US Navy-Marine Corps MARS Program to End

Blog Editor: This has been a long time coming. I have discussed this on this blog and other venues several times over the years. DoD should now do the smart things and combine AF and AR MARS into one service auxiliary. Failure to do so is fraud, waste and abuse of valuable HF frequency resources and the taxpayers money. As a former members it pains me to see this organization fold. Fair winds and following seas to all who served in NMCM.

From the ARRL website:
The US Department of Defense is phasing out the US Navy-Marine Corps Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) program. Its operational mission will transition to the other MARS service branches by the end of September.

The head of the US Navy-Marine Corps MARS program in Williamsburg, Virginia, made the announcement. The Navy-Marine Corps MARS program also supports the US Coast Guard as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the US Department of Homeland Security, and local emergency management agencies.

A US Department of Defense-sponsored program, MARS branches are separately managed by their respective military service branches. MARS volunteers are Amateur Radio operators who provide auxiliary or emergency communications to local, national, and international emergency and safety organizations, as an adjunct to normal communications.

Message from Navy-Marine Corps MARS (edited content by author):

DE NNNØASA ØØ1
R 122Ø3ØZ MAY 2Ø15
FM CHNAVMARCORMARS WILLIAMSBURG VA
TO ALNAVMARCORMARS
INFO ZEN/CHIEF ARMY MARS FT HUACHUCA AZ
ZEN/CHIEF AIR FORCE MARS SCOTT AFB IL

BT

UNCLAS

SUBJ/TRANSITION OF NAVY MARINE CORPS MARS (MILITARY AUXILIARY RADIO SYSTEM PROGRAM//
REF/A/PHONECON/NCTAMS LANT/NAVIDFOR/FCC-C1ØF/STRATCOM/Ø8 MAY 2Ø15//
REF/B/DODI 465Ø.2/MILITARY AUXILIARY RADIO SYSTEM (MARS)//
REF/C/DODD 3Ø25.18/DEFENSE SUPPORT OF CIVIL AUTHORITIES//

RMKS/1. IAW REF A, NAVAL COMPUTER AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AREA MASTER STATION ATLANTIC (NCTAMS LANT) INTENDS TO WORK WITH U.S. ARMY MARS AND U.S. AIR FORCE MARS IN TRANSITIONING THE NAVY MARINE CORPS MARS (NAVMARCORMARS) PROGRAM BY 3Ø SEP 2Ø15. THE INTENT OF THE TRANSITION IS TO BEST ALIGN THE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT NATIONAL MISSION REQUIREMENTS.

2. EVALUATION OF THE NAVMARCORMARS PROGRAM BY FLEET CYBER COMMAND (FCC)/COMMANDER 1ØTH FLEET (C1ØF), NAVAL INFORMATION DOMINATION FORCES (NAVIDFOR), AND NCTAMS LANT DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO U.S. NAVY SERVICE UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS.

3. NCTAMS LANT WILL WORK WITH OTHER U.S. NAVY, U.S. ARMY, U.S. AIR FORCE, U.S. STRATEGIC COMMAND, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY REPRESENTATIVES, AND NAVMARCORMARS VOLUNTEERS TO DEVELOP A TRANSITION PLAN FOR NAVMARCORMARS MEMBERS WHICH MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF REF B AND REF C.

4. CURRENT NAVMARCORMARS INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS AND CLUBS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS TO U.S. ARMY MARS OR U.S. AIR FORCE MARS PROGRAMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. U.S. ARMY MARS MEMBERSHIP CAN BE REQUESTED AT
HTTP://WWW.USARMYMARS.ORG/RESOURCES/APPLICATIONS-AND-FORMS AND U.S. AIR FORCE MARS MEMBERSHIPS INFORMATION CAN BE REQUESTED VIA E-MAIL TO 38CYRS.SCM.MARS@US.AF.MIL.

5. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED SEPCOR FOR MARS STATIONS UNDER MILITARY AUSPICES, AGENCY STATIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS WHO ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE DHS SHARED RESOURCES (SHARES) HF RADIO PROGRAM.

6. AT A MINIMUM, FUTURE NOTICES WILL BE PROVIDED VIA CHIEF, NAVMARCORMARS MESSAGE. OTHER MEDIA WILL BE IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE TRANSITION COMMUNICATIONS PLAN.

7. THE U.S. NAVY GREATLY APPRECIATES THE THOUSANDS OF MARS VOLUNTEERS, PAST AND PRESENT, WHO HAVE BEEN INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF MARS. NCTAMS LANT WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF TRANSITION EFFORTS AND REQUESTS YOUR ASSISTANCE TO HELP START THIS NEW CHAPTER IN MARS OPERATIONS.

12. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.//

BT
NNNN

New Summer 2015 International Shortwave Broadcast Guide Now Available at Amazon

Teak Publishing is proud to announce the publication of their 9th e-book on Amazon.com -- Summer 2015 International Shortwave Broadcast Guide

So why should you listen to shortwave radio? Quite simply shortwave radio is your window to the world.

The best source of global information continues to be shortwave radio. Throughout the world, shortwave remains the most readily available and affordable means of communication and information. It lets you listen to voices from around the world. You'll also learn about the lives and concerns of people from all walks of life, from soldiers, to farmers, to retired scholars. Shortwave radio provides nearly instantaneous coverage of news and events from around the world.

Shortwave listening, or SWLing, is the hobby of listening to shortwave radio broadcasts located on frequencies between 1700 kHz and 30 MHz, also known as HF or the High Frequencies bands.

If you live in the U.S., you can easily listen to shortwave broadcast stations from countries like North/South Korea, Iran, Australia, Cuba, China, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, Japan, England, Egypt, Tunisia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United States and many other counties if you have a shortwave receiver, and you know when and where to listen!

That when and where to listen is covered comprehensively in the pages of a new edition of the International Shortwave Broadcast Guide.

The International Shortwave Broadcast Guide (Summer 2015 edition), by Amazon bestselling author Gayle Van Horn, W4GVH, is that all important information resource you need to tap into the worldwide shortwave broadcast radio spectrum. It is a 24-hour station/frequency guide to “all” the known stations currently broadcasting on shortwave radio at time of publication. This unique shortwave resource is the “only” publication in the world that offers a by-hour schedule that includes all language services, frequencies and world target areas for each broadcast station. There are new chapters that cover basic shortwave radio listening and Who’s Who in the Shortwave Radio Spectrum. Also extensive work has been done to improve the readability of this edition on the various Kindle platforms.

The International Shortwave Broadcast Guide (Summer 2015 edition) is now available for purchase worldwide from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X8BIF0K. The price for this latest edition is still US$4.99. Since this book is being released internationally, Amazon customers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France Spain, Italy, Japan, India, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Australia can order this electronic book (e-Book) from Amazon websites directly servicing these countries. All other countries can use the regular Amazon.com website.

This new e-publication edition is an expanded version of the English shortwave broadcast guide formerly printed in the pages of Monitoring Times magazine for over 20 years. This one of a kind e-book is now being published twice a year to correspond with station seasonal time and frequency changes.

If you enjoy listening or monitoring HF shortwave stations, and you miss the monthly English frequency listings formerly published in the late Monitoring Times magazine, and multilingual station listing in the old MTXpress electronic magazine, this valuable tool will now be your new guide to listening to the world.

Frequency updates between editions will be posted on her Shortwave Central blog at: http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/.

And, the good news is that you do not need to own a Kindle reader to read Amazon e-book publications. You can read any Kindle book with Amazon’s free reading apps.

There are free Kindle reading apps for the Kindle Cloud Reader, Smartphones (iPhone, iTouch, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry); computer platforms (Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 and Mac); Tablets (iPad, Android and Windows 8), and, of course, all of the Kindle family of readers including the Kindle Fire series. A Kindle e-book allows you to buy your book once and read it anywhere. You can find additional details on these apps by checking out this link to the Amazon website at www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771.

For additional information on this and other Teak Publishing radio hobby books, monitor the company sponsored Internet blogs – The Military Monitoring Post (http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/), The Btown Monitor Post (http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/) and The Shortwave Central (http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/) for availability of additional e-books that are currently in production.

You can view the complete Teak Publishing book catalog online at http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/. Click on the Teak Publishing radio hobby e-book link at the top of the blog page. You can learn more about the author by going to her author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Gayle-Van-Horn/e/B0084MVQCM/.

