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En France, 232 sites de vaccination sont d’ores et déjà ouverts pour faire face à l'épidémie de mpox, a indiqué mardi le Premier ministre démissionnaire Gabriel Attal, tout en promettant 100 000 doses de vaccins aux pays les plus touchés.

Summary and Top 5 Points: During the recent RIMPAC 24 exercises, the U.S. Navy showcased its new AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) by sinking the decommissioned USS Tarawa.

-Launched from an F/A-18F Super Hornet, the stealth missile is designed to counter high-value maritime targets, such as Chinese aircraft carriers.

-Developed by DARPA and based on the AGM-158B JASSM-ER, the LRASM offers precision and stealth, filling a critical anti-surface warfare capability gap.

-The exercise highlighted the missile's potential in a conflict in the Indo-Pacific, where naval and air superiority would be crucial.

-The demonstration also strengthened international partnerships and tactical proficiency among participating nations.

U.S. Navy Sinks Decommissioned Warship with New Stealth Missile at RIMPAC 24

Just recently, the U.S. military sacrificed two old warships at the altar of innovation.

The decommissioned USS Tarawa and USS Dubuque were sunk by friendly aircraft during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 24 or RIMPAC last month.

Responsible for the sinking of the USS Tarawa is a new long-range stealth anti-ship missile designed to take on the Chinese Navy.

A New Stealth Missile for F/A-18 Super Hornet 

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet that took off from an aircraft carrier launched the stealth munition against the decommissioned warship and sunk it.

Developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the AGM-158C LRASM is based on the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER). It is designed to take out enemy surface combatants with stealth and precision. In terms of customers, both the Air Force and Navy are interested in fielding the stealth munition in an operational capacity, as evidenced from the testing. Right now, the AGM-158C LRASM is operational on the F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets and the B-1B Lancer strategic bomber.

“We have continued to invest in the design and development of LRASM’s anti-surface warfare capabilities to ensure that warfighters have the 21st century security solutions they need to complete their missions and come home safely,” Lisbeth Vogelpohl, LRASM program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, has said about the munition.

“This event was a testament to our commitment to deliver reliable products that work each and every time, ensuring those who serve stay ahead of ready,” Vogelpohl has added.

The Navy plans the AGM-158C LRASM a short-term solution to fill the “offensive anti-surface warfare air-launch capability gap,” according to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). It is intended to be used against high-value maritime targets, such as the Chinese aircraft carrier fleet or Chinese guided-missile cruisers and destroyers.

With the likelihood of a conflict in the Indo-Pacific against China always on the radar, the Navy and Air Force are investing heavily in platforms and munitions that could take on the challenge and win. A conflict in the vast Indo-Pacific would be one predominately between air and naval forces, much like the fighting between the United States and Imperial Japan in World War Two. As such, munitions like the AGM-158C LRASM are of the highest priority since they could given an advantage in naval combat.

RIMPAC 24 is designed to bolster American alliances and partnerships in the region. Dozens of countries with scores of warships, hundreds of aircraft, and thousands of troops are participating.

“During the SINKEXs, participating units from Australia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, and the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy gained proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing against surface ships at sea,” the Navy said in a press release.

“Events like live-fire SINKEXs give participating nations the ability to test and conduct training on weapons and systems in a realistic environment that cannot be replicated in simulators. Additionally, these training events refine partner nations’ abilities to plan, communicate and conduct complex maritime operations such as precision and long-range strike capabilities,” the Navy added.

About the Author: 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

All images are Creative Commons. 

Summary and Top 3 Points You Need to Know: The Su-35 "Flanker-E," a Russian fourth-generation fighter jet, was designed as a hybrid between older and newer warplanes, boasting advanced avionics, stealth features, and long-range capabilities. However, the ongoing war in Ukraine has exposed the aircraft's limitations, forcing it to operate in ways it wasn't designed for, such as lower-altitude and closer-range missions.

-Despite being a formidable platform, Ukraine's innovative tactics and advanced anti-aircraft systems have prevented the Su-35 from reaching its full potential.

-Although the Su-35 is not critical to Russia's overall war effort, its mixed performance highlights the challenges of adapting to modern combat environments.

