US Marine Corps (USMC)

Citation :

U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa a ajouté 6 nouvelles photos.

The Marine Combined Arms Company during their first field exercise in Novo Selo, Bulgaria, yesterday!
The unit is preparing to work with NATO Allies in upcoming military exercises.

PHOTOS:

Citation :

Dans Actualité Défense
Publié le 21/09/2015 à 15h33, par Cyrille Cosmao




Beau "selfie" du Captain Christophe Prout du 232 eme Fighter Attack Squadron des Marines lors d'un tir de missile AIM-7 Sparrow.

Citation :

Lockheed Martin Introduces New ACV Candidate at Modern Day Marine Show




Lockheed Martin officially introduced its new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) 1.1 offering at the Modern Day Marine trade show in Quantico, Virginia, today. The armored, eight-wheel-drive vehicle is designed to transport up to 13 Marines, transition seamlessly between land and water, and provide high levels of blast protection.



The U.S. Marine Corps established the ACV program to replace its aging fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicles, which have been in service since the 1970s.

The Lockheed Martin ACV candidate is a modular, easily upgradable 8x8 design that allows superior growth for a wide range of variants, weapons, sensors and communications options. Lockheed Martin is the original equipment manufacturer, systems integrator, and final-assembly, integration and test agent for its ACV. The company has selected an experienced team of suppliers for their specific capabilities to enable the production and delivery of a high-quality, affordable solution.

“We have been committed to the Marine Corps for more than eight years in the growth and evolution of the ACV and its predecessor programs,” said Scott Greene, vice president of Ground Vehicles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “In concert with the Marine Corps’ desire for domestic production, Lockheed Martin has assembled a supplier team that will enable the manufacturing and delivery of a vehicle that meets or exceeds their requirements at the right price.”

The Lockheed Martin ACV candidate will meet or exceed the Marine Corps’ ACV requirements in four key areas: Water Operations; Land Operations; Payload Capacity and Protection. The team’s ACV offering is comprised primarily of off-the-shelf components and products currently in service on vehicles around the world. They have been brought together in the Lockheed Martin 8x8 to provide the Marine Corps a vehicle that meets their needs today and supports their missions far into the future.





http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/lockheed_martin_introduces_new_acv_candidate_at_modern_day_marine_show_42309151.html

Citation :

Future of Infantry: State-Of-The Art Google Robot Tested by US Marine Corps © Photo: DOD
MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE
00:34 23.09.2015(updated 00:43 23.09.2015)



Spot, the most advanced prototype combat robot manufactured by Boston Dynamics, a company owned by Google, finished testing with the US Marines last week.

Spot, the quadruped, electrically operated all-terrain battlefield device walks on four hydraulically actuated legs. It weighs about 160 pounds.
A human operator controls the robot wirelessly from a distance of up to a third of a mile using a laptop equipped with a radio transmitter and a video game-like controller.


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150923/1027370036.html#ixzz3mYG8nxju

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Marine Corps leaders call for fast-fail approach to innovation
By James K. Sanborn, Staff writer 7:42 p.m. EDT September 22, 2015


MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — A panel of top Marine leaders painted a daunting picture Tuesday of an increasingly complex operating environment in the decades ahead as troops are likely to be called on to fight in mega-cities near the world's oceans.

Several Marine Corps generals said during a panel discussion here at the annual Modern Day Marine expo here that to meet those challenges they will need to further refine their new concept of operations, Expeditionary Force 21, but they must also count on industry to furnish innovative equipment solutions.

"The innovation piece is critical," said Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, the deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration and commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

"We've got to [be] better at getting stuff out to the fleet — get it out there quickly, get it to our Marines to experiment with. If they break it and it doesn't work, we go back to the drawing board," he added.



Also on the panel, titled Building the Future Marine Corps EF-21: Harnessing Innovation across the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, was Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, deputy commandant for aviation; Lt. Gen. Ronald Bailey, deputy commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations; Lt. Gen. Michael Dana, deputy commandant of Installations and Logistics; Brig Gen. Dale Alford, the commanding general of Futures Directorate the the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab; and Brig. Gen. (sel.) Roger Turner, the commanding general of Capabilities Development Directorate.

