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

[DZimm]

A very impressive display of the kind of power projection that USAF bombers are capable of. Took off from Ellsworth, flew to Japan, conducted exercises with USAF and JASDF fighters, and then went home. 30 hours.

B-1B mission from South Dakota to Japan and back

The War Zone, with the help of our friend @Aircraftspots, was first to report on a peculiar B-1B mission that sent the swing-wing bomber over the Bering Sea, past Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, and around Japan yesterday. At the time it wasn't clear if the bomber would land somewhere in the region or if it was a round-trip, ultra-long-range 'global power' sortie. It turns out it was the latter and now U.S. Pacific Air Forces has photos to show for it. /QUOTE]

 

[BravoZulu]

USA:
General Dynamics Electric Boat announced that it has delivered the nuclear-powered attack submarine Vermont to the Navy.
The Vermont is the 19th submarine of the Virginia Class, which displace 7,835 tons, with a hull length of 377 feet and a diameter of 34 feet, and can carry eight masts, including a snorkel mast and high-data-rate satellite communication masts as well as a radar mast.
The submarine is valued at $3 billion. "I am pleased to report that the Vermont has received some of the highest quality ratings in the history of the Virginia program. We wish Vermont and her crew a long and distinguished career in defense of our nation“, said Kevin Graney, President, General Dynamics Electric Boat, in a press release.
Back in December the Navy awarded Electric Boat $22.2 billion for delivery of nine Virginia-class subs, and in January Lockheed Martin received $19.3 million to deliver masts for the boats.

USS Vermont (SSN 792)

 

[DZimm]

Eielson Air Force Base receives first F-35s

The 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs has announced that the Eielson Air Force Base received its first two F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft on 21 April.
“It was a historic day for Eielson as the base received its first two F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft,” the Public Affairs message states.
In April 2016, it was officially announced the base was scheduled to receive two squadrons of F-35As as well as approximately 3,500 Airmen, contractors and their families. Construction began in early 2017 for projects regarding the F-35As arrival.
/QUOTE]

 

[BravoZulu]

Hypersonic missile systems have moved up the agenda, not least after Russia has demonstrated several operational weapons over the past couple of years, such as the Vangard and Kinzhal missiles.

Common to them are high speeds, great range and manoeuvrability, and supposedly precision, which will make them difficult to stop with today's air defence.

In this arms race, the United States has several times publicly admitted that they are behind. One of the tools to get back on the offensive is a new development project together with Norway.

It is the US Department of Defense that on Monday announced the bilateral cooperation called THOR-ER ("Tactical High-Speed Offensive Ramjet for Extended Range").

The Pentagon report states that the goal of Thor-ER is to develop missile prototypes with ramjet engines where they keep costs down while achieving high speeds and wide ranges. This should culminate in flight testing of the air breathing missiles in operationally relevant conditions.

The project is part of the "Allied Prototyping Initiative", launched last year, which paves the way for the United States to work with its closest allies on research and development to develop cutting-edge weapons technology in a fast and efficient way.

In this case, it has thus resulted in the special that they team up with an ally to develop new engine technology.

Among the players we find on the US side the US Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center, the Weapons Division China Lake in California and on the Norwegian side the Defense Research Institute (FFI) and the industrial partner Nammo. Not many missiles have been developed in China Lake over the years, such as Tomahawk and Sidewinder.

"Together with our Norwegian partners, this is an important step in developing the technologies needed to ensure that we and our allies are militarily superior in hypersonic systems," said Dr. Michael Griffin, Under Secretary for Research and Engineering , would say a kind of technology manager in the US Department of Defense.

Material Director Morten Tiller of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense said in the same report that he has great faith in this agreement. Both because the result can be pioneering capabilities for the Armed Forces, but also because the bilateral cooperation itself is pioneering.

https://translate.google.com/transl...ypersoniske-missiler-med-ramjetmotorer/490387

 

[morris]

The US Air Force (USAF) has identified 23 units and their respective space missions for a formal transfer to the US Space Force (USSF), the USAF announced on 31 March.
The following units and organisations have been identified for full mission transfer: 17th Test Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado; 18th Intel Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; 25th Space Range Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colorado; 328th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada; 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colorado; 705th Combat Training Squadron OL-A, Schriever AFB, Colorado; 544th ISR Group Staff & Detachment 5, Peterson AFB, Colorado; Detachment 1, USAF Warfare Center, Schriever AFB, Colorado; 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, California; National Security Space Institute, Peterson AFB, Colorado; Counter-Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 4, Peterson AFB, Colorado; and Air Force Safety Center - Space Safety Division, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

The transfer will take place within the next three to six months, depending upon the timing and conditions specific to each organization and their respective mission sets. The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David Goldfein, and the Chief of Space Operations, General John Raymond, will execute the transfer when they jointly agree the necessary conditions have been met.

