DOD Arctic Strategy

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Nov. 22 the DOD released its Arctic strategy. The news release is here. but I have quoted it in full below:

“Department of Defense Announces Arctic Strategy

“Today the Department of Defense released its Arctic Strategy during a speech by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada. The strategy document may be viewed at http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2013_Arctic_Strategy.pdf.

“Secretary Hagel’s speech can be read here.”

The strategy itself is actually pretty short, only 16 glossy pages. The readers digest version breaks down to, the DOD will work with allies and partners both internationally and domestically to assure the Arctic remains,

“…a secure and stable region where U.S. national interests are safeguarded, the U.S. homeland is protected, and nations work cooperatively to address challenges.”

The Coast Guard released its own, much more detailed strategy earlier, reported here.

Worth noting, DOD Strategy’s definition of the Arctic, like that of the National and Coast Guard strategies, extends well south of the Arctic Circle:

“The DoD strategy uses a broad definition of the Arctic, codified in 15 U.S.C. 4111, that includes all U.S. and foreign territory north of the Arctic Circle and all U.S. territory north and west of the boundary formed by the Porcupine, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers; all contiguous seas, including the Arctic Ocean and the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas, and the Aleutian islands chain.”

This might be of particular interest to the Coast Guard:

“Department will work through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to maintain air tracking capabilities in the Arctic. As the maritime domain becomes increasingly accessible, the Department will seek to improve its maritime detection and tracking in coordination with DHS and other departments and agencies as well as through public/private partnerships. The Department of the Navy, in its role as DoD Executive Agent for Maritime Domain Awareness, will lead DoD coordination on maritime detection and tracking. Where possible, DoD will also collaborate with international partners to employ, acquire, share, or develop the means required to improve sensing, data collection and fusion, analysis, and information-sharing to enhance domain awareness appropriately in the Arctic. Monitoring regional activity and analyzing emerging trends are key to informing future investments in Arctic capabilities and ensuring they keep pace with increasing human activity in the region over time.”

There is a footnote on page ten of the document (page 12 of the pdf) that might provide a justification for DOD funding of icebreakers for the Coast Guard:

“11As expressed by Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), and Commander, USNORTHCOM, in a May 2008 memorandum, the United States needs assured access to support U.S. national interests in the Arctic. Although this imperative could be met by regular U.S. Government ships in open water up to the marginal ice zone, only ice-capable ships provide assured sovereign presence throughout the region and throughout the year. Assured access in areas of pack ice could also be met by other means, including submarines and aircraft.”

Getting Outflanked along the California Coast

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FierceHomelandSecurity is reporting the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection are admitting that Pangas smuggling north from Mexico are going around existing patrols. Shouldn’t surprise anyone, there is a lot of money in it. In addition to drugs they could be  smuggling terrorist just as easily.

Perhaps we need a few of those Webber Class WPCs in the Pacific. Reportedly the administration is taking another look at border security. Its time to make our case that the water side is way too porous.

R&D Where Are You?

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Fiercehomlandsecurity reports GAO has found a disconnect between DHS border and maritime R&D and the users of the result. I tried to wade through the GAO report, but was unable to make much progress. At any rate the dollar amounts are small by government standards, but there were a few things that were clear. First DHS does not spend very much on Border and Maritime R&D, and second that the Coast Guard’s portion is only a disproportionately small sliver of that.

Looking at the chart in the Fiercehomelandsecurity article you see is that of the three centers of Maritime and Border research within the DHS, CG R&D has by far the smallest share.  What you do not see is that this is only part of DHS’s total R&D effort. Science and Technology’s Border amd Maritime Division is only one of six divisions doing R&D for DHS (p.6)

So the CG is a major part of the department, but is directly supported by only a very minor part of an already small R&D budget, so is it surprising that there is a disconnect between the end users and the R&D effort?

The GAO report can be found here.

DefenseNews Interviews the Commandant

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Defense News has an excellent interview with the Commandant. The whole interview is relatively short and to the point, only ten questions. I’ll just pick a couple of quotes to give you the flavor, but the whole thing is worth the read.

The Coast Guard is in a tough spot right now and the Commandant talks about how the budget process for each year has gotten progressively more difficult…

“So when you try to balance the recapitalization, the construction projects, keep your people, keep them adequately trained and then spend money on operations, at a certain point, you get to that tipping point where you have no other alternative other than to start cutting people or start cutting projects. And I think we’re at that point now.”

Some good news:

“We’re going to deploy Polar Star down to Antarctica to break out for the first time in many years.”

An interesting development, in response to this question, “What’s the role of the Coast Guard in that Pacific pivot strategy?” the Commandant noted the decreasing number of Navy assets in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific and added,

“…within a few short weeks or months, we’re going to publish a Western Hemisphere strat­egy, which more clearly defines what the Coast Guard intends to do to make sure that our hemisphere is taken care of.”

Look forward to seeing that. At the same time I hope we don’t neglect the very substantial part of the US EEZ in the Central and Western Pacific. (Don’t suppose we could get the Navy to fund Offshore Patrol Cutters operating our of Guam.)

 

New Canadian Ice Breaker Cost Estimate to $1.3B

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The Calgary Herald is reporting that the Canadian Government has raised the estimated price of their new Heavy Icebreaker, the Diefenbaker, from $720M to $1.3B (Canadian). Not a lot of difference in the value of the Canadian and US dollars these days, so it make the Coast Guard’s estimate of close to $1B look…well, reasonable.

