Powering expeditionary operations: Weapons and Warfare

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THE U-S NAVY IS SICK OF SPENDING MILLIONS TO TAKE DOWN DRONES THAT COST THOUSANDS–THESE CUTTING-EDGE HYPERVELOCITY PROJECTILES COULD HELP. 

AND THEY’RE CALLING IT GOLF FORCE ONE. WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT’S LIKELY THE MOST HEAVILY ARMORED GOLF CART IN HISTORY. 

HEY EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO WEAPONS AND WARFARE. A SHOW MADE FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

OUR GOAL HERE IS PRETTY SIMPLE–WE WANT TO HELP YOU HAVE AN INFORMED CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH AMERICA’S MILITARY.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M YOUR HOST, RYAN ROBERTSON, AND WE’RE STARTING THIS WEEK WITH THE U.S. ARMY AND A MISSION YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IT HAS. 

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS NOT A NAVY VESSEL, IT’S AN ARMY LANDING CRAFT. AND AS ARMY LEADERSHIP CONTINUES TO RESHAPE THEIR FORCE 

WITH AN EYE ON A POTENTIAL CONFLICT IN THE PACIFIC, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARMY’S FLEET OF WATERCRAFT CONTINUES TO GROW. 

THINK OF THE U.S. ARMY IN ACTION, AND IT’S LIKELY TANKS AND HELICOPTERS ARE PART OF THE PICTURE. 

AND WHILE THEY’RE NOT AS CONNECTED WITH THE COUNTRY’S OLDEST BRANCH OF THE MILITARY, WATERCRAFT PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE ARMY’S POWER PROJECTION. ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE THE INDO-PACIFIC. IT’S RESPONSIBLE FOR MOVING SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, AND TROOPS IN DEEP OCEAN WATER, SHALLOW COASTAL WATERS, INLAND WATERWAYS, AND RIVERS.

[COL William Arnold, Chief of Transportation, U.S. Army Transportation Corps]

“I liken it to having a bunch of different tools in the toolbox that we can employ in that dynamic distribution network that I just described, sea lines of communication, airlines of communication and ground lines of communication and watercraft will be a connector of many of those different other modes and bringing that to bear. ”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

COLONEL WILLIAM ARNOLD IS THE CHIEF OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE U.S. ARMY’S TRANSPORTATION CORPS. AT THIS YEAR’S AUSA GLOBAL FORCE SYMPOSIUM IN ALABAMA, HE LED A SESSION FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE OF ARMY WATERCRAFT, ACKNOWLEDGING WHILE THE ARMY’S CURRENT FLEET OF VESSELS IS AGING, IT’S STILL CAPABLE OF MEETING MISSION DEMANDS, AND AT SOME POINT, INTEGRATING WITH EMERGING TECH.

[COL William Arnold, Chief of Transportation, U.S. Army Transportation Corps]

“We’re looking for help to understand, how can we do littoral mapping without having to put mariners in the water to go figure out what beach gradients are, for example, to see if we can beach one of our watercraft. We’re looking for capabilities that are out there to can do that rapidly, be able to use AI to feed decisions back into the Mariner populations before we decide we’re going to bring that, bring any vessel or any capabilities to a beach, for example.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE, HERE’S WHAT THE ARMY HAS AT ITS DISPOSAL, AND WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON. 

EIGHT LOGISTICS SUPPORT VESSELS, THAT ARE CAPABLE OF DELIVERING VEHICLES AND GENERAL CARGO.

17 LCUs, THAT STANDS FOR LANDING CRAFT UTILITY, CAPABLE OF DELIVERING 350 SHORT TONS OF CARGO OR 320 COMBAT EQUIPPED PERSONNEL.

NEXT UP, NINE LCMs, THAT’S LANDING CRAFT MECHANIZED, THOSE CARRY TROOPS, CARGO, AND EQUIPMENT.

THERE ARE SIX SMALL TUGS FOR REPOSITIONING OTHER WATERCRAFT. 

AND 30 MODULAR CAUSEWAY SYSTEMS, FOR A TOTAL OF 70 WATERCRAFT.

