A Complex Solution To A Complex Problem

America’s unique electronic warfare and radar suppression abilities includes the Growler, but also many other platforms and ancillary capabilities as well. This complex ecosystem of weaponry and sensors includes various surveillance aircraft, hacking and cyber warfare abilities, active suppression of enemy air defenses tactics and weaponry, along with low-observable aircraft and long-range “standoff” munitions. The last two are especially potent when combined together and electronic warfare support is added.
Firing long-range low observable (stealthy) weaponry from even a non-stealthy aircraft gives enough stand-off distance to begin taking out an enemy’s known air defenses at a safe distance today, the S-400 included in most cases. When a stealthy launch platform is used instead, you can use more plentiful weapons with less range as that stealth aircraft can get closer to the air defenses being targeted than their non-stealthy brethren can.
For instance, an F-16 may be able to get well within JASSM missile range of an advanced SAM site while an F-35 could get within the outer-edge of Small Diameter Bomb range. When you add jamming support, these ranges decrease by a noticeable margin, depending on what tactics are used and what the capacity available is to employ those tactics. The problem is that against an advanced foe, you’re not going up against a single SAM site or radar, but a full constellation of systems that includes aerial assets, just like the advanced integrated air defense system we discussed before.

That is why “brochure comparisons” of systems is nearly useless for such complex military topics. In real life, the Growler does not take on the S-400 alone, and visa-versa.
An advanced IADS including the S-400 in it will likely feature increased detection ranges against stealthy and non-stealthy aircraft alike. It will also make jamming more problematic, and could mean blinding even a portion of that network is much tougher due to multiple layers of redundant air defenses tied together. This is where cyber warfare and pinpoint strikes based on multiple sources of intelligence can be more effective than jamming or going after the surface-to-air missiles and sensors themselves. For instance, taking out the IADS’ “brains,” locations where the sensor fusion occurs, or striking the system’s communications channels.

As IADS sensor and fusion capabilities advances and as surface-to-air missile ranges increase, it may be necessary to use stealthy long-range networked weapons, long-range stealthy aircraft and all the other tactics we mentioned, including standoff jamming, in order to begin to degrade and eventually destroy an advanced air defense system. Additionally, this may be necessary due to other area-denial and anti-access capabilities the enemy possesses.

For instance, if a carrier cannot get within 1,500 miles of an enemy’s shores, its aircraft will be incapable of striking targets. Bases within range of ballisitc missile barrages may also be destroyed.
As the cumulative effects of these “first days of war” standoff strikes take hold, the IADS should begin to buckle, and parts of this deadly air defense killing cocktail can be omitted. For instance, instead of using long-range stealthy aircraft to launch long-range stealthy missiles, stealthy fighters can be used to launch medium-range weaponry as their tankers can operate close enough to enemy airspace in order for them to be effective.
Meanwhile, long-range non-stealthy aircraft can begin launching long-range weapons, which frees up stealthy long-range aircraft to begin pushing over or near the enemy’s shores for direct attacks. Systems like Miniaturee Air Launched Decoys can be used along with strike assets to push deeper into an enemy’s territory, wiping out its air defenses along the way.

As time goes on, a “sanitized” corridor should emerge over enemy airspace, where less complex tactics can be applied and at higher sortie rates. For instance, fighter strikes can be flown with electronic warfare and wild weasel support, without the need for standoff weaponry, or in some cases, without stealthy aircraft at all.
In other words, it takes a complex cocktail of jamming, surveillance and attack assets, both kinetic and non-kinetic, to take on any advanced integrated air defense system, of which the S-400 could be a part. And even then, you degrade and eventually destroy the enemy’s air defense in a very throughout and methodical manner.
So although it is an incredibly capable and critical weapon system, those who say the EA-18G Growler—or any other single weapon system for that matter—is some panacea for modern air defense systems are greatly simplifying a complex solution to a very complex problem.

On Saturday, Baghdad described the move as "a serious violation of Iraqi sovereignty," since it had not been authorized by Iraqi authorities.

"We may soon ask Russia for direct military intervention in Iraq in response to the Turkish invasion and the violation of Iraqi sovereignty," Iraqi lawmaker al-Zamili said.

Photographs released by North Korea’s state-run news agency show that Kim Jong-un’s oratory leaves a lot to be desired.

Almost everyone in the room seems to be quietly nodding off, during a speech he made to officers from the Korean People’s Army.

While a few are diligently taking notes on their leader’s wise words, others have taken the opportunity to catch up on some shut-eye. Some even seem to be trying to disguise their bowing heads as a sign of concentration, rather than reveal that they are sleeping.

The pictures were released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), of the North Korean leader delivering a speech at the 4th Conference of Korean People’s Army (KPA) Artillery Personnel.

The Israeli air force is set to shutter a squadron of F-16C fighter jets in early 2017, once the first batch of F-35 planes arrive from the United States.

