Raw Intel

As with all conflicts, just a few days in to the Second Russo-Ukraine War you have stories that start to break out in to the public. Some seem like rumor, urban legends, propaganda, or just embellishments of real stories or hopeful desires. Two have come up over the last few days. One that seems closer to the urban legend and hopeful desires area is the heroic fighter pilot, "The Ghost of Kyiv," putting up an amazing fight against all odds in his plucky MiG-29. The second seems to be from the same area but with time we have found is actually a true story. 13 Ukrainian border guards were stationed in an isolated, barren and what would appear to be generally ignorable islan…

USS Helena (CL-50). Nothing "Light" about the Helena. Tough, hard fighter she was - with a lot to fire with. Armament : 5 - Triple 6"/47 main battery 4 - Dual 5"/38 DP secondary 8 - .50 caliber AA 4 - Curtiss SOC-2 Seagulls (Aircraft) on 2 Aft catapults. Yes kiddies - that is 15 6" guns and 8 5" guns. The Japanese (who if nothing else in WWII had no problem honoring a good fighter) said she had "6-inch machine guns." Read all about her here - but let's look at her final battle, the Battle of Kula Gulf. Background On 5 July, Task Group 36.1, commanded by Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth, and consisting of light cruisers USS Helena, USS Honolulu, and USS St. Louis, plu…

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $194.7 million contract modification, which adds scope to provide non-recurring engineering, integration and testing of the aircraft interface module in support of ASQ-239 electronic warfare/countermeasures system upgrades planned for F-35 Lot 17 aircraft deliveries for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and non-Department of Defense participants. The AN/ASQ-239 provides offensive and defensive options to enable the F-35 to identify, monitor, analyze, and respond to threats like radar-guided anti-aircraft missile batteries and air-search radars. Work will take place in New Hampshire and Texas. Expected completion will be in April 2024. Babc…

Americas Following the closure of the F-15C Weapons Instructor Course at Nellis Air Force Base, the Eagles assigned to the base have started to depart for other bases. The final course, Weapons Instructor Course 21-B, flew its last flights on December 8, 2021. Sikorsky won a $25.6 million order, which provides non-recurring engineering efforts to integrate, test, and qualify re-designed data concentrator and blade fold distributor units that will mitigate component obsolescence and outdated test equipment used for the CH-53K aircraft. The CH-53K is the United States Marine Corps’ heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E. It can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for t…

If a nation is at peace where do you draw the line from a risk management point of view if you should meet a scheduled underway period? Where is a good example of when to decide it is just best to stay pierside? I think we have a good example from an unexpected ally. Details over at USNIBlog. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=6hc7TIVQ-RY:YREjStQHk6I:gIN9vFwOqvQ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=6hc7TIVQ-RY:YREjStQHk6I:-BTjWOF_DHI http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=6hc7TIVQ-RY:YREjStQHk6I:V_sGLiPBpWU http://feeds.…

So, if the People's Republic of China is our main opponent on the world stage, and so many in the USA believe that race if the first and most important consideration in all things ... what about China and its view of race? Evidently the result of some FOIA, DOD released a report from 07 January 2013 to Andrew Marshall at the Office of Net Assessment. It is titled, THE STRATEGIC CONSEQUENCES OF CHINESE RACISM: A Strategic Asymmetry for the United States. You have probably heard of this issue mentioned now and then as a side-note, but this goes in to incredible detail - not just about the Chinese view on race and racism, but how that informs their views of the United S…

It is behind the WSJ paywall, but the first blurb tells you really what you need to know; President Biden says he’ll boost defense spending next year because the world is more dangerous. But the budget details don’t match his rhetoric, and Exhibit A is the bleak outlook for the Navy. The bill for decades of complacency and neglect is coming due at a dangerous moment, as China ramps up its fleet. The almost malicious intent behind the intentional shrinking of our inheritance of being the worlds' premier Navy by inattention of the Executive and Legislative Branches of government is only matched by the distracted maladministration inside the lifetimes by a series of sub-opti…

Americas General Dynamics Bath Iron Works won a $23.9 million contract modification to exercise options for the accomplishment of planning yard efforts such as engineering, technical, planning, ship configuration, data and logistics efforts for DDG-1000 class destroyers post-delivery and in-service life-cycle support. The Zumwalt Class is the largest and most technologically advanced surface combatant in the world. Zumwalt is the lead ship of a class of next-generation multi-mission destroyers designed to strengthen naval power from the sea. Work will take place in Maine and California. Estimated completion will be by December 2021. The US Army and Clemson University ann…

One little nugget I’ve said too much that last week or so is that to many in the national security nomenklatura – especially in DC – the process is the product. The measure of effectiveness isn’t the ultimate delivery of useful kit to the fleet, but adherence to the process. Billions upon billions of dollars can be made for years and POM-cycles on end getting ready to think about possible things that might be of some use … maybe. We wind up with dead end programs that produce nothing. No one really is held to account. At the end of the day you have to do one of two things: 1. Like with the fail to transition that was ZUMWALT, you have to restart the legacy ARLEIGH B…

Are you as frustrated as everyone else the inefficiency and petty squabbling in our natsec ecosystem? There are things that are due to change. I'm pondering over at USNIBlog. Come over and give it the smell test. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=81_K0132AiU:vrFhPdfGAV8:gIN9vFwOqvQ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=81_K0132AiU:vrFhPdfGAV8:-BTjWOF_DHI http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=81_K0132AiU:vrFhPdfGAV8:V_sGLiPBpWU http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=81_K0132AiU:vrFhPdfGAV8:F7zBnMyn0Lo http:…