All painted a picture of an unpredictable, fast-changing, chaotic environment in which Marines will face off with a hybrid threat — a fusion of tactics and military weaponry that will include an Iraq-style insurgency and nation-state military capabilities all on the same battlefield.

http://www.defensenews.com/story/military/2015/09/22/marine-corps-leaders-call-fast-fail-approach-innovation/72638244/

Citation :

DSEI 2015: “New” Competitor For The Patriot NG Radar in the US


PUBLISHED AT: Today, 23 September, 14:47


Full G/ATOR radar set consists of two, highly mobile vehicles and a trailer. Image Credit: Northrop Grumman

Maksymilian Dura
kontakt@defence24.pl

Northrop Grumman company revealed the information on the development works related to the AN/TPS-80 active AESA antenna radar. The system, already ordered by the US Marine Corps, is going to be based on the state of the art gallium nitride (GaN) technology. Probability of ordering a Polish variant of the Patriot radar by the US government, within the scope of creating the US air defence system, is thus lower than it was suggested by the forecasts released by the Polish Ministry of Defence, once Warsaw selected the contractor in the Wisla tender.


USMC order which has already been realized means that Northrop Grumman company may become the favoured manufacturer, also in the tender, the aim of which is to procure a new, US-made radar for a medium range air defence system. The company is already involved in development of the IBCS system (IAMD Battle Command System) which - in the future - is going to act as the main part of the net-centric US IAMD (Integrated Air and Missile Defense) system. Due to the above, Poland may become the only user of the new Patriot POL radar, with all of the related consequences.

Not only is the situation faced by the Polish version of the radar more convoluted due to the US order placed, in order to procure the G/ATOR (Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar) systems, but also due to the latest amendment to that contract, according to which the Pentagon is going to finance the Northrop Grumman’s development works, the aim of which would be to implement the Gallium Nitride technology in case of the newly developed radar systems mentioned above. Meanwhile, works on the AESA antennas build in line with the above assumptions, which are going to be utilized in case of the Patriot POL system, are - so far - financed, above all, by the Raytheon company.


G/ATOR. Image Credit: Northrop Grumman


Five in One

Initially the G/ATOR radar was created for the SHORAD class (short range air defense) systems, that were to be in possession of the IFF (identification friend or foe) capabilities. The US Marines got interested in this system, above all, due to the fact that it is capable of potentially replacing five other radar types which are being currently used operationally, within the structure of the US armed forces, meaning the following systems: AN/TPS-73 – air search radar, AN/TPS-63 – air defence radar, AN/MPQ-62 – short range air defence radar, AN/UPS-3 - target tracking radar, AN-TPQ-46 – Weapon Locating System radar. The systems listed above are currently being operated within the following areas:
•Air Surveillance;
•Air Defence;
•Ground Weapon Locating/Counterfire Target Acquisition;
•Air Traffic Control.

Thanks to such approach, the US Marines will have to to use only the AN/TPS-59 long range radar manufactured by the Lockheed Martin company. The above system uses a curtain passive array. It is going to be complemented by the G/ATOR system, when it comes to short and medium range detection.

Such level of versatility, in case of the AN/TPS-80 radar, is possible to be achieved thanks to a mechanically rotated AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) antenna system, in case of which the radar beam is shaped and controlled electronically. The antenna itself consists of numerous radar transceiver modules, all of which are controlled separately and independently. In connection with a special software, a “quasi - intelligent” radar system has been developed. The system is easily adapted to a variety of tasks and requirements, resulting from the operational situation. However, one should remember that additionally IFF AN/UPX-44 antenna is additionally fitted onto the radar array.

According to Northrop Grumman, G/ATOR is the first ground-based multi-mission radar, fitted with an active antenna with electronically controlled beam (AESA), developed by the Department of Defence. The radar may be used as an air surveillance radar, fire control radar for the air defence systems, air traffic control system and as a radar which may be used to detect and locate the ground weapons systems.