The International Shortwave Broadcast Guide will have wide appeal to shortwave radio hobbyists, amateur radio operators, educators, foreign language students, news agencies, news buffs and many more interested in listening to a global view of news and events as they happen. 

If you are an amateur radio operator or shortwave radio enthusiasts, and want to hear what is happening outside the ham bands on that transceiver or portable shortwave radio in your shack, then this new e-book from Teak Publishing is a must in your radio reference library.

Here are a few of the public comments from radio hobbyists who purchased the first three editions of this Amazon e-book.

Excellent Shortwave Introduction and Program Guide by Don K3PRN
Excellent, very reasonable guide to shortwave radio. As a long time shortwave listener, the listing of all shortwave stations by UTC time is very useful to me. I had previously a shortwave website that listed only English broadcasts rather than an all station listing with the language that will be broadcast. I would highly recommend this e book for all new shortwave listeners and those that interested in a very portable listing of all stations by UTC. I only hope that this will be updated twice a year for many more years.

Good Product by Radio Freq 

Since Monitoring Times stopped publishing shortwave radio schedules, there has been a dearth of resources for radio-heads. This guide nicely fulfills gap. It is very comprehensive.

It is nice someone is dedicated to SWL by Robert K. Mallory 

Very concise and well organized. Not much to choose from these days, it is nice someone is dedicated to SWL.

Shortwave Broadcast Guide by Kindle Customer

Since Monitoring Times is no longer in publication, this guide is required for the dedicated shortwave listener. There is information provided that I have found nowhere else. It will be a welcome addition to any listener's equipment. Gayle Van Horn has been publishing this research for many years and the followers are numerous, from beginners to professionals. The author's work is accurate, concise and thorough. If you have a shortwave radio, you need this publication as much as a set of earphones. There is none better.

Very Good Source for Shortwave Stations Broadcast Schedules by Kenneth Windyka

I've got to admit up front that I don't have a strong interest in this part of the hobby. HOWEVER, Gayle Van Horn makes it easy to determine what one can hear on the short wave bands during a particular time period (in GMT time sorted format). I also like the internet reference available, so that one can listen to programs via the internet even if its' not possible via the shortwave radio.

NJ Shortwave listener hears International Frequencies with new guide help by Stanley E Rozewski, Jr.

This e-book is complete and accurate in presenting a low cost SW frequency guide and important must read topics for the new or experienced user. I liked the easy reading format, and understandable frequency guide. I will order the second edition next year.

This is my go-to-first reference by Mary C Larson 

When I turn on the shortwave receiver and want to find out what's on and where to look, Van Horn's handy frequency guide is a smart place to begin. The format is not unlike the one Monitoring Times (R.I.P.) used each month. Presumably, updated ISBGs will be published twice per year, but you can check for the updates on her blog, (mt-shortwave.blogspot.com).

Good value by DrP 

This is an excellent well-written book that is very affordable when compared to encyclopedic guides, e.g., the WRTH. Much the same information is included. The first part is a nice introduction to SW listening pitched to the beginner. Included is an informative section on purchasing a radio spanning low-end <$100 models up through the most advanced transceivers. The bulk of the book contains a list of world-wide SW broadcasters, organized by frequency band. This makes it ideal for browsing one band at a time, but much less so if you want to search for broadcasts from a particular country.

I like this one by Charles

I have only had a brief chance to scan through this book. From what I have seen of it I will enjoy getting in to it.

Shortwave Is Not Quite Dead by James Tedford (Bothell, WA United States)

It was barely breathing as of late, but there is still a lot you can hear on shortwave radio. You need more than a little dedication, and a better-than-adequate radio to hear what remains on the HF bands, but if you have those, you will be rewarded with a lot of interesting audio programming. This book is a good guide to what is currently available over the international airwaves.

Five Stars by Frank S.

Excellent for the price. Glad I found this.

Five Stars by Kindle Customer

Came on time. packaged right, looks as shown and works as advertised.

North Atlantic (NAT) MWARA Profile and Frequencies

Tony Roper posted the following list of North Atlantic (NAT) Major World Air Route Area (MWARA) frequencies on the UDXF list. I have added some additional material from my personal files and monitoring to round out this profile. If you are a military monitor, these frequencies are a great playground in the HF spectrum to catch possible mil aircraft activity. All frequencies are in kHz and mode is USB.

HF Aeronautical Frequencies

HO = Service available to meet operational requirements

NAT Family A: Used by all aircraft flying the Southern NAT Routes. Assigned to aircraft flying routes with reporting coordinates between 43° North and 47° North.
Ground Stations: Gander, New York, Santa Marie, Shanwick

3016.0 kHz 0100-0900 and 1800-2200 UTC
5598.0 kHz H24
8906.0 kHz 0900-2100 UTC
13306.0 kHz HO

NAT Family B: Assigned to aircraft flying routes with reporting coordinates between 47° North and 64° North. Ground Stations: Gander, Iceland, Shanwick

2899.0 kHz 0000-0900 and 1800-2400 UTC
5616.0 kHz H24
8864.0 kHz 0900-2100 UTC
13291.0 kHz HO
17946.0 kHz HO

NAT Family C: Assigned to aircraft flying routes with reporting coordinates between 47° North and 64° North. Ground Stations: Gander, Iceland, Shanwick

2872.0 kHz 0000-0900 and 1800-2400 UTC
5649.0 kHz H24
8879.0 kHz 0900-2100 UTC
11336.0 kHz HO
13306.0 kHz HO
17946.0 kHz HO

NAT Family D: Assigned to aircraft flying routes with reporting coordinates north of 62° North. Ground Stations: Bodo, Gander, Iceland, Shanwick, Arctic Radio (not a NAT station)

2971.0 kHz 0100-0800 UTC
4675.0 kHz 0100-0800 and 1100-1800 UTC
8891.0 kHz HO
11279.0 kHz HO
17946.0 kHz HO

NAT Family E: Assigned on a tactical basis and coordinated between New York Radio and Santa Marie Radio.

2962.0 kHz 0100-0800 UTC
6628.0 kHz 0000-1900 UTC
8825.0 kHz 0000-1900 and 2300-2400 UTC
11309.0 kHz 0900-1900 UTC
13354.0 kHz 1100-1900 UTC
17946.0 kHz HO

NAT Family F: Assigned on a tactical basis and coordinated between Shanwick Radio and Gander Radio.

3476.0 kHz 0100-0800 UTC
6622.0 kHz 1000-1800 UTC
8831.0 kHz 1000-1800 UTC
13291.0 kHz HO
17946.0 kHz HO

Starting April 22, 2013, the following additional Regional and Domestic Air Route Area (RDARA) HF frequencies  (NAT H/I/J) will be used on a tactical basis by Shanwick Radio, adjoining NARTEL (North Atlantic Enroute HF RTL Network) Radio Stations and domestic ATC agencies. These frequencies are used individually or by common network agreement between the NAT aeronautical stations.

NAT Family H: Used on a tactical basis and coordinated between Shanwick Radio, adjoining NARTEL Radio Stations and domestic ATC agencies.

2965.0 kHz HO
3491.0 kHz HO
5583.0 kHz HO
6556.0 kHz HO
6667.0 kHz HO
10021.0 kHz HO
10036.0 kHz HO
11363.0 kHz HO

NAT Family I: Used on a tactical basis and coordinated between Shanwick Radio,
adjoining NARTEL Radio Stations and domestic ATC agencies.

2860.0 kHz HO
2881.0 kHz HO
2890.0 kHz HO
3458.0 kHz HO
3473.0 kHz HO
3488.0 kHz HO
5484.0 kHz HO
5568.0 kHz HO
6550.0 kHz HO
6595.0 kHz HO
10066.0 kHz HO

NAT Family J: Used on a tactical basis and coordinated between Shanwick Radio, adjoining NARTEL Radio Stations and domestic ATC agencies.

2869.0 kHz HO
2944.0 kHz HO
2992.0 kHz HO
3446.0 kHz HO
3473.0 kHz HO
4651.0 kHz HO
4666.0 kHz HO
4684.0 kHz HO
5460.0 kHz HO
5481.0 kHz HO
5559.0 kHz HO
5577.0 kHz HO
6547.0 kHz HO
8954.0 kHz HO
11276.0 kHz HO

After April 22, 2013, the historical practice of assigning aircraft registered west of 30° west HF Family 'B' frequencies and east of 30° west HF Family 'C' frequencies, no longer applies.  NAT HF Family 'B' and 'C' frequencies are assigned to aircraft flying routes with reporting co-ordinates between 47° North and 64° North.

