NATO units set for Lithuania and five other eastern member states

[Hindustani78]

US Army 4th infantry division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team 68th Armor division, 1st battalion Giaziunai Railway station some 110 kms from Vilnius , Feb 10 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/military/201703171051673212-army-forced-rely-old-weapons/

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The set of systems, dubbed the Big 5, includes the Abrams Main Battle Tank, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Apache Attack Helicopter, Blackhawk Utility Helicopter, and Patriot Missile System.

"We are essentially relying on the same platforms that we have had since the 1980s—the Big 5, consisting of the Abrams Main Battle Tank, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Apache Attack Helicopter, Blackhawk Utility Helicopter, and Patriot Missile System," the two Army leaders said on Thursday. “The Army developed these systems to provide a credible deterrent during the Cold War and given the current level of funding, we will continue to rely on all five platforms into the 2030s and beyond."

The Army as a conventional force has remained unchallenged for 70 years but is now at risk, the general's observed. After nearly two decades at war, adversaries have taken note of US operations and tactics and are developing means to exploit vulnerabilities.

The US Department of Defense has lobbied the US Congress to eliminate funding restrictions imposed by the Budget Control Act which, they say, is a threat to military effectiveness.

 

[Hindustani78]

F 16 Romanian Air Force , Air Base 86 in Borcea , South Romania, October 07 2016

Romania is looking to significantly bolster its military arsenal, aiming to purchase 20 F16 aircraft, 8-wheeled armored personnel carriers and other equipment, in a bid to drag its defense spending to the NATO-mandated two percent of GDP - a move that makes little military sense, but will be a significant cash injection for US defense corporations.

Romania's Parliament and Supreme Defense Council have approved the move, almost tripling the existing contingent of 12 fighters in the process.

M777 Howitzer , Grafenwoehr Training Area Germany March 09 2017

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.militarytimes.com/articl...rs-during-operation-atlantic-resolve-training
American and Polish tank platoons have conducted combined tank maneuvers in preparation for NATO training exercise as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Two Polish tank platoons hosted a U.S. Army tank platoon from Dakota Company, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team last week for a day-long exercise, according to Army officials.

The three platoons carried out the maneuvers at Range Joanna in Karliki, Poland, to improve cooperation and readiness between the two NATO allies.

“Building on our tactical techniques sustains combat readiness as a result of having a mutual understanding about maneuver formation procedures,” said Staff Sgt. Ian Brown, the squadron tank commander. “If something actually happened, we would be able to come together and develop a maneuver plan faster."

The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team is on a nine-month deployment, conducting combined training in order to “to hone skills and sustain the ability to shoot, move and communicate alongside NATO Allies,” according to the Army.

Operation Atlantic Resolve began in 2014 in response to Russia’s intervention in Ukraine.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/military/201703241051941863-polish-air-force-f35-f16/

In December, Warsaw officials promulgated plans for the Defense Ministry to spend $14.5 billion on military “modernization,” Sputnik reported. In Feburary, military officials announced that Poland was starting off its spending spree with the purchase of Black Hawk helicopters. The US-made Black Hawks were intended to replace a dozen Mi-8/17 utility aircraft.

“We must think of our further steps because, in addition to our F-16 aircraft, we have Su-22 and MiG-29 aircraft that will be phased out,” Kownacki added.

The Polish armed services has debated upgrading its F-16s, an early version of the fighter jet, but officials have expressed concern over whether this would help fill an important capability gap. “We are not going to buy used, older versions of the F-16,” the defense official said. Primarily, an MoD analysis found that “the cost of upgrading second-hand aircraft would be high, and their capabilities would be small.”

Instead, Warsaw could opt for the latest F-16Vs “on conditions that would eventually be agreed with [on] the US side,” Kownacki noted.


Poland currently maintains 40 F-16 aircraft.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/europe/201703251051963741-french-troops-nato/

TALLINN (Sputnik) – Heavy equipment of the French contingent of the international NATO battalion arrived in Estonia on Saturday, the Headquarters of the Estonian Defense Forces said in a statement.

"The first train with military equipment for the French contingent delivered more than 30 units [of heavy equipment], with the exception of tanks, to Tapa railway station. Four Leclerc tanks will be delivered on March 29. In total, the French unit will also have 13 VBCI infantry fighting vehicles as well as dozens of VAB armored personnel carriers and VBL armored all-terrain vehicles deployed," the statement read.