Russia's Su-35 Problem Now in Focus over Ukraine 

The Su-35 “Flanker-E” was Russia’s attempt to keep pace with their American and Chinese great power rivals. On paper, it’s a powerhouse. In practice, the Su-35 has had a mixed record. This is not because the Russians are incapable of building competitive warplanes. 

They’ve got those. 

It is more likely because the Su-35 is a Russian warbird that incorporates many Western military components, making the production of these birds difficult as well as the fact the Russians have had to use the Su-35 in ways the plane was not designed to be used. 

The Su-35 Explained

Here's what we know: the Su-35 is a fourth-generation aircraft. What that means is that it is basically a hybrid between the fourth-generation birds that have existed since the 1970s and the newer, fifth-generation warplanes. This plane is equipped with a state-of-the-art avionics package, it has stealthier capabilities than most fourth-generation warplanes. It can carry a robust suite of weapons into battle. The Su-35 is fast and has a decent range. 

Moscow envisioned using the bird as a long-range combat platform. In the age of advanced anti-aircraft capabilities, Russia’s military wanted a platform that could launch over-the-horizon strikes on distant enemy targets. But war is the ultimate test. The Ukrainians have innovated tactics to deploy against the Russians, degrading Russia’s obvious advantages in the air war. Phased Away Tracking Radar to Intercept Target (PATRIOT) missile batteries and other anti-aircraft systems have been brought to bear in ways that have forced the Russians to deploy the Su-35 in lower-altitude, closer-range ways.

The Enemy Gets a Vote

Of course, the Russians are not the only country that has had to adapt to a dynamic combat environment. For example, in the Second World War, despite being designed to fly at higher altitudes, American and British bombers over Europe were made to fly lower and slower to ensure the accuracy of their bombs. While that was eighty years ago and technology has certainly evolved since those gruesome days of world war, the logic of war remains the same as it always has. 

That logic is simple: the enemy always gets a vote.  

Therefore, Ukraine has managed to negate the inherent strengths of the Su-35 as an “over-the-horizon” warplane. That doesn’t mean the Su-35 is a slouch. It just means it cannot—and has not—operate to its fullest capabilities because the kind of war it is fighting is fundamentally different from the kind of war it was designed to fight.

Even the manufacturer of the Flanker-E, Komsomolsk-on-Amur has stated that the warplane is not performing as advertised in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The Ukrainians have downed multiple variants of this airplane, and they don’t appear to be abating in their aims to destroy these aircraft. 

What’s more, Russia needs to have air support flying in at closer ranges and lower altitudes, meaning that the Su-35 will never perform optimally.

The Su-35 in Perspective

Still, the Russians have many other warplanes at their disposal, and they’ve been able to handle their own against the innovative Ukrainians in combat. Sure, the Ukrainian military has surged into Russia, taking a 621-mile area, but the Ukrainian forces are spread thin. 

The Russians, recovering from the initial shock of the Ukrainian offensive, are likely readying a massive counterattack. Whether the Russian counterattack deploys the Su-35 or not remains to be seen. 

But the Su-35, regardless of what may happen with it, is not such an important system for Russia that not being able to use this bird to its fullest would harm their war effort. And that’s the key here.

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock.

From the Vault

Russia Freaked Out: Why the U.S. Navy 'Unretired' the Iowa-Class Battleships

Battleship vs. Battlecruiser: Iowa-Class vs. Russia's Kirov-Class (Who Wins?)

Summary and Key Points: A trio of U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bombers arrived at Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley as part of the latest Bomber Task Force (BTF) deployment.

-Accompanied by KC-135R tanker aircraft, the stealth bombers are participating in training and strategic deterrence missions in the Indo-Pacific.

-This marks the first B-2 deployment to Australia since 2022, with the bombers expected to engage in joint exercises with RAAF F-35As.

-The BTF deployment underscores the U.S. commitment to interoperability with allies and maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific amidst growing regional tensions.

B-2 Bombers Flew 'Down Under'

A trio of United States Air Force B-2 Spirit bombers headed to the land down under, arriving at Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley this past weekend, as part of the air service's latest Bomber Task Force (BTF) deployment. The long-range strategic bombers were accompanied in the epic flight by two KC-135R tanker aircraft from the Illinois National Guard.

