Obama urges Japan to keep US bases pact: "US President Barack Obama urged Japan's new centre-left government on Tuesday to keep a pact allowing US bases on its territory, as both sides laid the groundwork for his visit to Tokyo this week.
Obama also said he wanted to one day become the first sitting US president to visit the nuclear-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, while Japan said it would help the US effort in Afghanistan with five billion dollars in aid.
On the sensitive security issues, Obama said he understood Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's government wanted to review the two nation's post-war security alliance after it ended five decades of conservative rule in September."
Showing posts with label Marine Corps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marine Corps. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Bataan Qualifies First Marine as Yellow Shirt
Bataan Qualifies First Marine as Yellow Shirt: "A Marine aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) earned a yellow flight deck jersey Oct. 30 - the first Marine to ever do so on Bataan.
With nearly 35 aircraft embarked aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the job of directing, launching and recovering aircraft comes with the responsibility of millions of taxpayer dollars and the lives of thousands of Sailors and Marines.
A yellow flight deck jersey represents the most experienced and knowledgeable aircraft handlers in the Navy. It can take years of working through the elements on the flight deck to achieve the qualification that Cpl. Justin Floan, from Marine Mediuum Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) earned.
'I've never seen anything like it,' said Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) David Kouskouris, Bataan's flight deck leading chief petty officer."
With nearly 35 aircraft embarked aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the job of directing, launching and recovering aircraft comes with the responsibility of millions of taxpayer dollars and the lives of thousands of Sailors and Marines.
A yellow flight deck jersey represents the most experienced and knowledgeable aircraft handlers in the Navy. It can take years of working through the elements on the flight deck to achieve the qualification that Cpl. Justin Floan, from Marine Mediuum Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) earned.
'I've never seen anything like it,' said Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) David Kouskouris, Bataan's flight deck leading chief petty officer."
Monday, November 2, 2009
New York Lands Marines, Full USMC Static Display in Transit to City
New York Lands Marines, Full USMC Static Display in Transit to City: "The future USS New York (LPD 21) conducted surface and air onloads Oct. 30 just off the coast of Camp Lejeune, N.C., in preparation for the ship's Nov. 2 arrival in its namesake state, where it is scheduled to be commissioned Nov. 7.
The ship utilized landing craft air cushions (LCAC) embarked from Assault Craft Unit 4, beach masters from Beach Master Unit 2 and almost every type of helicopter available in the Marine Corps inventory.
'The ship's crew did an outstanding job of synchronizing all facets of the onload,' said Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 Shawn McGowan, the ship's combat cargo officer. 'They utilized the expertise of many personnel to conduct a simultaneously-executed onload.'
Some of the shipboard divisions involved in the evolution included debark control, well deck control, combat systems and the pilot house. In addition to the LCACs, helicopters included CH-53 Sea Stallion, AH-1W Super Cobra, UN-1N Huey and an MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
'It's amazing to me how much coordination it took to both land helicopters and embark landing craft simultaneously,' said McGowan. 'The efforts of all personnel can not be overstated.'
The ship took on more than 14 pieces of combat equipment and vehicles, which now occupy the well deck spaces. They will remain on static display when the ship pulls into New York City Nov. 2, for public viewing until Nov. 11 when the ship will head back to its home port at Naval Station Norfolk, Va."
The ship utilized landing craft air cushions (LCAC) embarked from Assault Craft Unit 4, beach masters from Beach Master Unit 2 and almost every type of helicopter available in the Marine Corps inventory.
'The ship's crew did an outstanding job of synchronizing all facets of the onload,' said Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 Shawn McGowan, the ship's combat cargo officer. 'They utilized the expertise of many personnel to conduct a simultaneously-executed onload.'
Some of the shipboard divisions involved in the evolution included debark control, well deck control, combat systems and the pilot house. In addition to the LCACs, helicopters included CH-53 Sea Stallion, AH-1W Super Cobra, UN-1N Huey and an MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
'It's amazing to me how much coordination it took to both land helicopters and embark landing craft simultaneously,' said McGowan. 'The efforts of all personnel can not be overstated.'
The ship took on more than 14 pieces of combat equipment and vehicles, which now occupy the well deck spaces. They will remain on static display when the ship pulls into New York City Nov. 2, for public viewing until Nov. 11 when the ship will head back to its home port at Naval Station Norfolk, Va."
Saturday, October 3, 2009
USMC's First Howitzer Combat Airlift in Iraq
The US Marine Corps reports an historic combat-support first in Afghanistan.
Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, Combat Logistics Battalion 8 and 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment airlifted three M777A2 lightweight howitzers from Fire Base Fiddler's Green in Helmand Province and set them up for action at Forward Operating Base Golestan Sept. 28 and Sept. 29. All three artillery pieces were transported in slings beneath CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters.
"When the Marine Corps decided to procure a lightweight 155mm cannon in the 1990s, it was largely driven by the need to have a more air transportable capability," explained 3/11 commanding officer Lt. Col. James C. Lewis. 3/11, operating under Regimental Combat Team 3, is the only Marine artillery battalion in Afghanistan. "Our maneuver tonight is the first combat test of that capability."
Rather than towing the howitzers as an artillery battery is trained to do, these guns had to be transported between Fiddler's Green and Golestan by air because of unique conditions in the region.
