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domingo, 26 de abril de 2009
UNITAS Ships Begin At-Sea Training Operations
UNITAS Ships Begin At-Sea Training Operations
Maritime forces from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Mexico, Peru, The United States and Uruguay sail in formation during UNITAS Gold, the 50th iteration of the annual multi-national maritime exercise to increase interoperability among participating navies. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Seth Johnson/Released)By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg and Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Patrick Grieco, UNITAS Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Ships from eleven nations got underway April 23 for UNITAS Gold, the 50th iteration of the longest-running multinational maritime exercise.
Maritime forces from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Mexico, Peru, the United States and Uruguay left Mayport, Fla., and began the underway portion of the annual partnership building exercise.
"Through the years, UNITAS has evolved to fit the landscape, needs, and mutual naval and maritime interests of the Americas and Caribbean," said Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) and U.S. 4th Fleet. "As we move forward together, I am confident that future opportunities to work with our partners will not only strengthen our ability to operate together and provide for our nation's security but will also build personal and professional respect and friendships."
For 50 years, UNITAS has served as the primary maritime security engagement exercise among the militaries of the Western Hemisphere.
During the two-week exercise lasting from April 20-May 5, the United States and partner nations will train together in a realistic scenario-driven training environment featuring live-fire exercises, undersea warfare, shipboard operations, maritime interdiction operations, air defense and surface warfare, amphibious operations, electronic warfare, and special warfare. More than 30 ships, two submarines and 50 aircraft from the U.S. and participating navies are involved.
"This isn't something we have an opportunity to do quite often," said Canadian Army 1st Lt. Michael Faber of Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment. "The Canadian forces are very much arranged towards international partnerships and joint operations. UNITAS provides us a chance to practice working on our basic operational skills with people of other countries."
Faber also said UNITAS helps provide his team with the experience they need to be ready for almost any real-world operation.
During the exercise, Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen have the opportunity to train side-by-side with Latin American navies in a high-tech environment using state-of-the-art equipment. The relationships that develop from this exercise will help to foster cooperation and understanding between participating Navies.
A member of the Brazilian marines, Private Renan Gabriel said he is grateful his unit was selected to participate in this exercise. He said the differences between American and Brazlian operational procedures are almost non-existent.
"There are little differences between our two forces," said Gabriel. "We have identical fast rope and amphibious operation instructions."
"It's quite amazing," said Ship's Serviceman Seaman Philip Kozloff, a ship store attendant on board amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19). "It's great to meet other people from different countries and learn their customs or culture. It helps build our relationships with them abroad."
FUTURE LYNX IS NOW THE AGUSTA WESTLAND 159
Future Lynx Is Now The AW159!
April 24, 2009 by Marcel van Leeuwen
During a ceremony at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility today it was announced that the Future Lynx has been renamed the AW159, bringing it in line with the other products in the growing AgustaWestland range of commercial and military rotorcraft. The design of the AW159 builds on the heritage of the Lynx family of helicopters, but delivers a much greater mission capability due to its high performance, new fully integrated advanced avionics system and mission equipment packages. The new multi-role military helicopter will now be marketed worldwide as the AW159.
At the ceremony Graham Cole, AgustaWestland’s Managing Director, said “The AW159 is now reality with production well underway and the first aircraft on target to fly in November this year. Rebranding the aircraft the AW159 confirms that the aircraft is now fully a part of AgustaWestland’s unrivalled range of military helicopters. Following in the success of the Lynx and Super Lynx, we see the AW159 becoming a highly successful product in the export market due to its exceptional performance and multi-role capabilities.” At the same ceremony Lieutenant General Andrew Figgures, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability) also announced that the aircraft would be called the Lynx Wildcat in UK military service, following a long running tradition for the UK services to name its aircraft.
It was confirmed by the Secretary of State for Defence, John Hutton MP, in December 2008 that the Future Lynx contract signed in June 2006 by the UK Ministry of Defence with AgustaWestland, would proceed to full scale production. 62 AW159s will be initially procured by the UK MoD, 34 for the British Army and 28 for the Royal Navy. With a common design, sensor and weapon capability, the multi-role AW159 is optimised for both maritime and battlefield environments, with the versatility and flexibility for it to be rapidly switched from one role to another. The aircraft will be able to perform a wide range of tasks including battlefield reconnaissance, maritime surface attack and utility lift. The AW159 programme for the UK MoD continues to be on time and on budget and was the first major project to be awarded under the Strategic Partnering Arrangement signed by the UK Ministry of Defence and AgustaWestland in June 2006. AgustaWestland has also signed partnering agreements with a number of key supplier on the Future Lynx programme including Selex Galileo, a Finmeccanica company; GKN Aerospace, LHTEC – a partnership between Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, General Dynamics UK, Thales UK and GE Aviation. The first flight of the aircraft is on schedule to take place in November 2009 with the first airframe having entered final assembly in November 2008, ahead of schedule. AW159 deliveries will commence in 2011 and it will enter operational service with the British Army in 2014 and the Royal Navy in 2015.
Source: Agusta Westland
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