Janes | Latest defence and security news

Janes | The latest defence and security news from Janes - the trusted source for defence intelligence

www.janes.com

 

[BravoZulu]

On April 22, 2020, during a visit of the U.S. secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy to GDLS (General Dynamics Land Systems) facility, the new light tank candidate for the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program of the U.S. Army was presented by the company.

The design of the General Dynamics MPF light tank is conventional with the driver and engine at the front, and the turret located at the rear of the hull. The turret architecture is based on the M1 Abrams tank using the M1A2 Sep V3 fire control system and CITV (Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer) armed with one 105 mm cannon. One 12.7mm heavy machine gun is mounted on the commander hatch.

The turret has a crew of three comprising commander, gunner and loader. It is interesting to notice that the U.S Army, like the German army (Bundeswehr) but unlike the Russian army with its T-14 Armata, sticks to its preference for a 4-man crew based on an operational observation: there are many tasks that require four people, like maintenance, guard duties, etc. Moreover, they state that a human loader is as efficient as a mechanical automatic loader, even if the weight of a 105mm round (shell) makes it hard to manipulate, particularly in case of a high rate of fire is needed.

The General Dynamics MPF tank is motorized with a Diesel engine. The turbine solution used on the Abrams MBT hasn’t been retained.

 

[BravoZulu]

USA:
Since 2005, F/A-18 Super Hornet Block II aircraft have been rolling off Boeing’s production line and serving as the U.S. Navy’s multi-mission capable workhorse. The service took delivery of the final Block II Super Hornet, closing out a run of 322 one-seater F/A-18Es and 286 two-seated F/A-18Fs, on April 17.

“Aircraft E322 will leave Boeing’s production line and head straight to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 based in [Naval Air Station] Oceana,” explained Cmdr. Tyler Tennille, of Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), who oversees Acceptance Testing.

The robust airframe was built with an open mission systems architecture, which has enabled easy integration of new weapons and technologies. The Block II Super Hornet serves as the Navy’s responsive aircraft, fully capable across the full mission spectrum which includes: air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression, and day/night precision strike.

This aircraft has stood strong as the backbone of the Navy’s carrier air wing, and has proven itself repeatedly during numerous operations where it has been the preeminent platform performing multiple missions, sometimes rapidly reconfiguring on the fly.

Even though it is substantially larger – roughly 7,000 pounds heavier and a 50 percent higher range, the Super Hornet delivered with fewer parts and lower maintenance demands than its predecessor, the Hornet.

Delivery of this last production Block II Super Hornet is hardly the end of an era, but rather a stepping stone along the path to continuously evolving our platforms to meet the Navy’s ever-evolving needs,” said Capt. Jason Denney, Program Manager of the F/A-18 and EA-18 Program Office (PMA-265). “Block III delivery is just steps behind and the production lines won’t miss a beat, with the first two U.S. Navy Block III test jets delivering in the next two months, followed by delivery of 24 E/F aircraft over the next year for our international customer, Kuwait,” Denney said.

Following the delivery of these aircraft, Tennille said he expects the transition from Block IIs to Block IIIs to be seamless.

 

[BravoZulu]

U.S.
Cuts coming to Special Ops...
Special Operations Command could see reductions in modernisation investments in the coming years as the Pentagon focuses on great power competition.

President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2021 budget request included $2.3 billion for procurement for SOCOM, a reduction of about 12 percent compared to the enacted amount for 2020, and 26 percent less than what it was allocated in 2019, according to budget documents.

It also included $732 million for research, development, test and evaluation, about 14 percent less than the $852 million it received in 2020. However, that would still be well above the $613 million it received for RDT&E in 2019, providing more money to develop next-generation systems.

“The FY 2021 budget for [Special Operations Forces] investments procures, modernises, and/or modifies SOF-peculiar aviation, mobility, and maritime platforms, weapons, ordnance, and communications equipment,” the Pentagon said in its budget overview. “The FY 2021 budget sustains SOF growth and readiness, and increases lethality through modernisation and recapitalisation, and investing in new technologies.”