PLUS THE ARMY IS EXPECTED TO ACQUIRE 13 NEW MANEUVER SUPPORT VESSELS BY 2036. 

[COL William Arnold, Chief of Transportation, U.S. Army Transportation Corps]

“That capability, right there is really new, new capability that we’re bringing in that can maneuver in the tactical zone and maneuver forces very rapidly in and around the littoral areas. ”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

BRIGADIER GENERAL SHANE UPTON OF THE ARMY FUTURES COMMAND TELLS US ARMY LEADERSHIP IS ALSO LOOKING TO INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND EMBRACING THE OPPORTUNITIES AUTONOMOUS VESSELS OFFER A FORCE WITH A GROWING LIST OF RESPOSIBILITIES, WHILE EXPERIENCING POTENTIALLY TIGHTER BUDGETS.

[BG Shane Upton, Dir., Contested Logistics Cross-Functional Team, Army Futures Command]

“We’re going to put autonomous boats in the water as the Army, and we’re going to pair them with those those mariners, and have them learn the collaborative behaviors, how to command and control them, give us an assessment and feedback from a soldier that does this for the United States Army in a forward theater.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER NICHOLAS LAFERTE (Lah-fair-tee), WITH THE ARMY’S COMBINED ARMS SUPPORT COMMAND, SAYS ITS ABOUT EMBRACING THE IDEA OF DOING A LOT MORE WITH LESS. 

[CW5 Nicholas Laferte, Combined Arms Support Command]

“We’re open to tears of autonomy on our current craft, how we can just take one step up the ladder to potentially reduce that load and make those war fighters lives a little bit more focused, right? Let their focused energy be on the threat at his hand.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

FOR ALL THAT’S DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE ARMY AND NAVY’S FLEETS, THERE ARE PARALLELS, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF MAINTENCE. ACCORDING TO THAT GAO REPORT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER–

THE ARMY’S WATERCRAFT FLEET EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN ITS “FULLY MISSION CAPABLE” RATE, FALLING FROM 75% IN 2020 TO LESS THAN 40% IN 2024. MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL LALOR, OF THE ARMY’S TANK-AUTOMOTIVE AND ARMAMENTS COMMAND IS BACKING A PUSH FOR 3-D PRINTING, IN THE FIELD, TO TURN THINGS AROUND. 

[MG Michael Lalor, Commander, Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command]

“The idea is, fix forward, deliver forward and, and this particular level of maintenance and watercraft is ripe for it, because no two watercraft as all you know out there many of you who are near and dear to your heart, none of them are the same. They’re snowflakes. And so there’s all sorts of non standard parts that could be advanced manufactured. And honestly, it’s a great it’s a great ground for expansion of technology and solving problems.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

SO, WHAT’S NEXT? HOW DOES THE ARMY’S FLEET OVERCOME ITS MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND STAND READY FOR ACTION IN THE PACIFIC SHOULD THE CALL COME? FIRST,  GENERAL LALOR SAYS, LIKE THE NAVY, THE ARMY IS ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR ALLIED PARTNERS TO HELP BRIDGE THE GAP.

[MG Michael Lalor, Commander, Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command]

“We are in next year, going to expand our ability to contract maintenance to other countries that we haven’t used before, predominantly been West Coast, East Coast, Hawaii, Japan, Korea. Now we’re going to see us expand to Guam, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, you name it. I’ve been to most of them in the last six months trying to drum up some business. And business will be good.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

AS FOR ADDING WATERCRAFT? 

IN MARCH, THEN DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE U.S. ARMY PACIFIC, MAJOR GENERAL JEFFREY VANANTWERP TOLD ‘STARS AND STRIPES’ IN A CONFERENCE CALL… 

“That leased vessels provide a pretty phenomenal capability and a pretty high level of readiness.”

NO WORD YET ON HOW MANY, IF ANY, VESSELS HAVE BEEN LEASED.

ALL RIGHT, JOINED NOW BY SUPER PRODUCER BRETT BAKER. BRETT, WHEN WE WERE PUTTING THE STORY TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE ARMY USING SHIPS BEFORE, BUT REALLY, WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, START DOING THE RESEARCH ON IT, IT’S REALLY SURPRISING HOW MANY BOATS THE ARMY HAS.

