US Army

quote]Strengthening The Ukrainian Army
(Source: U.S Army; issued Aug 21, 2016)
YAVORIV, Ukraine ----The Ukrainian army, with the assistance of U.S. and multinational partners, continues to strive to improve the capability and capacity within its armed forces. Approximately 20 Ukrainian cadre recently completed their first rotation training Ukrainian Soldiers on individual combat skills at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center.

The training is part of the ongoing operations of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. The JMTG-U mission is focused on building a sustainable, enduring combat training center here. Part of this mission includes building training capacity quickly through the consolidation and resourcing of dedicated training cadre.

These instructors are the first group of cadre trained on conducting the first six modules of a nine-week rotational training set. The modules include weapons training, land navigation, combat lifesaving skills, and section live-fire. Soldiers of 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division certified the instructors by observing and gauging their ability to put the six modules into action and effectively train other Ukrainian Soldiers.

Spc. Brett Jones, a rifleman assigned to 6-8 Cav., is a fourth generation veteran and is excited to be able to continue the family tradition. Jones said that he is optimistic about training alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"Every time we go out and observe the Ukrainian Soldiers, they do the training to a T," said Jones. "They are very hands on with the training and make sure each Soldier knows how to effectively do each task to standard."

Staff Sgt. Alex Fernandez, a squad leader and instructor assigned to 6-8 Cav. spent two years as a drill sergeant and was able to use the skills he acquired to ensure the Ukrainian instructors were fully up to speed on training their Soldiers on individual tasks.

"They have always been comfortable teaching the Soldiers, but now I feel they are more confident with their teaching techniques," said Fernandez. "They have built that trust and bond with the Soldiers and they listen to the instructors when given instructions."

After the training has been conducted, the Soldiers from 6-8 Cav pull the Ukrainian instructors aside and brief them on their performance during the exercise.

According to Jones the Ukrainian Soldiers respond well when they receive praise, validation and feedback from the multinational force trainers. "They do training by the book and listen to recommendations that we make," he said.

1st Lt. Taras Tanailov, an instructor assigned to the Combat Training Center mentored the newly graduated Ukrainian instructors over the past three weeks. Tanailov has been with the instructors since they were certified to teach and observed the progression in their ability to train Soldiers.

Tanailov said that over the last few weeks his instructors had learned a lot about leading and training Soldiers. He said that they are more confident in the training, which allows them to be more effective leaders.

Cpt. Abdullah H. Clark, company commander for Charlie Troop, 6-8 Cav., had the opportunity to observe the Ukrainian instructors and was able to view military tactics from a different perspective.

"So far I've learned a different method of every aspect of military affairs from logistics to tactics to unofficial dynamics of the social system," said Clark. "They have taught me a different way to run things other than the way we normally do for our military."

The ultimate goal of the JMTG-U is to establish a sustainable Combat Training Center staffed and led completely by the Ukrainian military.

"I think if we left here today, they would do everything they need to do to train their military," said Jones. "I definitely think they are doing a good job."

Now that the initial six modules are complete, the Ukrainian instructors will move on to learn the next two modules, which is a milestone for the JMTG-U. This marks the first time Ukrainian instructors will learn modules seven and eight, which include squad, section and platoon collective tasks.



http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/176345/us-army%2C-partner-nations-strengthen-ukrainian-army.html






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DRS Technologies Awarded Up to $400 Million U.S. Army Contract to Build New Joint Assault Bridge System
(Source: DRS Technologies; issued August 23, 2016)
ARLINGTON, VA, --- DRS Technologies, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Army has awarded it a competitively-bid indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract worth up to $400 million to build the new Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) system.

The JAB system is a track-wheeled vehicle built on a modified M1 Abrams platform. It is designed to carry, deploy and recover a heavy “scissor” bridge that provides gap-crossing capability for combat vehicles to cross wet or dry chasms. The system is an important tool for U.S. military ground forces, giving combat vehicles the ability to freely navigate the battlefield.

“The ability for combat vehicles to navigate easily on the battlefield is critical to the success of our armored vehicle warfighters,” said Joe Matteoni, vice president and general manager, DRS Sustainment Systems. “This is an important program for our ground combat units, and DRS Technologies and Israel Military Industries Systems are proud to support our heavy armor combat teams by providing this technology to assist them in achieving their missions,” he said.

DRS Technologies’ Sustainment Systems business unit, based in St. Louis, MO., will be responsible for the overall production, management of the M1A1 chassis assembly, hydraulic bridge launcher production and the entire system integration. Production will occur in West Plains, Missouri, and Anniston, Alabama.


DRS has a public-private partnership with Anniston Army Depot for the management of the chassis assembly and worked with Israel Military Industries on the engineering and design of the JAB system.

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to Provide Battlefield Intelligence
(Source: US Army Cyber Command; issued August 26, 2016)


FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- Soldiers may someday have a new set of eyes on the battlefield thanks to a small unmanned aerial vehicle so new that it doesn't yet have a name.

The "battlefield" where the unmanned aerial vehicle is currently being evaluated and employed in training exercises is the National Training Center here at Fort Irwin. The vehicle is designed to collect information on an adversary for analysis by cyber operators and military intelligence personnel.

That information is ultimately provided to brigade commanders for their use, according to Maj. Deonand Singh, operations officer for the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Meade, Maryland.

During actual combat operations, brigade commanders need information quickly, information Singh termed "tactical insights."

During its most recent employment at the National Training Center, the unmanned vehicle supported 1st Infantry Division's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, out of Fort Riley, Kansas. That unit was on a two-week training rotation at NTC during the first part of August.

