USA: Air Force Official Details ‘National Aircrew Crisis’

By Karen Parrish

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2017 — A confluence of circumstances in the Air Force has “birthed a national aircrew crisis,” the service’s manpower chief warned the House Armed Service Committee’s military personnel subcommittee today.

Several factors contribute to the crisis, Lt. Gen. Gina M. Grosso, Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel services told the House panel.

Those factors include 26 years of high operational tempo, commercial industry’s demand for pilots and “cultural issues that affect the quality of life and service for our airmen,” she said. 

Grosso testified about aviation shortfalls alongside Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Lt. Gen. Mark A. Brilakis, Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Robert P. Burke and director of Army Aviation Maj. Gen. Erik C. Peterson.

Industry: Pakistan strengthens helicopter fleet renewal with additional AW139s order

An AW139 (File Photo)

• Further AW139s for utility, SAR and EMS with deliveries starting in early 2018
• The AW139 proves the preferred choice for a number of military and government customers around the world
• Bestseller helicopter with over 1000 units sold to more than 250 customers in over 70 nations and nearly 900 units in service to date

Leonardo announced today that the Government of Pakistan has signed a new order for an undisclosed number of additional AgustaWestland AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters. The aircraft will be used to perform utility, SAR (Search and Rescue) and EMS (Emergency Medical Service) operations across the nation. Deliveries are expected to start in early 2018.

The contract is a further step towards the completion of fleet renewal programmes spread over several batches plus logistic support and training. This event is a major achievement for Leonardo expanding the already successful presence of the AW139 model in the country. A fast growing fleet of AW139s is already in service in Pakistan, with several units operated by the Pakistan Government for relief and transport duties. The AW139 is the perfect fit to Pakistan’s operational environment, delivering outstanding capabilities and hot & high performance unmatched by any other existing helicopter type in the same class.

Leonardo

News Report: 'THAAD is a Nail That the US-Japan Alliance is Hammering Into Korea'

In the expert community of South Korea there is a growing conviction that the rapid deployment of the US THAAD system demonstrates the United States’ unwillingness to solve the North Korean nuclear problem in cooperation with China.

Realizing that the DPRK will not abandon the development of its nuclear program, the US has made a “strategic turn” from the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula to the deployment of THAAD, thereby dragging South Korea into a deep abyss by trying to win the competition with China.

In the National Assembly [Parliament] of the Republic of Korea, a seminar was held on the feasibility of deploying American THAAD missile defense complexes.

In an interview with Sputnik, South Korean security experts commented on the effectiveness and feasibility of THAAD in terms of defense and strategic interests of South Korea.

Kim Dongyeop, professor of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, said that, “THAAD is a nail that the US-Japan alliance is hammering into Korea.”

News Story: Russia the Mediator - Can Moscow Help Organize Talks for US, N Korea Leaders?

North Korea could ask Russia to help organize a one-on-one meeting between its leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, Washington-based Radio Free Asia reported, citing US experts.

The report was later confirmed by other media outlets.

Donald Trump earlier said he would like to sit down with Kim over a hamburger and decide the future of North Korea’s nuclear program.

The Trump Administration has since toughened its stance on Pyongyang though, and now talks about the possibility of preventive nuclear strikes on North Korea and the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea and Japan.

It is apparently with this change of tack by Washington in mind that Kim Jong-un is now looking for ways to mend fences with the United States, RFA said.

Sputnik asked several leading Russian political analysts to comment on the RFA’s report.

News Report: Philippines 'Not Afraid to Show Interest' in Russian Weapons

Victor Kladov, director of international cooperation and regional policy at Rostec State Corporation, spoke with Sputnik in an interview saying that Russia is gaining popularity among the countries that it has never cooperated with before but are now “literally knocking on [their] door.” One such country is the Philippines.

After the completion of the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace exhibition [LIMA-2017], which took place from March 21 to 25 on the Malaysian island of Langkawi, the interest in Russian weapons and aviation has further increased especially in Southeast Asia.