[BRETT BAKER]

I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, WE’VE LEARNED A LOT, I THINK, IN THE COURT SINCE, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED PRODUCING THIS SHOW. AND YEAH, I DIDN’T, I DIDN’T REALLY KNOW THAT THE ARMY EVEN HAD BOATS OR VESSELS. AND YEAH, SO I THINK IT’S A REALLY INTERESTING PART OF THE PUZZLE, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW THEY’RE BUILDING THINGS FOR THE INDO PACIFIC AND WHERE THEY THINK THINGS ARE GOING TO GO. THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN WHATEVER THAT BECOMES. SO IT’S OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR THE ARMY TO PUT A PRIORITY ON THAT AND KIND OF GET WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. WHICH ARE THEY NOT, RIGHT NOW.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

RIGHT? AND THE IDEA OF LEASING SOME VESSELS, I MEAN THAT THAT COULD BE A GOOD MOVE IN A PINCH. BUT WHEN YOU LEASE A VESSEL, YOU DON’T OWN THE VESSEL. AND, I MEAN, WE DID A STORY ON, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT TO REPAIR, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK. SO IT’S LIKE, IF I JUST HAVE KIND OF SOME QUALMS ABOUT IT, WHEN YOU LEASE IT, DON’T OWN IT. CAN THE OWNER REFUSE TO LET YOU USE IT FOR A TIME. I MEAN, IT JUST KIND OF INTRODUCES SOME QUAGMIRE. SO OWNING IS USUALLY BETTER WHEN IT COMES TO MILITARY EQUIPMENT, IN MY OPINION.

[BRETT BAKER]

DEFINITELY AN INTERESTING WORKAROUND, I WILL SAY, OBVIOUSLY, THOUGH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LEASE IT, THEN MAYBE YOU’VE GOT MORE READILY ACCESS TO IT THAN WHAT THEY’VE GOT RIGHT NOW. I MEAN, RIGHT NOW THEY’RE IN A SHORTFALL FROM THE VESSELS THEY NEED. ONE THING I WAS THINKING IS, AND I’M GOING TO CHECK THE NOTES HERE. YOU KNOW, THEY’RE REPLACING THE LET’S TIGHTEN THIS UP ON THE END OF THE LCMS. THE LANDING CRAFT MECHANIZED WITH THE MSRV LIGHTS THE MANEUVER SUPPORT VEHICLE LIGHT, I CAN SEE A SCENARIO WHERE THEY KEEP BOTH OF THOSE FOR A TIME. IF THEY’RE IN THE NEED, BECAUSE THEY’VE ALREADY GOT THEM. YES, THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED AND CYCLED OUT. BUT IF YOU NEED THE VESSELS, YOU’VE GOT VESSELS. SO I COULD SEE A PLACE WHERE THOSE JUST KIND OF STAY IN. THE OTHER THING I KIND OF FIND INTERESTING IS THEY MAKE IT A REAL POINT. THEY’RE NOT SAILORS. THEY’RE MARINERS. AND SO LIKE, YEAH, I WOULD NEVER THOUGHT AN ARMY MARINER IS KIND OF AN INTERESTING THING. BUT, YEAH, IT’S SOMETHING THE ARMY IS GONNA HAVE TO WORK FOR, WORK HARD FOR, COMING UP IN THESE NEXT FEW YEARS TO TRY TO GET THAT FLEET YOU KNOW WHERE THEY WANT IT TO BE.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

ABSOLUTELY AND WE HAVE SOME MORE FLEET NEWS TO TALK ABOUT IN OUR HEADLINE SEGMENT. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, BRETT, LET’S GET TO IT.

I’M JOINED NOW BY SENIOR PRODUCER, AND AIR FORCE VETERAN, BRETT BAKER.

FOR SOME HEADLINES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET’S GET TO IT!

SOME INTERESTING NEWS COMING OUT OF A HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE HEARING ON U.S. NAVY POSTURE AND CAPABILITIES THIS PAST JUNE. 

X IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, THE USS JASON DUNHAM TESTED BAE SYSTEMS’ HYPERVELOCITY PROJECTILES DURING A COMPOSITE TRAINING UNIT EXERCISE, AS PART OF A NAVY INITIATIVE TO ENHANCE LOW-COST AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE AGAINST UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS. 

I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH TATE WESTBROOK, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR NAVAL WEAPONS AT BAE SYSTEMS, AND A RETIRED NAVY CAPTAIN WITH NEARLY THREE DECADES OF SERVICE, ABOUT WHAT THIS CAPABILITY BRINGS TO THE FORCE.

[Tate Westbrook, Naval Weapons Systems]

“Despite Navy’s efforts to date, we still cannot reload missiles at sea underway. They’re working on it, but we’re not there yet. So when you’re out of missiles, you’re out of missiles, and you’re out of the fight. The great news is, with five inch projectiles, we can reload on a regular basis anywhere around the world. US, Navy and allies can replenish their five inch weapon, five inch bullets at sea, anywhere in the world.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THE TRIALS INVOLVED THE DUNHAM TESTING HVP, WHILE THE USS THE SULLIVANS TESTED LOCKHEED MARTIN’S LONGBOW HELLFIRE, ANDURIL’S ROADRUNNER, AND RAYTHEON’S COYOTE.

THESE TESTS ARE PART OF A MILITARY EFFORT TO RAPIDLY INTEGRATE NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR COUNTER-UAS OPERATIONS. SOME SYSTEMS ARE ALREADY DEPLOYED ON SHIPS, INCLUDING THE LONGBOW HELLFIRE ON THE USS INDIANAPOLIS IN THE RED SEA

AND YOU KNOW, BRETT REALLY THIS, THIS HYPER VELOCITY PROJECTILE, WHILE IT’S THE NAVY WAS DOING THE TESTING ON IT. TATE WESTBROOK SAID THAT THERE’S ALSO A VERSION WHERE THEY CAN PUT IT IN A 155 MILLIMETER PARTY ROUND, BECAUSE IT’S, IT’S AN UNDER CALIBER, UNDERSIZED CALIBER ROUND. SO THEY JUST PUT SOME SABOS ON IT. IT’LL FIT ON A 45 MARK 45 DECK GUN, WHICH IS WHAT THE NAVY IS USING IT WITH. AND YOU KNOW YOU CAN THROW IT IN A PALADIN OR ANY NATO STANDARD, 155, ARTILLERY LAUNCHER, AND SUDDENLY YOU HAVE A HYPERVELOCITY PROJECTILE THAT CAN CORRECT ITS PATH IN THE AIR. PRETTY CHEAP ANSWER FOR A LOT OF THESE DRONES, CHEAP CRUISE MISSILES THAT ARE FILLING THE AIR ON BATTLEFIELDS.

[BRETT BAKER]

ABSOLUTELY. AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A BIG PRIORITY FOR THE PENTAGON, IS TO GET THESE MORE REPLICABLE, CHEAPER, FASTER, KIND OF PRODUCTS OUT TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE HAVING TO DO THE JOB. AND IT’S, IT’S AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT. OBVIOUSLY, THERE’S, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY STILL WORK TO BE DONE, BUT PUTTING THESE IN THE HANDS OF THE OPERATORS IS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL WHEN THEY CAN FINALLY GET THAT DONE.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

YEAH. AND LAST, FINAL THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS IS JUST THE SPEED OF WHICH THIS WAS DEVELOPED. I REMEMBER WHEN YOU AND I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT EARLY LAST YEAR AT A NAVY LEAGUE EXPO IN NATIONAL HARBOR. AND THEN FAST FORWARD, YOU KNOW, EIGHT MONTHS, AND WE’RE TESTING IT AT SEA. SO JUST THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NEW TYPE OF WEAPON WAS WAS REALLY KIND OF PHENOMENAL, IN MY MIND. ALL RIGHT, LET’S GET TO THE NEXT.

