Naval Air Station Jacksonville Introduces P-8A Poseidon to the Fleet

Naval Air Station Jacksonville Introduces P-8A Poseidon to the Fleet

THE NAVY'S NEW PATROL AND RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT, THE P-8A POSIEDON MULTIMISSION AIRCRAFT, WAS FORMALLY INTRODUCED DURING AN OFFICIAL ROLLING OUT CEREMONY HELD AT NAVAL STATION JACKSONVILLE.

"MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT BECAME THE EYES OF THE FLEET BECAUSE THEY COULD GO FARTHER, COVER MORE DISTANCE. THE P-8 AND THE BAMS, I BELIEVE, WILL BE THE EYES OF THE NATION. THEY`LL CONSTANTLY BE FORWARD, THEY`LL BE SCOWERING THE OCEANS FOR ANY POTENTIAL THREAT, AND THEY`LL BE ABLE TO RESPOND VERY VERY QUICKLY."

ALSO INTRODUCED WAS THE P8 A POSEIDON INTEGRATED TRAINING CENTER.

"WE HAVE A VENERABLE AIRCRAFT, THE P3, THATS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR FIFTY YEARS. ITS BEEN DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB WORLDWIDE FOR THE NAVY. ITS TIME TO TRANSITION. WE ARE GOING TO A NEW PLATFORM, A NEW AIRCRAFT - THE P-8 - AND THIS TRAINING FACILITY IS GONNA TRAIN ALL FUTURE AVIATORS FOR THE P-8 PLATFORM."

FROM NAVAL AIR STATION JACKSONVILLE, I`M PETTY OFFICER JACOB SIPPEL.

Amphibious Squadron 8 Finishes COMPTUEX

Amphibious Squadron 8 Finishes COMPTUEX

C-40A Clippers to Replace C-9 as Navy's Newest Logistics Aircraft

US Navy Video Report on the Boeing C-40 Clipper replacing the Navy C-9 Skytrain logistic aircraft.
Click here for a video report => C-40A Clippers to Replace C-9 as Navy

Libya Mission Latest Developments

U.S forces are shifting to a supporting role in the NATO coalition's Operation Unified Protector in Libya.

Aircraft Carrier USS John S. Stennis Launching Aircraft

Video from Discovery Channel with insight into what is involved in dispatching aircraft on the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier. Your blog editor on the flight deck deck wore a white jersey and khaki pants, aka the deck safety chief. This video by the Discovery Channel is well done and brings back a flood of memories of the days when I lived on the deck. Thanks to Ron Perron for passing the link along.

USS Stennis Jet Fire

Ten sailors aboard USS John C Stennis were injured Wednesday after a fighter jet on the aircraft carrier caught fire.

Odyssey Dawn's Opening Salvo

U.S. and British ships fired more than 110 Tomahawk missiles at air defense targets in Libya as coalition forces began to enforce a U.N. Security Council Resolution meant to protect the Lybian people from Moammar Gadhafi.

Navy Gator Freighters Ordered to the Mediterranean

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered USS Kearsarge and USS Ponce to the Mediterranean Sea.

Space Shuttle Launch Security

The North American Aerospace Defense Command or NORAD, and U.S. Northern Command, will provide support for this week's space shuttle launch.

Guard Storm Preps

The Oklahoma National Guard is standing by to support winter storm operations after the state's governor declared a state of emergency for Oklahoma on Monday.

China's J-20 Aircraft

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says recent reports about China's J-20 aircraft have been premature.

Delta IV Heavy NROL-49 Launch Highlights

And the latest from Ted Molzcan and the SEESAT-L:

Bob Christy has just reported two more radio observations, that are in excellent agreement with the elset I posted a short time ago.

Here is an update taking into account the new data:

USA 224 239 X 1005 km
1 72001U 11020.92423333 .00010870 00000-0 70000-4 0 03
2 72001 97.9000 135.1542 0547001 257.2536 95.0499 14.81439185 05
Arc 201101210-0122.57 WRMS resid 0.367 totl 0.133 xtrk

This should still be considered approximate, but I am beginning to be more confident of the argument of perigee.

When I am more certain of the solution, I will use the official designations: 11002A / 37348. Years ago, I used the official designations for my initial estimates, which often proved to be seriously incorrect, but they still ended up in various archives, creating potential confusion for later analysts, not familiar with the history. Using non-descript IDs like 72001 reduces the risk of that problem, at the expense of being a temporary nuisance for most users.

