24 May 23. Massive US aircraft carrier sails into Oslo for NATO exercises. The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, sailed into Oslo on Wednesday, a first for such a U.S. ship, in a show of NATO force at a time of heightened tension between NATO and Russia over the war in Ukraine.
The ship and its crew will be conducting training exercises with the Norwegian armed forces along the country’s coast in the coming days, the Norwegian military said.
“This visit is an important signal of the close bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Norway and a signal of the credibility of collective defence and deterrence,” said Jonny Karlsen, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, the operational command centre of the military.
At one spot on the Oslo fjord, dozens of people of all ages gathered on the shore to observe the vessel as it cruised by, taking pictures and videos.
Norwegian media reported the aircraft carrier would sail north of the Arctic Circle. Karlsen declined to comment on the reports.
The Russian embassy in Oslo condemned the aircraft carrier’s Oslo visit.
“There are no questions in the (Arctic) north that require a military solution, nor topics where outside intervention is needed,” the embassy said in a Facebook post.
“Considering that it is admitted in Oslo that Russia poses no direct military threat to Norway, such demonstrations of power appear illogical and harmful.”
NATO member Norway shares a border with Russia in the Arctic and last year became Europe’s largest gas supplier after a drop in Russian gas flows.
The Norwegian military and NATO allies have been patrolling around offshore oil and gas platforms since the autumn, following explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. (Source: Reuters)
24 May 23. GAO reveals USAF’s “limited oversight” led to pilot training delays. The US Air Force continues using the 60-year-old T-38 training aircraft instead of a simulation system that has been in development for over a decades. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has investigated the “limited oversight” the US Air Force (USAF) had over the development of its pilot training.
To train its pilots, the USAF uses the 60-year-old T-38 Talon twin-jet trainer aircraft even as new designs evolve. A new system for modern training jets and simulators is in development, but this is nearly a decade behind initial plans.
The GAO has made two recommendations to the USAF. First, the service must conduct a risk assessment that incorporates risks of overlapping development, testing, and production phases. Second, the USAF should be clear under what conditions it would accept production work completed prior to contract delivery.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) agreed with the GAO’s recommendations.
USAF simulation behind schedule
Since 2011, the USAF has been developing a trainer jet and flight simulator package, known as the Advanced Pilot Trainer (APT), to replace the T-38.
In late 2016, the contractor completed two prototype aircraft. The USAF signed a contract in September 2018 for the development of the new jets.
The USAF has yet to resolve significant issues with the APT, including its escape system and other components critical to achieving requirements.
For example, the escape system—including the canopy fracturing system—does not yet meet safety standards. Therefore, the Air Force will not yet allow pilots to fly the test aircraft. Officials said the Air Force can resolve all of these issues, but it will likely take several years.
(Source: airforce-technology.com)
23 May 23. 1,500 UK personnel rehearse defending Estonia from invading forces in Nato’s Ex Spring Storm. Troops from all three services of the British military have taken part in a major Nato exercise in Estonia.
Exercise Spring Storm sees 1,500 British personnel join servicemen and women from 11 Nato countries, the first time the UK has conducted a brigade-sized deployment to the country.
Brigadier Giles Harris, Commander, Nato enhanced Forward Presence, told Forces News the exercise was about “beginning to visualise and understand the planning to pull forward a brigade into Estonia in a time of crisis”.
“Russia has invaded Ukraine, that has changed the optic, and we’ve all seen the renewed momentum in Nato’s planning here in the region.”
Taking place annually, this iteration of the exercise saw roughly 100 Royal Marine Commandos storm a beach in Estonia – a reaction to Russia’s threat to the country’s coastline after invading Ukraine in 2022.
Lieutenant Maguire, X-Ray Company Group, 45 Commando Royal Marines, told Forces News that Nato forces would be “well positioned to assist, if required, on the Estonian coastline”.
“I can speak for our capabilities in regards to the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, and we know what we can do,” he said.
“We’d be very confident if we needed to assist Estonia in the littoral space.”
Alongside amphibious landings by sea, personnel practised an attack from the sky – with 200 French paratroopers from the 8th Marine Airborne Regiment flying overnight from France to jump into Estonia.
The exercise is a rehearsal for defending the country from an enemy invasion force attacking on all fronts – with Nato Allies rushing to Tallinn’s defence.
Lieutenant Colonel Edouard Bros, French National Military Representative to Estonia, told Forces News it was an “opportunity to drill our reinforcement capability on short notice”.
“For this year, we decided to have some paratroopers coming because, of course, when you talk about quick response, the paratroopers are one of the fastest capabilities that you can bring on the ground.”