STICKING WITH THE NAVY, THE NEWLY CONFIRMED CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS, ADMIRAL DARYL CAUDLE, HAS EXPRESSED OPENNESS TO EARLY RETIREMENT OF THE USS BOISE DUE TO PROLONGED MAINTENANCE DELAYS. IT’S A BIG ADMISSION CONSIDERING THE NAVY IS SHORT 17 ATTACK SUBMARINES FROM THEIR FORMAL REQUIREMENT OF 66.  THE SUB WAS ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED IN 1991, AND CONDUCTED OPERATIONS FOR ROUGHLY 25 YEARS, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIVE SINCE 2017 DUE TO A SERIES OF MAINTENANCE DELAYS THAT DENIED IT A TIMELY AVAILABILITY AT ONE OF THE NATION’S FOUR PUBLIC SHIPYARDS, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINES AND AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

BRETT USS BOISE, IT’S A LOS ANGELES CLASS SUBMARINE. THESE WERE SLATED TO BE REPLACED BY VIRGINIA CLASS SUBMARINES, BUT STILL NOT GREAT IF YOU’RE DOWN ONE.

[BRETT BAKER]

AND FOR CAUDLE BEING, YOU KNOW, A SUBMARINE GUY HIMSELF, IT IS A BIG ADMISSION, THEN MAYBE IT’S TIME TO JUST KIND OF CUT BAIT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED IN WRITING THIS STORY UP WAS THAT NOT ONLY IS IT DOCKED AND THEY’RE WORKING ON IT, BUT THEY’VE HAD TO KEEP IT STAFFED FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS, BECAUSE IT’S STILL A NUCLEAR POWERED SUBMARINE, SO YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE FOLKS THERE MANNING THAT. YOU GOT TO HAVE SECURITY AROUND IT. SO IT’S KIND OF LIKE A MANPOWER ENERGY, YOU KNOW, DRAIN THAT’S NOT REALLY GOING ANYWHERE RIGHT NOW. SO THAT’S A BIG ADMISSION TO SAY, MAYBE IT’S TIME TO WRITE IT OFF.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

AND YOU WONDER HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT OVER THE YEARS, DOING SECURITY, KEEPING THE NUCLEAR MATERIAL IN A STABLE CONDITION, LIKE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO, YOU CAN’T JUST KIND OF PARK IT OUT BACK AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, IT’S IT’S GOOD, OR SINK IT IN A SYNC X EXERCISE. AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE A CORAL REEF OUT OF IT. LIKE A LOT OF LOT OF MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP IS REQUIRED ON THESE NUCLEAR POWERED VESSELS. SO YEAH, IT’S INTERESTING. WE’LL SEE HOW IT GOES. AND SPEAKING OF INTERESTING THIS NEXT STORY DEFINITELY SOME SOME INTEREST.

DURING HIS RECENT TRIP TO SCOTLAND PRESIDENT TRUMP HIT THE LINKS FOR A ROUND OF GOLF. NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THAT, BUT THIS TIME HE WAS FOLLOWED BY AN ARMORED POLARIS RANGER X UTILITY VEHICLE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BALLISTIC PROTECTION. THE THE WAR ZONE REPORTING THE VEHICLE, NOW DUBBED GOLF FORCE ONE BY THE PRESS, IS “PART OF THE PRESIDENTIAL FLEET OF SPECIALTY VEHICLES,” ACCORDING TO A WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON. 

BRETT I WAS KIND OF LOOKING INTO IT, LIKE, HEY, IF I WANTED ONE OF THESE THINGS, HOW DO I GET IT? SO POLARIS MAKES THE BASE UNIT, BUT THE BALLISTIC KIT, THOSE ARE THIRD PARTY LIKE POLARIS DOESN’T NECESSARILY MAKE THAT BUT THEY COULD COST UPWARDS OF $200,000 WHICH MAYBE MAKES IT THE MOST EXPENSIVE GOLF CART OF ALL TIME. I’M NOT SURE ABOUT A GOLF CART AFICIONADO, BUT I MEAN, IT CAME OUT EIGHT MONTHS AFTER SOME GUY TRIED TO TAKE A SHOT AT PRESIDENT TRUMP AT A GOLF COURSE. SO KIND OF A GOOD IDEA.

