{"id":1393252,"date":"2022-03-22T08:00:18","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T12:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1393252"},"modified":"2022-03-22T08:02:23","modified_gmt":"2022-03-22T12:02:23","slug":"u-s-navy-flying-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-navy-flying-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Navy Flying Russian Deterrence Missions From USS Harry S. Truman"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fu-s-navy-flying-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1393252&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div id=\"attachment_92938\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/03\/19\/video-navy-pilots-flying-dozens-of-daily-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/takingoff\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-92938\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92938\" data-attachment-id=\"92938\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/03\/19\/video-navy-pilots-flying-dozens-of-daily-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/takingoff\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/takingoff-e1647721187715.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1510,890\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{\" aperture \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-92938\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A F\/A-18E Super Hornet from the \u2018Blue Blasters\u2019 of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 prepares to launch from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on March 17, 2022. USNI News Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS HARRY S. TRUMAN IN THE IONIAN SEA \u2013 For the longest stretch in decades, the Mediterranean Sea has played host to the deafening roar of U.S. carrier aircraft launching into Europe.<span id=\"more-92932\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2021\/12\/28\/secdef-orders-u-s-carrier-uss-harry-s-truman-to-stay-in-mediterranean-to-reassure-allies\">Since December<\/a>, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, Carrier Air Wing 1 and its escorts have been operating in the Adriatic and Ionian seas launching 80 to 90 sorties a day as far north as Lithuania for a variety of missions with NATO-allied aircraft from Romania, France and Italy. Some fighters launched from <em>Truman<\/em> are training, while some are set to police NATO\u2019s airspace and prevent Russian aircraft from violating those borders.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd so we\u2019re here to deter,\u201d Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro told reporters aboard <em>Truman<\/em>. \u201cWe\u2019re here to work together, as members of NATO together, to protect each other, and to care, to provide as much support to the Ukrainian people [and] to the Ukrainian government.\u201d<\/p>\n[embedded content]\n<p>On Thursday, USNI News spoke with the pilots flying the patrols on NATO\u2019s eastern front about how <em>Truman<\/em> and its air wing fit in with the larger alliance mission as the war rages in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>The enhanced air policing is one form of deterrence the United States is doing in hopes of dissuading Russian President Vladimir Putin from further aggression, Del Toro, who was embarked on the ship Thursday, said.<\/p>\n<p>As part of the Ukrainian invasion, the Russian Navy has massed ships in the Eastern Mediterranean centered on its sole foreign naval base in Tartus, Syria. Those forces include two Slava-class guided-missile cruisers \u2013 RTS <em>Marshal Ustinov<\/em> (055) and RFS <em>Varyag<\/em> (011) \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/02\/24\/russian-navy-masses-16-warships-near-syria\">designed to take on U.S. and NATO aircraft carriers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Truman CSG is joined in the Mediterranean by other ships from NATO, including FS <em>Charles De Gaulle<\/em> (R 91) and the Italian aircraft carrier ITS <em>Cavour<\/em> (CVH 550). But Russian ships and submarines are also in the area, Del Toro said. Deterring those ships operating in the Eastern Mediterranean are a major part of the Truman CSG\u2019s mission as well as the policing operation over NATO countries in Europe.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92933\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/03\/19\/video-navy-pilots-flying-dozens-of-daily-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/tricarrier_\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-92933\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92933\" data-attachment-id=\"92933\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/03\/19\/video-navy-pilots-flying-dozens-of-daily-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/tricarrier_\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tricarrier_-scaled.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"3300,5100\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{\" aperture \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-92933\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From top to bottom: French carrier FS <em>Charles De Gaulle<\/em> (R 91), Italian aircraft carrier ITS <em>Cavour<\/em> (CVH 550) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). US Navy Photos<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The result is the deafening, body-shaking vibrations that are a daily occurrence aboard the flight deck. The carrier\u2019s catapults have been shooting aircraft up to 90 times a day since the strike group got to the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n<p>While the aircraft might be part of NATO\u2019s enhanced air policing or training with allies, the day-to-day on the carrier is not all that different, said Lt. Cmdr. John Pavalok, the assistant air ops on <em>Truman<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe aircraft are flying. They fly in-country, do the mission, and then they return,\u201d Pavalok said. \u201cSo [from] our perspective, it\u2019s all the same to us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While <em>Truman<\/em> is no longer under NATO command, when the aircraft join the policing mission, they are flying a NATO mission, said Capt. Patrick Hourigan, commander of Carrier Air Wing 1, told USNI News.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is minimally different,\u201d Hourigan said. \u201cThere are very slight changes to the rules of engagement because we operate under NATO rules of engagement versus strictly U.S. rules of engagement. That\u2019s about the only change.