"A Bomber Task Force deployment of U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, Airmen and support equipment from the 509th Bomb Wing and 131st BW, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, has began at Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Australia, Aug. 16, 2024," the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) announced.

"United States strategic bombers can operate in the Indo-Pacific region from a broad array of overseas and continental U.S. locations with great operational resilience," PACAF added. "This deployment is in support of Pacific Air Forces’ training efforts with allies, partners, and joint forces and strategic deterrence missions to reinforce the rules-based international order. The Pacific Air Forces look for every opportunity to train alongside our allies and partners to demonstrate interoperability and bolster our collective ability to support a free and open Indo-Pacific."
 
Images of the B-2s arriving in Australia were shared by the 509th Bomb Wing (@Whiteman_AFB) on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Back Down Under

This deployment marks the first rotation of the flying wing bombers to Australia since the summer of 2022, while Spirits were also deployed to Guam earlier this year, the first time in more than five years. It was not announced how long the B-2s will remain in Australia, but according to Air & Space Forces magazine, such BTF deployments last two to three weeks, and include "training events with allies in the area to practice interoperability and secondary deployments to other locations to gain experience operating from airfields unaccustomed to supporting a bomber presence."

The U.S. has increased its interoperability exercises with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The deployment of the B-2s comes just weeks after U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors and RAAF F-35A Lightning IIs took part in a "hot pit" refueling exercise, a key component of the Agile Employment Concept (ACE). That followed the recently concluded Exercise Pitch Black 24, the largest in the military's drill's 43-year history – which drew 20 participating nations and more than 140 aircraft from partner countries.

RAAF's Fifth Generation Aircraft Operating With the B-2

It is likely that during this BTF deployment, the B-2s will conduct joint operations with the RAAF's F-35As, as such exercises have become increasingly commonplace.

During the July 2022 deployment, the U.S. Air Force flying wing bombers took part in the bilateral "Koolendong 22" exercises, which included drills with the RAAF's F-35As, while Australia's Lightning IIs also participated in the Red Flag exercises for the first time in January at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada, flying with the B-2s.

Bombers on the Move

It hasn't just been the U.S. Air Force's B-2s that have been logging the miles this year. In May, four U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers from Minot AFB landed at RAF Fairford as part of a routine Bomber Task Force (BTF) deployment, operating with NATO allies under BTF Europe 24-3.

That deployment was part of the air service's ongoing "Large Scale Global Exercise" series.

That same month, B-1 Lancers from the 28th Bomb Wing arrived at Andersen AFB, Guam, for a BTF deployment, integrating and training with allies and regional partners; while in July a pair of B-52s assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing flew from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, to Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase, Romania, as part of the Bomber Task Force 24-4 mission.

The United States Air Force is the only NATO member, and just one of three nations – along with China and Russia – to operate long-range strategic bombers.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Oubliés, les tumultes de l'été dernier. Mme Ursula von der Leyen, présidente de la Commission européenne, menaçait alors les Italiens de représailles s'ils portaient au pouvoir Mme Giorgia Meloni. Désormais, les deux dirigeantes, l'une de droite, l'autre d'extrême droite, s'affichent tout sourire (...) / Politique, Extrême droite, Europe - 2023/07

Summary and Top Points You Need To Know: The Russian Su-57 "Felon" fighter jet, touted as the latest in Russian aerospace technology, has been used sparingly in Ukraine to protect its international reputation, as Moscow aims to sell the aircraft overseas.

-The Su-57 is a twin-engine, single-seat multirole fighter with a variety of munitions, but questions remain about its stealth capabilities compared to U.S. and Chinese jets.

-Despite ongoing conflict, Russia continues to export weapons, though it keeps its most advanced systems like the Su-57 and T-14 Armata away from the battlefield to avoid diminishing their market value.

-The Su-57 “Felon” fighter jet represents the latest in Russian aerospace technology. 

Russia Shields Su-57 Felon From Heavy Combat to Protect Sales

Western intelligence estimates suggest the Russian Aerospace Forces have used the Su-57 Felon in Ukraine, but in a small role with little impact. Moscow holds the Su-57 back from the battlefield to protect its international reputation, since Russia wants to sell the aircraft overseas. 