"The IED threat and terrain constraints were a huge factor deterring 3/11's ability from being able to safely (move) the guns to this position," said Staff Sgt. Bryan T. Housel, CLB-8 landing support platoon commander. "By externally lifting the howitzer and gun teams by air, we were able to safely move the weapons into place without the added risk of ground transport to the weapon or Marines."
Marines on the five-man Helicopter Support Team, a part of Housel's platoon, are responsible for rigging loads with cargo straps so they will be balanced under the aircraft. Once the aircraft arrives overhead, one of them must guide the pilot who can't see what is taking place underneath and 30 feet behind him.
After the aircraft is guided down over the waiting cargo, another Marine smacks the helicopter's dangling cargo hook with a metal rod to dissipate the static electricity built up by its rotors.
Two others then hook up the cargo – in this case a 9,800 pound artillery piece – all while the second largest helicopter in the world bobs and weaves within arm's reach overhead. This process usually takes place in less than 30 seconds.
# END
Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, Combat Logistics Battalion 8 and 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment airlifted three M777A2 lightweight howitzers from Fire Base Fiddler's Green in Helmand Province and set them up for action at Forward Operating Base Golestan Sept. 28 and Sept. 29. All three artillery pieces were transported in slings beneath CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters.
"When the Marine Corps decided to procure a lightweight 155mm cannon in the 1990s, it was largely driven by the need to have a more air transportable capability," explained 3/11 commanding officer Lt. Col. James C. Lewis. 3/11, operating under Regimental Combat Team 3, is the only Marine artillery battalion in Afghanistan. "Our maneuver tonight is the first combat test of that capability."
Rather than towing the howitzers as an artillery battery is trained to do, these guns had to be transported between Fiddler's Green and Golestan by air because of unique conditions in the region.
"The IED threat and terrain constraints were a huge factor deterring 3/11's ability from being able to safely (move) the guns to this position," said Staff Sgt. Bryan T. Housel, CLB-8 landing support platoon commander. "By externally lifting the howitzer and gun teams by air, we were able to safely move the weapons into place without the added risk of ground transport to the weapon or Marines."
Marines on the five-man Helicopter Support Team, a part of Housel's platoon, are responsible for rigging loads with cargo straps so they will be balanced under the aircraft. Once the aircraft arrives overhead, one of them must guide the pilot who can't see what is taking place underneath and 30 feet behind him.
After the aircraft is guided down over the waiting cargo, another Marine smacks the helicopter's dangling cargo hook with a metal rod to dissipate the static electricity built up by its rotors.
Two others then hook up the cargo – in this case a 9,800 pound artillery piece – all while the second largest helicopter in the world bobs and weaves within arm's reach overhead. This process usually takes place in less than 30 seconds.
# END
Friday, September 18, 2009
General Dynamics Demonstrates Roll-Controlled Guided Mortar
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems announced today that it has successfully developed and tested a new approach for low-cost guided mortars called the 120mm Roll-Controlled Guided Mortar (RCGM). Under a cooperative research and
development agreement with the U.S. Army TACOM-ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal,
N.J., General Dynamics successfully tube-launched and guided RCGM prototypes
from a M120 120mm mortar weapon system at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving
Grounds.
The Roll-Controlled Guided Mortar uses standard 120mm M934A1 mortar-round
components, including the warhead and fuzing elements, to reduce costs and
risks in response to an accelerated fielding timeline for this critical operational capability.
Several key enhancements are made to evolve the M934A1 into a precision
mortar, while using existing warheads to maximize its lethality:
* The, the standard fuze (M734A1) is adapted to include an integrated fuze-and-Global-Positioning-System (GPS) guidance, navigation and control (GNC) subassembly while maintaining the current fuze-setting method and function.
* The GNC subassembly incorporates a GPS receiver with a low-cost control system known as the Roll-Controlled Fixed Canard (RCFC) system that allows the mortar to adjust its flight to reach the intended target.
To further reduce costs and speed deployment, the RCGM cartridge maintains
the "look and feel" of the existing M934A1 cartridge, so no major changes in
operating procedures are necessary. The fuze, warhead and LAP production
will occur on existing, operational lines.
# END
development agreement with the U.S. Army TACOM-ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal,
N.J., General Dynamics successfully tube-launched and guided RCGM prototypes
from a M120 120mm mortar weapon system at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving
Grounds.
The Roll-Controlled Guided Mortar uses standard 120mm M934A1 mortar-round
components, including the warhead and fuzing elements, to reduce costs and
risks in response to an accelerated fielding timeline for this critical operational capability.
Several key enhancements are made to evolve the M934A1 into a precision
mortar, while using existing warheads to maximize its lethality:
* The, the standard fuze (M734A1) is adapted to include an integrated fuze-and-Global-Positioning-System (GPS) guidance, navigation and control (GNC) subassembly while maintaining the current fuze-setting method and function.
* The GNC subassembly incorporates a GPS receiver with a low-cost control system known as the Roll-Controlled Fixed Canard (RCFC) system that allows the mortar to adjust its flight to reach the intended target.
To further reduce costs and speed deployment, the RCGM cartridge maintains
the "look and feel" of the existing M934A1 cartridge, so no major changes in
operating procedures are necessary. The fuze, warhead and LAP production
will occur on existing, operational lines.