The deployment of the battalion in Tapa is planned to be finished in April. By that time some 800 UK and 300 French servicemen are expected to arrive in Estonia.

NATO decided to deploy additional troops to the Baltics during July's summit in Warsaw. Allies agreed to deploy four multinational battalions to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Over a dozen NATO states will contribute troops to the mission.

NATO has been boosting its military presence in Europe, particularly in Eastern European states, since the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, citing Russia's alleged interference in that conflict as justification for the move.

 

[Hindustani78]

Major General Richard J. Hayes, Jr., the Adjutant General of Illinois National Guard, along with his delegation arrived to Lublin to familiarize with the aspects of functioning of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade Command, on 28 March 2017.

Commander of LITPOLUKRBRIG Colonel Zenon Brzuszko welcomed the guests and stressed his belief in the fruitfulness of the working meeting, aimed at tightening bilateral cooperation. Deputy Commander Colonel Volodymyr Yudanov and Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Eligijus Senulis introduced the Multinational Brigade staff, national components and prospective of LITPOLUKRBRIG capabilities generating to the US representatives.

Consequently, during the visit the Multinational Brigade Command officers discussed with Major General Richard J. Hayes, and his delegation, the areas of further cooperation and networking. Precisely, certain training events, workshops, and sharing of experience by Illinois National Guard professionals were negotiated.

“LITPOLUKRBRIG is a young structure agilely striving to collect, test and apply practices from advanced militaries from all over the world. Such an approach opens many doors and brings opportunities to gain high level of proficiency. Hence, we are truly happy, that our US partners are eager to mentor some of our training events and let us become better soldiers,” summarized the visit Colonel Zenon Brzuszko.

Oleksandr Gain, Public Information Officer LITPOLUKRBRIG

 

[Hindustani78]

F 18 hornet Finnish Airforce

https://sputniknews.com/military/201703291052082311-finland-usa-air-force/

The Finnish Air Force has without unnecessary publicity formed a new US-style special unit called Raven. The newly-formed unit will, in line with their US prototype, handle the protection of aircraft and VIP passengers in hazardous locations.

The reason why the new subdivision received an English name, which is rather uncommon for the Finnish Armed Forces, despite the growing globalization trend, is that the US Armed Forces group of elite security commandos called Phoenix Raven, served as an inspiration, the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat reported.

A yet unreported number of Raven soldiers will train together with Finland's other special forces on a regular basis and will be tasked with protecting aircraft at dangerous airports. "The Ravens" will also participate in tactical planning operations to identify potential dangers. Finnish Air Force Colonel Juha-Pekka Keränen said that the Raven unit will feature a small number of highly trained soldiers, stressing that their American counterparts from Phoenix Raven also work in small groups of two to four people.

The Phoenix Raven Program started in 1997 in order to provide protection for aircraft in high-threat or unknown threat zones. Phoenix Ravens, which are sometimes referred to as "Murder Crews" are charged with providing an inner circle of security and stand up against the danger coming from terrorist groups, organized crime, narco-militias or even desperate people experiencing a natural disaster. In addition to safeguarding aircraft, Phoenix Ravens are known to work directly with crews and provide them with intelligence about local threats.

There are only about 200 active duty Phoenix Ravens, yet the force is in high demand given the global terror threat. Phoenix Ravens are active in Iraq and Afghanistan, Africa and South America. Since many of their missions are deeply classified, the true extent of their duty in the ever-changing course of world events remains largely unknown.

Today, Phoenix Ravens work in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Africa, South America and pretty much any place where America's footprint is light, but cargo still needs to be moved. Some missions these teams will support are deeply classified; as such we may never truly know the extent of their participation in changing the course of world events.

According to the US Air Force, their unique training routine includes intensive three-week 12-hour-a-day drills, which cover everything from cross-cultural awareness to unarmed self-defense techniques. Students are drilled in over 70 forceful scenarios using role play. The training also includes practical exercises in antiterrorism and advanced firearms proficiency.

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https://sputniknews.com/military/201703291052083890-norway-us-p8a/

Norway struck a deal with the United States on Wednesday to buy five Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the Nordic nation’s Defense Ministry announced.
STOCKHOLM (Sputnik) — The contract was signed by US charge d'affaires James DeHart at the US Embassy in Oslo and Norway’s defense procurement chief Mette Sorfonden.

