NATO units set for Lithuania and five other eastern member states

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/military/201706021054226956-usa-poland-air-force-train/

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Eight US Air Force F-16 aircraft and 200 personnel from the 510th Fighter Squadron stationed at Aviano, Italy will conduct training exercises with the Polish Air Force in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the Air Force said in a statement.

"510th Fighter Squadron from the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy, are participating in bilateral training with the Polish Air Force during Aviation Detachment Rotation 17-3," the statement said Thursday. "[The training is] in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve at Krzesiny Air Base, Poland from June 1--22."

The US Air Force 52d Operations Group, Detachment 1, is the first permanent operational military presence in Poland, according to the release. The 52nd Operations Group, 510th Fighter Squadron's lead aircraft are F-16's, C-130's and A-10's.

While in Poland, the 510th Fighter Squadron will take part in multinational exercises, Saber Strike and BALTOPS, the release said.

Saber Strike is a US Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise that helps facilitate cooperation amongst the US, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and allied and partner nations, according to published Army documents.

Exercise Baltic Operations or BALTOPS is an annual multinational maritime training operation in which Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Finland and Sweden participate, say published US Navy document

https://sputniknews.com/military/201706021054242325-us-b52-deployment-europe/

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Thursday, US media reported about the deployment of the long-range bombers as well as 800 servicemen to the United Kingdom to support military exercises with NATO partners near Russian borders.

"Of course, we are aware of the relocation of B-52 bombers from [the US state] of Louisiana to the United Kingdom and of the plans to engage the aircraft to several military exercises announced before," Mikhail Ulyanov said.

The US B-52H Stratofortresses bombers can carry over 312,000 pounds of fuel and a 70,000-pound payload for more than 8,000 miles.

"The fact that NATO is amassing troops that are practicing battle tasks with the support of US strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons close to Russian borders does not contribute to de-escalation of tensions in Europe. The military buildup carried out by certain countries and their alliances, moreover near the borders of our country, does damage to the international security and destabilizes the situation," the diplomat added.

The European Command said, "Training with Allies and joint partners improves coordination between Allies and enables the US Air Force to build enduring relationships necessary to confront a broad range of global challenges."

The Arctic Challenge exercise hosted by Finland, Norway and Sweden is set to conclude on June 2, while Saber Strike, held throughout Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, will last through June 24.

About 4,000 troops from the United States and 13 European nations will participate in the BALTOPS exercise in Poland through June 16.

https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706021054251880-us-intelligence-europe/

The United States military is looking for a private contractor to provide technical support services throughout the US Army Europe (USAREUR) area of responsibility, including Central Europe, Eastern Europe and Africa, according the US government's website for contract opportunities.

"This requirement is for US Army Europe/7th Army for a non-personal services contract for intelligence technical support services (ITSS) throughout the US Army Europe (USAREUR) Area of Responsibility (AOR) which includes but is not limited to Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Africa," the document read.

USAREUR is headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, and its area of responsibility includes 51 countries.


Among the specified locations for the contract is Kosovan Camp Bondsteel, the main base of the US Army under the Kosovo Force (KFOR) command in Kosovo. The base is also used as the NATO headquarters for KFOR's Multinational Battle Group East (MNBG-E).


"The purpose is to provide timely intelligence for Army in Europe activities to enhance conduct of operations and support Force Protection of forces in Germany and Italy, and to deployed contingency operations in the Balkans," according to the contract description.

For the US and NATO it is necessary to further portray Russia as enemy, according to Vladimir Kozin, a military expert and professor at the Russian Academy of Military Sciences.

"A potential enemy is needed, in order to justify defense budgets and military preparations. Intelligence services can do that, portraying Russia as the enemy. For example, if we take a look at US and NATO aerial activities, they have increased tenfold since 2014. American and NATO surveillance planes are flying over the Baltic Sea and in the area of the Black Sea. Their military activities near Russia’s border have increased fivefold," Kozin told Sputnik Radio.