The unmanned vehicle conducted reconnaissance of the training scenario's operational information environment, said Lt. Col. Jon Burnett, chief of Army Cyber Command's Cyber Support to Corps and Below, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Capt. Samuel Lough, an offensive cyber operations planner for the exercise, said such information gathered from unmanned vehicles and other means can provide useful insight to the commander in an area of operations, once it is analyzed.

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Lockheed Martin to Supply US Army With 14 More Black Hawk Helicopters


The US Army awarded Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky Aircraft a contract worth more than $150 million for fourteen UH-60 Black Hawk combat helicopters, the Department of Defense said in a press release. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The estimated completion date is June 30, 2017, the Defense Department said.

"Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation [of] Stratford, Connecticut, was awarded a $158.4 million modification… contract to exercise an option for 14 UH-60 aircraft," the release stated on Tuesday. The sandy, hot and high-altitude conditions that define combat in Afghanistan and Iraq exposed the limitations of the Black Hawk and the US Army has called for a new design to travel higher, farther and faster, while carrying heavier loads.


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160831/1044799895/black-hawk-lockheed.html

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Thursday, 1 September 2016
CAE receives first three Grob G120TP aircraft for US Army fixed-wing flight training program

CAE yesterday announced that CAE USA has taken delivery of its first three Grob G120TP aircraft that will be used as part of the United States Army Fixed-Wing Flight Training program and begun training its initial cadre of instructor pilots to prepare for the start of training in 2017.



http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

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The latest Stryker vehicle is built for extremes
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COLD REGIONS TEST CENTER, Alaska — When Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan were imperiled by the destructive power of improvised explosive devices, a variant of the armored Stryker combat vehicle sporting a specially-designed blast-diffusing hull saved countless lives.

Particularly suited for transporting infantry in urban environments, the Stryker combat vehicle has become popular among Soldiers in the most dangerous and rugged areas overseas. They know the vehicle to be quiet, reliable, and easy to maintain and repair.

The vehicle’s stellar performance is doubtless related to the extensive evaluation it has undergone at Yuma Proving Ground and its three subsidiary test centers since 2002, including a six month stint in the jungles of Suriname in 2008. Earlier this year, a new variant of the vehicle wrapped up a winter of extreme use at the Army Cold Regions Test Center.

Boasting an upgraded chassis and drivetrain along with a variety of mechanical, electrical and digital improvements to enhance its performance, the latest Stryker variant was subjected to more than 3,000 miles driving across rugged terrain in extreme cold.

“It looks like a regular Stryker, but it isn’t,” said Richard Reiser, test officer. “It has a larger engine that significantly increases horsepower and torque. It has a much greater diagnostic capability that integrates subsystems. This gives operators a greater awareness of vehicle health and potentially improves situational awareness during the actual mission in the vehicle.”

In the world’s most frigid environments, cold starts can be harrowing even for the most rudimentary vehicles. For a complex system like the Stryker, each component’s ability to function in extreme cold is crucially important and was subjected to keen evaluation in temperatures far below freezing.

“Like automotive trends in general, we have much greater reliance on computer systems in these vehicles,” said Reiser. “Those computer systems and subsystems integrated into the hull depend on a great deal of computer software and hardware.”

Though a vehicle’s performance characteristics are similar in cold weather once a vehicle is started and sufficiently warmed up, dramatic fluctuations in temperature can degrade performance of any number of a vehicle’s components.

“Stopping distance and acceleration shouldn’t change profoundly in this environment,” explained Reiser. “The real issues tend to be related to rapid temperature differentials. Each sub-zero temperature threshold tends to flush out small anomalies.”

Testers went to great lengths to test in potential failure conditions. For example, after a long drive on the range the day before a particularly nasty drop in temperature was forecast, the testers used fans connected to long tubes snaking into the engine compartment and other vital areas of the vehicle to blow frigid air onto the components overnight.

“We adjust to capture things and be ready for those colder temperatures on short notice,” said Reiser. “It’s a small crew and it’s easy to make adjustments to the mission profile to take advantage.”

Throughout the test, the Army evaluators used the same vehicle that had been subjected to punishing hot weather testing the previous summer at Yuma Test Center, Arizona. Personnel travelled to Yuma to take part in the testing and instrumented the vehicle in a configuration that applied to testing in both climates.

“It provides not only continuity in the instrumentation process, but helped our technician get it done quicker while supporting Yuma’s effort as well,” said Reiser.

The test was more than just endless driving. The performances of every special feature the vehicle boasts were scrutinized, from its communications suite to the central tire inflation system that adjusts tire pressure as the vehicle is in motion.

“Cross country miles accumulate slowly in this environment,” said Reiser. “We didn’t have consistently cold weather, so we were able to move what sub-test activity we were doing based on its environmental relevance. If it is something that’s not so much impacted by extreme cold, we moved that to the less-cold times.”

Soldiers from Fort Wainwright’s 25th Infantry Division also assisted in the testing by entering and exiting hatches of the vehicle while attired in the full complement of armor and Arctic battle dress, ensuring that everything in the vehicle could be reached without snagging their bulky gear.

“It was great coordination between the two tests to pick the appropriate miserable day to get the Soldiers to do some limited ingress-egress testing,” said Reiser. “When this vehicle is fielded and the Soldiers have the new body armor, we’ll already know it isn’t an issue for ingress and egress.”