On the flip side, the Israel Defense Forces is planning to add another battery of the Iron Dome system – which intercepts short-range rockets – in the coming years. In addition, it will introduce the Magic Wand system (also known as David’s Sling), which is designed to intercept medium-range rockets.

Other F-16C squadrons may be closed in the future, but according to a senior IDF officer, this will depend on the receipt of additional F-35s.

During the war with Iraq, reportedly more than 160 Iraqi jets fell prey to the F-14 and its deadly arsenal of Hughes AIM-54A Phoenix long-range air-to-air missiles.

In my new book Air Combat Memoirs of the Iranian Air Force Pilots, I compile first-hand accounts of some of these engagements. We’ve reprinted one story here — that of F-14 radar intercept officer Capt. Parviz Moradi.

Most of the time our combat air patrols were done within the distinct shapes of parallel triangles. The base of the triangle was towards our own soil, while the two other arms of the triangle faced the enemy territory. This tactic would give us a better radar sweep and plenty of time to detect incoming enemy aircraft.

Since we knew Iraqi SIGINT/ELINT posts were listening in on our conversation with ground radar controllers, I decided to hatch a plot to deceive the next Iraqi fighter. Through the intercom, I told Maj. Aslani of my plan. “Sir, I have a plan. We are going to ignore our radar controllers’ warnings and we are going to delay our eventual turn toward the enemy fighter as long as possible in order to draw them further inland. Also, I request to be doing all the talking with radar controllers from now on.”

The radar controller’s warnings were also helpful. His continuous warnings gave us the possible location of this specific intruder that by now had come far inland in the hopes of hunting us. Moments later while maintaining our radio silence, I mic’d to Maj. Aslani. “Now!” And he immediately went to afterburner, turned towards the enemy jet and started an aerial duel. Even though, I now could see the Iraqi jet, I declared on radio so all sides could hear it. “I can’t see the bandit. Where is it?”

My plan worked. Apparently the Iraqi side thinking we really couldn’t see him came closer and was now in our trap. He must have thought we had a radar malfunction or were complete idiots. But it was too late. I had been able to run [track while scan radar mode] on him. He had no chance. I did a quick radar lock and my pilot Maj. Aslani launched it. At the same time, ground radar was screaming at us to disengage and run back.

Our missile hit the Iraqi fighter head on as I shouted in the radio. “Enemy target destroyed. Long live Iran!” There was dead silence on the radio for a minute then we could hear the ground radar controllers breaking in cheers and clapping, which meant they were confirming our kill as well. It was crazy.

For the first time in CNN/ORC polling, a majority of Americans (53%) say the U.S. should send ground troops to Iraq or Syria to fight ISIS. At the same time, 6-in-10 disapprove of the President's handling of terrorism and 68% say America's military response to the terrorist group thus far has not been aggressive enough.

CNN/ORC Poll conducted says 53% of Americans say the U.S. should send ground troops to Iraq or Syria to fight ISIS, Dec. 6 2015

CNN/ORC Poll conducted says 53% of Americans say the U.S. should send ground troops to Iraq or Syria to fight ISIS, Dec. 6 2015

Overall, 60% say the U.S. military action against ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria is going badly, that's actually an

Once launched, the AGM-160A's wings would pop out and its turbojet engine would ignite. It would then autonomously fly a pre-planned route and mimic a specific radar signature via is Signature Augmentation System (SAS). The SAS could accurately replicate radar signatures ranging from a lumbering B-52 Stratofortress to a stealthy F-117 nighthawk.

Another way the basic MALD concept could be used is by having a B-52 or even a C-17 load of MALDs fly low, towards an enemy's strategic stronghold, to the north of a threatening cluster of enemy SAM sites, mimicking low-flying F-15Es radar signature. This distraction would allow for a formation of stealthy, high-flying, super-cruising F-22s to streak by to the south of said SAM site unmolested, on their way to targets deep inside enemy territory.

A swarm of MALD-Js, even paired with standard MALDs, could overwhelm, confuse and blind a whole series of air defense installations along a certain route and during a certain period of time, thus allowing for attack assets to safely traverse the threat area on the way to their targets. Additionally, MALD and MALD-J are seen as key capabilities that will keep non-stealthy strike aircraft, like the F-15E and Super Hornet, effective well into the future, even against an advanced enemy.

This capability to dynamically control MALD-J in real-time from the cockpit of a combat aircraft will impact the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) missions more than any other. Now, a F-16CJ can direct a MALD-J to toy with a enemy SAM site as they sling Small Diameter Bombs and Wind Corrected Munitions Dispensers at said SAM site from a different vector.

A ghost formation of A-10s here, jamming a tracking radar there, the MALD-J is a Wild Weasel's dream.

