The U.S. military is flexing its muscles in the Pacific Theater as tensions are increasing
due to China’s aggressive posturing.
In an emergency deployment readiness exercise, paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team,
25th Infantry Division out of Alaska descend onto Guam via airdrop from C-17 Globemaster
III transports.
As per reports, 400 paratroopers were included in the mission and this made it the "largest
airborne operation here in recent history.”
According to an Air Force release, the airborne assault mission covered nearly 5,000 miles
from Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska and dropped on to Andersen Air Force Base on the
northern tip of the island of Guam.
At least five C-17s were used in the operation.
Colonel Christopher Landers, the commander of the 4th Brigade's commander who led the
mission who let the mission stated the following about its utility:
“This scenario tested our ability to execute real-world missions and demonstrated that
we are capable of deploying anywhere in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area at a moment’s
notice.”
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US Navy wants to put 4 underperforming Littoral Combat Ships out of the service in the next
few months.
The littoral combat ship (LCS) is a set of two classes the Independence and Freedom.
Construction of the Freedom-class is spearheaded by Lockheed Martin at Fincantieri Marinette
Marine shipyard in Wisconsin, while that of Independence-class ships is led by Austal
USA in Alabama.
These are relatively small surface vessels and primarily designed for operations near
shore.
As per reports, USS Freedom and USS Independence, both of which are the first ships in their
subclasses, along with the Freedom-class USS Fort Worth and Independence-class USS Coronado,
are set to be "Out of Commission, In Reserve," or OCIR, by March 2021.
The move is being resisted by some members of Congress who are looking to block mothballing
of two of these vessels until all of the tests of the various mission modules for each variant
are complete.
This could possibly take years.
Japan and Indian have announced that their respective Navies have conducted a joint exercise
in the Indian Ocean The Indian navy training vessels INS Rana
and INS Kulush were joined by the Japanese navy’s JS Kashima and JS Shimayuki.
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force stated the maneuvers were designed to “promote
mutual understanding” and consisted of four warships, two from each country.
Vice-Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, director-general of the National Maritime Foundation.
“We are using the exercises for strategic communications,”
He added, “not there for combat purposes but for signaling,”
The Vice-Admiral added, “We need to be proximate with our friends and the Chinese know there
is a direct ladder of escalation between Japan and the United States,”
The Japanese embassy in New Delhi said this was the 15th such exercise in three years.
“The content of this exercise is tactical training and communications training,” said
embassy spokesperson Toshihide Ando, “with no specific scenario.”
Though naval excise between India & Japan is common, the timing of this exercise is
significant since it is being conducted at a time when there is a stand-off between India
and China.
A starkly changed world has fired up Australia, prompting a realignment in its relationships
with India, Indonesia, and the Pacific, backed by a substantial increase in its defense budget.
Australia has announced that it would spend $186 billion on its military – including
long-range missiles – over the next decade amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
The move is aimed directly at China.
Though Prime Minister Scott Morrison refrained from naming China as he pressed home Australia’s
needs by defining a post-COVID world “that is poorer, that is more dangerous and that
is more disorderly.”
It is interesting to note that relations between China & Australia were cordial but this changed
since President Xi Jinping became the leader.
Australia plans to arm its fleet of Super Hornets with long-range anti-ship missiles
purchased from the United States.
It is also looking to deploy long-range hypersonic missiles that could be launched from land.
The hypersonic missiles can travel at more than five times the speed of sound and currently
there is no dependable way to counter them.
In a speech to the Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra, Morrison said his country
“must face the reality that we have moved into a new and less benign strategic era.”
On Wednesday, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) began exercises in the South
China Sea.
The exercise is focused on amphibious assault activities.
Before the exercises, a PLAN amphibious assault ship was seen at Woody Island, the largest
natural Chinese-held feature in the South China Sea and host to major military facilities
in the Paracel Islands.
On June 27 a Type 071 amphibious transport dock, was seen in satellite imagery.
Type 071 provides the PLAN with capabilities and flexibility not found in its previous
landing ships
The amphibious warfare ships of this class feature a vehicle deck, well-deck, landing
deck, and a hangar.
It can carry a combination of marines, vehicles, landing craft, and helicopters.
The ship may embark 600 to 800 troops.
The stern helicopter deck offers two landing spots for supporting the operations of two
Z-8 transport helicopters.
The twin-door cantilever hangar can house up to four Z-8 helicopters.
The well deck houses up to four Type 726 air-cushioned landing craft, which can transfer vehicles
or marines to the shore at high speed.
Type 071 could be a key instrument in a potential invasion of Taiwan
According to ship-tracking data, the ongoing exercises not only involved the PLAN but also
included the Chinese Coast Guard.
It is interesting to note that the coast guard, as part of the People’s Armed Police Force,
was deemed eligible to participate in wartime activities under the command of the Central
Military Commission of China.
This indicates that the Chinese coast guard is expected to play an active role in a future
naval conflict.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has asked Russia to speed up the delivery of the
S 400 Air defense system.
Viewers may note that on 5th Oct 2018, during India-Russia bilateral annual summit held
in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Russian President Vladimir Putin finalized
the deal of S 400.
India will get 5 regiments of S 400 and the contract is worth 5.5 Billion USD.
The delivery schedule for the S-400 squadrons, is originally slated from October 2020 to
April 2023.
India is now pressing Moscow to fast track the delivery keeping in view the ongoing standoff
with China.
China already has S 400 and it received its first S 400 regiment in July 2018.
It is reported that China has ordered two S 400 regiments for an estimated $3 billion.
S 400 is considered to be one of the most dreaded air defense systems
It uses multiple radars depending on threat perception.
These have a range of around 600 km or around 370 miles.
S 400 deploys multiple missiles to cover its strike envelope and has an engagement range
of 400 km or 250 miles.
Deployment of S 400 could be a game changer for India.