H-60 Replacement Tilt-rotor Prototype

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Bell’s V-280 prototype

The Aviationist brings us pictures of the first prototype for the V-280, one of two contenders for the Army’s “Future Vertical Lift” program to replace the H-60 and other helicopters. We have discussed this program previously as a potential replacement for Coast Guard MH-60s, here (2015) and here (2013).

The competing Sikorsky-Boeing-made SB-1 Defiant coaxial helicopter is expected to fly in 2018.

The V-280’s characteristics reportedly include:

  • Speed: 280 KTAS cruise speed
  • Combat range: 500-800nm
  • Strategically Self-Deployable – 2100nm Range
  • Achieves 6k/95 (hover out of ground effect at full load, at 6,000 feet/95 degrees F)
  • Non-rotating, fixed engines
  • Triple redundant fly-by-wire flight control system
  • Conventional, retractable landing gear
  • Two 6′ wide large side doors for ease of ingress/egress
  • Suitable down wash
  • Significantly smaller logistical footprint compared to other aircraft

 

Looking at “Land Based, Long Range/ultra-long endurance UAS”

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Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flies on a simulated Navy aerial reconnaissance flight near the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) off the coast of southern California on Dec. 5, 1995. The Predator provides near, real-time infrared and color video to intelligence analysts and controllers on the ground and the ship. This is the Predator’s first maritime mission with a carrier battle group. The UAV was launched from San Nicholas Island off the coast of southern California. DoD photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeffrey S. Viano, U.S. Navy.

The Coast Guard has issued a “Request For Information” (RFI) about Land Based, Long Range/ultra-long endurance UAS (unmanned aerial system). You can see it here. The CG-9 commentary about it is here. The Coast Guard is being pushed in this direction by the Congress, specifically by the House sub-committee that has oversight of the Coast Guard.

Note this seems to be directed specifically at drug interdiction rather than Maritime Domain Awareness of approaches to the US coast.

There is specific reference to the UAS operating beyond line of sight, so it will require both some degree of autonomy and satellite communications.

AMALGAMATED NAVIGATION RULES–Navigation Center

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USS John S. McCain

The US Coast Guard’s Navigation Center has published amalgamated navigation rules, providing a side by side listing of rules of the nautical road for both inland and international waters. You can see them here.

Below are the introductory paragraphs which provide some additional information on content.

Below is an amalgamation of the International and Inland Navigation Rules, their Annexes, and associated federal rules and regulations. All efforts are made to ensure this amalgamation is accurate and current; nonetheless, the U.S. Coast Guard makes no claims or guarantees of such and expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions. Readers are encouraged to bring any errors, omissions or suggestion to our attention using our Contact Us form (select “Navigation Rules of the Road” from the pull-down menu). Official versions of the Navigation Rules can be found at: the International Navigational Rules Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-75, 91 Stat. 308, 33 U.S.C. 1-8) or the Inland Navigation Rules Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-591, 94 Stat. 3415, 33 CFR 83).

Text unique to either Rules is shown in a dual columned table or in bracketed text: where the International text is  square bracketed ] and Inland Rules text is < angle bracketed and italicized ›.  Implementing and Interpretation Rules are shown in a bordered box aft of the Rule they implement/interpret Editorial comments provided by the USCG Office of Navigation System (CG-NAV) are shown in {braces}. Instances of “…with/of this paragraph/subparagraph/Section/Subpart/Part ( ) of this Rule…” have been redacted to refer to the enumerated Rule(s), e.g. International Rule 18(e) states “…with the Rules of this Part” and the same Inland Rule states “…with the Rules of this Subpart (Rules 4-19) (§§83.04 through 83.19)”, but, below it is stated as “…with Rules 4-19.

Hypertext permits the reader to jump to specific sections.

Thanks to Bryant’s Maritime Blog for bringing this to my attention. 

Weapons Effectiveness Testing–25 vs 30mm

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This is old. It goes back to 1992, but if they knew the results here, it raises a question, why are we still equipping the Mk38s with 25mm guns instead of 30mm (or 35mm or 40mm) guns which also fit the same mount? The results are discussed beginning at time 8:00. The 30mm does nine times the damage to the hull and five times the damage inside the hull.

At the very least we need to make sure we have available rounds that do not detonate on impact. The 25mm rounds, exploding on impact, failed to even penetrate the 1/4 inch aluminum hull of the Mk3 target boat.

Thanks to Luke for bringing this to my attention. 

Effective Border Security: Addressing the Causes and Root Problems South of Mexico–Discussion

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Passing along an announcement of an event coming up Tuesday, 29 August. Below is the announcement edited slightly. 

Livestream will be available here on 29 August at 1900.

As part of

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy 2017- 2018 Leadership Lecture Series

The U.S. Naval Institute presents

Effective Border Security:
Addressing the Causes and Root Problems South of Mexico

Featuring

ADM Kurt W. Tidd, USN
Commander, U.S. Southern Command

and

The Hon. Earl Anthony Wayne, Career Ambassador (Ret.)
former Ambassador of the United States to Mexico (2011-2015) and
Public Policy Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

in a conversation moderated by ADM Thad W. Allen, USCG (Ret.)
former Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard (2006-2010) 

29 August 2017, 1900-2000 Eastern

U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Leamy Hall

Space is limited, please contact conferences@usni.org if you have questions or are interested in attending in person.

This event is made possible with support from The William M. Wood Foundation.

Video–Collision of US Guided Missile Destroyer JOHN MCCAIN and Tanker ALNIC MC in Singapore Waters–gCaptain

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gCaptain has provided a video screen grab showing AIS (Automatic Identification System) tracks in the Singapore Strait including that of the oil tanker Alnic MC for the time of Monday’s collision with the U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain which apparently occurs about 50 seconds in, you may want to go to full screen.

Note there was no AIS track for the McCain, just as there was no AIS track for USS Fitzgerald at the time of her collision two months earlier.

I appreciate the need for security, but perhaps in highly congested areas in peacetime, it would  be advisable to turn on AIS.