Americas Bell-Boeing won a $7.9 million contract modification, which provides for additional post-production repairs and related system engineering and program management support for the MV-22B Common Configuration Readiness and Modernization retrofit program. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft. The Marine Corps variant, MV-22B, provides reliable and safe transportation of personnel, supplies, and equipment. Work will take place in Pennsylvania and Texas. Estimated completion will be in March 2023. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is underway for a patrol of the Indo-Pacific and this deployment notes a number of firs…

It amazes me how willing people in power are to undermine the nation they serve just because they get the vapors over even the most miniscule possible threat. We need better leaders; stronger leaders; more confident leaders. You think the fence they erected this winter around the Capitol was overkill? Wait until you see what they plan for the water. Details over at USNIBlog. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=hLzyohFQ_eE:laOUbT4Ll9U:gIN9vFwOqvQ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=hLzyohFQ_eE:laOUbT4Ll9U:-BTjWOF_DHI http://…

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7RCTtz6GZo/VTosMd1sraI/AAAAAAAAJio/81yRbuPXaXg/s1600/SumnerRenderLaffey.jpg So, how was your command tour? Think you accomplished a lot? Benchmarks? Yes, we have benchmarks. Made a commander on November 1, he was the commanding officer of USS Laffey during the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. The ship was struck by an 8-inch shell, which did not explode. Laffey broke up an attack by German E-boats on June 12 and bombarded Cherbourg on June 25. Becton was awarded a second Silver Star for his actions in June. Transferred back to the Pacific Theater, he received his third Silver Star for his handling of Laffey in support of the landing of the…

Non-state or quasi-non-state actors preying on commerce for profit. They steal, hold hostages, and some times engage in extortion where if you don’t pay them off, they will break your stuff. The news of the last 48-hrs about DarkSide and the pipeline held hostage is just another chapter in a long story; The ransomware group linked to the extortion attempt that has snared fuel deliveries across the U.S. East Coast may be new, but that doesn’t mean its hackers are amateurs. Who precisely is behind the disruptive intrusion into Colonial Pipeline hasn’t been made officially known and digital attribution can be tricky, especially early on in an investigation. A former U.…

Americas Cracks have been found on the tails of Canada’s CH-148 fleet, the problem affects 19 out of the 23 helicopters. The issue surfaced on November 26 when one of the helicopter underwent scheduled maintenance and the cracks were discovered. Subsequent checks on three more rotorcraft also found cracks on those aircraft. So far only two were unaffected and two more are yet to be inspected. Segers Aero won a $9.6 million contract action for the establishment of the T-56 Engine and Quick Engine Change Intermediate Level Maintenance Facility. The deal provides for training for the maintenance, repair and overhaul repairs of the T-56 engine. Work will take place Alabama a…

I am happy we are talking more about wargames, but I am losing confidence in our ability to understand what they are and how to properly use them. The fact they are being used to justify further divestment from our hard won - yet still rump - fleet of smaller warships only adds to my concerns that we are making a huge mistake. Quotes and more thoughts over at USNIBlog. Come by and wonder what in the wide world of sports is going on over there. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=ok0wOryRI68:sp61AB0UM0g:gIN9vFwOqvQ http://feeds.feedburner…

MH-60Rs fire Hellfire (click to view full) Australia’s AIR 9000, Phase 8 project aimed to buy 24 modern naval helicopters to 16 existing S-70B-2 Seahawks, along with the disastrous A$1.1 billion, 11-helicopter SH-2G “Super Seasprite” acquisition attempt. With a total sales and support value of over A$ 3 billion, it was a highly coveted award. The finalists were familiar, and both had roots in Australia. Sikorsky’s MH-60R is a modernized descendant of the RAN’s existing S-70B anti-submarine helicopters, and Australia’s army operates the S-70A utility helicopter. On the other hand, a multi-billion dollar 2006 order made the European NH90-TTH (“MRH-90”) the Army’s future …

Bit by bit, you can start to see the role of lasers in naval warfare. While much of the conversation is about how we can use them, over at USNIBlog while pondering the latest tests, I'm starting to wonder ... how much thought are we putting in to how to counter and protect ourselves from incoming fire? Come by and ponder with me a bit. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=4uL7FvJb2B4:YB2Hb5GsRKU:gIN9vFwOqvQ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=4uL7FvJb2B4:YB2Hb5GsRKU:-BTjWOF_DHI http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=4uL…

The Biden Administration is still filling out the mid and lower echelons of their national security and defense team, but the major players are in and the “people are policy” effect is kicking in. If you were paying attention to the 2020 election, you have a general idea where things are going, but it is always best to wait to see what is put out … because that is what good staff people do; wait for higher Direction and Guidance, and then form your actions to align with them. This week, everyone has something to chew on, President Biden’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance. As I like to do with such documents, I look for larger themes through the use of…

With what looks like sabotage of the Nordstream 1 & 2 pipelines under the Baltic Sea bringing a momentary focus on critical infrastructure on the seabed, now is the perfect time point everyone to Pierre Morcos and Colin Wall's 2021 CSIS commentary, Invisible and Vital: Undersea Cables and Transatlantic Security. In the national security arena, when conflicts arise people will discuss Ground Lines of Communication (GLOC) and Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) - concepts military professionals concerned with keeping beans, bullets, lawyers, guns, and money flowing have focused on for all of human written history. In our age, where so much of what goes over GLOC and SLOC…