Using its own budget, the Northrop Grumman company also has shown that the G/ATOR radar is additionally capable of detecting the high-velocity missiles and rocket artillery/systems.

G/ATOR Programme Has Lasted For More Than 10 Years Now

Creating the G/ATOR AESA radars has been a goal pursued for 10 years now - from September 2005. In March 2007, the Northrop Grumman company received an order, the aim of which was to execute the System Design and Development phase. The value of the deal is estimated as ca. 8 million dollars. However, the road was bumpy, as in October 2009, the Pentagon suggested that the programme costs exceed the assumed amounts (up to 14 million dollars). The above increase was a result of the increased prices of gold which was used to cover the protruding elements of the electronic components.

Due to the quantitative dimensions of the research, in total, two prototypes of the radar were developed. The prototypes went through the test programme in October 2013, and, during the same month, they were tested operationally by the US Marine Corps. Ultimately, a special commission, including, among other members, the representatives of the US government, air force, army and the US Marines, approved the low rate initial production of the G/ATOR radar system. However, in the light of the above, one should recall the fact that Lockheed Martin and Raytheon companies also took part in the tender, proposing their own designs.


G/ATOR trailer with the antenna unit - unfolded (without the IFF system antenna element). Image Credit: Northrop Grumman

In October 2014, the US Marine Corps signed an agreement with the Northrop Grumman company, the aim of which was to launch the LRIP procedure. This would effect in creation of four AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR radars. The value of the contract is said to exceed the amount of USD 207 million. According to the assumption of the concluded contract, deliveries are planned to happen between 2016 and 2017. In March 2015, the USMC ordered another two examples of the radar. This increased the value of the order, adding USD 113.3 million to the initial amount.

In August 2015, once again, the October 2014 agreement was amended. Now 9-15 million dollars were provided to fund the works, the aim of which would be to add the GWLR (Ground Weapons Locating Radar) detection capabilities to the system. Secondly, the radar is going to be modified, in order to implement the gallium nitride technology. The current system is based on the gallium arsenide sensor. Northrop Grumman stressed the fact that the above-mentioned technology has been developed by the company for ca. a decade now, and these research and development works are being realized independently from the programme which is being pursued by the Raytheon company, developing the Patriot NG radar. According to Northrop Grumman, GaN technology is available for numerous enterprises in the US.

The latest agreements increased the amounts invested by the Pentagon - as they exceeded 900 million dollars (more than 600 million dollars for the development works and more than 300 million dollars to realize the manufacturing process). However, it is estimated that Northrop Grumman company may receive some orders regarding the G/ATOR radar, the value of which may reach USD 2 billion.

Starting - not “from a scratch”

During the DSEI 2015 event in London, the Americans stressed the fact that the success achieved by their new radar is not an accident, but it rather resulted from many years of experience gathered within the field of radar technology. The experiences were gained through manufacturing a variety of radars, of numerous classes and types, all of which used electronically shaped and controlled radar beam. In case of the G/ATOR radar, the company fused the experiences gained when it manufactured the advanced radar systems for the air platforms, including the AN/APG-77 radar used by the F-22 fighters, AN/APG-80 used by the F-16 Block 60 jets and the AN/APG-83 SABR radar for the F-16 jets. Additional experience was gathered during the development processes related to the systems dedicated for the land platforms, including the AN/TPS-70, AN/TPS-78 and AN/TPS-703 radars.


G/ATOR Radar is a development model of a highly mobile AN/TPS-78 radar... Image Credit: Northrop Grumman


AN/TPS-703 radar - Predecessor of the G/ATOR radar. Image Credit: Northrop Grumman


The high value of the above-listed devices is proven by the fact that the AESA AN/APG-81 radar, developed by the Northrop Grumman company, was selected to be fitted onto the F-35 fifth generation jets. According to the manufacturer, the radar was operated for a very long time at the laboratory and in the air, without any damage, demonstrating the highest degree of the operational reliability and effectiveness. The acquired experience, making it possible to reduce the production costs and limit the risk of errors.

