USA Armed Forces

[SW1]

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... ing-begins

She flys

https://x.com/shorealonefilms/status/17 ... q02bHexwZA

[SW1]

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... ing-begins

She flys

https://x.com/shorealonefilms/status/17 ... q02bHexwZA

You beat me to it! Though for some reason, since switching to 'X' the videos no longer appear embedded, unless you change the URL to Twitter:

[SW1]

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... ing-begins

She flys

https://x.com/shorealonefilms/status/17 ... q02bHexwZA

You beat me to it! Though for some reason, since switching to 'X' the videos no longer appear embedded, unless you change the URL to Twitter:

I have noticed I can’t get x/twitter links to post has been quite annoying

[SW1]

I have noticed I can’t get x/twitter links to post has been quite annoying

Was driving me mad. Particularly on phone. Actually gave up on a few posts. Only way around it is to edit the URL manually from:

x.com/[URL] to twitter.com/[URL]

Though I suspect at some point Musk will kill off the twitter.com domain, or inflict some other misery on users.

[SW1]

Boss you told us that to know your enemy you have to become your enemy…

[new guy]

To hunt a submarine one must first become a submarine...

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Anti piracy becoming a dangerous business

[Phil Sayers]

Nicely done USN. The Houthis really have it in for the USS Mason - they also fired missiles at her back in 2016 which resulted in some limited cruise missile strikes against Houthi radar sites.

[bobp]

Just spotted this US scrambling F35 destination Middle East

[SW1]

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https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... e-possible

The entire Bell Boeing V-22 fleet has been grounded after a preliminary U.S. Air Force investigation into the Nov. 29 crash near Japan found that a “potential materiel failure” could have caused the mishap.

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) boss Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind ordered the operational stand down of the command’s fleet on Dec. 6, and shortly after Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) instituted a grounding bulletin for all V-22 variants. It is the second time this year that V-22s from all three U.S. services have been grounded. The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force had also grounded its V-22s following the Nov. 29 crash.

The Air Force CV-22 crashed into waters near Yakushima, Japan, during a training mission, killing all eight on board. Eyewitnesses reported seeing an engine on fire before the aircraft crashed into the sea. The remains of all eight have been recovered, the Air Force said Dec. 6.

[SW1]

Further attack in the Red Sea

[Halidon]

EB gives sub fans a little SSNX concept art for Xmas

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https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/ ... ion-plans/

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s recent force structure study puts even greater importance on small combatants, the director of surface warfare said, a shift in priorities that could require the surface navy to rebalance its ongoing modernization plans.
“We want to build a lot of frigates and [have] somewhat smaller, very capable ships being proliferated out through the fleet,” Rear Adm. Fred Pyle told Defense News on Dec. 7.

Pyle said the Constellation-class frigate, for which construction began in August 2022, can help distribute the force by offering a capability similar to the Arleigh Burke destroyers but in a smaller, less expensive package.
For now, Pyle’s directorate is focused on keeping the frigate program fully funded so the Navy and Fincantieri’s Marinette Marine shipyard can finish the design and construction.
“Eventually we’d like to get to four frigates a year, and that will take a second yard,” Pyle said, without providing a timeline for ramping up production.

[SW1]

On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats. The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew served and small arms weapons at the MAERSK HANGZHOU, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel. A contract embarked security team on the MAERSK HANZGHOU returned fire. U.S. helicopters from the USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and GRAVELY (DDG 107) responded to the distress call and in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew served weapons and small arms. The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment.

[SW1]

Lucky we binned ours

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/te ... prototype/

The High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, or HADES, will be the first intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft in the Army that uses a large-cabin business jet with advanced deep-sensing capabilities, according to the service.
The new aircraft will bring “increased range, speed, endurance and aerial [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] depth,” Col. Joe Minor, the Army’s project manager for fixed-wing aircraft, said in the statement.

“HADES will operate at higher altitudes than legacy turboprop platforms. Higher altitudes equate to an ability to sense farther and more persistently into areas of interest,” he added. “Deep sensing is the Army’s number-one operational imperative for the Army of 2030.”

[new guy]

Lucky we binned ours

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/te ... prototype/

The High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, or HADES, will be the first intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft in the Army that uses a large-cabin business jet with advanced deep-sensing capabilities, according to the service.
The new aircraft will bring “increased range, speed, endurance and aerial [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] depth,” Col. Joe Minor, the Army’s project manager for fixed-wing aircraft, said in the statement.

“HADES will operate at higher altitudes than legacy turboprop platforms. Higher altitudes equate to an ability to sense farther and more persistently into areas of interest,” he added. “Deep sensing is the Army’s number-one operational imperative for the Army of 2030.”

The difference is ours were old airframes and old sensors, not worth the cost. These jets are uncomparable to the ones we had.

[SW1]

Lucky we binned ours

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/te ... prototype/

The High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, or HADES, will be the first intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft in the Army that uses a large-cabin business jet with advanced deep-sensing capabilities, according to the service.
The new aircraft will bring “increased range, speed, endurance and aerial [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] depth,” Col. Joe Minor, the Army’s project manager for fixed-wing aircraft, said in the statement.

“HADES will operate at higher altitudes than legacy turboprop platforms. Higher altitudes equate to an ability to sense farther and more persistently into areas of interest,” he added. “Deep sensing is the Army’s number-one operational imperative for the Army of 2030.”

The difference is ours were old airframes and old sensors, not worth the cost. These jets are uncomparable to the ones we had.