According to the expert, new US intelligence services in Europe are not surprising.

"The goal is clear and simple. They want to create the image of a potential enemy. If there is enemy military activity thus NATO can do the same," he added.

 

[Hindustani78]

Germany Soldiers in Lithuania

 

[NoOne'sBoy]

Russia must be shitting bricks right now.

 

[Hindustani78]

NATO's Saber Strike drills in Latvia

https://www.unian.info/world/196338...pean-military-exercise-with-25000-troops.html

About 25,000 military forces from the United States and 23 other countries will take part in a large-scale military exercise called "Saber Guardian" planned in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania next month, according to Reuters.


In addition, several U.S. B-1B heavy bombers have arrived in Britain in support of two separate multinational exercises planned in the Baltic region and other parts of Europe this month to improve coordination among partner countries, Reuters said.


The U.S. military plans were announced by Stuttgart-based U.S. European Command, which said this year's Saber Guardian exercise - held annually in the Black Sea region since 2013 - was "larger in both scale and scope" than previous exercises.

The news could exacerbate tensions that are already running high between Moscow and Washington.

Russia scrambled a fighter jet on Tuesday to intercept a nuclear-capable U.S. B-52 strategic bomber it said was flying over the Baltic Sea near its border, in an incident that had echoes of the Cold War.

Washington said the long-range bomber was operating in international airspace.

European Command said the Saber Guardian exercise would include an array of live fire exercises, river crossings and a mass casualty exercise and was aimed at drilling "the ability to mass forces at any given time anywhere in Europe".

"It is deterrence in action," it said in a release.


The U.S. army said the larger exercise would be preceded by several smaller events - all aimed at shoring up the security and stability of the Black Sea region, where increased Russian submarine activity has sparked concerns.

The Saber Guardian exercise rotates through Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine, with a goal to increase the ability of European and U.S. military forces to operate together in the event of an armed conflict.

It will be the largest of 18 separate Black Sea exercises planned this year, European Command said.

The B-1B bombers were deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to a UK air base in Fairford to support two separate exercises planned this month, Saber Strike and BALTOPS, according to European Command.


It said an undisclosed number of B-1B bombers would join three B-52H bombers that were already in Europe for training.

BALTOPS is a recurring multinational exercise that will involve 4,000 shipboard personnel, 50 ships and submarines and more than 50 aircraft.

Saber Strike, now in its seventh year, is aimed at improving cooperation among allies and partners while promoting regional stability and security, European Command said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Romanian Tanks

https://sputniknews.com/military/201706091054459199-detetrrence-us-allies-war-games/

01:52 09.06.2017(updated 03:13 09.06.2017)


Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania will play host to a huge military training exercise involving tens of thousands of troops – as tensions between NATO and Moscow are already running high.
Saber Guardian’s wide scope of activities will include live fire of air defense munitions, field training, river crossings and a “mass casualty exercise,” the US Army said in a Wednesday statement. “It is deterrence in action.”

According to US Army Europe, around 25,000 troops will participate in the joint collaboration from July 11 until July 20. The goal of the biggest Black Sea Region exercise is to serve as a “premier training event” for troops to “improve interoperability under a unified command.” This year’s event will be the biggest ever in terms of scale and scope: ultimately, the US Army seeks to showcase “the ability to mass forces at any given time anywhere in Europe.”

The Pentagon’s European Command said an unknown number of B-1B strategic bombers will be joining the party, along with 3 B-52 Stratofortresses. Business Insider reported that 4,000 sailors, 50 ships and submarines and 50 aircraft are among the other military assets commanders will use to prepare for war-like scenarios.

The drills risk exacerbating tensions already simmering between Washington and Moscow.

On Tuesday, a Russian Su-27 intercepted a B-52 cruising above the Baltics.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently told US film director Oliver Stone that “no one would survive” a “hot war” between Washington and Moscow.

