Milcom Monitoring Post

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 31 January 2012 - Btown

2012-02-01T08:05:00.002-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Time (we only had a partial log yesterday due to connection issues with the Live-Mode-S server).
AE152C 166378 --- 2012-01-31 23:43:04 C-37B United States USN | VR-1 [KADW]
AE0314 74-1680 RCH 340T 2012-01-31 22:51:00 C-130H United States USAF | 317AG [KDYS] 0000 21000
AD9292 N974AS --- 2012-01-31 21:05:16 MD83 United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AE10CB 165509 --- 2012-01-31 21:01:06 T-39G United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA]
AC8E11 N908NA --- 2012-01-31 20:36:05 T-38N United States NASA
AE1445 05-3145 GLEAN26 2012-01-31 20:24:12 C-130J-30 United States USAF | 19AW [KLRF] 1614 22975
AE03C7 162786 --- 2012-01-31 20:19:47 KC-130T United States USMCR | VMGR-234 [KNFW]
AE121E 65-0981 KING 72 2012-01-31 04:04:46 HC-130P United States 23WG/71RQS 0000 14600
AA4A23 N762NA NAO7024 2012-01-31 03:29:28 BOEING 767-319ER United States North American Airlines --- 39000

Sort by ICAO24 code
AA4A23 N762NA NAO7024 2012-01-31 03:29:28 BOEING 767-319ER United States North American Airlines --- 39000
AC8E11 N908NA --- 2012-01-31 20:36:05 T-38N United States NASA
AD9292 N974AS --- 2012-01-31 21:05:16 MD83 United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AE10CB 165509 --- 2012-01-31 21:01:06 T-39G United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA]
AE0314 74-1680 RCH 340T 2012-01-31 22:51:00 C-130H United States USAF | 317AG [KDYS] 0000 21000
AE03C7 162786 --- 2012-01-31 20:19:47 KC-130T United States USMCR | VMGR-234 [KNFW]
AE121E 65-0981 KING 72 2012-01-31 04:04:46 HC-130P United States 23WG/71RQS 0000 14600
AE1445 05-3145 GLEAN26 2012-01-31 20:24:12 C-130J-30 United States USAF | 19AW [KLRF] 1614 22975
AE152C 166378 --- 2012-01-31 23:43:04 C-37B United States USN | VR-1 [KADW]

Milcom Blog Logs - January 2012 Deltona Fla

2012-02-01T08:01:00.001-05:00

Our friend in central Florida, Jack Nesmith, checks in with his monthly UHF milair report.

225.1500 J-STARS
225.3500 PINECASTLE RNG (R-2910)
225.8750 AWACS
227.0750 W-470A
227.1250 ZMA
227.1750 ECHO WHISKEY
228.2250 MOODY AFB 374RQW
229.9750 SILENT WARRIOR
231.6000 ENTERPRISE C2X
233.3250 NAVY AIR OPS
233.4500 EGLIN AFB
233.7000 MOODY AFB A/D
233.9500 ENTERPRISE C2X UNK. USER
234.5750 ENTERPRISE C2X
234.7750 ENTERPRISE C2X
234.8000 159FS/125FW
235.1000 REFUELING
235.7250 ENTERPRISE C2X
236.0750 ENTERPRISE C2X
238.8000 USAF?
239.0000 ORLANDO EXEC TOWER
239.1250 NICKEL TAC
239.2500 ZMA
239.3000 SAVANNAH GA CRTC
239.3500 ENTERPRISE C2X
239.9750 STEELJAW/SCREWTOP TAC
240.3000 J-STARS
241.9250 ENTERPRISE C2X
242.2250 ENTERPRISE C2X
244.4000 ENTERPRISE C2X
246.1500 UNKNOWN USER
246.8000 HAWK TAC
250.3000 VMFA-224
251.2000 MOODY AFB INTERFLIGHT
251.2500 159FS/125FW
251.6000 UNKNOWN USER
252.1000 HOMESTEAD ARB
252.8000 PATRICK AFB 920RQW
252.8000 USAF
252.9250 J-STARS
253.1000 PINECASTLE RNG (R-2910)
253.7000 159FS/125FW
254.3250 ZJX
254.3750 ZMA
255.4000 FSS
256.7500 TYNDALL AFB 43FS INTERFLIGHT
257.2500 J-STARS
260.9000 NORAD
261.2500 PINECASTLE RNG (R-2910)
261.4000 W-470
262.0000 ENTERPRISE C2X
263.0500 JAX TRACON
263.5000 ENTERPRISE C2X
264.2000 NAS JAX
264.6250 AVON PARK RNG (R-2901)
265.3000 ENTERPRISE C2X
266.5000 REFUELING
266.6250 ENTERPRISE C2X
267.5000 FACSFAC JAX “SEALORD”
267.6000 NAS MAYPORT METRO
267.8000 TYNDALL AFB 43FS INTERFLIGHT
268.1000 MOODY AFB INTERFLIGHT
269.2500 ZJX
269.3000 ZMA
269.3750 PATRICK AFB TOWER
269.6000 ZJX
270.5000 ENTERPRISE C2X
271.9500 J-STARS
272.0000 ENTERPRISE C2X
273.5500 ZJX
274.7000 NAS WHITING TW-5 INTERFLIGHT
275.2000 GRUMMAN FLIGHT TEST
275.6500 ENTERPRISE C2X
276.3250 ENTERPRISE C2X
277.1250 HAMMER INTERFLIGHT
277.1750 HMX-1
277.8000 FLEET COMMON
278.8000 NAS WHITING A/D
279.0500 ENTERPRISE C2X
279.7500 J-STARS
281.0000 NAS JAX
281.1500 NAVY AIR OPS
281.5000 ZMA
282.2000 ZJX
282.3000 ZJX
283.4000 VMFA-122
283.5000 ENTERPRISE C2X
284.3000 REFUELING
284.5000 FACSFAC JAX “SEALORD”
285.0000 NAS JAX TSU “FIDDLE”
285.4500 ZMA
285.5000 ZMA
285.6000 MOODY AFB
285.6500 ZJX
288.3500 JAX IAP A/D
288.7750 ENTERPRISE C2X
288.9000 TYNDALL AFB 43FS INTERFLIGHT
289.2750 VMFA-533
290.0000 ENTERPRISE C2X
290.3000 TAMPA IAP A/D
290.5750 ENTERPRISE C2X
290.6750 TYNDALL AFB 43FS INTERFLIGHT
291.1500 W-470C COMMON
292.1000 REFUELING
292.2250 ENTERPRISE C2X “STRIKE”
292.8000 AIR FORCE-1
293.1000 W-470C COMMON
293.2250 ZMA
293.5250 J-STARS
293.6000 NORAD
295.0000 MOODY AFB
298.4750 ECHO ZULU “FREDDIE”
298.5000 MOODY AFB
298.5500 ENTERPRISE C2X
299.5000 NAS WHITING
301.0000 ENTERPRISE C2X
301.5500 J-STARS
303.0000 ENTERPRISE C2X
305.6000 MOODY AFB SOF
306.0000 NAS JAX VP-30
307.0000 ORLANDO IAP A/D
307.2000 ZJX
307.2500 ZJX
307.3000 ZMA
308.9000 325FW A/G/A
309.4000 NAS KEY WEST
310.2000 NAS JAX BASE OPS
310.8250 MOODY AFB
311.0000 MACDILL AFB CMD POST
312.1500 NAS JAX :STEEL JAW” BASE
314.0500 GCI WETSTONE W-470
314.3750 ENTERPRISE C2X
314.4000 REFUELING
316.3000 NORAD
317.5250 ZJX
317.6000 ZJX
318.3250 ENTERPRISE C2X
318.6000 REFUELING
319.0000 ZMA
320.5000 ENTERPRISE C2X
321.0000 PATRICK AFB 920RQW
322.4000 JAX IAP A/D
322.4750 ZJX
322.8500 REFUELING
323.0000 ZMA
323.7250 ENTERPRISE C2X
324.6000 REFUELING
324.6500 AWACS
326.2500 USAF
327.4000 MOODY AFB
327.6000 REFUELING
328.0250 ENTERPRISE C2X
328.4250 ENTERPRISE C2X
335.3500 ZJX
335.4500 X
335.5000 ZMA
335.5500 ZJX
336.2250 ENTERPRISE C2X
336.4000 NAS JAX
338.1000 ENTERPRISE C2X
338.1500 NAS MAYPORT
339.7000 FACSFAC JAX “SEALORD”
340.1250 REFUELING
340.2000 NAS JAX TOWER
341.7500 AWACS
342.0750 ENTERPRISE C2X
342.1000 W-470
342.2500 ZMA
343.0000 159FS/125FW
343.3250 NICKEL TAC
343.5000 NAS JAX METRO
345.0000 USCG
346.2500 ZJX
348.7000 ZMA
349.0000 ZMA
349.4500 ENTERPRISE C2X
349.6000 AWACS
349.8000 FACSFAC JAX “SEALORD”
350.0250 AMID
351.0250 J-STARS
351.8000 JAX IAP A/D
352.0000 ZJX
352.1000 REFUELING
354.3250 ENTERPRISE C2X
357.0250 ENTERPRISE C2X
360.4000 ENTERPRISE C2X
360.5000 X
360.7000 ZJX
360.8000 ZJX
361.2500 ENTERPRISE C2X
361.3000 ENTERPRISE C2X
361.4000 GCI OP HYDRA CONTROL
363.1750 ZJX
363.3250 ENTERPRISE C2X
363.4000 REFUELING
363.4500 ENTERPRISE C2X
363.6500 ENTERPRISE C2X
364.2000 NORAD
371.0500 ENTERPRISE C2X
371.1250 ENTERPRISE C2X
371.3500 NAS JAX
371.6000 ENTERPRISE C2X
372.3000 J-STARS
375.7250 ENTERPRISE C2X
376.4500 W-470
376.9000 ENTERPRISE C2X REFUELING BOOM
377.1000 ZJX
377.3500 ENTERPRISE C2X
377.4250 ENTERPRISE C2X
379.2500 ZMA
381.3000 ACC CMD POST
388.9500 AWACS

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 31 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-02-01T07:52:00.001-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

111111 (LX-N20199) --- 2012-01-31 16:40:00 CT-49A Luxembourg NAEWandCF
A0DD42 N155FC N155FC 2012-01-31 19:22:47 Cessna 182T United States STATE OF FLORIDA 0000 1500
A0EBDE N159CP --- 2012-01-31 18:39:38 Cessna 182T United States CIVIL AIR PATROL 6671 5600
A2191E N234U --- 2012-01-31 20:21:55 206H United States US DOJ | DEA
A24775 N246N N246N 2012-01-31 18:15:49 206H United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
A62778 N496MC GTI621 2012-01-31 19:31:25 Boeing 747-212B United States AtlasAir 0000 36050
A7A899 N593AN RPN593 2012-01-31 18:22:35 MD-83 United States --- 6063 31000
A9F7DB N741SK --- 2012-01-31 19:10:16 P-3B United States US DHS | CBP [KVQQ] 0000 16075
A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-31 19:03:06 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines 3760 28800
AAE5F0 N801DS --- 2012-01-31 16:36:52 Bell 407 United States Volusia County
AD610A N961NA --- 2012-01-31 19:31:40 T-38 United States NASA 3234 6275
ADFC63 90-0401 --- 2012-01-31 16:10:39 T-1A United States USAF | 47FTW | 86FTS [KDLF]
ADFC94 92-0339 --- 2012-01-31 15:21:08 T-1A United States USAF | 12FTW | 99FTS [KRND]
ADFD86 94-0259 --- 2012-01-31 17:35:37 C-26D United States Det4/DC-ArNG
ADFED0 85-1262 1200 2012-01-31 18:17:58 C-12U United States USARMY (OSACOM Det25 TNArNG) 2342 23975
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT22 2012-01-31 14:56:33 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE06E4 NAS Chambers --- 2012-01-31 14:39:17 UC-12F United States USNAVY
AE08FD 84-24380 FC0123 2012-01-31 19:50:31 C-12U United States USARC | A/2-228 AVN (TA) [KWRI ]
AE0994 95-26604 G9526604 2012-01-31 17:05:08 UH-60L United States 1-244th AVN 6271 2700
AE11FA 02-0203 BOXER42 2012-01-31 18:52:53 C-40C United States DC ANG | 113Wg | 201AS [KADW] 6047 35000
AE11FA 02-0203 --- 2012-01-31 18:52:53 C-40C United States DC ANG | 113Wg | 201AS [KADW] 6047 35000
AE12AD 88-0264 --- 2012-01-31 20:56:59 MC-130H United States USAF | 1SOW | 15SOS [KHRT]
AE137F 163886 --- 2012-01-31 15:45:18 EA-6B United States USNAVY
AE1489 90-0175 --- 2012-01-31 15:23:53 E-8C United States Northrop Grumman

NECC participates in Bold Alligator

2012-01-31T14:31:00.002-05:00

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kay Savarese, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Riverine Group (RIVGRU) 1 will command the Navy's expeditionary forces for Bold Alligator 2012 (BA12), the nation's largest joint forces and multinational amphibious exercise on the East Coast, which began Jan. 30.

RIVGRU-1 is part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) that deployed to North Carolina as headquarters for the Navy Expeditionary Force (NEF) supporting BA12.

Units from NECC participating include RIVGRU-1, Riverine Squadrons (RIVRON), Maritime Civil Affairs Team (MCAST), Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command (NEIC), and Expeditionary Training Group (ETG).

"The NEF represents the first live play on the ground and inland waters of North Carolina for Bold Alligator 2012, representing the historic flexibility of maritime services," said Capt. Christopher Halton, the commodore of RIVGRU-1 and commander of NEF.

The NEF provides command and control necessary to integrate NECC into any Navy operation. BA12 provides NECC the opportunity to further refine partnerships for worldwide Navy support, including joint operations and allied forces, extending global partnerships. In the BA12 scenario, the NEF deploys to assist a fictitious host nation.

"The NEF was the first U.S. force placed at the maritime-ground seam to help the host nation's security forces improve their capability and capacity," said Halton. "In addition, the NEF is assisting the host nation with countering insurgent activity, maintaining or developing goodwill in the local populace as well as preparing for the follow-on amphibious landing."

Expeditionary forces operate on or near coastal and waterway areas to execute the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy; forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

"The NEF is extending the United States' 'Blue Water Option' further into the inland waterways and harbors of nations who request help," said Halton. "There is no other Navy force that can operate from a ship or ashore with equal ease and with the same operational capability."

ETG will assist in directing BA12 and evaluate NECC performance to further refine NECC procedures by coordinating synthetic training by utilizing realistic actors and contractors. Expeditionary forces will operate in at least seven different locations throughout the duration of the exercise.

In addition to NECC, units participating in BA12 include the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as well as various other ships and units.

BA12 is a live, scenario-driven simulation held off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12. Its purpose is to revitalize Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary capabilities and to test and strengthen the fundamental roles of amphibious operations by focusing on force readiness and proficiency.

Eight countries will join U.S. forces in the exercise, allowing American service members and coalition partners the opportunity to exercise amphibious operations in a real-world environment.

NECC is a command element and force provider for integrated maritime expeditionary missions, serving as a single functional command for the Navy's expeditionary forces.

Bold Alligator 2012 to Revitalize Amphibious Operations

2012-01-31T09:58:00.001-05:00

Blog Editors Note: My east coast readers should keep an eye out for possible USMC HF ALE activity through February 12 associated with Bold Alligator.

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Commander, United States Fleet Forces (USFF) and Commander, Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM) will lead the East Coast's largest joint and multinational amphibious assault exercise in the past ten years officials announced Jan. 25.

Exercise Bold Alligator 2012 (BA12) will revitalize Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary tactics, techniques and procedures, and reinvigorate its culture of conducting combined Navy and Marine Corps operations from the sea.

BA12 will be a live and synthetic, scenario-driven, simulation-supported exercise designed to train Expeditionary Strike Group 2 (ESG 2), 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB) and Carrier Strike Group 12. Staffs will plan and execute a MEB-sized amphibious assault from a seabase in a medium land-and-maritime threat environment to improve naval amphibious core competencies.

The exercise will run Jan. 30 through Feb. 12, ashore and afloat, in and off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina and Florida

"Amphibious forces are a critical element of maritime power projection that ought to be a high priority for support, even in a resource constrained environment, because they are a cost effective option for accomplishing a wide range of military operations," said Adm. John C. Harvey, commander, USFF.

The units involved include the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group 2 (ESG-2), 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) as well as various other ships and units.

Nine countries are participating in exercise BA12, providing maritime, land and air units or observers. The countries participating with the U.S. forces are Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom.

One of the exercise's priorities is to incorporate lessons learned over the past 10 years of challenging combat operations, overseas contingency operations, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR), noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO) and homeland defense.

The exercise will focus on the fundamental aspects and roles of amphibious operations to improve amphibious force readiness and proficiency for executing the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy - forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

"In today's world, the Navy-Marine Corps team must remain capable of gaining access to an operational area, and projecting and sustaining a sizable landing force ashore," said Lt. General Dennis Hejlik, Commander, MARFORCOM. "We have the legislated responsibilities to be able to conduct these operations, and we certainly must be ready to do so beyond the ARG-MEU level where we routinely operate today."

The culmination of Bold Alligator 2012 will include three large-scale events within the exercise: an amphibious assault at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; an aerial assault from the sea into Fort Pickett, Va.; and an amphibious raid on Fort Story, Va.

Embedded within their participation in BA12 is the Enterprise CSG's Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX); the Iwo Jima (ARG) and 24th MEU certification exercise (CERTEX); and Riverine Group 1 (RIVGRU 1) Maritime Security Operations Ready (MSO-R) certification by Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC).

NORAD exercise planned for Washington, D.C. and Richmond Virginia area.

2012-01-31T09:56:00.001-05:00

Courtesy of Ed Tobias and the ScanDC newsgroup:

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will conduct exercise flights January 31, 2012 as they practice intercept and identification procedures. Exercise flights will take place in and around the National Capital Region, Washington, D.C. and the area between Washington DC and Richmond Virginia. Although they are scheduled for the morning, the flights could be delayed due to weather concerns.

Those in the National Capital Region, Washington, D.C. may hear and/or see NORAD-controlled fighter jets in close proximity to a military or military contracted aircraft, which will be taking on the role of Tracks of Interest (TOI).

Additionally those living in the area between Washington, D.C. and Richmond Virginia may hear and/or see NORAD-controlled fighter jets in close proximity to a military or military contracted aircraft, which will be taking on the role of Tracks of Interest (TOI).

In order to test responses, systems and equipment, NORAD continuously conducts exercises with a variety of scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings and responding to unknown aircraft. All NORAD exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled.

NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout Canada and the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command's response to the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.

NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that provides maritime warning, aerospace warning and aerospace control for Canada and the United States. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 30 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-31T07:26:00.002-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Time
AE07EF 96-0005 RCH6005 2012-01-30 23:41:31 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 37000
AE0272 64-14840 TAZZ83 2012-01-30 23:36:44 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] 0000 20000
00000A Various --- 2012-01-30 23:14:59 Various Various ---
AC8E11 N908NA --- 2012-01-30 22:32:26 T-38N United States NASA 0000 27050
AE036E 98-0008 --- 2012-01-30 20:56:03 UC-35A United States US Army 0000 39000
AD9292 N974AS --- 2012-01-30 20:11:05 MD83 United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AE093B 00-1052 --- 2012-01-30 19:43:07 UC-35B United States US Army | OSACOM PATD [KADW]
A68C86 99-0100 --- 2012-01-30 19:19:21 UC-35 United States USARMY 0000 36975
ADFED6 85-1268 --- 2012-01-30 19:12:39 C-12U United States US ARMY | OSACOM VA RFC [KDAA]
ADFC63 90-0401 --- 2012-01-30 18:54:45 T-1A United States USAF | 47FTW | 86FTS [KDLF]
AE1171 02-1099 GRITS37 2012-01-30 17:51:08 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 1074 26000
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT12 2012-01-30 17:49:36 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF] 0000 28000
AE0155 62-3507 --- 2012-01-30 17:36:22 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE189A 05-4613 SPAR11 2012-01-30 17:10:05 C-40C United States AFRC | 932AW | 73AS [KBLV]
477FF1 01 BRK92 2012-01-30 17:01:26 C-17A Hungary NATO 0000 34000
ADFD01 95-0053 --- 2012-01-30 17:00:58 T-1A United States USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS
AE036E 98-0008 --- 2012-01-30 16:59:07 UC-35A United States US Army
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT12 2012-01-30 16:58:21 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF] 0000 28000
AE0184 84-0090 BATTL 15 2012-01-30 15:48:39 C-21A United States MI ANG | 110FW | 172AS [KBTL]
A69072 N522AX CMB587 2012-01-30 10:15:06 DC-10 United States OmniAirInternational 0000 25850
AE07F0 96-0006 RCH442 2012-01-30 04:47:08 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 37000
AE0800 98-0054 RCH802T 2012-01-30 04:01:59 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS]
AE20C8 07-7187 RCH270 2012-01-30 01:47:10 C-17a United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS]
AA59AE N766VA RBY679 2012-01-30 01:11:18 Boeing 767-2Q8 United States Vision Airlines 0000 41000
AE1198 03-3115 E33115 2012-01-30 01:11:05 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
AE1198 03-3115 E33115 2012-01-30 01:00:23 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
AA90A0 N780BA GTI4432 2012-01-30 00:52:38 B-747-409 United States Evergreen International --- 39000

Sort by ICAO24 code
00000A Various --- 2012-01-30 23:14:59 Various Various ---
477FF1 01 BRK92 2012-01-30 17:01:26 C-17A Hungary NATO 0000 34000
A68C86 99-0100 --- 2012-01-30 19:19:21 UC-35 United States USARMY 0000 36975
A69072 N522AX CMB587 2012-01-30 10:15:06 DC-10 United States OmniAirInternational 0000 25850
AA59AE N766VA RBY679 2012-01-30 01:11:18 Boeing 767-2Q8 United States Vision Airlines 0000 41000
AA90A0 N780BA GTI4432 2012-01-30 00:52:38 B-747-409 United States Evergreen International --- 39000
AC8E11 N908NA --- 2012-01-30 22:32:26 T-38N United States NASA 0000 27050
AD9292 N974AS --- 2012-01-30 20:11:05 MD83 United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AE093B 00-1052 --- 2012-01-30 19:43:07 UC-35B United States US Army | OSACOM PATD [KADW]
ADFC63 90-0401 --- 2012-01-30 18:54:45 T-1A United States USAF | 47FTW | 86FTS [KDLF]
ADFD01 95-0053 --- 2012-01-30 17:00:58 T-1A United States USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS
ADFED6 85-1268 --- 2012-01-30 19:12:39 C-12U United States US ARMY | OSACOM VA RFC [KDAA]
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT12 2012-01-30 16:58:21 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF] 0000 28000
AE0155 62-3507 --- 2012-01-30 17:36:22 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE0184 84-0090 BATTL 15 2012-01-30 15:48:39 C-21A United States MI ANG | 110FW | 172AS [KBTL]
AE0272 64-14840 TAZZ83 2012-01-30 23:36:44 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] 0000 20000
AE036E 98-0008 --- 2012-01-30 20:56:03 UC-35A United States US Army 0000 39000
AE07EF 96-0005 RCH6005 2012-01-30 23:41:31 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 37000
AE07F0 96-0006 RCH442 2012-01-30 04:47:08 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 37000
AE0800 98-0054 RCH802T 2012-01-30 04:01:59 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] AE20C8 07-7187 RCH270 2012-01-30 01:47:10 C-17a United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS]
AE1171 02-1099 GRITS37 2012-01-30 17:51:08 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 1074 26000
AE1198 03-3115 E33115 2012-01-30 01:00:23 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
AE189A 05-4613 SPAR11 2012-01-30 17:10:05 C-40C United States AFRC | 932AW | 73AS [KBLV]

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 30 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-31T05:57:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

A2191E N234U --- 2012-01-30 17:49:00 206H United States US DOJ | DEA
A22581 N23743 --- 2012-01-30 16:09:58 C-27A United States UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
A24775 N246N N246N 2012-01-30 17:49:09 206H United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
A8B1DF N66 --- 2012-01-30 19:39:41 King Air 300 United States ---
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-30 15:13:53 B707-368C United states OMEGA
A97245 N708 --- 2012-01-30 13:00:58 KODIAK 100 United States US Dept of the Interior
A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-30 19:01:35 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines
ABC2FB N857ST N857ST00 2012-01-30 13:39:20 G-IV United States ---
ADF596 85-0097 /N999RN 00N999RN 2012-01-30 18:23:53 C-12R/EMB-500 United States B/2 228th AVN 2301 39000
ADFE1C 1716 --- 2012-01-30 14:51:52 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Sacramento [KMCC]
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT12 2012-01-30 18:40:01 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE0166 86-0201 --- 2012-01-30 14:37:40 C-20B United States USAF | 89AW | 99AS [KADW] AE0184 84-0090 BATTL 15 2012-01-30 14:59:14 C-21A United States MI ANG | 110FW | 172AS [KBTL]
AE0194 84-0134 PACER99 2012-01-30 16:35:30 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 458AS [KBLV]
AE01BD 84-0131 SPAR618 2012-01-30 19:13:10 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW]
AE026D 62-3576 RCH802 2012-01-30 19:23:58 KC-135R United States NH ANG | 157ARW | 133ARS [KPSM] 0000 39000
AE02F3 86-0410 DEUCE40 2012-01-30 20:37:07 C-130H United States AFRC | 440AW | 95AS [KPOB]
AE035A 57-2593 SLUFF96 2012-01-30 22:07:54 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] 2464 8600
AE055B 84-0060 --- 2012-01-30 16:33:48 C-5B United States AFRC | 439AW | 337AS [KCEF] 0000 14500
AE05E4 88-4402 PACKR32 2012-01-30 20:41:35 C-130H United States AFRC | 440AW | 95AS [KPOB] 0000 23100
AE0625 86-1398 PROPS62 2012-01-30 17:58:14 C-130H United States MO ANG | 139AW | 180AS [KSTJ]
AE0625 86-1398 --- 2012-01-30 18:40:51 C-130H United States MO ANG | 139AW | 180AS [KSTJ]
AE06E5 163845 00000000 2012-01-30 14:46:13 UC-12M United States AOD Guantanamo Bay 6216 26000
AE06E9 163844 --- 2012-01-30 17:12:19 UC-12M United States Norfolk
AE080B 99-0165 RHINO90 2012-01-30 16:18:21 C-17A United States AFRC | 445AW | 89AS [KFFO]
AE10C1 01 --- 2012-01-30 15:33:20 C-37A United States USCG | CGAS Washington [KDCA]
AE1295 84-0476 RCH1011 2012-01-30 20:46:15 MC-130h United States USAF | 1SOW | 15SOS [KHRT]

Milcom Blog Logs USS Enterprise COMPTUEX Comms Update

2012-01-30T09:31:00.000-05:00

Our reporter down in Central Florida, Mike C, has been monitoring comms from the USS Enterprise CSG as they conduct their final COMPTUEX before they set sail for their final deployment later this year. Here is the latest Mike is reporting:

HF Comms (kHz/USB)
5723.0 ECHO WHISKEY MIKE, UNIFORM
6688.0 Echo Foxtrot
8974.0 ECHO CHARLIE / ECHO WHISKEY ECHO BRAVO, DELTA, ECHO, JULIET, KILO, LIMA, OSCAR

VHF/UHF Comms
120.950 SEALORD North
133.950 SEALORD South
134.650 Pinecastle Range Ops
136.875 OPFOR air-air
136.925 mentioned on 320.500
225.350 Pinecastle Target / ADVANCE ##
227.175 ECHO WHISKEY / ECHO CHARLIE
229.775 SAREX
229.975 SILENT WARRIOR / ORANGE COMMAND
*231.600 air-air, mention 5-7 Xray area / PRIDE to 267.500 Button 6
232.300 E-2C/D air-air
233.325 Yellow / SCREWTOP
234.775 Orange Air (OPFOR)
235.725 OPFOR?
235.325 Gold 4 / Robins AFB / VULTURE
236.075 TBOLT Tac
238.900 Avon Park Crystal AR
239.125 NICKEL Tac
239.975 SCREWTOP-STEELJAW Tac
242.225 Unid air-air
246.800 RIPPER Tac
261.250 Pinecastle Range Lake George / Cape Stack / ADVANCE 35
264.625 Avon Park N Tac Range / IRON CROSS
266.625 HAWK Tac
267.500 SEALORD South
268.525 NICKEL Tac?
273.850 NICKEL 71, TBOLT 72 air-air
274.700 HAWK 41-42
*275.500 RAGIN 71-72
*275.650? (weak)
276.600 Avon Park Range
277.125 RIPPER Tac?
277.800 Fleet Common
281.150 ECHO SIERRA / Secure
283.500 ECHO QUEBEC / Secure
284.300 ECHO FOXTROT
284.500 SEALORD North
288.775 CCA?
289.200 Pinecastle Range Ops
*290.575 RAGIN 71-72 air-air
292.200 Avon Park Range Ops
292.225 STRIKE A
293.225 Miami Center – Vero Beach
298.475 ECHO ZULU / ECHO SIERRA / FREDDIE
299.500 AMBUSH VFC-12 Tac
300.825 Seymour-Johnson AFB WACO 41-43
300.925 Net 9 / Have Quick Mickey
303.450 RIPPER Tac
307.650 TANKER KING
307.750 Secure
311.500 Jax NAS Bristol / OPOR
312.150 Jax NAS STEEL JAW Base
314.375 FAD #?
318.325 DEPARTURE
318.600 Jax NAS Sealord Discrete / AR Boom
320.500 Jax NAS Bristol / IVAN CONTROL (OPFOR)
*323.725 Unid reporting fuel state
324.650 Gold # / Robins AFB / Secure (VULTURE)
328.025 Gold 2? / Robins AFB / Secure (VULTURE)
328.425 MARSHAL
333.300 air-air
338.750 BRICKYARD 41 / STRYKER 73
340.125 FAD # AIC (button 9?)
341.750 Gold 3 / Robins AFB / VULTURE
342.075 ECHO PAPA / ECHO WHISKEY
343.325 NICKEL Tac
349.450 ECHO PAPA / STRIKE (secondary?)
351.800 Jax Intl App/Dep
357.025 TRON Tac
363.325 HAWK Tac?
363.650 REP
371.050 RED CROWN
371.125 TBolt Tac
372.150 VULTURE with MUSTANG (OPFOR)
374.000 TANKER KING (moved to 307.650)
376.900 Jax NAS W-157 AR boom
377.425 Climax Tower
379.825 Secure
384.100 OPFOR air-air

ADVANCE ## JTAC Pinecastle / CCAFS Cape Stack
AMBUSH F/A-18 VFC-12
AERO / ARROW Unid OPFOR aircraft
AVENGER 4# F/A-18C VMFA-251
BRICKYARD ## Unid aircraft
COBRA F/A-18? Tactical callsign (probable VFC-12)
DEATH B-2A 509th BW
DEFIANT GRAY USS Vicksburg CG 69
DETERMINED WARRIOR USS Cole DDG 67
DIAMOND – Unid OPFOR aircraft
DRAGON Unid OPFOR aircraft
DRAGON ## F/A-18 Tactical callsign
DUSTY 11 F/A-18 Tactical CSAR callsign
ECHO BRAVO – Strike Group Commander
ECHO CHARLIE - Air Defense Commander Alternate
ECHO FOXTROT – Force Track Coordinator
ECHO PAPA – Strike Warfare Commander
ECHO QUEBEC – Command and Control Warfare Commander
ECHO SIERRA – Surface Warfare Commander
ECHO WHISKEY – Air Defense Commander
ECHO ZULU – Sea Combat Commander
FIGHTING TIGER ##a P-3C VP-8
HAMMER F/A18 Tactical strike callsign
HAWK F/A-18E VFA-136
IRON CROSS JTAC Avon Park
JUNKER 13A CSAR downed aircrew
KNIFE / KNIGHT – Unid OPFOR aircraft
KNUCKLE F/A-18 Tactical CSAR callsign
LION F/A-18 Tactical CSAR callsign
MALLET F/A-18 Tactical callsign (RIPPER and HAWK)
MUSTANG Unid OPFOR aircraft
NICKEL F/A-18F VFA-211
LIMA ALPHA P-3C VP-5
N102VS Lear 25B CALSPAN Corp.
OMEGA 10 DC-10 tanker Omega Air Inc
OMEGA 71 KC-707 tanker Omega Air Inc
PANTHER Unid OPFOR aircraft
RIPPER F/A-18E VFA-11
ROOK EA-6B VAQ-137
SILENT WARRIOR Orange Air Control
SNAKE F/A-18 Tactical callsign (probable VFC-12)
SHARK 11 UC-28A 1st SOW Tactical callsign
SHARK 2# F/A-18 Tactical CSAR callsign
SCREWTOP 60# E-2C VAW-123
SLAYR ## UC-28A 1st SOW
STEELJAW 0# E-2D VX-1/VAW-120 (167931-60#)
SWEEP F/A-18 Tactical Strike callsign
TANGO E-2C CWC callsign
TBOLT F/A-18C VMFA-251
TRIDENT ##a P-3C VP-26
TRON ## EA-6B Tactical Strike callsign
UNIFORM E-2C CWC callsign
VADER Lear, Flight International
VEST Tactical Strike callsign
VIPER F/A-18 Tactical callsign (probable VFC-12)
VULTURE E-8C backend
VULTURE ## F/A-18 Tactical CSAR callsign
WACO F-15E 4th FW
ZAGS 8# KC-135T 92nd ARW
(G-V’s mentioned)