The multi-month test was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, which Reiser attributes to the flexibility of the rugged, self-contained six-person crew. The drivers, for instance, were from the testing center’s maintenance shop. They were able to troubleshoot and repair problems that cropped up without lengthy downtime at a maintenance shop many miles from the test range.

“We were able to eliminate delay times when we went into maintenance because maintenance was right here,” said Reiser. “If we had a vehicle issue, they just changed hats and researched from a different vantage point what they had to do to solve the problem, which was a huge cost savings.”

www.pacom.mil




http://defence-blog.com/army/the-latest-stryker-vehicle-is-built-for-extremes.html

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Polish, US Soldiers prep for downrange missions with river crossing


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Sep 4, 2016


Photo Credit: Sgt. Lauren Harrah

Concealed among thick foliage, soldiers patiently scanned the water’s edge through the scopes of their M4 carbines. When the signal was given, dismounted troops quietly slipped into the frigid, flowing water and secured the far side of the river.

Then they made way for the M1A2 Abrams tanks to ford through.

On Wednesday, Aug. 24, Soldiers of Company D, 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, joined forces with Polish Soldiers of the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, 11th Armoured Division, to conduct a river crossing exercise at Zagan Training Area, Poland.

At a break in the tree line, Polish engineers deployed two armored vehicle-launched bridges to span the width of the waterway. Then the additional forces crossed, including two U.S. crews mounted in M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Polish crews in BMP infantry fighting vehicles.


Photo Credit: Sgt. Lauren Harrah

“We were able to see how (the Polish forces’) tactics and our tactics mesh together to accomplish the mission,” said Staff Sgt. Brian Gougler, squad leader, D Company, 3-69 AR. “It was a good mixture allowing everyone to have a say in what was happening.”

Planning and communication played a significant role in the preparation and success of the exercise explained Gougler. The day prior, they had walked through the plan in an open field. Now that the Soldiers were tackling the unfamiliar terrain, the operation was going smoothly.

“The weekly syncs that the commander, the command groups, and the interpreters have with the Polish command group have been instrumental in allowing us to come out here and do the things we do,” said 1st Sgt. Mark Martin, senior enlisted advisor, D Company, 3-69 AR.


Photo Credit: Sgt. Lauren Harrah

When a new mission arises downrange, Soldiers must be ready to link up with other countries and tackle problems they may have never seen or planned for, Gougler said. For many of the Soldiers, this was their first time conducting a water crossing.

“If we were ever to be in a combat situation, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a water crossing, (Polish and U.S. forces now) both have a better understanding of how the other works,” Gougler said.

“The water crossing was just today’s task.”

http://defence-blog.com/army/polish-us-soldiers-prep-for-downrange-missions-with-river-crossing.html

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General Motors & US Army to unveil Chevrolet Colorado-based fuel cell electric vehicle

General Motors and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) will reveal a Chevrolet Colorado-based fuel cell electric vehicle in October at the fall meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in Washington, D.C.





The vehicle is being developed under an agreement between TARDEC and GM signed in 2015. The collaboration enables TARDEC to access consumer-driven automotive technology for use in military applications while providing GM with feedback on non-standard fuel cell technology applications.

Consistent with the Department of Defense’s desire to leverage commercial innovation in its next-generation technologies, the Army will use the vehicle to demonstrate the capabilities fuel cell electric propulsion and power generation systems can bring to the military, including quieter mobility, exportable power generation, low-end torque and water generation. The Army intends to conduct user assessments and demonstrations in 2017.

”Hydrogen fuel cells as a power source have the potential to bring to the force incredibly valuable capabilities,” said TARDEC Director Paul Rogers. “We expect the vehicle to be quiet in operation and ready to provide electricity generation for needs away from the vehicle. With fuel cell technology advancing, it’s an ideal time to investigate its viability in extreme military-use conditions.

“Fuel cell propulsion has low-end torque capability that is useful in an off-road environment,” Rogers said. “It also offers additional characteristics attractive to both commercial and military off-road use.”

Neither GM nor TARDEC released vehicle specifics, but Rogers said the Army is focusing on the technology and its capabilities, regardless of the platform.

“This project is another example of how fuel cell propulsion can play a role in non-traditional applications,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM’s Global Fuel Cell Activities. “We need to continue pursuing these opportunities along with our plans for production of a commercial fuel cell system in the 2020 time frame.”




http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/general_motors_us_army_to_unveil_chevrolet_colorado-based_fuel_cell_electric_vehicle_20509161.html

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L’artillerie américaine frappe l’EI depuis le sud de la TurquiePosté dans Moyen-Orient, Opérations par Laurent Lagneau Le 04-09-2016



En mars dernier, depuis la Jordanie, l’artillerie américaine avait visé des positions de l’État islamique (EI ou Daesh) près d’al-Tanf (Syrie), en utilisant un lance-roquettes multiple de type M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System).

Ce n’était pas la première fois que l’armée américaine mettait en oeuvre un HIMARS contre l’EI. Plus tôt, deux systèmes de ce type avaient en effet été déployés à Taqqadam et à al-Asad, dans le nord de l’Irak. En novembre 2015, ils avaient déjà tiré 400 roquettes.

En avril, il avait été annoncé que deux autres HIMARS allaient être déployés dans le cadre de la coalition anti-EI. Et l’un d’entre eux devait être installé dans le sud de la Turquie, sous réserve d’en obtenir l’accord d’Ankara. Des négociations furent alors entamées et le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères, Mevlüt Cavusoglu, avait assuré à l’époque que système américain allait être mis en place à partir du mois de mai.

