UK Deploys Type 45 Destroyer to Gulf

HMS Defender has arrived on station to provide vital support to a US Navy carrier task group in the Gulf, using her world-class air defence weapon systems to protect the US Navy aircraft carrier, USS George H W Bush and her aircraft as they launch airstrikes as part of the international coalition against ISIL.

HMS Defender, one of the most advanced warships ever built for the Royal Navy, is operating as a fully integrated part of the carrier strike group. Using her air defence radar and Sea Viper missile system, the ship provides an ‘umbrella’ of air defence to the Nimitz class aircraft carrier and her escort ships while they patrol the Gulf and launch airstrikes against the terrorist group ISIL.

Deployed to the Gulf in June 2014, HMS Defender’s primary role has been to conduct maritime security operations as part of the United Kingdom’s enduring commitment to the region as well as working with the 30 nation Combined Maritime Forces organization and Gulf Cooperation Council countries to bolster existing relationships.

HMS Defender is now operating with the US Navy’s Arleigh-Burke class destroyers USS Truxton and USS Roosevelt and the Ticonderoga class destroyer USS Philippine Sea to provide support for the aircraft carrier.

Engaged in round-the-clock operations, HMS Defender’s task is to build an accurate air surveillance picture over the whole of the Gulf in order to guard the US aircraft carrier against possible air attack while she launches airstrikes against ISIL targets.

The Commanding Officer of HMS Defender, Commander Phil Nash Royal Navy, explained how much HMS Defender is gaining from her role in supporting the US aircraft carrier:

“As an air defence destroyer, HMS Defender was built for exactly the sort of tasking that we are conducting in support of the USS George H W Bush. Since we arrived in the Gulf in June, we have been engaged in exercises with navies from around the world to test our air defence capabilities and I am delighted that my ship’s company now have an opportunity to put into practice the training they have received over the past few months.

“This will be our primary role in the future, so to be able to provide the same defensive shield to a US Navy aircraft carrier that we will deliver as part of a British carrier strike group is an excellent chance to prove the value we can add in a national and international environment.”

Commodore Keith Blount OBE Royal Navy, the United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander based in Bahrain, added:

“HMS Defender is just one of several Royal Navy ships deployed to the Gulf, which demonstrates the importance of the region to the United Kingdom and how much we value the relationships we have with our regional partners and allies.

“The decision by the Government to task a Royal Navy destroyer to support operations against ISIL also shows the United Kingdom’s commitment to combat terrorism. The ship’s company of HMS Defender can be proud that, in whatever they are doing onboard, they are actively contributing to the security of region and the interests of the United Kingdom.”

The United Kingdom has already committed Royal Air Force fighter bombers to carry out reconnaissance missions and airstrikes in Iraq and the deployment of one of the Royal Navy’s most advanced warships demonstrates further resolve in combating the threat of ISIL.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
HMS Defender is the fifth of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 Destroyers. She was launched by her sponsor, Lady Massey, on Trafalgar Day, 21st October, 2009.

HMS Defender is capable of carrying out a wide range of operations, including counter-piracy activities, disaster relief work and surveillance operations as well as high intensity war fighting.

HMS Defender has a Ship’s Company of 230 and commissioned on 21st March 2013.

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US deploys 2 B-2 bombers to Europe for exercises

By Agence France-Presse on Wednesday, June 11th, 2014

The US Air Force has deployed two nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers to a British air base for exercises with NATO allies, the Pentagon said Monday.

The deployment, which the Pentagon said was preplanned and short-term, comes against a backdrop of tension with Russia over unrest in Ukraine.

“It certainly is yet another demonstration of America’s ironclad commitment to the NATO alliance,” said Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman.

US military deployments have increased in recent weeks as Washington seeks to reassure Eastern European allies worried about Moscow’s moves in the region.

The two B-2 bombers arrived Sunday at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, where they joined three other B-52 strategic bombers that got there on June 4.

“These multi-role heavy bombers will conduct training flights in the US Eucom area of operation, providing opportunities for the air crews to sharpen their skills and increase interoperability,” Warren said.

Overseas deployments of the B-2 are rare, as the United States jealously guards the costly aircraft’s secrets. There are only 20 B-2s in existence.

A B-2 bomber overflew South Korea last year during an exercise amid tensions with the North.

Based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, the B-2 were designed to penetrate the world’s most formidable air defenses and drop dozens of precision, conventional or nuclear bombs.