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 29 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-30T07:17:00.000-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Time
AD6B13 N964AS --- 2012-01-29 23:27:14 MD83 United States US Marshal JPATS
ADFE62 91-1231 REACH612 2012-01-29 20:04:25 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFE68 91-1237 DERBY 84 2012-01-29 18:29:53 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
AE0781 94-00308 --- 2012-01-29 16:32:14 C-23C United States --- 0000 8550
AE0606 80-0332 DAWG 32 2012-01-29 15:33:11 C-130H United States GA ANG | 165AW | 158AS [KSAV] 0000 25000
ADFC9D 92-0348 --- 2012-01-29 15:29:32 T-1A United States USAF | 479FTG | 451FTS [KNPA]
ADFC9D 92-0348 --- 2012-01-29 14:18:44 T-1A United States USAF | 479FTG | 451FTS [KNPA]
ADFC79 91-0085 --- 2012-01-29 14:04:58 T-1A United States USAF | 479FTG | 451FTS [KNPA] 0000 27975
ADFEFF 86-0089 --- 2012-01-29 13:53:21 C-12U United States IL ARNG | OSACOM DET-36 [KDEC]
ADFC9D 92-0348 --- 2012-01-29 13:22:13 T-1A United States USAF | 479FTG | 451FTS [KNPA]
AE0606 80-0332 DAWG 32 2012-01-29 12:02:33 C-130H United States GA ANG | 165AW | 158AS [KSAV]
AE0606 80-0332 DAWG 32 2012-01-29 11:51:21 C-130H United States GA ANG | 165AW | 158AS [KSAV]

Sort by ICAO24 code
AD6B13 N964AS --- 2012-01-29 23:27:14 MD83 United States US Marshal JPATS
ADFC79 91-0085 --- 2012-01-29 14:04:58 T-1A United States USAF | 479FTG | 451FTS [KNPA] 0000 27975
ADFC9D 92-0348 --- 2012-01-29 13:22:13 T-1A United States USAF | 479FTG | 451FTS [KNPA]
ADFE62 91-1231 REACH612 2012-01-29 20:04:25 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFE68 91-1237 DERBY 84 2012-01-29 18:29:53 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFEFF 86-0089 --- 2012-01-29 13:53:21 C-12U United States IL ARNG | OSACOM DET-36 [KDEC]
AE0606 80-0332 DAWG 32 2012-01-29 11:51:21 C-130H United States GA ANG | 165AW | 158AS [KSAV]
AE0781 94-00308 --- 2012-01-29 16:32:14 C-23C United States --- 0000 8550

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 28 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-29T08:50:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

00C0C2 163562 --- 2012-01-28 15:57:55 UC-12F United States ---
111111 (LX-N20199) --- 2012-01-28 22:23:54 CT-49A Luxembourg NAEWandCF
A12D53 N175SC N175SC 2012-01-28 20:18:01 EUROCOPTER EC120B United States SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE (SANFORD FL) 5272 300
A385CA N326ND --- 2012-01-28 18:47:11 PA-44-180 United States --- 2637 5800
A4915F N3938A --- 2012-01-28 14:25:20 AMERICAN EUROCOPTER LLC AS350B3 United States DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (WASHINGTON DC)
A4FFE8 N421FW --- 2012-01-28 17:23:02 Cessna 182T United States --- 0000 1050
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-28 19:01:30 B707-368C United states OMEGA
A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-28 18:58:09 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines
AA7823 N774CP --- 2012-01-28 14:44:20 CESSNA 182T United States CIVIL AIR PATROL (MAXWELL AFB AL) 0000 0
ABC2FB N857ST N857ST00 2012-01-28 19:06:40 G-IV United States --- 2177 36975
ADFE33 2121 --- 2012-01-28 17:51:14 HU-25A United States ATCMobile
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT0161 2012-01-28 19:15:59 C-12U United States USARMY 0000 9825
AE010F 94-1569 ALLIED 1 2012-01-28 18:38:06 C-38A United States DC ANG | 113Wg | 201AS [KADW]
AE02CD 91-9141 BISON47 2012-01-28 18:43:50 C-130H United States AFRC | 914AW | 328AS [KIAG] 7476 14900
AE02E8 84-0205 --- 2012-01-28 18:44:26 C-130H United States AFRC | 94AW | 700AS [KMGE]
AE0392 63-8880 OKIE91 2012-01-28 13:54:56 KC-135R United States AFRC | 507ARW | 465ARS [KTIK]
AE04D7 165829 CNV4944 2012-01-28 15:10:43 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP]
AE04DA 165832 CNV4742 2012-01-28 14:54:53 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP] 0000 18975
AE05D7 85-0037 HANK 37 2012-01-28 20:11:27 C-130H United States AFRC | 440AW | 95AS [KPOB]
AE05F7 69-5824 --- 2012-01-28 15:26:13 HC-130n United States AFRC | 920RQW | 39RQS [KCOF]
AE06E9 163844 00000000 2012-01-28 22:20:48 UC-12M United States Norfolk
AE087F 01-0029 SPAR29 2012-01-28 23:46:16 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF] 0000 12625
AE0894 99-3567 --- 2012-01-28 18:29:41 T-6A United States USAF | 14FTW | 37FTS [KCBM]
AE1722 06-3816 --- 2012-01-28 20:24:42 T-6A United States USAF
AE174D 06-3858 --- 2012-01-28 19:43:27 T-6A United States USAF
AE1F36 07-72039 --- 2012-01-28 21:24:43 UH-72A United States US Army |

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 28 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-29T07:09:00.001-05:00

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 27 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-28T14:38:00.000-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Time
AE0410 163918 GOTO FMS 2012-01-27 23:01:58 E-6B United States USN | VQ-4 [KTIK] --- 26000
AE0302 78-0812 PITT 12 2012-01-27 22:06:58 C-130H United States AFRC | 911AW | 758AS [KPIT]
AA90A0 N780BA GTI453 6 2012-01-27 21:39:36 B-747-409 United States Evergreen International 0000 37000
AA90A0 N780BA GTI453 H 2012-01-27 21:39:36 B-747-409 United States Evergreen International 0000 37000
AA90A0 N780BA GTI4532 2012-01-27 21:39:36 B-747-409 United States Evergreen International 0000 37000
AA90A0 N780BA GTI4TI45 2012-01-27 21:39:36 B-747-409 United States Evergreen International 0000 37000
AE12B5 65-0994 SHADO99 2012-01-27 21:22:46 MC-130P United States USAF | 58SOW | 550SOS [KIKR]
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT163 2012-01-27 20:54:39 C-12U United States USARMY
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT163 2012-01-27 20:42:52 C-12U United States USARMY
AE119A 03-3117 RCH3117 2012-01-27 20:31:08 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
3F6003 6003 --- 2012-01-27 19:59:53 P-3C CUP Germany MFG-3 0000 27975
AE05D9 85-0039 SHARK04 2012-01-27 19:50:44 C-130H United States AFRC | 908AW | 357AS [KMXF]
AE0442 96-6044 --- 2012-01-27 19:47:33 CN-235 United States USAF | 427SOS [KPOB]
AE037A 63-7993 TAZZ82 2012-01-27 19:25:54 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
AE0428 62-3511 SLUFF93 2012-01-27 19:04:33 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
ADFE68 91-1237 DERBY 84 2012-01-27 16:59:21 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
AE0571 86-0020 --- 2012-01-27 16:57:45 C-5B United States USAF | 436AW | 9AS [KDOV]
AE05D9 85-0039 SHARK04 2012-01-27 16:23:55 C-130H United States AFRC | 908AW | 357AS [KMXF]
AE0174 84-0119 --- 2012-01-27 16:21:02 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 458AS [KBLV]
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT163 2012-01-27 16:20:59 C-12U United States USARMY
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT163 2012-01-27 16:10:34 C-12U United States USARMY
AE4AF4 08-3179 HAZRD61 2012-01-27 16:07:41 C-130J United States USAF | 317AW [KDYS]
ADFE95 95-0096 --- 2012-01-27 15:27:15 C-12R+ United States USARMY
AE20C2 07-7181 BASCO73 2012-01-27 13:27:12 C-17a United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 29700
AE20C5 07-7184 RCH7184 2012-01-27 10:26:31 C-17a United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 36000
00000A Various --- 2012-01-27 05:06:18 Various Various ---

Sort by ICAO24 code
00000A Various --- 2012-01-27 05:06:18 Various Various ---
3F6003 6003 --- 2012-01-27 19:59:53 P-3C CUP Germany MFG-3 0000 27975
AA90A0 N780BA GTI453 H 2012-01-27 21:39:36 B-747-409 United States Evergreen International 0000 37000
ADFE68 91-1237 DERBY 84 2012-01-27 16:59:21 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFE95 95-0096 --- 2012-01-27 15:27:15 C-12R+ United States USARMY
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT163 2012-01-27 16:10:34 C-12U United States USARMY
AE0174 84-0119 --- 2012-01-27 16:21:02 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 458AS [KBLV]
AE0302 78-0812 PITT 12 2012-01-27 22:06:58 C-130H United States AFRC | 911AW | 758AS [KPIT]
AE037A 63-7993 TAZZ82 2012-01-27 19:25:54 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
AE0410 163918 GOTO FMS 2012-01-27 23:01:58 E-6B United States USN | VQ-4 [KTIK] --- 26000
AE0428 62-3511 SLUFF93 2012-01-27 19:04:33 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
AE0442 96-6044 --- 2012-01-27 19:47:33 CN-235 United States USAF | 427SOS [KPOB]
AE0571 86-0020 --- 2012-01-27 16:57:45 C-5B United States USAF | 436AW | 9AS [KDOV]
AE05D9 85-0039 SHARK04 2012-01-27 16:23:55 C-130H United States AFRC | 908AW | 357AS [KMXF]
AE119A 03-3117 RCH3117 2012-01-27 20:31:08 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
AE12B5 65-0994 SHADO99 2012-01-27 21:22:46 MC-130P United States USAF | 58SOW | 550SOS [KIKR]
AE20C2 07-7181 BASCO73 2012-01-27 13:27:12 C-17a United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 29700
AE20C5 07-7184 RCH7184 2012-01-27 10:26:31 C-17a United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 36000
AE4AF4 08-3179 HAZRD61 2012-01-27 16:07:41 C-130J United States USAF | 317AW [KDYS]

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 27 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-28T08:45:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

A0B1CF N144CS --- 2012-01-27 17:19:39 P3B United States UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE
A22581 N23743 --- 2012-01-27 17:08:06 C-27A SPARTAN United States UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
A24775 N246N N246N 2012-01-27 20:46:22 206H United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 5255 2550
A4D9B7 N45TK --- 2012-01-27 17:32:45 LEARJET 45 US DYNAMIC AVIATION
A7CB35 N601CN --- 2012-01-27 13:14:16 Lear 60 United States ---
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-27 17:07:43 B707-368C United states OMEGA
A9A74E 4235 --- 2012-01-27 16:48:10 DHC-8-402 United States US DOJ | FBI HQ [KHEF]
A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-27 19:05:19 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines
AB5394 07-0829 70829 2012-01-27 16:10:52 UC-28A United States USAF | 1SOW [KHRT]
AD5D53 N960NA --- 2012-01-27 20:24:34 T-38 United States NASA
ADFC63 90-0401 --- 2012-01-27 19:24:43 T-1A United States USAF | 47FTW | 86FTS [KDLF] 0000 15725
ADFE68 91-1237 DERBY 84 2012-01-27 18:11:26 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFED1 85-1263 --- 2012-01-27 12:38:25 C-12U United States OSACOMDet.56PR-ArNG [TJIG] 1001 5400
AE02CC 90-9108 VADER 08 2012-01-27 16:00:58 C-130H United States AFRC | 910AW | 757AS [KYNG] 3262 19100
AE02CD 91-9141 BISON47 2012-01-27 23:13:12 C-130H United States AFRC | 914AW | 328AS [KIAG] 0000 11100
AE02F3 86-0410 DEUCE40 2012-01-27 13:44:35 C-130H United States AFRC | 440AW | 95AS [KPOB]
AE0379 63-7992 SLUFF31 2012-01-27 16:47:51 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] 0000 19000
AE0449 02-4452 --- 2012-01-27 14:01:42 C-32B United States NJ ANG | 108WG | 150SOS [KWRI]
AE0453 162160 GRYHK34 2012-01-27 22:34:17 C-2A United States USN | VRC-40 [KNGU] 3726 18000
AE05D7 85-0037 --- 2012-01-27 23:19:00 C-130H United States AFRC | 440AW | 95AS [KPOB]
AE0630 84-0172 PAT548 2012-01-27 16:09:00 C-12U United States USARC | 6-52 AVN (TA)
AE06E9 163844 --- 2012-01-27 14:49:50 UC-12M United States Norfolk
AE080B 99-0165 RHINO90 2012-01-27 21:48:06 C-17A United States AFRC | 445AW | 89AS [KFFO]
AE0811 00-0175 DANDA97 2012-01-27 19:06:34 C-17A United States USAF | 62AW [KTCM]
AE087F 01-0029 SPAR29 2012-01-27 23:13:28 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF] --- 40625
AE08B8 165963 --- 2012-01-27 19:35:29 T-6A United States --- 7365 4550
AE08BD 165968 --- 2012-01-27 21:53:37 T-6A United States USN | TW-6 [KNPA] 1521 10950
AE0940 166374 --- 2012-01-27 15:41:59 UC-35D United States VMR DET [KADW]
AE10C1 01 --- 2012-01-27 18:24:08 C-37A United States USCG | CGAS Washington [KDCA]
AE113C 02-3672 --- 2012-01-27 22:17:04 T-6A United States USAF | 47FTW | 86FTS [KDLF] 0000 10925
AE113F 165973 --- 2012-01-27 20:47:29 T-6A United States USN | TW-6 [KNPA] 0000 14025
AE121E 65-0981 KING 72 2012-01-27 16:48:29 HC-130P United States 23WG/71RQS
AE1489 90-0175 --- 2012-01-27 05:54:58 E-8C United States Northrop Grumman 0000 15200
AE1EC7 166066 --- 2012-01-27 19:50:53 T-6B United States USNavy
AE1EC9 166068 @@@@@@@@ 2012-01-27 22:43:12 T-6B United States USNavy 2614 23050

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 26 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-27T14:09:00.000-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Time
AE093D 01-0301 --- 2012-01-26 22:55:03 UC-35a1 United States US Army | OSACOM PATD [KADW]
AD9292 N974AS --- 2012-01-26 21:26:34 MD83 United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AE0155 62-3507 KANZA92 2012-01-26 19:25:10 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
A9025B N68RF --- 2012-01-26 17:28:03 HAWKER BEECHCRAFT CORP B300C United States NATIONAL OCEANIC & ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN (MACDILL AFB
AC42FA N89 --- 2012-01-26 15:55:12 BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2B16 United States FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (OKLAHOMA CITY OK)
AE08F9 84-24376 00000000 2012-01-26 14:41:06 C-12R United States OSACOM/PAT
AE07BA 62-3557 WIDE06 2012-01-26 13:19:53 KC-135R United States AFRC | 916ARW | 77ARS [KGSB]
AE07BA 62-3557 WIDE06 2012-01-26 13:08:27 KC-135R United States AFRC | 916ARW | 77ARS [KGSB]
AD6B13 N964AS --- 2012-01-26 12:10:58 MD83 United States US Marshal JPATS
AE0479 58-0061 TURBO81 2012-01-26 04:55:21 KC-135T United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE0479 58-0061 TURBO81 2012-01-26 02:26:49 KC-135T United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE025E 61-0264 TAZ73 2012-01-26 00:01:13 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]

Sort by ICAO24 code
A9025B N68RF --- 2012-01-26 17:28:03 HAWKER BEECHCRAFT CORP B300C United States NATIONAL OCEANIC & ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN (MACDILL AFB
AC42FA N89 --- 2012-01-26 15:55:12 BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2B16 United States FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (OKLAHOMA CITY OK)
AD6B13 N964AS --- 2012-01-26 12:10:58 MD83 United States US Marshal JPATS
AD9292 N974AS --- 2012-01-26 21:26:34 MD83 United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AE0155 62-3507 KANZA92 2012-01-26 19:25:10 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE025E 61-0264 TAZ73 2012-01-26 00:01:13 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
AE0479 58-0061 TURBO81 2012-01-26 02:26:49 KC-135T United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE07BA 62-3557 WIDE06 2012-01-26 13:08:27 KC-135R United States AFRC | 916ARW | 77ARS [KGSB]
AE08F9 84-24376 00000000 2012-01-26 14:41:06 C-12R United States OSACOM/PAT
AE093D 01-0301 --- 2012-01-26 22:55:03 UC-35a1 United States US Army | OSACOM PATD [KADW]

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 26 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-27T08:23:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

00C0C2 163562 --- 2012-01-26 19:00:15 UC-12F United States --- 0000 18675
43C1C6 ZZ176 RRR6728 2012-01-26 16:02:17 C-17A United Kingdom RAF | 99SQ
A0616B N12310 --- 2012-01-26 19:06:54 C-27A SPARTAN United States UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
A0D5D4 N153FC --- 2012-01-26 19:14:13 Cessna 182T United States DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
A0DC58 N1547 --- 2012-01-26 21:41:21 King Air A200 United States UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE 0000 20100
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-26 18:35:46 206H United States US DOJ | DEA
A2392F N242U N242U 2012-01-26 20:28:16 206H United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
A24775 N246N N246N 2012-01-26 20:11:32 206H United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 5255 1450
A490D3 N3934A --- 2012-01-26 20:12:59 AMERICAN EUROCOPTER LLC AS350B3 United States DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (WASHINGTON DC)
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-26 15:58:50 B707-368C United states OMEGA
A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-26 19:10:52 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines
AA66AD N77 --- 2012-01-26 15:10:24 King Air 300 United States ---
AB56E4 FL-436 --- 2012-01-26 21:40:25 King Air B300 United States L-3 Capital (COMCO)
ABA773 N850BB --- 2012-01-26 17:57:54 B734 United States UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE
AD6B13 N964AS --- 2012-01-26 12:58:39 MD83 United States US Marshal JPATS 6655 32000
ADFED5 85-1267 PAT1267 2012-01-26 18:23:00 C-12U United States US ARMY | OSACOM VA RFC [KDAA]
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT41 2012-01-26 15:47:08 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
ADFF0D 62-3559 BOLT44 2012-01-26 18:32:28 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB] 0000 26000
AE01BD 84-0131 JOSA527 2012-01-26 17:48:24 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW]
AE026D 62-3576 RC802 2012-01-26 17:06:47 KC-135R United States NH ANG | 157ARW | 133ARS [KPSM] 0000 37000
AE02F3 86-0410 DEUCE40 2012-01-26 20:09:07 C-130H United States AFRC | 440AW | 95AS [KPOB] 3455 24100
AE0382 58-0051 CODY01 2012-01-26 17:54:30 KC-135R United States AFRC | 507ARW | 465ARS [KTIK]
AE040D 162782 --- 2012-01-26 16:07:30 E-6B United States USN | VQ-3 [KTIK] --- 21975
AE0463 162148 RAWHD11 2012-01-26 23:44:30 C-2A United States USN | VAW-120 [KNGU] 6236 5000
AE05B2 64-14838 --- 2012-01-26 18:30:28 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW
AE06E9 163844 00000000 2012-01-26 21:24:53 UC-12M United States Norfolk 0000 20650
AE07BD 62-356t8 --- 2012-01-26 18:53:19 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE0811 00-0175 --- 2012-01-26 21:54:53 C-17A United States USAF | 62AW [KTCM]
AE10DF 92-13120 --- 2012-01-26 16:21:29 RC-12X United States USARMY | 15MIB (AE) [KGRK]
AE10E7 2001 C2001 2012-01-26 18:11:09 HC-130J United States USCG | CGAS Elizabeth City [KECG] 7314 22000
AE1165 02-0201 EXEC1F 2012-01-26 14:56:56 C-40C United States DC ANG | 113Wg | 201AS [KADW] 0000 13800
AE1489 90-0175 --- 2012-01-26 23:09:50 E-8C United States Northrop Grumman 0000 14200

Nitze Sailors Practice Strait Transit

2012-01-27T07:42:00.000-05:00

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Atherton, Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs

USS NITZE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) participated in a practice strait transit, Jan. 23.

In the scenario, the Nitze, along with Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78) and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), transited the fictional "Beryl Strait" off the coast of the equally fictional country "Amber."

During the simulated transit, the small craft action team (SCAT) stationed at weapon mounts on board the ship closely monitored the actions of suspicious vessels.

"The scenario was pretty close to reality," said Chief Gunner's Mate David Hill, the anti-terrorism watch officer directing the crew-served weapons during the training scenario. "Although this was an extreme case, we need to prepare (for) anything."

In the scenario, Nitze came under attack by small craft while transiting the strait.

"We were set up the way we will be when we transit future straits," said Lt. Greg Trach, USS Nitze weapons officer.

"The scenario was run as if it was real," said Hill. "When we see small boats inbound like we did today, we will act accordingly."

During an actual strait transit, there will be many factors and possible dangers for the crew on the Nitze to look out for.

"Small boats are one of the many threats we need to be concerned with as we transit a strait," said Trach.

During the practice strait transit, the crew on board the Nitze was able to defend the ship against the aggressors.

"We were able to use pre-planned responses until the threat increased to a level where the ship needed to defend itself," said Trach.

"The aggressors displayed weapons, fired on us and we engaged them," said Hill.

The purpose of the training is to get the crew used to what they may see in the worst case scenario. It gives them the ability to act immediately and without hesitation in a bad situation.

"The training is to prepare the crew in the event of an actual attack," said Trach. "It will help them rely on training instead of freezing up when something goes wrong."

"The crew was outstanding and professional even in this training environment," said Hill. "They performed in the manner in which they were trained to defend the ship."

Nitze is part of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, which is underway conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is designed to bring every part of a strike group together to work effectively and efficiently as one cohesive unit, ensuring overall readiness prior to regular deployment.

USS Ramage Returns Home

2012-01-27T07:36:00.002-05:00

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Samantha Thorpe, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Two hundred fifty Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61) will return to Naval Station Norfolk tomorrow Jan. 27 from an eight-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

Ramage departed May 20, and is one of six Atlantic-based ships equipped with the Ballistic Missile Defense system. This return home marks her third deployment in four years in support of the ballistic missile defense strategy. While deployed she conducted maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the Mediterranean Sea.

Ramage conducted naval exercises with five countries and completed a rescue-at-sea after finding an Egyptian fisherman adrift 100 nautical miles from land. After recovery, the ship returned him to his home county.

The ship visited 18 ports in seven different countries and participated in Belgian Navy Days, similar to a Fleet Week event. While in Athens, Greece, four Sailors reenlisted during a visit by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Dr. Jill Biden. After having lunch with the crew, the Secretary and Dr. Biden took time to talk with Sailors about their families back home. Dr. Biden praised the Sailors for their resilience, pride and dedication to their jobs.

Ramage returns under the command of Cmdr. Kyle J. Colton who relieved Cmdr. Erik J. Eslich during a change of command ceremony Aug. 12, held in Rhodes, Greece. Ramage is named in honor of Vice Admiral Lawson P. "Red" Ramage, who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 25 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-26T13:59:00.001-05:00

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 25 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-26T08:06:00.001-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

111111 (LX-N20199) --- 2012-01-25 17:49:39 CT-49A Luxembourg NAEWandCF
43C1C6 ZZ176 RRR6728 2012-01-25 20:25:31 C-17A United Kingdom RAF | 99SQ
A0E867 N158FC N158FC 2012-01-25 18:32:58 CESSNA 182T United States DEPT OF AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SERVICES (TALLAHASS 1200 1800
A1F7E1 N226G --- 2012-01-25 21:47:58 Boeing 757-23A United States L-3 Capital (COMCO) 0000 38975
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-25 19:14:50 206H United States US DOJ | DEA
A24775 N246N --- 2012-01-25 21:31:20 206H United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
A31A9F N3 --- 2012-01-25 14:07:15 C560 United States FAA Deltona FL, S --- ---
A36D3D N32PA N32PA 2012-01-25 15:11:43 Lear 36A United States PhoenixAirGroup
A385CA N326ND --- 2012-01-25 19:51:17 PA-44-180 United States --- 7471 8800
A4FFE8 N421FW --- 2012-01-25 16:41:39 Cessna 182T United States ---
A5F1FC 05-0482 50482 2012-01-25 14:16:41 U-28A United States USAF | 1SOW [KHRT]
A6DCE9 N541PA --- 2012-01-25 22:05:46 LJ-35 United States PhoenixAirGroup
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-25 15:51:38 B707-368C United states OMEGA
AA66AD N77 --- 2012-01-25 19:49:59 King Air 300 United States --- 0000 2250
AB5394 07-0829 70829 2012-01-25 17:39:01 UC-28A United States USAF | 1SOW [KHRT]
ABC2FB N857ST N857ST00 2012-01-25 23:51:53 G-IV United States --- 3736 41000
ADFE17 1711 --- 2012-01-25 17:11:24 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Clearwater [KPIE] 1402 8900
ADFED5 85-1267 PAT1267 2012-01-25 12:42:28 C-12U United States US ARMY | OSACOM VA RFC [KDAA]
AE0410 163918 GOTO FMS 2012-01-25 19:53:08 E-6B United States USN | VQ-4 [KTIK] 1623 23000
AE04B7 58-0004 DIXIE42 2012-01-25 18:42:52 KC-135R United States AL ANG | 117ARW | 106ARS [KBHM]
AE04D7 165829 CNV4867 2012-01-25 13:37:25 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP]
AE066A 62-3549 BOLT31 2012-01-25 15:45:37 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE066A 62-3549 --- 2012-01-25 15:45:37 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE06E5 163845 --- 2012-01-25 19:30:10 UC-12M United States AOD Guantanamo Bay
AE087E 01-0028 SPAR28 2012-01-25 10:10:19 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF] 0000 41000
AE10DF 92-13120 --- 2012-01-25 13:58:58 RC-12X United States USARMY | 15MIB (AE) [KGRK]
AE115E 01-0030 --- 2012-01-25 17:08:44 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF]
AE1211 03-0726 --- 2012-01-25 18:29:59 UC-35C United States USARC | 2-228 AVN
AE148E 94-0284 --- 2012-01-25 19:13:33 E-8C United States GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB] 6070 33000
AE148E 94-0284 --- 2012-01-25 20:01:42 E-8C United States GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB] 6070 33000
AE1539 02-05285 ALLIED 1 2012-01-25 19:21:12 AH-64D United States ---
AE1E70 166018 --- 2012-01-25 15:22:26 T-6B United States ---

Sailors Cross-Train aboard Vicksburg during COMPTUEX

2012-01-26T07:44:00.000-05:00

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Scott, Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs

USS VICKSBURG, At Sea (NNS) -- The Operations department aboard Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69) took on some additional crew members while underway in the Atlantic Ocean, Jan. 19.

Sailors from other platforms including aircraft carriers and shore commands, are underway with Vicksburg during its composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX) to learn how the many moving parts of a carrier strike group come together to accomplish a larger mission.

"It is important to cross-train on various platforms," said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class (SW) Andrew M. Jowder, USS Vicksburg Operations department.

"A lot of the junior Sailors may not see the big picture, especially if they have only been on the carrier or on shore," said Jowder.

Performing on a variety of platforms is meant to not only help Sailors perform their in-rate skills better, but also give them experience in other areas as well.

Junior Sailors are taught, through real-world experience, what the role of the guided-missile cruiser is within the strike group and how it can be accomplished most effectively.

"I've learned things more completely than I had before," said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Seaman Apprentice Brennen O'Brien-Cahill, who is temporarily assigned to the Vicksburg from aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

"I'm learning more about maintenance and getting a lot of good mentorship from the operations community here," said O'Brien-Cahill.

"On a larger platform it's difficult for someone as junior as I am to get real hands on experience at the strike group level," said O'Brien-Cahill.

Sailors from larger platforms have the potential to learn what it is like to be a Sailor on a smaller ship where the mission is to protect the carrier, and to understand what that really means.

"I feel more involved in every aspect and I get to know more people," said O'Brien-Cahill.

The mentorship and experience Sailors get from this exchange is also meant to prepare them for real combat scenarios.

"COMPTUEX is as close to major combat operations as we get for training purposes," said Lt. Cmdr. Noble Hetherington III, USS Vicksburg operations officer.

"This is where the rubber meets the road. We need this type of tailored training or we could potentially lose the valuable lessons we learned on our last deployment," said Hetherington.

First-time Sailors can see tactical training in the most basic phases of a ship's certification."

Mentorship is another aspect of this exchange and provides senior Sailors an opportunity to pass down their years of experience to junior Sailors.

"It is imperative that we have this training on ships at the deckplate level," said Hetherington.

Vicksburg and the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group are underway conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is designed to bring every part of a strike group together to work effectively and efficiently as one cohesive unit, ensuring overall readiness prior to a regular deployment.

Squadrons Team Up For E-2D Evaluation

2012-01-26T07:31:00.002-05:00

An E-2D Hawkeye assigned to Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 1 makes an arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dwight D. Eisenhower is underway conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Albert Jones/Released)

By Clark Pierce, Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 1 combined forces with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120 to bring a joint detachment to Naval Air Station Jacksonville Jan. 16, to help meet its schedule for the E-2D Hawkeye Initial Operational Test and Evaluation.

The squadrons are conducting four weeks of operational evaluations in conjunction with the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) underway in the Atlantic Ocean.

The new Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye is the Navy's latest carrier-based airborne early warning, battle management command and control system that works in concert with surface ships equipped with the Aegis combat system.

"The Hawkeye is highly valued by admirals who want to know what friends and foes are in the vicinity of their carrier strike group. Where naval surface ship surveillance systems like Aegis can only see as far as the horizon, VAW aircraft fly above the curvature of the earth to provide the strike group's command and control leadership with a more expansive look of potential battle spaces," said Officer-in-Charge Lt. Cmdr. Dave Champaigne of VAW-120.

VX-1 E-2D Operational Test Director Lt. Cmdr. Greg Harkins said, "The new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is able to scan a larger area, detect smaller targets, process data about those targets faster, and transform all of that information into improved situational awareness for strike group leadership."

Champaigne said, "This is an unusual mission for VAW-120. We're glad to assist our brethren at VX-1 and help keep the fleet introduction of the E-2D on schedule."

VAW-120, based at Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field, is the fleet replacement squadron (FRS) for the E-2C and E-2D Hawkeyes, and the C-2A Greyhound. The FRS is responsible for training pilots, naval flight officers (NFOs) and maintenance personnel for fleet operational squadrons.

"The tasking of our joint detachment at NAS Jax comes to VX-1 from Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR) and Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic (CSFTL). VX-1, based at NAS Patuxent River, Md., is in the midst of a big wave of operational evaluations that include programs for the P-3C and the new P-8A platform -in addition to programs for C-2A, E-2C and the new E-2D platform," explained Harkins.

Champaigne said, "VAW-120 acts as a trusted agent for VX-1. Our job is to determine how well the E-2D compares to what the Navy asked for, and how it operates in the real world as opposed to a controlled test environment."

"We're already getting qualitative assessments from aircrew and maintainers, including good feedback on the glass cockpit," he continued. "NFOs are liking the large 17-inch monitors at their workstations, as well as the option for the co-pilot to plug in as a fourth mission systems operator."

Harkins said, "We brought a cross-section of junior and senior flight crew because we want the perspective of those fresh from the FRS, as well as those with five or more years of operational experience in the Hawkeye community."

Over the next six months, the detachment will travel around the country to evaluate how it functions in large-force exercises, strike group and air wing exercises and joint exercises. During their time in Jacksonville, the sqaudrons will be part of the Enterprise JTFEX, the strike group's final operational exam before being certified for overseas combat operations.

"Since E-2s have the biggest footprints on the flight deck, the Enterprise air boss isn't going to be happy when we add two more to the mix. But they understand we're doing these tests to provide a new and improved platform to the fleet. So, we'll put two E-2Ds on board Enterprise and fly our other pair from NAS Jacksonville," said Harkins.

"To this point, the aircraft has proven it can meet developmental requirements. Now it's up to this detachment to assess everything in a more fluid and realistic operational environment," said Champaigne.