Special Operations Command declined to provide topline numbers for projected modernisation investments over the course of the future years defence program, saying the information was “pre-decisional.”

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine...ding-cuts?mc_cid=1a3b0ee532&mc_eid=d7d7885bbb

 

[Fish&Chips]

Canadian helicopter missing in Mediterranean Sea

A CH-148 Cyclone helicopter of the Canadian Armed Forces deployed on board HMCS Fredericton went missing on Wednesday off the coast of Greece. Greek TV reports the salvage of debris and a body. According to the Greek defence ministry, a CH-124 has crashed into the sea west of Kefalonia island, but Canadian sources confirm that a Cyclone aircraft was involved.

Canadian military confirms search underway for helicopter after crash reports - National | Globalnews.ca

Canadian military leaders in high-level meetings trying to figure out what happened.

globalnews.ca

RCAF Cyclone helicopter missing, believed to have crashed into the sea off Greek coast

A Royal Canadian Air Force Cyclone helicopter is reported missing, with Greek news outlets reporting that it crashed into the sea off the coast of Greece Wednesday.

ottawacitizen.com

 

[DZimm]

The USN has been hard up recently for some good news recently and here some is. The first FFG(X) award for 10 frigates has been awarded to Fincantieri for their proven FREMM design. Now get to work putting these in the water!

Fincantieri FREMM wins FFG(X)

 

[DZimm]

Another successful flight test for the US Army’s No. 1 acquisition priority, Long Range Precision Fires.

Lockheed PRSM missile in third flight test

 

[BravoZulu]

The USN has been hard up recently for some good news recently and here some is. The first FFG(X) award for 10 frigates has been awarded to Fincantieri for their proven FREMM design. Now get to work putting these in the water!

Fincantieri FREMM wins FFG(X)
View attachment 219174

Wow, an actually well considered and well thought out decision that took the actual best contender. I fully expected another LCS basketcase tbh. Fantastic decision to take a proven platform

 

[Fish&Chips]

The USN has been hard up recently for some good news recently and here some is. The first FFG(X) award for 10 frigates has been awarded to Fincantieri for their proven FREMM design. Now get to work putting these in the water!

Something tells me that the designer took the basic FREMM hull and gave it a touch of OHP-class frigate.

 

[Fish&Chips]

Update:

What we know so far about the Canadian Forces helicopter crash | Globalnews.ca

'The cause of this accident is unknown at this time,' Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said.

globalnews.ca

 

[DZimm]

U.S. Marines Showcase New Osprey Weapons System

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[DZimm]

B-1B Bomber Brandishes Belly Full Of Stealth Cruise Missiles While Deployed to Guam

FYI, this same bomber is able to carry an equal number (24) of the LRASM anti-ship cousin to the JASSM. The FY 21 Budget proposal also includes a request for a facility at Guam to significantly speed up the time required to load the rotary launchers these monsters carry.

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[BravoZulu]

USS Theodore Roosevelt conducts fast cruise in Guam
Sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) are simulating being at sea while moored at Naval Base Guam. During the simulation, or “fast cruise,” the crew will simulate normal underway conditions while testing the critical systems required to sustain the ship during its upcoming underway operations.

“Fast cruise is a major milestone for the ship and for the crew,” said Capt. Carlos Sardiello, commanding officer of Theodore Roosevelt. “Our Sailors have tested all of the ship’s systems individually, but this is our opportunity to integrate all of that together and show that Theodore Roosevelt is ready and able to go back to sea.”

The ship has been conducting a crew swap since April 29, rotating Sailors back on board who have completed quarantine and isolation and have received two negative COVID-19 tests. Following the recent Navy announcement that more than 2,900 Sailors have returned, the ship is one step closer to recommencing its scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

NAVAL BASE GUAM (May 15, 2020) The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) sits along the pier at Naval Base Guam.
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/130621

 

[DZimm]

USAF Arsenal Plane Test and CLEAVER Munition

The U.S. Air Force conducted a test earlier this year of a palletized munition concept to launch new stand-off precision-guided munitions from its airlifters, allowing the service to relatively quickly turn them into weapons trucks, as necessary. This has also prompted important discussions within the service about command and control issues and other operational considerations that would be involved when rapidly shifting cargo aircraft into a strike role./QUOTE]

 

[BravoZulu]

Chinese Navy Modernization Report To Congress

A "must" read:
https://assets.documentcloud.org/do...-Naval-Modernization-Implications-for-U-S.pdf

 

[BravoZulu]

First flight of the next generation Super Hornet

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