A networked MALD-J also brings America's air combat forces into the realm of unmanned aircraft 'tethering.' This is where an unmanned aircraft works as a facilitator for a manned aircraft while under direct control from that manned aircraft. Whether it be flying more weapons into the fight and acting as an 'arsenal ship,' dynamically attacking targets as directed or even by providing remote sensor information from a different location, this concept will bridge the gap between unmanned combat aircraft autonomy and the 'man in the loop' dominated unmanned systems we use today. This concept is currently being integrated into the AH-64E Apache fleet and was one of the main arguments for retiring the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed scout helicopter force.

For a Russian soldier to display a rocket launcher or something similar while passing on a Russian warship is a provocation,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters Sunday.

“If we perceive a threatening situation, we will give the necessary response,” he added, as cited by Hurriyet.

It is also unclear whether the ship really did cross the Bosporus in recent days, as the Bosphorus Naval News reported it had passed by Istanbul “on her way to Syria” in late October. In late November it was captured by a Reuters photographer on its way back to the Black Sea.

DAMASCUS, Syria, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- The United States is refuting allegations the coalition it is leading in the fight against the Islamic State conducted an airstrike against the Syrian military.

Deployment in Syria

Recently the Russian Marines have been deployed in Syria as a part of the Russian military assistance in fighting terrorism. Since September this year, few hundred marines have been stationed in western Syria and in the city of Slunfeh in East Latakia, with the primary objective of guarding the Russian air base. During their short service in Syria, there have already been sporadic clashes with terrorist groups in Latakia. One of the incident happened in September when the fighters of the Islamic State tried to mount an attack on the air base in Latakia, however they were ambushed by the Russian Marines which resulted in a couple of dead terrorist while the others retreated. There are also some reports which suggest that this unit might be coordinating attacks on terrorists alongside Hezbollah and the Syrian Arab Army. The Involvement of the Russian Marines in the Syrian conflict has been already paying off. After the downing of the SU-24, this unit was successful in the search and rescue mission of the second pilot while fighting the jihadists in the border region with Turkey.

The flights may be secret, but his jets are receiving a lot of attention these days.

They are some of the Pentagon’s eyes and ears gathering evidence of China’s military expansion in the contested waters of the South China Sea, where China has built up small atolls in territory claimed by neighboring nations.

The Poseidons are produced on Boeing’s production line in Renton and joined the Navy’s fleet three years ago.

The jets are packed with 129 sonobuoys — floating sonar devices — that sailors can drop from a chute in the rear of the plane to find submarines hiding out deep underwater. They also can drop depth charges, torpedoes and anti-ship harpoon missiles.

job is to track the submarines. If we have to hunt for the submarine, we find it. Usually it works out pretty well,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Austin Lien, 27.

“We are the most advanced, most capable aircraft to do it,” added Lt. Cmdr. Brian Fichter, a flight officer.

The low logistical requirement of light attack aircraft makes them suitable for airfields in northern Iraq that are too short or rough for jet fighter and attack aircraft, or too dangerous to support with large quantities of fuel.

As a general rule of thumb, any airfield capable of operating a C-130 is suitable for the light attack birds. Five airfields in Iraqi Kurdistan fall cleanly within that category — Irbil, Sulimaniya, K1, Sirsenk and Kirkuk. K1 is a former U.S. Army airfield, Kirkuk is a former Air Force installation, and Irbil has an existing U.S. presence and serves as an emergency airfield at need.

Sirsenk Forward Support Base (Bamerne) was the primary coalition fixed-wing airstrip during Operation Provide Comfort. Its condition is unknown.

Of these, Irbil’s international airport has the best mix of ramp space, fuel supply and security — and has a long history of U.S. air operations dating to 2003.

Close proximity of light attack aircraft allows for a rapid response time. With a scramble time of five minutes, the light attack birds can be overhead any point up to 75 miles away, half an hour from the scramble order.

From Irbil, this coverage encompasses all of Iraq east of the Tigris and north of Kirkuk and over Mosul almost as far as Sinjar Mountain. From Kirkuk, this coverage arc stretches almost from Balad to Mosul.

Either location could conceivably support Iraqi government or Peshmerga forces in operations to free Mosul from the Islamic State’s domination. By comparison, a fast jet scrambled from Incirlik is still 30 minutes behind the light attack aircraft.

The largest logistical requirement could very well be weapons, as up to 500-pound precision munitions might be employed. The new APKWS II laser-guided Hydra rounds used by the Marines in Afghanistan are compatible with light attack aircraft, and give the capability to demolish bunkers or hit moving targets. Flexible warhead choices would allow them to kill light armored vehicles.

“Secretary Carter and Dr. Ng also welcomed the inaugural deployment of the P-8 Poseidon aircraft to Singapore from 7 to 14 Dec. 2015,” the release said.

Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, in this file still image from video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft and provided by the United States Navy on May 21, 2015

US Spy Planes to Fly From Singapore Over South China Sea
At present, the US military conducts surveillance missions from Japanese and Philippine airfields, while continuing military patrols in the disputed waters.

Carter and Ng met in Washington, DC to sign the enhanced defense cooperation agreement, which should provide a new framework for an expanded defense cooperation, according to the Defense Department.