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92936\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/03\/19\/video-navy-pilots-flying-dozens-of-daily-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/onhanger\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-92936\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92936\" data-attachment-id=\"92936\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/03\/19\/video-navy-pilots-flying-dozens-of-daily-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/onhanger\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/onhanger.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{\" aperture \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-92936\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sailor working on a F\/A-18F Super Hornet in the hangar bay of USS Harry S Truman CVN-75). USNI News Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Hourigan would not say where the aircraft from <em>Truman<\/em> are operating, saying just that they were flying inside NATO airspace. Before the Russian invasion, aircraft from <em>Truman<\/em> flew from the Mediterranean as far north as the Baltics.<\/p>\n<p>Alliance leaders have been clear about protecting NATO airspace from Russian incursion as the war continues.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are very closely monitoring airspace and the border areas around NATO,\u201d NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this week. \u201cOur military commanders also have lines to the Russian commanders to help prevent incidents and accidents, and to help prevent them from spiraling out of control if they happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This week, reports emerged of Russian drones crashing in Romania and Croatia. A Russian drone was also spotted over Poland and downed by Ukrainian forces, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/russian-drone-flights-into-nato-skies-test-alliances-red-lines-11647426550\"><em>The Wall Street Journal<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Back in the Mediterranean, the ships in the Ionian Sea have been working in concert, Hourigan said. On Thursday, aircraft from <em>Truman<\/em>, Italian AV-8B Harrier IIs flying from <em>Cavour<\/em> and French aircraft from <em>Charles de Gaulle<\/em> participated in an air defense exercise. During enhanced air policing, aircrafts rely on NATO tankers for fueling, which are closer to the airspace that is being held, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo we have a process called the ATO, which is the Air Tasking Order,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd that comes out every day, and tells you down to where to meet, how to talk to them, how much gas to expect. And then we do this often enough that the interoperability is already there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a chance to exercise with another country\u2019s aircraft, speaking specifically about an exercise with Romanian aircraft last month, Hourigan said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery airplane is unique and different,\u201d he said. \u201cSome go faster, some turn tighter, and getting to work with other countries allows you to just experience that and what it\u2019s like to either work with or [simulate a] fight against an aircraft with different performance characteristics.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92940\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/03\/19\/video-navy-pilots-flying-dozens-of-daily-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/the-harry-s-truman-carrier-strike-group-is-on-a-scheduled-deployment-in-the-u-s-sixth-fleet-area-of-operations-in-support-of-naval-operations-to-maintain-maritime-stability-and-security-26\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-92940\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92940\" data-attachment-id=\"92940\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/03\/19\/video-navy-pilots-flying-dozens-of-daily-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/the-harry-s-truman-carrier-strike-group-is-on-a-scheduled-deployment-in-the-u-s-sixth-fleet-area-of-operations-in-support-of-naval-operations-to-maintain-maritime-stability-and-security-26\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/7074620-scaled.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"6000,4000\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{\" aperture \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-92940\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A German Air Force A400M Tanker refuels an F\/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the \u201cFighting Checkmates\u201d of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211 on Feb. 25, 2022. US Navy Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The enhanced policing is done in partnership, Hourigan said. Each country has a location to patrol.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd occasionally there\u2019ll be aircraft from more than one country on station at the same time,\u201d he said. \u201cOther times we take turns. So when our aircraft come back, they may be replaced by Air Force assets, they may be replaced by Romanian assets, like the German aircraft, it varies day by day, based on the air tasking order.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>NATO countries help each other with fueling, said public affairs officer Lt. Cmdr. Shawn Eklund. That refueling is how the planes can stay in the air longer.<\/p>\n<p>But the NATO allies also work together on the water\u2019s surface, Eklund said. Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS <em>Fridtjof Nansen<\/em> (F310) deployed with <em>Truman<\/em> in December and <em>Truman<\/em> has operated with French and Italian ships since December.<\/p>\n<p>In late January, the carrier was the lead ship for Neptune Strike, an exercise that placed the carrier under NATO control. Under the scenario, F\/A-18E\/F Super Hornets from <em>Truman<\/em> operated as far north as Lithuania in the Baltics, Hourigan said.<\/p>\n<p>The policing missions aren\u2019t just for fighters. E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes are being flown by the \u201cSeahawks\u201d of Airborne Command &#038; Control Squadron 126 (VAW 126), said the squadron\u2019s commanding officer Cmdr. Chuck Cline.<\/p>\n<p>The E-2D has two roles in the patrol mission, Cline said. It is an airborne sensor and a decision-maker.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey take my airplane up, and then they go out there with the commander\u2019s intent,\u201d Cline said. \u201cAnd they go and make decisions based off what they see on the radar and what they know is going on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ll go between 15,000-30,000 feet in the air and run the radar, calling back to the ship to make decisions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe provide 360-degree coverage around the strike group\u2026We get to see what\u2019s around us. So we get the big picture,\u201d Cline said. And from there, we make decisions, we execute. We tell people where to go, what to do, things like that.