Search and Rescue (SAR) - Operated as required

2182.0 kHz HO
3023.0 kHz HO
5680.0 kHz HO

Hours of service of individual frequencies, or groups of frequencies, may vary as HF propagation conditions or operational requirements demand.

VHF Aircraft Frequencies

123.450 MHz H24 - VHF air to air frequency enables aircraft engaged in flights over remote and oceanic areas, out of range of VHF ground stations, to exchange necessary operational information and to facilitate the resolution of operational problems.
122.375 MHz - Gander

123.950 MHz H24 - For use by aircraft registered in States west of 030° West for requesting Oceanic clearance direct from OAC.

124.175 MHz H24

126.550 MHz - Reykjavik

126.900 MHz - Churchill, Gander, Goose, Iqaluit, Montreal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Winnipeg

127.100 MHz - Gander
127.650 MHz H24 - For use by aircraft registered in States east of 030° West for requesting Oceanic clearance direct from OAC. For this purpose Australia is regarded as being east of 030° West.

127.850 MHz - Reykjavik
127.900 MHz H24 - Gander, Santa Marie, Shanwick. Used when practicable by aircraft when east of 020° West to reduce loading on HF channels. Traffic received on this frequency is handled in exactly the same way as if received on HF.

129.900 MHz - New York

SATCOM

425002 - A/G Shanwick Radio H24 Irish Aviation Authority. Available for routine ATS messages via Shanwick Radio.

423201 - ATC Shanwick Oceanic H24 NATS Ltd.  Available for direct pilot/controller communications in emergency situations only

436623 - ATC New York Atlantic Flights H24

436625 - ATC San Francisco Pacific Flights H24

Russia regains control of radio facility in Cuba's Lourdes base

This article originally appeared on the Sputnik News website on July 16. 2014.

Archive. Photo: RIA Novosti

Russia has retrieved the main Soviet radio interception facility – the signals intelligence center in Cuban Lourdes, the Kommersant newspaper wrote on Wednesday. "The decision to return to Cuba can be explained by Russia's long strengthened financial capabilities, as well as cooling of relations with the US," sources in the Russian power structures said.

The base on the territory of the USSR's and Russia's most consistent ally was built in 1962 and since then, has been repeatedly renewed, satisfying the need for interception of information from American communication satellites, ground-based telecommunications cables and wiretapping the NASA's Mission Control Center on Cape Canaveral. This is facilitated by its location in the Western part of the island, only 250 kilometers from Florida's coast.

In 2001, unexpectedly for the Cubans, Russia refused to use the center, which, according to the then Minister of Defense of Cuba Raul Castro, at the moment of the collapse of the USSR provided up to 75 percent of intelligence information.

The center was closed after Vladimir Putin visited it together with Fidel Castro in December, 2000, and while speaking to the staff stated "the importance of the facility for ensuring Russia's security, the need to support its activities and development prospects." But a year later, head of the Russian General Staff Anatoly Kvashnin made a statement that the center in Lourdes was not important, was costly, and its functions could be easily transferred to modern satellites.

Cubans were able to maintain the center, having created a scientific center on its basis. Since 2004, after the deterioration of relations with the US, Russia began to consider the possibility of returning to Cuba. The talks were sharply intensified at the beginning of this year and successfully completed during Putin's visit to Havana.

US warship heads to Yemeni waters!

The Associated Press this morning is reporting that US Navy warships are headed for the waters off Yemen.

"In a stepped-up response to Iranian backing of Shiite rebels in Yemen, the Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is steaming toward the waters off Yemen to beef up security and join other American ships that are prepared to intercept any Iranian vessels carrying weapons to the Houthi rebels.

"Navy officials said Monday that the Roosevelt was moving through the Arabian Sea. A massive ship that carries F/A-18 fighter jets, the Roosevelt is seen more of a deterrent and show of force in the region.

 

"The U.S. Navy has been beefing up its presence in the Gulf of Aden and the southern Arabian Sea in response to reports that a convoy of about eight Iranian ships is heading toward Yemen and possibly carrying arms for the Houthis. Navy officials said there are about nine U.S. warships in the region, including cruisers and destroyers carrying teams that can board and search other vessels."

 

You can read the rest of this story at

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UNITED_STATES_IRAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

NATO AWACS Investigates Baltic Skies

How to Spot a Russian Bomber

 

Found this interesting article in my stack of stuff from back in the middle of February posted to the BBC News blog (http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-31537705). Given the current situation, this might be helpful to have around.

How to Spot a Russian bomber

Two Russian bombers have been escorted from near UK territory - the latest in a series of similar incidents. How easy is it to spot a Russian plane, asks Jon Kelly.

The Ministry of Defence insists that the Russian aircraft did not enter British airspace, which extends 12 nautical miles from the nation's coast. But it says they were inside the UK's "area of interest", and the RAF scrambled Typhoon jets to intercept them. If the MoD's account is accurate, they may have been flying too far away for ordinary plane spotters to detect them - although a woman in Cornwall claims she saw them flying inland.

Each was a Tu-95 MS, also known by its NATO reporting name "Bear-H", a four-engine long-range bomber, equipped with turboprop-driven propellers and set-back wings that give it an unmistakable silhouette.

The TU-95 Bear Bomber

The most noticeable thing about the Bear, the earliest iteration of which entered service in 1956, is the almighty racket it makes. Its contra-rotating propellers spin faster than the speed of sound, creating their own sonic boom, making it one of "the loudest combat aircraft ever built", says Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute. The Bear, which typically carries six or seven crew members, is not the fastest aircraft in the Russian fleet, reaching speeds of only about 575 mph (920 km/h). But it is regarded as one of the most reliable, says Bronk, which helps account for its longevity.

A Tu-160 strategic bomber

Another bomber you might expect to see just outside British airspace is the Tu-160, known as the Blackjack, two of which were intercepted by RAF Tornado F3 fighters off the Scottish coast in 2010. Unlike the Bear, the Blackjack is capable of supersonic speeds of up to 2,200km/h. "It's essentially a heavier and faster equivalent of the American B1B Lancer," says Bronk. It also has a longer range and can carry more nuclear-capable missiles. An upgraded version of the TU-160 made its maiden flight in November 2014.

A Russian long-range bomber TU-22

Then there's the Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, which is also supersonic and nuclear-capable. "It's not as big as the Bear and the Blackjack," says Bronk. "Its closest Western equivalent is the F-111." Its variable-sweep wing allows it to take off quickly and fly at very low altitudes. There are thought to be over 100 TU-22Ms in service in the Russian fleet.

The MiG 31 interceptor

Sometimes Bears are escorted by supersonic MiG-31 interceptors, says Bronk. Among the world's fastest combat aircraft, they are equipped with onboard radar that can track 24 airborne targets and attack six at a time. But Bronk says: "Although they are extremely fast and carry powerful radar, they are a essentially an evolution of a very old design, the MiG-25, and are no match for the RAF's Typhoons in air-to-air combat."

The incident in Cornwall is unlikely to be the last time radar operators detect Bears. There was a similar incident in January when two Bear bombers were escorted by RAF jet after causing what the Foreign Office called a "disruption to civil aviation". The RAF intercepted Russian aircraft on eight occasions in 2014, and the same number of times in 2013, according to MoD figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

"Bear raids" just outside British airspace were a common occurrence during the Cold War, sometimes taking place every week, says defence analyst Paul Beaver. Back then, he says, the intention was to test the RAF's reaction time. Their frequency lessened in the final years of the Soviet Union and stopped altogether when the Berlin Wall fell. Under Vladimir Putin's leadership, however, they have resumed. Yesterday, Prime Minister David Cameron said he suspected the Russians were "trying to make some sort of a point", and Bronk agrees. "Essentially, it's rattling the sabre."

Thanks to Nick de Larrinaga of IHS Jane's Defence Weekly for assistance with this article.

 

Russians intercept US reconnaissance plane - Updated Story

A Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter flies in international airspace near the Baltic States in this photograph taken on June 17, 2014 and received via Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) in London on June 18, 2014. Photo courtesy of RAF/MoD.

