USS Donald Cook Passing Through Turkish Straits

http://turkishnavy.net/2014/04/11/uss-donald-cook-passed-through-turkish-straits/

USS Donald Cook to Enter Black Sea Today

The USS Donald Cook is scheduled to arrive in the Black Sea today, a Pentagon spokesman said yesterday.

U.S. Army Col. Steven Warren explained the Navy vessel’s mission upon arrival to Pentagon reporters.

The colonel noted that while in the Black Sea, the ship will participate in exercises and operations to improve interoperability, readiness and enhance relationships.The vessel left Norfolk, Va., Jan. 31 as the first of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to be stationed in Rota, Spain, to enhance security in the European region.

U.S. Air Force is testing Google Glass & building apps for battlefield use

Above: Airforce test dummy wearing Google Glass

Image Credit: U.S. Airforce

The U.S. Air Force’s “BATMAN” research team at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio is beta-testing Google Glass for possible use on the battlefield.And so far, it likes what it sees.

The positive attributes “are its low power, its low footprint, it sits totally above the eyes, and doesn’t block images or hinder vision,” said 2nd Lt. Anthony Eastin, a behavioral scientist on the BATMAN team testing the glasses.The BATMAN evaluation group is part of the U.S. Air Force’s 711th Human Performance Wing and is one of the military’s most distinguished research and development groups. It comprises both military and civilian behavioral and technology scientists. The BATMAN acronym stands for Battlefield Air Targeting Man-Aided (K)nowledge.


Read more:
http://venturebeat.com/2014/04/08/u-s-air-force-is-testing-google-glass-building-apps-for-battlefield-use-exclusive/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

BAE Systems Electromagnetic Railgun Test Firing Hyper Velocity Rounds + JHSV Concept

U.S. Navy to test laser weapon aboard ship in Persian Gulf

Photo Wikipedia

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-navy-laser-weapon-20140407,0,5800600.story#axzz2yHv12McS

Navy continues effort to extend range of helicopter UAVs; asks Northrop Grumman to build five MQ-8C Fire Scouts

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designers at Northrop Grumman Corp. will build five long-range unmanned helicopters for operation from destroyers and other surface warships under terms of a $43.8 million U.S. Navy contract announced this past week.

Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking the Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems segment in San Diego to build five MQ-8C Fire Scout vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (VTUAV), which are based on the manned Bell 407 helicopter from Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas.

The manned version of the Bell 407 seats seven, can carry a useful load of 2,347 pounds, flies as fast as 140 knots, and has a range of 324 nautical miles.

The MQ-8B is limited to operating for only eight to 12 hours per day of ISR coverage at a range of only 100 nautical miles, Navy officials say. To meet the longer-range requirements, Northrop Grumman experts will use the avionics developed for the MQ-8B, as well as the software and ground-control systems, on the longer-range MQ-8C based on the Bell 407.

The MQ-8C will provide the Navy with an increased range of more than 30 percent, twice the endurance, and an increased payload capacity over the existing MQ-8B variant, Northrop Grumman officials say. The unmanned systems architecture developed for the MQ-8B is re-used in the Bell 407.

Read more:
http://www.avionics-intelligence.com/articles/2014/04/longrange-fire-scout.html

USS Coronado commissioned

Ship named for Coronado called "Crown of the Fleet"



USS Coronados in the Navy:

USS Coronado (PF-38), a patrol frigate, served in World War II as a convoy escort.

USS Coronado (AGF-11), an amphibious transport dock redesignated as an auxiliary command ship. Served as flag ship for the U.S. Sixth and Third Fleets.

USS Coronado (LCS-4), the fourth littoral combat ship. Called the “Crown of the Fleet” as a nod to Coronado’s “Crown City” nickname.

US to send more ships to Japan, prods China

2 days earlier U.S. had warned China not to try Crimea-style action in Asia.

The United States moved on Sunday to reassure Tokyo over its mounting security concerns, saying it would send more missile defense ships to Japan following North Korean launches and use a high level trip to warn China against abusing its "great power."

Japan has watched with alarm in recent weeks as North Korea carried out a series of missile launches, including firing two medium-range missiles capable of hitting the U.S. ally.Tokyo has also voiced growing anxiety over China's military buildup and increasingly assertive behavior in a territorial dispute over East China Sea islands.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that two Navy destroyers equipped with missile defense systems would be deployed to Japan by 2017. It was a response, he said, to provocations from the North, which has also threatened to carry out a "new form" of nuclear test.
The announcement followed other steps taken by the Pentagon to bolster its military posture in Japan, including an October decision to position a second X-band missile defense radar there. That radar is expected to be operational this year."These steps will greatly enhance our ability to defend both Japan and the U.S. homeland from North Korean ballistic missile threats," Hagel told reporters at Japan's defence ministry.