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Canada Deploys Six CF-18s to Romania

By Editor on Wednesday, April 30th, 2014

Today, the Hon. Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defence, announced six CF-18 fighter aircraft will leave tomorrow morning for Romania as part of the Government of Canada’s contributions to NATO measures to reassure Allies in Central and Eastern Europe. The announcement was made today during Question Period.

These fighter aircraft, along with support personnel, will be based out of Romania in order to conduct training activities in support of immediate reassurance measures. They will join Romanian and United States Air Force assets which are currently operating in the region.

Quick Facts

• The six CF-18 fighter aircraft come from 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron based out of 3 Wing in Bagotville, Québec.
• The CF-18 is Canada’s frontline multi-role fighter, and its pilots are trained to perform air defence, air superiority, aerospace testing and evaluation, training, and tactical support missions.
• The Government of Canada offered contributions to NATO reassurance measures in order to promote security and stability in Eastern and Central Europe. Fifteen operational planning staff have already deployed on April 22 to augment Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe staff in Casteau.
• The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have been a major contributor to NATO operations since the founding of the Alliance 65 years ago. Canada continues to provide modern, deployable capabilities to Allied missions and highly trained personnel to its command structure.

Quotes

“Canada stands alongside our NATO Allies as we respond to the ongoing situation in Ukraine. We are contributing to a number of military measures designed to reassure our Allies in Central and Eastern Europe. This deployment, in addition to the planning personnel already deployed to Belgium, demonstrates our commitment to the collective defence of our NATO Allies,” said Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defence.

“This deployment of fighter aircraft to Romania is one of several meaningful and important ways that we are demonstrating our long-standing commitment to NATO, and I firmly believe the Royal Canadian Air Force is well positioned to carry out the tasks associated with this deployment,” said General Tom Lawson, Chief of Defence Staff.

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RAF Deploys Typhoon Jets to Bolster NATO Air Policing Mission

Four Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft deployed today to take part in the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

As announced to the House of Commons by the Defence Secretary in March, the UK fast jets will reinforce the Polish contribution to the BAP – a standing defensive mission undertaken by rotations of aircraft from contributing nations on a four month cycle.

The deployment forms part of a series of measures taken by NATO to support and reassure its Eastern member states.

Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond MP, said:

“In the wake of recent events in Ukraine, it is right that NATO takes steps to reaffirm very publicly its commitment to the collective security of its members. As a leading member of NATO, the UK is playing a central role, underlined by today’s deployment of RAF Typhoon aircraft to Lithuania. This, alongside the other action we are taking, will provide reassurance to our NATO allies in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states.”

As part of standing arrangements within NATO, members of the Alliance without their own air policing assets are assisted by others. It is on this basis that the BAP mission has existed since 2004.

The RAF’s Typhoon FGR4, based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Leuchars in Fife, is also used to provide air policing within UK airspace as part of the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) and in the Falkland Islands. A multi-role combat aircraft, it is capable of being deployed in the full spectrum of air operations, from air policing through to high intensity conflict.

This Typhoon deployment comes six weeks after the UK Sentry E-3D AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft), which is part of the NATO AWACS Force, was deployed to Polish and Romanian airspace to provide additional reassurance to Allies.

Background Information
Following the North Atlantic Council held on 16 April 2014 NATO Secretary General Rasmussen announced that NATO was taking measures to enhance BAP.

Baltic Air Policing (BAP) is a standing NATO task undertaken by rotations of typically four Air Defence Fighter Aircraft from contributing nations on a four month rotation. It is purely a defensive mission.

BAP encompasses the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The Baltic countries do not have Air Defence Fighter Aircraft and therefore, NATO nations undertake the task of securing NATO’s airspace over the Baltic nations. The US is currently filling the mission rotation. The US has taken a unilateral decision to provide 6 additional US Voluntary National Contribution Air Defence assets (F-15C).

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US Navy deploys Standard Missile-3 Block IB for first time

By Raytheon on Friday, April 25th, 2014

In partnership with the Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Navy deployed the second-generation Standard Missile-3 Block IB made by Raytheon for the first time, initiating the second phase of the Phased Adaptive Approach.

“The SM-3 Block IB’s completion of initial operational testing last year set the stage for a rapid deployment to theater,” said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. “The SM-3′s highly successful test performance gives combatant commanders around the world the confidence they need to counter the growing ballistic missile threat.”