The two classes of icebreakers are very much contemporaries. The Polar Star is projected to last only until 2020. It is not yet clear when a new USCG icebreaker will enter service since its procurement is only in the preliminary stages, and  there has been no significant funding for it. Plus the Coast Guard is contending they will need funding assistance from other agencies to make construction possible.

“…a scheduling conflict at the shipyard with the navy’s new resupply ships means work on the Diefenbaker won’t start until at least 2018, and the icebreaker won’t be ready until 2022.”

Perhaps an opportunity for some cooperation?

Seventh Webber Class WPC to be Commissioned Saturday, 16 Nov.

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Press release announcing the planned commissioning of the seventh Fast Response Cutter, Charles W. David, Jr. (WPC-1107) (The press release says, this is “…the eighth Sentinel Class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to arrive to Coast Guard Seventh District”  but by my count this is the seventh to be commissioned. Suppose it may be possible both statement are true. Last one commissioned was Paul Clark, on 24 August.) They are coming out at approx. three month intervals.

This will be the first FRC homeported in Key West.

A Poem Worth Reading

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There are lots of Veteran’s Day tributes out there. All well deserved, but I felt I had nothing to add. Then a friend sent this along, and I felt the need to share.

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
–
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
–
And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
–
But we’ll hear his tales no longer,
For ol’ Joe has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer
For a Veteran died today.
–
He won’t be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
–
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won’t note his passing,
‘Tho a Veteran died today.
–
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
–
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a Veteran
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
–
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
–
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
–
The politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
–
While the ordinary Veteran,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
–
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
–
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever-waffling stand?
–
Or would you want a Veteran
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Veteran,
Who would fight until the end.
–
He was just a common Veteran,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his likes again.
–
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Veteran’s part,
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
–
If we cannot do him honor
While he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage
At the ending of his days.
–
Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A VETERAN DIED TODAY.”
–
[This poem’s author was a Canadian writer, A. Lawrence Vaincourt, who died April 20, 2009. This was his most famous piece.]

Norway Buying New SAR Helos

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Always nice to know what the other guy is doing. DefenseUpdate is reporting the Norwegians are planning on replacing their current SAR helicopters with a fleet of at least 16 three engine Agusta Westland AW101s. Contract includes an option for an additional six.

Perhaps it is noteworthy that they are still using a version of the HH-3 which the USCG replaced two decades ago. With H-3s still in use by Norway, the UK, and Canada, perhaps we are not doing so badly.

The specs are impressive:

“As a medium/heavy multi-role platform AW101 has a large cabin that can carry 30+ survivors, SAR equipment and crew, and the cabin can be reconfigured in flight to meet mission requirements. crashworthy seats or 16 stretcher patients. The helicopter is powered by three GE CT7-8E engines, but can also cruise with one engine idling, to extend range or endurance of 750 nm (over 1300 km). High cruise speed, all weather operating capability, high reliability and safety are among its main advantages. The company also offers a special variant for Combat Search and Rescue missions, for which the AW101 can be equipped with up to 3 window and door mounted guns, Defensive Aids Suite and air-to-air refueling equipment.”

The AW101 is a very large, fast, long ranged helicopter. It is also in service with the Canadians in a SAR role. It has experienced a number of problems, that now appear to have been resolved. Below are characteristic of the AW101 in its Canadian CH-149 form followed by those of the Coast Guard’s MH-60 taken from their Wiki descriptions.

CH-149 General characteristics

  • Crew: 5 (Aircraft Commander, First Officer, Flight Engineer, 2 SAR Techs)
  • Capacity:
    • 30 seated troops or
    • 45 standing troops or
    • 16 stretchers with medics
  • Length: 22.81 m (74 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 6.65 m (21 ft 10 in)
  • Empty weight: 10,500 kg (23,149 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 14,580 kg (32,143 lb)
  • Powerplant: 3 × General Electric T700-T6A1 turboshaft, 1,286 kW (1,725 hp) each
  • Main rotor diameter: 18.59 m (61 ft 0 in)

    Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 309 km/h (192 mph; 167 kn)
  • Range: 1,389 km (863 mi; 750 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,575 m (15,010 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 10.2 m/s (2,010 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 53.8 kg/m2 (11.0 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.2849 kW/kg (0.174 shp/lb)

HH-60J General characteristics

  • Crew: Four (pilot, co-pilot, two flight crew)
  • Length: 64 ft 10 in (19.76 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 53 ft 8 in (16.36 m)
  • Height: 17 ft (5.18 m)
  • Empty weight: 14,500 lb (6,580 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 21,884 lb (9,926 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-401C gas turbines, 1,890 shp (1,410 kW) each

    Performance

  • Maximum speed: 180 knots (205 mph, 333 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 140 knots (160 mph, 260 km/h)
  • Range: 700 nautical miles (802 mi, 1,300 km)
  • Service ceiling: 5,000 ft hovering (1,520 m)

Note this is for the HH-60, not the characteristics as modified to MH-60J and that the criteria for service ceiling are different.

Port Security Barriers

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Prompted by a recent incident in the waters off Gibraltar, between Royal Navy and police on one side and the Spanish Guardia Civil on the other, ThinkDefence has posted advertising and videos of a number of barrier systems. I’ve seen one of these deployed around aircraft carriers in San Diego.  All are claimed to be effective against at least small boats, some against swimmers or larger vessels. Much of the interest in these systems goes back to attack on the USS Cole in Yeman.