"A contract was signed today with US authorities on the acquisition of five P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for the Armed Forces," the statement read.

The first P-8A Poseidon is scheduled to land in Norway in 2022, with the rest following by 2023. The Boeing-built aircraft is designed for long-range anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, and reconnaissance missions.

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Hohenfels training area , Germany.

 

[Hindustani78]

A team of officers from LITPOLUKRBRIG are taking part in the RAPID TRIDENT Exercise planning conference in Yavoriv, Ukraine.

The Multinational Brigade delegation under the command of Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Eligijus Senulis together with USAREUR representatives were actively engaged in the process of exercise preparation. Within the activity Division Level war-gaming was conducted. The Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade officers were responsible for certain areas of planning Division Level operation.

“By working with our partners from US Europe Command we were able to gather precious experience and knowledge” outlined the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Lieutenant Colonel Dariusz Czekaj. “We have developed a scenario which will be used in RAPID TRIDENT Exercise and the most challenging and interesting part was the participation in war-gaming (scenario simulation)”.

Multinational Brigade will participate in RAPID TRIDENT Exercise in September this year.

Prepared by Major Tomasz Pędzik.

Oleksandr Gain, LITPOLUKRBRIG Public Information Officer

Chief of Ukraine’s General Staff General of the Army of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko held talks with Chief of Georgia’s General Staff Brigade General Vladimer Chachibaia.

General Muzhenko thanked for assistance provided by Georgia and pledged his counterpart to develop relations at the level of Chiefs of General Staff and Ministers of Defence as well.

The parties stressed that cooperation between Ukrainian and Georgian armies enhances dynamics and increase of operational capabilities of armies of both countries.

Considering the joint challenges of Ukraine and Georgia, chiefs of general staffs discussed issues of development of bilateral military cooperation especially participation in multinational military exercise, sharing crisis management experience, cyber security, professional training of military, training of officers, instructors, rehabilitation of Ukrainian military, etc.

Kamyanets Podilskyi Demining Centre hosted a graduation ceremony of EOD specialists trained by Canadian instructors. The Ukrainian military got international certificates. Graduates of this course successfully accomplish tasks in the east of Ukraine, as well as at military depot in Balaklia. Totally, Canadian instructors have already trained 210 Ukrainian EOD specialists under NATO standards.

Poland will purchase of eight Patriot anti-ballistic missile batteries by the end of 2017, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Friday.

https://sputniknews.com/military/201703311052152524-poland-air-missile-defense/

WARSAW (Sputnik) — Poland will sign a $7.5-billion agreement on the purchase of eight Patriot anti-ballistic missile batteries by the end of 2017, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Friday.

"We have completed a very important stage having to do with the acquisition of medium-range missiles. No later than at the end of this year, an agreement will be signed for the supply of Patriot missiles," Macierewicz said at a briefing.

He said the first deliveries are expected two years after the contract is signed.

 

[Hindustani78]

CV90 Combat Vehicle , Setermoen Northern Norway

US Soldiers from company C, 1St battalion , 68rd armored regiment, 3rd armored Brigade division team, 4th infantry division along with Estonian Defense forces on kekupalu range

 

[Hindustani78]

Estonian and US soldiers in a combat exercise in Tapa , Estonia.

http://www.defensenews.com/articles...operational-deployment-to-europe-this-weekend

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force’s F-35A is deploying internationally for the first time this weekend, heading to Europe to conduct training exercises with NATO allies, the Pentagon announced Friday.

The Defense Department offered sparse details about the event, which will involve deploying a “small number” of F-35As from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, to an undisclosed location in Europe.

The joint strike fighters will take off sometime this weekend. After landing, they will then spend several weeks in the region as part of the European Reassurance Initiative, the department’s effort to strengthen military ties with European allies to help deter Russian aggression on the continent.

“This training deployment signifies an important milestone and natural progression of the F-35 program, allowing the Air Force to further demonstrate the operational capabilities of the fifth generation fighter aircraft,” the Defense Department said in a news release. “It also assists in refining requirements for eventually basing the F-35A in Europe, which is scheduled to receive the aircraft in the early 2020s.”

