Month: May 2022

Source: United States Navy

“This expansion of our F-35 component workload is extremely important because the F-35 is a not just a unique platform, it’s the future of naval aviation,” said FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. James Belmont. “The F-35 component work will be a vital part of the depot’s workload as we move forward into the future. It will bring continued growth and I believe it will have a positive economic impact on the local community.”

FRCE is the lead site for depot-level maintenance on the F-35B Lightning II and has conducted modifications and repair on the Marine Corps’ short takeoff-vertical landing variant of the aircraft since 2013. The facility has also worked with the F-35A (conventional takeoff and landing) and F-35C (carrier) variants.

FRCE declared capability on its first F-35 component in 2020. By the close of 2020, the depot had declared capability on 17 components for the fifth-generation fighter. Mike Mishoe, FRCE F-35 Lightning II depot activation lead, says that was just the start of an initiative aimed at declaring capabilities on a range of F-35 components, all geared toward supporting the warfighter.

“Since then, we have declared capability on parachutes and the ground maintenance motor pumps,” said Mishoe. “Although all of these components are important, of note are the parachutes. The aircraft can’t be flown without them. We are working with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to produce as many as we can and as quickly as we can. Providing these parachutes, as well as all the other components, allows the pilots to keep training, supporting operations, and conducting real-world missions.”

In addition to supporting fleet requirements and mission readiness, the new F-35 component work provides FRCE with a scheduled workload going forward, Mishoe said.

“We continue to stand up capability on a quarterly basis,” said Mishoe. “We currently have F-35 component workload scheduled through at least 2026, and we continue to pursue bringing in additional workload.”

Mike Sermarini, FRCE’s former F-35 Lightning II depot activation lead, has championed most of these initial efforts along with his team. Sermarini, who recently transferred to another assignment within Naval Air Systems Command, said the depot is already working toward declaring capabilities on an ever-expanding range of F-35 components.

“FRCE is working on 84 different end items,” said Sermarini. “They’ve stood up initial repair capability for 19 components and they’ve developed and managed successful partnerships in support of the workload.  They recently declared capability on parachutes and the ground maintenance motor pump.  The capability team and depot were working hard and anticipating declaration for engine-driven pump and filter modules within the coming weeks.”

While the term “declaring capability” sounds simple, the actual process is complex. According to Mishoe, it involves intensive collaboration both within the depot as well as outside it.

“When FRCE declares capability on a component, that means that we have all the required materiel, support equipment, and staffing in order to test and repair components so they may be sent back to the fleet to be installed on F-35s around the world,” said Mishoe. “In order for this to happen, we must collaborate not only within our own workforce at the depot but also with entities outside of FRCE such as Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers along with the F-35 Joint Program Office, OEMs, and others.”

The process of declaring capability on a component begins years before the component ever arrives at the depot and involves a team of experts. This team must consider a variety of factors such as current and future workloads, manpower requirements, facility and tooling needs, and supply support. Engineers must analyze vast amounts of technical data. Mishoe says it takes critical thinking, expertise and commitment to make it all happen.

“To declare capability on a component, we have a team of people from across our workforce all working hand-in-hand,” Mishoe said. “We really strive to make sure we have the right people in place and ensure that they are properly trained and equipped. Everyone here understands the process and just how important these components and capabilities are to the workforce and the fleet. Their motivation astounds me. Without them, none of this would be possible.”

In addition to having the right people working together, standing up new component capabilities also means ensuring those people have the facilities, gear and training necessary for the project. Sermarini explains that each component brings with it a unique set of requirements.

“Our efforts are not limited to simply training the artisans on the required maintenance tasks,” said Sermarini.  “Our team must ensure a logistically supportable and validated repair solution. This means the facilities, infrastructure, technical data, technical expertise, supporting hardware and software must all be in place to meet the forecasted demand.”

Sermarini says the COVID-19 pandemic has also presented a unique set of challenges as the depot worked to stand up capabilities.

“The past year and a half has been very challenging due to COVID-19,” said Sermarini. “Due to travel restrictions and personnel requirements, all of our major milestones are basically overlapping – which is certainly not something you want in the project management world – but here we are today, and we’re pushing through to get all these systems activated.”

Sermarini cites the men and women who work at FRCE as the key factor in overcoming COVID-related obstacles and tight timelines.

“We recognize growing our F-35 repair capability requires an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said Sermarini.  “With the support of our command, we’ve been extremely successful in generating the excitement and buy-in amongst the staff that’s crucial to achieving our objectives.  We’re asking a lot of our workforce and – as always – they’ve come through.”