The AP is reporting the U.S. is protesting an intercept of a U.S. reconnaissance plane by a Russian fighter jet last week, calling it "unsafe and unprofessional" amid what it views as increasingly aggressive air operations by Moscow.

The Pentagon says that a U.S. RC-135U plane was flying in international airspace north of Poland. U.S. officials say a Russian SU-27 fighter intercepted the U.S. aircraft at a high rate of speed from the rear, and then proceeded to conduct two more passes using "unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers" in close proximity.

It isn't the first time the U.S. has protested to Moscow what it considered to be an unsafe intercept. Last April, a Russian fighter jet intercepted a U.S. reconnaissance plane in international airspace over the Sea of Okhotsk.

Blog Editor's Note: Media reports indicate that this event occurred on 7 April 2015. A quick check of Mode-S logs for that day indicated the only RC-135U airborne that day was RC-135U 64-14849 (Hex code AE01D5) with a mode-s call sign of Telex 97 and yes it was over Poland/Estonia/Finland area between 1000-1300 UTC. Interestingly, based on the database it looks like that aircraft did not fly the next day. This aircraft is still in theater today and has flown the last 3 days using a mod-s call sign of Cuppy 50. Time to pay closer attention to those foxtrot messages.

Full AP story at http://news.yahoo.com/us-protests-intercept-reconnaissance-plane-russia-040542666.html

RC-135U Combat Sent

Mission
The RC-135U Combat Sent provides strategic electronic reconnaissance information to the president, secretary of defense, Department of Defense leaders, and theater commanders. Locating and identifying foreign military land, naval and airborne radar signals, the Combat Sent collects and minutely examines each system, providing strategic analysis for warfighters. Collected data is also stored for further analysis by the joint warfighting and intelligence communities. The Combat Sent deploys worldwide and is employed in peacetime and contingency operations.

Features
All RC-135U aircraft are equipped with an aerial refueling system, giving it an unlimited flying range. Communication equipment includes high frequency, very high frequency, and ultra high frequency radios. The navigation equipment incorporates ground navigation radar, a solid state Doppler system, and an inertial navigation system that merges celestial observations and Global Positioning System data. Although the flight crew stations are similarly configured, the reconnaissance equipment is slightly unique within each airframe.

The aircraft are identified by their distinctive antennae arrays on the "chin" and wing tips, large cheek fairings, and extended tail.

Crew composition includes two pilots, one navigator, two airborne systems engineers, and a minimum of 10 electronic warfare officers, or "Ravens," and six or more electronic, technical, and area specialists.

Background
There are only two Combat Sent aircraft in the Air Force inventory and both are assigned to the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, Neb. The RC-135U aircraft are manned by Air Combat Command crews from the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 97th Intelligence Squadron (of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency). The Combat Sent is composed of a wide variety of commercial off-the-shelf and proprietary hardware and software. Its current configuration allows for both manual and automatic analysis of electronic signals. By combining manual systems with the Automatic Electronic Emitter Locating System, Ravens and intelligence specialists can simultaneously locate, identify, and analyze multiple electronic signals.

The Combat Sent records these signals for future reference or for extensive analysis by electronic systems theorists. Any information garnered from the data will help determine detailed operating characteristics and capabilities of foreign systems. Evasion techniques and equipment are then developed from this knowledge that will detect, warn of, or defeat these electronic systems.

General Characteristics
Primary function: Electronic intelligence reconnaissance and surveillance
Contractor: Boeing Aerospace
Power Plant: Four CFM International F108-CF-201 high bypass turbofan engines
Thrust: 21,600 pounds per engine
Wingspan: 135 feet, 1 inch (41.4 meters)
Length: 140 feet, 1 inch (42.6 meters)
Height: 41 feet, 8 inches (12.7 meters)
Weight: 165,7000 (75,160 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 299,000 pounds (135,626.4 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 130,000 pounds (58,967 kilograms)
Speed: 500+ miles per hour (Mach 0.66)
Range: 4,000 nautical miles
Ceiling: 35,000+ feet (10,668+ meters)
Crew: Two pilots, one navigator, two airborne systems engineers, and a minimum of 10 electronic warfare officers (flight crew from 45th RS) and six or more mission area specialists (mission crew from 97th IS)
Unit Cost: Not available
Initial operational capability: April 1964
Inventory: Active force, 2; ANG, 0; Reserve, 0 

US aerospace command moving comms gear back to Cold War bunker

Blog Editor's Note: YahooNews has picked up the following AFP story. HF radio monitors should keep an eye on the following frequencies for activity related to this story (Mode ALE/USB): 4950.0 6770.0 7718.5 7990.0 9350.0 10800.0 12090.0 14550.0 kHz

Washington (AFP) - The US military command that scans North America's skies for enemy missiles and aircraft plans to move its communications gear to a Cold War-era mountain bunker, officers said.

The shift to the Cheyenne Mountain base in Colorado is designed to safeguard the command's sensitive sensors and servers from a potential electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack, military officers said.

The Pentagon last week announced a $700 million contract with Raytheon Corporation to oversee the work for North American Aerospace Command (NORAD) and US Northern Command.

Admiral William Gortney, head of NORAD and Northern Command, said that "because of the very nature of the way that Cheyenne Mountain's built, it's EMP-hardened."

"And so, there's a lot of movement to put capability into Cheyenne Mountain and to be able to communicate in there," Gortney told reporters.

"My primary concern was... are we going to have the space inside the mountain for everybody who wants to move in there, and I'm not at liberty to discuss who's moving in there," he said.

The Cheyenne mountain bunker is a half-acre cavern carved into a mountain in the 1960s that was designed to withstand a Soviet nuclear attack. From inside the massive complex, airmen were poised to send warnings that could trigger the launch of nuclear missiles.

But in 2006, officials decided to move the headquarters of NORAD and US Northern Command from Cheyenne to Petersen Air Force base in Colorado Springs. The Cheyenne bunker was designated as an alternative command center if needed.
That move was touted a more efficient use of resources but had followed hundreds of millions of dollars worth of modernization work at Cheyenne carried out after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Now the Pentagon is looking at shifting communications gear to the Cheyenne bunker, officials said.

"A lot of the back office communications is being moved there," said one defense official.

Officials said the military's dependence on computer networks and digital communications makes it much more vulnerable to an electromagnetic pulse, which can occur naturally or result from a high-altitude nuclear explosion.

Under the 10-year contract, Raytheon is supposed to deliver "sustainment" services to help the military perform "accurate, timely and unambiguous warning and attack assessment of air, missile and space threats" at the Cheyenne and Petersen bases.

Raytheon's contract also involves unspecified work at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

Iran Warships to Yemen

Blog Editor's Note: Look for Iranian Military QPSK/460/600 CF=1100 short crypto databurst traffic on the following frequencies: 5088.0 7988.0 8760.0 10415.0 10418.0 10723.0 15860.0 17382.2 kHz

Other possible Iranian freqeuncies monitored recently include
6265.0 ALE/USB
14508.0 ALE/USB/Codan traffic
16161.0 ALE/USB
The Associated Press is reporting that Iran is dispatching Iranian naval ships to Yemen coastal waters.

"Iran dispatched a naval destroyer and another logistic vessel on Wednesday to waters near Yemen as the United States quickened weapons supply to the Saudi-led coalition striking rebels there, underlining how foreign powers are deepening their involvement in the conflict.

 

"Iran's English-language state broadcaster Press TV quoted Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari as saying the ships would be part of an anti-piracy campaign "safeguarding naval routes for vessels in the region."

Complete story at http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_YEMEN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-04-08-08-22-46

Russian Navy RAL2 Guided Star Network UDXF Backgrounder

Trond Jacobsen who is located in the Hvaler archipelago, SE Norway,  shared the following interesting monitoring information on the UDXF newsgroup this morning. If you are a Russian Navy buff, you will find this as interesting as I did.
From Trond's UDXF Post:

Some recent interesting findings:
* During the 22utc rc slot on the 5th of April RDU2 was called by an unid station with this command:
"rdu2 de nrzj qsa bk" nothing further received from either party
* RHW2 is almost all the time slightly off frequency.
* Compared with the cluster beacon S on 10871.9 / 13327.9 both RAL2 and RMW2 are prob located in the NW of Russia. Both these stations are strong when the S beacon are too. No other stations in the RAL2 net are heard when the "S" beacons are the solitary ones heard on the cluster beacon frequencies.