[\u2026] We\u2019re basically the quarterback of the sky for lack of a better term.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92369\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/02\/24\/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-feb-24-2022\/the-harry-s-truman-carrier-strike-group-is-on-a-scheduled-deployment-in-the-u-s-sixth-fleet-area-of-operations-in-support-of-naval-operations-to-maintain-maritime-stability-and-security-17\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-92369\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92369\" data-attachment-id=\"92369\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/02\/24\/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-feb-24-2022\/the-harry-s-truman-carrier-strike-group-is-on-a-scheduled-deployment-in-the-u-s-sixth-fleet-area-of-operations-in-support-of-naval-operations-to-maintain-maritime-stability-and-security-17\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/7061619-scaled.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"4292,2857\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{\" aperture \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-92369\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An E-2D Hawkeye, attached to the \u2018Seahawks\u2019 of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 126, flies over the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Feb. 21, 2022. US Navy Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>What makes the \u201cSeahawks\u201d special is that they are able<a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2020\/09\/01\/video-aerial-refueling-for-e-2ds-will-expand-reach-of-carrier-strike-groups\"> to do aerial refueling<\/a>, the first E-2D squadron to do so, Cline said.<\/p>\n<p>That refueling means the planes can go for much longer, up to 10 hours instead of five.<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Richard Wood, with VAW-126, did a five-hour flight Thursday, something that is possible because of the ability to refuel in the air, he told USNI News.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAround the boat, it makes us incredibly flexible,\u201d Wood said. \u201cWe\u2019re not limited to some boat cyclic operations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A cycle is typically one hour to one and a half hours, he explained, with the squadron traditionally doing a triple cycle. Instead, pilots can do much longer flights at the request of the air commander.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn this specific deployment, it\u2019s been a huge asset to us to be able to execute the enhanced air-policing mission, going from where we\u2019ve been operating here in the Mediterranean, all the way into Eastern Europe,\u201d he said. \u201cThose flights require a significant amount of aerial refueling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Getting gas in the air is easier to do when it just means going to another embarked squadron on the ship and talking about fueling needs, Wood said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92941\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/03\/19\/video-navy-pilots-flying-dozens-of-daily-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/the-harry-s-truman-carrier-strike-group-is-on-a-scheduled-deployment-in-the-u-s-sixth-fleet-area-of-operations-in-support-of-naval-operations-to-maintain-maritime-stability-and-security-27\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-92941\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92941\" data-attachment-id=\"92941\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2022\/03\/19\/video-navy-pilots-flying-dozens-of-daily-russian-deterrence-missions-from-uss-harry-s-truman\/the-harry-s-truman-carrier-strike-group-is-on-a-scheduled-deployment-in-the-u-s-sixth-fleet-area-of-operations-in-support-of-naval-operations-to-maintain-maritime-stability-and-security-27\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/7098561.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"2535,2115\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{\" aperture \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-92941\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Bowie Demers, from Springfield, Tennessee, assigned to the \u201cDragonslayers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11, takes off in an MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopter from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Mar. 17, 2022. US Navy Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been really nice right here on the boat, we can walk right next door and say, \u2018Hey, we\u2019d love to go get some gas today\u2019 or \u2018We\u2019re on the airplane, we\u2019re scheduled to come get gas for you guys.\u2019 It makes the coordination super easy to get organic gas,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n<p>Tanking up is harder when aircraft have to rely on tankers outside the air wing requiring coordination between the U.S. Air Force and other NATO refuelers, he said.<\/p>\n<p>At the moment there\u2019s a reliable refueling network over Europe, so it\u2019s not fuel that limits flights, but rather pilot fatigue. It is like being able to go to a floating gas station, Wood said \u2013 one that comes with the reassurance that a flight can go for five hours and still come back with gas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo it\u2019s a different mentality for the pilots to not be as always concerned about where your gas is and to have the ability to go get a little extra, stay up when CAG [Hourigan] needs us to and then execute these longer missions,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s an awesome capability.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A F\/A-18E Super Hornet from the \u2018Blue Blasters\u2019 of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 prepares to launch from USS Harry S.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":489,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1393252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1393252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/489"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1393252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1393252\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1393252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1393252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1393252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}