PACIFIC OCEAN – Indian naval officers observe flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan is participating in Exercise Malabar, a bilateral coordination with the Indian navy. Ronald Reagan is currently operating in the Western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin B. Gray)
Malabar is an annual bilateral naval field training exercise conducted to advance multinational maritime relationships and mutual security issues. The exercise helps enhance military-to-military coordination between the two nations and help to strategize and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment.
The guided-missile frigate USS Reuben James (FFG 57) Commanding Officer Cmdr. David Miller, said it is important to have exercises like Malabar.
“In today’s global environment all actions are in conjunction with a multilateral partner,” said Miller. As the U.S. and India are two of the largest democracies in the world, it’s important to conduct exercises like Malabar so we’re able to work effectively.”
Miller also commented on how Malabar strengthens ties between people of each Navy.
“Any time we’re able to work with the Indian Navy our ties are strengthened. A major component of the exercise is trading liaison officers and having officers from their Navy, Marine, and Special Operations board our ships as well as having our officers board theirs,” said Miller.
Miller pointed out how Malabar helps both navies accomplish common objectives in the region.
“One of our big objectives is theater security operations. That involves strengthening ties, freedom of seas, combating piracy, and helping secure worldwide trade. The Indian Navy provides a big piece of that and this exercise prepares us for any future requirements,” said Miller.
Miller added that the cross-training between the two navies made the exercise a success.
“My crew learned a lot. We had very successful training with special warfare teams, and operations with other ships. Being able to meet CO’s from Indian vessels was a great opportunity to share experiences,” said Miller.
Events that were executed as part of the exercise included; liaison officer professional exchanges and embarks; communications exercises; surface action group exercise operations; formation maneuvering; helicopter cross deck evolutions; underway replenishments; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; visit, board, search and seizure; and anti submarine warfare.
And, due to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) completion in Operation Tomodachi, the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group’s location afforded the opportunity for the strike group to have limited participation in exercise Malabar.
In addition to Reagan, the strike group brought new participants to join Malabar including Carrier Strike Group 7; Destroyer Squadron 7; Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14; USS Chancellorsville (CG 63); and USS Pebble. These additions brought approximately 5,000 Sailors to the exercise to work with other U.S. Navy units already participating since April 3 which include USS Stethem (DDG 63); USS Sterett (DDG 104); USS Reuben James (FFG 57); and a nuclear-powered attack submarine.
Mediterranean: U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyers USS Barry (DDG 52) cruiser fired Tomahawk cruise missiles United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973 issue of sanctions against the Libyan armed forces are performing on the international military activities in support of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn to Libya with oil is being attacked.
Does not touch the big countries like China. Venezuela, North Korea's Kim Jong Il situation seemed a lot.
France is sending its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle Libya to expand the air campaign against the forces of Muammar Qaddafi. The ship, carrying 20 military aircraft, most of them Rafale and Super Etendard jets older, two helicopters and surveillance aircraft E-2 Hawkeye, leave the port of Toulon, southern France, at 9am (GMT).
According to French military, the Charles de Gaulle is 24 hours of the Libyan coast, but may take 36 to 48 hours to reach the site after loading the fighter jets and landing exercises.
The aircraft carriers would be escorted by three frigates - the antissubmarino Duplex, The antiaircraft Forbin and AconiteWith Stealth technology - and the tanker La Meuse. The French naval group will be protected by a nuclear submarine, the military added.
The French warplanes continued making reconnaissance flights in Libya on Sunday morning as part of the expanded role of the West in the Arab world since the invasion of Iraq led by the USA in 2003.
Yesterday, the Jets led the action western France, with four air strikes on Libya, destroying several armored forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi. The attacks came before the U.S. warships and a submarine firing the UK at least 100 Tomahawk missiles against the batteries of radar and antiaircraft missiles from Qaddafi.
The intervention was authorized by Resolution 1973 the Security Council of the United Nations, which allowed the use of force to protect civilians from attacks by Libyan forces Qaddafi.