The Su-57 Felon 

A twin-engine, single-seat multirole fighter jet, the Su-57 Felon is Russia’s newest fighter jet. As with most new Russian weapons systems and munitions, the Su-57 is riddled with problems, and only a few of the aircraft are combat-ready. The Ukrainian military also very likely destroyed a Su-57 on the ground.

Nonetheless, the Su-57 looks like a capable aircraft. It can carry a combination of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, including R-73 heat-seeking air-to-air missiles and R-27 radar-homing air-to-air missiles, as well as cruise missiles, hypersonic munitions, glide bombs, rockets, and conventional bombs. It also packs a 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds for dogfights or strafing.

Much debate surrounds the Su-57’s stealth capabilities, which would largely determine whether the aircraft is on par with the latest American and Chinese fighter jets. 

Although the Kremlin claims the Su-57 Felon is a stealth fighter jet, it is likely an advanced 4.5-generation aircraft that cannot defeat radar as effectively as the U.S. F-22 Raptor or F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets. Stealth is not an easily defined capability. An aircraft with stealth attributes, like the F-35 Lightning II, is much harder for enemy radars and sensors to pick up. To achieve this feat, stealth aircraft use a combination of design, special paint coatings, and electronic countermeasures.

An International Interest for the Su-57 Felon?

Russia is one of the largest exporters of weapons systems and munitions in the world. Before its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin could make up to $15 billion a year selling tanks, fighter jets, warships, missiles, armored personnel carriers, helicopters, infantry fighting vehicles, small arms, and ammunition to foreign countries. Its clientele is mainly African and Middle Eastern countries, as well as India and China. 

Although the Russian military is engaged in its heaviest fighting since the end of World War II, the Kremlin still sells weapons systems abroad, making between $5 billion and $8 billion annually. 

As with most goods, marketing plays an important part in weapons sales. Russian defense officials understand that very well and make sure not to put their newest and potentially most lucrative goods in a position that would diminish their value and marketability. As such, weapon systems like the Su-57 Felon, the T-14 Armata main battle tank, and the S-500 Prometheus air defense system are absent from the fighting in Ukraine – Russian officials don’t want them destroyed by Ukraine’s Western weapons. 

About the Author

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

Policies of “no first use” are a model for nuclear states.

DÉCRYPTAGE - À deux mois et demi du scrutin, la campagne outre-Atlantique bat son plein entre la vice-présidente démocrate et son concurrent républicain. Une bataille très suivie depuis l’Hexagone.

The new rising star of the Spanish far right, Alvise Pérez, is using the stabbing of an 11-year-old boy in central Spain last Sunday to spread racist and xenophobic messages against immigrants, especially those of African origin.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approved changes to Meta’s commitments regarding how it uses the data from customers using advertising, the authority announced on Tuesday (20 August).

A disparate collection of minorities hopes to bring down Putin.

Sweden’s national epidemiologist does not rule out the possibility of more cases of the new strain of mpox reaching Sweden. Contact tracing has been activated and containment plans have been prepared.

Baisse du coût de la vie, lutter contre la pauvreté, la corruption et l'injustice, chômage des jeunes, rupture. Le président Bassirou Diomaye Faye et le Premier ministre Ousmane Sonko ont fait de grandes promesses avant d’accéder au pouvoir au Sénégal, le 24 mars 2024. Quelles sont les mesures prises pour matérialiser ces promesses ? Les populations ressentent-elles les avantages de ce changement de régime ? El Malick Ndiaye, ministre des Infrastructures et des Transports terrestres et aériens du Sénégal répond aux questions de la BBC.

La police kényane a déclenché mardi une "opération majeure de sécurité" après l'évasion d'un tueur en série présumé, soupçonné du meurtre de dizaines de femmes. Il avait été arrêté le 15 juillet après la découverte de corps mutilés dans une décharge de la capitale, Nairobi et avait avoué avoir tué 42 femmes.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended the official groundbreaking ceremony for Taiwanese firm TSMC's Dresden plant on Tuesday (20 August) after the institution she heads announced a €5 billion state aid scheme for the facility - a sign that the EU is redoubling its efforts to boost the bloc's domestic semiconductor production.

