Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.



CSBA Released A New Report: Why AirSea Battle?
Source: Center for Budgetary and strategic Assessments

CSBA has released a new report: “Why AirSea Battle?” by Andrew Krepinovich.

The report discusses the critical role that the US military’s power-projection operations have played in providing for the security of the United States and its allies since World War II.

The report then goes on to describe military modernization efforts by China and Iran designed to deny the United States the ability to sustain military forces in the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf.

It concludes by arguing that a new Air Force-Navy AirSea Battle concept is needed to preserve a stable military balance in these two primarily aerospace and maritime domains.

“The US must adapt its power projection forces—along with corresponding changes in its military capabilities and force structure—or face the prospect of losing military access in these two key regions,” concludes Krepinevich. “The importance and urgency of finding a new approach is reinforced by the priority afforded to AirSea battle in the Quadrennial Defense Review released on February 1st.”

The full report can be read here.


Indian Navy Confirms Arihant Is an SSBN
Source: Forecast International

NEW DELHI --- The Indian Navy has confirmed that its new nuclear-powered submarine, the Arihant, is an SSBN armed with 12 ballistic missiles. The missile in question is the K-15, capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to a range of 700 kilometers.



Both missile and submarine are expected to be in full operational service by 2011.

Vice-Admiral D.P.S. Varma (retired), Director General of Advanced Technology Vehicle Project - the program that produced the Arihant - said that current plans were to build five to six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. He said construction plans were in hand to build two more nuclear-powered submarines to reinforce India's strategic deterrent force at sea.


Pakistan – Refurbishment of Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigate
Source: US Defense Security Cooperation Agency

WASHINGTON --- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Feb. 18 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan for refurbishment of one OLIVER HAZARD PERRY Class Frigate and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for a complete package worth approximately $78 million.

The Government of Pakistan has requested a possible sale for refurbishment of one OLIVER HAZARD PERRY Class Frigate, USS MCINERNEY (FFG-8), being provided as Excess Defense Articles (grant EDA notification is being submitted separately) with onboard spares, spare and repairs parts, support equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.



The estimated cost of the refurbishment and support is $78 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be a partner in combating insurgents in Pakistan.

Pakistan requires the capabilities of USS McINERNEY (FFG-8) to participate in U.S. and coalition led counter-narcotics and counter-piracy operations and to assist with Pakistan’s efforts to secure its maritime border. Pakistan will have no difficulty absorbing the ship into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor is unknown at this time. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any U.S. Government and contractor representatives to Pakistan.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.




U.S. Navy Joins Major IR Countermeasures System Program
Source: Forecast International

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- Northrop Grumman's Large Aircraft IR Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system, which has been largely used on U.S. Air Force aircraft, is now being produced for the U.S. Navy.

Northrop Grumman announced that the Department of the Navy's CH-53E heavy-lift helicopter fleet will continue to receive new LAIRCM self-protection systems following the Pentagon's decision to authorize full-rate production of the units.

The decision allows Naval Air Systems Command to continue procurement of the system known as Department of Navy LAIRCM (DoN LAIRCM) system, which includes the Viper Laser and the newest generation jam head and missile warning sensor technology.

In September 2009, the Pentagon asked Congress to cut $156 million in procurement funding from the Air Force's FY10 supplemental budget in order to support other DoD priorities. Almost all of this would be accomplished by cutting LAIRCM production for certain C-17 and C-130 aircraft. Despite this, production will proceed for enough other platforms over the next 10 years to avoid any serious, adverse effect on the system's outlook.

Infrared-guided missiles remain the most serious threat faced by aircraft, especially transport and other large, multi-engine aircraft. The large size and the distance between engines of these aircraft also make it necessary to generate more jamming/disruption power than is offered by the AAQ-24 (from which LAIRCM was derived). In addition, it has become necessary to install multiple jam heads to ensure adequate protection.

The Pentagon plans to spend nearly $1 billion through FY13 on LAIRCM procurement for various Air Force aircraft, declaring that its long-range desire is to equip a total of 444 aircraft with the system. In addition, the U.S. Navy's Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems Program Office just recently purchased LAIRCM for the Marines' CH-53E Sea Stallion aircraft




USS Enterprise CV-6

Today’s website is the history of the USS Enterprise CV-6. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1813 - USS Hornet, under command of Capt. James Lawrence, captures HMS Peacock.
1942 - Japanese occupation forces are attacked by planes from carrier USS Enterprise (CV 6) task force under Vice Adm. W.F. Halsey.
1973 - In accordance with the Paris Accords, Navy Task Force 78, composed of four ocean minesweepers plus Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 12, begins sweeping the North Vietnamese waters of the mines laid in 1972.
1991 - Forces from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Syria and Kuwait proceed with major ground, air and naval offensive to drive Iraq out of Kuwait.


Photo of the Day



An SBD Dauntless is lifted to the Big E's flight deck, during the February 1942 raid on Wake Island.

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