In 2009, the administration announced the U.S.’s decision to adopt a new, more flexible approach to missile defense of both the U.S. and Europe. The Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) Phase 1 began in March 2011 when the USS Monterey deployed carrying SM-3 Block IAs.

“The SM-3 program’s evolution speaks to the importance of harnessing past successes to deliver increasingly capable systems to our customers, while reducing costs and delivery timelines,” said Dr. Mitch Stevison, Raytheon’s Standard Missile-3 program director.

In Oct. 2013, ground broke in Romania on the first operational Aegis Ashore site, which will be capable of launching SM-3 Block IAs, IBs and IIAs. The site continues on track for 2015 deployment as part of PAA Phase 2.

Along with deployed Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense ships, Romania’s Aegis Ashore site will provide additional ballistic missile coverage of NATO countries. The first Aegis Ashore test with the SM-3 Block IB and upgraded Aegis BMD Weapons System will take place this year at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii.

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East Africa Response force deploys for 1st time

Four days after their official transfer of authority ceremony, U.S. Army Soldiers with Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa’s East Africa Response Force deployed for the first time since being established earlier this year.

The Soldiers loaded onto a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules Dec. 14, and deployed to South Sudan, supporting the U.S. Embassy’s ordered departure.

“When the 1/18th arrived in Djibouti, we stressed that they needed to be ready to hit the ground running,” said Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, or CJTF-HOA, commanding general. “And, they’ve proven they were. This is why we’re here, and all of the joint CJTF-HOA team is coming together to support them. I’m proud of the work they are doing.”

The Soldiers hail from the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley, Kan., known as the “Vanguard Nation.”

They are the second unit assigned to the East Africa Response Force, or EARF, part of a new initiative of regionally aligned forces, which provides the commander of U.S. Africa Command an additional capability to respond to crises and contingencies within East Africa.

“I am extremely proud of the professionalism and selfless service of the ‘Vanguard Nation’ as we protect facilities throughout the Horn of Africa. We are on point for the Nation, and responsible for protecting the U.S. Embassy in Juba this holiday season,” said Lt. Col. Robert Magee, commander of the 1/18th CAB, who is deployed with the response force. “By doing so, we’re supporting the ambassador’s diplomatic mission to resolve conflict here in South Sudan.”

Magee said embassy security personnel noted that the EARF’s arrival seemed to help calm the entire city.

“Prior to our landing, widespread small arms fire occurred throughout the city for three days running,” said Magee, but he added that the South Sudan army and their national police “deserve the credit for restoring security in Juba.”

The U.S. Army developed the regionally aligned forces initiative to provide combatant commanders with rapidly deployable forces, which can relocate anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice. The 1/18th CAB is regionally aligned with Africa, specifically the Horn of Africa region, key to the CJTF-HOA mission to strengthen East African partner nation militaries by conducting crisis response and personnel recovery supporting U.S. military, diplomatic and civilian personnel throughout East Africa.

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NSRDEC deploys energy-efficient tents for testing

Wherever Soldiers go, shelters must go, too. These shelter systems must not only protect and provide comfort; they must also be as energy efficient as possible. Every time a base camp needs fuel delivered, that camp and its warfighters are exposed to vulnerabilities.

That’s why a group of shelters were sent to the Southwest Asia Area of Responsibility to be tested by both the Army and Air Force recently as part of the “Advanced, Energy-Efficient Shelter Systems for Contingency Basing and Other Applications” program.

“It’s not until you actually put it in an operational environment where you can really have a good assessment of what will work and what won’t work for the Army,” said Amy Klopotoski, contingency basing science and technology lead at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center.

Most of the shelters being tested are 20 feet wide by 32 feet long, and are equipped with various energy-saving technologies that must adapt to the environments warfighters face: median temperatures ranging from minus 25 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in all sorts of weather.

Tent fabrics have to be durable, mildew resistant, flame resistant, and capable of blackout, which is why “you have multiple layers with multiple different functions in these textiles,” said Klopotoski.

Klopotoski explained that advanced materials such as additional reflective layers, “basically aluminized film,” were added onto pre-existing shelter fabrics. Low-emissivity coatings are another product being tested, specifically for durability. This coating will also reflect the sun’s energy away from the shelter.