“Therefore, why does NATO keep existing?” Putin asked. “My impression is that in order to justify its existence, NATO has a need of an external foe, there is a constant search for the foe, or some acts of provocation to name someone as an adversary.”

************
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706091054461283-austrian-defense-ministry-upgrades-cockpits/

Austrian Ministry of Defense, so the country’s Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk helicopters can receive an upgrade to their cockpits.
The improvements will resolve obsolescence issues and make nine S-70A42 (UH-60L-standard) Black Hawk helicopters more reliable.


Ace Aeronautics will integrate its recently showcased Acehawk cockpit, which features a human-machine interface (HMI) and a new tactical mission system, along with Garmin G5000H wide-screen displays and Garmin GTC570 touch screens, according to IHS Janes.

"One of the most intuitive pilot-vehicle interfaces (PVI) available on the market, the G5000H provides the next generation of pilots the ability to more efficiently manage and control navigation and communication systems, traffic surveillance systems, flight management systems, electronic checklist entries, and remote audio/intercom systems, as well as optional charting, traffic, weather and custom display options," Ace Aeronautics details on its website.

The helicopters will also get new weather radars, and despite having no forward-looking infrared (FLIR) gimbal, footage will be viewed on a video interface from the Bell OH-58B helicopters and Pilatus PC-6 turboprops fitted with (FLIR), according to Janes.

Civilian systems will be integrated with tactical radios using an ACM9454 Cockpit Management Unit (CMU), along with a Mode 4 identification friend-or-foe (IFF) transponder.

Work is set to begin in the third quarter of the year at Ace Aeronautics' facility in Huntsville, Alabama for the first aircraft, while the second will be outfitted in Austria.

***********

At the show in Helsinki, Boeing will present a deck fighter-bomber and an attack aircraft of the F/A-18 E Super Hornet class, which is an updated version of the F/A-18 Hornet currently used in Finland and is considered to be one of the main contenders. This idea is heavily supported by the commander of the Armed Forces, Juhani Kaskeala, according to whom the new generation of the Hornet is easiest to adapt to for pilots, the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported.

The goal of replacing the 60 F-18s currently in use is set to become one of the biggest purchases in Finnish history at up to $20 billion sand will be finalized in 2021. The aircraft are expected to be put into service by 2030.

All in all, 80 aircraft of different generations will be put on display in Helsinki. What makes the air show all the more unique is that it was last organized at Kaivopuisto in 1955.

"Last time such a display was arranged over the sea and it happened in the 1970s," organizer Perttu Karivalo told the Finnish newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet.

Helsinki Airport

Two US B-2 stealth bombers have arrived to the United Kingdom.
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706091054485343-b2-us-uk-operation/

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Air Force deployed two of its B-2 stealth bombers to the United Kingdom, the US European Command said in a press release on Friday.

"B-2 Spirit Bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, deployed to Royal Air Force Fairford, UK, to participate in recurring bomber assurance and deterrence operations," the release stated.

The bombers will not support the ongoing BALTOPS or Saber Strike exercises, European Command added.

The release noted that it is the first time all three B-2 bombers are in Europe at the same time.

In a separate statement, the US Air Force explained the B-2s will join three B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers deployed on June 1, as well as three supersonic B-1 Lancers currently deployed to the Royal Air Force base in Fairfield.

European Command did not detail the nature of the B-2 bombers’ mission, but said they "are representative of the US commitment to our allies and enhancing regional security."

The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of firing both conventional and nuclear munitions. Its stealth characteristics make it difficult to detect with conventional infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual and radar systems, according to the Air Force. The aircraft can fly approximately 6,000 nautical miles (9,600 kilometers) without refueling.