In brief audio message broadcast on state television last night, Gaddafi described the action as "an unwarranted and barbaric aggression of the Crusaders." He vowed to retaliate with attacks on civilian and military targets in the Mediterranean. The information is of Dow Jones.
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- U.S. naval forces participated in a Tomahawks missile strike March 19 on Libya as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn designed to set the conditions for a coalition no-fly zone.
Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Barry (DDG 52) and submarines USS Providence (SSN 719), USS Scranton (SSN 756) and USS Florida (SSGN 728) participated in the strike.
More than 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the strike by U.S. and British ships and submarines against Libyan air defense, surface-to-air missile sites and communication nodes.
The U.S. Joint Task Force (JTF) is commanded by Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, III, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and is operating from the USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20), currently deployed in the Mediterranean Sea.
In addition to the task force command ship, and the five ships and subs that took part in the strikes, the JTF includes USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), and USS Ponce (LPD 15).
Pakistan's Defence Ministry has asked the federal cabinet to approve the purchase of conventional Chinese submarines to counter "emerging threats" that the country faces, according to a media report on Wednesday.
The acquisition of the Chinese vessels will pave the way for joint development of conventional submarines, The Express Tribune newspaper quoted unnamed officials as saying.
The Defence Ministry informed members of the cabinet that the Pakistan Navy is facing a "critical force imbalance" in terms of the number of submarines and ships in its fleet.
The "capability gap is widening exponentially with the passage of time", the report said.
In view of "urgent naval requirements", the issue of acquiring Chinese submarines was part of the talking points for President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to China in 2009.
The matter was also discussed during the Chinese premier's visit to Pakistan in 2010, the report said.
The cabinet has been told that Naval Headquarters had pursued the purchase of submarines with Chinese authorities.
A "mutually agreed draft protocol" is to be signed between the Pakistan Navy and the relevant Chinese department as a first step towards the joint development of conventional submarines.
The first F-35C test aircraft (CF-1) flew faster than the speed of sound for the first time over a test range near the Navy and Marine Corps F-35 integrated test facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River March 4.
During a test flight to expand the flutter envelope, CF-1 reached Mach 1.02 at 30,000 feet with U.S. Marine Corps pilot Lt. Col. Matt Taylor at the controls.
“It’s great to be part of bringing stealth capability to the big-deck carriers,” said Taylor. “We accomplished a large number of test points, and CF-1 handled great going past Mach 1. It was a privilege for me to take the F-35C over that milestone for the first time.”
CF-1 gathered enough supersonic flutter data for the team to continue supersonic envelope expansion in the near future.
Flutter is an evaluation of structural loads on the aircraft experienced at various speeds and while performing prescribed maneuvers. The test and evaluation team at NAS Patuxent River will expand the flutter envelope to demonstrate the required durability and reliability of the aircraft in advance of delivery of the aircraft to the fleet.
The F-35C is distinct from the F-35A and F-35B variants with its larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for greater control in the demanding carrier take-off and landing environment. Carrier suitability testing for the F-35C variant is scheduled to begin later this year with land-based catapult and jet blast deflector testing.
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program is in the system development and demonstration phase, focusing on delivering three different, new aircraft variants to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. The integrated test force at NAS Patuxent River is focused on testing and evaluation of the F-35B and F-35C.
The Russian built Indian Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya has begun mooring trials on March 1 in Russia. The order to start testing was signed by Sevmash Director General Nikolai Sevmash Kalistratov. Sevmash, the agency which is involved in transformation of the carrier says that this is a serious step in the modernization of the ship, particularly marked in the master schedule building.
Outfitting work entered its final stage. The ship has been gradually populated with the equipment, machinery, pipes, cables, and now all this must be checked in different modes. Tests will be conducted on special programs and techniques.
As per sevmash, the most difficult and important test will be the main power plant. The second major task will be to check electronic armament complexes, including complexes of Indian origin and aviation facilities ships. Mooring tests will be important for testing training systems and equipment. The factory sea trials has been planned to begin in late 2011.