According to Kladov, the Philippines had shown interest in Russian aviation, naval equipment and in small arms earlier also, but had retained its weapons dependence on the United States.

However, now the situation has changed and the Philippines has openly expressed interest in Russian technologies.

News Report: India Commissions Amphibious Landing Craft Near Malacca Straits

Indian Navy LCU (Image: Wiki Commons)

The Indian Navy commissioned the first of its eight landing craft utility (LCU) at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, close to the Malacca Strait. LCUs are meant to transport military equipment like tanks, armored vehicles and troops.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The LCU is part of a bid to augment amphibious warfare capabilities of the Indian Navy. About 3,000 soldiers trained in amphibious warfare are deployed at the Andaman and Nicobar Command at Port Blair. The Navy will soon open commercial bids for procuring new Landing Platform Docks (LPD) amphibious warships.

The delivery of the LCU was delayed by more than a year. Work on it began in September 2012 and was to be delivered by July 2015. The LCU will play a key role in transporting 145 ton of military equipment like main battle tanks, armored vehicles and 165 fully-equipped troops. The ships facilitate the landing of troops and military equipment on islands where they are under adverse occupation.

News Report: North Korea May Be 'in Final Stages' of Preparations for Another Nuke Test

North Korea may be in the final phases of preparations for a new nuclear test, according to a report by a program of the US-Korea Institute at the School for Advanced and International Studies (SAIS) dubbed 38 North.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The program reached the conclusion of North Korea preparing for another nuclear test after analyzing commercial satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site from March 25.

"Apart from several mining carts at the West Portal [of the site], there is no significant activity at the other areas of the test site," the report stated on Tuesday. "The lack of activity may mean that test preparations are in their final stages."

News Report: North Korea Increasing Activity at Nuclear Test Site

Increased activity at North Korea's main nuclear test site during the past few days could mean the country is in final preparations for a sixth nuclear bomb test, according to a report from the U.S.-Korea Institute.

38 North, a website published by the U.S.-based think tank, released photos of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site taken March 28 that show vehicles moving around the area and water being pumped from a tunnel, likely to keep it dry for communications and monitoring equipment.

In a statement released with the photos, the group said the activity is "consistent with previous reports," though it noted a large, new contingent of people "standing in formation" in the base's administrative area.

The statement said, "Such a gathering has not been seen since January 4, 2013, which was followed by a nuclear test on February 12."

News Report: Afghan Governor Says US Marines' Deployment Will Reverse Taliban Gains

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Afghan officials appear confident a planned deployment of about 300 U.S. Marines will help local forces reverse insurgent gains in the embattled southern province of Helmand.

Backed by airpower, the Afghan National Army has intensified offensive operations in the largest Afghan poppy-growing province, after the Taliban captured the strategically important district center of Sangin last week, although government officials continue to dispute the claim.

Afghan forces in overnight operations are reported to have killed dozens of insurgents and destroyed several narcotics-producing factories in Helmand.

The provincial governor, Hayatullah Hayat, says national security forces are prepared, and better placed this year to beat back the Taliban. They already have cleared areas around the provincial capital of Lashkargah and nearby districts.

“We have [also] started clearing pockets of [insurgents] in Garmsir district, in Marjah district, and also this will be done in Sangin district,” Hayat told VOA.

News Report: Afghanistan to Get Helicopters, Aircraft as Part of Security Plan

Afghanistan's US-Built MD-530 Light Attack Helicopters

Ayesha Tanzeem

ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan is expected to get up to 200 helicopters and other aircraft as part of a four-year plan to improve the nation's security forces to help beat the Taliban insurgency, according to Dawlat Waziri, the spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry.

Waziri said discussion of the plan is part of the agenda of a top level U.S. delegation expected to visit Kabul over the next couple of weeks. U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the reported trip, but their Afghan counterparts have been discussing the expected agenda.

Ahead of the visit, Afghanistan’s National Security Adviser Haneef Atmar held a one-hour video conference Wednesday with his American counterpart H. R. McMaster to discuss bilateral security cooperation between the two nations.