The Air Drive Particular Operations Command has grounded its complete fleet of CV-22 Ospreys as a result of two latest security incidents involving the plane’s clutch.
We’ll share what we all know concerning the security concern and the following issues, plus extra on new Taiwanese air drills, a deliberate Russian army train involving China’s forces and up to date U.S. airstrikes in Somalia.
That is Protection & Nationwide Safety, your nightly information to the most recent developments on the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and past. For The Hill, I’m Ellen Mitchell. A pal ahead this text to you? Subscribe right here.
Ospreys fleet grounded by Particular Ops
The Air Drive Particular Operations Command (AFSOC) has grounded its fleet of 52 CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor plane after it was found the plane’s clutch was inflicting issues of safety.
The standdown of the Ospreys, first reported by Breaking Protection, was ordered by AFSOC Commander Lt. Gen. Jim Slife on Tuesday.
What’s mistaken?: The choice stems from an “elevated variety of security incidents” involving the Ospreys, together with two prior to now six weeks and a complete of 4 since 2017, an AFSOC official instructed the outlet.
“The protection of our Airmen is of the utmost significance, subsequently no AFSOC CV-22s will fly till we are going to decide the reason for the arduous clutch engagements and threat management measures are put in place,” command spokeswoman Lt. Col. Becky Heyse stated in an announcement to Breaking Protection.
The precise concern: AFSOC has found there is a matter with “arduous clutch engagement.” Heyse stated the clutch that connects considered one of an Osprey’s two engines to the propeller rotor is slipping for causes unknown, forcing the aircrew to instantly land the plane.
- No accidents or deaths have been brought on by the problem “due largely to the talent and professionalism of our Air Commandos who function the CV-22,” Heyse added.
- It’s unknown how lengthy the plane can be grounded.
Attending to the underside of it: AFSOC stated it is going to work with the V-22 Joint Program Workplace and trade companions to additional perceive and repair the problem. The CV-22 is made by Bell-Boeing, whereas its engines are made by Rolls-Royce.
Lethal previous incidents: The choice to floor the Ospreys follows two accidents that killed 9 Marines earlier this 12 months involving the Marine Corps’ MV-22B model of the plane.
A June 8 Osprey crash in in California killed 5 Marines, whereas a crash in Norway in March killed 4 Marines.
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Taiwan counters Chinese language battle video games with personal drills
Taiwan on Wednesday flew F-16 fighter jets in response to China’s latest army drills close to the Taiwan Strait.
Reuters reported that the flights, a present of drive in entrance of media, included floor forces quickly importing weapons similar to Harpoon anti-ship missiles onto the fighter jets.
Taiwan’s protection ministry spokesperson Solar Li-fang instructed reporters that the drills have been a possibility “to check all of the coaching we usually do, and thru this enhance our present strategies and lift our fight effectiveness.”
Some background: China, which views Taiwan as its territory, has been holding battle video games – to incorporate reside fireplace workouts within the waters round and the skies above the island – following a go to in early August by U.S. Home of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). 5 U.S. lawmakers have since trekked to Taiwan on Sunday and Monday.
A day forward of the Taiwanese drills, China’s ambassador to america Qin Gang warned Washington that any extra visits by U.S. lawmakers or further arms gross sales might additional worsen tensions within the Asia-Pacific.
SPEAKING OF DRILLS…
Reuters additionally reported Wednesday that Chinese language troops will take part in a army train hosted by Russia often called “Vostok,” which means “East.”
Beijing insisted the choice to affix the battle video games was “unrelated” to tensions over Taiwan or to Russia’s assault on Ukraine, claiming it’s a part of a bilateral settlement between the 2 international locations.
This wouldn’t be the primary time the 2 international locations have joined collectively in drills since Kremlin forces attacked Ukraine in late February.
Beijing and Moscow in Could held army workouts as President Biden met with U.S. allies in Asia.
Vostok will run from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5, with further unidentified international forces to additionally take part.
The final such workouts passed off in 2018.
Pentagon: US airstrike in Somalia kills militants
Protection officers on Wednesday claimed a U.S. airstrike in opposition to al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia killed 13 militants, the deadliest such strike in opposition to the extremist group in months.
The main points: The airstrike focused the al Qaeda-linked fighters on Sunday in a distant location close to Teedaan, in Somalia’s central area, because the militants have been “actively attacking Somali Nationwide Army forces,” in accordance to an announcement from U.S. Africa Command (Africom).
The command’s preliminary evaluation discovered that no civilians have been injured or killed as a part of the strikes, the assertion claimed.
Frequent strikes: That is the second U.S. army strike in Somalia inside per week. Africom on Aug. 9 carried out three airstrikes outdoors Beledweyne — additionally in assist of the Somali Nationwide Army — that killed 4 al-Shabaab terrorists.
“The Federal Authorities of Somalia and the U.S. stay dedicated to preventing al-Shabaab to forestall the deaths of harmless civilians,” the assertion notes. “Violent extremist organizations like al-Shabaab current long-term threats to Somali, regional and U.S. pursuits.”
An earlier determination: The strikes comply with President Biden’s Could determination to redeploy as much as 500 U.S. troops in East Africa to Somalia because the administration seems to reestablish a small presence within the nation to counter al-Shabaab, al Qaeda’s largest and best-financed world affiliate.
ON TAP FOR TOMORROW
- The Institute for Protection and Authorities Development will maintain Day 2 of its “Counter Unmanned Aerial Techniques Summit,” at 8:50 a.m.
- The Nationwide Protection Industrial Affiliation will maintain its 2022 Area Warfighting Integration Discussion board with opening keynote remarks from Lt. Gen. John Shaw, deputy commander U.S. Area Command, at 10:15 a.m.
- The Heart for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments will maintain a webinar on “China’s Strategic Selections” and accompanying report, “China’s Strategic Selections: A New Device for Assessing the PLA’s Modernization,” with former U.S. Indo-Pacific Command head retired Adm. Philip Davidson, at 11 a.m.
- Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin will welcome Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Protection Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah to the Pentagon at 11 a.m.
- Johns Hopkins College Faculty of Superior Worldwide Research will host a dialogue on “Bosnia Herzegovina in Disaster,” with former Bosnia Herzegovina Prime Minister and International Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija, at 12 p.m.
WHAT WE’RE READING
That’s it for at this time! Take a look at The Hill’s Protection and Nationwide Safety pages for the most recent protection. See you tomorrow!