Finalement, il aura fallu attendre début septembre pour voir entrer en action le M142 HIMARS. En effet, le major (commandant) Josh Jacques, un porte-parole de l’US Centcom, le commandement militaire américain pour le Moyen-Orient et l’Asie centrale, a déclaré que ce système de lance-roquettes mobiles « nouvellement déployé » en Turquie « a visé et atteint vendredi [2 septembre] une unité tactique et un bâtiment appartenant à l’EI », sans donner plus de précision.

« HIMARS est remarquable dans sa capacité à réduire les potentiels dommages collatéraux quand il atteint une cible à un angle élevé, a une onde de choc relativement faible comparé au résultat obtenu et fonctionne par n’importe quel temps », a fait valoir le major Jacques.

Développé par Lockheed-Martin, le M142 HIMARS est en effet capable de tirer des roquettes GMLRS guidées par GPS pour détruire des objectifs situés à 70 km de distance, quelles que soient les conditions météorologiques. Il est aussi en mesure de lancer des missiles TACMS, d’une portée de 300 km.



http://www.opex360.com/2016/09/04/lartillerie-americaine-frappe-lei-depuis-le-sud-de-la-turquie/

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US Army scopes unmanned recovery capability

Huw Williams, London - IHS Jane's International Defence Review
05 September 2016




The US Army has issued a Sources Sought notice in response to an identified need for an unmanned recovery vehicle variant of the service's future Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET).

Under the notice the army is looking to identify manufacturers capable of building a robotic platform that can retrieve other UGVs in the small and large class, 0-3,000 lb (1,360 kg) and 3,000-6,000 lb respectively.

The recovery UGV should itself weigh no more than 7,000 lb and be capable of winching, towing and/or carrying a disabled platform; furthermore, if required it should be capable of transporting the recovered vehicle for a distance of two miles to a designated maintenance location.

At present, the army's projected concept of operations (CONOPS) for its UGVs sees them employed in a wide range of roles, including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition (ISTAR), explosive ordnance disposal, and logistics support, among others; these will be carried out in a variety of scenarios, spanning peacekeeping missions through to full-spectrum warfare.

The service's concern is that the current practice for recovering UGVs requires personnel to expose themselves to potential dangers while attaching a rope or cable to the stricken vehicle before it is retrieved, for example by a winch.

An unmanned recovery vehicle would enable the army to remove soldiers from harm's way.

Amongst the requirements stated in the notice are for the recovery system to be tele-operated by an RF system and to feature semi-autonomous capabilities - moving under waypoint navigation to its operating area.

It is envisaged that when on station the vehicle would use on-board cameras to provide situational awareness to its operators, who would control the system via a graphical user interface.

The army continues to define the requirements for its SMET UGV, with a number of roles considered for the platform and the potential for more than one base vehicle to be utilised.

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L’US Army dote ses unités d’un nouveau garrot pour arrêter les hémorragies des soldats blessésPosté dans Amériques, SSA par Laurent Lagneau Le 05-09-2016







Sur le champ de bataille, il est essentiel d’arrêter le plus vite possible une hémorragie pour espérer sauver un soldat gravement touché par un éclat ou une balle. Selon une étude de l’US Army sortie il y a quelques années, intervenir dans les plus brefs délais permettrait potentiellement d’éviter 25% des décès au combat.

D’où les recherches menées en ce sens. C’est ainsi qu’a été mis au point, sous l’égide de l’U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency (USAMMA), un nouveau système qui, appelé « garrot jonctionnel », permet d’arrêter une hémorragie en haut des membres. Très simple d’utilisation (il peut être installé en moins d’une minute), il se compose d’une ceinture que l’on passe autour du blessé et de poches gonflables qui compriment les artères, que ce soit en aval ou en amont de la blessure.

Utilisé pour la première fois en 2014, en Afghanistan, ce garrot jonctionnel a déjà permis de sauver la vie d’un soldat afghan ayant eu l’artère fémorale coupée par une balle. Vu l’endroit de la blessure, un garrot traditionnel n’aurait eu aucun effet.

Depuis, l’US Army a donc décidé d’inclure le garrot jonctionnel dans le paquetage de ses soldats. « Ce sont eux qui prendront soin de leur copain si quelque chose arrive », a fait valoir, aurpès de l’AFP, le médecin-chef Nadja West, qui commande l’USAMMA. « Si des soldats sont dans un véhicule touché par un engin explosif, il peut ne pas y avoir de secouriste, mais juste un soldat survivant qui sait comment mettre un garrot en quelques minutes », a-t-elle ajouté.

Lors de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, 80% des soldats américains blessés au combat ont survécu à leurs blessures. Ce taux est monté à 84% pendant la guerre du Vietnam pour arriver actuellement à 93%. En 2005, une étude publiée par le Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery avait avancé que, grâce à la distribution de garrots classiques, le nombre de morts par hémorragie avait baissé de 23,3 à 3,5 décès par an en moyenne.

Outre le garrot jonctionnel, d’autres dispositifs sont encore à l’étude. C’est le cas du système Xstat qui, avec des petites éponges injectées dans la blessure avec une grosse seringue, permet de stopper une hémorragie en une vingtaine de secondes. Il est actuellement évalué par le commandement américain des forces spéciales (USSOCOM). Ce dernier finance également des travaux visant à mettre au point un sérum à base d’adénocaïne (mélange de lidocaïne, d’adénosine et de magnésium) stabiliser l’état d’un blessé le plus vite possible.


http://www.opex360.com/2016/09/05/lus-army-dote-ses-unites-dun-nouveau-garrot-pour-arreter-les-hemorragies-des-soldats-blesses/

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18 nations participate in ASEAN Exercise 16-3
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Areas of the world riddled with natural disasters and cursed by the secondary effects of mother nature’s wrath demand a responsive force that thinks, trains and plans ahead.