[BRETT BAKER]

YEAH, FOR SURE. I THINK MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS LIKE, MOVE OVER POPE MOBILE. WE’VE GOT A NEW RADICAL VEHICLE IN THE PROTECTION MARKET FOR, YOU KNOW, WORLD LEADERS, RIGHT? BUT, YEAH. YEAH, IF, IF THE BAND’S GONNA BE OUT GOLFING AND FOLKS ARE GONNA HAVE BAD INTENTIONS, IT’S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, EVEN AS FUNNY AS IT IS SAYING, GOLF FORCE ONE, FORCE ONE. BUT IT IS. IT’S A PRETTY SERIOUS LITTLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. I HAVE TO IMAGINE, THEY DID SOME SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS ONCE THEY GOT IT ALL ARMORED UP.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

YEAH, YEAH. STANDARD KITTED OUT RAZOR IS NOT GONNA BE POLARIS IS NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO CARRY THAT MUCH. BUT LIKE WE DID ON OUR RECENT STORY, POLARIS MAKES ONE THAT CAN CARRY 3600 POUNDS WITH AN AXLE ON THERE. SO, YOU KNOW, I DON’T THINK ALL THAT, ALL THAT BALLISTIC ARMOR, IS GOING TO WEIGH THAT MUCH, BUT IT’S GOING TO BE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ABLE TO CARRY NOW, IS THIS GOING TO TRAVEL WITH? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS IN SCOTLAND WITH THEM. SO MY MIND GOES TO OKAY, SO THE LOGISTICS OF PACKING GOLF FORCE ONE, OR DO THEY HAVE MULTIPLE GOLF COURSE ONES?

[BRETT BAKER]

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY CALL HIS CAR, THE BEAST. AND I KNOW THAT THEY TAKE THE BEAST WITH THEM WHEREVER THEY GO. I HAVE, I HAVE A FEELING IT’S PROBABLY NOT THAT BIG A DEAL IF THEY’VE GOT ROOM IN THE 747, TO SLIDING GOLF COURSE ONE AS WELL.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

WE’LL SEE WELL, I GUESS WHEN THEY COME OUT WITH THE NEW AIR FORCE ONE, IF THERE’S LIKE A TOY HATCH ON THE BACK OF IT THAT WE CAN SEE THIS THING ROLLING OUT OF. THAT WOULD BE PRETTY COOL. ALL RIGHT. HEY, BRETT, THANKS FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

IF THERE’S A WORD THAT BEST DESCRIBES WHAT AMERICAN MILITARY LEADERSHIP IS LOOKING FOR IN TODAY’S WEAPONS SYSTEMS IT’S VERSITILITY. THEY WANT SYSTEMS THAT CAN SERVE MULTIPLE PURPOSES ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS. 

IT’S A DESCRIPTION THAT CERTAINLY FITS THE JOINT AIR TO GROUND MISSILE, THE JAGM, AND THAT’S WHY IT’S OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK. 

OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS THE AGM-179 AND BUILT BY LOCKHEED MARTIN, THE JAGM WAS DESIGNED TO REPLACE THE AGING HELLFIRE AND TOW MISSILES ON ROTARY-WING AND UNMANNED AIRCRAFT.  IN USE SINCE 2022, THE JAGM REPRESENTS A PROGRESSION IN AIR-TO-GROUND MISSILE TECHNOLOGY, OFFERING A MORE VERSATILE, PRECISE, LETHAL, AND ADAPTABLE WEAPON SYSTEM THAT CAN TAKE ON WIDE ARRAY OF BATTLEFIELD CHALLENGES.

[Mark Mahaffey, SR BD Manager Navy Guided Weapons Programs, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics]

“The missile is effective against air threats, ground threats and maritime threats. And regardless of what platform I operate the missile from, whether from aircraft, from ships or from ground systems, the missile is capable against those threats.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THE JAGM COMES IN TWO VARIANTS, THE MR FOR MEDIUM RANGE TARGETS. AND THE F FOR THE FIGHTER/FIXED WING/FAST MOVER CROWD.