Success stems - according to Northrop Grumman - from the fact that the new radar uses the old software suite which has already a track proven record, even in the most complicated combat scenarios.


AESA AN/APG-81 radar developed by the Northrop Grumman company is being used e.g. by the F-35 jet fighters. Image Credit: Northrop Grumman


Operational Properties Of The G/ATOR Radar

One of the most important features of the G/ATOR system is placed within its mobility. The system - in a standard variant - consists of the following elements:
•Radar Equipment Group - a trailer with an antenna which, once it is folded and stored in a horizontal position, may be transported hanged under the helicopters (CH-53E Super Stallion) and fixed wing VTOL aircraft (MV-22B Osprey). Alternatively, this piece of kit may also be transported on-board of a single C-130 Hercules aircraft;
•Power Equipment Group - comes in a form of a light (7-8 tonnes) truck, fitted with a power generator and the remaining equipment.
•Communication Equipment Group - A light vehicle (HMMWV or JLTV), fitted with the command and communications suite.


Full G/ATOR radar set consists of two, highly mobile vehicles and a trailer. Image Credit: Northrop Grumman


G/ATOR trailer with the antenna unit - folded (without the IFF system antenna element). Image Credit: Northrop Grumman


In reality, there are no problems with fitting the whole suite on a single vehicle with a trailer. The system - in its present configuration - was to be capable of becoming operable (from transport to operational set-up) within less than 45 minutes. Actually, this time is often shorter than half an hour.

Not only the USMC

According to Northrop Grumman, in the future, there will be an option of implementing easy changes, within the scope of the purpose of the radar. These changes would be realized solely by modernizing the antenna. The company notes that there is an option of increasing the quantity of the transceiver modules, increasing the aperture and energy profile of the antenna – and this would result in increased range. The improvement may also be achieveed once the components used so far, based on the GaAs technology, are replaced with the equivalent elements which would be using the Gallium Nitride capacities.

Works related to the above transition have already begun, and Northrop Grumman stresses that the modernization is going to be realized only through replacement of the transceiver modules, in a “one for one” manner. No mechanical changes are going to be implemented in the antenna. Thanks to the above simplification, the new GaN antenna is going to be ready for operational use as early as in 2016. The modules for the first radar have also been already created. The modernization process is going to be easier also due to the fact that both the hardware, as well as the software of the G/ATOR radar system, are realized in an open architecture layout.

In the light of the above, as the manufacturer suggests, the radar may become a part of a variety of control and data transmission systems acting in real time, even if the systems use a variety of protocols, and even in a situation when the data and information comes from a variety of sensors. At the same time we know for sure that the G/ATOR radar is going to be fitted with an interface developed three years ago by the Northrop Grumman company, for the IBCS battlefield management system. The ICBS suite is going to constitute the main part of the US IAMD air defence system.

Thanks to the system’s multi-role character and open architecture, Northrop Grumman also received a “study” contract from the US Navy, the aim of which would be to asses the options within the scope of creating a maritime variant of the described radar. The analysts suggest that the issue of the air-cooling effectiveness on the ships shall be scrutinized. Second issue raised by the experts is related to the corrosion resistance, since corrosion is going to be amplified by the saltwater conditions.

Long range variant of the G/ATOR radar is also being prepared. The system is going to be offered for the USAF, within the scope of the 3DELRR (Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long Range Radar) programme. The new system is going to be capable of detecting and tracking the ballistic missiles. It is stressed that the company has already gathered the relevant experience, resulting from the development works related to the AN/SPQ-11 Cobra Judy long range radar, antenna of which is more than 20 meters tall and wide.