Narushige Michishita, associate professor and security expert at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, said the moves were "part of the U.S. attempt to bolster reassurances vis-à-vis Japan."
It also fits within the context of broader American efforts to bolster its military presence in the region, part of a strategic "rebalance" or "pivot" toward Asia that President Barack Obama will emphasize during his trip this month to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.

http://www.worldbulletin.net/world/132993/us-to-send-more-ships-to-japan-prods-china

US warship heading to Black Sea

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Andrew Biehn, the commanding officer of the USS Truxtun, and Cmdr. Andrew Bates, the guided missile destroyer's executive officer, salute the Romanian frigate ROS Regina Maria aboard the Truxtun in the Black Sea on March 12, 2014.

A U.S. Navy warship is on its way to the Black Sea as part of the ongoing response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, State Department officials said.In the immediate aftermath of Russia’s takeover of Crimea, the guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun sailed into the Black Sea, where it conducted exercises with the Bulgarian and Romanian navies, practicing basic maneuvers and drills.

However, the Truxtun left the Black Sea on March 21 to continue its scheduled deployment as part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, currently in the Middle East. A new Navy warship in the Black Sea would be a replacement for the Truxtun, said officials.The U.S. Navy would not confirm which ship it would be sending into the area. But two destroyers — the USS Donald Cook and the USS Ramage — are currently in the vicinity, taking part in an exercise in the eastern Mediterranean with the Greek and Israeli navies.

“We are making plans to meet the intent vocalized by (U.S. and NATO officials) to lay out a sustainable maritime presence in the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, but we do not have anything to announce at this time,” said Capt. Gregory Hicks of the U.S. European Command. He said the Navy routinely operates ships in the Black Sea to demonstrate U.S. commitment to working closely with allies in the region.On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the deployment of U.S. warships in the Black Sea during a joint news conference with Kazakhstan’s foreign minister.

The Navy's Newest Destroyer - USS Zumwalt - Is a Drone

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-02/the-navys-newest-destroyer-is-a-drone

In the article the Author Drake Bennet wrote:

The Zumwalt also boasts what Raytheon calls a Total Ship Computing Environment, which allows it to be controlled from any of a couple dozen consoles around the ship. If the captain happens to be on the bow or the stern rather than up on the bridge when there’s an emergency, he can still take control of the ship. “He’s got that capability right where he’s at; he doesn’t have to run 600 feet and up multiple levels to get up to where he has to be,” says Knudson. The captain just signs in to the nearest console and enters a password, as if he’s doing some online banking.

If you read at the bottom of the page, you can see the reader comments:

Reader Matthew Ferrara wrote:

I wonder if the crew can login with their Facebook account?


Reader Blackcap Conure wrote:

The captain just signs in to the nearest console and enters a password, as if he’s doing some online banking. Oh, just like online banking? LOL

So he first gets a "Username or Password incorrect" message, then he has to have his username sent to his email then he has to get the link to reset his password. Then he gets the 'account locked' please call customer support message. Hello, thank you for calling Raytheon, your call is important to us, please listen carefully as our menu options have recently changed. If you know your party's extension you may dial it anytime during this message. Press 1 if...Press 2 if... Press 3 if...Press 6 if this a Zumwalt captain trying to logon on. 20 minutes later he has control of the ship from the console 15' away from where he was originally. Like that online banking?

                              You forgot to mention that when he calls customer support, he’ll have to                                                listen to a 30 second commercial offering Zumwalts for 5 easy payments of 1                              billion before getting connected to someone in Pakistan who sounds like he’s                                        speaking Portuguese.

Courtesy General Dynamics Photo/US Navy

Courtesy General Dynamics Photo/US Navy

Courtesy General Dynamics Photo/US Navy

When the U.S. Navy christens the first of its newest class of destroyers this month, it will launch the first ship with a brain of its own.

