U.S. STRATEGIC COMMAND The U.S. Air Force recently sent four B-52H Stratofortresses to Guam to conduct bomber task force (BTF) missions in the Indo-Pacific region with allies and partners. More than 220 Airmen assigned to the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, deployed to the island in support of the operation February 9-March 9, 2022. “Every bomber task force mission demonstrates the credibility of our forces to address a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any other time in our history,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Coleman, commander of the 96th Expeditionary…
The Watch
THE WATCH STAFF A “cautiously optimistic” government of the Bahamas recently eased COVID-19 restrictions in the Caribbean island nation. In making the March 12, 2022, announcement, the Ministry of Health and Wellness relaxed several pandemic rules, including those for cruise ships, social gatherings and masks, the Nassau Guardian newspaper reported. Minister of Health Dr. Michael Darville told the Guardian that in addition to the recent changes, he is closely watching the new omicron subvariant that is causing a surge in COVID-19 cases in Asia and Europe. “Our job is to monitor. As we monitor, we will take into consideration what’s…
THE WATCH STAFF The U.S. Army’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) recently defeated incoming missiles in two separate flight tests — a step toward realizing Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2). The successful tests were carried out March 17, 2022, at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, IBCS manufacturer Northrop Grumman announced. The goal of the IBCS is to connect different types of missile-defense assets to improve command and control. JADC2 is the U.S. Department of Defense’s concept to connect sensors from all the military services — Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force — into one network, according to a…
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Mexican Army and National Guard on March 3, 2022, said they found almost 3 million rounds of ammunition and at least 16 fully automatic, belt-fed machine guns in raids on several houses in the northern border state of Sonora. The Defense Department said the seizure was the biggest haul of illegal ammunition in recent memory in Mexico. The ammunition, more than enough to supply a battalion-size force, was found in Navojoa during raids. Navojoa is a crossroads city in the southern part of Sonora several hundred miles from the U.S. border. Sonora has been the scene…
North Korea appears to be preparing to launch a reconnaissance satellite, a move that may prove as controversial as the nuclear-armed country’s weapons tests because they use the same banned ballistic missile technology, experts say. North Korea conducted a record seven missile launches in January 2022 and has suggested it could resume testing of nuclear weapons or its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for the first time since 2017. After a test of satellite-related systems during a missile launch on March 6, 2022 — the second such test in a week — experts think it is just a matter of…
THE WATCH STAFF Arctic Edge, the biennial defense exercise for U.S. Northern Command and the Canadian Armed Forces, took place February 28-March 17, 2022, throughout Alaska. During the three-week event, Arctic Edge had 1,000 participants, including U.S. Coast Guardsmen and government employees from the U.S. Department of Defense and Canada’s Department of National Defence. U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. David A. Krumm, commander of Alaskan Command, said Arctic exercises are crucial in demonstrating and improving the capabilities of U.S. and Canadian forces to defend their homelands. TAKING AIM: A Green Beret assigned to the U.S. 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)…
THE WATCH STAFF As Russia wages war on Ukraine, one of its neighbors is leading a large-scale winter NATO exercise. Norway, a NATO member that shares a nearly 201-kilometer land border with Russia, is hosting Cold Response 2022, which began March 14 and runs through early April. The participants include 30,000 troops from more than two dozen nations — NATO members as well as defense partners Finland and Sweden. NATO said Cold Response, which also includes 200 aircraft and 50 vessels, was “not linked to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine,” The Associated Press reported March 15. Before the…
THE WATCH STAFF The Bahamas has banned its financial institutions from doing business with Russia, an action that puts the Caribbean island nation at the forefront of individual sanctions against Russia in the region. In the Western Hemisphere, only the Bahamas and Canada have imposed unilateral sanctions against specific individuals and entities. The move by the government of Prime Minister Philip Davis, pictured, comes in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and halts all Bahamian transactions with 121 Russian entities and individuals put under sanction by Western nations. “Regulated entities, that are licensed or authorized to operate from or…
REUTERS Countries of the Arctic Council declared March 4, 2022, they would boycott future talks in Russia over its Ukraine invasion, throwing international cooperation in the region into upheaval at a time when climate change is opening it up to resource exploitation. The Arctic Council brings together countries with Arctic territories to collaborate on matters that affect the region’s residents. It does not deal with security issues. Russia, which holds the council’s rotating chairmanship, has posed “grave impediments to international cooperation, including in the Arctic,” the council’s other seven member countries said in a statement. The countries — Canada, Denmark,…
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Poland has appointed an Army General to head a new Cyber Defense Force to officially launch the unit’s operation, the country’s defense minister said in February 2022. Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said the Force’s mission includes defense, reconnaissance and, if need be, offensive actions to protect Poland’s Armed Forces from cyberattacks. “We are perfectly aware that in the 21st century, cyberattacks have become one of the tools of aggressive politics, also used by our neighbor,” Blaszczak said, referring to Russia. “For that reason, these capabilities are of fundamental, key nature to Poland’s Armed Forces.” Blaszczak appointed Brig.…