# END
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Excalibur Artillery Shells Back on Target
Raytheon Missile Systems has resumed deliveries of the Excalibur artillery shell to the US Army, reports the Arizona Star. Deliveries were stopped in 2008 because of "unacceptably high" accuracy problems stemming from a navigation unit that has now been replaced.
# END
# END
Friday, September 11, 2009
US Military Recruiting & Retention High
August was another successful month for armed forces recruiting with all active duty components meeting or exceeding their monthly goals, Pentagon officials said here today. The Army blasted beyond its recruiting goal of 6,100 with 8,285 young men and women enlisting. The service reached 136 percent of goal for the month.
The Marine Corps also exceeded their goal reaching 110 percent. The Marines had 3,393 enlistees with an August goal of 3,073.
Navy and Air Force hit 100 percent of their recruiting goals with 3,289 young men and women enlisting to be sailors and 2,681 to be airmen.
The reserve components also did well, officials said, with all on track to make their fiscal 2009 numbers.
The Air Force Reserve enlisted 827 airmen and a goal of 167, making 495 percent.
The Army Reserve had 1,478 accessions with a goal of 1,208 for 122 percent, while the Navy Reserve enlisted 636 sailors for 100 percent of its goal.
The Army National Guard made 55 percent of its goal of 4,277, enlisting 2,337 soldiers. The Marine Corps Reserve has 433 accessions with a goal of 565 for 77 percent.
Finally, the Air National Guard enlisted 688 airmen and with a goal of 840 for 82 percent.
Reserve components balance enlistments with attrition. Generally, the retention rate in the reserve components has been high. (AFPS)
# END
The Marine Corps also exceeded their goal reaching 110 percent. The Marines had 3,393 enlistees with an August goal of 3,073.
Navy and Air Force hit 100 percent of their recruiting goals with 3,289 young men and women enlisting to be sailors and 2,681 to be airmen.
The reserve components also did well, officials said, with all on track to make their fiscal 2009 numbers.
The Air Force Reserve enlisted 827 airmen and a goal of 167, making 495 percent.
The Army Reserve had 1,478 accessions with a goal of 1,208 for 122 percent, while the Navy Reserve enlisted 636 sailors for 100 percent of its goal.
The Army National Guard made 55 percent of its goal of 4,277, enlisting 2,337 soldiers. The Marine Corps Reserve has 433 accessions with a goal of 565 for 77 percent.
Finally, the Air National Guard enlisted 688 airmen and with a goal of 840 for 82 percent.
Reserve components balance enlistments with attrition. Generally, the retention rate in the reserve components has been high. (AFPS)
# END
DARPA Plans Urban Hopper Jumping Recon Robot
Boston Dynamics, developer of advanced dynamic robots such as BigDog and PETMAN, has been awarded a contract by Sandia to develop the next generation of the Precision Urban Hopper, meaning Sandia's hopping robots may soon be in combat.
When fully operational, the four-wheeled hopper robots will navigate autonomously by wheel and jump – with one mighty leg – onto or over obstacles of more than 25 feet, said Jon Salton, Sandia program manager.
"The Precision Urban Hopper is part of a broad effort to bolster the capabilities of troops and special forces engaged in urban combat, giving them new ways to operate unfettered in the urban canyon," Salton said.
The development program, funded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Department of Defense's advanced technology organization, has a 12-month design phase followed by a six-month build phase, with testing and delivery planned for late 2010.
As part of the ongoing DARPA project, Sandia developed the shoebox-sized, GPS-guided, unmanned ground robots.
The demonstrated hopping capability of the robots allows the small unmanned ground vehicles to overcome as many as 30 obstacles that are 40-60 times their own size. Hopping mobility has been shown to be five times more efficient than hovering when traversing obstacles at heights under 10 meters, which allows longer station-keeping time for the same amount of fuel.
The wheeled robotic platform adapts to the urban environment in real time and provides precision payload deployment to any point of the urban jungle while remaining lightweight and small. Researchers addressed several technical challenges, including appropriate management of shock forces during landing, controlling hop height from varying terrain including concrete, asphalt, sand and vegetation and controlling landings to limit tumbling.
An overall goal of the robots is to decrease the number of casu alties in combat. To that end, the hopping robots will provide enhanced situational awareness for shaping the outcome of the immediate local combat situation, Salton said. Their compact, lightweight design makes them portable, and their semiautonomous capability greatly reduces the workload burden of the operator.
In addition to providing military assistance, the hopping capabilities of the robots could be used in law enforcement, homeland security, search and rescue applications in challenging terrain and in planetary exploration, Salton said.
"We are delighted to win this project and get a chance to work with Sandia on such a novel and potentially useful robot," said Marc Raibert, president and founder of Boston Dynamics. "The program gives us a chance to apply our special brand of advanced controls and stabilization to a system that can help our warfighters in the near future."
# END
When fully operational, the four-wheeled hopper robots will navigate autonomously by wheel and jump – with one mighty leg – onto or over obstacles of more than 25 feet, said Jon Salton, Sandia program manager.
"The Precision Urban Hopper is part of a broad effort to bolster the capabilities of troops and special forces engaged in urban combat, giving them new ways to operate unfettered in the urban canyon," Salton said.
The development program, funded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Department of Defense's advanced technology organization, has a 12-month design phase followed by a six-month build phase, with testing and delivery planned for late 2010.