Here is a compilation of available data at this end for the "elusive" RAL2 guided star network. (with some detail of loggings at the various frequencies, frequencies with "no further info" are from 3rd party sources, - and are not possible to verify due to rx location)

RAL2 guided star network

NCS: RAL2
NW1: RFH2, RDU2, RHW2, RBL71, RHM2,(RBL62)
NW2: RGH2, RMW2, RHQ2, RBL66, RBI2,(RBL672,RIB2)
NW3: RLM2, RKA2, RBL70, RLO2
NWxx, (outstations not clearly showing up in a specific net): (RIB2, RBL62, RBL672), RKY2, RBY45, RBY46, RDO2, RAI2

Frequency usage: 3314, 3747, 4051, 4970, 4978, 4979, 5797, 5823, 5947, 6989, 7019, 7860, 7861, 8002.5, 9933, 10263, 10425, 12807, 13973, 13975, 13985, 14974, 14975

03314.0 ---: RAL2, RDU2, RHW2, RKA2
03747.0 RAL2: 1703, clg RBY46 (29/Jan/2005)
04051.0 RAL2: 1602, sx rc w/RLM2, RKA2, RBL70 (after qrt of SLB "P" of Naval HQ Kaliningrad) (11/DEC/2007)
04051.0 RAL2: 1600, 1920, rc w/RKA2, RLO2 RBL70, then QRU sk (08/JAN/2010)
04051.0 RAL2: 1810, rc w/RLO2, RBL70 (21/Feb/2012)
04051.0 RAL2: 1830, clg RLO2, RKA2 for qsa and trfc. Using prosigns; qyt8, qlx, qrs, znn (06/JAN/xxxx)
NOTE: 4051 was also in use for strategic bcasts. EX: (04051.0---: Unid CIS Navy station 1507, f1A fsk morse;" RDL RDL RDL 52641 78383 52641 78383 52641 78383 k" (08/JAN2008) )
04970.0 RAL2: w/RHQ2, RBL66
04978.0 RAL2: w/RMW2
04979.0 RAL2: 1620, sx rc w/RHQ2, RMW2, qtc # 290 to RGH2 (11/DEC/xxxx)
04979.0 RMW2: 1919, clg RAL2 for qsa? (25/FEB/2010)
04979.0 RAL2 : 2212, clg RBL66 for qsa "RBL66 DE RAL2 QSA?" RAL66 replies: "RAL2 de RBL66 qsa2 K" ... "qsa4 znn znn sk" (03/DEC/xxxx)
04979.0 RKA2: 0503, CW clg RLO2 for qsa? (23/Nov/xxxx)
04979.0 RAL2: 0510, CW clg RKA2 "qsa3 znn znn va". 0513 "RLO2 de RAL2 qsa?" "qsa1 znn va" (23/NOV/xxxx)
04979.0 RAL2: 0514, CW clg RBL70 "qsa?" (23/NOV/xxxx)
NOTE: va (...- / .-) mistaken for sk (... / -.-) (?)
04979.12 RAL2: ITU terrestrial monitoring, coordinates given as 33 E 44 55 N 20 (west of Moscow, near Vyazma)Only radio related fascility near those coordinates are the 82nd Special Designation RC

05797.0 ---: no further info

05823.0 RAL2: w/RLO2

05947.0 RAL2: 1808, w/RMW2,RHQ2, RBL66, called also RBL672 but this one not audible. (14/APR/xxxx)

06989.0 RAL2: 18:08, sx rc w/RIB2, RHQ2 (30/MAY/xxxx)
06989.0 RBL672: 1604, sx rc w/RAL2 (12/JUN/2011)
06989.0 RAL2: 0009, sx wkg RMW2, RHQ2, RBL66, RBL672 & RIB2. 0409, wkg RKA2, RLO2, RBL70 (id RBL7T). 1502, sx rc w/RBL66, RBL672 (17/SEP/11)
06989.0 RAL2 :2008, sx wkg RHQ2 RBL66, ending w/ znn sk (24/MAY/14)
06989.0 RAL2: 1925 clg "RHW2 de RAL2 = xxx 73727 k".(14/SEP/xxxx)
06989.0 RAL2: 1610, sx rc w/RHW2, RDU2, RFH2, qtc, later "qtc nr 4828 gr 63 24 11 == FFFFF BYYAN DDDDD+ PPP+ DDDSS SOOOS SSGGG JJJRR RRRRRI IIRRR ==' and 5 LGS
06989.0 ---: 1605 CW Weak. "qsa1 znn va" (07/JUL/xxxx)(DW)

07019.0 RAL2: 1215-1530, w/RMW2 and others (xx/xxx/xxxx)
07019.0 RAL2: 0858, w/RKA2 (02/JUN/xxxx)
07019.0 RAL2: 0606, w/RLO2, RKA2, RBL70 (06/JUN/xxxx)
07019.0 RAL2: 2042, w/RBL71, RBL672,RBL66 (18/JUN/xxxx)
07019.0 RAL2: 2106, w/RIB2, RMW2,RHQ2,RBL66, RBL672 (24/JUN/xxxx)
07019.0 RAL2: 2107, w/ RMW2, RBL66, RBL672 (24/JUN/xxxx)
07019.0 RAL2: 1600, 2108, sx rc w/RHQ2 and others (07/MAY/2004)

07860.0 RAL2: w/RDO2

07861.0 RAL2: 0114, sx rc w/RFH2, RDU2, RHW2. Later: "rfh2 rfh2 rfh2 de ral2 ral2 qsa qsa no no no znn znn k" (17/DEC/2009)
07861.0 RAL2: 1611, sx rc w/RFH2 (17/JAN/2010)
07861.0 RAL2: 1335, opchat; " qyt4 qta k as", later: "rhw2 de ral2 k qsa2 znn", "rfh2 de ral2 k" (16/FEB/2010)
07861.0 RAL2: 1510, 1801, w/RDU2, RFH2, 1617, w/RHW2 (04/APR/2009) (13/sep/xxxx)
07861.0 RAL2: 19:00, sx rc w/RHW2 RFH2 RDU2, RBL71 (21/MAR/xxxx)
07861.0 RAL2: 1607, sx rc w/RHW2 (25/MAR/2011)
07861.0 RAL2: 1810, clg RFH2, RDU2, RBL71, as usual RBL71 has difficulty hearing RAL2, rx Alaska (31/DEC/2011)
07861.0 RAL2: 1710, clg RBD2, RCQ64 (xx/xxx/xxxx)
07861.0 RAL2: 1558, opchat w/RFH2, RBL62 (08/DEC/2002)
07861.0 RFH2: fsk vvv before the rc with ral2. The only “real” tfc  heard so far was some years ago on 7861 kHz: "rfh2 de ral2 aa slv svd zbr Ö 13975 qtr 0800 - aa slv sld zbr Ö 99933 qtr 2000 ok ?"

08002.5 RAL2: outstations unknown, (frequency err ???) no further info

09933.0 RAL2: 1900, ITU terrestrial monitoring, neither bearing nor coordinates given.

10263.0  RAL2: 0711, w/RMW2, 0800, w/RGH2 (18/MAR/xxxx)
10263.0  RAL2: 0615, w/RHQ2 (10/APR/xxxx)
10263.0  RAL2: 0623; RMW2 (23/APR/xxxx)

10425.0 RAL2: 1107, sx rc w/RBI2, RGH2, RMW2, RHQ2, RBL66 (12/JUL/2014)

12807 RAL2: outstations unknown

13973.0 ---: no further info

13975.0 RAL2: 0839, clg wkg w/RBL62 - (04/MAR/xxxx)
13975.0 RAL2: 1205, sx rc w/RHW2, 1211, w/RBL71 (14/APR/2011)
13975.0 RAL2: 1102,  sx rc w/RFH2, RDU2, RHW2, RBL71 (12/JUL/2014)
13975.0 RDU2: 0604, sx clg RAL2 (14/APR/2002)
13975.0 RBL62:  opchat: "de RBL62 ... qrj"... "as" (15/SEP/xxxx)
13975.0 RAL2: 0503, sx rc w/RFH2, RHW2, RDU2, RBL62 (14/MAR/02)

13985.0 ---: no further info

14974.0  RAL2: 0407, sx rc w/RDU2, RWH2, RBL62.(10/JUN/2002)

14975.0  RAL2: 0355, sx rc w/RFH2 RDU2 RBL62 (30/JUL/2002)

 

Intent of Russian military aircraft near U.S. shores remains unclear

Monitoring Russian aircraft

Michael Dinneen / For The Times

Radar technicians at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage monitor crescent-shaped blips, each representing an aircraft moving in Alaskan airspace.