The European Union has officially tasked Czechia to use revenues from frozen Russian assets to fund the next ammunition supply for Ukraine, Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová said on Tuesday (20 August).

Summary and Key Points: The bomber emerged in the twentieth century as one of the most feared weapons in the world, evolving from rudimentary beginnings into a technologically sophisticated display of military might.

-While bombers like the B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit have become legendary, not every bomber design has been a success. Some aircraft, despite high hopes, ended up as failures due to poor design, technical flaws, or simply being ahead of their time.

-Let’s look at some of the worst bombers in history.

The Worst Bombers Ever: The Top 5 List 

The bomber emerged in the twentieth century as one of the most feared weapons in the world. The concept didn’t even exist as the century turned, but by the end of World War II, the bomber was one of the primary offensive weapons for the world’s leading militaries. It inspired earned trepidation in the hearts of civilians and the minds of soldiers.

Capable of delivering conventional or nuclear munitions, the bomber progressed from rudimentary beginnings into a technologically sophisticated display of machines featuring every capability from supersonic speed to stealth. Used as a lynchpin to nuclear deterrence, and as an everyday military workhorse, the bomber is foundational to a military strategy. 

Still, not every bomber design succeeds. For every superlative airframe like the B-52 Stratofortress or B-2 Spirit, others earn far less admiration.

Let’s consider some of the worst bombers of all time.

Kalinin K-7

Only one Kalinin K-7 was ever built, flying for the first time in 1933. The experimental aircraft was designed with twin booms and large underwing pods that housed fixed landing gear and machine gun turrets. The K-7 was meant to be capable of hauling passengers or bombs. One of the largest pre-jet-era airframes ever built, the K-7 required the power of eight engines, and its wingspan extended an eye-popping 173 feet.

The K-7 only completed seven test flights before a structural failure caused a crash, killing 14 people aboard and one on the ground. The design was abandoned and never flown again.   

Tupolev Tu-22

The Tupolev Tu-22 was a medium-range supersonic bomber introduced in 1962. The Tu-22 failed to impress, at a time when the Soviet Union was urgently working to keep pace with American aerospace developments. Unfortunately for the Soviets, the Tu-22 lacked the speed and range required and was riddled with design flaws. The original engine, a VD-7M turbojet, proved especially nettlesome. Many of the accidents involving this aircraft resulted from the Tu-22’s high-swept wings, which were effective at supersonic speeds but caused low lift and poor handling at subsonic speeds

Tu-22 pilots required excellent physical strength just to wrangle the Tu-22 under control, especially when the airframe’s skin overheated during supersonic flight and adversely affected the jet’s flight characteristics.

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Perhaps the worst bomber the Royal Air Force ever flew, the Blackburn B-26 Botha debuted in 1938 and performed poorly from the jump. The airframe was mired with fundamental flaws, including poor longitudinal stability, poor elevator control, and a high stalling speed. If those issues were not enough, the Botha also tended to spew its exhaust fumes into the cockpit. 

The Botha was severely underpowered. Two 880-horsepower engines were only capable of propelling the Botha to 220 miles per hour, 15,000 feet of altitude, and 1,270 miles of range. 

Designed as a torpedo bomber, the Botha performed so poorly that it was relegated to reconnaissance duty before ever serving a day in its intended role. By the time the Botha was retired, 169 of the airframes had been involved in accidents.

Convair B-58 Hustler

While many of the bombers made this list for their uninspired design and/or poor performance, the Convair B-58 Hustler is an exception. Marking a technological leap, the B-58 came with delta wings, massive engines, and enviable performance ratings. The aggressively swept wings were outfitted with four powerful engines that allowed the B-58 to achieve Mach 2 at high altitude while operating within a range of 3,500 nautical miles.

But the B-58 was notoriously difficult to fly. Relying on specialized systems and complex controls that caused unconventional take-offs, landings, stalls, and spin characteristics, the B-58 was hard to master.

In the 10 years that the U.S. Air Force operated the B-58, 116 airframes were acquired – and 26 were lost to accidents. 

