US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

FORBIN said:

That relates strategic missiles it is not the problem for it, THAAD is unable to intercept it and 2/ Chinese are based in the interior or SSBN to Hainan, so far.
And in general SSBN are the more specialised platforms for 2nd Strike

Right now only GBI can intercept strategic missiles.

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Navy 30-Year Ship Plan Outlines SSBN Incremental Funding, Pushes Cruiser Phased Modernization

The Navy released its

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to supplement the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request, which continues the service’s request to put its remaining cruisers into a phased modernization plan and notes the requirement for 52 small surface combatants despite Defense Secretary Ash Carter curtailing the program at 40 Littoral Combat Ships and frigates.

The plan incorporates the many changes Congress has made to the Navy’s shipbuilding profile, in some cases to bump up procurement to get ahead of funding challenge in the 2020s due to the Ohio Replacement Program ballistic missile submarine. The shipbuilding plan reflects Congress’s intent to speed up production of the next Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB), formerly called the Afloat Forward Staging Base, for which lawmakers added money in the FY 2016 spending plan. And the shipbuilding plan acknowledges that lawmakers provided $1 billion for an additional Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, though the actual ship procurement charts were not updated to reflect the possible additional ship because “there are insufficient resources available to complete that ship” at this time.

The 30-year plan also outlines exactly how the Navy will pay for the every-other-generation SSBNs, which serve as the nation’s sea-based nuclear deterrent. The lead ship will be paid for incrementally over three years: 41 percent in FY 2021, 35 percent in FY 2022 and 24 percent in FY 2023. The second ship will be paid for in both FY 2024 and 2025, and beginning in FY 2026 the Navy will buy one boat a year.

The shipbuilding plan still advocates a phased modernization plan for the cruiser fleet despite vehement opposition from lawmakers. The document notes that the first four ships are being inducted into Congress’s preferred modernization plan, which keeps the ships out of service for a much shorter time, compared to the Navy’s proposal to put the non-modernized cruisers into a reduced readiness state and modernize them as older cruisers approach decommissioning. The document notes the Navy supports putting the final seven non-modernized cruisers into its preferred modernization program, which will ensure enough cruisers to fill the air defense commander role in a carrier strike group through FY 2042 “and will maintain a greater number of operational large surface combatants in the latter part of the 2020s and early 2030s as the DDG-51s begin to retire.”

Overall, though Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and others talk about the Navy meeting its stated goal of a 308-ship fleet by 2021, the document notes that “the shipbuilding plan described in this report achieves the shipbuilding plan objective of 308 battle force ships from FY2021 through FY2028, albeit not with the (Force Structure Assessment) required mix of ships. The rate of large and small surface combatant and SSN (attack submarine) retirements beyond FY2028 exceeds the ability of the Navy to finance a build rate that sustains the 308 ship force structure. As a result, Navy force structure declines below 300 ships in FY2031 and remains below hat force level for the remainder of the 30 year period.”

At these lower force structure levels, the Navy will be able to meet the highest priorities laid out in the Defense Strategic Guidance, the report notes, but will take risk in the ability to fill lower-priority missions, such as presence missions outside of areas of conflict.

Everything within the report is subject to change, though. Navy leadership made clear this year that its force structure assessment – completed in 2012, with an update in 2014 – is no longer relevant given new threats that continue to arise. The Navy is conducting a new FSA that will inform the FY 2018 budget submission to Congress and will outline new requirements for attack submarines, small surface combatants and other ship types.

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Pegasus refuels Globemaster

The KC-46A Pegasus connected in flight with an F-16 Fighting Falcon on July 8 and a C-17 Globemaster III on July 12.

These tests with the F-16 and C-17 were in support of the Milestone C requirements to rendezvous, contact, and transfer fuel to several receiver aircraft types.

An initial attempt with the F-16 earlier this year was successful, however higher-than-expected axial loads on the boom were detected. These loads were again present during the initial attempt with the C-17 and necessitated installation of hydraulic pressure relief valves in the boom.

This week's successful tests show the boom axial loads hardware fix, designed by Boeing engineers, is performing as expected to alleviate the loads.

"I'm encouraged by these results. The KC-46 program continues to move forward, making important progress that will get this vital capability into the hands of the warfighter," said Deborah James, Secretary of the Air Force.

The final Milestone C flight test is to transfer fuel through the fixed boom to an A-10 Thunderbolt. That test is also slated to occur this month.

"Once complete with the A-10, we will request approval from Mr. Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, to award production Lots 1 and 2, totaling 19 KC-46A aircraft," according to Darlene Costello, Air Force Service Acquisition Executive.

"While it took some time, this week's results confirm my confidence the Boeing team will get this figured out. It's reassuring to see the program take this important step toward the production decision in August," said Gen. Dave Goldfein, Chief of Staff.

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Release Date: 7/14/2016
From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson is scheduled to visit China, July 17 to 20, to meet with People's Liberation Army (Navy) (PLA(N)) commander Adm. Wu Shengli.

The goal of the three-day visit to Beijing and Qingdao is to improve mutual understanding and encourage professional interaction between the two navies.

This is Richardson's first visit to China as CNO and will be the first in-person meeting for the two leaders. Over the last year, the two admirals have held three discussions via video teleconference.

Discussion topics include the South China Sea; the ongoing Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise; and future opportunities for the two navies to operate together.

"I have been looking forward to this trip and to meeting Admiral Wu for some time," said Richardson. "These are important times for our two navies and for maritime forces throughout the region. As we seek to learn from each other, there is no substitute for these types of face-to-face meetings."

While in Beijing, Richardson is scheduled to visit PLA(N) headquarters and meet with other senior Chinese defense officials. In Qingdao, home of the Chinese North Sea Fleet, he is scheduled to visit the Chinese Navy's submarine academy and tour the aircraft carrier Liaoning (CV-16).

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bd popeye said:

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Jura said:

I noticed through Defensetech.org
Military Firms Want to ‘Grow’ Drones from Chemicals

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and this ... story indeed comes from

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and contains particularly funny part "This unique UK technology could use environmentally sustainable materials ..." so those drones will also be Green LOL!

Lifting the lid on future military aircraft technologies

dated 3 July 2016, it's

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