An exercise bringing together those very forces from 18 nations’ military and government organizations kicked off Sept. 5, 2016 at 14th Military Circle, Chonburi Province, Thailand. ASEAN Exercise 16-3 commenced with a fitting demonstration of an earthquake-induced collapsed building Search and Rescue operation.

Helicopters from Japan, Russia, Singapore and Thailand roared toward the airfield, dispatching fast-rope rescue teams and airlifting casualties. Meanwhile, teams on the ground moved casualties from the “hot zone,” a simulated collapsing building, to the “warm zone,” the immediate safety of an open field, and triaged according to casualty condition.

Teams from the Indian Army, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Royal Thai Army moved casualties secured on backboards swiftly to the pickup zone or field hospital. It was a grand display of pre-planned, coordinated and rehearsed disaster response, reinforcing the pay-off of the very familiarity and training this exercise will focus on.

“This exercise is intended to foster cooperation and to share experience, information and skills among military medics of the ASEAN member states and plus countries, while fostering capabilities of military units in the region through joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations,” said General Prawit Wongsuwon, Kingdom of Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, during the opening ceremony.

AEx 16-3 is an opportunity for different nations to apply and hone common standard operating procedures and diversify each other’s capabilities for the inevitable calamities of the volatile Indo-Asia-Pacific.

A U.S. contingent of approximately 25 personnel from U.S. Pacific Command; U.S. Army Pacific; U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and Pacific Air Forces will work alongside the other nations in both the command post and field training exercises conducting medical planning, air medical evacuation, military medicine and chemical/ biological/ radiological/ nuclear defense.

Approximately 2,000 personnel are participating in the exercise from the 10 ASEAN member states Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and “plus” countries Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Russia.

“This is considered an important milestone of defense cooperation,” Wongsuwon lauded the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus program, which, “which helps maintain peace, stability and security in the region.”

Humbling reminders of the significance of combined joint disaster response training come in the form of approximately 100 natural disasters on average each year in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. Sharing and honing real-world, on the ground, tactical and operational response capabilities facilitates effective, efficient response in a merciless environment.

http://defence-blog.com/news/18-nations-participate-in-asean-exercise-16-3.html

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Polish, U.S. Soldiers work together to defeat armored ‘enemies’



Polish Soldiers from the 6th Mechanized Company and their U.S. Army infantry allies conducted a simulated armored assault against American Soldiers role-playing an opposing force during training at Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, on Sep. 2, 2016.

That was reported by www.army.mil.

During the training, a Polish company from the 2/17th Mechanized Battalion, integrated an American heavy weapons platoon during a movement to contact to find the opposing forces.

The Polish-American task force led the assault through the hills of Hohenfels, maneuvering their armored vehicles while searching out the elusive OPFOR Soldiers consisting of modified U.S. Army M113 fighting vehicles and Slovenian T-72 tanks.

“This is my first multinational military training,” Polish 1st Lt. Tomasz Mazurek, the 6th Mechanized Company commander, said. “So, this is a huge, huge effort for me. And, I think it will be very beneficial for me and for my company to train with U.S. Soldiers.”

When the Polish and U.S. forces caught the OPFOR, they were able to engage in a running battle that started in one valley, climbed a ridge, and finally ended in a second valley near the first. As they fought deeper, they encountered tougher enemies.

Fighting in the hills was a new experience for some of the Polish Soldiers, but it provided them with valuable knowledge to fold in to future training.

“This whole area is new for my soldiers because we haven’t trained in hills, in mountains with a lot of forests,” Mazurek said. “This is new for my company and I hope we can find a solution to use in our training in Poland.”

After training and fighting together, the Polish Soldiers and the U.S. infantrymen of 3rd Platoon, the “Spiros” of Dragon Company, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, were able to communicate despite a language barrier, said Mazurek. This was accomplished by using hand signals that troops from both nations could understand.

The training was part of Combined Resolve VII, a 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Europe-directed exercise taking place at the Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas, Aug. 8 to Sept. 15, 2016. The exercise is designed to train the Army’s regionally allocated forces to the U.S. European Command. Combined Resolve VII includes more than 3,500 participants from 16 NATO and European partner nations.


http://defence-blog.com/army/polish-u-s-soldiers-work-together-to-defeat-armored-enemies.html

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U.S. forces deployed over three hundred vehicles and pieces of equipment to Germany




Over three hundred vehicles and pieces of equipment arrived in Germany last week, and hundreds more are expected in coming weeks, in an effort to setup and maintain additional in-theater vehicles and equipment for us by U.S. forces in support of NATO operations and other efforts throughout the region.

That was reported by www.army.mil.

The vehicles arrived first at the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, and were then carried by barge to Mannheim, Germany where they are being further distributed to various APS sites throughout the region.

The Army Prepositioned Stock program provides equipment and vehicles for use by rotational U.S. forces in support of operations like Atlantic Resolve, and other NATO operations as well as major NATO and multinational training events.

The concept is simple: keep equipment on hand for incoming Soldiers to ‘borrow’ and use while they are here in theater training or supporting operations.

Making that happen is far from easy, however, and takes a team of sustainers and logisticians working together to make sure the equipment ready for those rotational forces when they need it, according to Col. Rod Honeycut, commander of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade.