Interesting article on the Los Angeles Times website by W.J. Hennigan re: Russian Bear aircraft flights near Alaska and other NATO countries.

"U.S. F-22 fighter jets scrambled about 10 times last year — twice as often as in 2013 — to monitor and photograph Russian Tu-95 "Bear" bombers and MiG-31 fighter jets that flew over the Bering Sea without communicating with U.S. air controllers or turning on radio transponders, which emit identifying signals.

"The Russian flights are in international airspace, and it's unclear whether they are testing U.S. defenses, patrolling the area or simply projecting a newly assertive Moscow's global power.

"They're obviously messaging us," said Flores, a former Olympic swimmer who is in charge of Tin City and 14 other radar stations scattered along the vast Alaskan coast. "We still don't know their intent."

"U.S. officials view the bombers — which have been detected as far south as 50 miles off California's northern coast — as deliberately provocative. They are a sign of the deteriorating ties between Moscow and the West since Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in March of last year and its military intervention to support separatists in eastern Ukraine.

"Similar Russian flights in Europe have irked leaders in Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Norway and elsewhere. In January, British authorities were forced to reroute commercial aircraft after Russian bombers flew over the English Channel with their transponders off.

"In all, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization says its jets scrambled to monitor Russian warplanes around Europe more than 100 times last year, about three times as many as in 2013. Russian air patrols outside its borders were at their highest level since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, NATO said.

"We're experiencing a reawakening of the strategic importance of the Arctic," said Navy Adm. William E. Gortney, commander of the Pentagon's Northern Command and of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

"Is this a second Cold War? It doesn't matter what we think," Gortney said. "Maybe they think the Cold War never ended."

You can read the entire article at http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-alaska-russia-20150406-story.html#page=1

Milcom Blog Logs - Jan 2015 by Jack NeSmith Central Florida

Our friend Jack Nesmith has pasted along his Jan 2015 milair intercepts. Thanks for sharing Jack.

225.0500 METRO NAS JAX
225.7250 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
227.0750 W-470
229.0000 UNKNOWN USER/FUNCTION
229.6250 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
231.5250 UNKNOWN USER/FUNCTION
233.6500 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
233.7500 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
234.6500 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
235.1000 INTERPLANE REFUELING
235.6000 INTERPLANE VFA-106 NAS OCEANA
236.0000 W-151B
236.5000 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX TANGO WHISKEY
239.0500 TOWER CCAFS
239.2500 ZMA
239.3500 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
240.1000 A/G/A 23FW MOODY AFB GA
240.5750 UNKNOWN USER/FUNCTION
241.3500 WIDEBAND
241.3750 WIDEBAND
242.6250 INTERPLANE VAQ-137
243.3750 INTERPLANE VAQ-137
246.1500 A/G/A EGLIN AFB
246.7000 WIDEBAND
246.8000 INTERPLANE OPFOR
246.9000 UNKNOWN USER/FUNCTION
246.9500 UNKNOWN USER/FUNCTION
248.6500 UNKNOWN USER/FUNCTION
251.9000 A/G/A PATRICK AFB
254.2750 ZJX
254.3000 TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL
256.7500 INTERPLANE 325FW TYNDALL AFB
257.7000 ZMA
257.8000 TOWER DAYTONA IAP
260.2000 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX REFUELING BOOM
261.2500 R-2907 LAKE GEORGE TARGETS PINECASTLE RANGE
262.9000 FLIGHT FOLLOWING NADEP NAS JAX
264.6250 R-2901 NORTH TAC RANGE AVON PARK RANGE
265.7750 A/G/A 325FW TYNDALL AFB
267.5000 FACSFAC JAX SOUTH
269.0250 ZJX
269.3000 ZMA
271.4000 A/G/A NAS JAX
278.4000 INTERPLANE 325FW TYNDALL AFB
279.6000 A/D TAMPA IAP
281.1500 TANGO SIERRA/TANGO ZULU SURFACE WARFARE COMMANDE
281.5000 ZMA
282.3000 ZJX
284.6000 A/D JAX IAP
285.0000 TSU "FIDDLE" NAS JAX
285.6500 ZJX
288.7750 CCA ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
288.9000 INTERPLANE 325FW TYNDALL AFB
289.2000 R-2910 PINECASTLE RANGE
290.3000 DEPARTURE CONTROL TAMPA IAP
290.6750 INTERPLANE 325FW TYNDALL AFB
291.9000 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX REFUELING BOOM
292.2250 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX STRIKE
293.2250 ZMA
293.2750 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX VFA-211 INTERPLANE
293.3750 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX VFA-11 INTERPLANE
293.6000 NORAD
294.3500 UNKNOWN USER/FUNCTION
294.9000 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
296.8750 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX EXERCISE GUARD
298.3000 INTERPLANE 325FW TYNDALL AFB
298.4750 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX FAD-2
301.1250 UNKNOWN USER/FUNCTION
307.2500 ZJX
308.4000 APPROACH CONTROL JAX IAP
310.8250 A/G/A 23FW MOODY AFB GA
313.5000 INTERPLANE 325FW TYNDALL AFB
314.0500 W-470A
314.3750 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
315.3000 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
316.3000 UNKNOWN USER/FUNCTION
317.5250 ZJX
317.6000 ZJX
317.7500 ZMA
318.6000 W-158 DISCRETE
322.4750 ZJX
323.8000 A/G/A EGLIN AFB
326.8250 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX RESCORT
328.4250 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX MARSHAL
333.3000 ROOSEVELT VOMPUTEX REFUELING BOOM
336.0250 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
336.2250 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
337.3000 NAOC
338.9250 TACAMO
338.9500 TACAMO
340.1000 INTERPLANE VFA-136
340.1250 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX REFUELING BOOM
342.0750 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
342.3250 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
342.9000 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
343.3000 A/G/A EGLIN AFB
348.7000 ZMA
348.9500 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
349.4000 ALCC
351.8000 DEPARTURE CONTROL JAX IAP
351.9500 APPROACH CONTROL DAYTONA IAP
352.0000 ZJX
354.8750 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
357.0000 R-2910 PINECASTLE RANGE
357.3750 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX WARRIOR CONTROL
357.5000 A/G/A 325FW TYNDALL AFB
360.7000 ZJX
361.1000 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
361.3000 A/G/A VR-58 NAS JAX
362.2500 WIDEBAND
363.6500 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
363.7750 ROOSEVENT COMPUTEX FAD-1
363.8250 ROOSEVLT COMPUTEX SURFACE WARFARE COMMANDER
369.1750 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
370.7500 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
371.0500 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX RED CROWN
371.3500 A/G/A NAS JAX
371.6000 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX INTERPLANE VFA-211
373.5750 J-STARS
374.2250 ROOSEVELT COMPUTEX
377.0500 A/D JAX IAP
377.1000 ZMA
379.1750 ZJX

Roosevelt CSG Underway for COMPTUEX - Latest Update 3 Feb 2015

Latest frequency update 3 Feb 2015:
From Mike Comer and Jack Nesmith in Central Florida:

8971.0 kHz USB TSC Jacksonville Fiddle Clear voice/ANDVT
8974.0 kHz USB CWC Tango Whiskey Air Defense Net
18795.0 kHz USB CWC Tango Whiskey Air Defense Net

120.950 FACSFAC Jax - Sealord North
133.950 FACSFAC Jax - Sealord South
134.650 FACSFAC Jax
136.775 Air-Air - TR OPFOR
136.875 Air-Air - TR OPFOR