VAW-123 Support Personnel Prepare for Enterprise's Final Deployment

2012-01-26T07:28:00.002-05:00

An E-2C Hawkeye, assigned to the "Screwtops" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Two Three (VAW-123), conducts a touch-and-go landing on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Rob Gaston (RELEASED)

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Peter Melkus, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- As the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) enters the second week of its composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) Jan. 23, Sailors assigned to the carrier's squadrons continue to work around the clock to ensure their aircraft and the personnel who make them fly are ready for Big E's upcoming deployment.

For Sailors assigned to the "Screwtops" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123, the importance of keeping aircraft "mission ready" is amplified by the fact that they possess only a fraction of the aircraft their fellow squadrons have.

With only four E-2C Hawkeye aircraft aboard Enterprise, "Screwtop" mechanics have worked tirelessly since the conclusion of their last deployment in July to ensure their upkeep and repair skills remain on point.

"During the span of two months, our Sailors completed three major aircraft modifications that will improve the capabilities of the E-2C in relation to the strike group's deployment mission," said Kersey. "They have done an amazing job maintaining our aircraft while building upon their range of skills in the process."

From mid-July through the commencement of COMPTUEX, "Screwtop" Sailors completed more than 17,000 man hours of maintenance, which included nearly 6,000 preventive and corrective maintenance actions. The efforts of VAW 123 mechanics on the ground also paved the way for pilots to complete 459 flight training hours in the air.

"Unlike last deployment, 80 percent of our Sailors are now returning with previous deployment experience," said Lt. Robert Franklin Kersey III, VAW-123 assistant maintenance officer. "Our crew is much sharper now. They know what to expect and can correct issues in a shorter turnaround time."

While "Screwtop" mechanics are charged with the responsibility of keeping their aircraft in proper working order, VAW 123's administrative team is responsible for keeping the affairs of the more than 150-Sailor crew in order as well.

"Our job is to take care of the people taking care of the aircraft," said Yeoman 2nd Class Jarrell R. Riggins, who has worked with the VAW 123 administrative team for the last two-and-a-half years. "Whatever the issue, whether personal or career-oriented, we focus on those issues so our Sailors can, in turn, focus on their jobs."

Riggins said his team is very excited to be part of Enterprise's final deployment, and it's their goal to do the best job they can do every day in order to account for and take care of every Sailor within the VAW 123 command.

Enterprise is currently underway conducting training exercises and evolutions as part of a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) in preparation for the ship's 22nd and final deployment following 50 years of naval service.

Navy Announces 2012 Navy Week Schedule

2012-01-26T07:26:00.000-05:00

From Navy Office of Community Outreach

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- From Boston to Sacramento, America's Navy will come home to 15 cities across the country in 2012 to show Americans why having a strong Navy is critical to the American way of life and to help commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.

Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy's flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, with 148 Navy Weeks being held in 62 different U.S. cities. In 2012, the Navy Week cities are Phoenix, New Orleans, Nashville, Tenn., Spokane, Wash., Baltimore, Boston, Sacramento, Calif., Sioux Falls, S.D., Milwaukee, Chicago, Toledo, Ohio, Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, N.Y. and Houston.

"Navy Weeks are designed to help Americans understand that their Navy is our nation's front line in war and peace, operating on, above and below the sea every day," said Cmdr. Kim Marks, Director of the Navy Office of Community Outreach, which plans and executes the Navy Week program. "Because the Navy is concentrated primarily on both coasts, we're challenged to communicate our mission away from fleet concentration areas. That's where the Navy Week program comes in," she added.

Navy Weeks focus a variety of outreach assets, equipment and personnel on a single city for a week-long series of engagements with key influencers and organizations representing all sectors of the market.

"During a Navy Week, 75-100 outreach events are coordinated with corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, community service and diversity organizations in the city," explained Lt. Cmdr. Pam Bou, Navy Week Program Manager. "We bring in as much of the Navy as we can. The Blue Angels, the Navy Parachute Team, bands, divers, Seabees, EOD teams, namesake ship and submarine crews, hometown Sailors, medical personnel, environmental displays, USS Constitution Sailors and equipment, and Navy recruiting properties all have participated in the Navy Week program."

Last year was the Navy Week program's biggest year to date. In 2011, there were 21 Navy Weeks across America that reached nearly 100 million Americans through more than 1,500 individual outreach events.

In 2012, all 15 Navy Weeks will help to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812, with nine of the 15 events held in conjunction with one of the Navy's large-scale signature commemorative events on the Eastern Seaboard and on the Great Lakes. The week-long War of 1812 bicentennial signature events will include parades of warships and sailing vessels, public ship tours, air shows, international athletic competitions, community relations projects, and other city-wide activities.

For more information on the Navy Week program, visit www.navyweek.org.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 24 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-25T13:52:00.001-05:00

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 24 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-25T07:54:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

31FF13 I-PDVD N255MG 2012-01-24 19:53:56 IPDVD Italy --- 4211 2800
A0E531 N157LG --- 2012-01-24 13:20:29 AMERICAN BLIMP CORP A-1-70G United States UNITED STATES NAVY (PATUXENT RIVER MD)
A0E867 N158FC N158FC 2012-01-24 19:11:32 CESSNA 182T United States DEPT OF AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SERVICES (TALLAHASS 1200 1800
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-24 20:16:58 206H United States US DOJ | DEA 5255 2350
A4231F N366FM --- 2012-01-24 16:37:36 ATR 42-500 United States ---
A52242 N43RF BA1234CB 2012-01-24 13:51:50 WP-3D United States NOAA 0000 16825
A62778 N496MC GTI621 2012-01-24 19:41:01 Boeing 747-212B United States AtlasAir --- 39975
A7A899 N593AN --- 2012-01-24 20:25:17 MD-83 United States ---
A8699A N641GT GTI8377 2012-01-24 17:17:11 BOEING 767-38E US ATLAS AIR 3052 36000
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-24 19:48:11 B707-368C United states OMEGA
A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-24 19:00:58 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines
AAE5F0 N801DS N801DS 2012-01-24 13:42:19 Bell 407 United States Volusia County
AB5394 07-0829 70829 2012-01-24 17:43:52 UC-28A United States USAF | 1SOW [KHRT]
AD9A00 N976AS --- 2012-01-24 13:40:27 MD-83 United States US Marshal JPATS 6635 30975
ADFD88 94-0261 --- 2012-01-24 20:20:18 RC-26B United States --- 0000 18000
ADFED1 85-1263 --- 2012-01-24 13:04:02 C-12U United States OSACOMDet.56PR-ArNG [TJIG] 0000 20625
AE01D2 62-4125 SAME40 2012-01-24 19:41:16 RC-135W United States USAF | 55WG | 38RS [KOFF]
AE02FE 78-0808 ROGUE 35 2012-01-24 19:17:17 C-130H United States AFRC | 911AW | 758AS [KPIT]
AE04B0 57-1419 WYLIE96 2012-01-24 22:13:38 KC-135R United States USAF | 190ARW | 117ARS [KFOE]
AE04B0 57-1419 WYLIE96 2012-01-24 23:42:06 KC-135R United States USAF | 190ARW | 117ARS [KFOE]
AE087E 01-0028 SPAR28 2012-01-24 14:13:29 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF]
AE087E 01-0028 --- 2012-01-24 14:13:29 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF]
AE0945 01-0040 S663 2012-01-24 15:56:40 C-40B United States USAF | 89AW | 1AS [KADW]
AE0945 01-0040 --- 2012-01-24 15:56:40 C-40B United States USAF | 89AW | 1AS [KADW]
AE10E9 2003 SHELL01 2012-01-24 20:39:15 HC-130J United States USCG | CGAS Elizabeth City [KECG] 2745 22000
AE115E 01-0030 --- 2012-01-24 22:23:53 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF] 0000 17600
AE1D05 ------ LA051 2012-01-24 22:47:35 P-3C United States ---
AE1ECA 166069 --- 2012-01-24 18:21:26 T-6B United States USNavy
AE2EF6 166121 --- 2012-01-24 18:13:11 T-6B United States ---
E47EF6 N637TW RYN7837 2012-01-24 17:40:01 Boeing 767-33AER United States Ryan Intl Airlines 0733 38575

MQ-9 performs emergency landing

2012-01-25T07:12:00.000-05:00

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) -- Officials with the 49th Wing announced a remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper performed an emergency landing Jan. 23 at approximately 9:45 p.m. just south of the base.

The aircraft is assigned to the 29th Attack Squadron, which is a remotely piloted aircraft flying training unit. The accident occurred at the end of a local training mission.

No one was injured and no private property was damaged. Emergency personnel responded to the scene shortly after the landing.

A board is convening to investigate the cause of the accident.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 23 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-24T11:44:00.000-05:00

AF reservists support first rocket launch of year

2012-01-24T07:10:00.001-05:00

by Capt. Cathleen Snow, 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. (AFNS) -- Air Force Reserve Combat-search-and-rescue Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., supported the successful launch of a Delta IV rocket carrying the fourth Wideband Global SATCOM satellite at 7:38 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 37 here Jan. 19.

Maintenance Airmen readied two of the 920th's HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which aircrews took flight in two hours before the launch window, at approximately 5:30 p.m., to secure the Eastern Range.

The 45th Space Wing launched the United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Medium rocket WGS-04, which is the first craft in the program's upgraded Block 2 series, which adds a radio frequency bypass capability designed to support airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms requiring ultra-high bandwidth and data rates.

They 920th Reserve Airmen work side-by-side with the 45th Space Wing to maintain safety on the range for each rocket that launches from here. Last night they cleared a 60-mile stretch of the Range over the Atlantic Ocean of mariners to keep them out of harm's way beneath the rocket launch path.

As a combat-search-and-rescue unit, the Airmen are trained to provide search and rescue services in humanitarian and combat environments. Supporting launches is no different. Lt. Col. Robert Haston, 920th Pave Hawk pilot, said to maintain safety, "we'll stay airborne during a lunch as long as the launch window remains open. "

Haston flies many of the launch missions and said he's, "been up all night" before while a launch window remained open.

"The 920th Rescue Wing is proud to work this important Air Force launch that will play a role in our nation's defense. It's an honor to be a part of such a vital mission. We will continue to provide launch support for all launches while maintaining our busy overseas deployment schedule," said Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th RQW Wing commander.

The next Air Force launch from CCAFS is scheduled for February, when the Air Force will launch the first satellite of the Mobile User Objective System, which will provide enhanced capabilities for mobile military users.

The wing will also support SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch for NASA in March.

"We are honored to have worked closely with our Air Force and mission partners to enable today's successful launch of the WGS-4 satellite. WGS-4 will provide important capabilities to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines protecting our freedoms around the world," said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Mission Operations. "This mission begins the most aggressive launch campaign in the history of the EELV program, with nine national security and two NASA launches scheduled this year."

Laughlin named busiest airfield in AF for 2011

2012-01-24T07:01:00.000-05:00

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, -- A look at a terminal control workstation here Dec. 7, 2011. A TCW is used by air traffic controllers to help manage and direct aircraft safely here at the Air Force's busiest air field. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Ricardo Reveles)

By Senior Airman Scott Saldukas, 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Laughlin was officially announced the busiest airfield and combined air traffic control tower in the Air Force for 2011 on Jan. 10 by the Air Force Flight Standards Agency for having a total of 337,439 operations.

Controlling the busiest airfield in the Air Force is the 47th Operations Support Squadron radar approach control section and tower. The RAPCON was identified as the busiest of 39 facilities with 266,591 operations and the tower was ninth out of 98 towers with 70,848.

"I'm very excited for and at the same time proud of the men and women in Laughlin's RAPCON and Tower who daily dedicate themselves to ensuring the safe execution of Laughlin's flight training mission," said Chief Master Sgt. Howard Teesdale, 47th Operations Support Squadron RAPCON chief controller. "Other than the instructor pilots who sit directly behind and are in control of the students flying the plane, no one comes close to touching the 47th Flying Training Wing's mission of graduating the world's best pilots than the controllers do."

The tower and RAPCON are made up of 69 controllers who control 62 airfields, 10,000 square miles of airspace within 100 miles of Laughlin. Before earning the title as the busiest airfield in the Air Force, they were controlling the fourth busiest in terms of combined air traffic control operations.

Teesdale also noted that Laughlin has been his busiest assignment to date and most complex.

"When your main customer is student pilots, the operating environment we try to provide them is ever changing," he said.

While a high operations tempo and constant change are always there, so is the sense of pride the controllers take in their job.

"I have a duty to help other controllers receive the quality training that will help them," said Airman 1st Class Jennifer Davis, 47th OSS air traffic controller. "This duty extends to myself as well, I am responsible for keeping myself current in all of my training and proficient in the positions I hold. I also have a moral responsibility to perform my job to the best of my ability, to ensure that I provide the best ATC service possible to aid in the pilot training process."

Teesdale explained how here at Laughlin it can get extremely busy at times and doing the unimaginable happens often.

"As with any organization, especially one that shares a singular common goal such as ours, there's a lot of camaraderie, they are a tough crowd and that's because they have to be," Teesdale said. "In the end however, controllers always seem to prevail and come out on top and in my humble opinion this is why controllers are routinely labeled a step above because they truly are."

===========================
Blog Editor Note: For my readers in and around Del Rio, Texas, here are some of the frequencies for Laughlin AFB:

ICAO Code: KDLF

Pilot-to-Dispatcher (PTD) - 372.200
Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) - 114.400 269.900
Del Rio Approach - 119.600 259.100
Houston Center - 125.750 346.400
Tower - 125.200 307.375 114.400T
Ground Control - 275.800
Del Rio Departure - 119.600 296.700
Clearance Delivery - 120.500 335.800
PMSV Metro - 354.600

Old satellite teaching new lessons

2012-01-24T06:57:00.002-05:00

by Scott Prater, 50th Space Wing Public Affairs

SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- Since Jan. 13, the 2nd Space Operations Squadron here has been busy disposing of an old and trusted satellite.

Squadron members could soon refer to the vehicle, known as SVN-30, as the satellite that keeps on giving because crews continues to garner invaluable information concerning how Global Positioning System Block IIA satellites behave as they degrade.

"We still have 12 GPS Block IIA vehicles on orbit," said Lt. Col. Dean Holthaus, the 2nd SOPS director of operations. "In addition to the normal end-of-life test and disposal procedures, we're conducting some tests (that) will help characterize how the other Block IIAs will behave with regard to their sensors, attitude control, etc., during future disposal operations."

The Air Force launched SVN-30 during September 1996 and the vehicle began providing position, navigation and timing data for GPS users worldwide the very next month. Designers placed four atomic frequency standards, or clocks, on the satellite during construction and it took nearly 16 years for all four to degrade beyond their usefulness. Operations crews began noticing that SVN-30's final clock was experiencing trouble during May 2011, so 2nd SOPS crews resurrected a residual satellite, SVN-35, to replace it in the GPS architecture.

That's when the satellite that keeps on giving leapt back into service.

"We've known for some time that SVN-30 was going to present itself as the perfect test bed," said Capt. Jayson Andersen, the 2nd SOPS assistant flight commander, GPS Mission Analysis. "Its navigation payload has degraded to the point where it can't support position, navigation and timing missions anymore, but its bus components are still operating on the primary side and there is plenty of fuel onboard. We have an incredible opportunity to gain some understanding and knowledge about how Block IIAs behave at the end of their operational lives."

More than 50 personnel, including 2nd SOPS and 19th Space Operations Squadron operators and orbital analysts, will coordinate with Boeing and Aerospace contractors to test the satellite before its disposal later this month.

"The major benefit for us is that the information we gain from testing will drive down risk in future disposal operations," Holthaus said. "We know if anything falls outside the norm during future operations, we'll have quantifiable data from SVN-30's disposal for use in a scenario where we can't dispose of a vehicle in the standard fashion."

Andersen contends that the 2nd SOPS is showing forward thinking by trying to protect high-value GPS slots, which could be compromised if a satellite were to become inoperable in place.

"We may not dispose of another vehicle for several years," he said. "But, when we are forced to dispose of it, we want to go into it with high confidence so that we have the lowest risk disposal possible. We want to be able to vacate that slot and bring in a new vehicle."

Final shutdown of SVN-30 will occur at the later stages of the operation, when crews will command the vehicle to fire its thrusters, pushing it out and up to a higher orbit, deplete the vehicle of its remaining fuel, discharge all batteries and open all valves. Telemetry shutdown and final contact with earth is planned for Jan. 27.

In addition to taking safety precautions to ensure a mishap free transition, the 2nd SOPS will also coordinate with external organizations, such as the Joint Space Operations Center, to provide predicted burn vectors and post-burn vectors so crews can conduct collision avoidance operations with other vehicles on orbit.

"I am proud of our team for their innovation and forward thinking in this regard," said Lt. Col. Jennifer Grant, the 2nd SOPS commander. "We are constantly trying to find ways to utilize every satellite on orbit to the best of our ability. This end-of-life testing will pay dividends in planning for future disposal, or contingency operations for future disposal operations."

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 22 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-23T11:15:00.000-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Date/Time
AE0303 78-0813 PITT0013 2012-01-22 21:03:13 C-130H United States AFRC | 911AW | 758AS [KPIT]
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT835 2012-01-22 21:01:41 C-12U United States USARMY
AE08B8 165963 --- 2012-01-22 20:35:59 T-6A United States --- 0000 15875
AE113C 02-3672 --- 2012-01-22 20:29:42 T-6A United States USAF | 47FTW | 86FTS [KDLF] 0000 24000
AE05D9 85-0039 SHARK04 2012-01-22 20:19:45 C-130H United States AFRC | 908AW | 357AS [KMXF] 0000 21000
AE035F 58-0085 RATS91 2012-01-22 20:17:52 KC-135R United States AFRC | 452AMW | 336ARS [KRIV]
AE016D 84-0075 PACER24 2012-01-22 19:33:19 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW]
AE0158 58-0112 STEEL86 2012-01-22 18:25:00 KC-135T United States PA ANG | 171ARW [KPIT]
AE0272 64-14840 TAZZ71 2012-01-22 17:33:00 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
AE05A3 61-0309 UPSET55 2012-01-22 16:57:52 KC-135R United States WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE]
ADFE62 91-1231 REACH612 2012-01-22 16:51:37 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] 6645 23000
AE0272 64-14840 TAZZ71 2012-01-22 16:47:22 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
AE0522 68-0222 --- 2012-01-22 16:40:34 C-5A United States WV ANG | 167AW | 167AS [KMRB]
AE0302 78-0812 PITT 12 2012-01-22 15:57:09 C-130H United States AFRC | 911AW | 758AS [KPIT]

Sort by ICAO24 code
ADFE62 91-1231 REACH612 2012-01-22 16:51:37 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] 6645 23000
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT835 2012-01-22 21:01:41 C-12U United States USARMY
AE0158 58-0112 STEEL86 2012-01-22 18:25:00 KC-135T United States PA ANG | 171ARW [KPIT]
AE016D 84-0075 PACER24 2012-01-22 19:33:19 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW]
AE0272 64-14840 TAZZ71 2012-01-22 16:47:22 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
AE0302 78-0812 PITT 12 2012-01-22 15:57:09 C-130H United States AFRC | 911AW | 758AS [KPIT]
AE0303 78-0813 PITT0013 2012-01-22 21:03:13 C-130H United States AFRC | 911AW | 758AS [KPIT]
AE035F 58-0085 RATS91 2012-01-22 20:17:52 KC-135R United States AFRC | 452AMW | 336ARS [KRIV]
AE0522 68-0222 --- 2012-01-22 16:40:34 C-5A United States WV ANG | 167AW | 167AS [KMRB]
AE05A3 61-0309 UPSET55 2012-01-22 16:57:52 KC-135R United States WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE]
AE05D9 85-0039 SHARK04 2012-01-22 20:19:45 C-130H United States AFRC | 908AW | 357AS [KMXF] 0000 21000
AE08B8 165963 --- 2012-01-22 20:35:59 T-6A United States --- 0000 15875
AE113C 02-3672 --- 2012-01-22 20:29:42 T-6A United States USAF | 47FTW | 86FTS [KDLF] 0000 24000

Navy, Coast Guard Integrate to Complete Successful Deployment

2012-01-23T07:19:00.002-05:00

Sailors assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 2, based in Portsmouth, Va., and Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group (CGDOG) 307, based in Clearwater, Fla., patrol Kuwait Naval Base's harbor. Both units are part of Commander, Task Group (CTG) 56.5, which provides harbor defense and force protection in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Krishna M. Jackson/Released)

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Krishna M. Jackson, Combined Task Group 56.1 Public Affairs

KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, Kuwait (NNS) -- Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 2 and U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit (USCGPSU) 307 returned home Jan. 20, after completing a successful deployment as part of Commander, Task Group (CTG) 56.5.

"Our overall integration with PSU 307 was seamless. We completed every task with efficiency and professionalism." said Cmdr. Kevin K. Hanson, MSRON 2 and CTG 56.5 commanding officer.

USCGPSU 307 deployed from Clearwater, Fla., and MSRON 2 deployed from Portsmouth, Va., in July 2011. CTG 56.5 provides harbor defense and security for ports, seaward approaches and waterways ensuring the free flow of personnel, equipment and commerce in the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

"I've been in the guard a year and a half and to get to come out here and work with a different branch has been a amazing experience," said U.S. Coast Guard, Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Moulton LeBlanc. "It gives me a greater appreciation for the United States military as a whole."

LeBlanc is one of many Guardsman who took the opportunity to qualify on the Navy's coastal patrol craft; in turn, MSRON 2 Sailors, worked and qualified on USCG patrol boats and qualified to wear the USCG's Enlisted Port Security Badge.

In addition to boat qualifications, some PSU 307 Guardsman qualified to wear the Navy's Expeditionary Warfare Specialist pin.

"The deployment's been really good, especially the training," said Machinery Technician 2nd Class Steve Murdick. "The opportunity to get on Navy boats and learn something different was very valuable."

The Coast Guard uses a 25-foot transportable patrol boat, and the Navy uses a smaller Sea Ark tactical craft. CTG 56.5 conducts daily patrols ensuring security of the Kuwait Naval Base's harbor. USCGPSU 307 personnel operated and maintained some of the Navy's boats and shared operation and maintenance of the larger USCG patrol boats.

"It is a different platform, a completely different boat than what we use, but driving them is a lot easier because of the jet drive in comparison to the USCG patrol boat," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Steve Demboske.

An awards ceremony was held Jan. 6, with MSRON 2 and USCGPSU presenting awards and qualification pins to personnel. Cmdr. J. Brad Wallace, USCGPSU 307, commanding officer and Task Group 56.5 deputy commander, presented the Coast Guard awards and Hanson presented the Navy awards.

"This will pay many dividends down the road for the unit and the individuals," said Wallace.

"It speaks a lot to how well our units have integrated," said Hanson. "I am very honored to have had the opportunity to serve with all of you for the past six months."

MSRON 4 from Portsmouth, Va., and USCGPSU 305 from Fort Eustis, Va., assumed responsibility as 56.5 on Jan. 18.

Lightning II strikes at night

2012-01-23T07:01:00.002-05:00

The first night flight of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Jan. 18, 2012, at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The mission consisted of a series of straight-in approaches in twilight and darkness. The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35's cockpit lighting. The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year. (Lockheed Martin photo)

VP-30 to Welcome First Production P-8A in March

2012-01-23T06:07:00.004-05:00

Photo by Clark Pierce via a to the Jax Air News website.

The P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft – shown here on a 2011 visit to NAS Jax – is a modified Boeing 737-800ERX that brings together a highly reliable airframe and turbofan jet engines with a fully connected open architecture mission system. This combination, coupled with next-generation sensors, will dramatically improve anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities. This year, VP-16 will be the Navy's first operational squadron to train and transition to the P-8A Poseidon.

Read more at Jacksonville.com

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 22 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-23T05:58:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

111111 LX-N20199 --- 2012-01-22 13:37:32 CT-49A Luxemburg NAEWandCF
A6D6D9 N54PA N54PA 2012-01-22 13:06:47 Lear 36 United States PHOENINXAIR 2516 40000
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-22 16:24:56 B707-368C United states OMEGA
ADFCDE 94-0127 --- 2012-01-22 15:58:52 T-1A United States USAF | 71FTW | 32FTS [KEND]
ADFE17 1711 --- 2012-01-22 17:03:01 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Clearwater [KPIE] 7363 9800
ADFE62 91-1231 REACH612 2012-01-22 18:09:35 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] 0000 23000
ADFE7D 92-3284 VIKNG84 2012-01-22 14:49:34 C-130H United States AFRC | 934AW | 96AS [KMSP] 6237 19000
AE012E (73-1683)/97-01 --- 2012-01-22 16:35:09 C-9C United States AFRC | 932AW | 73AS [KBLV] 0000 28175
AE0160 57-1479 DECEE96 2012-01-22 15:18:32 KC-135R United States AFRC | 459ARW | 756ARS [KADW]
AE02E7 84-0204 COBB04 2012-01-22 18:56:34 C-130H United States AFRC | 94AW | 700AS [KMGE]
AE0379 63-7992 SLUFF31 2012-01-22 19:48:58 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] 6645 28500
AE0453 162160 --- 2012-01-22 19:55:00 C-2A United States USN | VRC-40 [KNGU] 2171 17900
AE04DA 165832 CNV4922 2012-01-22 22:26:42 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP]
AE051A 86-0017 --- 2012-01-22 15:53:04 C-5B United States USAF | 436AW | 3AS [KDOV]
AE0522 68-0222 --- 2012-01-22 15:37:14 C-5A United States WV ANG | 167AW | 167AS [KMRB] 3662 23000
AE05A3 61-0309 UPSET55 2012-01-22 16:07:03 KC-135R United States WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE]
AE05E6 88-4404 BREWR71 2012-01-22 19:10:29 C-130H United States AFRC | 440AW | 95AS [KPOB] 3660 22000
AE06E5 163845 --- 2012-01-22 19:24:22 UC-12M United States AOD Guantanamo Bay
AE06E9 163844 00000000 2012-01-22 14:08:33 UC-12M United States Norfolk
AE0800 98-0054 RCH899 2012-01-22 22:31:53 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS]
AE087E 01-0028 SPAR28 2012-01-22 23:20:34 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF]
AE10C6 159364 --- 2012-01-22 17:50:00 CT-39G United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA]
AE10C8 160053 --- 2012-01-22 17:38:15 T-39G United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA]
AE1191 03-0016 PAT819 2012-01-22 20:04:54 UC-35B United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE] 2101 39000
AE1211 03-0726 PAT809 2012-01-22 20:19:02 UC-35C United States USARC | 2-228 AVN 7724 35000
AE1291 89-0281 RCH 1008 2012-01-22 19:53:01 MC-130H United States USAF | 1SOW | 15SOS [KHRT] 0000 0
AE1295 84-0476 RCH1011 2012-01-22 21:03:25 MC-130h United States USAF | 1SOW | 15SOS [KHRT]
AE12B8 88-0193 RCH1010 2012-01-22 20:05:42 MC-130h United States USAF | 1SOW | 15SOS [KHRT]
AE13B2 04-3732 --- 2012-01-22 16:54:10 T-6A United States USAF | 14FTW | 37FTS [KCBM]
AE173B 06-3840 --- 2012-01-22 16:00:47 T-6A United States USAF
AE1E6C 166014 --- 2012-01-22 19:23:58 T-6B United States --- 0000 4900
AE1E7C 166030 --- 2012-01-22 21:15:46 T-6B United States ---
AE1EB8 166051 --- 2012-01-22 21:19:18 T-6B United States USN | taw-5 | VT-6
AE223F 2308 --- 2012-01-22 15:55:50 HC-144A United States USCG | 3731 10750
AE2EEE 166113 --- 2012-01-22 21:15:30 T-6B United States ---
AE2EF7 166122 --- 2012-01-22 17:04:00 T-6B United States ---

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 21 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-22T07:46:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

111111 LX-N20199 417PS 2012-01-21 14:15:47 CT-49A Luxemburg NAEWandCF
A1299C N174SC N174SC 2012-01-21 07:29:30 AS 350 B3 United States SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE
A5F1FC 05-0482 50482 2012-01-21 19:43:25 U-28A United States USAF | 1SOW [KHRT]
A80B7F 52-3023 --- 2012-01-21 15:32:28 ------ United States USAF
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-21 16:08:31 B707-368C United states OMEGA 0000 9975
A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-21 19:00:33 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines
AD9470 N974VV --- 2012-01-21 21:54:13 DC-10 United states OMEGA
ADFE17 1711 --- 2012-01-21 20:46:49 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Clearwater [KPIE]
ADFE1E 1718 --- 2012-01-21 19:15:26 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Sacramento [KMCC] 4677 11800
ADFE3E 2135 --- 2012-01-21 15:14:23 HU-25C+ United States USCG/CGASCorpusChristi 3006 2650
ADFE62 91-1231 --- 2012-01-21 21:19:14 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFE7D 92-3284 VIKNG84 2012-01-21 16:46:51 C-130H United States AFRC | 934AW | 96AS [KMSP] 0000 21000
ADFEBD 96-0107 PAT283 2012-01-21 21:43:07 UC-35a1 United States USARC | 2-228 AVN 7405 39000
ADFEE3 159114 CNV9542 2012-01-21 14:08:15 C-9B United States USNR | VR-46 [KNFW ]
AE0160 57-1479 DC96 2012-01-21 15:34:48 KC-135R United States AFRC | 459ARW | 756ARS [KADW]
AE02C7 89-9103 --- 2012-01-21 17:58:28 C-130H United States AFRC | 910AW | 757AS [KYNG]
AE0383 58-0079 --- 2012-01-21 17:15:38 KC-135R United States AFRC | 507ARW | 465ARS [KTIK]
AE0383 58-0079 SOONR82 2012-01-21 16:45:39 KC-135R United States AFRC | 507ARW | 465ARS [KTIK]
AE04F6 58-0069/84-0167 ZAGS81 2012-01-21 17:37:46 KC-135T/C-12 United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA]
AE05AC 63-8029 HARLY88 2012-01-21 15:37:04 KC-135R United States WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE]
AE0614 86-1394 --- 2012-01-21 17:06:55 C-130H United States MO ANG | 139AW | 180AS [KSTJ]
AE148E 94-0284 --- 2012-01-21 15:50:42 E-8C United States GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB]
AE1ECA 166069 --- 2012-01-21 17:47:19 T-6B United States USNavy 0000 11800
AE1ED3 166078 --- 2012-01-21 17:50:21 T-6B United States --- 0000 10925
AE1ED8 166083 --- 2012-01-21 18:32:59 T-6B United States --- 1673 9100
AE2EDD 166096 --- 2012-01-21 18:19:45 T-6B United States --- 0000 6375
AE2EF0 166115 --- 2012-01-21 22:45:20 T-6B United States --- 0000 26000
AE2EF6 166121 --- 2012-01-21 18:32:47 T-6B United States --- 0000 0

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 20 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-21T11:08:00.000-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Date/Time
AE0815 00-0179 COHO15 2012-01-20 17:53:29 C-17A United States USAF | 62AW [KTCM]
AE1156 165996 --- 2012-01-20 17:46:08 T-6A United States USN | TW-6 [KNPA] 0000 19050
AE1157 165997 --- 2012-01-20 17:27:31 T-6A United States USN | TW-6 [KNPA] 0000 21025
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT16 2012-01-20 16:58:15 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF] 3300 27500
ADFF0D 62-3559 BOLT15 2012-01-20 16:58:00 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE1143 165977 --- 2012-01-20 16:44:14 T-6A United States USN | TW-6 [KNPA] 0000 19250
AE123B 04-4130 RCH4130 2012-01-20 10:52:04 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI] 0000 34000
AE059C 60-0350 TURBO81 2012-01-20 05:54:44 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE059C 60-0350 TURBO81 2012-01-20 03:33:52 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE145F 06-6161 RCH6161 2012-01-20 03:33:43 C-17A United States USAF | 60AMW | 21AS [KSUU]

Sort by ICAO24 code
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT16 2012-01-20 16:58:15 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF] 3300 27500
ADFF0D 62-3559 BOLT15 2012-01-20 16:58:00 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE059C 60-0350 TURBO81 2012-01-20 03:33:52 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE0815 00-0179 COHO15 2012-01-20 17:53:29 C-17A United States USAF | 62AW [KTCM]
AE1143 165977 --- 2012-01-20 16:44:14 T-6A United States USN | TW-6 [KNPA] 0000 19250
AE1156 165996 --- 2012-01-20 17:46:08 T-6A United States USN | TW-6 [KNPA] 0000 19050
AE1157 165997 --- 2012-01-20 17:27:31 T-6A United States USN | TW-6 [KNPA] 0000 21025
AE123B 04-4130 RCH4130 2012-01-20 10:52:04 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI] 0000 34000
AE145F 06-6161 RCH6161 2012-01-20 03:33:43 C-17A United States USAF | 60AMW | 21AS [KSUU]

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 20 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-21T07:37:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