“Maintaining and transferring APS is a team sport,” said Honeycut. “The weight of the entire enterprise is behind this operation, no other force in the world has the reach and capacity to globally redistribute combat power in this magnitude.”

The equipment, in this case 300 vehicles brought here from Korea, is delivered to a major port, where it is trans-loaded onto barge, or sometimes rail, and delivered inland to Germany. From there it goes to various different APS sites where it is inventoried, and inspected for operational readiness.

At each APS site, the equipment is constantly checked and maintained to ensure that it will be ready at a moment’s notice when it is needed.

The Surface Deployment and Distribution Command’s 598th Transportation Brigade handles port operations, while the Army Materiel Command’s 405th Army Field Support Brigade oversees operations at the various APS sites. The 21st Theater Sustainment Command oversees the entire process and serves as a coordinator between U.S. Army Europe, rotational forces, and the team of sustainers involved in the APS program.

Citation :

JLTV to receive more open and flexible C4 design

Geoff Fein, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
28 September 2016

Oshkosh will begin delivering its first Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) to the US Army the week of 26 September, not only marking the transition from the Humvee, but also introducing a design that could better enable upgrading to the latest technologies, now and in the future.

"JLTV really has [the] communications capability of an on-the-move command post," Dave Diersen, Oshkosh's vice-president and general manager of defence programmes for JLTVs, told IHS Jane's on 27 September during the 2016 Modern Day Marine Military Exposition at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

From a C4 perspective Oshkosh was required to integrate and incorporate many of the legacy C4 systems currently in the army's inventory, Diersen said.

Citation :

U.S. Army awarded Oshkosh Defense a contract to produce 1,661 FMTV tactical trucks

The U.S. Army has awarded Oshkosh Defense, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, a $409 million contract to produce 1,661 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) trucks and 31 trailers, under Order Year 7 of the current FMTV contract. Deliveries will continue through July 2018.





http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2016-09-30T02:30:00-07:00&max-results=10

Citation :

04.11.2016

La 3e Armored Brigade Combat Team se prépare pour un déploiement en Europe




La 3e Armored Brigade Combat Team, qui appartient à la 4e division d'infanterie basée à Fort Carson, dans le Colorado, fait ses valises.

Ses 4 000 soldats vont passer 9 mois en Europe, à partir de février prochain (deux ans après son déploiement de 9 ans dans la zone du Centcom), et prendre part à des manœuvres conjointes avec les armées d'Europe de l'Est.

L'annonce officielle a été faite le 3 novembre. Mais dès le début du mois d'octobre, le Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, patron de l'US Army en Europe, avait révélé l'arrivée de cette unité blindée.

Les rotations, qui commencent avec le déploiement de cette unité lourde, s'inscrivent dans le cadre de l'Initiative de Réassurance Européenne (ERI), pour laquelle l'administration Obama a demandé une enveloppe de 3,4 milliards de dollars pour 2017 (photo ci-dessous Scott Walters/U.S. Army).



Cette ABCT est aux ordres du colonel Christopher R. Norrie qui a expliqué à Military.com que son unité sera déployée dans le cadre de l'opération Atlantic Resolve (OAR) et qu'elle s'est entraînée à cette rotation depuis un an.

L'information des familles est en cours, comme le montre cette affiche annonçant une autre réunion:



http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/archive/2016/11/04/une-brigade-blindee-us-se-prepare-a-etre-deployee-en-europe-17097.html

Citation :

US Army Europe to Increase Presence Across Eastern Europe
(Source: U.S. Army Europe; issued Nov 4, 2016)
WIESBADEN, Germany --- As U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced in Brussels last week, U.S. Army Europe is preparing for an increased presence across the European theater to contribute to and strengthen the alliance's deterrence and defense. Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Army announced the first rotational units to deploy in support of those efforts.

"Everything we're about to do -- everything we've been planning here at U.S. Army Europe for these rotational units -- comes from the alliance's decisions at the Wales and Warsaw summits," said Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, U.S. Army Europe commander. "These activities are the embodiment of the United States' commitment to deterring aggression and defending our European allies and partners."

The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, from Fort Carson, Colorado, will arrive in Europe in January. Their arrival will mark the beginning of the heel-to-toe rotation of U.S.-based armored brigades to Europe; in other words, the continuous presence of an armored brigade combat team and back-to-back rotations of U.S. troops and equipment.

The full set of 3/4 ABCT equipment will arrive at the port in Bremerhaven, Germany, in January and then move by rail, commercial line haul and military convoy to Poland where the brigade will consolidate before distributing units across seven countries from Estonia to Bulgaria beginning in February. Over the course of their nine-month rotation, 3/4 ABCT will routinely move units across the region to participate in training events and exercises.

The armored brigade will initially consolidate in western Poland, centered on the training areas at Drawsko Pomorskie and Zagan. Following this initial consolidation, the brigade will establish itself at various operating locations through the region. The brigade headquarters; brigade engineering and support battalions; 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment; and 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, will operate from existing Polish military installations in Zagan, Swietoszow, Skwierzyna, and Boleslawiec.

From the consolidation sites in Poland, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, will move to the Baltic nations and remain positioned there until NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence, or eFP, battle groups are in place and then will rotate throughout Europe to participate in exercises as requested. The 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, will support Operation Atlantic Resolve activities primarily in Bulgaria and Romania. The 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, will move to the Grafenwöhr Training Area, Germany, where it will conduct training and maintenance to build and sustain readiness.