As tempting as it may be to link the deployment to U.S. President Donald Trump or his currently shaky relationship with Russia, an F-35 deployment to Europe has been in the works since the Obama administration. In December, former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James hinted that the service would go to Europe this summer.

“Now that the F-35 has been declared combat capable, we will deploy our newest fighter to Europe in the not too distant future,” she said then during a speech at the Atlantic Council. “Matter of fact, if I were a betting woman, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if the F-35 didn’t make an appearance, perhaps, next summer. The unique combination of stealth, situational and sensor fusion will play an important role in reassuring allies and providing deterrence.”

In February, former Air Combat Command head Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle, who retired last month, restated that the service could send the aircraft to Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions as early as spring, with a deployment to the Middle East probably following a couple years later.


Although the Air Force won’t say where the F-35s will be based during their European deployment, one potential option is British Royal Air Force base Lakenheath, England, which is slated to be the first Air Force base overseas to receive the joint strike fighter. RAF Lakenheath will eventually host 54 F-35As, although the timeline for deploying those aircraft has slipped from 2020 to perhaps one or two years later, Col. Robert Novotny, then the commander of the base’s 48th Fighter Wing, told Defense News last year.

 

[Hindustani78]

The US Army is looking to move a brigade’s worth of armor and artillery into Poland, in an effort to push its firepower closer to Russian borders.

The plan was revealed after a large delegation of US Army Europe and allied leaders began a four-day tour Tuesday of strategic sites on the continent.

The firepower will be assigned to any new unit, should the Pentagon decide to station more manpower in Europe, said Maj. Gen. Duane Gamble, commander of the Kaiserslautern-based 21st Theater Sustainment Command.

In order to accommodate the equipment, the US Army Corps of Engineers is now working on plans to construct a $200-million warehouse in Powidz, Poland, expected to be ready in 2021.

"It's going to be capable of hosting an [armored brigade combat team's] worth of equipment, but the space configuration will allow us or NATO units to store a variety of different types of equipment there," said Col. John Baker, lead engineer at US Army Europe (USAREUR).

The Pentagon is making no efforts to hide the fact that this increase in NATO firepower is aimed at Russia. According to a Stars and Stripes report, the idea behind the move is "to ensure that forces can more quickly assemble in the event of a conflict or crisis with Russia."

According to that report, Western countries expect a military conflict to spark either in the Baltics or in Poland.

"While Russia said it has no intention of instigating a fight, allies are skeptical," the report reads.

"Russia, in turn, has complained that the military buildup along its borders represents a threat to its isolated enclave of Kaliningrad, which is surrounded by NATO territory."

The plan is a part of a larger tactic to create a force that will be able to respond swiftly and "with reflexive competence," according to Gamble.

As Sputnik has reported, the US and its European allies have increased their military spending of late.

According to Igor Korotchenko, director of the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAMTO), spending increases are mainly "related to the deployment of a system of global American missile defense in Europe, the strengthening of NATO's military presence in the Baltic States and Poland as well as the aggressive course of the military alliance in general, which is aimed at gaining unilateral military and technical superiority over Russia."

The US Army's only sustainment brigade in Europe already has its hands full with research into the best ways of military transportation across Europe in case of conflict.


"What we're trying to do is figure out where we can move tanks across Europe in case we ever had to project power," says the brigade's commander, Col. Michelle M.T. Letcher


"Some European countries require 45 days' advance notice for passage approval. Some want detailed information on the driver, such as the soldier's mother's maiden name, making last-minute driver changes impossible," another Stars and Stripes report reads.

Another problem that riddles NATO forces is the need to deal with the derelict and poorly maintained Soviet-era transportation network in the countries that joined the alliance after the fall of the Warsaw Pact Organization.

For instance, "We didn't know if we could move tanks from Germany all the way up to Estonia," the outlet quotes Letcher saying. "Because of the road network, the overpasses, the bridges. They haven't been tested in a long time."

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https://sputniknews.com/military/201704271053065755-military-aircraft-replacement/


the Polish military seeks to do away with the Su-22 and MiG-29 military aircraft currently employed by Poland’s Air Force, and has currently set its eyes on theF-16 and F-35 multirole fighters, which may eventually replace the aging Soviet planes.