All tents were outfitted with more advanced thermal insulation, also developed by NSRDEC, designed to reduce the power required to heat and cool the shelters without increasing weight and bulk. Every tent also had integrated solar shades that reduce solar load and the build-up of heat within the tents, without increasing the shelter’s footprint.

“The NSRDEC provided many technologies utilized in the tests,” said Klopotoski. “The reduction in energy demand will be achieved through a combination of technologies.”

The joint Army/Air Force team hopes to reduce that demand by at least 50 percent through the use of solar shades, photovoltaics, advanced materials and coatings.

Besides energy reduction, there will also be less weight and extra equipment warfighters would need to support sustainable living.

“Currently, we field each 640-foot-square shelter with one five-ton (Portable Environmental Control Unit), where with these shelters, we have two 640-foot-square shelters being cooled with one five-ton ECU,” said Klopotoski.

This reduction eliminates 2,200 pounds and 4,160-square-feet of equipment, as well as reducing up to 40 kilowatts of energy consumption on a 150-man camp.

One shelter is even outfitted with photovoltaic modules, balance of systems electronics to make the power generated usable, and battery backup for storage and future use that was developed through NSRDEC projects.

“The photovoltaics generate power for lights and subsidiary equipment, which reduces the need for diesel-fueled generators,” said Klopotoski.

Reducing the need for diesel fuel cuts down on energy consumption, cost and the need for refueling, which will mean fewer Soldiers transporting fuel on the roads.

Previous similar tests could only be run if NSRDEC personnel physically came to the site every 30 days to download data; now that data can be accessed remotely in real time.

“The data collection equipment measures the temperatures at all of the different layers of the shelters, including outside of the solar shade, in-between the solar shade and tent, the tent surface, and internal temperatures, as well as airflow inside the tent,” said Klopotoski. “We are also measuring the fuel being consumed and the power usage of all of the equipment.”

This intensive testing will be completed in November. Following this testing will be tests at a cold-weather location to collect the same type of data in a minus 25 degree Fahrenheit environment.

The results of this data collection will assist both the Army and Air Force as they seek to provide warfighters with the best technological advances possible.

NSRDEC is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for America’s Soldiers.

RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army’s premier provider of materiel readiness — technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment — to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.

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First German Ship Deploys with US Carrier Strike Group

By US Navy on Friday, April 5th, 2013

The German Sachsen-class frigate Hamburg (F220) is the first German ship to fully integrate and deploy with an American carrier strike group, and April 3 marks her second week of operating in the North Arabian Sea with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE).

The Hamburg will stay a part of the strike group until the group’s completion of operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

Both Rear Adm. Michael Manazir, commander CSG 8, and Cmdr. Ralf Kuchler, commanding officer of Hamburg, hope this is the start of a long partnership between their two countries.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Hamburg,” Manazir said. “She has integrated seamlessly with our strike group and I would feel confident deploying with a German ship in any situation.”

While this is the first time a German ship has been part of a carrier strike group, it is not the first time one has trained and deployed with American ships. FGS Hessen (F221) completed interoperability exercises and deployed with USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in 2010, but detached in the Mediterranean Sea. German ships routinely collaborate with American ships in the European Union’s Operation Atalanta, an anti-piracy mission around the Horn of Africa, as Hamburg did in 2011.

While integration was slow at first to allow time for the sides to get acquainted with one another, Hamburg now helps IKE by coordinating the air space around the strike group and in defense of its surface assets. This is the role Kuchler said he foresees German Sachsen-class frigates fulfilling in the future.

“Within Carrier Strike Group 8, my mission is to provide the admiral the same service he is used from a U.S. cruiser within the boundaries of my national rules of engagement, which is to safely coordinate the airspace around the carrier and to protect IKE if the situation demands,” Kuchler said.

Hamburg is suited to do that, as she has some similar surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles. The Sachsen-class frigate is the only ship in the western world with three types of surface to air missiles: the Standard Missile 2 block IIIA (SM-2), the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), and the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM).

Hamburg’s Active Phased Array Radar (APAR) and SMART-L air-surveillance radar are both new European developments. APAR, comparable to the U.S. SPY radar, is primarily a fire control radar and it operates well in a wide-range of environments. The SMART-L has a detection range of more than 200 nautical miles for air targets and can track up to 1,000 air tracks automatically. Its 3-D picture helps threat analysis and enables a quick handover of target data to APAR for potential engagements.

Indeed, Hamburg is a frigate in name only. “These ships are designed for this type of mission,” said Cmdr. Christian Wikarczyk, Hamburg’s executive officer.