Nope

[new guy]

Lucky we binned ours

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/te ... prototype/

The High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, or HADES, will be the first intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft in the Army that uses a large-cabin business jet with advanced deep-sensing capabilities, according to the service.
The new aircraft will bring “increased range, speed, endurance and aerial [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] depth,” Col. Joe Minor, the Army’s project manager for fixed-wing aircraft, said in the statement.

“HADES will operate at higher altitudes than legacy turboprop platforms. Higher altitudes equate to an ability to sense farther and more persistently into areas of interest,” he added. “Deep sensing is the Army’s number-one operational imperative for the Army of 2030.”

The difference is ours were old airframes and old sensors, not worth the cost. These jets are uncomparable to the ones we had.

Nope

The long-term retention of the platform would have necessitated significant expenditure to modernise aging systems, which strengthened the decision to withdraw the entire Sentinel fleet during March 2021. Planners determined that new aircraft, such as the Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft and the forthcoming Protector UAV, will carry out the surveillance duties formerly performed by the type

[SW1]

Lucky we binned ours

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/te ... prototype/

The High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, or HADES, will be the first intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft in the Army that uses a large-cabin business jet with advanced deep-sensing capabilities, according to the service.
The new aircraft will bring “increased range, speed, endurance and aerial [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] depth,” Col. Joe Minor, the Army’s project manager for fixed-wing aircraft, said in the statement.

“HADES will operate at higher altitudes than legacy turboprop platforms. Higher altitudes equate to an ability to sense farther and more persistently into areas of interest,” he added. “Deep sensing is the Army’s number-one operational imperative for the Army of 2030.”

The difference is ours were old airframes and old sensors, not worth the cost. These jets are uncomparable to the ones we had.

Nope

The long-term retention of the platform would have necessitated significant expenditure to modernise aging systems, which strengthened the decision to withdraw the entire Sentinel fleet during March 2021. Planners determined that new aircraft, such as the Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft and the forthcoming Protector UAV, will carry out the surveillance duties formerly performed by the type

It was due an upgrade that had been repeatedly put off due to heavy operational demand.

The “planners” determined they had ordered a load of new aircraft they didn’t have any crew or funding to operate unless they sacrificed other aircraft. Neither Poseidon or protector replace the function the aircraft conducted and neither did mean the aircraft were old or not worth the cost.

If you were then going to claim your are basing your army model on fighting the deep battle then you may of considered supporting that rather than just putting out words around it.

[new guy]

It was due an upgrade that had been repeatedly put off due to heavy operational demand.

The “planners” determined they had ordered a load of new aircraft they didn’t have any crew or funding to operate unless they sacrificed other aircraft. Neither Poseidon or protector replace the function the aircraft conducted and neither did mean the aircraft were old or not worth the cost.

If you were then going to claim your are basing your army model on fighting the deep battle then you may of considered supporting that rather than just putting out words around it.

Still, the sensors and systems aboard this new aircraft will have been different to our theoretical upgraded or not on sentinel. Therefore yo can't really claim "and we just retired ours" when they do are things.

[tomuk]

It was due an upgrade that had been repeatedly put off due to heavy operational demand.

The “planners” determined they had ordered a load of new aircraft they didn’t have any crew or funding to operate unless they sacrificed other aircraft. Neither Poseidon or protector replace the function the aircraft conducted and neither did mean the aircraft were old or not worth the cost.

If you were then going to claim your are basing your army model on fighting the deep battle then you may of considered supporting that rather than just putting out words around it.

Still, the sensors and systems aboard this new aircraft will have been different to our theoretical upgraded or not on sentinel. Therefore yo can't really claim "and we just retired ours" when they do are things.

Yes as apart from similar airframes the sensor fit is completely different between Sentinel and HADES.

[SW1]

It was due an upgrade that had been repeatedly put off due to heavy operational demand.

The “planners” determined they had ordered a load of new aircraft they didn’t have any crew or funding to operate unless they sacrificed other aircraft. Neither Poseidon or protector replace the function the aircraft conducted and neither did mean the aircraft were old or not worth the cost.

If you were then going to claim your are basing your army model on fighting the deep battle then you may of considered supporting that rather than just putting out words around it.

Still, the sensors and systems aboard this new aircraft will have been different to our theoretical upgraded or not on sentinel. Therefore yo can't really claim "and we just retired ours" when they do are things.

Yes as apart from similar airframes the sensor fit is completely different between Sentinel and HADES.

What is the proposed sensor fit for HADES ?

[Phil Sayers]

I think there is no doubt whatsoever that if we had Sentinel still in service it would be massively tasked at the moment conducting sorties over Eastern Europe and latterly also in the Eastern Med. As we would be extensively using it right now it clearly did have real value notwithstanding that other ISTAR assets can fulfil parts of the role.

[tomuk]

It was due an upgrade that had been repeatedly put off due to heavy operational demand.

The “planners” determined they had ordered a load of new aircraft they didn’t have any crew or funding to operate unless they sacrificed other aircraft. Neither Poseidon or protector replace the function the aircraft conducted and neither did mean the aircraft were old or not worth the cost.

If you were then going to claim your are basing your army model on fighting the deep battle then you may of considered supporting that rather than just putting out words around it.

Still, the sensors and systems aboard this new aircraft will have been different to our theoretical upgraded or not on sentinel. Therefore yo can't really claim "and we just retired ours" when they do are things.

Yes as apart from similar airframes the sensor fit is completely different between Sentinel and HADES.

What is the proposed sensor fit for HADES ?

AIUI it isn't a great big SAR\MTI radar but SIGINT kit.