Polish Deputy Defense Minister Bartosz Kownacki said that the condition of the Polish Air Force is "satisfactory" as compared to the other branches of Polish Armed Forces. Italy has a total of 48 single- and twin-seat modifications of F-16, though it believes that this quantity is not enough.

"Old Su-22 and MiG-29 aircraft must be replaced with the next generation planes. But the Defense Ministry is still deciding whether it will be an F-16 or other types of aircraft, like the F-35," he said.

Kownacki added that from 2030 Poland intends to increase its defense spending from its current level of 2 percent of the country’s GDP to 2.5 percent.

Earlier in April, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz also announced that the number of Polish army personnel is likely to be increased from its current 129,000 up to 200,000 servicemen after a three to five year period.

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http://tass.com/defense/943317
According to data cited by the chief of Russia’s General Staff, the numerical strength of response forces and also foreign military contingents in Eastern Europe is being increased. Additional formations and the headquarters infrastructure are being placed in the Baltic countries, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. NATO has intensified reconnaissance along the borders with Russia and has almost doubled the number of military exercises in the East European region.

"The implementation of the plans for the alliance’s expansion is disrupting a balance of forces in the region and increasing the risks of military incidents. All of the bloc’s actions are of destructive and provocative nature," the general said.

Moreover, pilots of the NATO countries that do not possess nuclear weapons are involved in training for their use, the chief of Russia’s General Staff said.

"This is a direct violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," Gerasimov said.

Moscow has been taking adequate measures of constraint taking into account the growing differences with NATO.

"The current differences, first and foremost, between Russia and NATO, continue to grow. The alliance has been expanding, continuing large-scale military activities on its ‘eastern flank’," Gerasimov said. "Russia will have to take appropriate retaliatory steps and the necessary measures of restraint," he said when speaking on the pessimistic scenario concerning the differences between Russia and NATO.

Russia-NATO relations at lowest point since Cold War era
Relations between Russia and NATO are currently at the lowest point since the end of the Cold War, Gerasimov said.

"Today they are at the lowest point since the end of the Cold War. The decisions of NATO’s summits in the UK and Poland state that Russia is the main source of military threats," he said.

According to Gerasimov, the framework where Russia and NATO could discuss the situation, that is, the NATO-Russia Council has stalled. "There is no military-to-military dialogue there. Today virtually all contacts have been curtailed," he said, adding that this contributes to further deterioration of relations between Russia and the alliance.

Cyberattacks against NATO may serve as a pretext
Cyberattacks against NATO countries may serve as a pretext for naming those guilty without any proof and the alliance’s military strikes on them, according to Gerasimov.

Gerasimov noted that NATO has started looking into how to implement Article 5 (collective defense) of the Washington Treaty in case of cyberattacks on technical means of systems of state and military administration belonging to NATO member-states.

"But in modern conditions it is almost impossible to identify true sources of these attacks. Therefore, a possibility emerges to name those guilty absolutely without any proof and exert influence on them by military means," Gerasimov said.

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

Will the West and Russia destroy each other????? What's happening to them?? It looks like the Chinese and the Muslims will be folks ultimately hanging around!!!!!

 

[Hindustani78]

Will the West and Russia destroy each other????? What's happening to them?? It looks like the Chinese and the Muslims will be folks ultimately hanging around!!!!!

We are aware what is happening in Ukraine. Real war is going on there .

Muslims are aware who are thier real friends and they are working to secure and liberate thier holy sites and Muslims are friends of Republic of India.

 

[Hindustani78]

Patriot missile battery at an army base at northern Polish town of Morag.

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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US fifth generation fighter jets, F-35 Lighting II, have arrived in Bulgaria on Friday, the US European Command announced in a press release.

"Two US F-35 Lightning II aircraft and Airmen arrived in Bulgaria, today, from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England as part of a deployment that enhances the region’s ability to host the aircraft for future deployments and operations," the release said.

The European Command noted that the deployment of the fighter jets was planned in advance, and was done in close coordination with the Bulgarian government.

"The aircraft and Airmen were joined by a US KC-135 departing from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England and will return to their respective bases following a brief stay in the country," the release added.

The fighter jets will remain in Europe for several weeks, according to the release.

The F-35 fighter jet is the most expensive weapons project in history, with an anticipated cost of more than $1 trillion over the next half-century.