Like Ukraine, the key domain is land, with densely forested terrain meaning soldiers have to learn how to win the battle for bridges and junctions.
Brigadier General Vahur Karus, Commandant, Estonian Military Academy, told Forces News this sees personnel have “limited fields of fire [and] limited fields of observation”.
He explained this means “holding or capturing a crossroad, a road, a railroad, a crossing site, gives you an immense advantage over the enemy”.
Spring Storm marks an increase in the UK’s commitment to Estonia, with hundreds more troops on the ground for the exercise. (Source: forces.net)
23 May 23. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is supporting a demonstration that began in March and is featuring two U.S. Army-owned Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). GA-ASI – the developer of the GE-ER platform – was contracted by the Army to integrate and operate an array of new capabilities on the versatile UAS platform as part of an ongoing effort to modernize GE-ER for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO).
This demonstration employs improved capabilities, including long-range sensors – like those traditionally flown on manned platforms – and navigation capabilities, as well as rapid integration of advanced sensors and payloads tailorable to specific missions.
As part of this MDO configuration, the next-generation Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) used for the demonstration is the new Eagle-Eye Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) supplied by GA-ASI. The Eagle-Eye radar is an MMR that provides increased performance and couples well with other payloads.
“Eagle-Eye easily detects threats and provides precise location data, which eliminates unknowns for the ground tactical commander on today’s dynamic battlefields,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Eagle-Eye and the rest of our MDO upgrades can provide reliable performance, ease of operation and true overmatch capability for the U.S. Army.”
Many of the MDO capabilities showcased in this demo are featured in the latest Gray Eagle model, the Gray Eagle 25M, which is designed to meet the range and accuracy to Detect, Identify, Locate & Report (DILR) stationary and moving targets. The Gray Eagle 25M’s Open Architecture allows easy implementation of Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) standards across control interfaces, avionics, datalinks, and provides the ability to integrate a customizable suite of multi-INT sensors providing the Stand-Off Survivability with Stand-In Capability required for Multi-Domain Operations.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is supporting a demonstration that began in March and is featuring two U.S. Army-owned Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). GA-ASI – the developer of the GE-ER platform – was contracted by the Army to integrate and operate an array of new capabilities on the versatile UAS platform as part of an ongoing effort to modernize GE-ER for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO).
This demonstration employs improved capabilities, including long-range sensors – like those traditionally flown on manned platforms – and navigation capabilities, as well as rapid integration of advanced sensors and payloads tailorable to specific missions.
As part of this MDO configuration, the next-generation Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) used for the demonstration is the new Eagle-Eye Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) supplied by GA-ASI. The Eagle-Eye radar is an MMR that provides increased performance and couples well with other payloads.
“Eagle-Eye easily detects threats and provides precise location data, which eliminates unknowns for the ground tactical commander on today’s dynamic battlefields,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Eagle-Eye and the rest of our MDO upgrades can provide reliable performance, ease of operation and true overmatch capability for the U.S. Army.”
Many of the MDO capabilities showcased in this demo are featured in the latest Gray Eagle model, the Gray Eagle 25M, which is designed to meet the range and accuracy to Detect, Identify, Locate & Report (DILR) stationary and moving targets. The Gray Eagle 25M’s Open Architecture allows easy implementation of Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) standards across control interfaces, avionics, datalinks, and provides the ability to integrate a customizable suite of multi-INT sensors providing the Stand-Off Survivability with Stand-In Capability required for Multi-Domain Operations.
23 May 23. US-led CMF creates new maritime training force in Middle East. A key threat identified by the US and UK forces operating in the region is that of Iran. The US-led multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) has established a new task force to train partner navies and improve operational capabilities for countries in the Middle East region, with likely a key focus on maritime security in the Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Red Sea.
During a ceremony at US 5th Fleet headquarters at Mina Salman in Bahrain to stand up Combined Task Force (CTF) 154, it was stated that the force would lead multinational maritime training at locations across the Middle East to enable more CMF partner nations to participate in training opportunities “without ships or aircraft”.
CTF 154 is commanded by a US Navy captain who will build and lead a multinational staff, while another nation will assume command in Q3/4 this year. CTF 154’s core staff will be augmented by CMF partners during training opportunities, revealed a US Navy Central Command (NAVCENT) release on 22 May.
In recent days, CTF 154 is hosting Exercise Compass Rose in Bahrain, with more than 50 participants from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UK and US began arriving to attend courses on first aid and vessel boarding procedures.
According to the DoD CTF 154 will organise training events around five core areas: maritime awareness, maritime law, maritime interdiction, maritime rescue and assistance, and leadership development. Each training opportunity will be tailored to meet partner requests ranging from basic to advanced levels.