Final comment: if the latest elements are correct, then our Southern Hemisphere colleagues probably will not be able to make visual observations, due to the passes entering eclipse soon after they rise above the horizon.

Delta IV Launch

The first Delta IV Heavy Lift Vehicle launched from Vandenberg AFB, CA, Thursday.



An additional AP report and local television video are available at
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/01/20/rocket-with-secret-payload-largest-ever-launched-on-west-coast/

USS Wasp Returns From Deployment

The timing could not be better for the 1100 Sailors and 365 Marines onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp.

New Troops Arrive in Afghanistan

The first of 30,000 new troops have arrived in Afghanistan.

Marines from Lejeune set to deploy to Afghanistan

Marines from Camp Lejeune are the first of thousands set to deploy to Afghanistan.

NG Soldiers Conduct Desert Training

A group of National Guard soldiers from southeast Texas are training at Fort Bliss, Texas.

ESG 5 Assumes Command of Amphibious Forces in 5th Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brianna K. Dandridge, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

You can view a video report of this story by clicking here.

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 5 held an assumption of command ceremony Nov. 8 aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65).

Rear Adm. Sinclair Harris assumed command of the newly established ESG 5. ESG 5 will relieve ESG 2, commanded by Rear Adm. Michelle Howard. The strike group will serve as Commander, Task Force (CTF) 51 and 59 in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility, responsible for all amphibious forces deployed to the region.

"I promise you that the great strides in the partnership building that has been put in place under the tremendous leadership of Admiral Howard will be built upon," Harris said. "Fifth Fleet is as challenging of an area of operations as any for the U.S. Navy and this goes double for expeditionary forces."

ESG 2 spent one year forward-deployed to Bahrain conducting intensive planning and exercises while leading CTF 51 and 59, as well as CTF 151, an international maritime coalition that conducts counterpiracy operations off the coast of Somalia.

During the ceremony, Howard praised the Sailors of ESG 2 for their commitment and hard work. "It's important to remember the many accomplishments we've had as a blue-green Navy-Marine Corps team and the strides we've made toward making this region and the world as a whole a better and safer place through the efforts of all of our Sailors and Marines," she said. "From the deck plates to the front offices, from the most junior Sailor and Marine to the most senior, everyone plays a role and everyone performs a critical mission."

Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said Howard has done a tremendous job commanding ESG 2. "She is an exemplary motivator and a true deckplate leader. She isn't afraid to get her hands dirty no matter the mission," Gortney said. "Through her leadership, she inspires all she comes in contact with and encourages people to excel in all they do. She is the definition of a good leader."

The 48 service men and women of ESG 2 will complete their regularly scheduled, one-year deployment to Naval Support Activity Bahrain and return to their homeport of Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Norfolk, Va. by January 2010.

Task Force 51 is responsible for the planning and execution of contingency response missions in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations. Task Force 59 plans and conducts maritime humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. CTF 151 is a multinational task force conducting counterpiracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Red Sea.

Bataan ARG/22nd MEU Departs 5th Fleet

A video report on this story is available by clicking here

USS BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) officially departed 5th Fleet and entered 6th Fleet's Area of Operations when the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) transited the Suez Canal and entered into the Mediterranean Sea recently.

The Bataan ARG, which had been conducting maritime security operations in 5th Fleet's Area of Operations, and the 22nd MEU, which served as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command, participated in several theater security cooperation engagements and exercises, including Bright Star 2009, 5th Fleet's largest multinational exercise, held every two years.

"The 5th Fleet Area of Operations is one of the most critical regions in the maritime security environment," said Capt. Paul McElroy, commanding officer of Bataan ARG. "The operations we conducted and the exercises we participated in were all geared towards strengthening our regional partnerships and improving security and stability within the region."

5th Fleet's Area of Responsibility encompasses 2.5 million square miles of water and includes the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.

The Bataan ARG is comprised of Amphibious Squadron 2, Bataan, the flagship for the ARG, amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15), Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, Fleet Surgical Team 6, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU 4 and Beachmaster Unit 2.

The 22nd MEU, led by Col. Gareth Brandl, is a scalable, multipurpose force of more than 2,200 Marines and Sailors. It is composed of its Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and its Command Element.

C-27s to Afghanistan

A ceremony was held November 15 to celebrate the delivery of the first of twenty C-27 military transport planes from the U.S. to Afghanistan.