As part of the ongoing DARPA project, Sandia developed the shoebox-sized, GPS-guided, unmanned ground robots.
The demonstrated hopping capability of the robots allows the small unmanned ground vehicles to overcome as many as 30 obstacles that are 40-60 times their own size. Hopping mobility has been shown to be five times more efficient than hovering when traversing obstacles at heights under 10 meters, which allows longer station-keeping time for the same amount of fuel.
The wheeled robotic platform adapts to the urban environment in real time and provides precision payload deployment to any point of the urban jungle while remaining lightweight and small. Researchers addressed several technical challenges, including appropriate management of shock forces during landing, controlling hop height from varying terrain including concrete, asphalt, sand and vegetation and controlling landings to limit tumbling.
An overall goal of the robots is to decrease the number of casu alties in combat. To that end, the hopping robots will provide enhanced situational awareness for shaping the outcome of the immediate local combat situation, Salton said. Their compact, lightweight design makes them portable, and their semiautonomous capability greatly reduces the workload burden of the operator.
In addition to providing military assistance, the hopping capabilities of the robots could be used in law enforcement, homeland security, search and rescue applications in challenging terrain and in planetary exploration, Salton said.
"We are delighted to win this project and get a chance to work with Sandia on such a novel and potentially useful robot," said Marc Raibert, president and founder of Boston Dynamics. "The program gives us a chance to apply our special brand of advanced controls and stabilization to a system that can help our warfighters in the near future."
# END
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Gates: "Importance of F-35 Cannot Be Overstated"
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited the Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter factory at Forth Worth (Texas) Aug. 31, assessing progress on what he called "the heart of the future of our tactical combat aviation."
Secretary Gates walked through the mile-long production facility, getting briefed at stops along the way and chatting with workers on the production line.
The Lockheed-Martin facility has been used since 1942 to build military aircraft. Today, the front fuselage and wings of the latest-generation combat aircraft are built here. Then, they're incorporated, along with the center and aft fuselage pieces built by other contractors, into the final product.
"The importance of this aircraft cannot be overstated," Secretary Gates told reporters, holding up the F-35 as an example of new, innovative and more cost-effective ways to meet the country's current and future defense needs.
The F-35 is the first aircraft to be developed within the Defense Department to meet the needs of three services, with three variants being developed simultaneously. This brings cost savings and economies of scale not possible with separate aircraft, because the F-35s will share common components and maintenance requirements, Gates noted.
"We cannot afford as a nation not to have this airplane," he said, noting that every dollar saved in acquisition frees up a dollar to support other critical wartime requirements.
The Air Force will receive the F-35's "A" variant, which will provide conventional takeoff and landing capabilities. The Marine Corps is slated to receive the "B" variant that has a vertical-lift capability. The Navy will receive the "C" variant, designed for carrier launches.
The different F-35 variants will replace the legacy F-16 Fighting Falcon for the Air Force and the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8 Harrier II for the Navy and Marine Corps.
Secretary Gates said he was impressed by the investments made in the production line, with robotics and automation bringing speed and precision to the operation. Lockheed-Martin poured $1 billion into the facility to prepare it for F-35 production, officials said, and is adding another 250,000 feet of floor space to the more than 1 million square feet currently used.
But even more impressive, Secretary Gates said, is the "dedication and clear commitment of the men and women ... working on this airplane. They're clearly excited about it. I'm excited about it."
Secretary Gates said he's particularly excited that the F-35 appears to be on schedule to equip the first training squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., by 2011, and enable the Marine Corps to reach initial operational capability by 2012.
"So I am heartened by what I've seen here this morning," he said, "but especially by the commitment of the people putting this airplane together."
Marine Maj. Joseph Bachmann, an F-35 test pilot, shares Secretary Gates' enthusiasm about the aircraft he said will deliver a "quantum leap" in new capability.
"It's important for him to see that this is a beautiful machine," Major Bachmann said of Secretary Gates' visit. "But I'd also like him to see that we are being good stewards with the taxpayers' money, and working together to deliver on time."
The Joint Strike Fighter will replace not only legacy U.S. aircraft, but also numerous aircraft for the international partners participating in the program.
During today's tour, Secretary Gates walked beneath flags draped over the immaculate factory floor that reflect the broad partnership behind the F-35 program. Along with the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps flags hung flags of the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia.
A huge banner at the entranceway to the plant captured the team spirit: "F-35 JSF: Where Our Future Comes Together."
Secretary Gates credited that teamwork with overcoming challenges and moving forward with the program. The goal, he said is to complete the development program in the next few years, then move into full production.
At that point, the facility will ramp up from its current production of one aircraft per month to about one per day.
"We are in this position where we can deliver as promised," said Jon Beesley, the chief F-35 test pilot. "We're developing things people have never done before and learning a lot of things along the way."
Mike Bateman, an electrical installer who's worked with the F-35 program for the past five years, said he's proud of the way management listens to workers who are always trying to figure out ways to make the aircraft better and produce it faster.
Secretary Gates' visit "is pretty awesome," Mr. Bateman said. "He's getting a chance to see the quality here, and the fact that we are going to make these schedules and under budget."
Steve Nelson, a Lockheed-Martin manager who supervises the forward fuselage operation, said he hoped Secretary Gates got a sense during his visit about what makes the F-35 such a distinctive program.