CMF is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world, with 38 nations committed to upholding the international rules-based order at sea.
CMF’s other task forces include CTF 150 that focuses on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean; CTF 151, which leads regional counter-piracy efforts; CTF 152, dedicated to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf; and CTF 153 in the Red Sea.
Maritime security issues focus on Iran
The US maritime presence in the Gulf region is centred on the US Fifth Fleet, based out of Mina Salman in Bahrain, with countries such as the UK also maintaining a naval operating base in the tiny Gulf state.
A key threat identified by the US and UK forces operating in the region is that of Iran, which utilises its paramilitary Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as an asymmetric counterweight to the conventional naval power of the US Fifth Fleet.
In early May, the IRGC Navy (IRGCN) seizes an oil tanker in transit through the Strait of Hormuz, coming days after a previous seizure of a Marshall-Islands-flagged vessel in regional waters.
Situated at the entrance to the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz is a narrow choke point through which a significant proportion of the world’s oil and gas passes through each day, with countries such as Qatar and the UAE heavily dependent on the route. The route narrows so that the territorial waters of Oman and Iran meet, with recognised transit corridors maintaining the flow of traffic.
The oil tanker had departed Dubai and was heading towards Fujairah, on the other side of the strait in the Arabian Gulf when, according to NAVCENT, “a dozen fast-attack craft swarmed the vessel”, and the IRGCN subsequently “forced the oil tanker to reverse course” and head towards the Iranian territorial waters off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran. (Source: naval-technology.com)
22 May 23. Royal Marines conduct beach raid in Estonia during NATO exercise. Around 100 marines from 45 Commando conducted an exercise to stage an amphibious raid at a beach in Estonia, as part of a major NATO exercise.
Members of 45 Commando deployed from the Royal Navy amphibious assault ship, HMS Albion, under the cover of darkness on Saturday.
The commandos manoeuvred their Inflatable Raiding Craft, which can travel at speeds of up to 20knots, through the waves to close in on the beach at Kaberneeme, on the north coast of Estonia.
The beach raid is just the latest in a series of planned scenarios the UK Armed Forces are exercising as part of a 14,000-strong deployment from 11 NATO countries for Exercise Spring Storm.
The beach raid scenario saw 45 Commando facing off against Estonia’s Armed Forces, with an Estonian naval missile unit acting as the marines’ target.
Commanding Officer of HMS Albion, Captain Marcus Hember, said: “This exercise has been a great proving ground in demonstrating the flexibility of amphibious ships like HMS Albion, enabling fast and lethal strikes by our embedded Royal Marines in 45 Commando whilst seamlessly supported by the ship and its crew. We’ve demonstrated our ability to exercise with our regional partners adding significant capability and shown we can ‘turn up when needed’.”
Officer Commanding X Company, Royal Marines, Major Lee Stewart, said: “The support of the crew from HMS ALBION is critical to land operations, the integrated approach with both Royal Navy and Royal Marines working as a team make amphibious warfare so effective.”
Two RAF Typhoon fighter jets were on station to provide close air support, information, surveillance and reconnaissance during the exercise – enabling invaluable integrated training between land, sea and air.
Members of IX (Bomber) Squadron and their Typhoons are currently stationed at Ämari Air Base, having flown NATO air policing missions recently with German Allies – resulting in several intercepts of Russian aircraft transiting close to Estonian airspace.
The commando exercise provided a valuable opportunity for the Royal Marines to practice an amphibious deployment, swiftly infiltrating hostile territory to secure information, confuse the enemy, or strike a high value target.
More than 1,500 UK troops are currently deployed for Spring Storm, Estonia’s largest annual military exercise.
The UK retains a continuous deployment in Estonia as part of its NATO commitment, known as the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP).
At last year’s NATO summit, the UK committed to increase the size of its eFP commitment, with this year’s exercise marking the first time the UK has conducted a brigade-sized deployment to Estonia – involving hundreds more personnel than in previous deployments.
Defence Minister, Andrew Murrison – a reserve Royal Navy officer – today visited HMS Albion to speak to Armed Forces personnel involved in the exercise. His daughter, Lt Sarah Murrison, is a Deputy Logistics Officer aboard HMS Albion.
Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, Dr Andrew Murrison MP said: “Exercise Spring Storm in Estonia is bolstering our ability to work closely with NATO allies on military operations and demonstrating our readiness for rapid deployment across all domains.”
I’m immensely proud to see first-hand the hard work my daughter, those aboard HMS Albion and everyone in our Armed Forces undertakes to keep us safe, at home and abroad. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
————————————————————————