Northrop Grumman also presents G/ATOR as a solution which could be used in the MMR (Multi-Mission Radar) programme, pursued by the US Army. HAMMR (Highly Adaptable Multi-Mission Radar) which uses a rotating AESA antenna, of size which is similar to the radars used in aircraft, has been already created, in a form of a highly mobile system. The antenna has angle of rotation of 360 degrees and it is capable of being used “on the move”, at speeds of up to 90 kph, detecting aircraft, drones, incoming missiles, artillery projectiles and mortar rounds.


HAMMR (Highly Adaptable Multi-Mission Radar) uses a rotating AESA antenna, the size of which is similar to the radars used in aircraft applications. Image Credit: Northrop Grumman


In case of Poland, a question asked in London was particularly important - is there a possibility to transfer the GaN technology abroad. Northrop Grumman representative expressly noted that - on the part of the company - no obstacles exist, and should consent be granted by the US Government, during the inter-governmental negotiations, the company may cooperate within that scope with virtually any NATO member state.

The issue related to export of the AESA radars is still open. Negotiations with the potential clients are being carried out at the moment, especially when it comes to the HAMMR radar which may be used as a component of direct anti-aircraft systems. Thanks to its mobility (“on the move” capability) its survivability on the battlefield would also be at a high level. However, everything is dependent on the decisions made by the US Government.

http://www.defence24.com/262550,dsei-2015-new-competitor-for-the-patriot-ng-radar-in-the-us

Citation :

Lockheed Martin Introduces New Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Candidate at Modern Day Marine Show


By Dylan Vosman - Sep 24, 2015



Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) officially introduced its new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) 1.1 offering at the Modern Day Marine trade show in Quantico, Virginia, today. The armored, eight-wheel-drive vehicle is designed to transport up to 13 Marines, transition seamlessly between land and water, and provide high levels of blast protection.

The U.S. Marine Corps established the ACV program to replace its aging fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicles, which have been in service since the 1970s.

The Lockheed Martin ACV candidate is a modular, easily upgradable 8×8 design that allows superior growth for a wide range of variants, weapons, sensors and communications options. Lockheed Martin is the original equipment manufacturer, systems integrator, and final-assembly, integration and test agent for its ACV. The company has selected an experienced team of suppliers for their specific capabilities to enable the production and delivery of a high-quality, affordable solution.



“We have been committed to the Marine Corps for more than eight years in the growth and evolution of the ACV and its predecessor programs,” said Scott Greene, vice president of Ground Vehicles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “In concert with the Marine Corps’ desire for domestic production, Lockheed Martin has assembled a supplier team that will enable the manufacturing and delivery of a vehicle that meets or exceeds their requirements at the right price.”

The Lockheed Martin ACV candidate will meet or exceed the Marine Corps’ ACV requirements in four key areas: Water Operations; Land Operations; Payload Capacity and Protection. The team’s ACV offering is comprised primarily of off-the-shelf components and products currently in service on vehicles around the world. They have been brought together in the Lockheed Martin 8×8 to provide the Marine Corps a vehicle that meets their needs today and supports their missions far into the future.

http://defence-blog.com/army/lockheed-martin-introduces-new-amphibious-combat-vehicle-acv-candidate-at-modern-day-marine-show.html

Citation :

Le général Dunford nouveau plus haut responsable militaire américain


Publié le 25/09/2015 à 22:52 | AFP


Le général des Marines Joe Dunford, le 9 juillet 2015 à WashingtonAFP/Archives - MANDEL NGAN


Le général des Marines Joe Dunford, 59 ans, surnommé "Joe le Bagarreur", est devenu vendredi le nouveau chef d'état-major inter-armées américain, en remplacement du général Martin Dempsey arrivé au bout de son mandat.

Le général Dunford a prêté vendredi après-midi serment devant le président Barack Obama et le secrétaire à la Défense Ashton Carter, lors d'une cérémonie en Virginie (est) sur la base militaire Henderson-Myer.

Le chef d'état-major inter-armées est le plus haut gradé américain, principal conseiller militaire du président qui exerce une influence considérable sur l'administration.