"I want him to take away how much the engineering has progressed, and how people are working together to get the fifth-generation aircraft out the door and to our country," he said.
Donna Miles (AFNS)
# END
Secretary Gates walked through the mile-long production facility, getting briefed at stops along the way and chatting with workers on the production line.
The Lockheed-Martin facility has been used since 1942 to build military aircraft. Today, the front fuselage and wings of the latest-generation combat aircraft are built here. Then, they're incorporated, along with the center and aft fuselage pieces built by other contractors, into the final product.
"The importance of this aircraft cannot be overstated," Secretary Gates told reporters, holding up the F-35 as an example of new, innovative and more cost-effective ways to meet the country's current and future defense needs.
The F-35 is the first aircraft to be developed within the Defense Department to meet the needs of three services, with three variants being developed simultaneously. This brings cost savings and economies of scale not possible with separate aircraft, because the F-35s will share common components and maintenance requirements, Gates noted.
"We cannot afford as a nation not to have this airplane," he said, noting that every dollar saved in acquisition frees up a dollar to support other critical wartime requirements.
The Air Force will receive the F-35's "A" variant, which will provide conventional takeoff and landing capabilities. The Marine Corps is slated to receive the "B" variant that has a vertical-lift capability. The Navy will receive the "C" variant, designed for carrier launches.
The different F-35 variants will replace the legacy F-16 Fighting Falcon for the Air Force and the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8 Harrier II for the Navy and Marine Corps.
Secretary Gates said he was impressed by the investments made in the production line, with robotics and automation bringing speed and precision to the operation. Lockheed-Martin poured $1 billion into the facility to prepare it for F-35 production, officials said, and is adding another 250,000 feet of floor space to the more than 1 million square feet currently used.
But even more impressive, Secretary Gates said, is the "dedication and clear commitment of the men and women ... working on this airplane. They're clearly excited about it. I'm excited about it."
Secretary Gates said he's particularly excited that the F-35 appears to be on schedule to equip the first training squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., by 2011, and enable the Marine Corps to reach initial operational capability by 2012.
"So I am heartened by what I've seen here this morning," he said, "but especially by the commitment of the people putting this airplane together."
Marine Maj. Joseph Bachmann, an F-35 test pilot, shares Secretary Gates' enthusiasm about the aircraft he said will deliver a "quantum leap" in new capability.
"It's important for him to see that this is a beautiful machine," Major Bachmann said of Secretary Gates' visit. "But I'd also like him to see that we are being good stewards with the taxpayers' money, and working together to deliver on time."
The Joint Strike Fighter will replace not only legacy U.S. aircraft, but also numerous aircraft for the international partners participating in the program.
During today's tour, Secretary Gates walked beneath flags draped over the immaculate factory floor that reflect the broad partnership behind the F-35 program. Along with the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps flags hung flags of the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia.
A huge banner at the entranceway to the plant captured the team spirit: "F-35 JSF: Where Our Future Comes Together."
Secretary Gates credited that teamwork with overcoming challenges and moving forward with the program. The goal, he said is to complete the development program in the next few years, then move into full production.
At that point, the facility will ramp up from its current production of one aircraft per month to about one per day.
"We are in this position where we can deliver as promised," said Jon Beesley, the chief F-35 test pilot. "We're developing things people have never done before and learning a lot of things along the way."
Mike Bateman, an electrical installer who's worked with the F-35 program for the past five years, said he's proud of the way management listens to workers who are always trying to figure out ways to make the aircraft better and produce it faster.
Secretary Gates' visit "is pretty awesome," Mr. Bateman said. "He's getting a chance to see the quality here, and the fact that we are going to make these schedules and under budget."
Steve Nelson, a Lockheed-Martin manager who supervises the forward fuselage operation, said he hoped Secretary Gates got a sense during his visit about what makes the F-35 such a distinctive program.
"I want him to take away how much the engineering has progressed, and how people are working together to get the fifth-generation aircraft out the door and to our country," he said.
Donna Miles (AFNS)
# END
Friday, August 21, 2009
Female Marines Connect With Afghanis, Gain Intel
An all-female unit of 46 Marines is the military's latest innovation in its rivalry with the Taliban for the populace's loyalty. Afghan women are viewed as good intelligence sources, and more open to the basics of the military's hearts-and-minds effort, writes Military.com
# END
# END
Monday, August 3, 2009
USMC Fields Light Strike Vehicle, Expeditionary Fire Support System
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems announced today that it has successfully fielded the Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV), also known as the Light Strike Vehicle (LSV). These vehicles were fielded to the U.S. Marine Corps' (USMC) 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment in preparation for its deployment with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
The LSV, specifically designed to fly internally in the MV-22 and CV-22
Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and the CH-53 and MH-47 aircraft, are used in a
variety of operations such as reconnaissance, raids, Tactical Recovery of
Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) and airfield seizures in support of Over-the-
Horizon amphibious operations, Irregular Warfare and Enhanced Company
Operations (ECO).
The LSV provides the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Commander with a
vertically transportable, high mobility, weapons-capable platform. It can
carry enough fuel, water, ammunition, and food for a 3-day mission, while
safely transporting a crew of four. The LSV can be equipped with an M2 .50-
cal., MK-19 or MK-240G machine gun, further enhancing the unit's mission
performance and survivability.