YOU CAN INCREASE THE RANGE OF MISSION SETS FOR THE JAGM BY THROWING IT IN  A QUAD LAUNCHER TOO…WHICH CAN THEN BE MOUNTED ON A VEHICLE, OR A VESSEL AT SEA….MAIKING IT A VERY CAPABLE PIECE OF ANY UNIT’S ARSENAL.

[Mark Mahaffey, SR BD Manager Navy Guided Weapons Programs, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics]

“With our concept, the ship can be can maintain on station and provide a reload by drawing missiles out of the magazine, sourcing the launcher, and then, as you draw missiles from the magazine, should you need more, I can bring missiles out to the ship, refill the magazine so the ship can stay on station for much longer periods of time”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THE JAGM ADDRESSES THAT PREVIOUS SYSTEMS, LIKE THE HELLFIRE, HAD ISSUES WITH, IS ITS ABILITY TO SEE THE TARGET NO MATTER WHAT’S CLOUDING THE PICTURE ON THE BATTLEFIELD. MARK MAHAFFEY, A RETIRED MARINE HELICOPTER PILOT AND NOW A SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR LOCKHEED MARTIN, SAYS THE GUIDANCE CAPABILITY OF THE JAGM MAKES IT A DIFFERENCE MAKER.

[Mark Mahaffey, SR BD Manager Navy Guided Weapons Programs, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics]

“It’s got a dual mode seeker. It’s got both a semi active laser seeker and an active millimeter wave sensor, which gives the missile a true fire and forget capability. Because of that capability, other services, other platforms, are looking at it as an affordable option to address the emergent threats on the battlefield today.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THE U.S. ARMY, NAVY, AND MARINE CORPS ARE THE PRIMARY USERS OF THE JAGM, BUT UNCLE SAM SAID IT’S OKAY TO SELL THEM TO THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE NETHERLANDS.

AND THE TEXAS OF EUROPE–POLAND– IS ALSO PLANNING TO ACQUIRE THE MISSILE.

I’M ALLOWED TO MAKE THAT JOKE, TEXANS, I WAS BORN THERE AND I REMEMBER A WORLD WITH FURR’S CAFETERIA.

FOR THIS WEEK’S COMMS CHECK WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON A STAFF FAVORITE HERE AT WEAPONS AND WARFARE, THE BOEING MQ-25 STINGRAY.

FOR THOSE OF YOU NEW TO THE PROGRAM–FIRST, THANKS FOR JOINING–BUT YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW THE MQ-25 IS A CARRIER-BASED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM, AKA DRONE. STINGRAYS WILL REFUEL AND EXTEND THE RANGE OF THE CARRIER AIR WING AS WELL AS RELIEVE MANNED AIRCRAFT, LIKE THE F/A-18, FROM HAVING TO CARRY OUT TANKER DUTIES.

THE NEARLY DECADE OLD PROJECT HAS HAD SOME MIXED NEWS OF LATE, SOME GOOD, SOME NOT SO GOOD. 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE DURING A RECENT QUARTERLY EARNINGS CALL, BOEING’S PRESIDENT AND CEO, KELLY ORTBERG HAD AN UPDATE ON THE STINGRAY.

[Kelly Ortberg, President/CEO, Boeing]

“The team began ground testing and successfully worked through the production move to our new facility, bringing the program closer to first flight for the US Navy.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

UNFORTUNATELY THE NEWS ISN’T ALL SUNSHINE. A NEW BUDGET DOCUMENT FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY’S OFFICE REVEALS THE EXPECTED OPERATIONAL DATE FOR THE PROJECT WAS PUSHED TO THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2027. THAT’S AFTER ALREADY BEING PUSHED TO 2024 AND 2026. 

THE NAVY PLANS TO EVENTUALLY ACQUIRE 76 STINGRAYS, AND WANTS ENOUGH FUNDING IN ITS 2026 BUDGET FOR THREE PRODUCTION UNITS. EACH UNIT CARRIES A CURRENT COST OF AROUND $161 MILLION.