The F-35 component workload, while important to the future of FRCE, also yields positive impacts that go far beyond the boundaries of the depot. According to Sermarini, these component capabilities benefit warfighters and contribute to mission readiness throughout the Department of Defense.

“FRC East is not solely standing up repair capability for the Marine Corps variant,” said Sermarini. “We are establishing component repair capabilities for all F-35 variants in support of both our local warfighters as well as the global enterprise.”

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.

Learn more at www.navair.navy.mil/frce or https://www.facebook.com/FleetReadinessCenterEast.

Source: United States Navy

Navy Sailors train, prepare, and collaborate with our foreign partners to fight and win in the information warfare domain; IWTC San Diego’s efforts help to strengthen the country’s global alliances and partnerships.

As outlined in the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday’s NAVPLAN 2021, “Our naval power is amplified by sailing and integrating with like-minded navies. We must continue to strengthen our alliances and partnerships to ensure our success across the continuum of day-today competition, crisis, and conflict.  We must continue operating interchangeably with key allies to expand the reach and lethality of our collective forces across the globe.  Our robust constellation of allies and partners remains a critical strategic advantage over our competitors.”

Throughout the course, partner nation students learned from and interacted with a variety of subject matter experts from the U.S. Navy’s information warfare community. Instructors covered a variety of subjects including counter-drug operations, asymmetric warfare, naval intelligence principles and operations, and intelligence sources and methods.

Marine Corps Capt. Brandan Kimble, one of the IMIC instructors said, “Despite a wide ranging array of experience and diversity of backgrounds, the class was highly effective in collaborating as a team while applying the intelligence fundamentals taught throughout the course.”

In addition to the curriculum, the students also toured several areas in Southern California, as part of the Field Studies Program. The group visited Los Angeles, the Cabrillo National Monument and received a scenic guided tour of San Diego. The three-week course convenes twice a year, hosting intelligence officers from around the world.

“They were a great and engaging class of foreign naval officers” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Tommy Irwin, “The entire class was very open to learning new techniques and new perspectives from not only the instructors, but from their fellow classmates.”

IWTC San Diego, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT), provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel that prepares them to conduct information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.

With four schoolhouse commands, a detachment, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT trains approximately 26,000 students every year, delivering trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.

Source: United States Navy

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, spoke to an audience of nearly 800 international defense and industry leaders during the Combined Naval Event at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre.

“We are on a path to build the world’s first international unmanned surface vessel fleet,” Cooper said. “Three weeks ago, we surpassed 10,000 total sailing hours for unmanned surface vessels throughout the region. Additionally, two vessels each exceeded 100 consecutive operating days at sea.”

U.S. 5th Fleet is currently fielding multiple unmanned systems with artificial intelligence across the Middle East after establishing Task Force 59 in September. The task force works closely with members of industry and academia as well as other experts to provide operator feedback and help drive the innovation process forward.

“The goal is a distributed and integrated network of systems, operated with our partners, to significantly expand how far we can see,” said Cooper.

Over an eight-month period, the task force stood up operating hubs for unmanned systems and artificial intelligence in Bahrain and Aqaba, Jordan while deploying new unmanned systems to a half-dozen bilateral and multilateral exercises. Additionally, some of the systems are currently contributing to daily operations in regional waters by enhancing maritime surveillance.

“Every partner and every sensor offers new information that can be added to what we call the ‘Digital Ocean,’ an intelligent synthesis of around-the-clock inputs encompassing thousands of images.” Cooper explained. “Putting more eyes above, on and below the water’s surface enhances our picture of the surrounding seas and enables us to position our crewed ships to react more rapidly.”

Earlier this year, U.S. 5th Fleet announced the goal of forming a multinational fleet of 100 unmanned surface vessels by the summer of 2023.

“A network of partners can increase shared maritime domain awareness by 30 or 40 times, through an interconnected mesh of sensors and real-time data fused together,” Cooper said. “This is an ambitious goal, but it is achievable because of our incredibly talented team.”

U.S. 5th Fleet led the world’s largest unmanned maritime exercise in February when 10 nations fielded more than 80 unmanned systems during International Maritime Exercise 2022. The exercise enabled operators employ advanced unmanned systems during 14 different operational scenarios.

“We are clearly more capable when we operate together, which is why strengthening partnerships and accelerating innovation are intertwined,” said Cooper. “It is not just about the technology. It is our people who have us on a path to realizing this vision together with our partners in the region.”

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The region is comprised of 21 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.