The fielding of the LSV to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines follows the recent
Initial Operational Capability of the Expeditionary Fire Support System
(EFSS) on March 17 with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, who are
planned to deploy with the 24th MEU.
As the third leg of the USMC's triad of land-based fire support for
expeditionary operations, EFSS is the primary close-in fire support system
for vertical element of the Ship-to-Objective Maneuver (STOM) force,
providing expanded fires support to amphibious and expeditionary operations.
The system is comprised of a pair of Prime Mover vehicles, the 120mm M327
rifled mortar weapon, a new family of 120mm insensitive munition (IM) rifled
ammunition and ammunition trailer. Marines can emplace, fire and displace
the EFSS in under five minutes.
"The LSV and EFSS give the Marines greater agility and versatility in
supporting expeditionary operations," said Dr. Dean Bartles, vice president
and general manager of large-caliber ammunition for General Dynamics
Ordnance and Tactical Systems. "Both systems are fast and reliable, giving
the Marines more options and greater survivability in the field."
# END
The LSV, specifically designed to fly internally in the MV-22 and CV-22
Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and the CH-53 and MH-47 aircraft, are used in a
variety of operations such as reconnaissance, raids, Tactical Recovery of
Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) and airfield seizures in support of Over-the-
Horizon amphibious operations, Irregular Warfare and Enhanced Company
Operations (ECO).
The LSV provides the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Commander with a
vertically transportable, high mobility, weapons-capable platform. It can
carry enough fuel, water, ammunition, and food for a 3-day mission, while
safely transporting a crew of four. The LSV can be equipped with an M2 .50-
cal., MK-19 or MK-240G machine gun, further enhancing the unit's mission
performance and survivability.
The fielding of the LSV to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines follows the recent
Initial Operational Capability of the Expeditionary Fire Support System
(EFSS) on March 17 with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, who are
planned to deploy with the 24th MEU.
As the third leg of the USMC's triad of land-based fire support for
expeditionary operations, EFSS is the primary close-in fire support system
for vertical element of the Ship-to-Objective Maneuver (STOM) force,
providing expanded fires support to amphibious and expeditionary operations.
The system is comprised of a pair of Prime Mover vehicles, the 120mm M327
rifled mortar weapon, a new family of 120mm insensitive munition (IM) rifled
ammunition and ammunition trailer. Marines can emplace, fire and displace
the EFSS in under five minutes.
"The LSV and EFSS give the Marines greater agility and versatility in
supporting expeditionary operations," said Dr. Dean Bartles, vice president
and general manager of large-caliber ammunition for General Dynamics
Ordnance and Tactical Systems. "Both systems are fast and reliable, giving
the Marines more options and greater survivability in the field."
# END
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Future Soldiers Stronger via the Incredible HULC
The HULC exoskeleton from Lockheed Martin and Berkeley Bionics enables soldiers to carry as much as 200 pounds without inhibiting normal movement, reports Military & Aerospace Electronics.
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# END
Friday, May 1, 2009
MRAP Not Tough Enough For Marines
The US Marines have requested engineers build a hardier off-road version of the mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle for use in Afghanistan, reports Army Technology.
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# END
Thursday, April 30, 2009
NanoTech Muscles Could Make Soldiers Super-Strong
Research on a new kind of carbon nanotube artificial muscle for Air Force aerospace and space applications, conceived and invented, at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) is receiving primary financial support from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).
Dr. Ray Baughman, director of the NanoTech Institute at UTD, and his team of researchers have been working on artificial muscles for more than twenty years. The current phase of his pioneering work stems from an exploratory research program supported by AFOSR program manager, Dr. B-L "Les" Lee since 2006. The team invented many new types, including electrochemical carbon nanotube and conducting polymer muscles, as well fuel-powered muscles. The latter, powered chemically by alcohol or hydrogen, operate similarly to natural muscles. But they are limited in that they cannot function at extreme temperatures and have low efficiencies for energy conversion.
The nano-based muscles, which are 30 times stronger than natural muscles are made of very thin sheets of nanotubes (1/10,000th of the diameter of a human hair) that on a weight basis are "strong as steel" in one direction and as elastic as rubber in two other directions. These properties and their deployment for giant stroke artificial muscles were described in the March 20, 2009 issue of Science.
These non-electro chemical carbon nanotube artificial muscles can operate at extreme temperatures, which makes them especially attractive for space applications. They are also being viewed as a means for endowing soldiers with super-human strength through the use of exoskeletons, which would be advantageous in battlefield emergencies. Artificial muscles may also be used to actuate "smart skins," which would give Air Force aircraft the ability to change their appearances in situations of danger.
"We want to use the carbon nanotube sheets to affect the boundary layers on Air Force micro air vehicles and even larger vehicles to provide a new type of controllability and increase flight efficiency," Baughman said.
"The carbon nanotube aerogel sheets are a remarkable state of matter that show rubber elasticity, and they are lighter than air. The sheets rise in the air like smoke," said Baughman who remains amazed by their properties.
Baughman and his colleagues activate the artificial muscles by injecting a small amount of positive charge into the carbon nanotube sheets.The positive charge repulses the other positive charges within the carbon nanotube sheet.
"Natural muscles contract at about 20 percent per second, but the artificial muscles' rate can exceed 30,000% per second," he said.