ALRIGHT FOLKS–THAT’S GOING TO JUST ABOUT DO IT FOR THIS WEEK’S EPISODE. LIKE WE SAID AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, OUR MISSION AT WEAPONS AND WARFARE IS TO HELP REGULAR PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE U-S MILITARY–AND WHY TAXPAYERS ARE BEING ASKED TO SPEND A TRILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON IT. 

IF YOU WANT TO HELP US IN THAT MISSION–YOU CAN–DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND START SHARING OUR CONTENT ON YOUR SOCIAL FEEDS.

FOR MY WRAP THIS WEEK–I’M GOING TO SHARE SOME OF MY THOUGHTS ON A STORY I SAW ON MY SOCIAL FEEDS–

THIS ONE RIGHT HERE–IT’S ABOUT A CITY COUNCILMAN IN DANVILLE, VIRGINIA. 

IT’S A SMALL TOWN, SO HE STILL NEEDS A DAY JOB TO SUPPORT HIS WIFE AND KIDS–THAT’S WHERE HE WAS WHEN ANOTHER MAN–SHOTSIE MICHAEL BUCK-HAYES– CAME INTO HIS OFFICE AND DUMPED GASOLINE ON VOGLER. 

THE TWO WENT OUTSIDE AND BUCK HAYES LIT VOGLER ON FIRE. BUCK-HAYES  LATER TOLD POLICE HE WANTED VOGLER TO DIE. 

HE DIDN’T–HE JUST RECEIVED SEVERE BURNS TO 60% OF HIS BODY AND WILL LIKELY REQUIRE YEARS OF TREATMENT TO RECOVER. 

INSTEAD OF EXPRESSING CONCERN FOR THEIR FELLOW HUMANS THOUGH–OR DISMAY THAT WE’RE NOW AT A POINT IN SOCIETY WHERE WE’RE LIGHTING EACH OTHER ON FIRE IN FRICKIN PARKING LOTS–

THE COMMENT SECTION WAS FULL OF PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT SORT OF CITY COUNCILMAN VOGLER WAS… WAS HE A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT—BECAUSE THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION SOMEHOW DETERMINES THE LEVEL OF COMPASSION WE WILL SHOW SOMEONE WHO WAS THE OBVIOUS VICTIM OF A HORRIBLE CRIME….A CRIME WHICH STEMMED FROM A PERSONAL ARGUMENT–AND NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT VOGLER WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL. 

IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS–I OFTEN THINK BACK TO THE WORDS OF CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE. SHE WAS A DEMOCRAT FROM CALIFORNIA AND AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS IN 2001–SHE WAS THE ONLY PERSON TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE AUTHORIZATION TO USE MILITARY FORCE–WHICH GAVE PRESIDENT BUSH AND ALL SUCCESSIVE PRESIDENTS THE ABILITY TO USE THE MILITARY WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. 

IT WAS A TIME OF RAW EMOTION IN OUR COUNTRY. WE WERE HURT AND WE WANTED SOMEONE TO PAY FOR IT… SO WHEN SHE SAID AS WE ACT, LET US NOT BECOME THE EVIL THAT WE DEPLORE–FOR SOME OF US–MYSELF INCLUDED–

IT WAS HARD TO HEAR. WE WANTED RETRIBUTION AND SHE WAS TELLING US TO USE OUR HEADS.

24 YEARS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES, AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS LATER–TURNS OUT BARBARA LEE WAS PROBABLY RIGHT. 

SO, IN OUR CURRENT CLIMATE OF POLITICAL DIVISIONS AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS–

WHEN MANY OF US ARE FEELING HURT, BETRAYED AND ABANDONED–

REMEMBER–AS WE ACT, LET US NOT BECOME THE EVIL THAT WE DEPLORE. 

FOR SENIOR PRODUCER BRETT BAKER, VIDEO EDITOR BRIAN SPENCER, AND MOTION DESIGNER DAKOTA PITEO–I’M RYAN ROBERTSON WITH STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, SIGNING OFF.