First launched in 1989, the bomber played a major role in US Operation Allied Force when it destroyed 33 percent of all Serbian targets in eight weeks.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/military/201706101054500936-boeing-apache-copters-uk/

02:44 10.06.2017

The US defense giant Boeing is set to provide the British military with 38 Apache attack copters, three Longbow crew trainers and associated spares, the US Department of Defense announced.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Boeing has received a more than $410-million US Army foreign military sales contract to provide 38 Apache tactical ground-support helicopters and three Longbow crew trainers to the United Kingdom, according to the statement.

"The Boeing Company [of] Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $410.9 million… foreign military sales (UK) contract for 38 Apache aircraft, three Longbow crew trainers, and associated spares," the announcement stated on Friday.

Work on the contract will be performed in Mesa over the next five-and-a-half-years with an estimated completion date of February 28, 2023, the Defense Department added.

***********
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706101054506942-italy-nato-contributions/
Italy was spending 28 percent of its defense budget to buy military hardware, which is more than any other EU country (20 percent), and even the US (25 percent) do.

“We are buying too much arms, including F-35 fighters. We have already spent 5.4 billion euros on new warships and are now shelling out 5 billion to buy 800 new tanks,” Piovesana said.

 

[Hindustani78]

A soldier from Swedish Armed Forces , looks from the top of Patria XA- 360 AMX (Armored Modular Vehicle) at Hagshult Airbase.

Of late, the EU has been toying with the idea of creating a common European Defense Fund to support research and joint procurement of defense equipment, the funds expected to come from the EU budget. Dutiful EU member Sweden has expressed its reservations over the project as only benefiting EU heavyweights.

Some 30,000 people are employed in the Swedish defense industry, many of them in towns where arms factories are the largest private sector employer, such as Karlskoga, which was given a new lease on life in 1940 as the hometown of Bofors, one of Sweden's largest arms exporters.

Saab and other Sweden-based firms, such as the afore-mentioned Bofors, were largely successful in the 2000s. Following a decline in demand in the Western world, however, Sweden has become more inclined to sell arms to countries with a questionable human rights record, such as Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, which triggered concern from human rights activists.

Earlier this year, the Swedish government's plan to introduce a bill that would restrict arms exports to so-called "non-democracies" startled Sweden's sales-dependent military-industrial complex, with Saab venturing that it might move some or all of its research and development out of Sweden.

 

[Hindustani78]

NATO drills in Lithuania amid Russian aggression фото: REUTERS

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706211054841117-us-paratroopers-baltics/


WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US Army Europe head Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges said the planning is underway to reinforce NATO's eastern flank with the US paratroopers, Stars and Stripes reported. They will be stationed in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday that Russia will inform Western countries of its joint military exercises dubbed Zapad-2017 ("West-2017") with Belarus via diplomatic channels.

He added that the September 14-20 drills across Russia's northwest and Belarus would involve "considerably fewer personnel and equipment than in similar NATO maneuvers in Europe."
The United States is planning to deploy some 600 paratroopers to the Baltics this fall for the duration of the Russian Zapad 2017 military exercise, US media reported on Wednesday.

 

[Penguin]

600 US paratroopers to the Baltics ... so scary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Military_District

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/military/201706261054965277-us-marines-norway-russia/

Moscow has told Oslo that the extension of a US military deployment in the country will deteriorate diplomatic relations between the two neighbors.

The Norwegian defense minister said this week that the US Marine Corps' training on Norwegian soil would continue through 2018 — a year longer than it was initially planned.

"We are pleased to announce that… we are extending the USMC rotational presence for another year," Ine Eriksen Søreide said Wednesday.

The Russian Embassy in Norway on Saturday cautioned on its Facebook page that the move could escalate tensions and lead to the destabilization of the situation in the northern region.

"We consider that this step contradicts Norwegian policy of not deploying foreign military bases in the country in times of peace," the statement said, adding that the decision makes Norway not a fully predictable partner.

"We see it as an element of the US-led military preparations that have intensified against the background of the anti-Russian propagandist hysteria."