Douglas TBD Devastator

You can’t judge an aircraft on cosmetics alone. But sometimes when you look at an aircraft, you know the thing is going to be wonky. The Douglas TBD Devastator didn’t quite look right. Holding a three-man crew sitting back-to-back-to-back beneath a greenhouse canopy, the airframe looked cumbersome, almost comedic. Although a capable torpedo bomber when introduced in 1937, technology progressed so quickly that by the time the U.S. joined World War II, the Devastator was already woefully outdated. Slow and incapable of defending itself, the Devastator struggled to survive in the Mitsubishi Zero-dominated environment of the Pacific Theater. During the Battle of Midway, the Devastator’s last foray into combat, 41 Devastators were deployed. Only four survived.

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

All images are Creative Commons. 

Summary and Key Points: The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), the final Nimitz-class supercarrier, has been equipped with the world's first Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC). This upgrade allows the carrier to operate the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial system (UAS), which is set to take over the aerial refueling role from the F/A-18 Super Hornets, thereby extending their service life. Some are now calling this a sort of drone aircraft carrier. 

-The UAWC features the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS) MD-5E Ground Control Station, enabling Air Vehicle Pilots to control the MQ-25 directly from the carrier.

-The first sea testing of this system is scheduled for next year. The MQ-25 will initially focus on refueling but may also be used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in the future. This upgrade represents a significant step toward integrating unmanned systems into the Carrier Air Wing and Carrier Strike Group operations, laying the groundwork for future unmanned capabilities across the U.S. Navy’s carrier fleet.

Nimitz-Class Supercarrier Equipped for Future with MQ-25 Stingray Drone Operations

A United States Navy's Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has been upgraded with the "world's first Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC)," which will allow the flattop to operate the future Boeing MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial system (UAS), Naval Air Systems Command announced.

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), the tenth and final Nimitz-class supercarrier, is the first warship to receive the UAWC, which was installed as a part of a "multi-year effort coordinated across multiple ship availability periods" while accommodating the carrier's "deployment schedule." Now that it has been installed, the UAWC will allow Air Vehicle Pilots (AVPs) – aka drone operators – to control the Boeing-made UAS directly from the warship.

The UAWC is equipped with software and hardware systems that include "the first fully operational and integrated Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS) MD-5E Ground Control Station (GCS)," which is "system-of-systems" required to control the MQ-25 Stingray – the first carrier-based UAS employed by the U.S. Navy.

The Stingray was developed to provide aerial refueling to carrier-based aircraft, replacing the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets that are currently utilized in that role, which accounts for 20 to 30% of their flight time, according to Aero Time. Transferring this role to the UAS will help extend the life of the sea service's Super Hornets.

The first sea testing of the UAWC's operational networks on CVN-77 is scheduled to begin next year, and while the MQ-25 will initially be employed in refueling, the drone could be used in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities that enhance capacity and versatility for the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) and Carrier Strike Group (CSG).

"This will be the first time the AVPs from Unmanned Carrier-Launched Multi-Role Squadron (VUQ) ten will operate the MD-5 from an aircraft carrier. They will use the actual GCS hardware and software aboard CVN 77 to communicate with a simulated air vehicle in the lab in Pax River," said Joe Nedeau, Unmanned Carrier Aviation (PMA-268) UMCS lead.

Current U.S. Navy plans call for all Nimitz-class and Gerald R. Ford-class carriers to eventually be MQ-25 capable.

"The MQ-25 brings the right combination of refueling, autonomy, and seamless carrier deck integration to meet the U.S. Navy's goals," Boeing stated.

"CVN 77's UAWC lays the foundation for how the U.S. Navy will operate and control unmanned aircraft, and perhaps other unmanned vehicles, with UMCS," added PMA-268 Program Manager Capt. Daniel Fucito. "These systems will initially support the MQ-25 but also future unmanned systems such as Collaborative Combat Aircraft that comprise the Air Wing of the Future."

Aerial refueling from the MQ-25 T1 test asset has been conducted with three carrier-based aircraft including a F/A-18 Super Hornet, an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, and a F-35C Lightning II.

The Boeing-owned MQ-25 T1 test asset served as a predecessor to the engineering development model aircraft being produced under a 2018 contract award.