Il n'a toutefois pas de responsabilité opérationnelle directe, le gouvernement donnant ses ordres directement aux grands commandements américains comme celui du Moyen-Orient (Centcom).

Le général Dunford bénéficie de la confiance du président Obama, acquise alors qu'il était le commandant des forces américaines et de l'Otan en Afghanistan, de février 2013 à août 2014.

Le général avait alors supervisé le retrait des dizaines de milliers de soldats américains, laissant la place aux forces afghanes dans le combat contre les talibans. Il avait persuadé la Maison Blanche de laisser sur place environ 10.000 hommes, une force dont l'avenir va devoir être prochainement déterminé.

Parmi les autres dossiers que le nouveau chef d'état-major inter-armée devra gérer, l'engagement militaire contre le groupe Etat islamique en Syrie et en Irak, aux résultats controversés, et l'incertitude budgétaire.

Le budget militaire américain risque des coupes douloureuses si les républicains et la Maison Blanche ne trouvent pas un accord général sur le budget fédéral.

A court terme, le général Dunford devra aussi gérer le dossier de l'ouverture aux femmes de tous les postes de combat.

En tant que commandant des Marines, son poste jusqu'à cette semaine, il a souhaité que l'infanterie du Corps reste exclusivement masculine, en contradiction avec les orientations fixées par l'administration Obama. Le secrétaire à la Défense devra prendre une décision définitive en janvier 2016.

Joe Dunford, apprécié par sa base, avait gagné son surnom de "bagarreur" en 2003 en Irak, où il commandait un régiment de Marines.

Mais il est aussi reconnu pour son affabilité. "Il sait vous dire que votre bébé est très laid sans vous vexer", a résumé à l'AFP Ben Connable, un analyste de la Rand corporation.

Le général Martin Dempsey, en poste depuis quatre ans, s'était attiré les critiques des "faucons" républicains comme John McCain, le président de la commission des forces armées du Sénat.

Comme le président Obama, le général Dempsey n'était pas favorable à l'envoi de troupes au sol américaines contre le groupe Etat islamique, considérant qu'ils revenait aux forces locales de faire le travail.

Le général Dempsey n'avait pourtant pas hésité à se démarquer parfois de la Maison Blanche, s'affirmant favorable à la fourniture d'armements à l'Ukraine face aux séparatistes pro-russes. Il n'avait pas écarté non plus l'hypothèse d'envoyer certaines forces spéciales sur le terrain en Irak.

http://www.lepoint.fr/monde/le-general-dunford-nouveau-plus-haut-responsable-militaire-americain-25-09-2015-1968221_24.php

Citation :

United States plans to relocate 30,000 marines in Asia-Pacific to reduce reaction time.

In the face of China's growing presence in the South China Sea, the United States Marine Corps is moving ahead with plans to eventually place nearly 15% of the service's personnel in Hawaii and beyond, reports Duowei News, a US-based Chinese political news outlet.






Citing a report from South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo, it is noted that the 190,000-strong US Marines Corp specializes in expeditionary warfare and is typically mobilized for regional conflicts or the rapid delivery of combined-arms task forces with the US Navy.

Experts believe the aim of of relocating nearly 30,000 marines is to reduce America's reaction time in the Asia-Pacific and form a key part of US president Obama's "Asia rebalancing" strategy.

The US-based Marine Corps Times notes China's land reclamation activities and military constructions on disputed islands in the South China Sea as a primary reason for the personnel placement, along with the development of North Korea's nuclear program and Russia's increased activity in Japanese air space.