225.350 Pinecastle Range Targets
226.725 TR CSG Silent Warrior (OPFOR) / Warrior Control / Mustang
229.625 Air Ops - Cobra 12 w Mustang / Bullet 13 w Sapphire
233.325 Darkstar with Corvette
234.750 Air Ops
235.350 Pinecastle Target
235.500 TR CSG Link 11 Data
236.500 TR CSG Tango Whiskey
240.550 Air Ops - AIC Tiger E-2D VAW-125242.625 Air-Air - Tron ## (F/A-18G, VAQ-137)
242.750 Secure - Glock
243.375 Air-Air - Tron ## (F/A-18G, VAQ-137)
246.800 Air-Air - OPFOR / Link 11
260.200 Aerial Refueling Boom - Bolt ##
261.250 Pinecastle Range (R-2907) Lake George Targets
262.900 NAS Jax - Mako Base 
264.625 Avon Park North Tac Range
267.500 FACSFAC Jax Sealord South
268.525 Red Talon 21
275.650 Air-Air - River ## Tac VFA-204 (NAS New Orleans)
277.800 Fleet Common
281.150 TR Tango Zulu (Surface Warfare Commander)
283.500 Secure
284.300 Magic / Victor calling Tango Foxtrot
284.500 FACSFAC Jax Sealord North
285.000 NAS Jax TOC Fiddle
288.775 TR CCA Final B (Button 17)
289.200 Pinecastle Range
291.900 Aerial Refueling Boom - Bolt ##
292.200 Avon Park Range Control
292.225 TR Strike
293.275 Air-Air - VFA-211 Nikel ##
293.375 Air-Air  - VFA-11 Ripper ##
296.875 Exercise Guard? - Dart 51
298.475 TR FAD 2
298.725 Air Ops - TBolt Tac
299.475 Air-Air - Rook ##
303.000 Air Ops - Helo Unid
308.750 Air Ops
309.300 Air-Air
312.150 NAS Jax TDY Rawhide Base / VFA-204 River Base
313.700 FACSFAC Jax - Sealord North
314.375 Secure - Tiger / Glock AIC / Red Talon 11 / Cutlass / Nikel 22
318.325 TR Departure
318.600 Jax NAS W-158 Discrete - Ivan Control
320.425 Air Ops
320.525 Aerial Refueling
323.725 TR CCA Final A (Button 15)
324.750 Air Ops
326.825 RESCORT Frequency
328.425 TR Marshal
333.300 Aerial Refueling Boom - Omega
336.025 Air Ops - Ruger 11 / Slayer 01 / Red Talon 12 / Cutlass / Chill 21-22
340.100 Air-Air - VFA-136 Hawk ## F/A-18E (Button 13 Green)
340.125 Aerial Refueling Boom - 601, 602, Tiger 31/41 air-air Talon 22 / Tiger/Skull 21 calling Corvette
342.075 TR Tango Papa (CWC Strike Warfare)
342.325 Air-Air - Mako 31/32 air-air (not 93^rd FS), Nickel 73, Sweep 51
348.925 Air Ops - Button 13 - 602 going secondary Tac
349.150 Air Ops - Arrow ## (Unid OPFOR aircraft)
349.450 Air Ops
351.800 Jax Intl App/Dep
354.875 TR Tower
357.000 Pinecastle Range
357.375 Warrior Control
361.100 Air Ops
363.650 Air-Air - Overhead AR (Tentative)
363.775 TR FAD 1
363.825 Air Ops - (Button 14?) 212 calling Tango Sierra (Surface Warfare Commander) / Tango (E-2D, VAW-125) with Tango Zulu

365.925 Vanguard Control / Trial 23 (possible P-8A) calling for radio check

369.175 Air-Air - Ripper ##
370.750 Air Ops
371.050 TR CSG Red Crown - PIRAZ (Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone)
371.175 Tiger / Magic
371.600 Air-Air VFA-211 TBolt ## F/A-18C / Shark ## Tac
374.000 TR Rep

376.900 NAS Jax W-157 Discrete
377.050 Jax Intl App/Dep
377.425 Dragon Slayer 615/616 wkg unid Control
384.100 Air-Air - OPFOR

Confirmed that the FACSFAC Jax airspace areas within W-157, W-158 have been renamed. Each area is now its own Warning area with a new number and letter. W136 begins closest to the coast and goes east to W140 and letters start at A and go south to G.

ALPHA BRAVO 5## - VAQ-137 F/A-18G
BOLT ### - KC-135, 6th AMW
CHAOS # - Tactical F/A-18 callsign
CHILL ## - B-52H, 5th BW
CORVETTE - Unid surface unit
COURAGEOUS WARRIOR
CUTLASS 4##/## - HSL-46 SH-60B
DART ##  - L-3 Communications Lear 35A
DELTA - CWC unid surface unit
DRAGON - Probable F-21 Kfir (Airborne Tactical Advantage Inc (ATAC)
DUSTY ## - F/A-18 Aircraft
FIDDLE - TSC Jacksonville
GLOCK - E-2D tactical call sign
GOLF - CWC unid surface unit
HAWK ## - VFA-136 F/A-18E
HOTEL - CWC unid surface unit
JULIET -  CWC unid surface unit
KILO - CWC unid surface unit
MAGIC - NATO AWACS backend
MAKO ## - A-18 Aircraft
MIKE - CWC unid surface unit
MOTHER 51/52 - Helicopters (Dragon Slayer 615/616)
MUSTANG
NIKEL ## - VFA-211 F/A-18/F
OPFOR - Opposing Forces
OMEGA 10 - KC10 N974VV
OMEGA 74 - KC135 N624RH
RAWHIDE ## - VRC-40 C-2A
RED CROWN - PIRAZ (Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone)
RED TALON ## - VP-16 P-8A
RIPPER ## - VFA-11 F/A-18F
RIP TIDE 51 - L-3 Communications Lear 35A
RIVER - VFA-204 (OPFOR) F/A-18A+
RUGER ## - MAGIC tactical call sign
SHARK ## - F/A-18 Aircraft
SILENT WARRIOR (OPFOR)
SKULL 21 - B-52H, 96th BS
SLAYER - HS-11?
SWEEP ##
TALON ## - P-8A
TANGO - VAW-125 E-2D CWC call sign
TANGO FOXTROT - CWC Force Track Coordinator
TANGO PAPA - CWC Strike Warfare Commander
TANGO SIERRA - CWC Surface Warfare Commander
TANGO WHISKEY - CWC Air Defense Commander
TANGO ZULU - CWC Sea Combat Commander
TARBOX ##
TBOLT ## - VMFA-251 F/A-18C
TIGER 6##/## - VAW-125 E-2D
TIGER TAIL
TORINO - Unid surface unit
TRIAL ## - Possible VX-1 P-8A
TRIBE
TRON - VAQ-137 F/A-18G tactical call sign
VANGUARD CONTROL
VICTOR - VAW-125 E-2D CWC call sign
VIPER - Unid OPFOR aircraft (probable VFA-204)
VULTURE - E-8C 461ACW Backend
WARRIOR CONTROL

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore  Roosevelt (CVN 71) and embarked Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 staff  departed Naval Station Norfolk to begin Composite Training Unit Exercise  (COMPTUEX), January 8. The naval units completed their TSTA training in October 2014.

Theodore Roosevelt will join the rest of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) to conduct COMPTUEX, which tests TRCSG's ability to effectively react to real-world scenarios and perform as an integrated unit.

"Carrier Strike Group 4 is evaluating how the battle group defends itself, how it projects power and how well they execute pre-planned responses to multiple types of scenarios," said Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Todd Womack, CSG 4's senior enlisted advisor, from Cottonwood, Ala.

Throughout COMPTUEX, Theodore Roosevelt will face training scenarios that simulate real-world situations the ship could encounter during its upcoming deployment.

"TR and her crew will be conducting numerous flight operations, identifying contacts and displaying the information to the entire strike group," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jeffery Lain, tactical data coordinator aboard TR.

"We will be as tactical as possible while performing in a carrier environment during a realistic wartime scenario," said Lt. Jeffery Mayer, an F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot from the Red Rippers of Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 11.

Following the successful completion of COMPTUEX, CSG 4 will declare TR capable of worldwide operations and ready for its upcoming deployment.

TRCSG is comprised of Carrier Strike Group 12 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2 staff, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, and the DESRON 2 ships; the guided-missile destroyers USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), USS Farragut (DDG 99) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), as well as the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60).