111111 LX-N20199 --- 2012-01-20 20:52:32 CT-49A Luxemburg NAEWandCF
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-20 17:59:15 206H United States US DOJ | DEA
A5F1FC 05-0482 50482 2012-01-20 18:20:52 U-28A United States USAF | 1SOW [KHRT]
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-20 15:53:52 B707-368C United states OMEGA
A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-20 19:06:42 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines
AAED5E N803DS N803DS 2012-01-20 13:45:21 Bell 407 United States Volusia County
AD79DD N968 --- 2012-01-20 13:24:07 Mig-17 United States RICHARD THOM KISSIMMEE Fl. 0000 10800
AD9470 N974VV --- 2012-01-20 17:55:05 DC-10 United states OMEGA
ADFE1E 1718 --- 2012-01-20 14:35:05 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Sacramento [KMCC]
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT835 2012-01-20 16:55:00 C-12U United States USARMY
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT16 2012-01-20 15:40:47 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
ADFF0C 60-0335 --- 2012-01-20 18:31:29 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF] 0000 25500
ADFF0D 62-3559 BOLT15 2012-01-20 15:40:15 KC-135R United States USAF | 22ARW [KIAB]
AE01AA 84-0071 BATTL 11 2012-01-20 19:17:55 C-21A United States MI ANG | 110FW | 172AS [KBTL] 2312 17650
AE02E7 84-0204 COBB04 2012-01-20 20:15:20 C-130H United States AFRC | 94AW | 700AS [KMGE] 3534 21900
AE036E 98-0008 XWPF5PEV 2012-01-20 20:36:44 UC-35A United States US Army
AE0383 58-0079 SOONR82 2012-01-20 18:30:58 KC-135R United States AFRC | 507ARW | 465ARS [KTIK]
AE0428 62-3511 SLUFF92 2012-01-20 14:40:59 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
AE04AA 99-0101 --- 2012-01-20 19:23:04 UC-35a1 United States USARC | A/2-228 AVN (TA) [KWRI ]
AE04AC 99-0103 --- 2012-01-20 15:42:58 UC-35a1 United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE]
AE04D7 165829 --- 2012-01-20 14:41:26 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP]
AE0614 86-1394 PROPS61 2012-01-20 16:10:06 C-130H United States MO ANG | 139AW | 180AS [KSTJ]
AE066A 62-3549 PIRAT14 2012-01-20 15:32:37 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE06E9 163844 --- 2012-01-20 18:17:28 UC-12M United States Norfolk 3435 5100
AE07A3 58-0118 ZAGS81 2012-01-20 21:00:36 KC-135R United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA]
AE07BD 62-356t8 PIRAT6 2012-01-20 18:19:12 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE087E 01-0028 SPAR28 2012-01-20 16:58:09 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF] 0000 12800
AE10C7 159365 --- 2012-01-20 20:25:16 T-39G United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA]
AE10C8 160053 --- 2012-01-20 17:30:02 T-39G United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA] 0000 20700
AE1159 165999 --- 2012-01-20 20:03:04 T-6A United States USN | TW-6 [KNPA]
AE1192 166474 --- 2012-01-20 14:42:43 UC-35D United States USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT] 1314 35000
AE1211 03-0726 PAT809 2012-01-20 21:02:10 UC-35C United States USARC | 2-228 AVN
AE1237 03-3126 RCH397T 2012-01-20 12:32:25 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI]
AE1524 167108 RAIDR39 2012-01-20 17:55:04 KC-130J United States USMC | VMGR-352 [KNKX]
AE1E6C 166014 --- 2012-01-20 20:56:56 T-6B United States --- 0000 3200
AE1E77 166025 @@@@@@@@ 2012-01-20 21:01:30 T-6B United States USN | TAW-5 | VT-3 2652 23050
AE1E7C 166030 --- 2012-01-20 20:07:35 T-6B United States --- 0000 18100
AE1EB8 166051 --- 2012-01-20 20:04:47 T-6B United States USN | taw-5 | VT-6
AE1EBD 166056 --- 2012-01-20 17:38:20 T-6B United States USNavy
AE266F 6521 --- 2012-01-20 19:04:37 MH-65D United States USCG |
AE2EEE 166113 --- 2012-01-20 20:01:55 T-6B United States --- 0000 17125
AE2EF7 166122 @@@@@@@@ 2012-01-20 18:38:37 T-6B United States ---
C2AF6D 130335 --- 2012-01-20 15:17:10 CC-130E Canada CFC | 8WG [CYTR]
E94045 ------ --- 2012-01-20 21:02:04 --- Bolivia --- 2005 32000

Enterprise's 'Eyes and Ears' Prepare for Deployment

2012-01-21T07:19:00.000-05:00

Operations Specialist 1st Class Derrick L. Johnston from Meadville, Pa., (left) tracks interceptions of aircraft and reports them to the Tactical Actions Officer (TAO), Lt. Cmdr. Michael J. Yager from Troy, N.Y., (right) in the Combat Direction Center (CDC). CDC is the nerve center of the nuclear powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 65). This is where information is collected, processed, displayed, evaluated, and disseminated from sources outside and inside the ship. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Rob Gaston. (RELEASED)

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gregory White, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- The Combat Direction Center (CDC) aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) participated in a variety of training exercises as part of the carrier's composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) while underway in the Atlantic Ocean Jan. 16.

The CDC is responsible for tracking and identifying all surface, air and sub-surface contacts and communicating the acquired information throughout the ship and the strike group.

Computer systems and radars fill the spaces of CDC, and Sailors from many rates work together to gather, process, display and disseminate information.

"From intelligence to navigation, everything runs through CDC," said Chief Operations Specialist James Allen Cowling, the leading chief petty officer of the Operations Intelligence division. "We have things in there that we have to send all the way up to the Pentagon so they can make strategic, big-picture decisions, not only for our forces, but for all forces, based on the information received."

One of the many systems CDC utilizes is the Tactical Data Link system. The "Link" allows all information gathered across the strike group to be shared and updated.

Another important and advanced system that CDC uses is the Global Command and Control System-Maritime (GCCS-M), simply referred to as "geeks."

"GCCS-M is a system that can see the location of ships all over the world and gather input and intelligence," said Operations Specialist 3rd Class Alcides J. Fuentes, a GCCS-M operator in CDC.

"Our 'geeks' personnel can see input from other ships around the world, so that helps us track contacts and put our game plan together," said Operations Specialist 1st Class Reginald L. Washington, the leading petty officer of the Operations Intelligence Division.

CDC is important to operations and the work center trains constantly. The training consists of performing numerous surface and air contact drills.

"To train for surface contacts, we often run drills that involve numerous ships coming into the vital area of our strike group," said Washington "We track them with our weapons ready as a precaution, and we have to identify them. If a contact becomes hostile, we take further measures."

"We take control of our vital area," said Operations Specialist 3rd Class Danielle L. Robinson, a "geeks" system operator in CDC. "We can't let unknown contacts sit there. We use surface trackers and automatic identifying systems to identify and label contacts in a timely fashion."

Washington said when training for air contacts, CDC sometimes holds a "detect to engage" exercise, which simulates an actual engagement where an aircraft or missile breaches the ship's security range. CDC then tracks the contact, readies weapons and prepares to launch aircraft or its own defensive weapons.

"When this happens we need to know if it (the aircraft) is a hostile, a neutral, or a friendly before a decision is made to intercept and escort it out of our area," said Washington. "If it has already launched a weapon at us we have countermeasures to take care of that weapon, and we have countermeasures to defeat the aircraft itself."

The tactical action officer stands watch in the CDC and is the only person aboard, except for the commanding officer, with weapons release authority.

"He has defensive weapons release authority," said Washington. "He can make the decision to defend the ship by any means if we are fired upon, so if he needs to fire a weapon to defend the ship we will do that."

CDC has thus far completed all of their training exercises successfully and will continue training throughout COMPTUEX.

USS Nitze Sailors Practice VBSS Operations

2012-01-21T07:16:00.000-05:00

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Atherton, Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs

USS NITZE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) participated in a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training exercise, Jan. 18.

The scenario tested the ability of the VBSS team to conduct a boarding after pirates attacked a vessel.

"They hit us hard," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jehovani Berrocales, the assistant boarding officer for the VBSS team. "The scenario was difficult. This proves we need to be ready for anything."

The VBSS team boarded a training ship with personnel playing the role of foreign sailors to give the team a sense of what it may be like to actually board another vessel.

"We usually board the ships to verify their paperwork and documentation but also to make sure they do not have any contraband or weapons onboard," said Chief Fire Controlman Matthew Bergroschtje, boarding officer for the VBSS team.

In this case, a mock distress call was received from the training vessel and the VBSS team responded.

"When it happens for real, it is usually just like the training," said Berrocales.

After a search of the vessel, there were no pirates found remaining aboard.

"We need to be able to think on our feet," said Berrocales. "If there are non-compliant people, we need to know what to do immediately."

In most cases, the VBSS teams visit the other vessel to give them supplies and check documentation.

"Our guys are gaining experience and they are taking the training seriously," said Bergroschtje. "We need to get on the other vessel and help the people who need help."

"We will take them food, water and medical supplies," said Berrocales. "It is important to have a good relationship with the local boats."

At the end of the event, the team accomplished their goals.

"Everyone did really well," said Bergroschtje. "There are always areas to improve in but all major objectives were met."

The crew of the training vessel in the scenario was taken care of and the VBSS team helped restore power and operations to the vessel.

"It is very intense training," said Berrocales. "You don't know how you will react until you are in the situation and our guys did very well."

Nitze is part of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, which is underway conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is designed to bring every part of a strike group together to work effectively and efficiently as one cohesive unit, ensuring overall readiness prior to regular deployment.

Civil Air Patrol will practice for emergencies

2012-01-21T06:32:00.000-05:00

The Civil Air Patrol has scheduled an exercise across Texas to brush up on skills used in emergency operations like Hurricane Ike. Details of the January 28-29 exercise were announced Friday, with plans for many of the state's more than 3,400 volunteer members to take part.

Read the entire Houston Chronicle published 10:36 p.m., Friday, January 20, 2012 at
http://www.chron.com/default/article/Civil-Air-Patrol-will-practice-for-emergencies-2658721.php

Thanks to Bill, the Fedcom List and the HoustonScan group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HoustonScan for the heads-up on this monitoring event.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 20 Jan 2012 - Bowling Green KY

2012-01-21T05:54:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor DavidP in Bowling Green, KY. Thanks David.

Mode S Log from Bowling Green, Kentucky, US 2012-01-20

A0033C -------- N10K BE30 OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY --- 2012-01-20 15:02:25.706
A19FC6 -------- N2032 H25B U S MARSHALS SERVICE --- 2012-01-20 08:26:50.462
A62778 GTI603 N496MC B744 AtlasAir --- 2012-01-20 21:14:40.689
A79B0D -------- N59 LJ60 FAA --- 2012-01-20 10:00:18.283
A79B0D FLC59 N59 LJ60 FAA --- 2012-01-20 10:00:18.283
ACEE92 -------- N932RD MD82 Ryan Intl Airlines --- 2012-01-20 15:29:36.502
ADFCDE -------- 94-0127 BE40 USAF | 71FTW | 32FTS [KEND] --- 2012-01-20 18:07:32.843
ADFD0C -------- 95-0064 BE40 USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS --- 2012-01-20 15:25:01.811
ADFE63 DERBY 03 91-1232 C30 KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] --- 2012-01-20 13:03:39.055
ADFE68 DERBY 81 91-1237 C30 KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] --- 2012-01-20 13:18:20.103
ADFE7D VIKNG84 92-3284 C30 AFRC | 934AW | 96AS [KMSP] --- 2012-01-20 17:24:56.238
ADFEB3 ALBUM84 73-1676 B742 USAF | 55WG | 1ACCS [KOFF] --- 2012-01-20 15:54:48.487
ADFEC9 GABLESEN 84-0182 BE20 ARMY --- 2012-01-20 12:30:57.606
ADFED0 1200 85-1262 BE20 USARMY (OSACOM Det25 TNArNG) --- 2012-01-20 13:50:05.638
ADFEE3 CNV9542 159114 DC93 USNR | VR-46 [KNFW ] --- 2012-01-20 18:07:32.849
ADFEEA LOBO 172 160046 DC93 USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT] --- 2012-01-20 12:10:05.694
ADFEFF -------- 86-0089 BE20 IL ARNG | OSACOM DET-36 [KDEC] --- 2012-01-20 12:55:30.456
ADFF0C -------- 60-0335 K35T USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF] --- 2012-01-20 11:06:59.206
ADFF0D -------- 62-3559 K35R USAF | 22ARW [KIAB] --- 2012-01-20 11:06:14.507
AE0197 -------- 84-0137 LJ35 USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW] --- 2012-01-20 07:42:24.018
AE01AA -------- 84-0071 LJ35 MI ANG | 110FW | 172AS [KBTL] --- 2012-01-20 12:11:35.404
AE01BD SPAR610 84-0131 LJ35 USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW] --- 2012-01-20 14:20:52.054
AE023D -------- 58-0121 K35R AFRC | 507ARW | 465ARS [KTIK] --- 2012-01-20 13:25:46.780
AE0362 SLUFF31 59-1453 K35R OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] --- 2012-01-20 12:34:06.342
AE0382 CODY01 58-0051 K35R AFRC | 507ARW | 465ARS [KTIK] --- 2012-01-20 16:56:55.237
AE0392 -------- 63-8880 K35R AFRC | 507ARW | 465ARS [KTIK] --- 2012-01-20 14:50:50.809
AE03F5 -------- 84-0167 BE20 OSACOM/PAT --- 2012-01-20 17:20:28.719
AE03FD -------- 78-23132 BE20 USN | TPS [KNHK] --- 2012-01-20 14:50:38.692
AE040B RAIDR23 165739 C30J USMC | VMGR-352 [KNKX] --- 2012-01-20 15:12:10.193
AE0412 GOTO FMS 163920 E6 USN | VQ-3 [KTIK] --- 2012-01-20 15:52:44.797
AE051A -------- 86-0017 C5 USAF | 436AW | 3AS [KDOV] --- 2012-01-20 09:39:30.908
AE0583 -------- 87-0038 C5 AFRC | 439AW | 337AS [KCEF] --- 2012-01-20 14:39:28.859
AE0815 COHO15 00-0179 C17 USAF | 62AW [KTCM] --- 2012-01-20 12:26:52.688
AE08E1 OCEAN79 01-1461 C30J CA ANG | 146AW | 115AS [KNTD] --- 2012-01-20 10:36:50.486
AE08FD -------- 84-24380 BE20 USARC | A/2-228 AVN (TA) [KWRI ] --- 2012-01-20 13:58:51.843
AE093A -------- 00-1051 C560 USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE] --- 2012-01-20 17:07:17.140
AE0C8A -------- ------ H60 USArmy --- 2012-01-20 15:02:34.507
AE1143 -------- 165977 TEX2 USN | TW-6 [KNPA] --- 2012-01-20 14:58:08.763
AE1146 -------- 165980 TEX2 USN | TW-6 [KNPA] --- 2012-01-20 16:22:30.810
AE1147 -------- 165981 TEX2 USN | TW-6 [KNPA] --- 2012-01-20 17:04:39.241
AE1155 -------- 165995 TEX2 USN | TW-6 [KNPA] --- 2012-01-20 16:56:42.886
AE1156 -------- 165996 TEX2 USN | TW-6 [KNPA] --- 2012-01-20 16:14:22.316
AE1196 RCH030 03-3113 C17 MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN] --- 2012-01-20 14:59:11.228
AE1256 RAIDR18 166512 C30J USMC | VMGR-352 [KNKX] --- 2012-01-20 15:25:56.064
AE144B E55141 05-5141 C17 AFRC | 452AMW | 729AS [KRIV] --- 2012-01-20 20:01:44.007
AE1471 RCH7179 07-7179 C17 USAF | 60AMW | 21AS [KSUU] --- 2012-01-20 09:57:06.227
AE148F PEACH04 94-0285 E8 GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB] --- 2012-01-20 09:07:11.233
AE2F9D -------- 168071 ------ USMC | VMGR-252 [KNKT] --- 2012-01-20 17:20:06.378
C2AFC7 CFC3699 177702 C17 CFC | 429SQN [CYTR] --- 2012-01-20 19:36:38.475

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 19 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-20T09:41:00.002-05:00

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 19 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-20T09:02:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

111111 LX-N20199 417PS 2012-01-19 13:25:41 CT-49A Luxemburg NAEWandCF
A0D98B N154FC --- 2012-01-19 13:58:39 Cessna 182T United States DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
A1299C N174SC N174SC 2012-01-19 20:07:14 AS 350 B3 United States SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE 5271 300
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-19 19:04:17 206H United States US DOJ | DEA
A385CA N326ND --- 2012-01-19 22:46:52 PA-44-180 United States --- 0754 5300
A69529 N523MC --- 2012-01-19 19:33:02 Boeing 747-2D7B United States AtlasAir 6230 38100
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-19 18:24:57 B707-368C United states OMEGA
A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-19 19:03:35 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines
AA4A23 N762NA NAO1559 2012-01-19 23:24:59 BOEING 767-319ER United States North American Airlines 6515 14225
AAED5E N803DS N803DS 2012-01-19 20:16:19 Bell 407 United States Volusia County
AD79DD N968 --- 2012-01-19 16:55:20 Mig-17 United States RICHARD THOM KISSIMMEE Fl.
AD9470 N974VV --- 2012-01-19 23:20:52 DC-10 United states OMEGA
ADFDE2 85-0049 VENUS7 2012-01-19 19:42:24 C-20C United States USAF | 89AW | 99AS [KADW]
ADFDF8 82-8000 AF1 2012-01-19 16:18:17 VC-25A United States USAF | 89AW | PAS [KADW]
ADFE1E 1718 --- 2012-01-19 07:28:12 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Sacramento [KMCC] 4753 18400
ADFE63 91-1232 DERBY 03 2012-01-19 17:33:25 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] 0000 10800
ADFE69 91-1238 DERBY 22 2012-01-19 20:33:16 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFEB7 98-0001 S44 2012-01-19 16:21:34 C-32A United States USAF | 89AW | 1AS [KADW]
ADFED1 85-1263 --- 2012-01-19 12:37:59 C-12U United States OSACOMDet.56PR-ArNG [TJIG] 2640 22250
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT42 2012-01-19 16:48:17 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
ADFF0C 60-0335 PIRAT41 2012-01-19 16:48:17 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE012E (73-1683)/97-01 --- 2012-01-19 15:09:37 C-9C United States AFRC | 932AW | 73AS [KBLV]
AE036E 98-0008 --- 2012-01-19 21:46:08 UC-35A United States US Army 5602 38000
AE03EB 165314 --- 2012-01-19 15:17:50 C-130T United States USNR | VR-62 [KNIP]
AE05AC 63-8029 HARLY88 2012-01-19 21:42:01 KC-135R United States WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE]
AE05D9 85-0039 --- 2012-01-19 14:53:47 C-130H United States AFRC | 908AW | 357AS [KMXF]
AE07A3 58-0118 ZAGS82 2012-01-19 18:59:09 KC-135R United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA]
AE07BD 62-356t8 BOLT06 2012-01-19 18:55:26 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE0823 57-1438 RCH111 2012-01-19 14:25:24 KC-135R United States AFRC | 452AMW | 336ARS [KRIV]
AE087E 01-0028 SPAR28 2012-01-19 14:36:13 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF] 0000 39000
AE093A 00-1051 PAT397 2012-01-19 22:20:57 UC-35B United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE] 5740 38925
AE10BE 01-0195 RCH282 2012-01-19 20:46:13 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS]
AE115E 01-0030 --- 2012-01-19 21:01:42 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF]
AE1192 166474 --- 2012-01-19 22:07:41 UC-35D United States USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT]
AE123A 04-4128 RCH379T 2012-01-19 21:49:01 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI]
AE1489 90-0175 --- 2012-01-19 17:40:23 E-8C United States Northrop Grumman
AE14C5 161068 --- 2012-01-19 14:14:39 T-44C United States USN | TW-4 | VT-31 [KNGP]
AE4A60 166696 --- 2012-01-19 18:25:36 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP]

USS Porter Completes Live-Fire Exercise

2012-01-20T07:22:00.000-05:00

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jesse L. Gonzalez, Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs

USS PORTER, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) successfully completed a live-fire exercise of its entire array of gun weapon systems while underway conducting its composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Jan. 17.

Porter fired 47 blank load and powder rounds plus three illumination rounds from the MK-45 5-inch/54 caliber lightweight gun at a moving target that was approximately four nautical miles away, said Ensign Lauren M. Chatmas, the ship's ordnance officer.

Porter also successfully fired 55 rounds from the MK-38 25mm machine gun, 300 rounds from the M2 .50 caliber machine guns, 600 rounds from the M240 machine guns and 200 rounds from the MK-15 20mm close-in weapons system (CIWS), said Chatmas.

"Each station is manned by a number of qualified individuals," said Chatmas. "For the M240 machine guns, .50 caliber machine guns and the MK-38 25mm machine gun, there is at least two Sailors per station."

According to Chatmas, most Sailors assigned to the gun mounts are gunner's mates and fire controlmen, but there are also some other qualified rates, such as sonar technician (surface). The MK-45 5-inch/54 caliber lightweight gun typically requires four gunner's mates to man the gun control computers and other equipment, as well as a crew of Sailors in the projectile magazine to reload the weapon if necessary, said Chatmas.

"There is also a fire controlman stationed in combat at the Mk-46 Optical Sight System to visually lock on a target," said Chatmas. "We currently have six crew-served weapons mounts that have weapons on them, and more mounts that will be armed and manned while on deployment."

Live-fire training events are important to improve crew proficiency at countering smaller sized, asymmetric threats. The maneuverability of the NAVAIR remote-controlled targets and having the ship moving at 15 knots presents a more realistic and challenging training opportunity, said Cmdr. Martin F. Arriola, Porter's commanding officer.

"For the Sailors, the immediate feedback of seeing rounds impact maneuvering targets is immeasurably important and builds tremendous confidence," said Arriola.

Arriola said the importance of well-trained Sailors is critical to the successful completion of any mission. The ability to repeatedly and successfully execute tasking when the call comes is probably the most valuable outcome of any training.

"I am proud to serve with the men and women that make up "Team Porter" because they are professionals of the highest caliber who have proven time and time again that they are ready for any challenge," said Arriola.

Abraham Lincoln Arrives in U.S. 5th Fleet

2012-01-20T07:13:00.002-05:00

The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) join for a turnover of responsibility in the Arabian Sea. Both ships are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Colby K. Neal/Released)

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zachary Welch, Carrier Strike Group 9 Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) arrived for a routine deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Jan. 19.

Abraham Lincoln conducted work-ups for months to train, man and equip the CSG prior to it deploying to the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR, to support maritime security operations, counter-piracy operations, theater security cooperation efforts, and conduct air missions over Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.

"Our strike group has trained countless hours to ensure our Sailors are ready to conduct vital operations," said Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander, CSG 9. "We're looking forward to working closely with our coalition and regional partners to keep the sea lanes safe and secure for the free flow of maritime commerce that is so important for the continued prosperity of nations in this region and around the world."

Abraham Lincoln CSG is comprised of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and embarked Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, which includes the guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).

"From our air wing to the destroyer squadron and other surface combatant ships, we have a fantastic team," said Capt. John D. Alexander, Lincoln's commanding officer. "We provide a flexible, adaptable and persistent force that will support the regional commander by providing the greatest assets the Navy has to offer."

The arrival of Lincoln brings the number of aircraft carriers to two within the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR. Carl Vinson arrived in theater, Jan. 9. A second aircraft carrier in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility (AOR) ensures the U.S. military has the naval and air capabilities to support operational requirements while adequately meeting other security commitments in the region. The aircraft carriers will simultaneously conduct operations in different areas of the AOR, to adequately provide support operations requirements and other security commitments in the region.

Abraham Lincoln departed its homeport of Everett, Wash., Dec. 7, for a deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet AORs. The ship departed Laem Chabang, Thailand, Jan. 10, following a four-day port visit prior to transiting to U.S. 5th Fleet. Following deployment, Lincoln will change homeports from Everett, Wash., to Norfolk, Va., for a periodic refueling complex overhaul.

Stennis Strike Group Enters 7th Fleet Area of Operations

2012-01-20T07:12:00.000-05:00

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- John C. Stennis Strike Group (JCSSG) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations(AOO) Jan. 19 after nearly three months supporting Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and New Dawn (OND), as well as maritime security operations and anti-piracy efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOO.

While operating in the seas surrounding the Arabian Peninsula, JCSSG played a pivotal role in the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq and provided aviation support to coalition ground troops in Afghanistan.

After conducting weeks of command and control support operations to coalition forces in OND, an E-2C Hawkeye from the "Golden Hawks" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112 embarked aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) flew the last Navy aviation mission over Iraq Dec. 18.

"Flying the last Navy air mission in Iraq was a historic achievement for all of us," said Capt. Dale Horan, commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 embarked aboard Stennis, the flag ship of the strike group.

"Everyone in this strike group played a part in making that happen and it's a part of history we will always share," Horan said.

In January, after transitioning from OND to supporting operations in Afghanistan, JCSSG forces thwarted an attempted pirate attack on a Bahamian-flagged cargo vessel, then freed a group of Iranian mariners held captive by the same crew of suspected pirates.

"This was a well-executed display of the mutli-mission capability of the carrier strike group and a testament to the professionalism of our Sailors," said Stennis' Command Master Chief Stanley Jewett.

In the 7th Fleet AOO, the strike group plans to conduct several readiness exercises with partner countries in the region as well as visits to Singapore and the Philippines before preparing to head back to the United States.

"The manner in which we've conducted ourselves and executed our mission is indicative of the character of our Sailors and the spirit of our country," said JCSSG commander, Rear Adm. Craig Faller. "While we have much to accomplish before returning home, and I'm confident that we will finish our deployment with the same level of professionalism and personal conduct we've displayed throughout."

The JCSSG consists of Stennis, the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), aircraft from CVW 9, and guided missile destroyers USS Pinckney (DDG 91), USS Kidd (DDG 100), USS Dewey (DDG 105), and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) from Destroyer Squadron 21.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 19 Jan 2012 - Bowling Green KY

2012-01-20T05:52:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor DavidP in Bowling Green, KY. Thanks David.

Mode S Log from Bowling Green, Kentucky, US 2012-01-19
Military Hex Codes only

710391 HZ101 HZ-101 B738 SAUDIARABIANAIRFORCE --- 2012-01-19 12:36:53.274
A19333 N200ND N200ND BE20 NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION --- 2012-01-19 20:38:30.026
A19FC6 -------- N2032 H25B U S MARSHALS SERVICE --- 2012-01-19 09:19:15.666
A62778 GTI602 N496MC B744 AtlasAir --- 2012-01-19 21:33:28.269
A69529 -------- N523MC B742 AtlasAir --- 2012-01-19 12:29:07.612
ADFCF4 -------- 95-0040 BE40 USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS --- 2012-01-19 15:50:38.887
ADFD73 -------- 91-0503 SW4 WI ARNG? | OSACOM DET-52 [KMSN] --- 2012-01-19 12:27:53.382
ADFE63 DERBY 03 91-1232 C30 KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] --- 2012-01-19 10:20:22.475
ADFE69 DERBY 22 91-1238 C30 KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] --- 2012-01-19 16:22:44.798
ADFE70 TETON 33 92-1533 C30 WY ANG | 153AW | 187AS [KCYS] --- 2012-01-19 11:55:35.716
ADFE8D -------- 95-0088 BE20 USARMY --- 2012-01-19 14:17:22.683
ADFECB PATSW00 84-0485 BE20 KY ARNG | OSACOM DET-11 [KFFT] --- 2012-01-19 13:52:02.987
ADFED0 1200 85-1262 BE20 USARMY (OSACOM Det25 TNArNG) --- 2012-01-19 19:10:56.979
ADFEE1 PAT615 87-0161 ??? BE20 USARMY --- 2012-01-19 09:43:17.894
ADFEEB LOBO 02 160047 DC93 USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT] --- 2012-01-19 14:34:47.097
AE010F ALLIED 1 94-1569 ASTR DC ANG | 113Wg | 201AS [KADW] --- 2012-01-19 17:50:23.904
AE010F BOXER643 94-1569 ASTR DC ANG | 113Wg | 201AS [KADW] --- 2012-01-19 14:39:23.940
AE0179 -------- 84-0140/84-0134 LJ35 USAF | 375AW | 458AS [KBLV] --- 2012-01-19 15:33:55.884
AE018D BRICK88 84-0099 LJ35 USAF | AFFSA [KOKC] --- 2012-01-19 12:57:07.487
AE0190 -------- 84-0123 LJ35 ND ANG | 119WG | 117AS [KFAR] --- 2012-01-19 15:36:07.249
AE0194 SMOKY88 84-0134 LJ35 USAF | 375AW | 458AS [KBLV] --- 2012-01-19 21:08:43.862
AE0197 -------- 84-0137 LJ35 USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW] --- 2012-01-19 16:24:26.388
AE01BD SPAR610 84-0131 LJ35 USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW] --- 2012-01-19 15:51:32.030
AE01DD BLUE71 79-1712 DC10 USAF | 305AMW [KWRI] --- 2012-01-19 09:34:29.938
AE0233 HOH HBC2 87-0121 DC10 USAF | 305AMW [KWRI] --- 2012-01-19 10:05:10.449
AE02EC ROPER 63 85-1363 C30 TX ANG | 136AW | 181AS [KFWH] --- 2012-01-19 11:42:17.112
AE031A REACH651 74-2063 C30 USAF | 317AG [KDYS] --- 2012-01-19 21:34:54.963
AE035A TAZZ71 57-2593 K35R OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] --- 2012-01-19 10:18:36.332
AE0371 SLUFF42 59-1483 K35R OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] --- 2012-01-19 10:54:59.638
AE0379 -------- 63-7992 K35R OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] --- 2012-01-19 11:02:22.395
AE04AC -------- 99-0103 C560 USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE] --- 2012-01-19 12:09:14.352
AE04ED DIXI51 63-8035 K35R AL ANG | 117ARW | 106ARS [KBHM] --- 2012-01-19 12:23:40.363
AE04F6 GABLESEN 58-0069/84-0167 K35T/BE20 USAF | 92ARW [KSKA] --- 2012-01-19 10:36:34.716
AE052F -------- 69-0009 C5 WV ANG | 167AW | 167AS [KMRB] --- 2012-01-19 19:40:34.919
AE053A -------- 69-0020 C5 AFRC | 433AW | 68AS [KSKF] --- 2012-01-19 16:27:12.847
AE0554 -------- 70-0463 C5 WV ANG | 167AW | 167AS [KMRB] --- 2012-01-19 13:13:37.456
AE059C TURBO81 60-0350 K35R USAF | 22ARW [KIAB] --- 2012-01-19 21:14:03.586
AE05AC HARLY88 63-8029 K35R WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE] --- 2012-01-19 14:58:54.452
AE07B0 DIXIE52 61-0284 K35R AL ANG | 117ARW | 106ARS [KBHM] --- 2012-01-19 13:22:05.681
AE087E SPAR28 01-0028 GLF5 USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF] --- 2012-01-19 09:45:21.187
AE093A -------- 00-1051 C560 USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE] --- 2012-01-19 13:27:40.277
AE10C1 -------- 01 GLF5 USCG | CGAS Washington [KDCA] --- 2012-01-19 11:00:50.768
AE115D MANGO55 01-0015 B737 USAF | 15WG | 65AS [PHIK] --- 2012-01-19 12:53:53.810
AE1211 -------- 03-0726 C560 USARC | 2-228 AVN --- 2012-01-19 10:04:13.558
AE1233 RCH049 03-3122 C17 USAF | 437AW [KCHS] --- 2012-01-19 17:06:06.916
AE143A -------- 166715 C560 USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT] --- 2012-01-19 10:21:57.397
AE145F RCH6161 06-6161 C17 USAF | 60AMW | 21AS [KSUU] --- 2012-01-19 21:44:59.853
AE148D PEACH3 93-1097/96-0042 E8 GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB] --- 2012-01-19 09:47:26.225
AE1490 KOL HB33 95-0122 E8 GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB] --- 2012-01-19 09:18:30.148
AE1530 RCH117 06-4632 C30J USAF | 19AW [KLRF] --- 2012-01-19 16:19:30.283
AE29CF FIXER55 08-6202 C30J --- --- 2012-01-19 14:39:53.849
AE2F9E RAIDR13 168072 ------ USMC | VMGR-352 [KNKX] --- 2012-01-19 16:20:33.915

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 18 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Date/Time
AE119B 03-3118 RCH3118 2012-01-18 23:41:42 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
AE1170 02-1098 RCH2098 2012-01-18 22:37:26 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS]
ADFD0A 95-0062 --- 2012-01-18 22:26:41 T-1A United States USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS 0000 40025
AE12B5 65-0994 ANION 92 2012-01-18 22:03:44 MC-130P United States USAF | 58SOW | 550SOS [KIKR]
A18D50 N2 --- 2012-01-18 21:41:39 C560XL United States FAA
AE10D9 165523 --- 2012-01-18 21:07:52 T-39N United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA] 0000 14775
AE10D5 165519 --- 2012-01-18 21:01:30 T-39G United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA]
AD9A00 N976AS --- 2012-01-18 20:26:06 MD-83 United States US Marshal JPATS
ADFECB 84-0485 PATSW00 2012-01-18 20:12:36 C-12T-3 United States KY ARNG | OSACOM DET-11 [KFFT]
AE065F 60-0346 JEEP31 2012-01-18 17:51:14 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
AE065F 60-0346 JEEP31 2012-01-18 17:05:34 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
AE0499 58-0010 SODA81 2012-01-18 16:05:54 KC-135R United States TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS]
A18D50 N2 --- 2012-01-18 16:05:22 C560XL United States FAA
ADFEEB 160047 --- 2012-01-18 15:48:38 C-9B United States USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT]
AE1191 03-0016 --- 2012-01-18 15:44:00 UC-35B United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE]
ADFD0A 95-0062 --- 2012-01-18 15:42:34 T-1A United States USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS
ADFF9A 68-8207 --- 2012-01-18 15:41:07 T-38C United States 50thFTS
ADFECB 84-0485 PATSW00 2012-01-18 15:40:17 C-12T-3 United States KY ARNG | OSACOM DET-11 [KFFT]
ADFF76 65-10474 --- 2012-01-18 15:34:01 T-38C United States 50thFTS
AE0171 84-0079 BATTL10 2012-01-18 15:16:18 C-21A United States USAF | 110WG | 172AS [KBTL] 0000 28150
AE1490 95-0122 PEACH99 2012-01-18 15:11:25 E-8C United States GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB]
AE1191 03-0016 --- 2012-01-18 14:10:20 UC-35B United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE]
AE0815 00-0179 COHO15 2012-01-18 00:31:07 C-17A United States USAF | 62AW [KTCM]

Sort by ICAO24 code
A18D50 N2 --- 2012-01-18 16:05:22 C560XL United States FAA
AD9A00 N976AS --- 2012-01-18 20:26:06 MD-83 United States US Marshal JPATS
ADFD0A 95-0062 --- 2012-01-18 22:26:41 T-1A United States USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS 0000 40025
ADFECB 84-0485 PATSW00 2012-01-18 15:40:17 C-12T-3 United States KY ARNG | OSACOM DET-11 [KFFT]
ADFEEB 160047 --- 2012-01-18 15:48:38 C-9B United States USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT]
ADFF76 65-10474 --- 2012-01-18 15:34:01 T-38C United States 50thFTS
ADFF9A 68-8207 --- 2012-01-18 15:41:07 T-38C United States 50thFTS
AE0171 84-0079 BATTL10 2012-01-18 15:16:18 C-21A United States USAF | 110WG | 172AS [KBTL] 0000 28150
AE0499 58-0010 SODA81 2012-01-18 16:05:54 KC-135R United States TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS]
AE065F 60-0346 JEEP31 2012-01-18 17:05:34 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
AE0815 00-0179 COHO15 2012-01-18 00:31:07 C-17A United States USAF | 62AW [KTCM] AE10D5 165519 --- 2012-01-18 21:01:30 T-39G United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA]
AE10D9 165523 --- 2012-01-18 21:07:52 T-39N United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA] 0000 14775
AE1170 02-1098 RCH2098 2012-01-18 22:37:26 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS]
AE1191 03-0016 --- 2012-01-18 14:10:20 UC-35B United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE]
AE119B 03-3118 RCH3118 2012-01-18 23:41:42 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
AE12B5 65-0994 ANION 92 2012-01-18 22:03:44 MC-130P United States USAF | 58SOW | 550SOS [KIKR]
AE1490 95-0122 PEACH99 2012-01-18 15:11:25 E-8C United States GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB]

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 18 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

A207C9 N23ST --- 2012-01-18 21:03:59 200 United States STATE OF WASHINGTON
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-18 21:55:01 206H United States US DOJ | DEA 5255 850
A3E8C4 N351CP --- 2012-01-18 19:22:39 Cessna 182T United States ---
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-18 19:07:12 B707-368C United states OMEGA
A97B00 N71PG N71PG 2012-01-18 12:51:46 Lear 36A United States Phoenix Air Group [KVPC]
A9F7DB N741SK --- 2012-01-18 20:15:06 P-3B United States US DHS | CBP [KVQQ] 0000 16800
AD9470 N974VV --- 2012-01-18 20:32:41 DC-10 United states OMEGA 2671 22025
ADFEB3 73-1676 ALBUM84 2012-01-18 19:06:28 E-4B United States USAF | 55WG | 1ACCS [KOFF] 2735 29025
ADFECB 84-0485 PATSW00 2012-01-18 18:51:49 C-12T-3 United States KY ARNG | OSACOM DET-11 [KFFT]
ADFED1 85-1263 --- 2012-01-18 12:41:41 C-12U United States OSACOMDet.56PR-ArNG [TJIG]
ADFEDA 86-0084 PAT105 2012-01-18 22:23:12 C-12U United States VA ARNG | OSACOM DET-26 [KRIC]
AE0154 63-8045 BOLT31 2012-01-18 19:23:50 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW 1031 14400
AE037E 63-8887 BOLT32 2012-01-18 16:31:00 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW 0000 30500
AE04AC 99-0103 --- 2012-01-18 15:12:11 UC-35a1 United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE]
AE04D7 165829 CNV4867 2012-01-18 18:45:28 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP] 3306 20000
AE04F6 58-0069/84-0167 ZAGS81 2012-01-18 21:37:23 KC-135T/C-12 United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA]
AE05B2 64-14838 PIRAT34 2012-01-18 23:03:27 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW
AE066A 62-3549 PIRAT35 2012-01-18 23:03:42 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE07BD 62-356t8 BOLT06 2012-01-18 13:33:35 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE123A 04-4128 RCH379T 2012-01-18 16:49:16 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI] 0000 2000
AE14F5 65-0970 JADED 4 2012-01-18 22:57:47 HC-130P United States AFRC | 920RQW | 39RQS [KCOF]
AE1536 06-8159 --- 2012-01-18 17:46:22 WC-130J-30 United States AFRC | 403AW | 815AS [KBIX]
AE1536 06-8159 HOBBY41 2012-01-18 17:35:37 WC-130J-30 United States AFRC | 403AW | 815AS [KBIX]
C02047 C-FMFX --- 2012-01-18 19:27:24 C90A Canada CFC | 3CFFTS - Allied Wings [CYPG] 1403 23000

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 18 Jan 2012 - Bowling Green KY

2012-01-19T07:28:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor DavidP in Bowling Green, KY. Thanks David.

Mode S Log from Bowling Green, Kentucky, US 2012-01-18
Military Hex Codes only

A0C160 -------- N148KY B06 COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY --- 2012-01-18 11:58:22.163
A18D50 -------- N2 C56X FAA --- 2012-01-18 15:40:08.145
A19146 -------- N20SM C560 STATE OF MISSISSIPPI --- 2012-01-18 16:37:58.000
A2AC28 WOA8511 N271WA MD11 WorldAirways --- 2012-01-18 14:06:19.460
A4AC05 -------- N40TV B06 --- --- 2012-01-18 14:52:22.514
A62778 GTI606 N496MC B744 AtlasAir --- 2012-01-18 18:46:10.666
A6D592 -------- N54 LJ60 FAA Flight Inspection --- 2012-01-18 11:08:33.363
A7C77E -------- N600CN OK CHICKASAW NATION --- 2012-01-18 16:44:37.626
AD9A00 -------- N976AS MD83 US Marshal JPATS --- 2012-01-18 10:15:01.985
ADFC69 -------- 90-0407 BE40 USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS --- 2012-01-18 11:07:38.070
ADFD0A -------- 95-0062 BE40 USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS --- 2012-01-18 16:28:56.192
ADFD79 -------- 91-0509 SW4 OSACOM/PAT --- 2012-01-18 08:14:22.942
ADFE49 -------- 94-0317 BE20 USARMY --- 2012-01-18 09:33:40.122
ADFE4D R40321 94-0321 BE20 USARC | 6-52 AVN (TA) --- 2012-01-18 17:14:06.481
ADFE63 DERBY 03 91-1232 C30 KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] --- 2012-01-18 18:50:33.053
ADFECB PATSW00 84-0485 BE20 KY ARNG | OSACOM DET-11 [KFFT] --- 2012-01-18 08:58:37.207
ADFED0 1200 85-1262 BE20 USARMY (OSACOM Det25 TNArNG) --- 2012-01-18 17:18:22.193
ADFEF2 VVJS281 161530 DC93 USNR | VR-46 [KNFW ] --- 2012-01-18 12:58:00.183
ADFF00 -------- 96-0112 B190 USARMY | CARA AVN SECTION [KAPG] --- 2012-01-18 11:53:32.487
ADFF76 -------- 65-10474 T38 50thFTS --- 2012-01-18 12:51:16.526
ADFF9A -------- 68-8207 T38 50thFTS --- 2012-01-18 12:57:56.953
AE010F BOXER654 94-1569 ASTR DC ANG | 113Wg | 201AS [KADW] --- 2012-01-18 12:56:03.071
AE0171 BATTL10 84-0079 LJ35 USAF | 110WG | 172AS [KBTL] --- 2012-01-18 12:04:33.224
AE041D -------- 57-1486 K35R AZ ANG | 161ARW | 197ARS [KPHX] --- 2012-01-18 12:06:01.685
AE0471 SODA82 57-1451 K35R TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS] --- 2012-01-18 09:08:19.167
AE04CB TOPCAT4 61-0318 K35R NJ ANG | 108W | 141ARS [KWRI] --- 2012-01-18 19:36:51.500
AE065F JEEP31 60-0346 K35R MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC] --- 2012-01-18 11:58:30.054
AE07E7 -------- 95-0104 C17 USAF | 437AW [KCHS] --- 2012-01-18 18:24:54.914
AE10D5 -------- 165519 SBR1 USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA] --- 2012-01-18 15:55:04.411
AE1170 RCH2098 02-1098 C17 USAF | 437AW [KCHS] --- 2012-01-18 16:15:20.667
AE1191 -------- 03-0016 C560 USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE] --- 2012-01-18 09:14:44.839
AE119B RCH3118 03-3118 C17 MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN] --- 2012-01-18 17:41:25.414
AE1236 RCH391T 03-3125 C17 USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI] --- 2012-01-18 10:10:20.826
AE12B5 ANION 92 65-0994 C30 USAF | 58SOW | 550SOS [KIKR] --- 2012-01-18 15:57:12.663
AE1445 GLEAN16 05-3145 C30J USAF | 19AW [KLRF] --- 2012-01-18 10:27:49.838
AE145A RCH346 06-6156 C17 USAF | 60AMW | 21AS [KSUU] --- 2012-01-18 18:56:54.326
AE1490 PEACH99 95-0122 E8 GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB] --- 2012-01-18 10:15:30.710
AE189C SPAR13 05-0932 B737 AFRC | 932AW | 73AS [KBLV] --- 2012-01-18 11:53:18.649
AE4AF1 RCH499 08-3176 C30J USAF | 317AW [KDYS] --- 2012-01-18 14:19:46.221

Carl Vinson Conducts Second OEF Mission in 12 Months

2012-01-19T07:06:00.000-05:00

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lori D. Bent, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

USS CARL VINSON, At Sea (NNS) -- Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 Sailors began conducting air missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Jan. 14.

To mark the beginning of their current U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) operations, Carl Vinson and CVW-17 safely launched 58 scheduled combat sorties.

"We are doing our first sets of mission for troops on the ground," said Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class (AW) Kyle Pierce, Operations Department's, communications division air operations supervisor and departure controller. "We have to be on the top of our game to be there for the people who need us."

Carl Vinson and CVW-17 spent months performing work ups to train, man and equip the CSG prior to it deploying to the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

"Our main objective is safe departure and recovery of aircraft so they can successfully carry out their mission," said Cmdr. Brian Flick, Air Operations officer. "We are proud to be able to support OEF.
During Vinson's previous deployment to the AOR in 2011, the crew spent 95 days engaged in maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts, and flew 1,656 combat sorties in support of operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.

Carl Vinson and Carrier Strike Group 1 arrived on station in the Arabian Sea, Jan. 9, to relieve Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Carl Vinson is deployed with guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97).

CVW-17 is comprised of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, VFA-25, VFA-81, VFA-113; Electronic Attack Squadron 134, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 15.

Burning rubber helps land U-2 safely

2012-01-19T06:59:00.000-05:00

by Airman 1st Class Michael Battles, 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- Going 100 mph down the flightline might be normal for an F-16 Fighting Falcon, but for the drivers of the U-2 chase car it's also a daily event on the ground.

As an instrument of safety, pilots use the U-2 chase car to monitor take offs and landings of the aircraft in an attempt to warn the pilot of any possible complications or dangers.

"The car is really important as a margin of safety," said Maj. Alex Scott, a 5th Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 pilot. "Actually, in the past they tried using other aircraft as chasers, but they couldn't fly slowly enough, so as a result they started using high-performance muscle cars."

Due to its large wing span, the U-2 is notorious for being one of the most difficult aircraft to land, he said.

During a routine flight, U-2 pilots fly eight hour missions on average.

"While it may seem frivolous to be tearing up and down the runway in a sports car, the (vehicle) is the U-2 pilot's primary source of mutual support and ensures the safe operation of a national asset," said Maj. Carl Maymi, a 5th RS U-2 pilot.

As the aircraft lifts off or lands, pilots in the chase car radio the pilot about wing angles and ground distance.

"We can land the aircraft without it, but if you can take every precaution possible you're going to do it," Scott said.

Along with flight training, U-2 pilots are also required to take a secondary course that teaches them how to properly maintain high-performance cars at top speeds.

"Flooring it and pushing the car to its max speed as fast as you can to catch up to the U-2 is something not many people can say they've done," Scott said.

The chase car can reach speeds of more than 100 mph, but the speed ranges depending on the needs of the outgoing or incoming aircraft.

"The best thing about being a U-2 pilot and chase car driver here in Korea is the relevant information that we get to gather on a day-to-day basis for (United States Forces Korea) and for joint coalition partners," Scott said.

If the thrill of flying at heights of 70,000 feet isn't enough for these pilots, they may also have a career as a race car driver someday.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 17 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-18T09:19:00.000-05:00

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 17 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-18T07:37:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

0AC0EB ------ --- 2012-01-18 01:23:02 --- Colombia ---
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-17 22:21:19 206H United States US DOJ | DEA 0000 625
A62778 N496MC GTI621 2012-01-17 20:10:07 Boeing 747-212B United States AtlasAir --- 38000
A6D1CB N5389U --- 2012-01-17 18:56:11 U206G United States ---
A7A899 N593AN 00000000 2012-01-17 13:01:02 MD-83 United States --- 1413 31000
A7EF54 N610G --- 2012-01-17 15:49:50 Boeing 757-22L United States L-3 Capital (COMCO) 1304 28250
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-17 20:52:29 B707-368C United states OMEGA
AAE5F0 N801DS N801DS 2012-01-17 19:52:27 Bell 407 United States Volusia County 0000 400
AD9470 N974VV --- 2012-01-18 03:28:39 DC-10 United states OMEGA 1066 20600
ADFD07 95-0059 --- 2012-01-17 15:20:47 T-1A United States USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS
ADFE1E 1718 --- 2012-01-17 19:09:09 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Sacramento [KMCC] 3223 10700
ADFE4D 94-0321 R40321 2012-01-17 13:00:28 C-12R United States USARC | 6-52 AVN (TA) --- 20000
ADFE69 91-1238 --- 2012-01-17 21:40:49 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFED1 85-1263 --- 2012-01-17 19:56:48 C-12U United States OSACOMDet.56PR-ArNG [TJIG] 4247 1275
AE010F 94-1569 ALLIED 1 2012-01-17 16:57:15 C-38A United States DC ANG | 113Wg | 201AS [KADW] 6645 38025
AE012E (73-1683)/97-01 EGMK8C97 2012-01-17 18:25:23 C-9C United States AFRC | 932AW | 73AS [KBLV] 3723 40000
AE0488 62-3577 --- 2012-01-17 15:41:34 KC-135 United States AFRC | 916ARW | 77ARS [KGSB]
AE04F6 58-0069/84-0167 ZAGS81 2012-01-17 21:17:18 KC-135T/C-12 United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA]
AE05D9 85-0039 --- 2012-01-17 21:19:53 C-130H United States AFRC | 908AW | 357AS [KMXF] 1674 8800
AE05D9 85-0039 SHARK04 2012-01-17 21:19:53 C-130H United States AFRC | 908AW | 357AS [KMXF] 1674 8800
AE06E5 163845 --- 2012-01-17 17:39:20 UC-12M United States AOD Guantanamo Bay 3126 16675
AE07BD 62-356t8 BOLT06 2012-01-17 18:54:10 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF] 5764 13300
AE08FD 84-24380 FC0123 2012-01-17 17:12:47 C-12U United States USARC | A/2-228 AVN (TA) [KWRI ] 4250 22975
AE08FD 84-24380 --- 2012-01-17 17:35:04 C-12U United States USARC | A/2-228 AVN (TA) [KWRI ] 4250 22975
AE093A 00-1051 PAT397 2012-01-17 18:27:24 UC-35B United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE] 6657 40925
AE10D9 165523 --- 2012-01-17 20:22:05 T-39N United States USN | TW-6 | VT-86 [KNPA]
AE1192 166474 LOBO509 2012-01-17 15:11:18 UC-35D United States USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT]
AE1489 90-0175 --- 2012-01-17 17:50:53 E-8C United States Northrop Grumman
AE212C 05-27072 --- 2012-01-17 21:16:00 UH-60L United States USARMY 5734 2800
AE29FC 168205 --- 2012-01-17 19:01:31 UC-12W United States ---

USS James E. Williams Participates in COMPTUEX

2012-01-18T07:09:00.000-05:00

USS JAMES E. WILLIAMS, At Sea (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E Williams (DDG 95) is participating in a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) while underway in the Atlantic Ocean Jan. 16 to certify the ship for its upcoming fourth deployment.

The goal of the exercise is to integrate and assess the staff and individual units within the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, and to grant the strike group major operations certification upon completion.

"COMPTUEX is the last major battle group exercise that the James E. Williams will have before we deploy with the Enterprise Strike Group this spring," said Cmdr. Christopher M. Senenko, the commanding officer of James E. Williams.

"It's a last opportunity for the battle group to integrate, demonstrate all the mission sets we possibly may encounter on deployment, and get certification from the operational chain-of-command," said Senenko.

"The James E. Williams is underway with other forces, with live aircraft, live surface ships, and live submarines, flexing their combat systems in a real world type environment," said Cmdr. Luke L. Reinhold, the assistant maritime operations officer at Strike Force Training Command Atlantic.

COMPTUEX incorporates a myriad of missions to include air defense, maritime interdiction, and anti-submarine warfare.

"Just about every evolution in every warfare area is evaluated in some facet," said Reinhold. "The main objective is integrated training with the entire Strike Group and all the different staff and warfare commanders."

The COMPTUEX scenario involves a friendly ally at war in a highly volatile area prone to terrorism. Training vessels and personnel play the roles of hostile forces within each exercise.

These exercises not only help assess the operational readiness of each unit within the strike group, but also establish an element of situational realism that represents potential real threats the James E. Williams may encounter while deployed.

The exercises offer Sailors valuable experience operating the many different areas of the destroyer's assets; including weapons, navigation, and radar systems.

"For a lot of [Sailors] this is the first time they'll actually get to see their systems work against real assets and operate within an actual strike group scenario," said Reinhold.

"It's a great opportunity for the crew to practice their skills," said Senenko. "They're professionals, and this is why they joined the Navy."

Bataan Displays Osprey Capabilities

2012-01-18T07:08:00.000-05:00

USS BATAAN, At sea (NNS) -- Multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) hosted French aviators and engineers interested in the capabilities of the MV-22 Osprey Jan. 14.

A small group of French aviators and aircraft specialists flew out to USS Bataan while the ship was transiting the Strait of Bonifacio in order to inspect the Ospreys of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM 263), and to see how they are operated and maintained onboard an amphibious ship.

"The French came to see what the Osprey can do, and how much space it takes up on the ship," said Lt. Philip Gift, assistant air officer. "They're interested in the relationship with the ship, and if there would be any changes if Ospreys landed on a French ship."

The United States is currently the only country flying the Osprey, but the French military has expressed some interest in its use as well. The visit to Bataan is a step in the process of deciding if combined operations would allow Ospreys to operate from French amphibious ships in the future. The French amphibious navy currently relies predominantly on helicopters for its embarked aviation assets. Although American CH-53 Sea Stallions have landed aboard French Mistral-class ships in 2007, the Osprey's higher speeds and ranges, coupled with its load carrying and personnel delivery capability, would add another dimension to inter-fleet operations.

"The Osprey has added a great deal of additional flexibility and capability to amphibious operations, and we are very glad to show our French guests its operating requirements and characteristics are," said Capt. Erik M. Ross, commanding officer, Bataan. "The Sailors and Marines on the flight deck are always pleased to have an opportunity to display what they can do."

The visit included a tour of the flight deck and hangar bay for the French guests, and then they flew off the ship as she continued on her way home from a ten-and-a-half month deployment which began three months earlier than expected on March 23rd.

Bataan is the command ship of the Bataan Amphibious Ready group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

End of an Era - Almost!

2012-01-18T05:51:00.004-05:00

Over the last few years, I have documented the wholesale changes to DoDs bandplan in the 225-400 MHz milair band. One of the casualties of the bandplan changes has been the 344.600 MHz nationwide Metro (weather) frequency. This frequency is going away and a recent NOTAM change last month documented the Cape Canaveral AFS Metro move from 344.600 MHz to 225.050 MHz. So what is left on 344.600 MHz. Here is the list of the last few Metro stations on this one that "will" be moving in the near future to another Metro frequency near you!

McClellan Airfield CA KMCC
MacDill AFB FL KMCF
MCAS Kaneohe Bay HI PHNG
Grissom ARB IN KGUS
Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility MD KADW
Whiteman AFB MO KSZL
MCALF Bogue Field NC KNJM
Pope AFB NC KPOB
Wright Patterson AFB OH KFFO

If you hear or know if any of these change, drop me some email at the address in the masthead and we will post that up here on the Milcom blog.

Next WGS Satcom Launch Schedule for Friday UTC

2012-01-17T08:50:00.005-05:00

On January 20 between 0038 and 0211 UTC, a Delta 4 rocket will liftoff from the Cape with the next Wideband Global Satellite Communications (WGS) satellite.

This WGS mission is the fourth installment of the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system. The WGS satellites are an important element of a new highcapacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capabilities to our troops in the field for the next decade and beyond. WGS enables more robust and flexible execution of Command and Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4lSR), as well as battle management and combat support information functions. WGS-4 augments the existing service available through the UHF Follow-on, WGS-1, WGS-2 and WGS-3 satellites by providing enhanced information broadcast capabilities.

WGS-4 SATELLITE | Overview

The WGS-4 satellite is an approximately 13,200-lb communications satellite. WGS supports communications links in the 500 MHz range of the X-band and 1 GHz range of the Ka-band spectra. WGS can filter and route up to 4.875 GHz of instantaneous bandwidth. WGS-4, the first Block II satellite, includes a high-bandwidth RF bypass capability in addition to the previous capabilities provided by the Block I satellites. Depending on the mix of ground terminals, data rates, and modulation schemes employed, a WGS satellite can support data transmission rates between 2.4 and 3.6 Gbps. WGS has 19 independent coverage areas that can be positioned throughout its field of view. This includes eight steerable/shapeable X-band beams formed by separate transmit/receive phased arrays; 10 Ka-band beams served by independently steerable diplexed antennas (three with selectable RF polarization); and transmit/receive X-band Earth-coverage beams. WGS can tailor coverage areas and connect X-band and Ka-band users anywhere within its field of view. Four Army Wideband Satellite Operations Centers (WSOC) provide command and control of WGS. Each Global SATCOM Configuration and Control Element (GSCCE) has the capability to
control up to three satellites at a time, using X-band or Ka-band telemetry and command links. Spacecraft platform control is accomplished by the 3rd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO, using WGS mission-unique software and databases. Support technologies for WGS include the xenon-ion propulsion system (XlPS), which is 10 times more efficient than conventional bipropellant systems, highly efficient triple-junction gallium
arsenide solar cells, and deployable radiators with flexible heat pipes. Four 25-cm XlPS thrusters remove orbit eccentricity during transfer orbit operations. The thrusters also used to perform orbit maintenance and any required station-change maneuvers during the mission’s life. The triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells provide on-orbit electrical power for the spacecraft. The deployable radiators’ flexible heat pipes provide increased radiator area, resulting in a
cooler, more stable thermal environment for the spacecraft.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 14-16 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-17T07:41:00.001-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Date/Time
ADFE69 91-1238 DERBY 22 2012-01-16 22:27:17 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFD79 91-0509 --- 2012-01-16 20:14:00 C-26D United States OSACOM/PAT
AE05E0 87-9283 --- 2012-01-16 20:03:12 C-130H United States AFRC | 914AW | 328AS [KIAG]
AE0362 59-1453 --- 2012-01-16 18:43:27 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
ADFD79 91-0509 --- 2012-01-16 17:58:54 C-26D United States OSACOM/PAT

A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-15 23:35:27 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines
AE01BB 84-0102 SWIFT29 2012-01-15 20:14:37 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 311AS [KCOS]
AE0472 57-1459 RATS88 2012-01-15 17:49:20 KC-135R United States AFRC | 452AMW | 336ARS [KRIV]
AE01BB 84-0102 SWIFT29 2012-01-15 16:39:22 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 311AS [KCOS]
AE08A3 00-3582 --- 2012-01-15 15:48:52 T-6A United States USAF | 14FTW | 41FTS [KCBM]
AE0437 ------ --- 2012-01-15 14:27:18 CN-235 United States USAF
AE2239 ------ ALLIED 1 2012-01-15 13:52:41 MC-130J ??? United States USAF | 1SOW | 6SOS [KHRT]
AE146C 07-7174 RCH7174 2012-01-15 00:41:04 C-17A United States USAF | 436AW | 3AS [KDOV]
AE2FAC 08-8200 RCH8200 2012-01-14 23:20:27 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI]

AE04F6 58-0069/84-0167 ZAGS82 2012-01-14 20:57:03 KC-135T/C-12 United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA] 6635 41000
AE2FAC 08-8200 RCH8200 2012-01-14 20:51:37 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI]
ADFE72 92-1535 TETON35 2012-01-14 18:58:29 C-130H United States WY ANG | 153AW | 187AS [KCYS]
ADFD79 91-0509 --- 2012-01-14 18:44:07 C-26D United States OSACOM/PAT 0000 20000
AE2FAC 08-8200 RCH8200 2012-01-14 18:30:38 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI]
ADFEF2 161530 VVJS281 2012-01-14 17:21:14 C-9B United States USNR | VR-46 [KNFW ]
AE1237 03-3126 JINX61 2012-01-14 15:58:33 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI]
ADFE62 91-1231 REACH612 2012-01-14 15:20:08 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] 0000 19000
AE29FD 166694 CNV4362 2012-01-14 15:09:49 C-40A United States USNR | VR-59 [KNFW] 0000 39000
A97B00 N71PG --- 2012-01-14 10:20:52 Lear 36A United States Phoenix Air Group [KVPC]
AE0169 86-0204 S344 2012-01-14 02:09:04 C-20B United States USAF | 89AW | 99AS [KADW] 1062 38975
ADFED0 85-1262 1200 2012-01-14 00:23:54 C-12U United States USARMY (OSACOM Det25 TNArNG)

Sort by ICAO24 code
A97B00 N71PG --- 2012-01-14 10:20:52 Lear 36A United States Phoenix Air Group [KVPC]
A9FBD4 N742VA --- 2012-01-15 23:35:27 B734-448 United States Vision Airlines
ADFD79 91-0509 --- 2012-01-16 20:14:00 C-26D United States OSACOM/PAT
ADFE62 91-1231 REACH612 2012-01-14 15:20:08 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] 0000 19000
ADFE69 91-1238 DERBY 22 2012-01-16 22:27:17 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFE72 92-1535 TETON35 2012-01-14 18:58:29 C-130H United States WY ANG | 153AW | 187AS [KCYS]
ADFED0 85-1262 1200 2012-01-14 00:23:54 C-12U United States USARMY (OSACOM Det25 TNArNG)
ADFEF2 161530 VVJS281 2012-01-14 17:21:14 C-9B United States USNR | VR-46 [KNFW ]
AE0169 86-0204 S344 2012-01-14 02:09:04 C-20B United States USAF | 89AW | 99AS [KADW] 1062 38975
AE01BB 84-0102 SWIFT29 2012-01-15 20:14:37 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 311AS [KCOS]
AE0362 59-1453 --- 2012-01-16 18:43:27 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] ADFD79 91-0509 --- 2012-01-16 17:58:54 C-26D United States OSACOM/PAT
AE0472 57-1459 RATS88 2012-01-15 17:49:20 KC-135R United States AFRC | 452AMW | 336ARS [KRIV]
AE04F6 58-0069/84-0167 ZAGS82 2012-01-14 20:57:03 KC-135T/C-12 United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA] 6635 41000
AE05E0 87-9283 --- 2012-01-16 20:03:12 C-130H United States AFRC | 914AW | 328AS [KIAG]
AE08A3 00-3582 --- 2012-01-15 15:48:52 T-6A United States USAF | 14FTW | 41FTS [KCBM] AE0437 ------ --- 2012-01-15 14:27:18 CN-235 United States USAF
AE1237 03-3126 JINX61 2012-01-14 15:58:33 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI]
AE146C 07-7174 RCH7174 2012-01-15 00:41:04 C-17A United States USAF | 436AW | 3AS [KDOV]
AE2239 ------ ALLIED 1 2012-01-15 13:52:41 MC-130J ??? United States USAF | 1SOW | 6SOS [KHRT]
AE29FD 166694 CNV4362 2012-01-14 15:09:49 C-40A United States USNR | VR-59 [KNFW] 0000 39000
AE2FAC 08-8200 RCH8200 2012-01-14 23:20:27 C-17A United States USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI]

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 16 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-17T07:11:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

11111 LX-N20199 --- 2012-01-16 20:30:41 CT-49A Luxemburg NAEWandCF
A62778 N496MC GTI620 2012-01-16 23:58:58 Boeing 747-212B United States AtlasAir 1656 34000
A6DCE9 N541PA --- 2012-01-16 21:11:45 LJ-35 United States PhoenixAirGroup
ABE578 N866DM --- 2012-01-16 16:39:58 T206H United States ---
AD9470 N974VV --- 2012-01-16 22:43:25 DC-10 United states OMEGA
AE009B 67-14935 --- 2012-01-16 17:40:34 T-38C United States 90thFTS
AE024D 62-3506 PACK92 2012-01-16 20:07:40 KC-135R United States NH ANG | 157ARW | 133ARS [KPSM]
AE0362 59-1453 SLUFF31 2012-01-16 19:27:02 KC-135R United States OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK]
AE036E 98-0008 XWPF5PEV 2012-01-16 19:27:49 UC-35A United States US Army 1357 37000
AE04D7 165829 CNV4867 2012-01-16 22:12:57 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP]
AE066F 62-3580 CODI01 2012-01-16 22:07:10 KC-135R United States AFRC | 916ARW | 77ARS [KGSB]
AE1468 07-7170 RCH396T 2012-01-16 16:04:16 C-17A United States USAF | 436AW | 3AS [KDOV]
AE20B5 85-1607 --- 2012-01-16 17:10:02 C-31A United States US Army | Golden Knights [KPOB]
AE20B6 85-1608 GKA608 2012-01-16 16:17:14 C-31A United States US Army | Golden Knights [KPOB] 2427 13500
E47EF6 N637TW RYN7494 2012-01-16 18:13:38 Boeing 767-33AER United States Ryan Intl Airlines --- -200

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 14-15 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-15T07:02:00.001-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

00C0C2 163562 --- 2012-01-14 15:54:54 UC-12F United States ---
111111 LX-N20199 --- 2012-01-14 19:43:47 CT-49A Luxemburg NAEWandCF
A505AC N4222A N4222A 2012-01-14 15:54:20 B190 United States Tenax Air LLC
A8699A N641GT --- 2012-01-14 19:31:23 BOEING 767-38E US ATLAS AIR 0000 35000
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-14 19:49:42 B707-368C United states OMEGA
AAED5E N803DS N803DS 2012-01-14 15:57:54 Bell 407 United States Volusia County
ADFD07 95-0059 --- 2012-01-14 15:35:48 T-1A United States USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS 1322 15575
ADFE62 91-1231 REACH612 2012-01-14 16:25:27 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] 0000 19000
AE058C 58-0009 UPSET55 2012-01-14 16:08:58 KC-135R United States WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE] 0000 34000
AE05E7 88-4405 PACKR21 2012-01-14 13:11:59 C-130H United States AFRC | 440AW | 95AS [KPOB]
AE066F 62-3580 CODY01 2012-01-16 01:53:46 KC-135R United States AFRC | 916ARW | 77ARS [KGSB]
AE06E9 163844 --- 2012-01-14 20:01:59 UC-12M United States Norfolk 2447 22000
AE10BE 01-0195 RCH282 2012-01-16 04:05:51 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS]
E47EF6 N637TW RYN7301 2012-01-14 15:43:50 Boeing 767-33AER United States Ryan Intl Airlines 1527 30650
E94045 ------ --- 2012-01-14 15:09:41 --- Bolivia --- 0000 34000

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 13 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-14T07:22:00.000-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Date/Time
A8699A N641GT --- 2012-01-13 23:59:43 BOEING 767-38E US ATLAS AIR 0000 37000
AE4AFA ------ --- 2012-01-13 21:57:22 ------ United States ---
AE1196 03-3113 --- 2012-01-13 20:57:24 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
AE08F8 84-24375 R24375 2012-01-13 20:34:26 C-12U United States USARC | C/2-228 AVN (TA) [KFBG] 0000 26975
AE4AF9 ------ --- 2012-01-13 19:52:47 ------ United States ---
A7A899 N593AN 00000000 2012-01-13 19:45:48 MD-83 United States ---
AE4AF9 ------ --- 2012-01-13 19:42:29 ------ United States ---
AE1ECC 166071 --- 2012-01-13 19:41:50 T-6B United States USNavy 0000 16875
ADFDEC 94-6707 ANVIL71 2012-01-13 19:39:50 C-130H United States WV ANG | 130AW | 130AS [KCRW]
ADFE69 91-1238 DERBY 22 2012-01-13 17:31:13 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFEEC 160048 CNV9841 2012-01-13 17:31:05 C-9B United States USNR | VR-52 [KWRI]
AE058C 58-0009 UPSET88 2012-01-13 17:12:26 KC-135R United States WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE] 5634 37000
ADFE68 91-1237 DERBY 81 2012-01-13 17:10:54 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
AE08F8 84-24375 R24375 2012-01-13 17:02:49 C-12U United States USARC | C/2-228 AVN (TA) [KFBG]
AE08F8 84-24375 R24375 2012-01-13 16:51:58 C-12U United States USARC | C/2-228 AVN (TA) [KFBG]
AE08F8 84-24375 R24375 2012-01-13 16:40:48 C-12U United States USARC | C/2-228 AVN (TA) [KFBG]
AE08F8 84-24375 R24375 2012-01-13 16:29:51 C-12U United States USARC | C/2-228 AVN (TA) [KFBG]
A979B3 N71 --- 2012-01-13 16:28:29 King Air 300 United States ---
ADFDEC 94-6707 ANVIL71 2012-01-13 16:16:48 C-130H United States WV ANG | 130AW | 130AS [KCRW]
ADFDEC 94-6707 ANVIL71 2012-01-13 16:06:18 C-130H United States WV ANG | 130AW | 130AS [KCRW]
AE049C 59-1517 SODA81 2012-01-13 16:02:04 KC-135 United States TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS]
AE11DE 76-1607 SNTRY40H 2012-01-13 15:30:48 E-3B United States USAF | 552ACW [KTIK]
AE11DE 76-1607 SNTRY40H 2012-01-13 15:19:39 E-3B United States USAF | 552ACW [KTIK]
ADFEEA 160046 LOBO 172 2012-01-13 01:29:23 C-9B United States USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT] 0000 31000

Sort by ICAO24 code
A7A899 N593AN 00000000 2012-01-13 19:45:48 MD-83 United States ---
A8699A N641GT --- 2012-01-13 23:59:43 BOEING 767-38E US ATLAS AIR 0000 37000
A979B3 N71 --- 2012-01-13 16:28:29 King Air 300 United States ---
ADFDEC 94-6707 ANVIL71 2012-01-13 16:06:18 C-130H United States WV ANG | 130AW | 130AS [KCRW]
ADFE68 91-1237 DERBY 81 2012-01-13 17:10:54 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFE69 91-1238 DERBY 22 2012-01-13 17:31:13 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFEEA 160046 LOBO 172 2012-01-13 01:29:23 C-9B United States USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT] 0000 31000
ADFEEC 160048 CNV9841 2012-01-13 17:31:05 C-9B United States USNR | VR-52 [KWRI]
AE049C 59-1517 SODA81 2012-01-13 16:02:04 KC-135 United States TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS]
AE058C 58-0009 UPSET88 2012-01-13 17:12:26 KC-135R United States WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE] 5634 37000
AE08F8 84-24375 R24375 2012-01-13 16:29:51 C-12U United States USARC | C/2-228 AVN (TA) [KFBG]
AE1196 03-3113 --- 2012-01-13 20:57:24 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
AE11DE 76-1607 SNTRY40H 2012-01-13 15:19:39 E-3B United States USAF | 552ACW [KTIK]
AE1ECC 166071 --- 2012-01-13 19:41:50 T-6B United States USNavy 0000 16875
AE4AF9 ------ --- 2012-01-13 19:42:29 ------ United States ---
AE4AFA ------ --- 2012-01-13 21:57:22 ------ United States ---

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 13 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-14T06:49:00.001-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

00C0C2 163562 --- 2012-01-13 18:45:09 UC-12F United States ---
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-13 20:02:46 206H United States US DOJ | DEA
A95650 N700U --- 2012-01-13 17:39:09 King Air B300 United States --- 7344 27000
AAED5E N803DS N803DS 2012-01-13 21:53:38 Bell 407 United States Volusia County 0201 2000
AD739D N966NA --- 2012-01-13 18:09:32 T-38N United States NASA 0000 10650
ADFD74 91-0507 --- 2012-01-13 18:21:21 RC-26B United States WV ANG | 130AW | 130AS [KCRW]
ADFD88 94-0261 --- 2012-01-13 14:19:05 RC-26B United States ---
ADFE1C 1716 --- 2012-01-13 14:47:33 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Sacramento [KMCC]
ADFE68 91-1237 DERBY 81 2012-01-13 16:05:21 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
AE009B 67-14935 --- 2012-01-13 20:58:25 T-38C United States 90thFTS
AE02C8 89-9104 VADER04 2012-01-13 16:32:50 C-130H United States AFRC | 910AW | 757AS [KYNG] 0000 16700
AE03EB 165314 NOMAD14 2012-01-13 18:48:32 C-130T United States USNR | VR-62 [KNIP] 4237 10825
AE1494 97-0100 --- 2012-01-13 15:32:09 E-8C United States GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB]
AE04D7 165829 JV829 2012-01-13 18:13:39 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP]
AE04FB 57-2605 BOLT06 2012-01-13 17:26:08 KC-135R United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA]
AE0528 69-0002 --- 2012-01-13 15:12:22 C-5A United States AFRC | 433AW | 68AS [KSKF]
AE058C 58-0009 UPSET88 2012-01-13 17:58:55 KC-135R United States WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE]
AE05E5 88-4403 --- 2012-01-13 20:33:02 C-130H United States AFRC | 440AW | 95AS [KPOB]
AE05E7 88-4405 PACKR21 2012-01-13 20:51:20 C-130H United States AFRC | 440AW | 95AS [KPOB]
AE06E9 163844 00000000 2012-01-13 18:45:46 UC-12M United States Norfolk 5712 27000
AE12B1 66-0215 TRIM11 2012-01-13 21:38:52 MC-130P United States USAFE | 352SOG | 7SOS [EGUN]
AE1443 05-8157 --- 2012-01-13 19:03:41 C-130J-30 United States AFRC | 403AW | 815AS [KBIX]
AE1479 166767 --- 2012-01-13 17:06:48 UC-35D United States MAW-4
AE147A 166693 --- 2012-01-13 14:07:03 C-40A United States USNR | VR-57 [KNZY]
AE1494 97-0100 --- 2012-01-13 19:14:29 E-8C United States GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB] 0000 35000
AE14F5 65-0970 JADED 4 2012-01-13 19:19:15 HC-130P United States AFRC | 920RQW | 39RQS [KCOF]
AE1E82 166036 --- 2012-01-13 22:27:48 T-6B United States ---
AE1EB6 166049 --- 2012-01-13 22:25:15 T-6B United States USN | TAW-5 | VT-3
AE2F99 168067 RAIDR31 2012-01-13 15:14:45 KC-130J United States ---

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 13 Jan 2012 - Bowling Green KY

2012-01-14T06:21:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor DavidP in Bowling Green, KY. Thanks David.

SBS-1 Log from Bowling Green, Kentucky, US 2012-01-13
Military Hex Codes only

4B8207 -------- 60-0326 K35R 101FILO --- 2012-01-13 10:36:16.527
A00001 -------- N1 GLF4 FAA HQ [KDCA] --- 2012-01-13 09:41:57.849
A19FE9 -------- N2033 H25B U S MARSHALS SERVICE --- 2012-01-13 15:37:11.630
A5D4AA -------- N475LC GLF4 L-3 Info Systems --- 2012-01-13 13:43:48.032
A8699A -------- N641GT B763 ATLAS AIR --- 2012-01-13 17:46:30.365
A979B3 -------- N71 BE30 --- --- 2012-01-13 08:09:18.124
ADFCDA -------- 94-0123 BE40 USAF --- 2012-01-13 19:55:06.270
ADFD13 -------- 95-0071 BE40 USAF | 71FTW | 32FTS [KEND] --- 2012-01-13 18:34:24.109
ADFDEC ANVIL71 94-6707 C130 WV ANG | 130AW | 130AS [KCRW] --- 2012-01-13 13:43:23.601
ADFE68 DERBY 81 91-1237 C130 KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] --- 2012-01-13 11:26:27.633
ADFE69 DERBY 22 91-1238 C130 KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] --- 2012-01-13 10:57:19.109
ADFED0 1200 85-1262 BE20 USARMY (OSACOM Det25 TNArNG) --- 2012-01-13 19:23:45.723
ADFEE5 RS804 159116 DC93 USNR | VR-61 [KNUW] --- 2012-01-13 16:17:05.070
AE016A -------- 86-0206 GLF3 USAF | 89AW | 99AS [KADW] --- 2012-01-13 10:21:29.932
AE016F PACER21 84-0077 LJ35 USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW] --- 2012-01-13 14:34:23.303
AE0174 JOSA633 84-0119 LJ35 USAF | 375AW | 458AS [KBLV] --- 2012-01-13 12:03:23.332
AE018E -------- 84-0100 LJ35 ND ANG | 119WG | 117AS [KFAR] --- 2012-01-13 08:31:28.718
AE0363 SLUFF41 60-0341 K35R OH ANG | 121ARW [KLCK] --- 2012-01-13 11:27:17.504
AE0383 RCH0079 58-0079 K35R AFRC | 507ARW | 465ARS [KTIK] --- 2012-01-13 14:21:01.884
AE03F2 -------- 78-23128 BE20 OSACOM/PAT --- 2012-01-13 17:12:12.226
AE0471 SODA82 57-1451 K35R TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS] --- 2012-01-13 12:14:07.784
AE04BA TURBO92 58-0055 K35R USAF | 22ARW [KIAB] --- 2012-01-13 09:22:18.333
AE04D9 CNV4844 165831 B737 USNR | VR-59 [KNFW] --- 2012-01-13 16:22:39.524
AE051B -------- 68-0214 C5 AFRC | 433AW | 68AS [KSKF] --- 2012-01-13 17:08:29.376
AE0523 -------- 68-0223 C5 AFRC | 433AW | 68AS [KSKF] --- 2012-01-13 18:07:49.227
AE058C UPSET88 58-0009 K35R WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE] --- 2012-01-13 10:45:36.255
AE05AC UPSET96 63-8029 K35R WI ANG | 128ARW | 126ARS [KMKE] --- 2012-01-13 14:18:02.163
AE066F CODY01 62-3580 K35R AFRC | 916ARW | 77ARS [KGSB] --- 2012-01-13 15:42:48.897
AE0698 -------- 165153 GLF4 usmc | maw-4 --- 2012-01-13 15:23:35.591
AE07F3 RCH7041 97-0041 C17 USAF | 437AW [KCHS] --- 2012-01-13 07:49:35.945
AE08F8 -------- 84-24375 BE20 USARC | C/2-228 AVN (TA) [KFBG] --- 2012-01-13 14:29:41.185
AE1196 RCH3113 03-3113 C17 MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN] --- 2012-01-13 14:52:22.542
AE11DC SHUCK80H 76-1605 E3TF USAF | 552ACW [KTIK] --- 2012-01-13 18:43:44.588
AE11DE SNTRY40H 76-1607 E3TF USAF | 552ACW [KTIK] --- 2012-01-13 10:48:59.657
AE1448 E44138 04-4138 C17 AFRC | 452AMW | 729AS [KRIV] --- 2012-01-13 19:05:04.490
AE144B RCH5141 05-5141 C17 AFRC | 452AMW | 729AS [KRIV] --- 2012-01-13 19:09:28.546
AE1463 RCH6165 06-6165 C17 USAF | 436AW | 3AS [KDOV] --- 2012-01-13 06:27:59.652
AE171D -------- 166520 H60 --- --- 2012-01-13 16:44:12.538
AE17EF SPAR17 05-0730 B737 AFRC | 932AW | 73AS [KBLV] --- 2012-01-13 12:58:10.503
AE29FD CNV4632 166694 B737 USNR | VR-59 [KNFW] --- 2012-01-13 10:19:23.619
AE2FA4 RCH8192 08-8192 C17 USAF | 62AW [KTCM] --- 2012-01-13 12:56:25.701

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 12 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-13T08:48:00.002-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Date/time
A14A59 N182Z --- 2012-01-12 22:52:05 200 United States US Forest Service
AE07F9 97-0047 RCH7047 2012-01-12 21:20:55 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 29000
AE0800 98-0054 RCH8054 2012-01-12 20:40:29 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 35000
A96F78 N707KH --- 2012-01-12 20:28:42 PC-12/47 United States USAF | 27SOW | 318SOS [KCVS] 0000 27000
AE2239 ------ --- 2012-01-12 20:01:51 MC-130J ??? United States USAF | 1SOW | 6SOS [KHRT]
AE2239 ------ --- 2012-01-12 19:51:16 MC-130J ??? United States USAF | 1SOW | 6SOS [KHRT]
AE1447 05-3147 --- 2012-01-12 19:08:51 C-130J-30 United States USAF | 19AW | 48AS [KLRF]
AE1447 05-3147 --- 2012-01-12 18:57:55 C-130J-30 United States USAF | 19AW | 48AS [KLRF]
AE0471 57-1451 SODA82 2012-01-12 17:19:46 KC-135R United States TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS]
AE0471 57-1451 SODA82 2012-01-12 17:07:58 KC-135R United States TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS]
AE074E 163836 --- 2012-01-12 16:56:33 UC-12M United States USN | Oceana 0000 22000
AE0171 84-0079 BATTL03 2012-01-12 16:53:06 C-21A United States USAF | 110WG | 172AS [KBTL]
AE1452 05-5148 RCH355 2012-01-12 14:43:38 C-17A United States USAF | 15WG | 535AS [PHIK]
AE0171 84-0079 BATTL03 2012-01-12 14:21:23 C-21A United States USAF | 110WG | 172AS [KBTL]
AE12B8 88-0193 TALON11 2012-01-12 03:37:29 MC-130h United States USAF | 1SOW | 15SOS [KHRT]
AE119A 03-3117 RCH3117 2012-01-12 00:41:36 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
AE03F5 84-0167 --- 2012-01-12 00:23:45 C-12U United States OSACOM/PAT 0000 22925

Sort by ICAO24 code
A14A59 N182Z --- 2012-01-12 22:52:05 200 United States US Forest Service
A96F78 N707KH --- 2012-01-12 20:28:42 PC-12/47 United States USAF | 27SOW | 318SOS [KCVS] 0000 27000
AE0171 84-0079 BATTL03 2012-01-12 14:21:23 C-21A United States USAF | 110WG | 172AS [KBTL]
AE03F5 84-0167 --- 2012-01-12 00:23:45 C-12U United States OSACOM/PAT 0000 22925
AE0471 57-1451 SODA82 2012-01-12 17:07:58 KC-135R United States TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS]
AE074E 163836 --- 2012-01-12 16:56:33 UC-12M United States USN | Oceana 0000 22000
AE07F9 97-0047 RCH7047 2012-01-12 21:20:55 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 29000
AE0800 98-0054 RCH8054 2012-01-12 20:40:29 C-17A United States USAF | 437AW [KCHS] 0000 35000
AE119A 03-3117 RCH3117 2012-01-12 00:41:36 C-17A United States MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN]
AE12B8 88-0193 TALON11 2012-01-12 03:37:29 MC-130h United States USAF | 1SOW | 15SOS [KHRT]
AE1447 05-3147 --- 2012-01-12 18:57:55 C-130J-30 United States USAF | 19AW | 48AS [KLRF]
AE1452 05-5148 RCH355 2012-01-12 14:43:38 C-17A United States USAF | 15WG | 535AS [PHIK]
AE2239 ------ --- 2012-01-12 19:51:16 MC-130J ??? United States USAF | 1SOW | 6SOS [KHRT]

Boeing's C-130 Transport Upgrades Said to be Ended by the Pentagon

2012-01-13T08:29:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has canceled a 10-year-old program that has Boeing upgrading C-130 Hercules transports with modern cockpit electronics, according to two government officials.

The move saves almost $4 billion, including $2.22 billion planned from 2013 to 2016, according to an Air Force program document. The Air Force recommended the program termination and Pentagon planners accepted, said one of the officials familiar with the decision, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it hasn’t been announced.

While Boeing is performing the initial upgrades, the Air Force had planned a competition for most of the work after the program was entangled in a procurement scandal in the mid-2000s. The Pentagon rejected a previous move by the Air Force to kill the program in 2009.

The C-130 has the highest profile among the few programs the Pentagon intends to cancel in its plan for 2013 to 2017, the officials said. The proposed budget will contain more truncations or delays, such as moving the purchase of 100 to 150 Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 jets beyond 2017, the last year of the coming five-year spending plan.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is scheduled Jan. 26 to announce some of the budget details, according to a third defense official. The Budget Control Act directed the Pentagon to cut $261 billion through 2017 from its planned budget, including $46.8 billion in 2013.

“Boeing has not been notified” of any cancellation decision, Jennifer Hogan, a company spokeswoman, said in an e mail. “We continue to meet our C-130 customer commitments and continue to perform on the low-rate initial production contract.”

The initial $4.1 billion C-130 Avionics Modernization Program contract was awarded to Boeing in 2001. Lockheed Martin challenged the win after Darleen Druyun, the Air Force’s former No. 2 acquisition official, told federal prosecutors she improperly favored Boeing in the selection. L-3 Communications Holdings and BAE Systems also protested the award after Druyun’s admission.

The Government Accountability Office recommended in 2005 that the service rebid a portion of the contract. The Air Force agreed in April 2005 to do so.

Druyun was sentenced to nine months in prison October 2004 for discussing a job at Boeing while negotiating a refueling- tanker contract, a conflict-of-interest violation. She also admitted to awarding the C-130 work to Boeing out of gratitude for the company employing her daughter and future son-in-law.

Boeing, based in Chicago, was allowed to update the first 26 of the 221 C-130s through 2015. It has received $1772 million so far for upgrades of six aircraft, engineering and logistics support and spares and installations.

The first four fully upgraded aircraft have been delivered to Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. An additional aircraft is to be delivered next month, according to Air Force spokeswoman Jennifer Cassidy.

The remaining 195 aircraft upgrade kits were to be subject to competition starting in June 2013 with a full-rate production contract awarded in July 2014.

The upgrades outfit the aircraft with a common glass cockpit, integrated digital communications and navigation capabilities that meet Federal Aviation Administration and European air-traffic management and navigation mandates, Cassidy said.

The price for each upgrade kit has increased 16.3 percent to $15.4 million from $13.2 million, the Pentagon said in June 2010.

Cassidy said the Air Force won’t discuss the program’s budget status pending release of the fiscal 2013 budget. The Air Force has spent $1.69 billion on program research, according to a service program document.

The upgrade work is performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The work is being performed by Boeing’s Global Services & Support division under the company’s Defense, Space and Security unit.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2012/01/12/2172944/boeings-c-130-transport-upgrades.html#storylink=cpyhttp://www.kansas.com/2012/01/12/2172944/boeings-c-130-transport-upgrades.html

Frank Cable Departs Guam, Emory S. Land Takes the Watch

2012-01-13T08:16:00.000-05:00

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Claire Farin, USS Emory S. Land Public Affairs

POLARIS POINT, Guam (NNS) -- USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) temporarily relieved USS Frank Cable (AS 40) as the primary afloat maintenance activity in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility Jan. 9, allowing Frank Cable to depart its homeport in Guam and head to Portland, Oregon, for a regular overhaul and dry-docking (ROH).

"The regular overhaul involves preventive and corrective maintenance to the hull and propulsion plant and throughout the ship," said Capt. Pete Hildreth, USS Frank Cable commanding officer. "This ensures that the ship can continue on her assigned mission on Guam for eight years."

After Frank Cable's successful scheduled port visits in 2011, including Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Republic of the Philippines, and a decade of tending submarines and surface vessels assigned to the 7th fleet area of responsibility, the submarine tender is now up and ready to undergo major preservation and maintenance.

Frank Cable will make her first stop in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

"We're stopping there on our way to our regularly scheduled overhaul, and the ship will be going into dry dock to do our routine maintenance that can't be accomplished in Guam," said Capt. Pete Hildreth, the Frank Cable's commanding officer.

USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), arrived in Guam from its permanent forward deployed home port of Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory during November 2011.

"Our mission in Guam is to maintain the three home ported Los Angeles-class attack submarines USS Buffalo (SSN 715), USS Houston (SSN 713), USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723), as well as those deployed to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility," said Capt. Paul Savage, USS Emory S. Land commanding officer. "We'll strive to continue the outstanding submarine repair reputation set by USS Frank Cable while she undergoes maintenance in the continental U.S."

Most of the crew from Frank Cable's Repair Department are assigned temporary assigned duty (TAD) to Emory S. Land. "We needed to keep a large portion of USS Frank Cable's highly skilled Sailors here on Guam with us. This transition went very smooth largely due to over six months of very detailed planning, and there was no interruption of submarine repair service," said Savage.

"I am extremely proud of our combined crew's hard work and commitment to accomplish, what I believe is the first-time crew merger of this type," said Savage. "With this integration, we've retained the best-of-the-best maintenance talent here on Guam and continue to provide superb support to our Submarine Force."

Following the dry-docking and maintenance, sea trials will be conducted while Frank Cable makes her transit back to Guam.

Navy Accepts Delivery of USNS Howard O. Lorenzen

2012-01-13T08:15:00.000-05:00

From Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communication

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (NNS) -- The Navy accepted the delivery of missile range instrumentation ship USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM 25) Jan. 10.

Constructed by VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Miss., T-AGM 25 will be the replacement for the existing USNS Observation Island, which was launched in 1953. The ship will provide worldwide, high-quality, dual-band radar data in support of ballistic missile treaty verification.

"This ship brings critical new technology to the fleet in an innovative design," said Frank McCarthey, the Auxiliary Ships, Small Boats, and Craft program manager for the Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. "She is a well-built ship; we expect the USNS Howard O. Lorenzen to perform well."

Accepting delivery of this ship represents the official transfer of T-AGM 25 from the shipbuilder to the Navy and is a major milestone in the ship's transition to operational status. The ship was christened in June 2010 by the ship's sponsor, Susan Lorenzen Black, daughter of ship's namesake, the late Dr. Howard O. Lorenzen, a distinguished Naval Research Laboratory scientist.

Ship delivery follows completion of acceptance trials in November 2011. The ship is currently at Kiewit Offshore Services in Corpus Christi, Texas, for planned radar installation, integration, and testing. The government-provided communications suite is complete.

The 12,575-ton, 534-foot ship is crewed and operated by Military Sealift Command (MSC). Currently crewed by civil service mariners, Lorenzen is expected to transition to a crew of commercial mariners working for private companies under contract to MSC when the ship achieves initial operational capability in 2013.

As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft. Delivering high-quality war fighting assets - while balancing affordability and capability - are key to supporting the Navy's Maritime Strategy.

Navy Christens Littoral Combat Ship Coronado

2012-01-13T08:14:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy will christen the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Coronado, Saturday, Jan. 14, during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony in Mobile, Ala.

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition, Sean Stackley, will deliver the principal address at the ceremony. Susan Keith will serve as the ship's sponsor. Additionally, Keith helped launch the Coronado Historical Association's "Home of a Naval Aviator" sign project and grew up with her father and stepfather serving in the Navy. Vice Adm. Stanhope C. Ring, her father, was a pilot who commanded an aircraft carrier air group during the Battle of Midway during World War II. Her stepfather, Rear Adm. Aaron Putnam "Put" Storrs III, belonged to the Navy's first aerial acrobatic team, which was the forerunner of the Blue Angels. The ceremony will be highlighted by Keith breaking a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship, which is a time-honored maritime tradition.

The ship's name recognizes the city of Coronado, Calif., and honors the city's deep ties to the U.S. Navy. Coronado has been home to Naval Air Station North Island and Naval Amphibious Base, since 1917. Two previous ships have been named after this city: USS Coronado, a Tacoma-class patrol frigate, earned four battle stars for supporting landings in New Guinea and Leyte during World War II and the USS Coronado, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock later re-designated as an auxiliary command ship, served as flagship for U.S. 3rd Fleet and was decommissioned in 2006.

Designated LCS 4, Coronado is an innovative surface combatant designed to operate in littoral seas and shallow water to counter mines, submarines and fast surface craft threats in coastal regions. The ship is capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots and can operate in water less than 20 feet deep. Coronado will address a critical capabilities gap in the littorals and conduct the Navy's mission to enhance maritime security by deterring hostility, maintaining a forward presence, projecting power and maintaining sea control.

A fast, agile, and high-technology surface combatant, Coronado will be a platform for the launch and recovery of manned and unmanned vehicles. To meet increased demand for mission-tailored packages, its modular design will allow the ship to be reconfigured for antisubmarine warfare, mine countermeasures, or surface warfare missions on an as-needed basis. The LCS class ships have the ability to swap out mission packages in a matter of days - adapting as the tactical situation demands. The modular approach allows the Navy to incorporate new and improved systems into the fleet as advanced technologies mature, providing flexibility and evolving capability.

Coronado will be manned by two rotational crews, Blue and Gold, similar to the rotational crews assigned to large submarines. These core crews are augmented by one of the three types of mission package crews and an aviation detachment. The commanding officer of the Blue crew will be Cmdr. John Kochendorfer, from Dana Point, Calif. The commanding officer of the Gold crew will be Cmdr. Michael "Shawn" Johnston, from North Carolina. After commissioning, the ship will be homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Constructed by General Dynamics in the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala., Coronado is the second of the Independence-variant in the LCS class.

Marine Corps Welcomes First F-35B Aircraft to its Fleet

2012-01-13T08:07:00.002-05:00

The first F-35B aircraft, the Marine Corps variant of the F-35 Lightning II, arrives at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's F-35 training squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, is the first Marine Corps squadron to receive F-35B aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo/Released)

From 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (NNS) -- The Marine Corps welcomed its first F-35B aircraft, the Marine Corps variant of the F-35 Lightning II, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 11.

Marine pilots will receive training to fly the new aircraft and eventually deploy with them aboard Navy amphibious ships.

The F-35B, one of three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter, is a tactical fixed-wing aircraft that is to be the replacement for aging jets within the Marine Corps. 2d Marine Aircraft Wing's F-35 training squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, is based at Eglin AFB and is the first Marine Corps squadron to receive F-35B aircraft.

Marine test pilot Maj. Joseph T. Bachmann delivered the first aircraft to Eglin AFB. A second F-35B is scheduled to be delivered as well. The aircraft will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the F-35 Integrated Training Center.

"The Marine Corps has to be ready to fight across the spectrum of war; a force that is most ready when the nation is least ready. The F-35B gives us the capability to do just that," said Maj. Gen. Jon M. Davis, commanding general of 2nd MAW.

The F-35B, a short takeoff and vertical landing fighter, is slated to replace the Marine Corps' F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier and EA-6B Prowler. It will provide multi-role, fifth-generation capabilities in the form of one common tactical fixed-wing aircraft, reducing maintenance costs while ensuring the Marine Corps maintains the tactical aircraft dominance required to deter potential adversaries and protect the nation's interests.

The F-35B supports the Marine Corps' tactical and operational needs for close air support in austere conditions and locations that may be inaccessible to traditional fighters. Thanks to its short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities, the F-35B can operate from expeditionary airfields in remote, non-permissive environments with shorter runways, contributing to the Marine Corps' role as the nation's expeditionary force-in-readiness.

"The STOVL capability of the F-35B will enable us to deploy with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and ensure these fifth-generation capabilities are available when needed," said Lt. Col. James B. Wellons, commanding officer of VMFAT-501. "Our mission is to conduct F-35B operations in coordination with our joint and coalition partners at Eglin Air Force Base in order to attain our annual pilot training requirement."

The F-35B surpassed 250 vertical landings this year, including 72 vertical landings and short takeoffs on the USS Wasp in October.

Record long-range bomber flight turns 50

2012-01-13T06:58:00.000-05:00

by Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez, Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Fifty years ago on Jan. 11, 1962, a crew of eight Airmen embarked on a historic feat that would take them half way across the globe and reaffirm to the world America's dominance in long-range aircraft strike capabilities.

Piloting the newest model of long-range bombers, the B-52H Stratofortress, crewmembers broke 11 non-stop distance and course-speed records, for its aircraft class and time, when they successfully completed a more than 21 hour non-refueled flight-- flying approximately 12,500 miles across the globe. Operation Persian Rug was the name given to the pivotal flight.

The record-breaking journey began at Kadena Air Base, Japan, with the plane and crew were on assignment from Minot AFB's 4136th Strategic Wing, at the time.

The B-52's course took the crew across key landmarks around the globe including Tokyo, Japan; Fort Worth, Texas; and Washington, D.C., among others, with a final destination of Torrejon Air Base, Spain.

The previous record for the longest non-refueled flight (class C - Powered Aeroplanes) had been formerly held by an air refueling plane, the KC-135 Stratotanker.

Having been unveiled as the new and improved edition of B-52s, the H model proved its worth by executing the historic mission no later than one year after the first of its kind took to the air.

According to reports at the time, commanding officials at Strategic Air Command, the B-52H's commanding authority, were eager to demonstrate its new found capabilities.

The H model had been revamped in several different ways from its predecessor the G model.

First off, there was a complete renovation of the aircraft's engine which provided better fuel efficiency. In combination with newly designed turbofans, it allowed for an increase in flying distance of approximately 2,500 miles, unrefueled. Its defensive armament was also changed to a single rapid fire Gatling gun system which had an adjustable rate of fire between 3,000 and 6,000 rounds per minute.

The aircraft had also been modified to be a missile carrier in anticipation of the Skybolt program, but was later reconfigured subsequent to the cancellation of the program.

General Thomas S. Power, then SAC commander, praised the completion of the flight, stating the more than 12,000-mile flight without refueling demonstrated the intercontinental capabilities of the B-52H Stratofortress.

"The flight proved that SAC aircraft have the capability of reaching target destinations in any area of the globe," said Power.

President John F. Kennedy also commended the crew for their work in successfully completing the mission. He later invited the crew to Washington, D.C., to personally congratulate them on their accomplishments.

The execution of Operation Persian Rug has been one of several powerful exhibitions the B-52 family has demonstrated to the world. To this day, the B-52H continues to exert its power standing at the forefront of the nuclear deterrence mission under the leadership of Air Force Global Strike Command. Of the original 102 B-52Hs manufactured, approximately 80 are still in active use today.

With this year marking 50 years since the last delivery of the B-52H Stratofortress to Minot AFB and its halt in production, AFGSC has paid homage to the buff by proclaiming 2012 the Year of the B-52.

Team accelerates test, delivers B-1B close-air support capability to warfighter

2012-01-13T06:56:00.000-05:00

by Kate Blais, 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- A developmental test team here partnered with an operational test team from Texas to accelerate testing and deliver to the warfighter B-1B Lancers that can find and strike moving targets in close-air support of ground troops even quicker than before.

Merging developmental and operational testing to consolidate resources on a compressed timeline, members of the 419th Flight Test Squardon and Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force and the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, worked to ensure the B-1 upgrade was ready for combat operations by January.

The members of the 419th FLTS and 337th TES conducted a series of tests that culminated Nov. 15, completing Laptop Controlled Targeting Pod Phase II.

"During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, it became clear that the B-1 needed an additional capability to support close-air support scenarios," said Christina Ryskey, the project lead engineer and B-1 targeting pod engineer at the 419th Flight Test Squadron and Bomber Combined Test Force.

That capability came in the form of Laptop Targeting Pod Phase I.

"The first phase integrated a targeting pod, but still required the weapons system operator to manually enter any coordinates derived from the targeting pod," said Maj. David Marten, the B-1 flight commander and project pilot at the 419th FLTS. "This only allowed the pod to be useful on stationary targets."

Although Phase I allowed the B-1 to interface with the targeting pod, it proved to be a limited capability, as there was no hand-off of information from the pod back to the airplane. Although coordinates were derived from the pod, manually entering the data increased time and decreased the B-1's ability to strike a moving target.

The solution, LCTP Phase II.

"Now with the second phase, we not only have the ability to complete the loop of the targeting pod, but also include the ability to drop laser targeted bombs from the B-1," said Lt. Col. Hans Miller, the 419th FLTS commander and Bomber Combined Test Force director. "So not only can I track and identify the targets on the ground, I can strike ground targets moving at low and high speeds. That is a crucial capability that we have with this upgrade."

A completed communication loop between the plane and the targeting pod, which allows for direct importation of coordinates, shortens the kill chain, which is a significant increase to capability in the field, said Marten.

"Guys on the ground calling for air support will get their bombs faster and with more precision," he said.

"If we're told that there's a target in the vicinity, via ground troops, I can visually acquire with the pod, get exact location, directly import that information into the weapon system and attack it," said Maj. Michael Jungquist, the 419th FLTS project weapons system officer. "The targeting pod tells the weapon exactly where to go and can refine the target with lasers in the pod. I'll be able to put weapons on a target, even if it wasn't where it was when I first started looking at it."

LCTP Phase II's self-lasing capability allows the B-1 to track targets, constantly update its coordinates and employ GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition.

"With Phase II, the B-1 gets as much precision as any close air support player, but now combined with global reach, large payload and long loiter time provided by a strategic bomber," Marten said.

In addition to favorable test results and upgraded capabilities, the planning and execution of the testing were important pieces to the puzzle because the time between test commencement to operational delivery was only 8 months.

"Another huge success of the November test was that it was a great example of integrated operational and developmental test," Miller said. "We worked on a compressed timeline and despite some issues that were found in a test, and corrections that were presented and fixed, we were able to still meet that fielding recommendation and deployment timeline so that this can get to the fight and be useable for combat crews going out next deployment."

Checking into the fight this January is a B-1 with more capabilities to support the joint service effort.

"We had a timeline to meet in order to better support troops on the ground," Jungquist said, "and we're making that happen."

New F-35B joint strike fighters arrive at Eglin

2012-01-13T06:55:00.000-05:00

by Chrissy Cuttita, Eglin Air Force Base Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A resolution to be even more expeditionary will be met this year, now that Marines here received their first two F-35B Lightning II variants of DoD's fifth generation fighter Jan. 11.

At the 33rd Fighter Wing, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 is the home for the new aircraft where its "Warlords," pilots and maintainers, reside with a team of other professionals in preparation to deploy out anywhere in the world for the nation's defense.

"The wing gaining another variant of the F-35 marks a significant step in the stand up of the F-35 pilot and maintenance training here," said Col. Andrew Toth, the 33rd Fighter Wing commander. "The integration of the F-35B/C strike fighters will provide dominant, multi-role, fifth generation capabilities needed across the full spectrum of combat operations to deter potential adversaries."

Marine Maj. Joseph Bachmann, the wing's first F-35 pilot ferried the first of his service's two joint strike fighter variants from Lockheed Martin headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. Two F-18 escorts from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing escorted the F-35 to represent the wing the Warlords' report to for flying operations.

"The Marine Corps has to be ready to fight across the spectrum of war; a force that is most ready when the nation is least ready. The F-35B gives us the capability to do just that," said Maj. Gen. Jon M. Davis, commanding general of 2nd MAW.

With the latest addition to the fleet, the 33rd FW has a total of eight joint strike fighters with Air Force variants arriving last summer. Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the Air Force, the F/A-18 for the Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-B Harrier for the Marines and a variety of fighters for at least nine other countries.

"The STOVL capability of the F-35B will enable us to deploy with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and ensure these fifth-generation capabilities are available when needed," said Lt. Col. James B. Wellons, commanding officer of VMFAT-501. "Our mission is to conduct F-35B operations in coordination with our joint and coalition partners at Eglin Air Force Base in order to attain our annual pilot training requirement."

Warlords, like Air Force and future Navy flying squadrons, will be qualified to operate on their service's variant of the F-35 via the certifications received at the 33rd FW's Academic Training Center. Each military branch has a separate training chain of command at the "schoolhouse," but members are collocated to provide DoD the best environment for future joint operations.

Like their flying squadron counterparts in the 33rd FW, Warlords will honor their unit's history. The Marine fighting fleet timeline began in the 1950's with FJ-3 Fury, continued with the F-4 Phantom and a decade of flying F/A-18 Hornets until 1997. They reactivated and redesignated to VMFAT-501 in April 2010 keeping their squadron motto, "VINI-VICI", interpreted to read, "I came, I conquered."

The Marine squadron at Eglin is scheduled to receive five more F-35Bs this year and continue joint strike fighter maintenance with their new variant.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 12 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-13T06:45:00.000-05:00

111111 LX-N20199 --- 2012-01-12 16:12:17 CT-49A Luxemburg NAEWandCF
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-12 13:25:34 206H United States US DOJ | DEA
A2191E N234U --- 2012-01-12 17:11:08 206H United States US DOJ | DEA 5571 2475
A385CA N326ND --- 2012-01-12 21:34:41 PA-44-180 United States --- 2661 8000
A597BF N46F --- 2012-01-12 14:34:26 Bombardier CL-6 United States Hunt Consolidated Inc.
A7EF54 N610G --- 2012-01-12 17:24:58 Boeing 757-22L United States L-3 Capital (COMCO)
A92C4A N690SD --- 2012-01-12 15:31:12 690A United States Sedgwick County
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-12 21:39:00 B707-368C United states OMEGA
AA66AD N77 --- 2012-01-12 19:09:31 King Air 300 United States --- 0000 14075
AAE5F0 N801DS N801DS 2012-01-12 15:53:35 Bell 407 United States Volusia County
ADFE07 1503 --- 2012-01-12 18:48:16 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Elizabeth City [KECG] 0000 5100
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT828 2012-01-12 20:32:13 C-12U United States USARMY
AE016A 86-0206 --- 2012-01-12 11:28:16 C-20B United States USAF | 89AW | 99AS [KADW]
AE024D 62-3506 PACK92 2012-01-12 22:25:12 KC-135R United States NH ANG | 157ARW | 133ARS [KPSM]
AE04AC 99-0103 --- 2012-01-12 17:48:47 UC-35a1 United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE]
AE04FB 57-2605 BOLT06 2012-01-12 21:47:41 KC-135R United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA] 2605 13200
AE0528 69-0002 RCH317 2012-01-12 11:48:27 C-5A United States AFRC | 433AW | 68AS [KSKF] 1031 24800
AE05B2 64-14838 --- 2012-01-12 20:43:48 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW 0000 28500
AE0673 63-8027 BOLT41 2012-01-12 20:43:32 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF] 0000 25100
AE06E5 163845 --- 2012-01-12 15:37:52 UC-12M United States AOD Guantanamo Bay 1561 20650
AE07B0 61-0284 DIXIE52 2012-01-12 21:13:37 KC-135R United States AL ANG | 117ARW | 106ARS [KBHM]
AE093A 00-1051 PAT397 2012-01-12 18:44:10 UC-35B United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE] 6205 35000
AE0994 95-26504 G9526604 2012-01-12 19:11:47 UH-60L United States 1-244th AVN 7303 3700
AE10E9 2003 C2003 2012-01-12 16:51:23 HC-130J United States USCG | CGAS Elizabeth City [KECG] 0000 24000
AE115E 01-0030 --- 2012-01-12 13:55:07 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF]
AE1191 03-0016 --- 2012-01-12 19:12:50 UC-35B United States USARC | B/2-228 AVN (TA) [KMGE]
AE11FF 89-0267 SUNNY88 2012-01-12 20:44:02 RC-12N United States USARMY | 224MIB (AE) [KSVN] 0000 5200
AE148F 94-0285 --- 2012-01-12 21:47:29 E-8C United States GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB]
AE1490 95-0122 --- 2012-01-12 18:37:36 E-8C United States GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB] 0000 35000
AE1F36 07-72039 N72039 2012-01-12 22:21:56 UH-72A United States US Army | 0105 1050
E47EF6 N637TW RYN7301 2012-01-12 16:53:30 Boeing 767-33AER United States Ryan Intl Airlines 4332 400

Enterprise Gets Underway for Final Qualifications

2012-01-12T10:11:00.001-05:00

Note: For my East Coast readers, standby the radios for some hot and heavy activity shortly from the Big E and her CSG.

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Stephen M. White, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At sea (NNS) -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Jan. 11 to participate in a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX).

The early morning departure was the next to last departure from Naval Station Norfolk for the 50-year-old carrier. Enterprise is scheduled to enter deactivation after completing its 22nd and final deployment later this year.

COMPTUEX is the intermediate phase of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group's (CSG) Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC), designed to hone warfare skills throughout the strike group while maintaining unit proficiency.

"It's the final exercise to ensure Enterprise is combat ready," said Capt. William C. Hamilton, Jr, Enterprise commanding officer. "We're looking forward to working with the full strike group conducting combat exercises across the full spectrum of battle spaces."

COMPTUEX is designed to bring every part of a strike group together to work effectively and efficiently as one cohesive unit.

Hamilton says the exercise will require a total team effort from Enterprise, the embarked air wing and the more than 4,500 Sailors and Marines involved. Every department, division and work center, and every Sailor and Marine aboard Enterprise, from the engineering plants up to the flight deck, will play a vital role in the exercise.

The JTFEX will test the ship's ability, as well as that of its strike group, to operate in a complex, hostile environment with other U.S. and coalition forces.

"By the end of COMPTUEX and JTFEX, we will have a combat-ready strike group that will be ready to execute the Navy's mission anywhere in the world," said Rear Adm. Walter E. Carter, Jr., commander, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group. "Our goal is to ensure we are integrated as a team and to exceed our requirements for our combat operational efficiency."

The Enterprise Carrier Strike Group includes USS Enterprise (CVN 65), Carrier Air Wing 1, Destroyer Squadron 2, guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69), guided-missile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78), USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 11 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-12T08:39:00.001-05:00

Here is another round of Mode-S/ADS-B intercepts logged from here on the radio ranch in WNC. The Mode-S intercepts for this day have been sorted by time and then by ICAO24 code. All dates/times are UTC.

Sort by Date/Time
AE143A 166715 --- 2012-01-11 22:34:41 UC-35D United States USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT]
AE0471 57-1451 SODA91 2012-01-11 21:11:28 KC-135R United States TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS]
C2B3EB 177703 CFC3686 2012-01-11 19:55:12 CC-177 Canada CFC | 429SQN [CYTR]
AE0471 57-1451 SODA91 2012-01-11 18:44:34 KC-135R United States TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS]
A3655D N318JM --- 2012-01-11 18:37:06 PA-32R-301 United States --- 0000 7400
AE015E 59-1512 JEEP31 2012-01-11 17:36:35 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
AE065F 60-0346 JEEP32 2012-01-11 17:22:07 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
AE015E 59-1512 JEEP31 2012-01-11 16:59:56 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
AE065F 60-0346 JEEP32 2012-01-11 16:59:40 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
AE065F 60-0346 JEEP32 2012-01-11 16:48:13 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
AE015E 59-1512 JEEP31 2012-01-11 16:47:24 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
A3655D N318JM --- 2012-01-11 15:21:31 PA-32R-301 United States ---
AE12C5 87-0125 TALON 15 2012-01-11 02:35:49 MC-130H United States USAF | 1SOW | 15SOS [KHRT]

Sort by ICAO24 code
A3655D N318JM --- 2012-01-11 18:37:06 PA-32R-301 United States --- 0000 7400
AE015E 59-1512 JEEP31 2012-01-11 16:47:24 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
AE0471 57-1451 SODA91 2012-01-11 18:44:34 KC-135R United States TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS]
AE065F 60-0346 JEEP32 2012-01-11 16:48:13 KC-135T United States MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC]
AE12C5 87-0125 TALON 15 2012-01-11 02:35:49 MC-130H United States USAF | 1SOW | 15SOS [KHRT]
AE143A 166715 --- 2012-01-11 22:34:41 UC-35D United States USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT]
C2B3EB 177703 CFC3686 2012-01-11 19:55:12 CC-177 Canada CFC | 429SQN [CYTR]

Nimitz Reaches One Year in Yards

2012-01-12T08:12:00.000-05:00

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jaquelyn Childs, USS Nimitz Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Nimitz (CVN 68) marked one year since it officially began its docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) in Bremerton, Wash., Jan. 11.

Nimitz entered dry dock DPIA Jan. 11, 2011. During the past year, Nimitz has been busy working alongside PSNS & IMF workers to install and replace vital systems on the ship to keep them operational. The maintenance done while in the shipyard and following months will enable Nimitz to fully perform their duties at sea.

The work began at a meeting 24 months before the scheduled DPIA when officials met to discuss primary overhaul plans. After reviewing an extensive checklist, the team began making official preparations 18 months prior to the shipyard period. These preparations included figuring out what needed to be done and scheduling it to fit in the allotted time.

During the maintenance period, the ship went in and out of dry dock to remove and overhaul both rudders as well as work on the propellers. Workers also replaced some main shafting; installed new sleeving on the sea chest; inspected and preserved numerous tanks, voids, and JP5 fuel tanks; overhauled forward and aft refrigeration plants; and preserved the hull and other areas around the catwalks.

While this work was being done primarily by PSNS & IMF civilian workers, with the help of Sailors here and there, ship's company also spent the shipyard period overhauling a lot of their spaces. Sailors gutted out and rebuilt 30 berthing spaces, tiled and resurfaced hundreds of decks, and repainted hundreds of spaces. Altogether ship's force, PSNS & IMF personnel and contractors logged almost 700,000 man-days worth of work costing over $260 million dollars.

"Obviously you have to work as a cohesive team to complete that amount of work," said John Simpson, project engineering planning manager for Nimitz' 2011 DPIA. "The ship's crew was an integral part of that."

Ship's crew and PSNS & IMF workers have been working especially hard to take complete advantage of the DPIA. During the past year, they have completed even more work than what was originally planned and scheduled.

"I am extremely proud of the work that has been accomplished," said Lt. Cmdr. Charles Jones, ship's maintenance manager. "We did 25 to 40 percent more work than expected. The work that was completed between Puget Sound Naval Shipyard [and Intermediate Maintenance Facility] and Nimitz ship's force will help us get to the end of ship's life."

Today's carriers are designed with a 50-year life span but some significant maintenance is required at specific intervals during the ship's life. Most of the work done this past year falls under this preventive maintenance. Other maintenance includes updates to weapons systems to increase security on board.

Dry-dock availabilities like the one Nimitz recently completed are less frequent. This was Nimitz' first dry-dock availability in 12 years.

"This was the first Nimitz class carrier to go 12 years between dry dock availabilities as opposed to the original six to nine years," said Simpson.

Now that Nimitz is done with its scheduled maintenance the crew is busy testing systems and preparing for what lays ahead in dock and sea trials.

"Ship's force is at its end of the maintenance period," said Jones. "Shipyard personnel are still working on the weapon system and contractors are putting in new laundry appliances. That's the last of our production work."

With the end of production work comes the task of firing up new and recently unused systems.

"We are still bringing systems out of lay-up and firing systems that aren't working properly," said Jones. "We still have testing to do during dock trials. Whatever we don't get done during dock trials, we will get done while we are out to sea."

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 11 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-12T08:11:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

0D0697 ------ 525C0054 2012-01-11 18:09:49 --- Mexico --- --- 17775
480C1A V-11 NAF11 2012-01-11 23:19:27 G-IV Netherlands 334sqn 2301 40975
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-11 21:43:35 206H United States US DOJ | DEA 5255 2100
A24775 N246N N246N 2012-01-11 20:12:02 206H United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 6265 1275
A2B396 N273WA WOA9607 2012-01-11 15:48:08 MD11 United States World Airways --- 35075
A7EF54 N610G --- 2012-01-11 23:59:07 Boeing 757-22L United States L-3 Capital (COMCO)
A8699A N641GT 00000000 2012-01-11 19:05:28 BOEING 767-38E US ATLAS AIR
A9F7DB N741SK 00000000 2012-01-11 19:10:47 P-3B United States US DHS | CBP [KVQQ]
AA59AE N766VA 701 2012-01-11 19:55:29 Boeing 767-2Q8 United States Vision Airlines
AA59AE N766VA 702 2012-01-11 21:24:11 Boeing 767-2Q8 United States Vision Airlines
AA66AD N77 --- 2012-01-11 15:56:38 King Air 300 United States --- 1175 10000
ADFE33 2121 --- 2012-01-11 18:54:29 HU-25A United States ATCMobile
ADFEAB 96-1008 GOFER 08 2012-01-11 16:39:25 C-130H United States MN ANG | 133AW | 109AS [KMSP]
ADFF0C 60-0335 BOLT31 2012-01-11 19:51:41 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE016A 86-0206 --- 2012-01-11 14:25:10 C-20B United States USAF | 89AW | 99AS [KADW] 5675 21950
AE016F 84-0077 PACER21 2012-01-11 22:59:19 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW] 0000 17425
AE0197 84-0137 SWIFT73 2012-01-11 23:36:28 C-21A United States USAF | 375AW | 457AS [KADW]
AE02C8 89-9104 VADER04 2012-01-11 20:38:26 C-130H United States AFRC | 910AW | 757AS [KYNG] 0000 13100
AE037E 63-8887 RCH887 2012-01-11 20:09:35 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW 0000 13100
AE04D7 165829 --- 2012-01-11 15:32:07 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP]
AE04FB 57-2605 BOLT06 2012-01-11 13:23:47 KC-135R United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA]
AE0528 69-0002 --- 2012-01-11 21:19:37 C-5A United States AFRC | 433AW | 68AS [KSKF]
AE0626 59-1461 --- 2012-01-11 20:16:23 KC-135R United States AK ANG | 168ARW | 168ARS [PAEI]
AE066A 62-3549 BOLT33 2012-01-11 19:52:36 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE0671 63-8000 EARL34 2012-01-11 19:06:07 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW
AE06E5 163845 00000000 2012-01-11 18:34:20 UC-12M United States AOD Guantanamo Bay 2356 15225
AE06E9 163844 00000000 2012-01-11 16:58:27 UC-12M United States Norfolk 3632 26000
AE07BD 62-356t8 BOLT32 2012-01-11 19:51:24 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE087F 01-0029 SPAR29 2012-01-11 16:09:39 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF] 0000 40925
AE1479 166767 --- 2012-01-11 23:36:33 UC-35D United States MAW-4
AE1489 90-0175 --- 2012-01-11 15:19:57 E-8C United States Northrop Grumman
AE148F 94-0285 --- 2012-01-11 22:21:11 E-8C United States GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB]

USS Milius Gets Underway for Scheduled Deployment

2012-01-12T08:10:00.000-05:00

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Shawnte Bryan, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) departed for a scheduled independent deployment to the western Pacific and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility.

More than 280 enlisted personnel and officers will be aboard as the Mulius performs maritime security and ballistic missile defense operations while on deployment.

"As a multi-mission AEGIS destroyer, Milius is prepared to execute a full range of missions in support of U.S., partner and coalition objectives," said Cmdr. Nikki Bufkin, commanding officer of Milius. "The officers and crew are prepared and ready to go."

A deployment can add stress to family members, even for the family of Sailors who have been on other deployments.

"Even though he has been on deployment before, it still feels like the first one again and it's very hard," said Susan Modlin, the mother of Fire Controlman 2nd Class Kevin Modlin.

Although deployments can be difficult, family members understand the importance of the mission and the needs of their loved ones.

"We need to stay strong and supportive because it can get stressful out on the deployment," said Rosa Potts, the fiancée of Culinary Specialist 2nd Class David Perez. "They are well trained and prepared and we back home have family and friends here to support us while they are away."

Milius is assigned to Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, which leads naval forces in the eastern Pacific from the west coast of North America to the international date line.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 11 Jan 2012 - Bowling Green KY

2012-01-12T07:39:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor DavidP in Bowling Green, KY. Thanks David.

Mode S Log from Bowling Green, Kentucky, US 2012-01-11
Military Hex Codes only

010087 EGY1101 1290 C130 EgyptAirforce --- 2012-01-11 09:40:26.068
053977 GOTO FMS 164406 E6 USN | VQ-4 [KTIK] --- 2012-01-11 20:02:42.364
43C1C3 RRR3666 ZD952 L101 216SQ --- 2012-01-11 15:07:06.501
A14A59 -------- N182Z BE20 US Forest Service --- 2012-01-11 17:26:02.418
A62778 GTI621 N496MC B744 AtlasAir --- 2012-01-11 19:44:48.362
A7EF54 -------- N610G B752 L-3 Capital (COMCO) --- 2012-01-11 16:56:09.217
A8B1DF -------- N66 BE30 --- --- 2012-01-11 14:03:32.641
ADFC8E -------- 92-0333 BE40 USAF | 12FTW | 99FTS [KRND] --- 2012-01-11 13:06:20.573
ADFE52 -------- 94-0323 BE20 USARMY --- 2012-01-11 18:25:06.175
ADFE63 DERBY80 91-1232 C130 KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] --- 2012-01-11 16:17:37.526
ADFE83 CROME35 92-0548 C130 USAF | 19AW [KLRF] --- 2012-01-11 11:18:39.022
ADFE86 RCH272 92-0551 C130 USAF | 19AW [KLRF] --- 2012-01-11 09:32:31.805
ADFEAB GOFER 08 96-1008 C130 MN ANG | 133AW | 109AS [KMSP] --- 2012-01-11 12:45:36.228
ADFECB -------- 84-0485 BE20 KY ARNG | OSACOM DET-11 [KFFT] --- 2012-01-11 11:00:11.456
ADFED0 1200 85-1262 BE20 USARMY (OSACOM Det25 TNArNG) --- 2012-01-11 12:29:25.474
ADFEF1 CNV9346 161529 DC93 USNR | VR-46 [KNFW ] --- 2012-01-11 14:39:56.213
ADFEFF -------- 86-0089 BE20 IL ARNG | OSACOM DET-36 [KDEC] --- 2012-01-11 14:48:01.339
AE015E -------- 59-1512 K35R MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC] --- 2012-01-11 10:49:55.696
AE018E NODAK 45 84-0100 LJ35 ND ANG | 119WG | 117AS [KFAR] --- 2012-01-11 14:54:05.992
AE0392 SOONR32 63-8880 K35R AFRC | 507ARW | 465ARS [KTIK] --- 2012-01-11 11:08:28.840
AE03E4 -------- 164997 C130 USNR | VR-53 [KADW] --- 2012-01-11 14:09:41.335
AE040F GOTO FMS 162783/ 784 E6 USN | VQ-3 [KTIK] --- 2012-01-11 19:40:51.049
AE0471 SODA91 57-1451 K35R TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS] --- 2012-01-11 15:26:28.093
AE0626 UPSET77 59-1461 K35R AK ANG | 168ARW | 168ARS [PAEI] --- 2012-01-11 15:40:03.584
AE065F JEEP32 60-0346 K35R MI ANG | 127WG | 171ARS [KMTC] --- 2012-01-11 11:21:34.976
AE0671 EARL34 63-8000 K35R USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW --- 2012-01-11 13:59:41.171
AE07D1 COHO85 90-0532 C17 USAF | 62AW [KTCM] --- 2012-01-11 13:33:21.873
AE080B E90165 99-0165 C17 AFRC | 445AW | 89AS [KFFO] --- 2012-01-11 15:29:00.922
AE1192 -------- 166474 C560 USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT] --- 2012-01-11 14:11:02.816
AE119A RCH3117 03-3117 C17 MS ANG | 172AW | 183AS [KJAN] --- 2012-01-11 18:43:44.093
AE143A -------- 166715 C560 USMC | VMR-1 [KNKT] --- 2012-01-11 16:43:02.905
AE1466 RCH126 06-6168 C17 USAF | 436AW | 3AS [KDOV] --- 2012-01-11 20:28:21.838
AE189A SPAR18 05-4613 B737 AFRC | 932AW | 73AS [KBLV] --- 2012-01-11 20:17:44.913

E-8C Departs for Europe and Beyond

2012-01-11T09:45:00.004-05:00

We had an E-8C JStars depart CONUS yestersday for Europe and possibily point beyond. Mode-S receivers tracked the progress of AE1497 99-0006 Mode-S callsign ROIL01 as it made its way from CONUS into the UK and last seen in the Czech Republic. Beyond that is anyones guess.

Mode-S Details below:

2012-01-10 06:46:02 Opava, CZ 1456 31100
2012-01-10 06:09:05 Offenbach, DE 4736 31100
2012-01-10 06:02:42 Breda 2, NL 4736
2012-01-10 06:02:30 Breda East, NL 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:55:25 Southend on Sea 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:55:15 Boven-Pekela, NL 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:50:16 Brentwood Essex, GB 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:49:47 EHGG, NL 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:49:20 Breda 2, NL 4736
2012-01-10 05:48:38 Breda, NL 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:47:47 Rotterdam, NL 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:46:46 Breda East, NL 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:46:31 Venlo, NL 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:44:57 Stowmarket GB 4736 0
2012-01-10 05:44:29 Naaldwijk, NL 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:42:26 Wymondham, GB 4736 31000
2012-01-10 05:35:45 Brentwood Essex, GB 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:33:54 Southend on Sea 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:31:22 Wymondham, GB 4736 31000
2012-01-10 05:30:48 Mildenhall Suffolk, GB 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:30:25 Royston GB 4612 0
2012-01-10 05:30:25 Attleborough,GB 4736 31000
2012-01-10 05:29:41 Whittlesea,Cambs , GB 4612 31000
2012-01-10 05:29:12 NORWICH GB 4736 31100
2012-01-10 05:28:40 Lytham St.Annes 0000 25000
2012-01-10 05:27:50 Derbyshire, UK ---- 29900
2012-01-10 04:46:41 Paisley, GB --- ---
2012-01-10 01:10:25 St Johns, NL,CA --- ---
2012-01-10 00:21:09 Nova Scotia Canada --- ---
2012-01-10 00:10:42 Nova Scotia Canada --- ---
2012-01-09 20:11:26 Gray ME, US 3037 10800
2012-01-09 19:51:04 Billerica MA, US 3037
2012-01-09 19:39:30 Billerica MA, US 3037
2012-01-09 19:28:11 Northville NY, US --- ---
2012-01-09 19:14:56 New Castle DE, US --- ---
2012-01-09 19:14:49 Philadelphia PA, USA 3037 31000
2012-01-09 19:08:15 Magnolia, DE, US 7122 31000
2012-01-09 19:08:12 Northeast MD, US 7122
2012-01-09 19:06:49 Fairfax, VA, US 7122
2012-01-09 13:51:54 Virginia Beach, VA US --- ---

USS Wasp Prepares for Bold Alligator

2012-01-11T09:36:00.000-05:00

Note: For my east coast friends, standby for a major east coast military exercise.

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Andrew Rivard, USS Wasp Public Affairs

USS WASP, At sea (NNS) -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) returned to sea Jan. 9 to conduct qualifications in preparation for Bold Alligator 2012 the nation's largest joint/multinational amphibious assault exercise in the past 10 years.

To properly prepare for Bold Alligator, Wasp will spend the next week conducting flight and well deck operations to allow the ship and various Marine Corps elements to become certified for amphibious operations at sea.

During this at-sea period, Wasp's crew will work jointly with U.S. Marines to land and launch AV-8B Harrier aircraft and amphibious hovercraft known at landing craft air cushion (LCAC)

"We are treating this training as sort of a dress rehearsal," said Ensign Anthony Despota, Wasp's Combat Information Center officer. "Not only will we conduct a multitude of flight and well deck operations but the Combat Systems department will conduct operations with various units while underway to test and ensure that all of our equipment will be working properly in time for Bold Alligator."

Exercise Bold Alligator 2012 will focus on the fundamental aspects and roles of amphibious operations to improve amphibious force readiness and proficiency for executing the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy - forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

"Wasp's crew will be working 24-7 conducting a variety of operations during the day and well into the night so that we can ensure that no matter what we have thrown at us we can handle the situation with a calm head and successfully complete our tasking," said Despota.

Despota said these evolutions are critical to the success of Bold Alligator and all future Navy-Marine Corps missions.

"This underway period will help us work out any kinks we may come across," said Despota. "Successfully completing Bold Alligator will help to ensure that we as a naval force will be able to complete mission tasking when directed."

The successful completion of exercise preparations is dually critical for Wasp as it is slated to serve as the Bold Alligator flagship, placing Wasp in a high visibility position during the entire course of the exercise.

"Wasp will host numerous distinguished visitors including high-ranking government officials and foreign military personnel," said Despota. "Bold Alligator is an all-hands evolution requiring all personnel onboard to play their parts in helping ensure the exercise is successful."

Bold Alligator participants include elements of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Bold Alligator 2012 will allow U.S. service members and coalition partners the opportunity to exercise amphibious operations in a real-world environment and revitalize the Navy Marine Corps' vital core competencies.

The exercise will run from Jan. 30 through Feb. 12.

Failure to communicate: Inside the army's doomed quest for the 'perfect' radio

2012-01-11T09:31:00.006-05:00

Sgt. Ryan Pike, left, and Staff Sgt. Altaf Swati erect a tactical satellite radio antenna while on patrol in Afak, Iraq, Dec. 28, 2008.

By David Axe, The Center for Public Integrity iWatch News website
http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012/01/10/7816/failure-communicate-inside-armys-doomed-quest-perfect-radio

As several dozen soldiers from the U.S. Army’s Task Force Rock drove into Afghanistan’s Chowkay Valley one morning in March 2010, Taliban fighters immediately began moving into ambush positions along a higher ridge. The Force’s mission was to protect a U.S. reconstruction team as it met with local village leaders, but it was stuck in place as the Taliban reached their fighting posts.

What tied them down was their radios: a forest of plastic and metal cubes sprouting antennae of different lengths and sizes. They had short-range models for talking with the reconstruction team; longer-range versions for reaching headquarters 25 miles away; and a backup satellite radio in case the mountains blocked the transmission. An Air Force controller carried his own radio for talking to jet fighters overhead and a separate radio for downloading streaming video from the aircraft.

Some of these radios worked only while the troopers were stationary; others were simply too cumbersome to operate on the move. “Not good,” said Spec. Geoff Pearman, as he watched farmers scurry indoors from their wheat fields — a sure sign that fighting was imminent.

Task Force Rock’s vulnerability that morning is routine for U.S. forces in Afghanistan today. But it was never supposed to occur at all.

Almost fifteen years ago, the Army launched an ambitious program, the Joint Tactical Radio System, aimed at developing several highly-compatible “universal” radios. Together, the JTRS radios would replace nearly all older radios in the American arsenal, greatly simplifying communications and freeing up combat units “to tap into the network on the move,” according to Paul Mehney, an Army spokesman.

But JTRS, pronounced “jitters,” failed to live up to its promise. Overly ambitious, poorly managed and saddled by incompatible goals, the program burned through $6 billion dollars while producing little working hardware. Delays forced the Army to spend $11 billion more on old-style radios to meet the urgent demands of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The Army eventually reduced the planned purchase of JTRS radios and cut the types of radios in development. In October, it canceled the vehicle-mounted version of JTRS, the most important of the new radios, which by then had grown to the size of a dormitory-sized refrigerator. For all practical purposes, JTRS is dead — at least in its original guise.

But the need for simpler battlefield communications remains. After an investment of 15 years and $17 billion, today the Army is still struggling to build better radios and estimates it may need to spend another $12 billion to get what it needs. The U.S. taxpayer has paid the bill, but frontline soldiers like those from Task Force Rock bear the true cost.

JTRS’ history is one of grand but naive technological ambition colliding with the unbending laws of physics and the unforgiving exigencies of modern warfare. After years of work, the Army discovered for itself what experts had been warning all along: It’s impossible for a single radio design to handle all the military’s different communications tasks.

The more capabilities that the Army and prime contractor Boeing packed into JTRS, the bigger, more complex and more expensive it became — until it was too bulky and unreliable for combat. In its relentless drive for conceptual simplicity, the Army found itself mired in mechanical complexity.

The Army wasn’t alone in its doomed pursuit of a technological pipe dream. The past decade has by many accounts been an era of grand ambition, flawed management and wasted treasure for all the military branches. A lengthy Harvard Business School study for the Pentagon concluded in April that despite many attempts at reform, “major defense programs still require more than 15 years to deliver less capability than planned, often at two to three times the planned cost.”