Up ahead, scientists expect these latest man-made muscles to have very large response rates that as of right now are not possible.
"To use our muscles of this type to generate large forces, we must learn how to assemble hundreds of the individual sheet strip muscles to make ones having large cross-sectional areas," he said.
In addition to AFOSR, funding is being provided by the Office of Naval Research, the Strategic Partnership for Research in Nanotechnology, and the Robert A. Welch Foundation.
Maria Callier
# END
Dr. Ray Baughman, director of the NanoTech Institute at UTD, and his team of researchers have been working on artificial muscles for more than twenty years. The current phase of his pioneering work stems from an exploratory research program supported by AFOSR program manager, Dr. B-L "Les" Lee since 2006. The team invented many new types, including electrochemical carbon nanotube and conducting polymer muscles, as well fuel-powered muscles. The latter, powered chemically by alcohol or hydrogen, operate similarly to natural muscles. But they are limited in that they cannot function at extreme temperatures and have low efficiencies for energy conversion.
The nano-based muscles, which are 30 times stronger than natural muscles are made of very thin sheets of nanotubes (1/10,000th of the diameter of a human hair) that on a weight basis are "strong as steel" in one direction and as elastic as rubber in two other directions. These properties and their deployment for giant stroke artificial muscles were described in the March 20, 2009 issue of Science.
These non-electro chemical carbon nanotube artificial muscles can operate at extreme temperatures, which makes them especially attractive for space applications. They are also being viewed as a means for endowing soldiers with super-human strength through the use of exoskeletons, which would be advantageous in battlefield emergencies. Artificial muscles may also be used to actuate "smart skins," which would give Air Force aircraft the ability to change their appearances in situations of danger.
"We want to use the carbon nanotube sheets to affect the boundary layers on Air Force micro air vehicles and even larger vehicles to provide a new type of controllability and increase flight efficiency," Baughman said.
"The carbon nanotube aerogel sheets are a remarkable state of matter that show rubber elasticity, and they are lighter than air. The sheets rise in the air like smoke," said Baughman who remains amazed by their properties.
Baughman and his colleagues activate the artificial muscles by injecting a small amount of positive charge into the carbon nanotube sheets.The positive charge repulses the other positive charges within the carbon nanotube sheet.
"Natural muscles contract at about 20 percent per second, but the artificial muscles' rate can exceed 30,000% per second," he said.
Up ahead, scientists expect these latest man-made muscles to have very large response rates that as of right now are not possible.
"To use our muscles of this type to generate large forces, we must learn how to assemble hundreds of the individual sheet strip muscles to make ones having large cross-sectional areas," he said.
In addition to AFOSR, funding is being provided by the Office of Naval Research, the Strategic Partnership for Research in Nanotechnology, and the Robert A. Welch Foundation.
Maria Callier
# END
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
NAVFAC Partners with USMC to Commission Energy Generating Wind Turbine
The Marine Corps commissioned its first wind turbine for use in clean energy generation at Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Barstow, Calif., March 27.
The commissioning ceremony marked the completion of a 15-month long process by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest, in realizing the project.
The wind turbine will generate an average of more than 3,000 mega watt hours of renewable power each year and annually save about $515,000 in base costs. At peak capacity, the unit can generate enough power for 500 homes.
Standing more than 300 feet high, the three blades on the turbine are each 100 feet long and span more than 200 feet tip-to-tip. Wind at four-to-five miles an hour is required to rotate the blades and begin power generation. National Weather Service records in Las Vegas show wind averages in the MCLB Barstow area at 25-30 miles an hour.
More than 60 local, state and federal dignitaries attended the commissioning ceremony including Col. Kenneth Enzor, commanding officer, MCLB Barstow; Maj. Gen. Michael Lehnert, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations West; and Navy Capt. Joseph Campbell, commanding officer, Officer in Charge of Construction, Marine Corps Installations West.
"The Marines get how terribly reliant this nation is on energy. Many of our decisions have been driven by reliance on fossil fuels over the past century. The Marine Corps gets it. They get it in building and investing time and money in things like this renewable energy facility because what we stand for is leadership in renewable energy and environmental design," said Lehnart, the regional authority of all Marine bases in the western half of the United States.
The total cost for the project was $6.1 million, reduced to $4.6 million due to a $1.5 million alternative energy rebate from the California Public Utilities Commission.
"The true success of this project is due to the partnership, persistence and determination between NAVFAC Southwest Energy Team; Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif.; Southern California Edison; ACCO Engineered Systems of Glendale, Calif.; Brownco Construction of Anaheim, Calif.; and AAER of Bromont, Quebec, Canada," said Monica Hernandez, NAVFAC Southwest contract specialist for Special Ventures Acquisition Utilities & Energy Contracting.
The large scale wind turbine project is one of many renewable projects managed by NAVFAC around the world.
NNS
# END
The commissioning ceremony marked the completion of a 15-month long process by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest, in realizing the project.
The wind turbine will generate an average of more than 3,000 mega watt hours of renewable power each year and annually save about $515,000 in base costs. At peak capacity, the unit can generate enough power for 500 homes.
Standing more than 300 feet high, the three blades on the turbine are each 100 feet long and span more than 200 feet tip-to-tip. Wind at four-to-five miles an hour is required to rotate the blades and begin power generation. National Weather Service records in Las Vegas show wind averages in the MCLB Barstow area at 25-30 miles an hour.