The U.S. Navy Department recently approved the Marine Corps' plan to move 5,000 Marines and their families from Japan to Guam. That will leave about 10,000 Marines in Okinawa, and 8,800 in Hawaii, said Lt. Gen. John Toolan, the head of Marine Corps Forces Pacific

Next year, Marines will work alongside foreign troops from Mongolia, South Korea and Japan in the northern Pacific to Australia and New Zealand in the south. The U.S. Marine Corps will also host training exercises as far east as Hawaii and California and alongside troops from India and the Maldives in the western portion of the region.

http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/united_states_plans_to_relocate_30000_marines_in_asia-pacific_to_reduce_reaction_time_12809153.html

Citation :

U.S. Marines Could Play Major Role In U.K. Carrier Operations
Oct 1, 2015 Bill Sweetman and Tony Osborne | Aviation Week & Space Technology


Senior officers in both the U.S. Marine Corps and British Royal Navy agree that Marine Corps Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) will operate regularly from the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The question is how many fighters and when, and it appears to be a sensitive issue due to the impending release of the U.K.’s Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR). One option under study is to attach a Marine F-35B ...



http://aviationweek.com/defense/us-marines-could-play-major-role-uk-carrier-operations

Citation :

U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa

BIG Rounds Down Range
----------------------------
U.S. Marines with the Bulgarian based Combined Arms Company recently fired M1A1 Abrams tanks during a field training exercise at Novo Selo
Training Area, Bulgaria, Sept. 21, 2015. The Marines underwent several days in the field to prepare for multinational training exercises over the
next few months.

Citation :

15th MEU's Battalion Landing Team at work!...Photos by Sgt. Jamean Berry  

PHOTOS:

Citation :

U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa a ajouté 4 nouvelles photos.


French and U.S. Partnership
-------------------------------
U.S. Marines and their French counterparts react to unruly crowds during riot control training at the National Gendarmerie Tactical Training
Center in St. Astier, France, Oct. 10. A platoon of Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, had a unique
opportunity to train at the center, specialized in restoring order and professional intervention.

Citation :

VIDEO: French Share Survival Tactics with U.S.


By Senior Airman Nesha Humes
Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa

October 13, 2015



CAMP LEMMONIER, Djibouti -- Two U.S. Army Civil Affairs Battalion soldiers, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, French Army soldiers from the 5th Overseas Combined Arms Regiment, and members of 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, endured fourteen days in the heat, learning to fight, survive and navigate Djibouti’s desert.

The French military course is designed to prepare soldiers to survive in desert climate by teaching participants combat lifesaving skills, field tactics, land navigation, weapons training, trap setting, survival cooking and water source locating.

The U.S. Army is currently launching a similar course in Texas and intends to send some of the future instructors through the France's desert survival school for training.

FOR MORE: Check out this photo set from Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa

“I’ve learned a lot of really cool ways to survive,” U.S. Army Sgt. Ryan Kirkwood, noncomissioned officer in charge of 415th Civil Affairs Battalion's medical cell said. “How to filter sea water, collect water, how to light a fire with things you wouldn’t even think of, such as cell phones. It’s pretty interesting.”

Participants learned how to acquire food from various sources as part of their survival lessons.

“This course is important, [even though] we’re very tired after this phase. We are ready to conduct a big operation,” French Capt. Louis, armor company commander said. “It’s very good, because you’re immediately ready to deploy. All the instructions are based on what has happened in previous operations. These are skills that you use in operations.”

In addition to survival tactics, the weathered service members broke into four platoons, working together to complete a water obstacle course and the “Path of the Unconscious,” a ropes course, carved out of an approximately 300-foot cliff.

By completing the French Desert Survival Course, service members earned the desert commando badge.

“This is the first time at my company’s level we’ve worked with the Americans to improve our interoperability,” Louis said. “The experience has been awesome.”

Citation :

USMC CH-53K conducts first test flight

Marina Malenic, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
27 October 2015


The US Marine Corps' (USMC's) CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter completed its first test flight on 27 October, about a seven-month delay due mainly to problems with the helicopter's main gear box, company and military officials said during a teleconference.

"This is a key step toward fielding this brand-new capability," USMC Colonel Hank Vanderborght said after the flight. He said the aircraft would improve the amphibious service's ability to move cargo from ships and participate in disaster relief missions.

The corps expects to purchase 200 of the helicopters for approximately USD29 billion. The first operational squadron is expected to be ready by 2019.

http://www.janes.com/article/55571/usmc-ch-53k-conducts-first-test-flight