As part of the expansion of the rotational U.S. presence, the Army will continue to invest in the training and mission command capabilities at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, and Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, to support a persistent and continuous armored presence in the Black Sea region.

In addition to the rotational armored brigade, the Army will provide a rotational combat aviation brigade to the European theater to support Operation Atlantic Resolve and other joint and multinational efforts. By the end of March, the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Drum, New York, will arrive in Europe for a nine-month rotation. The brigade will be headquartered in Illesheim, Germany, and will forward deploy aircraft in Latvia, Romania, and Poland to enhance the alliance's ability to deter aggression.

Armored and aviation brigade rotations are scheduled into the foreseeable future, though specific units have not yet been identified. Their presence enhances the deterrence capabilities available to the U.S. Army Europe and U.S. European Command commanders to respond to potential crises and assist in the defense of our allies and partners in the European community.

To oversee these rotational forces, the 4th Infantry Division headquarters, which has been the regionally aligned division headquarters for Europe since 2015, will continue to be the tactical headquarters for all U.S. land forces conducting activities in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Based in Baumholder, Germany, the 4th ID Mission Command Element is the forward deployed headquarters element that provides U.S. Army Europe a division-level command and control capability.

"The 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element is integral to Army Europe's ability to conduct Operation Atlantic Resolve missions," Hodges said. "They're a small element -- less than 100 Soldiers -- but they make a huge impact in the theater by controlling so many moving parts."

It is important to note the expansion of rotational forces is separate and distinct from NATO's eFP battle groups. Both will contribute to the alliance's deterrence and defense capabilities, but the rotational armored and aviation forces will remain under U.S. command. The rotational forces will focus on strengthening capabilities and sustaining readiness through bilateral and multinational training and exercises. The United States, as the framework nation for the Poland-based NATO eFP unit, will deploy 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, based in Vilseck, Germany, to Orzysz, Poland, in April 2017.

Starting in September 2016, the Army began assembling additional Army Prepositioned Stocks for storage in Europe. The additional APS set will consist of equipment and ammunition required to support armored division-sized force. These capabilities reduce deployment timelines, improve our deterrence capabilities and provide additional combat power to U.S. European Command for use in contingency operations. The equipment can also be drawn for use in training and exercises.

While some of this APS equipment was previously used by rotating brigade combat teams in Europe, the majority of additional APS equipment is being sourced from across the Army. Equipment will be stored at facilities in Eygelshoven, Netherlands; Zutendaal, Belgium; and Miesau and Dülmen, Germany.


U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned in its 51 country area of responsibility to advance American strategic interests in Europe and Eurasia. The relationships we build during more than 1,000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnerships and enhance global security.



http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/178550/us-army-details-reinforcement-of-eastern-europe.html

Citation :

06.12.2016

La 3e brigade blindée quitte Fort Carson pour l'Europe de l'est



Dans un post du 4 novembre, j'avais annoncé le départ d'une ABCT (armored birgade combat team) de la 4e division d'infanterie de Fort Carson. Un départ pour une projection de 9 mois en Europe de l'est.

La 3e ABCT va inaugurer un cycle de déploiement d'unités US en Europe de l'est. Ces rotations s'inscrivent dans le cadre de l'Initiative de Réassurance Européenne (ERI), pour laquelle l'administration Obama a demandé une enveloppe de 3,4 milliards de dollars pour 2017.

La 3e ABCT termine actuellement l'envoi de ses matériels depuis la ville de garnison de Fort Carson, dans le Colorado, vers le port de Beaumont, au Texas (j'ai pris les photos de ce post lundi après-midi, à Fort Carson où j'ai assisté aux derniers préparatifs).

Les véhicules et équipements d'appui et de soutien logistique vont embarquer sur des rouliers du Sealift Command à destination du port allemand de Brème. Là, les attendront les personnels américains chargés de les réceptionner et de les acheminer par voie ferrée et routière vers 5 points de convergence en Pologne (Szczecin, Poznan, Zagan, Swietoszow, Boleslawiec et Wroclaw).



Une quinzaine de vols achemineront entre le début et la mi-janvier le gros des effectifs de l'ABCT qui rejoindront leurs zones de stationnement polonaises respectives.

La brigade pourra alors commencer à remplir sa mission: participer à l'ERI et conduire des exercices bi-nationaux pour accroître l'interopérabilité entre forces US et forces des pays de l'Otan.

http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/archive/2016/12/06/la-3e-brigade-blindee-quitte-fort-carson-pour-l-europe-de-l-17286.html

Citation :

BAE Systems rolls out first AMPV prototype for US Army


Daniel Wasserbly, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

16 December 2016


An AMPV in the medical evacuation role is shown here with the higher roof line for greater internal volume, explosive reactive
armour package, and roof-mounted protected weapon station. Source: IHS/Patrick Allen


BAE Systems unveiled its first prototype Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), a general-purpose variant, during a 15 December ceremony at the company's facility in York, Pennsylvania.

"Deliveries of the prototype vehicles will continue into 2017, and developmental testing will run through 2018," BAE Systems said in a statement.

In December 2014 the company was awarded a 52-month contract covering the AMPV's engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) and low-rate initial production (LRIP) phases.

Under the EMD phase, a total of 29 AMPVs in all five variants are to be delivered. The contract's LRIP phase will cover 289 vehicles, and under current plans it is expected that 2,907 AMPVs could be procured in five variants, each to replace versions of the M113A3 vehicle family. These are the 120 mm mortar carrier, mission command, medical evacuation, medical treatment, and general-purpose vehicles.