More than 60 local, state and federal dignitaries attended the commissioning ceremony including Col. Kenneth Enzor, commanding officer, MCLB Barstow; Maj. Gen. Michael Lehnert, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations West; and Navy Capt. Joseph Campbell, commanding officer, Officer in Charge of Construction, Marine Corps Installations West.
"The Marines get how terribly reliant this nation is on energy. Many of our decisions have been driven by reliance on fossil fuels over the past century. The Marine Corps gets it. They get it in building and investing time and money in things like this renewable energy facility because what we stand for is leadership in renewable energy and environmental design," said Lehnart, the regional authority of all Marine bases in the western half of the United States.
The total cost for the project was $6.1 million, reduced to $4.6 million due to a $1.5 million alternative energy rebate from the California Public Utilities Commission.
"The true success of this project is due to the partnership, persistence and determination between NAVFAC Southwest Energy Team; Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif.; Southern California Edison; ACCO Engineered Systems of Glendale, Calif.; Brownco Construction of Anaheim, Calif.; and AAER of Bromont, Quebec, Canada," said Monica Hernandez, NAVFAC Southwest contract specialist for Special Ventures Acquisition Utilities & Energy Contracting.
The large scale wind turbine project is one of many renewable projects managed by NAVFAC around the world.
NNS
# END
Thursday, March 26, 2009
'Space Marines'? Not Quite
Amphib Squadron's Deployment Includes Space Ops
Sailors from Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4, embarked aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), are nearing the end of a seven-month deployment - which included integrated space operations - to the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Operation.
Under the leadership of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) commander, Capt. Brian Smith, the PHIBRON 4 staff planned and executed the operations of six Iwo Jima ARG ships: USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), USS San Antonio (LPD 17), USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).
"My staff effectively led the Iwo Jima ARG in executing maritime security operations and theater security cooperation in support of the Navy's maritime strategy," said Smith. "We executed a wide variety of operations with our ships and provided critical capabilities to Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet."
Managing such a large and diverse number of ships required skillful planning and execution.
"Our operations team planned, coordinated and executed all the operational matters for our ARG ships," said Lt. j.g. Benjamin Pearlswig, PHIBRON 4's operations officer. "One of our biggest successes was the flawless execution of three theater security cooperation exercises. It was great to work with our coalition partners, demonstrate our interoperability and really push towards expanding our global maritime partnerships."
In addition to managing the six ARG ships, PHIBRON 4 headed up several unique initiatives. One of the most significant involved the integration of space operations. Space operations remain a relatively new field for the Navy but are vital in providing a wide variety of warfighting capabilities.
"Our objective was to further 'operationalize' the Navy Space Campaign Plan and to develop the tactics, techniques and procedures to make space operations relevant and effective to the expeditionary warfighter," said Smith.
PHIBRON 4 was the first afloat staff to produce detailed space operations tactical guidance and to incorporate space operations into its daily operational planning cycle.
PHIBRON 4 also served as a launch area coordinator (LAC), an assignment that involves the mission planning to support the employment, if tasked, of Tomahawk cruise missiles.
PHIBRON 4 Sailors met all challenges head-on and led the Iwo Jima ARG assets through a successful and historic deployment.
"The PHIBRON 4 staff and the Iwo Jima ARG ships did an exceptional job this deployment," said Smith. "I'm extremely proud of all our accomplishments."
PHIBRON 4 is deployed as part of the Iwo Jima ARG supporting maritime security operations (MSO). MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
Michael Starkey (NNS)
# END
Monday, March 23, 2009
USMC's Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) Fielded
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems announced today that they have successfully fielded the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Bravo
Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Artillery Regiment located at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
As the third leg of the USMC's triad of land-based fire support for expeditionary operations, EFSS is the primary close-in fire support system for vertical assault maneuvers and is perfectly suited for missions requiring tactical versatility, speed, mobility and close-in fire support. The system can be emplaced, fired and displaced in under five minutes using a standard five-man crew and is designed to be internally transportable in both the Marine's tiltrotor MV-22B Osprey and the CH-53 helicopter.
Each battalion in the 10th Marine Regiment will have six EFSS systems comprising of a pair of Prime Mover vehicles, a 120mm M327 mortar weapon, ammunition family and trailer. At the center of EFSS is the 120mm M327 mortar that combines the simplicity and firepower of a mortar with the precision and range of a field artillery piece. The system can effectively fire both rifled and smoothbore mmunition. At 1,798 lbs., the 120mm M327 is the Marines' largest internally transportable indirect fire support system and provides the maneuver commander with greater fire support capability against an array of
targets.
"The EFSS will give the Marines unmatched mortar performance in terms of lethality, accuracy and mobility. Combined with the MV-22 Osprey capabilities, it gives the Expeditionary Force a superior tactical advantage over their adversaries", said Dr. Dean Bartles, vice president and general manager of large-caliber ammunition for General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.
# END
Friday, March 20, 2009
Two More Years: Mullens and Cartwright Re-Nominated
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has announced his recommendations that President Barack Obama re-nominate Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright as the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a second two-year term.
The re-appointments require Senate confirmation, but are expected to be approved easily.
# END
The re-appointments require Senate confirmation, but are expected to be approved easily.
# END
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