as the seventh US Navy ship to bear the name of “The First State.”

navaltoday.com/2019/09/02/virginia-class-submarine-delaware-completes-builders-trials/

 

[BravoZulu]

USN:
Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems won a $327 million firm-fixed-price contract, under which it will design, develop, integrate, test and certify the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense or BMD 6.0 capability.
Aegis BMD 6.0 will provide an increased BMD capability by incorporating the Air and Missile Defense Radar, now designated AN/SPY-6(V)1 , for introduction on the first DDG Flight III.
Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division, DDG 125 will be the first “Flight III” ship in the Arleigh Burke Class of destroyers. The Flight III will incorporate the SPY-6, which will replace the existing SPY-1 radar installed on the previous DDG 51 ships.
Raytheon’s AN/SPY-6(v)1 radar has already demonstrated its performance against an array of singular and multiple targets of increasing complexity. This includes integrated air and missile defense targets, as well as targets of opportunity, satellites and aircraft.
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense is the naval component of the Missile Defense Agency’s Ballistic Missile Defense System. Aegis BMD builds upon the Aegis Weapon System, Standard Missile, Navy and joint forces’ Command, Control and Communication systems.
Lockheed will perform work in Moorestown, New Jersey. Estimated completion date is December 2025.

 

[pigmode]

Textron Preps For Mass Production Of New Army Rifle - Breaking Defense

Textron is not just betting it will win the Next Generation Squad Weapons contract: It’s betting the Army will want to start buying in bulk ASAP. That’s not a bad bet.

breakingdefense.com

 

[pigmode]

Air Force Wants Super Realistic Mock Launchers So It Can Replicate An S-300 SAM System

This follows the acquisition of two mobile radars from Ukraine in the past year, including one associated with the S-300.

www.thedrive.com

"The Air Force says that the mock TELs have to have a radar cross section (RCS) that is representative of the real thing, but they are also interested in surrogates that have appropriate electro-optical and infrared signatures, as well. The latter could be achieved by installing systems within the mockup that produce a thermal signature in line with the engine and auxiliary power units on real examples."

 

[BravoZulu]

USA:
Lockheed Martin's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system successfully intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) target today in a missile defense test led by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency with critical support provided by the U.S. Army.
During the test, designated Flight Test THAAD (FTT-23), the THAAD system located at U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands successfully detected, tracked and intercepted a threat representative target using a THAAD launcher that was positioned at distance from the other THAAD end items.
The THAAD radar detected, acquired and tracked the target. The THAAD system then developed a fire control solution and launched an interceptor from a remotely-located THAAD launcher that destroyed the target's reentry vehicle.
This was the 16th successful intercept in 16 attempts for the THAAD system since 2005.
The THAAD system now has the capability to physically untether a THAAD launcher from the battle manager and launch interceptors remotely, greatly enhancing launcher emplacement options and increasing the defended area.

https://news.lockheedmartin.com/201...ote-Launcher-Capability-During-Intercept-Test

 

[BravoZulu]

Canada:
Airbus SE on Friday 30th August pulled out of a multibillion-dollar competition to supply Canada with 88 new fighter jets, a decision that boosts the chances of rival Lockheed Martin Corp.
The defense arm of Airbus, which indicated last month it might withdraw, cited onerous security requirements and a late decision by Ottawa to loosen the rules for how much bidders would have to invest in Canada.
Airbus and other contenders had already complained the government appeared to be tilting the race in favor of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 plane, which the Royal Canadian Air Force wants. Canada is part of the consortium that developed the plane.
Canada launched the long-delayed competition last month and said it was confident no favoritism had been shown. Ottawa says the contract is worth between C$15 billion ($11.30 billion) and C$19 billion.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...boosts-lockheed-martins-chances-idUSKCN1VK1ZX

 

[BravoZulu]

The US Navy has received its first Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) pod to start tests with the US Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23.
Delivered by Raytheon, the mid-band engineering development model is the first of 15 pods Raytheon will deliver for mission systems testing and qualification.
Members of the combined Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234), Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 and industry partners will start various verification and test procedures in preparation for the second pod delivery early fall.
The US Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) program is being developed to augment, and ultimately replace the EA-18G Growler aircraft’s aging ALQ-99 tactical jammer with advanced airborne electronic attack capabilities for defeating increasingly advanced and capable threats.
It is scheduled to achieve initial operational capability in 2021.
Developed in three frequency-focused increments – high-band, mid-band and low-band – NGJ will be capable of jamming multiple radar signals at the same time, including surveillance and air-defense radars.

https://navaltoday.com/2019/09/05/us-navys-first-next-generation-jammer-arrives-for-testing/