The AMPV is based on an upgraded M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) hull with the turret removed and modified for the specialised missions.

According to James Miller, director of business development at BAE Systems Combat Vehicles, "the AMPV will have the same level of mobility and protection as the M2 Bradley that it has been designed to operate with". About 2,000 older M2/M3 Bradleys are in storage and will be used for the AMPV role. Some of the more specialised AMPV versions will have a raised hull to the rear of the driver and the engine compartment at the front to provide greater internal volume.

Citation :

En 2017, l’US Army devrait compter 16.000 soldats de plus que prévu


Posté dans Amériques, Forces terrestres par Laurent Lagneau Le 27-12-2016



Encore récemment, certains s’inquiétaient, outre-Atlantique, de voir les effectifs de l’US Army (forces terrestres) tomber au niveau qui était le leur avant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale. En effet, selon les plans du Pentagone, il était prévu de les faire passer de 570.000 à 450.000 soldats d’ici la fin de l’année fiscale 2018. Soit une baisse d’environ 21%.

Mais le budget de la Défense (National Defense Authorization Act) que vient de signer le président Obama a mis un terme à cette déflation drastique des effectifs, le Congrès s’étant entendu pour les augmenter. Ainsi, l’an prochain, l’US Army comptera 476.000 soldats, soit 16.000 de plus par rapport au plan initial. De quoi fournir assez d’effectifs pour 3 brigades. En clair, les suppression de postes envisagées pour 2017 n’auront finalement pas lieu.

Seulement, il reste à voir si les financements pour maintenir ces effectifs vont suivre. « Si on nous demande de garder une plus grande structure sans une augmentation du budget, nous aurons alors plus de personnels avec moins de ressources pour la formation et l’équipement », a prévenu Eric Fanning, le secrétaire à l’US Army. « Nous obtiendrons facilement et rapidement une armée plus grande mais moins efficace par rapport à celle que nous essayons de bâtir actuellement », a-t-il ajouté.

D’autant plus que le budget signé par M. Obama prévoit une hausse des soldes (+2,1%, jusqu’à 150 dollars en plus par mois pour certaines catégories), avec un effort particulier pour les pilotes de l’US Air Force, afin d’éviter de les voir entamer une seconde carrière dans le civil.

L’US Army ne sera pas la seule branche des forces américaines à voir ses effectifs maintenus (ou augmentés). L’US Marine Corps (USMC) comptera 3.000 hommes supplémentaires (185.000 soldats) et l’US Air Force disposera de 321.000 aviateurs, soit 4.000 de plus par rapport à l’exercice 2016. Quant à l’US Navy, elle gardera son niveau d’effectifs inchangé, à 324.000 marins.

Dans le détail, le budget alloué au Pentagone s’élèvera à 618,7 milliards de dollars, dont 67 milliards (+3,2 milliards) proviendront du fonds dit OCO (overseas contingency operation), c’est à dire l’enveloppe servant à financer les opérations extérieures.

http://www.opex360.com/2016/12/27/en-2017-lus-army-devrait-compter-16-000-soldats-de-plus-que-prevu/

RIP

Citation :

AH-64D Apache attack helicopter crashed during a training flight

Read news from Defence Blog at Flipboard.com | Subscribe to the newsletter from Defence Blog

Dec 29, 2016


Wreckage of a military aircraft that went into the water near La Porte, Texas (KPRC)


Two soldiers are dead after an AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed in Galveston Bay near the Bayport Cruise Terminal Wednesday afternoon.

Ccrews responded to reports of a ‘military grade’ Apache helicopter in the water at El Jardin Beach near the Bayport cruise terminal just before 4 p.m. Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Texas Army National Guard confirmed the two men were pilots based out of the 1-149th Attack Helicopter Battalion at Ellington Field.

According to emergency officials, a Boeing AH-64D Apache attack helicopter has crashed during a training flight.

The crash site is approximately 12 miles south of Fort Campbell, which straddles the state line of Kentucky and Tennessee near Clarksville. The initial reports indicate the aircraft was on fire in a river bottom in rural Montgomery County.

http://defence-blog.com/news/ah-64d-apache-attack-helicopter-crashed-during-a-training-flight.html

Citation :

06.01.2017

Atlantic Resolve: 84 hélicoptères américains en renfort en Europe de l'est




Dans un article du 19 décembre, j'avais signalé qu'une brigade d'aviation allait renforcer la 3e ABCT de la 4e DI américaine en cours de déploiement en Europe de l'est, avec ses 87 Abrams, 144 Bradley, 18 Paladin et 419 HMMWV.

Cette brigade d'aviation, la 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, provient de la 10e division de montagne. Cette unité basée à Fort Drum dispose de 12 CH-47 (Chinook), 24 AH-64 (Apache), 30 OH-58 (Kiowa) et 50 UH-60 (Blackhawk).

En Europe, elle va déployer 10 Chinook et 50 Blackhawk, ainsi que 1800 soldats. Le QG de l'unité sera installé en Allemagne, à Illesheim, et disposera de détachements en Lettonie, Roumanie et Pologne.

Un bataillon d'aviation en provenance de Fort Bliss (Texas) sera rattaché à la 10th Combat Aviation Brigade. En Europe, ce bataillon issu de la 1ere Division blindée va déployer 24 Apache, avec 400 soldats. Ils relèveront leurs camarades du 3e batallion, du 501st Aviation Regiment déployés avec 36 Blackhawk.

http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/archive/2017/01/04/84-helicopteres-americains-en-renfort-en-europe-de-l-est-17404.html