The refueling drone has a total length of fifty-one feet, and a wingspan of seventy-five feet unfolded/31.3 feet folded. It is powered by a Rolls-Royce AE3700N engine, which provides a range of 500 nautical miles (580 miles) while carrying approximately 16,000 pounds (7,250 kg) of fuel.

About the Author: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.

Summary and Key Points: The recent successful demonstration of the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) during the RIMPAC military exercises near Hawaii has sent a clear signal to China regarding the U.S. military's capability to counter China's anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) systems.

-Developed by Lockheed Martin and DARPA, the LRASM is a stealth missile designed for precision targeting, even in electronically degraded environments.

-With a range of 200 nautical miles, the missile can be launched from various U.S. aircraft, including the F/A-18F Super Hornet and the B-2 Spirit bomber.

LRASM: The Stealth Missile Is Here 

The LRASM's advanced features, including GPS navigation, infrared sensors, and the ability to evade countermeasures, make it a crucial tool in restoring naval deterrence against China. Despite its high cost, the missile is seen as a vital asset in the U.S. military's strategy to maintain dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.

A recent successful demonstration of a new stealth missile at the annual RIMPAC military exercises near Hawaii has got the world on notice. 

Fired from an F/A-18F Super Hornet belonging to the U.S. Navy, the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), a weapon developed by Lockheed Martin and DARPA, is meant to send a clear message to China. 

That message is that despite China’s anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities, the U.S. military can still threaten Chinese forces – and that threat can come from over the horizon as never before.

The Specs

DARPA began researching the LRASM capability around 2009. Navy anti-ship missiles such as the Harpoon were getting old – the technological progress of America’s adversaries meant the Harpoon would eventually be outdated. By incorporating stealth technology and adding longer-range capabilities and advanced autonomous targeting, the U.S. military was trying to stay ahead of their adversaries.

America retains considerable (though declining) advantages in the strategic high ground of space. One major asset the Americans have developed over the years has been the Global Positioning System. Indeed, most U.S. military weapons and platforms require access to GPS to function properly. The LRASM leverages this advantage, making the weapon’s targeting more precise. It then fuses GPS navigational capabilities with a multi-modal sensor network. In other words, there’s no way an enemy is getting away from this weapon – unless that enemy first knocks out the GPS satellite constellation.

There’s more going on with this incredible weapon, too. 

The LRASM has an additional infrared sensor system that allows for even greater target acquisition. These weapons can reportedly operate in significantly electronically degraded environments as well. What’s more, this “stealth missile” can evade countermeasures and avoid decoys by making radical course corrections. 

LRASM’s successful tests at the recent RIMPAC exercises show it as the best conventional strike missile the Americans have developed. 

It has been suggested that the LRASM has a range of 200 nautical miles, meaning this weapon can reach deep inside Chinese-held territory in the Indo-Pacific, if need be. The hope among U.S. military planners is that the LRASM system can restore naval deterrence, which has been destabilized by the rapid military advances at sea of American rivals such as China. 

To China, With Love

The fact that the Navy tested the LRASM during RIMPAC should tell readers all they need to know about who was the intended recipient of the message sent.

This weapon can be popped off from multiple warplanes in the American fleet – everything from the aforementioned F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the workhorse of the U.S. Navy’s air warfare capability, and the Air Force’s B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bomber. Further, the Navy is working to make the LRASM interoperable with allied militaries. 

Specifically, the Australians, who have become a principal partner in the U.S. military’s quest to deter and contain China’s rise, have opted to integrate the LRASM into their forces.

The LRASM is not cheap, however. 

According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, the LRASM is appraised at “$3.24 million per round, while the five-year buy reduces that unit cost slightly to $3.22 million per missile.” 

For a missile system, that is expensive. But with two branches of the U.S. military using this system, and an allied nation jumping into the program as well, costs should come down in the long run. 

The LRASM is one of the solutions to overcoming China’s A2/AD advantages. If a war were to erupt soon, the LRASM is one of only a handful of systems that the U.S. military can reliably deploy to defeat China. 

Instead of blowing limited funds on things like a sixth-generation warplane for the Air Force, or the F/A-XX program for the Navy, maybe the Pentagon should reroute those funds toward building a massive arsenal of LRASM systems. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock.

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