Among the high-tech features included on the USS Zumwalt—cannons that fire rocket-propelled, GPS-guided rounds and stealth design that gives the 610-foot ship the radar signature of a small fishing vessel—there’s also a computer intelligence capable of preparing the ship for battle and engaging enemy targets on its own. Think of it as a gigantic floating drone: “Most UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] are a few million dollars,” says Wade Knudson, who heads the Zumwalt project for Raytheon (RTN), which made most of the ship’s computer systems. “This is a $5 billion UAV.”

Unlike aerial drones, however, the Zumwalt will still have a human crew and it will know how to anticipate their needs. If the ship’s smoke alarms and cameras detect a fire, the ship will turn on the sprinklers and seal off the area. When the fire is out, the ship knows to drain the water so the crew can investigate. All of this automation means the ship will carry a crew of just over 150—half of what would normally be required on a ship of this size. In a pinch, it can be manned by a crew of 40.

Pentagon to Test Hypersonic Missile in August

Lt. Gen. David L. Mann, commander, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command announced that US will conduct the second test of one of its hypersonic missiles in August.

The Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AWH) is part of the U.S. military’s conventional prompt global strike (CPGS) program, which aims to give Washington the ability to strike any target on earth with a conventional warhead with a speed of Mach 5 or about 3,600 mph within an hour’s time.

The AWH was first tested back in November 2011. It was launched at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii and traveled about 2,500 miles in about a half hour before reaching its target at the Reagan Test Site, U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

At the time of the test back in 2011, the Pentagon said: “A three-stage booster system launched the AHW glide vehicle and successfully deployed it on the desired flight trajectory. The vehicle flew a non-ballistic glide trajectory at hypersonic speed to the planned impact location at the Reagan Test Site. Space, air, sea, and ground platforms collected vehicle performance data during all phases of flight.”

The AWH missile would be an integral part of the U.S. military’s efforts to overcome China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy, given its ability to operate at far distances, penetrate contested environments and strike with precision. However, the U.S. also has to contend with Chinese and Russian programs to develop hypersonic missiles.

USAF Refuses to Comment on New Aircraft Spotted Flying Over Amarillo, Texas

Mystery Aircraft Over Texas

The identity of what appears to be a blended wing-body aircraft type photographed over Amarillo, Texas, on March 10 remains uncertain, with the U.S. Air Force declining any comment on the aircraft.
Three aircraft were observed flying in formation southwest of Amarillo around 4:20 p.m. CDT, by photographers on the fence line of the city’s international airport. IbOne of the aircraft could be a B-2, but the clearest color photos and monochrome images enhanced (for contrast and resolution) with commercial software suggest a blended shape with a straight trailing edge. Steve Douglass, one of the photographers and an experienced aircraft observer, says the aircraft were “larger than fighter-size” and appeared similar in wingspan to commercial traffic.

The formation was not using Mode S transponders, according to a review of records at the Flightradar24 air-traffic-tracking site. Radio transmissions apparently associated with the flight were intercepted and recorded, possibly including the call sign “Sienna.”

An Air Force representative in Washington responded to queries about the aircraft, and about flight activities at that time and place, with the statement “I have nothing for you,” a phrase long associated with responses to queries about classified programs and operations. The 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., home of the Air Force’s B-2 fleet, says that none of its aircraft were operating near Amarillo on March 10. However, test units have also flown B-2s.

The fact that three aircraft were in formation suggests an aircraft that is operational or close to reaching that status. The unidentified aircraft are not likely to have been examples of the Northrop Grumman stealth reconnaissance drone known as the RQ-180 (AW&ST Dec. 9, 2013, p. 20) because unmanned air systems are seldom flown in formation of any kind. Likewise, the Lockheed Martin demonstrator that is reportedly being built to support the Long Range Strike-Bomber program is likely to be a one-off product.

For a closer look at the images and more about the photographing of these and other classified aircraft, check out Bill Sweetman’s post on Ares at:

http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a98ddaa5a-e2b3-4a1a-9218-14d04d3ef6a1&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

DARPA taps Boeing to build satellite-launching aircraft

Many satellites may no longer require expensive booster rockets in order to be launched into space if the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is successful in its plan to launch satellites from aircraft.

DARPA recently awarded a contract potentially worth $104 million to Boeing to build and demonstrate a low-cost airborne launching system for small satellites in support of the Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA) program. The announcement was made in a posting on the Federal Business Opportunities website.

The goal of the ALASA program is to develop a significantly cheaper alternative for the routine launching of small satellites, and is aimed at reducing the cost to a third of a conventional satellite launch. A single small satellite payload can cost upwards of $30,000 per pound to launch into space, and often takes up payload space in multi-payload launchers.

The program centers on the use of aircraft-based launches to improve performance, reduce range costs and allow more frequent missions. By using aircraft, satellite launches would no longer require wait times for launch windows, and would also be resilient to hazards associated with fixed launch sites. Additionally, satellites could be launched from any commercial, international runway, reducing preparation times and providing launch point offset – that is, launch direction limits imposed by geography at fixed-base launch facilities would no longer be an issue.

The program seeks to launch 100-pound satellites for less than $1 million total, under the assumption of a total of 36 launches. Boeing will eventually have to demonstrate 12 independent launches of 100 pound payloads into low-Earth-orbit.

http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/TTO/Programs/Airborne_Launch_Assist_Space_Access_%28ALASA%29.aspx

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=82f80a28949a88bbbd04dd18717b4ca9&tab=core&_cview=1

US Navy's most advanced command and control aircraft joins fleet in Norfolk

Digital quarterback of Air warfare

Credit: Jason Walsh

NORFOLK -- The Navy's newest advanced Hawkeye, an early warning command and control platform, officially joins the fleet.

Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Twenty Five, the "Tigertails," is the first squadron to become fully operational with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. Built by Northrop Grumman, the company calls the aircraft a "digital quarterback" to conduct sophisticated, concurrent battle management command and control for the Navy.

Missions can include airborne strike, ground force support, rescue operations and managing a reliable communications network capable of supporting drug interdiction operations. The use of its new glass cockpit and tactical fourth operator display provides the five-person crew unparalleled flexibility in successfully accomplishing these diverse missions, the Navy said.

US Navy achieves initial operating capability on Patrol Coastal Griffin Missile System

The U.S. Navy has achieved initial operational capability (IOC) on the MK-60 Patrol Coastal Griffin Missile System that includes the Raytheon Company Griffin missile.

The milestone comes as the Navy continues to conduct littoral security operations in areas that require an immediate and precise response to confirmed threats.

The MK-60 Patrol Coastal Griffin Missile System includes a proven laser targeting system, a Navy-designed launcher and battle management system combined with Raytheon's combat-proven Griffin missile.

http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2541

US Navy Set to Christen USS Jackson on March 22

USS JACKSON

The U.S. Navy will christen its newest littoral combat ship, the future USS Jackson (LCS 6) in a ceremony at the Austal USA Shipyard in Mobile, Ala., March 22, at 10 a.m. CDT.

LCS 6 is the first U.S. Navy vessel christened in tribute to the capital city of Mississippi, and honors the state’s deep ties to the U.S. Navy and the shipbuilding industry.Jackson is an innovative surface combatant designed to operate in littoral seas and shallow water to counter mines, submarines and fast surface craft threats in coastal regions.The ship is capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots and can operate in water less than 20 feet deep. Jackson will address a critical capabilities gap in the littorals and conduct the Navy’s mission to enhance maritime security by deterring hostility, maintaining a forward presence, projecting power and maintaining sea control.

The ship launched Dec. 14, 2013, following construction at the Austal USA shipyard. These ships are the first vessels procured under the block buy contract awarded in 2010 and represent the true beginning of “serial production” for the class.Jackson will continue to undergo outfitting and testing at Austal USA. The ship is expected to deliver to the Navy in early 2015 following acceptance trials.

US Navy joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) Participates in Exercise Saharan Express

The U.S. Navy's first joint, high-speed vessel, USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), participated with 12 West African and European partner nations in the fourth year of Exercise Saharan Express in the waters off West Africa, March 10-14.Exercise Saharan Express is one of four African regional exercises, called the Express series exercises, facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, as a demonstration and test of the skills developed as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) and ongoing efforts to increase maritime domain awareness.

During the exercise, Spearhead played the role of a suspect vessel, which provided participating nations at multiple maritime operations centers (MOCs), located in various areas, the opportunity to track the ship's movement. The communication between the MOCs mirrors real-world situations where regional information sharing plays a vital role in successful operations.
Other exercise participants engaged in pier side and underway scenarios such as illegal fishing and counter-illicit trafficking aboard partner vessels.

"Our engagements with these partner nations help employ techniques that will help us all deter illegal activities in these waters," said Navy Capt. Marc Lederer, the military detachment mission commander aboard Spearhead.

Improving cooperation, tactical expertise and information sharing among participating nations in order to increase safety and security at sea is the overarching exercise goal for the 13 partner nation participants in this year's exercise."It is always an exciting opportunity to engage with these nations, working hand-in-hand for a safer maritime presence," said Lt. Cmdr. Steve Murdock, the military detachment's operations officer aboard Spearhead.

Spearhead, which is on its maiden deployment, is deployed in the waters off West and Central Africa as part of Africa Partnership Station.U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts a full range of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other parties in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin R. DiNiro, USNS Spearhead Public Affairs

Lockheed Martin’s DAGR® Missile Scores a Perfect 16 of 16 in Flight Tests for U.S. Army

Photos : LockheedMartin

Lockheed Martin recently demonstrated the ability of its DAGR® missile to launch from an Apache AH-64D helicopter and repeatedly hit the target during a series of Air Worthiness Release (AWR) live firing flight tests at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.The AWR tests demonstrated DAGR’s capability as an air-launched weapon. In each of the 16 flight tests, a DAGR missile locked onto the laser spot illuminating the target before launch. Upon launch, each missile flew between 1.5 and 5.1 kilometers and hit the target within one meter of the laser spot.
“These flight tests confirm DAGR’s ability to safely launch and separate from a moving, diving platform without degrading aircraft or weapon performance,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, close combat systems development program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “These tests also validate DAGR production readiness at our Ocala Operations facility.”

Prior to AWR testing, Lockheed Martin completed DAGR System Qualification testing, validating the missile and rail-mounted canister for use in aircraft captive carry, storage and transportation operations. The 30 System Qualification guided flights demonstrated DAGR’s ability to hit moving targets, devastate tactical targets such as structures and trucks, and achieve high accuracy when launched with a 7-degree offset, up to six kilometers away from the target.

DAGR incorporates proven HELLFIRE II technology into a 2.75-inch/70 millimeter guidance kit that integrates seamlessly with legacy Hydra-70 rockets. Its lock-on-before-launch mode ensures the missile identifies the correct target prior to launch. Multiple DAGRs can be fired in rapid succession at different targets using different laser codes from multiple designators. The result is a laser-guided missile that puts a 10-pound warhead within one meter of the laser spot, defeating high-value, non-armored or lightly-armored targets while minimizing collateral damage.Lockheed Martin has conducted more than 40 DAGR guided flights from ranges of 1 to 6 kilometers. DAGR has been launched from multiple HELLFIRE-equipped rotary-wing platforms, including the AH-64D Apache, AH-6 Little Bird and OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, as well as the ground-based HELLFIRE/DAGR pedestal launcher.

Six US F-16 fighters from the 555th Fighter Squadron from Aviano Base, Italy arrive in Poland

Six F-16 fighters from the 555th Fighter Squadron from Aviano Base, Italy, have arrived in Poland to augment the U.S. military’s presence there amid regional tensions following Russia’s Feb. 28 incursion into Ukraine, officials said.The fighters landed on Thursday afternoon and another six F-16s are expected to arrive at Lask Air Base, Poland, by the end of the week, officials said. In addition to the 12 fighters, roughly 150 airmen will augment the ongoing training mission at the base.

A small team of roughly 10 airmen is permanently stationed at Lask Air Base, which hosts two-week training rotations for F-16 crews. It is not known how long the F-16s and airmen will stay in Poland, said Defense Department spokeswoman Eileen Lainez.

Austal Lays Keel for Future USNS Trenton

Wikipedia photo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_Trenton_(JHSV-5)

A ceremony celebrating the laying and authentication of the keel of the future USNS Trenton (JHSV 5) was held at the Austal USA shipyard, yesterday.

USNS Trenton (JHSV-5) will be a Spearhead-class joint high speed vessel. Spearhead-class ships are used to support overseas operations, conduct humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and support special operations forces. These type of vessels also have an aviation flight deck and can operate in shallow waters.

The JHSV is capable of interface with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, features an off-load ramp and a flight deck, and has a shallow draft of less than 15 feet. Its speed and ability to access austere port environments, as well as the size and versatility of its cargo capabilities, makes the JHSV an extremely flexible asset for support of a wide range of operations.The fourth ship to be named after New Jersey’s capital city, JHSV 5 honors the values and the men and women of the city as well as the state of New Jersey. USNS Trenton will be owned and operated by Military Sealift Command (MSC), operating within MSC’s Sealift program. She will be manned by a crew of 22 civil service mariners with military mission personnel embarking as required.