Roughly 330 US Marines originally arrived in Norway in January 2017 for a six-month deployment. Based at Vaernes, about 900 miles (1,450 kilometers) from the Russian border, they've received basic training with Norwegian and other allied forces for operations in an arctic environment.

Although Norway claimed the deployment had nothing to do with the alleged "Russian threat," Moscow wasn't convinced. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the arrival, warning that "the relationship between Norway and Russia is put to a test."

Maj. Gen. Niel E. Nelson, head of US Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, said in the Department of Defense press release that the Marines in Norway are demonstrating a high level of cooperation with allies.

"The more we train together alongside one another the stronger our Alliance becomes."

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706281055037368-nato-baltic-poland-battlegroups/
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – NATO’s four battlegroups in the Baltics and Poland are now fully operational, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday.

"NATO’s four multinational battlegroups in the Baltic countries and Poland are now fully operational, a clear demonstration that our alliance stands united in the face of any possible aggression," Stoltenberg told a press conference.

European NATO members and Canada are set to increase their annual defense spending by 4.3 percent this year, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday.

"This year, in 2017 we foresee an even greater annual real increase of 4.3 percent. That is three consecutive years of accelerating defense spending. This means over the last three years European allies and Canada spent almost $46 billion more on defense," Stoltenberg told a press conference.

In January, almost 1,000 US soldiers and the first shipment of the equipment for the US tank brigade arrived in Poland as part of the Atlantic Resolve mission of NATO. Early in May, three UH-60L Black Hawk US helicopters and 50 staff arrived at an air base in central-west Poland.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/military/201706281055063471-us-solider-electrocution-romania/

The 31-year-old soldier was one of six escorting a US armor convoy. After the convoy crossed the Romanian-Hungarian border, the soldier performed some routine operations on the vehicles before walking to the last car. It is not clear why he then climbed to the roof of the car, where he got caught in a powerful electric arc that made him fall to the station's pavement below.

A Romanian soldier witnessed the fall and alerted superiors about the accident.

"The exact circumstances of the soldier's electrocution are unknown, but very careful investigation is being done to determine the reason and conditions under which the American soldier has climbed to the roof of the train car. [The incident] was witnessed by a Romanian soldier on the watch and the surveillance service of the convoy, and in a very short time and all the necessary care was given," said Radu Ilina, First Prosecutor of the Military Prosecutor's Office in Timisoara.

The US soldier, whose name is still undisclosed, has been transported to Intensive Care Section of the Arad County Emergency Clinical Hospital. Medics say half his body is burned because of the shock. He also suffered head trauma because of the fall. His condition is said to be stable, however, and he is still intubated.

The medics at the hospital initially considered transporting the soldier by plane to Germany for additional treatment, but the flight was later cancelled.

The incident is currently being investigated, MEDIAFAX reports.

The convoy was heading to Romania's Cincu military base. US forces are currently transporting tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other equipment from Germany to Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary for a series of multinational exercises called Saber Guardian 17. The exercises are scheduled to run July 11-20 and involve about 25,000 allied troops.

 

[Hindustani78]

LTC Jonathan Nixon, Wing Commander, Royal Air Force, visited 831st brigade of tactical aviation in Poltava oblast. He observed demonstrative piloting of Su-27 and praised it in the framework of training of the Ukrainian pilots before The Royal International Air Tattoo — 2017.

For the first time the Ukrainian delegation participated in The Royal International Air Tattoo in 1996. Military pilots demonstrated their skills twice in 1999 and 2011.

 

[Hindustani78]

Command of the Ukrainian Air Force hosted special representative of the Estonian Ministry of Defence in Ukraine Major General (ret.) Valeri Saar. The parties discussed further bilateral cooperation and advisory assistance. Colonel General Serhii Drozdov, Commander of the Air Force, briefed the guest on the present and prospects of the Air Force, as well as told about structure and tasks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. General (ret.) Saar thanked for briefing and expressed hope to continue bilateral cooperation.