To help the crews of Hamburg and IKE get acquainted with one another, an exchange program has been set up between the two ships during deployment. Each day – whenever the operational environment permits – they cross deck three Sailors for an orientation of about five hours. There is no shortage of volunteers from each side.

While the planning of future carrier strike group missions may be on hold due to budgetary constraints, the leadership of CSG 8 and Hamburg are hopeful this relationship will lead to more cooperation in the years to come.

“My personal goal is that this deployment paves the ground for a rotational 2-year participation of a German 124 (Sachsen class) frigate in a U.S. carrier strike group,” Kuchler said. “I am pretty sure that the steps we make here are the best basis to convince both sides that this is the right way ahead for our common future.”

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Israel deploys 3rd missile system to north

By Agence France-Presse on Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Israel has deployed a third Iron Dome missile defence battery to the north of the country a few days after carrying out an air strike inside neighboring Syria, Israeli media said on Tuesday.

“The deployment of several Iron Dome batteries in the north of the country comes as part of the setting up of the system,” an army spokesman was quoted as saying.

The third Iron Dome battery’s dispatch comes after Defence Minister Ehud Barak implied Israel was responsible for a January 30 air strike inside Syria that was immediately attributed to the Jewish state.

The strike targeted a military complex near Damascus that a US official later said contained surface-to-air missiles, and an adjacent facility said to house chemical weapons.

Israeli media last month reported the deployment of two Iron Dome batteries to the country’s north as a precaution against potential attacks from Syria or Lebanon.

The Jewish state fears the possibility of chemical weapons falling into the hands of Islamist militants should Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fall, as Damascus continues to fight a two-year uprising that has turned into a bloody civil war.

The Iron Dome batteries — which can shoot down missile attacks with a range of up to 70 kilometres (44 miles) — would allow Israel to launch a quick strike on targets in its two northern neighbours, a security source told AFP.

The much vaunted anti-missile system played a prominent role in an eight-day confrontation between the Jewish state and Gaza-based militants that ended with a November 21 ceasefire deal.

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Taiwan deploys advanced early warning radar

By Agence France-Presse on Monday, February 4th, 2013

Taiwan has put into service a US-made billion-dollar early warning radar system capable of giving more than six minutes’ warning of a Chinese missile attack, a senior officer said Sunday.

The radar, on top of a mountain in the northern county of Hsinchu, started providing surveillance information after a ceremony presided over by the chief of the general staff, air force General Yen Ming, on Friday.

“The radar is able to provide us with more than six minutes’ warning in preparation for any surprise attacks,” air force Lieutenant General Wu Wan-chiao told AFP.

The Liberty Times newspaper said the phased array warning system, which cost Tw$40.9 billion ($1.38 billion), is capable of detecting flying objects up to 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) away.

“The system enabled Taiwan to have comprehensive surveillance controls when North Korea launched a rocket in December and the mainland tested its anti-missile system lately,” it quoted an unnamed military officer as saying, speaking of the radar’s trial runs since late last year.

Critics say the radar is too costly given that it will only provide an additional few minutes of warning, and would itself be vulnerable to any Chinese missile attacks.

However, analysts say the system — which could be accessed by the United States with Taiwan’s approval — highlights Taipei’s position as a strategic ally of Washington despite a lack of diplomatic ties.

“Through the sharing with the United States of the information it collects from the radar system, Taiwan becomes a critical link in the US strategic defence network in the region,” said Kevin Cheng, editor-in-chief of the Asia-Pacific Defence Magazine in Taipei.

“This is more important than the extra few minutes the system may give.”

Taiwan decided to buy the costly system from the United States following the 1995-1996 missile crisis, when China carried out ballistic missile tests in waters off Taiwan to try to intimidate the island before its first direct presidential elections.

“This is the most advanced system of its kind in the world… it is crucial as the Chinese communists are aiming more than 1,000 ballistic missiles at Taiwan,” Chao Shih-chang, then deputy defence minister, told parliament in 2011, adding it was also capable of detecting cruise missiles.

Ties between Taipei and Beijing have improved markedly since Ma Ying-jeou of Taian’s China-friendly Kuomintang party took over the presidency in 2008. He was re-elected in January 2012 for a second and last four-year term.

But Beijing still sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, even though Taiwan has governed itself since the end of a civil war in 1949.

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