But the Army has arguably had more failures than other services. An internal report in 2010 noted that every year since 1996, the Army has spent more than a billion dollars annually “on programs that were ultimately cancelled” – including 15 cancelled since 2001. More than a third of its weapons development funds over the past seven years were spent on weapons systems deemed unusable in the end.

“I feel sorry for the Army,” said Thomas Christie, the Pentagon’s top weapons tester from 2001 to 2005. “Everything they’ve touched has turned to crap.”

Now the Pentagon faces a round of budget-cutting. So if the Army is to acquire new radios to keep its forces moving, it must do so on the cheap. That means reforming the vast, slow-moving bureaucracy entrusted to developing, testing and buying new military gear — a goal the Army is finally taking steps to reach. But it also means separating the good ideas from the bad ones at the outset, an ability that independent experts say continues to elude the world’s most powerful ground fighting force.

A Program Born in Frustration
The Army’s latest plan for overhauling its battlefield communication system was forged after the ground war to liberate Kuwait from the Iraqi Army in February 1991. While preparing for the lightning Left Hook drive north and east in southern Iraq, Pentagon planners were frustrated by their need to decide everything in advance because of the Army’s inability to communicate well on the move.

They developed a plan to create a “cyberwar” force on the battlefield, upending a tradition that only leaders carry radios, and information flows not between individuals, but between squads, platoons, companies, and other units. Instead of merely pointing their rifles and scanning with their eyes, every soldier in the networked force would be an information node with his own cameras, GPS tracker and radio, all communicating perfectly with others.

The Army formally started the program in 1997, calling it the “Joint Tactical Radio.” The JTR — the “S” for “System” was soon added — was to be compatible with all previous Army radio models plus almost every radio used by the Marines, Air Force, Navy and even civilian organizations such as local police departments.

The architecture was meant to be flexible, matching the communications needs of every imaginable user, from an individual private soldier lugging a rifle across the battlefield to top generals in their high-tech headquarters deep inside friendly territory. JTRS would even work in space.

The new radio, moreover, was a key component of an even more ambitious program — a collection of new lightweight armored vehicles and weapons-carrying robots collectively known as the Future Combat Systems. They would be fast-moving, widely-spread and plugged into a vast information network. Each would carry its own JTRS radio, as would every soldier riding inside.

After a series of war games to refine the cyberwar concept, in June 2000 the Defense Department awarded Chicago-based Boeing, America’s number-two defense contractor after Lockheed Martin, a $2-million contract to begin preparing JTRS blueprints. By Pentagon standards, it was a tiny contract. The overall JTRS program, including design and production, was expected to cost at least $6 billion over the first 10 years — and up to $40 billion by the time every last JTRS radio was bought, many years later.

For Boeing, that first contract was a foot in the door for both JTRS and Future Combat Systems, which by itself was expected to cost at least $120 billion over a period of decades. Boeing was not an experienced radio maker, nor did it manufacture armored vehicles. But the company sold itself to the Army on the strength of its intellectual prowess and management skills, stressing in a press release its “proven experience in large-scale system design, development and deployment.”

A little over a year later, 9/11 opened the floodgates for defense spending. After a series of high-level Pentagon meetings in 2002, the Army got a green light to give Boeing the major contracts for both JTRS and Future Combat Systems. Under the latter contract, Boeing was to receive 10 to 15 percent profit margins, regardless of the program’s success or eventual cost.

During the review, Christie, the Pentagon’s top weapons tester, warned top officials that the Army’s plans were unrealistic. “I said there’s no way this is going to happen,” he recalls. “But they got the go-ahead anyway, by claiming there was little technical risk.”

One Size Does Not Fit All
The Army figured it would need 230,000 copies of the main JTRS radios to replace 750,000 of its older radios and lighten unit commanders’ loads. The other military branches together would buy another 90,000 or so radios, and they would all connect with a quarter-million related devices. The new radios had to be phased in gradually due to manufacturing constraints, which meant each JTRS radio had to be compatible not only with other JTRS radios and the radios belonging to the other armed services, but also with all the Army’s old-style radios.

Achieving such broad compatibility posed a daunting challenge. Traditionally, the size and shape of military radios is determined by their task. A vehicle-mounted radio piping in data from some distant headquarters is large enough to accommodate a larger antenna, more processing power and more sophisticated encryption. A radio for an infantry squad is small enough for one man to carry; it has less range, power and encryption.

In addition, radios must be equipped to interpret particular radio “languages” known as a “waveforms,” tailored for specific types of transmissions. Some are better for moving data; others are better for voice or a mix of data and voice. The Army wanted JTRS to be compatible with the 30 or so most important military waveforms, including several ideally suited for the new radios. But it gradually grasped that it was impossible for a single radio design to handle all tasks and all waveforms.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all,” admits Brig. Gen. Michael Williamson, who since March has overseen the rapidly fading JTRS program. So JTRS split into several sub-programs between 2000 and 2004, each developing a different version. Boeing handled the bulk of the work in California and Missouri, but other defense contractors – including BAE Sytems in New Jersey and Rockwell Collins in Iowa -- got slices, as well. There were sea-, air- and space-based versions.

The ground-combat branch settled on one major JTRS radio, the so-called “Ground Mobile Radio” meant for vehicles, plus a smaller version for small units marching on foot, and the handheld version for individual soldiers. The ground radio was the main focus, a key to getting Army units talking on the move to each other, to aircraft overhead, to the Navy offshore and to senior commanders far away.

“JTRS would largely lift the fog of war,” Loren Thompson, an analyst with the Lexington Institute in Virginia, crowed on his blog in December 2010. The Lexington Institute receives funding from Boeing and other military contractors, and Thompson now describes JTRS as “a mixed bag.”

JTRS’ collapse began when reality intervened, after unit commanders in the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq struggled to stay in contact while on the move. Just as the Army’s war needs expanded the demand for innovation, software problems with the new radios slowed testing. So the Army had no choice but to buy non-JTRS radios from other manufacturers -- 300,000 radios in all, worth nearly $11 billion through 2006.

Frustrated by the delays and freshly equipped with new copies of old-style radios, the Army began losing its appetite for JTRS. Between 2006 and 2008, the Army scaled back its JTRS purchasing plans by 20 percent and decided the new radio would understand just eight waveforms instead of 33.

The reductions shaved billions of dollars off the cost of developing JTRS, but also increased the overall pricetag for each one, including research and development expenses. The Army suddenly expected to pay up to $300,000 for each JTRS ground radio — roughly double its estimate in 2002. By comparison, a factory-fresh, vehicle-mounted, non-JTRS radio from another major military supplier, the Harris Corp., costs just $57,000.

Technical Problems Worsen
The technical challenges of transmitting huge amounts of data over complex new waveforms became so acute that in 2005, the Army briefly ordered Boeing to stop work on JTRS. But the Pentagon has a hard time cancelling any program – often because the contracts it signs impose steep penalties on the government for any major change of heart -- and so the Army decided to reorganize the management office while allowing Boeing to proceed.

The program did not improve. Col. Dan Hughes, who oversaw ground radio development between 2006 and 2009, watched the radio grow in complexity and cost, while continually missing design deadlines. “We tried to make it better and better and better,” he says. But in the first two years after full-scale development was approved, the number of pages in the blueprint for the ground radio design tripled, according to a Government Accountability Office report in 2005. The radio also tipped the scales at 207 pounds — several times the weight of existing radios.

Plans to hand over prototypes to the troops for realistic testing got bumped back one year, then two, then three. With each delay, the Army was forced to buy more old-style radios for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Manufacturers took the opportunity to upgrade their existing radio designs with enhanced processors, software and encryption and new waveforms, bringing them closer to the ground radio’s specs.

The Harris firm tweaked one of its popular radios to accommodate the main JTRS waveforms, and quickly sold 16,000 of the new radios, mostly to the Army.

Then, in 2010, the Army assembled 1,000 battlefield veterans at a desert training range at Fort Bliss, just outside of El Paso, to try out the key bits of JTRS technology. They criticized its size, its weight, its short range and its tendency to break down. Michael Gilmore, the Army’s top weapons tester, cited the soldiers’ complaints in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. He said the ground radio “demonstrated little military utility.”

Meanwhile, the federal government’s ballooning deficits prompted several rounds of defense cuts that shaved billions from the Army’s research and development accounts. Future Combat Systems was killed first, around the same time the evaluation troops were testing JTRS.

In October, the Army also canceled the ground radio. “The technical challenges of mobile, ad hoc networks and scalability were not well understood due to the immaturity of technology at that time,” Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall explained in letters to the chairmen of the congressional armed services committees, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Rep. Howard McKeon (R-Cal.)..

Aspects of the overall JTRS program survive. The two main JTRS waveforms are still in development. So are the air-, sea- and space-based versions of the radio, plus some of the smaller Army models — in particular, the soldiers’ hand-held version. “We don’t want more monolithic programs,” says Col. John Morrison, who oversees the Army’s network-based battle-command efforts. Under the best of circumstances, the GAO estimates, the radios will cost another $12 billion to complete.

Although the Pentagon sometimes tries to recoup money invested in failed weapons, in the case of the ground radio, the Army said it would simply allow the Boeing contract, which was good through 2012, to lapse. Boeing would not be paid to continue ground-radio work — nor would the company be penalized.

A spokesman for Boeing, Matthew Billingsley, declined to say if the nonpublic contract allowed for the company to be penalized. He said that Boeing was disappointed at the program’s cancellation, and that the company looked forward to “applying our experience and knowledge in future competitions.”

Task Force Rock, anchored to the floor of Afghanistan’s Chowkay Valley by its radios in March 2010, was lucky. It escaped an attack by fleeing the valley under the cover of U.S. helicopters firing white phosphorus rockets. Burdened with radios the Army has spent more than 20 years trying to replace, other American combat units might not be so lucky.

AMD talks with US crumble; Russia beefs up early-warning radar

2012-01-11T09:04:00.004-05:00

Radar station Voronezh-DM

Courtesy of “TV-Novosti" Are we looking at a new HF based radar system?-LVH

The Russian Defense Ministry announces plans for extensive new early-warning radar system as talks with US and NATO over the controversial European missile defense system hit the wall. The announcement comes on the heels of President Dmitry Medvedev’s pledge to fortify national defense.

In addition to a newly inaugurated radar system located in Kaliningrad, several more radar stations will be placed on combat duty in 2012, Alexei Zolotukhin, an official with the Russian Defense Ministry press service for Aerospace Defense Troops, told reporters on Sunday.

"The new radar station Voronezh-DM, located in the Kaliningrad region, became part of the missile attack warning system in late 2011,” Zolotukhin said. “A radar station is fully ready to be put on combat duty in the Leningrad region. Another radar station has been launched in the Krasnodar Territory.”

A new generation radar station will also be launched in the Irkutsk Region, he revealed.

The spokesman said the new radar will go online following a series of state tests to be conducted this year.

Responding to Washington’s reluctance to cooperate with Moscow in a US missile defense system in Eastern Europe, President Medvedev in November said Russia would deploy strike systems in the west and south of the country and deploy Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad Region. Russia has repeatedly warned that without its full participation in the system, situated just miles from the Russian border, it will be forced to respond to what it perceives as a threat to national security.

The Russian leader also reminded his American colleagues that Russia reserves the right to withdrawal from New START if the two sides fail to reach agreement over missile defense in Europe.

“In the event of unfavorable developments, Russia reserves the right to halt further steps in the disarmament sphere and, respectively, weapons control,” Medvedev said. “Besides, given the inseparable interconnection between the strategic offensive and defensive weapons, grounds may appear for our country’s withdrawal from the New START treaty.”

This was not the first time Moscow warned the US and NATO over the missile defense system, which Russia views as a potential threat to its national security. At the G-8 Summit in Deauville, France, in May, Medvedev warned that the world was heading toward another arms race.

"After 2020, if we do not come to terms, a real arms race will begin," Medvedev warned.

Despite repeated warnings, the US and NATO seem determined to push ahead with missile defense without Russia’s cooperation, and despite the fact such a decision could sink the “reset” in relations forged between Medvedev and US President Barack Obama.

On April 8, 2009, Medvedev and Obama met at Prague Castle signed the biggest nuclear arms pact in a generation, which promised to shrink the limit of nuclear warheads to 1,550 per country.

Missouri Guard's attack battalion transitions to Longbow Apache

2012-01-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - The Missouri National Guard's 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion held a roll-out ceremony that officially transitioned the battalion to a AH-64D Apache Longbow unit.

The battalion, overseen by the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade in Sedalia, has a rich history as an Army Aviation Battalion within the Missouri National Guard. The battalion has flown the UH-1 Huey, OH-58A/C Kiowa Warrior and the AH-1 Cobra.

In 1999, the battalion was designated as one of eight National Guard battalions to receive the AH-64A Apache. In 2002, the first AH-64A helicopter arrived at Whiteman Air Force Base. In August 2009, the National Guard Bureau designated the battalion as the sixth Army National Guard Longbow battalion and began fielding it with aircraft in October 2011.

"What a great day for the Attack Battalion and for the CAB as a whole," said Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard. He continued that he looks forward to a great long history with the Longbow aircraft in a great new building on a premiere Active Duty base.

Col. Shane Openshaw, U.S. Army Apache Program manager, said it was hard to believe that three years ago, this battalion had no plan, no money and no direction where it was going from the A Model Apaches.

"Team Apache is strong today, but it's getting stronger tomorrow," Openshaw said.

Mike Burke, director of business development for Boeing's Attack Helicopter Program, echoed Danner and Openshaw on how important the day was for both Boeing in Mesa, Ariz., and for the Missouri National Guard.

During the ceremony, the tradition of exchanging the AH-64D logbook signifies the transfer of the aircraft. David Koopersmith, vice president of Boeing's Attack Helicopter Program, presented Openshaw with the logbook. Openshaw passed it onto Danner. Danner passed it onto the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade's Commander Col. Mark McLemore with the logbook ending in the hands of Lt. Col. James Schreffler, 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion commander. Schreffler then tossed the key to Lt. Col. Thomas Burson, Army Aviation Support Facility commander, as the manager of the flying hour program and maintenance of the aircraft.

"We have kicked off this year by breaking in our new aircraft, and beginning the progression program for our aircrews," Schreffler said. Schreffler told Brig. Gen. Scott Vanderhamm, Whiteman Air Force Base commander, "I'm sure you have appreciated the sound of helicopter rotors over Whiteman again after somewhat of a lull in activity as we turned in our dated Alpha model aircraft.

The last A Model Apache aircraft left Whiteman Air Force Base on Jan. 10. The battalion is on schedule to receive the remainder of the new D Model aircraft by this spring.

Boeing presented Danner with an Apache model and Schreffler with a framed photo of the first three Apache Longbows delivered to Boeing in Mesa, Ariz., prior to coming to Whiteman Air Force Base.

Concluding the ceremony, the spouses of current and former 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance commanders christened the first Longbow, a tradition continued by the aviation community to protect their aviators as they bravely meet the challenges faced daily in the unforgiving sky.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 10 Jan 2012 - Btown

2012-01-11T08:22:00.001-05:00

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 10 Jan 2012 - Bowling Green KY

2012-01-11T07:41:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor DavidP in Bowling Green, KY. Thanks David.

Mode S Log from Bowling Green, Kentucky, US 2012-01-10
Military Hex Codes only

480C02 -------- T-264 DC10 334sqn --- 2012-01-10 17:06:07.737
A0C100 -------- N148GB BE40 L-3 Communications Flight Capital LLC --- 2012-01-10 08:45:20.493
A18F2D -------- N2VA BE30 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA --- 2012-01-10 11:50:22.377
AD35E4 -------- N950NS MD83 DOJ --- 2012-01-10 10:13:16.366
AD9292 -------- N974AS MD83 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE --- 2012-01-10 10:19:28.201
ADFCE9 -------- 94-0138 BE40 USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS --- 2012-01-10 16:49:41.728
ADFCF5 -------- 95-0041 BE40 USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS --- 2012-01-10 18:28:33.654
ADFCFD -------- 95-0049 BE40 USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS --- 2012-01-10 17:47:12.297
ADFD05 -------- 95-0057 BE40 USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS --- 2012-01-10 15:15:18.669
ADFD06 -------- 95-0058 BE40 USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS --- 2012-01-10 15:12:12.171
ADFD10 -------- 95-0068 BE40 USAF | 14FTW | 48FTS --- 2012-01-10 15:01:40.055
ADFDED ANVIL70 94-6708 C130 WV ANG | 130AW | 130AS [KCRW] --- 2012-01-10 10:18:09.264
ADFE63 DERBY80 91-1232 C130 KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] --- 2012-01-10 12:32:06.261
ADFE68 -------- 91-1237 C130 KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] --- 2012-01-10 11:19:45.726
ADFEA6 GOFER 03 96-1003 C130 MN ANG | 133AW | 109AS [KMSP] --- 2012-01-10 13:13:04.128
ADFECA -------- 84-0484 BE20 SD ARNG | OSACOM DET-48 [KRAP] --- 2012-01-10 16:36:14.873
ADFECB PATSW00 84-0485 BE20 KY ARNG | OSACOM DET-11 [KFFT] --- 2012-01-10 07:46:01.776
ADFED0 1200 85-1262 BE20 USARMY (OSACOM Det25 TNArNG) --- 2012-01-10 08:19:50.691
AE010F BOXER654 94-1569 ASTR DC ANG | 113Wg | 201AS [KADW] --- 2012-01-10 10:32:11.929
AE01A1 -------- 86-0374 LJ35 CO ANG | 140WG | 200AS [KCOS] --- 2012-01-10 16:02:19.184
AE021C RUMMY61 84-0189 DC10 USAF | 305AMW [KWRI] --- 2012-01-10 12:15:02.987
AE0330 KANTO85 74-2070 C130 USAF | 374AW | 36AS [RJTY] --- 2012-01-10 07:46:04.272
AE0488 -------- 62-3577 K35 AFRC | 916ARW | 77ARS [KGSB] --- 2012-01-10 11:24:21.227
AE0499 SODA82 58-0010 K35R TN ANG | 134ARW | 151ARS [KTYS] --- 2012-01-10 10:36:03.243
AE04F6 GABLESEN 58-0069/84-0167 K35T/BE20 USAF | 92ARW [KSKA] --- 2012-01-10 12:04:03.093
AE0685 -------- 60-0322 K35R AFRC | 434ARW | 72ARS [KGUS] --- 2012-01-10 11:19:11.857
AE06D9 -------- 163561 BE20 USMC | VMR DET MIRAMAR [KNKX] --- 2012-01-10 12:09:13.729
AE07E4 RCH9189 94-0070 C17 USAF | 437AW [KCHS] --- 2012-01-10 16:39:36.187
AE08F9 00000000 84-24376 BE20 OSACOM/PAT --- 2012-01-10 07:50:15.261
AE093B -------- 00-1052 C560 US Army | OSACOM PATD [KADW] --- 2012-01-10 14:48:31.245
AE10BA RCH374T 01-0191 C17 USAF | 437AW [KCHS] --- 2012-01-10 13:38:39.076
AE123B RCH867 04-4130 C17 USAF | 305AMW | 6AS [KWRI] --- 2012-01-10 15:12:56.180
AE13D1 -------- 04-1778 GLF5 USARMY | OSACOM PATD [KADW] --- 2012-01-10 13:41:38.462
AE1449 RCH392 05-5139 C17 AFRC | 452AMW | 729AS [KRIV] --- 2012-01-10 14:53:41.692
AE1491 KOMODO4 95-0121 E8 GA ANG | 116ACW [KWRB] --- 2012-01-10 10:13:52.371
AE189A SPAR18 05-4613 B737 AFRC | 932AW | 73AS [KBLV] --- 2012-01-10 10:16:15.061
AE4A60 CNV4461 166696 B737 USNR | VR-58 [KNIP] --- 2012-01-10 11:44:51.951
AE4AF0 -------- 08-3175 C30J USAF | 317AW [KDYS] --- 2012-01-10 12:34:30.433

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 10 Jan 2012 - Deltona FL

2012-01-11T06:59:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

111111 LX-N20199 --- 2012-01-10 14:31:11 CT-49A Luxemburg NAEWandCF
A207C9 N23ST N23ST 2012-01-10 15:25:27 200 United States STATE OF WASHINGTON
A207C9 N23ST --- 2012-01-10 20:16:54 200 United States STATE OF WASHINGTON 0000 20000
A2392F N242U N242U 2012-01-10 20:54:20 206H United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 1200 2975
A24775 N246N --- 2012-01-10 20:38:21 206H United States DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 0313 1800
A5E280 N47892 --- 2012-01-10 20:17:38 C-27A United States US DEPT OF STATE 5533 2900
A8699A N641GT 00000000 2012-01-10 18:09:43 BOEING 767-38E US ATLAS AIR 2332 40975
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-10 15:59:43 B707-368C United states OMEGA
AA66AD N77 --- 2012-01-10 19:10:57 King Air 300 United States --- 2663 4925
AAE5F0 N801DS N801DS 2012-01-10 15:24:56 Bell 407 United States Volusia County
ADFC89 91-0101 --- 2012-01-10 15:28:57 T-1A United States USAF | 479FTG | 451FTS [KNPA]
ADFC9D 92-0348 --- 2012-01-10 16:49:29 T-1A United States USAF | 479FTG | 451FTS [KNPA]
ADFE1E 1718 --- 2012-01-10 22:45:44 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Sacramento [KMCC] 0760 9500
ADFE62 91-1231 REACH612 2012-01-10 14:53:54 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF]
ADFE68 91-1237 DERBY 81 2012-01-10 18:42:53 C-130H United States KY ANG | 123AW | 165AS [KSDF] 0000 21000
ADFEAB 96-1008 GOFER 08 2012-01-10 18:16:53 C-130H United States MN ANG | 133AW | 109AS [KMSP]
ADFEE0 87-0160 PAT016 2012-01-10 17:51:39 C-12U United States TX ARNG | OSACOM DET-49 [KAUS] 6037 23975
AE0154 63-8045 BOLT23 2012-01-10 14:58:26 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW
AE0239 63-7977 BLUE27 2012-01-10 12:04:06 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW 2075 15800
AE04FB 57-2605 BOLT06 2012-01-10 13:17:59 KC-135R United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA]
AE06E9 163844 00000000 2012-01-10 19:22:14 UC-12M United States Norfolk
AE07BD 62-356t8 BOLT01 2012-01-10 14:58:27 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF] 3705 27300
AE10E7 2001 C2001 2012-01-10 21:14:21 HC-130J United States USCG | CGAS Elizabeth City [KECG]
AE4A81 09-0525 S515 2012-01-10 19:34:18 C-37B United States USAF | 89AW | 99AS [KADW] 3511 41000
C2AF8B 130338 OILR77 2012-01-10 17:14:27 CC-130H Canada CFC | 8WG [CYTR] 0000 0

Russian Naval Task Force On The Move in the Med

2012-01-10T11:12:00.002-05:00

Fritz Nusser near Basel, Switzerland has posted the following post to the UDXF group that bears watching closely. Thanks to Fritz for sharing your observations with the rest of us.

The cruise of a Russian inter-fleet task force around ACC Admiral Kuznetsov starting early December 2011 in Severomorsk has found much attention. Contrary to all official statements the highly political action included a visit of the Mediterranean port of Tartus (SYR).

Intensive observation of Morse communications of Weather and Sea State reports on the usual channels as well as observations of shipspotters and Navy bulletins provided interesting aspects of the cruise. Maybe the following, provisional summary is of interest although it doesn't answer all questions. More trainings with firing exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean have been announced by the BSF HQ in Sevastopl, maybe together with Turkish Navy?

Please note, that - once again - the involved callsigns RKO81, RAL46 and RAL65 could not be assigned to specific ships of the task force. Furthermore not clear is the identity of RFH77, probably belonging to the BSF, which during the whole time was very active with its HQ in Sevastopol. We'll see, which callsigns will become quiet again after the cruise. And: I've not seen confirmed anywhere rumours about a submarine taking part in this cruise.

4.12.2011 BSF frigate Ladny leaves Sevastopol for the Mediterranean Sea.

7.12.2011 BF frigate Yaroslav Mudry and tanker Lena leave Baltiysk heading for the North Sea. NF ACC Admiral Kuznetsov leaves Severomorsk heading for the Barents Sea,
shaping NF carrier group together with ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko, rescue tug
Nikolai Chiker and tankers Sergei Osipov, Vyazma and Kama.

14.12.2011 The carrier task group seeks shelter in the Moray firth, NE of Great Britain.

16.12.2011 The carrier task force continues the cruise through the Atlantic.

21.12.2011 RN destroyer HMS York returns to Portsmouth after watching exercises of the Russian deck-based SU-33 fighters West of Ireland.

22.12.2011 BSF frigate Ladny pays visit to Ceuta (E). Wx and Sea State reports of RKO81 reports to RMP (Kaliningrad) from 35.7N 4.1W. RAL46 and RAL65 report position to RIT from 35.7N 4.0W.

23.12.2011 ACC Admiral Kuznetsov passes Gibraltar Strait and enters the Mediterranean Sea. Other ships of the task force passed the Strait before. BSF frigate Ladny joines the carrier group. RAL46 and RAL65 report to RIW from 35.8N 1.5W (off ALG).

25.12.2011 The carrier task force is seen off the base of Mers-el-Kebir (ALG).

26.12.2011 Tanker Sergei Osipov visits Valletta (MLT). RKO81 reports to RMP from 35.7N 1.7W (off ALG).

27.12.2011 Frigate Ladny visits Valletta (MLT).

29.12.2011 RAL46 and RAL65 report Wx and Sea State from 37.2N 0.2W (off Cartagena).

31.12.2011 RAL65 with Wx ans Sea State report to RIW from 40.6N 11.1W (off Porto (POR).

1.1.2012 RAL65 with position report to RIW from 39.7N 11.6W (NW off Lissabon).
RKO81 with position report from 36.2N 14.7E (North of Malta).

2.1.2012 RAL65 with position report from 39.7N 11.1W (NW off Lissabon).
RAL65 with position report from 39.8N 11.4W (NW off Lissabon). Frigate Ladny leaves Valletta. Tanker Sergei Osipov leaves Valletta. RKO81 with position report from 36.0N 16.1E (East of Malta).

2.1./3.1.2012 Carrier task force is "in central part of Mediterranean Sea", Air Wing is performing training flights.

4.1.2012 RAL65 to RIW with position report 47.0N 7.1W (Northern Biscaye). RKO81 with position report 34.6N 24.7E (South of Crete). RAL46 with position report 34.6N 26.5E (South of Crete).

5.1.2012 ACC Admiral Kuznetsov, ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko and frigates Yaroslav Mudry and Ladny along with supply vessels anchore South of Crete.

6.1.2012 Members of the Carrier Task Force perform exercices with Greek Naval Forces.

7.1.2012 ASW Ship Admiral Chabanenko, frigate Ladny, tanker Lena are in naval base Tartus (SYR), ACC Admiral Kuznetsov and rescue tug Nikolai Chiker have anchored.

You can get more information by visiting Fritz's website at http://www.astrosol.ch Now: All CIS-Ny Summaries 2011 updated.

Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Arrives in U.S. 5th Fleet AOR

2012-01-10T08:39:00.002-05:00

Well we now have two Carrier Strike Groups and an Amphibious Ready Group in the 5th Fleet right now. Uh, Iran do you feel lucky today?

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

USS CARL VINSON, At sea (NNS) -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Jan. 9.

While in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR, Carl Vinson CSG will conduct missions supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

Commanded by Rear Adm. Thomas Shannon, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 will also participate in routine scheduled exercises and engagements with coalition and regional partners.

"We will work closely with our regional partners to demonstrate our commitment to security and stability in the region," said Shannon. "Our arrival in Fifth Fleet represents our commitment to stand by our partners, friends and allies, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region."

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is deployed with guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97). Embarked aboard Vinson is Destroyer Squadron 1 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, which include the "Fighting Redcocks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, the "Sunliners" of VFA 81, the "Stingers" of VFA 113, the "First of the Fleet" of (VFA) 25, the "Garudas" of Electronic Attack Squadron 134, the "Tigertails" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125 and the "Red Lions" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 15.

Carl Vinson and embarked CVW 17 departed its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., Nov. 30, for a deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. CSG 1 departed Hong Kong Dec. 30, after a three-day port visit, prior to transiting to U.S. 5th Fleet.

The U.S. Navy 5th Fleet AOR encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of area including the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, parts of the Indian Ocean and 20 countries.

NORAD exercise planned for Washington, D.C.

2012-01-10T08:21:00.001-05:00

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region (CONR), will conduct exercise Falcon Virgo 12-04 beginning Tuesday night, Jan. 10, at midnight into early Wednesday morning, Jan. 11, in the National Capital Region, Washington, D.C.

The exercise is comprised of a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Capital Region Coordination Center, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center, Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and CONR’s Western Air Defense Sectors.

Flights in the National Capital Region are scheduled to take place between midnight and 2 a.m.

Exercise Falcon Virgo is designed to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification operations as well as operationally test the NCR Visual Warning System. Civil Air Patrol aircraft, Air Force F-16s and a U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter will participate in the exercise.

These exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure CONR’s rapid response capability. NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

In the event of inclement weather, the exercise will take place the following evening. If bad weather continues, officials will then make a decision to postpone or cancel the exercise.

As the Continental United States geographical component of the bi-national command NORAD, CONR provides airspace surveillance and control, and directs air sovereignty activities for the CONUS region. CONR and its assigned Air Force and Army assets throughout the country ensure air safety and security against potential air threats.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, CONR fighters have responded to more than 3,400 possible air threats in the United States and have flown more than 59,000 sorties with the support of Airborne Warning and Control System and air-to-air-refueling aircraft.

Mode-S/ADS-B Intercepts 9 Dec 2011 - Deltona FL

2012-01-10T07:16:00.000-05:00

The following Mode-S intercepts are courtesy of our SE US Mode-S network member and Milcom monitor Jack NeSmith in Deltona, FL. Thanks Jack.

111111 LX-N20199 417PS 2012-01-09 21:49:51 CT-49A Luxemburg NAEWandCF 1200 2300
360408 ------ --- 2012-01-09 23:32:43 ------ Spain Spanish AIRFORCE
A039FC N1132F --- 2012-01-09 13:31:10 208B United States FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 0000 6800
A0F4D4 N16056 --- 2012-01-09 23:10:53 MD-369E United States EAST VOLUSIA MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT
A2191E N234U N234U 2012-01-09 14:00:42 206H United States US DOJ | DEA
A2B396 N273WA WOA9606 2012-01-09 22:48:26 MD11 United States World Airways --- 23275
A2C272 N277WA --- 2012-01-09 22:51:25 MD-11F United States WorldAirways
A60F3C N49RF --- 2012-01-09 14:05:43 G-IV United States ---
A96FB1 N707MQ --- 2012-01-09 16:03:12 B707-368C United states OMEGA
AA66AD N77 --- 2012-01-09 21:23:41 King Air 300 United States --- 0000 6800
AAED5E N803DS --- 2012-01-09 16:11:12 Bell 407 United States Volusia County
ABE578 N866DM --- 2012-01-09 20:39:36 T206H United States --- 0000 850
ADFC9D 92-0348 --- 2012-01-09 18:37:28 T-1A United States USAF | 479FTG | 451FTS [KNPA]
ADFE07 1503 --- 2012-01-09 15:09:56 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Elizabeth City [KECG]
ADFE17 1711 --- 2012-01-09 23:53:25 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Clearwater [KPIE] 0000 5200
ADFE1C 1716 --- 2012-01-09 13:52:49 HC-130H United States USCG | CGAS Sacramento [KMCC]
ADFEE1 87-0161 ??? PAT373 2012-01-09 21:46:53 C-12U United States USARMY
ADFF0C 60-0335 BOLT13 2012-01-09 14:31:49 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE016A 86-0206 --- 2012-01-09 22:45:02 C-20B United States USAF | 89AW | 99AS [KADW]
AE040F 162783/ 784 GOTO FMS 2012-01-09 14:10:38 E-6B United States USN | VQ-3 [KTIK] --- 31000
AE04D7 165829 --- 2012-01-09 13:53:36 C-40A United States USNR | VR-58 [KNIP]
AE04FB 57-2605 BOLT04 2012-01-09 19:08:26 KC-135R United States USAF | 92ARW [KSKA]
AE0671 63-8000 PIRAT14 2012-01-09 22:57:28 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 927ARW
AE07AA 59-1520 BOLT12 2012-01-09 14:31:39 KC-135T United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE07BD 62-356t8 PIRAT11 2012-01-09 14:30:58 KC-135R United States USAF | 6AMW | 91ARS [KMCF]
AE087F 01-0029 SPAR29 2012-01-09 20:33:54 C-37A United States USAF | 6AMW | 310AS [KMCF] --- 39875
AE0945 01-0040 SAM444 2012-01-09 17:36:02 C-40B United States USAF | 89AW | 1AS [KADW]