There are eigh squadrons assigned to CVW-1:

VFA-11 Red Rippers 
VFA-136 Knighthawks 
VFA-211 Checkmates 
VMFA-251 Thunderbolts 
VAQ-137 Rooks 
VAW-125 Tigertails 
HS-11 Dragonslayers 
VRC-40 Rawhides 

During the TSTA training evolution in October the Carrier Strike Group used 8974.0 kHz USB for their HF CWC Voice Air Warfare Coordination Net (NCS Tango Whiskey). Other HF frequencies we have seen them on in the past include 5281.0 5714.0 6700.0 6703.0 and 8188.0 kHz.

As this training operation steps up here on the east coast, I hope to have further updates on the frequencies being used by the TRR CSG.

Britain says fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian bombers

Blog Editor's Note: Yesterday I had an opportunity to monitor the Russian Air Force TU-95 Bear H voice network on 8131 kHz USB during this event. It was pretty neat to know that they were flying their strategic long range bombers in the North Sea and I was listening to them.

Some of the ground station call signs monitored included Adris, Balans, Katolik and Geolog. Aircraft in this net use their five digit numbers from their "RA" registration.
( e.g. RA-72181 would be 72181).
This morning has been quiet but their is activity on the 11360 kHz USB Russian Air Force net.

LONDON (Reuters) - British Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled to intercept
two Russian Bear long-range bombers which had flown close to UK airspace,
Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Thursday.

The Russian planes were detected flying over the Channel, south of England,
on Wednesday and typhoons were launched from Royal Air Force (RAF) bases at
Lossiemouth in Scotland and Coningsby in eastern England, the MoD said.

"The Russian planes were escorted by the RAF until they were out of the UK
area of interest. At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into UK
sovereign airspace," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Last year, NATO conducted more than 100 intercepts of Russian aircraft,
about three times as many as in 2013, amid sharply increased tensions
between the West and Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

Elizabeth Quintana, a senior research fellow at defence think-tank the Royal
United Services Institute said Wednesday's incident was unusual however, and
could be linked to Britain beginning an inquiry into the death nine years
ago in London of Kremlin critic and ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko.
[ID:nL6N0V742E]

"Normally Russian Bears come past Norway and down the North Sea. It could
have been used to probe the RAF speed of reaction south," she told the Daily
Mail newspaper.

"Flying any military aircraft in or close to the sovereign airspace of
another country signals displeasure or at worst aggression."

The next Air Force One will be a Boeing 747-8

Boeing will build a fleet of three aircraft based on the 747-8 to serve as the next Air Force One, Bloomberg reports. The 747-8 is the latest version of the iconic jumbo jet — a design that dates back to the 1960s — with new wings, new engines, and an extended fuselage. It's been around since 2005, but has seen limited traction with airlines thanks to rising fuel prices over the last several years, limited interest in ultra-high-capacity long-haul routes, and competition from Airbus' A380.

The aging fortress in the sky that currently ferries the President of the United States around the world is a Boeing VC-25, a military variant of the 747-200. The 747-200 is a very old plane: the last one was built in 1991, and newer aircraft are far more fuel efficient, technologically advanced, and — frankly — better showcases for American industrial might, which the President would probably want to show off on his travels. Boeing archrival Airbus, a European company, did not submit a bid for the contract based on its enormous A380 double-decker.

The current president won't get to experience the comfort and luxury of the new ride, though: the first one won't be delivered until 2018, and it'll undergo five years of testing before entering full service.

Navy Installations to Conduct Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2015

From Navy Installations Command and Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs 

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) and Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) will conduct Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2015 (SC-CS15) Feb. 2-13 on Navy installations located in the continental United States.

 This annual anti-terrorism force protection (ATFP) exercise is designed to train Navy Security Forces to respond to threats to installations and units.

 "This is the largest force protection exercise conducted across the Department of Defense and the value of training events like this cannot be underestimated. This exercise enhances the training and readiness of our security personnel and first responders. Additionally, it creates an integrated learning environment for installation and afloat personnel to exercise functional plans and operational capabilities," said William Clark, CNIC's exercise program manager.

 Exercise SC-CS15 is not in response to any specific threat, but is a regularly scheduled exercise. The exercise will consist of roughly 130 simultaneous field training exercise attacks across the country, each designed to test different regional ATFP operations.

 "Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2015 provides an opportunity to assess the Navy's ability to respond to and recover from a broad spectrum of antiterrorism threats," said Capt. Greg Sandway, USFF ATFP exercise director. "One of the key components of the exercise is to improve our ability to protect our Navy equities, but this exercise also enables us to integrate with the emergency responders from the various local communities and establish coordinated response and recovery procedures that are mutually beneficial."

 Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access. Residents near bases may also see increased security activity associated with the exercise. Base personnel should register for the AtHoc wide area alert network if they have not already done so as this will keep them updated of force protection conditions and other emergency, environmental, or exercise-related impacts on the area.

USS Green Bay Departs for Forward Deployment to U.S. 7th Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Elizabeth Merriam, USS Green Bay Public Affairs and Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs 

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Green Bay (LPD 20) departed San Diego Jan. 26 for Sasebo, Japan, where the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship will join U.S. 7th Fleet's Forward Deployed Naval Forces.

 Green Bay is replacing the decommissioned Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9), previously forward-deployed to Sasebo, and will enhance amphibious presence in 7th Fleet as part of the U.S. Navy's long-range plan to send the most advanced and capable units to the Asia-Pacific region.

 "The crew has worked hard to get Green Bay ready," said Commanding Officer Capt. Kristy McCallum. "By my count, we completed a total of 23 training, certification and maintenance cycles in six months. As we've trained, we have prepared ourselves to be ready for a dynamic security environment and diverse missions."

 In addition to the many capabilities inherent to amphibious transport dock ships, Green Bay will bring a host of new technological advancements and warfighting capabilities to 7th Fleet.

 Green Bay is equipped with an advanced command and control suite, increased airlift capacity, substantial increases in vehicle and cargo carrying capability and advanced ship survivability features. The ship supports the rapid transfer of personnel and equipment via landing craft, helicopters, and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, making this ship a critical element for amphibious ready groups and expeditionary strike groups.

 In 7th Fleet, Green Bay will become part of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The ARG integrates regularly with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to ensure the services are trained and ready to operate together to provide the most efficient amphibious fighting force in the Asia-Pacific region.

 Green Bay was commissioned in January 2009, embarked on its maiden deployment February 2011 and completed a second deployment in 2013. The ship has since undergone a year-long maintenance availability in British Aerospace Engineering (BAE) systems shipyard and a dry dock period at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in preparation for forward deployment to Japan.

 U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line.

USS California Returns from Maiden Deployment

By Kevin Copeland, Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- The Virginia-class attack submarine USS California (SSN 781) returned to its homeport at U.S. Naval Submarine Base, New London, from its maiden deployment Jan. 24.

 Under the command of Cmdr. Shawn Huey, California is returning from the U.S. European Command area of responsibility where the crew executed the Chief of Naval Operation's maritime strategy in supporting national security interests and maritime security operations.

 "The crew of California performed exceptionally on their first deployment and completed all tasking assigned," said Huey. "We conducted two missions vital to national security, theater anti-submarine warfare, and a multi-national theater anti-submarine warfare exercise.

 During the deployment, California transited more than 40,000 nautical miles.

 Port visits were conducted in Haakonsvern, Norway; Rota, Spain; Faslane, Scotland; and Brest, France.

 "We qualified 31 Sailors in Submarine Warfare, and advanced four chief petty officers, five first class petty officers, six second class petty officers, and eight third class petty officers while deployed," said Huey. "Being deployed over three holidays, we kept the schedule light on those days for scheduled, but we all understood that the ship was conducting deployed operations in support of national and theater tasking over those days.

 "We are looking forward to 30-day stand down where we will be able to take some well-deserved leave, go home to visit our families out of the area and relax with families in the area," said Huey. "There will be a light load of maintenance and repairs to be handled by duty section personnel. More than 25 percent of the crew will rotate in the first six months after the deployment as the crew begins their preparations for the next deployment."

 "I would like to thank the families of California crew members, who without their terrific support and selfless sacrifice, none of these accomplishments would have been possible. Now the crew is looking forward to a well-deserved stand down period to spend some quality time with family and friends," Huey said.

 The eighth Virginia-class submarine commissioned, and the seventh U. S. Navy ship named for the Golden State, California, was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News Shipbuilding and commissioned on Oct. 29, 2011, at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

 California enables five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities: sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

 The submarine is designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions.

 California is 377 feet long, has a 34-foot beam, able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet and operates at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged.