Marines take delivery of new amphibious assault vehicles: Weapon of the week
The U.S. Marine Corps just took delivery of its newest amphibian vessel: the ACV-30. The eight-wheeled combat fighting vehicle is a key part of the Marine Corps’ plan for combat in the Pacific, if the need arises.
Built by BAE systems and Iveco, the ACV-30 can launch from the open sea, sail up to 12 nautical miles to shore and then drive up to 250 miles on land. It can also drive up to 65 miles an hour on paved roads.
“This is the first time the ACVs have been out here in Okinawa, Japan,” 1st Lt. Kendra Campbell, the ACV platoon commander for the 4th Marines, said. “We’re really excited to start operating with them and testing them out in this environment. They ACVs add an increased lethality to the Marine Corps due to their ship to shore surface connector capability as well as an increased protection for the troops that will be embarked inside the vehicles due to their V-shaped hull.”
The all-wheel drive ACV-30 is part of a long-planned upgrade from the Marines’ 1970s-era amphibious assault vehicle.
A crew of three operates the ACV-30, and it can carry an additional 13 marines. The vehicle is also armed with the largest direct-fire gun in the Marines’ inventory.
These amphibious battle vehicles will cost the Marines a pretty penny. Each will cost between $3 million and $4.5 million. The Marines expect to take delivery of 632 ACVs in total. 175 of them will be ACV-30s.
US Navy, Air Force making waves with new weapons at RIMPAC
This year’s Rim of the Pacific exercises — more commonly known as RIMPAC — saw several notable accomplishments. RIMPAC is the world’s largest maritime warfare exercise, designed to prepare the U.S. and its allies for war in one of the most massive places on the planet: the Pacific Ocean.
RIMPAC 2024 saw 25,000 warfighters from 29 different nations participate. To get there, 40 surface ships, 3 submarines and more than 150 aircraft also took part in this year’s exercises. Not to mention all the equipment and gear from the 14 national land forces taking part as well.
This year’s event really focused on joint operations in every sense of the phrase. So, integrated dive teams practiced recovery operations, partner nations cross-trained on urban search and rescue, fast roping, and anti-mining techniques. But the biggest event is always the sinking exercise, or SINKEX.
This year’s RIMPAC featured two SINKEXs.
The decommissioned U.S. Navy vessels USS Dubuque and USS Tarawa were both blown apart at RIMPAC 2024 by some of the latest and greatest maritime weaponry available.
So how were they sunk? For starters, GA Aeronautical’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian provided the fleet with the intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting of the ships. With a ceiling of 40,000 feet, the SeaGuardian is an unmanned eye-in-the-sky. An eye which can also drop bombs, or as seen at this year’s RIMPAC, sonobuoys, which are remote devices used to track enemy movements in and below the water.
Once the signal intelligence from the SeaGuardian made its way to the fleet forces, the live fire missions could begin.
For the first time, the world saw what a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer outfitted with a Naval Strike Missile launcher looked like. The USS Fitzgerald, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, fired the Norwegian-designed NSM. An Australian destroyer also test-fired an NSM, which is known for its ability to skim the seas during flight before striking, staying under enemy radar and avoiding detection.
The Navy said it also used one of its Common Unmanned Surface Vessels, or CUSVs, to test-fire Poniard rockets during the SINKEX drills.
Made in South Korea, Poniards are considered low-cost options for dealing with smaller, faster moving surface threats.
This year’s RIMPAC really focused on “joint operations,” which means combining various elements and forces from different departments — maybe from different militaries — and putting it all under a single command structure. For instance, a Navy commander ordering an Air Force bomber to strike an enemy surface vessel is an example of a joint operation. So, RIMPAC practiced that too.
Using the same sort of guidance systems for dropping bombs on land, the Air Force said one of its B-2 stealth bombers proved at RIMPAC the service is very close to fielding “a low-cost, air-delivered method for defeating surface vessels.” Called QUICKSINK, the tech isn’t necessarily new, but it’s not fully operational yet either. Once it is, QUICKSINK munitions could be a relatively low-cost way to disrupt an enemy’s day on the water.
Lockheed Martin’s new Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile — the LRASM — was also employed during the SINKEXs. Unveiled earlier in 2024, the LRASM promises to get the job done with little care given to the enemy’s electronic warfare countermeasures. LRASMs don’t rely on GPS for navigation. So once they find a target, they tend to hit it.
And after months of rumors and speculation, there is now some confirmation. Images emerged during RIMPAC of Navy jet fighters sporting SM-6 missiles. Although, in that setup, it’s called the AIM-174B, signifying its primary use in air-to-air missions.
Why does it matter? Well, the SM-6, or Standard Missile-6, is described as three missiles in one. It is able to perform anti-air and anti-surface warfare, as well as take out ballistic missiles if necessary. Its exact range is classified, but it is said to be over 200 miles when launched from the surface. A conservative figure from the Navy, no doubt.
But the same SM-6, now in an air-launched configuration, will be effective to a much further distance. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles.
So, any country thinking its planes are going to get anywhere close to U.S. ships — not happening. Also, the SM-6 is still capable of hitting ground targets and ballistic missiles, so the air launch component really takes the versatility on the SM-6 and cranks it to 11.
Taken individually, each one of these new weapons systems poses a significant threat to any adversary. When combined together and used in coordination with an international joint strike force, it starts to paint a picture of a force so strong, the thought of challenging it becomes absurd.
Cocaine discovered in sharks off of coast of Brazil, study hopes to explain why
Marine biologists announced on Tuesday, July 23, that sharks off of the coast of Brazil have tested positive for high levels of cocaine. The scientists tested 13 Brazilian sharp nose sharks caught on the shores near Rio de Janeiro and found the fish had high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers.
Researchers said they believe the cocaine entered the sharks’ bodies after making its way into the ocean through illegal labs that manufactured cocaine and drug users’ biological waste. Scientists also said that packs of cocaine dumped or lost by drug trafficker into the sea could be a source, though it’s a less likely cause.
Brazil is one of the world’s largest suppliers of cocaine and has poor sewage infrastructure, according to the researchers. Scientists said that is a major reason they are seeing increased levels of cocaine in the sea.
The higher concentrations of cocaine sharks likely mean they’re consuming sea creatures with the drug already in them, according to the study. Researchers now believe that cocaine is getting into the human food supply. Brazilian sharp nose sharks are sold in Brazil at markets, meaning people may already being consuming the cocaine-riddled fish.
The impact on marine life is still being researched, but scientists say all of the female sharks involved in the study were pregnant. It’s unclear what impact the presence of cocaine may have on their offspring.
As far as the effects of cocaine on shark behavior, studies have shown it to have side effects similar to those humans’ experience.
The team involved in the study said it hopes to expand its research to other shark species. The reason the Brazilian sharp nose shark was chosen is because of its small size and also due to the fact that it lives in a small area where it is exposed to large amounts of contaminant discharges, according to scientists.
Scientists discover plastic-eating fungus in ocean environments
A newly discovered marine fungus offers a glimmer of hope in the battle against plastic waste, which exceeds 880 billion pounds annually, much of which ends up in oceans and threatens marine ecosystems. As plastic production is expected to triple by 2060, the race to discover organisms that can break down plastic becomes increasingly critical.
Sunlight plays a crucial role in this process, as the fungus only breaks down plastic that has been exposed to the sun’s UV rays. While the fungus converts the plastic into carbon dioxide, the amount emitted is minimal, similar to the levels humans emit when breathing.
Many plastics that sink into deeper ocean layers without sun exposure remain intact. However, lead researcher Annika Vaksmaa believes there may be other fungi in these deeper reaches that could degrade plastic.
In 2011, a fungus, Pestalotiopsis microspora, was found in the Amazon rainforest that can break down plastic polymers. Pestalotiopsis microspora can survive in both environments with oxygen and without oxygen, making it an ideal candidate for tackling plastic pollution from trash heaps to underwater waste.
Researchers continue to search for solutions to the plastic pollution crisis, hoping to find more nature-based solutions like the Parengyodontium album fungus.
Deep sea mining may end US reliance on China, enviro concerns remain
The quest for a truly American-made electric vehicle (EV) faces a significant hurdle: the dependency on imported minerals, with China controlling the lion’s share of the supply. However, a growing new industry that involves sourcing these essential materials from the ocean floor could potentially shift this narrative.
The Metals Company (TMC) is one of the groups at the forefront of deep sea mining, with an aim of extracting polymetallic nodules rich in minerals crucial from the Pacific Ocean for EV production. Likened to a “battery in a rock,” the collection of nodules that TMC is after could power approximately 280 million EVs, nearly equivalent to the entire current U.S. passenger vehicle fleet.
“What we have alone from our resource in the Clarion Clipperton zone of the Pacific Ocean, is sufficient to bring the United States to independence in nickel, cobalt, and manganese,” Craig Shesky, chief financial officer at The Metals Company, told Straight Arrow News. “So, to take the U.S., effectively from no primary production of those three, to independence at all three, this really is a truly scalable solution.”
Despite the emissions reduction potential and domestic sourcing benefits, environmental groups like Greenpeace remain staunch critics. The group argues that the extraction process for these nodules may cause harm to marine ecosystems, outweighing the environmental benefits of transitioning to green technology.
From boarding one of The Metals Company’s deep sea mining vessels, to confronting industry representatives with a giant inflatable octopus, Greenpeace has been protesting against the extraction of these underwater resources.
“Greenpeace used to say that before this industry were to go forward, they want more science,” Shesky said. “TMC and others have been working to provide that science and actually show what the real effects are not based on speculation.”
In response, The Metals Company asserts that its approach is less environmentally impactful than current mining practices for obtaining these minerals on land. TMC said it has spent nearly $200 million over the last decade on environmental research campaigns. Those campaigns have found the process of nodule extracting to be less harmful to the surrounding ecosystems than initially expected.
“This is a resource located in the abyssal zone of the Pacific Ocean,” Shesky said. “That means it’s very deep. It’s very dark. There is no plant life, therefore, there’s limited animal life. Let’s go to the places on the planet with the least life rather than the most life. Because, think about where we go to get our nickel or cobalt today, you’re talking about biodiverse, carbon-storing rain forests, in the backyards of local communities who sometimes have to deal with the impacts for decades or hundreds of years following the closure of those mines.”
As debate over the environmental implications of deep sea mining continues, U.S. lawmakers are already taking legislative action, introducing the Responsible Use of Seafloor Resources Act. This proposed legislation seeks to allocate federal funds toward leveraging underwater resources while initiating comprehensive studies on the potential impacts on human health, the environment and technological advancement.
“It’s hard to pin a timeline on government actions,” Shesky said. “But, we feel that in the coming months are going to be a lot of potential catalysts, potentially with dollars attached to it from Washington, D.C., related to polymetallic nodules.”
Here’s why Japan putting missiles on Okinawa matters to China
It just got a little bit harder for China to try and take Taiwan or impose its will in the western Pacific. That’s because Japanjust moved a battery of its new Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles to Okinawa.
Ryukyu Shimpo, a media outlet in Japan, reported the country’s Self Defense Force, the official name of the Japanese military, moved the components for the Type 12 missile unit to the island in mid-March. It’s the first time there’s been an anti-ship missile unit on Okinawa, and the Type 12 is certainly a great weapon system to mark the occasion.
Japan test fired the new missile off Australia’s east coast last year during Talisman Sabre. The upgraded surface-to-ship missile is longer, features a modified shape and boasts increased engine endurance. The Type 12 also got an upgrade to its command link. So, it can get target updates while in flight. That’s handy against ships, which don’t exactly sit still waiting to be sunk.
One of the greatest upgrades on the Type 12 is its new range. Initially Type 12s were only effective to about 100 kilometers. Now, they’re good to about 1,000 kilometers, and that’s why putting them on Okinawa means so much, because it’s a critical chokepoint in what’s known as the first island chain.
So, let’s go ahead and break down that first island chain (FIC) and talk about why it’s so important. It starts up in the northern part of the Japanese archipelago, and then it extends southward to include Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Okinawa is right about the middle of the FIC. How far, you might ask yourself, is Okinawa from mainland China? That’s a distance of 723 kilometers. For those who were paying attention earlier, you might remember that the Type 12 missile has a range now of 1,000 kilometers.
So, from Okinawa, the Japanese Self Defense Force could, in theory, hit targets within mainland China. Now, these are anti-ship missiles. So, it is unknown if they have the technology necessarily to target land-based objects. But it should help deter the People’s Liberation Army Navy from trying to attack past the first island chain.
Also, this is a good time to tell you, readers, about the two F-35s that just landed in Brunei. The two jets are assigned to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska but operated from Brunei’s Rimba air base during a visit from a Pentagon official. The occasion is further proof of the U.S. strengthening alliances in the Indo-Pacific region (INDOPACOM).
So, in addition to the Japanese Type 12s in Okinawa (and probably elsewhere), we have the U.S. Air Force landing F-35s in Brunei, the Air Force and Marines in the Philippines, and we also know that the Marine Corps and the Air Force are going to be populating many of these small little remote islands, littoral locations, with forces. “ACE” is the name of the initiative in the Air Force, or Agile Combat Employment. The Marines used to call it Force Design 2030. Now, they’ve kind of gotten rid of the “2030” part. But all of that is in addition to the 30,000 troops the U.S. already has stationed in Okinawa.
So, what the U.S. has done with the partnerships that it’s created with its allies, is essentially create a steel maritime curtain across this entire region of the first island chain. And they do that to keep the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) locked in within that first island chain.
The PLAN has the world’s largest navy, but that is only by hull number, not necessarily by mass. And the vast majority of the vessels in the PLAN are not blue water ships. The Chinese navy is not a blue water navy. What does that mean? They can’t sail in the wide-open ocean like the U.S. fleet can.
The world’s foremost fleet in maritime open ocean navigation is, by far, the United States Navy, and the PLAN just doesn’t have the capacity to compete with the U.S. Navy in the open ocean. Which is why so much focus is put on keeping the PLAN locked into that first island chain, to deter it from wanting to become a blue water fleet, and prevent the PLAN from being aggressive on the open ocean, where more maritime assets might be put at risk.
Stratolaunch announces first successful hypersonic vehicle flight
On Saturday, March 9, Stratolaunch achieved a major milestone by successfully launching the Talon-A (TA-1) hypersonic vehicle for its first powered flight. In a statement, Stratolaunch announced that it released the hypersonic vehicle from the ROC, the world’s largest airplane with a wingspan of 385 feet and a payload of 500,000 pounds.
The test flight occurred at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. As the ROC flew over the Pacific Ocean, it deployed the Talon-A vehicle.
TA-1 is not an ordinary air-launched craft; the Talon-A is powered by the Hadley rocket engine, generating 5,000 pounds of thrust and featuring an oxygen-rich staged combustion engine, as reported by Space.com. Additionally, the Talon-A is a product of American engineering, manufactured by the aerospace company Ursa Major.
This achievement marks a significant advancement for Stratolaunch. The company’s original founder, Paul Allen, who also co-founded Microsoft, passed away in 2018, missing the opportunity to witness the fruition of his efforts with the ROC’s maiden flight in 2019.
Following this event, the private equity firm Cerberus reportedly acquired the aircraft, marking a shift in Stratolaunch’s focus towards hypersonic vehicles.
The emphasis on hypersonic vehicles stems from increased competition in space, particularly with China and Russia making significant advancements in the hypersonic realm. While China continues to progress in the technology, the United States is striving to catch up.
According to National Defense Magazine, the U.S. Defense Department is currently favoring hypersonic glide vehicles and cruise missiles.
During the test flight, the Talon-A flew for approximately three and a half minutes before descending into the ocean below. Stratolaunch clarified that this outcome was anticipated, as the vehicle was intended solely for testing purposes.
While Stratolaunch confirmed that the hypersonic vehicle achieved supersonic speeds during the test, reaching hypersonic speeds will be a goal for future endeavors. Plans are reportedly in place to conduct further tests with the TA-2 hypersonic vehicle later this year.
The United States and India are not military allies, but they’re pretty good partners. If the last two years are any indication of what’s ahead, that partnership will only get stronger.
The U.S. and India are the world’s two oldest democracies. India’s population makes it the world’s biggest democracy. But the U.S. and India didn’t always see eye to eye on most things. India is a part of BRICS, the group of countries trying to overthrow the dollar as the global reserve currency.
Typically, India tries to stay out of most global conflicts. Even though New Delhi has nukes, most of its military armaments are Russian. In the last 20 years, India spent more than $60 billion on weaponry, and 65% of that came from Russian factories.
However, there are several factors at play leading to changes in the relationship between India, the United States and Pacific allies.
First, the war in Ukraine is straining Russia’s ability to fulfill its current weapons contracts. Concerns about Russia’s ability to supply parts for the weapons systems it already sold has India looking elsewhere for its future defensive needs.
Russia wants India to sign contracts for new weapons deliveries, but India indicated that wouldn’t be happening. The two countries will still have some form of a defensive relationship for some time though, at least until India no longer needs parts for its Russian-made weaponry.
The second factor forcing India to expand its horizons is the current activity in the Pacific — specifically what China is doing. China wants to take over Taiwan, it wants to control international waters and claim other nation’s territorial waters as its own. It’s similar to the situation playing out in the Himalayas along India’s border with China.
In 2020, Chinese and Indian troops in the frontier region fought briefly. More than 20 soldiers died.
The third major factor prompting India’s pivot away from Russia is that the country wants to grow its own domestic weapons production. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants India to export $5 billion worth of military hardware in 2025.
In this regard, the United States wants to see India succeed, as the two countries don’t need a signed treaty to benefit from what the other can bring to the table. A strong India, with a watchful eye on China, is a good thing for U.S. interests abroad, as well as beneficial in the Pacific.
The Indian Navy recently rescued several ships from Somali pirates and put out a fire on a container ship hit by Houthi missiles in the Red Sea. Washington wants to see more of that kind of commitment to the international rules-based order in the Pacific.
India is set to deliver the first of three batteries of BrahMos anti-ship supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines by the end of March. The BrahMos was co-developed with Russia, which currently relies on China as its biggest trade partner, and the Philippines is going to use the BrahMos batteries to deter Chinese naval aggression.
In addition to selling weapons to U.S. allies, India also has an agreement in place with GE to domestically produce jet engines for its air force. India is also participating in more military exercises with the United States than it ever has before, and is a founding member of the Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with the U.S., Japan and Australia.
Maybe the biggest sign India and the U.S. are going to be partners for years to come is the creation of the U.S.-India Defense Acceleration Ecosystem, also known as INDUS-X. It’s a small business incubator designed to develop the next generation of defensive technologies that both countries think they’ll need.
So, whether it’s cyber warfare, stealth tech or quantum engineering, any insights or knowledge gained under the INDUS-X will be shared by each country’s respective militaries. The word gets thrown around a lot these days, but that sort of agreement between the U.S. and a non-military ally is unprecedented.
3 US soldiers killed in Jordan drone strike identified: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 30, 2024
The Defense Department identifies the three U.S. soldiers killed in a drone strike at a base in Jordan as officials investigate how the attack happened. And Elon Musk says his Neuralink startup has successfully implanted a computer chip into a human’s brain for the first time. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
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3 U.S. soldiers killed in Jordan drone strike identified
The identities of the three U.S. soldiers who were killed in an attack on a military base in Jordan on Sunday, Jan. 28, have been released as the investigation is revealing new details. The Defense Department said 46-year-old Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 23-year-old Spc. Breonna Moffett and 24-year-old Spc. Kennedy Sanders, all from Georgia, were killed by an unmanned aerial drone attack on the troops’ sleeping quarters in the early morning hours.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our three Army Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country in Jordan. Our prayers are with these loyal and courageous Soldiers’ families, friends, and the entire 718th Engineer Company – we honor their selfless…
The Biden administration blamed an Iranian-backed militia group for the attack, the first in which American soldiers have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Iran has denied it was behind the strike. White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby echoed President Joe Biden’s comments a day earlier. Kriby said the U.S. would respond.
“We do not seek another war. We do not seek to escalate,” Kirby said. “But we will absolutely do what is required to protect ourselves, to continue that mission, and to respond appropriately to these attacks.”
All three soldiers who died were part of Operation Inherent Resolve, tasked with defeating ISIS in the region. The strike is believed to be the deadliest attack on U.S. service members since 13 Americans were killed in Afghanistan in 2021.
Six-week pause in war proposed for release of more hostages
Talks of another pause in the war between Israel and Hamas are in the early stages. Still, officials said the framework to deal is expected to be presented to Hamas that would see a six-week stoppage in fighting and the release of more hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
I met with @MBA_AlThani_ in Washington, DC, to discuss efforts to secure the release of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas. We are thankful for Qatar’s partnership and indispensable role in mediating. pic.twitter.com/ngdqwM5miY
The terms were drafted by representatives of the United States, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt on Sunday, Jan. 28, in Paris. CIA Director William Burns was among those working on the plan that Qatar would present to Hamas officials, and they would then send back a response.
“We are hoping actually, to relay this proposal to Hamas and to get them to a place where they engage positively and constructively in the process.” Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al Thani said during an Atlantic Council webinar.
Officials told the New York Times the early framework called for Hamas to release elderly hostages as well as any remaining women and children during the pause in fighting. When asked on Monday, Jan. 29, about the plan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken replied, “The less said, the better.” He added the proposal on the table is a “compelling one” and “there is some real hope going forward.”
IRS contractor sentenced to 5 years for leaking Trump’s tax records
I acted out of a sincere, if misguided, belief I was serving the public interest.
Charles Edward Littlejohn
Prosecutors said Littlejohn leaked tax data to the New York Times and ProPublica between 2018 and 2020; prosecutors called the leaks “unparalleled in the IRS’s history” and argued that Littlejohn applied to be an IRS contractor to get Trump’s tax returns and figured out how to search for records without sounding alarms.
“I acted out of a sincere, if misguided, belief I was serving the public interest,” Littlejohn said.
Littlejohn was also fined $5,000 and will be under three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Judge Reyes said the crime was so extraordinary that the punishment must “deter others who might feel an obligation to break the law.”
Cyberattack targets government systems where Trump faces election interference charges
A cyberattack targeted Fulton County, Georgia, government systems, where former President Donald Trump faces election interference charges. According to a Fulton County official, the attack, which is being investigated by law enforcement, targeted devices that use county servers, including those used by District Attorney Fani Willis’ Office.
A county commissioner said there is no indication that any sensitive information about employees or citizens has been leaked, and there is no timeline for when the threat will end and when systems will be restored.
The attack comes as Willis faces filing deadlines in the election interference case against Trump. This week, Willis will be heard in front of a judge as to why she should not be disqualified from prosecuting the case following allegations that she had a relationship with the special prosecutor she hired to work on the Trump case.
Elon Musk says Neuralink has implanted computer chip in first human
Musk said initial results showed “promising neuron spike detection” but gave no further details on the procedure or the patient. In May of 2023, Neuralink announced it received approval from the FDA to conduct its first-in-human clinical study.
🧠 Elon Musk announced the first successful Neuralink brain chip implant in a human. Think about telling someone 10 years ago that by 2024, we'd be on the brink of unlocking telepathy…
In a follow-up post, Musk said the first Neuralink product called “telepathy” will enable the patient to use a phone or computer to control any device just by thinking. Musk said initial users will be those who have lost the use of their limbs.
Pilot believes he may have found Amelia Earhart’s long-lost plane
Tony Romeo, a former Air Force intelligence officer, said he and his crew at Deep Sea Vision may have discovered the long-lost wreckage of Earhart’s twin-engine aircraft after scanning more than 5,200 square miles of ocean floor.
The $11 million expedition used an underwater drone to capture a sonar image resembling the shape of an airplane near Howland Island, halfway between Australia and Hawaii. Earhart was set to land on the island for refueling during her 1937 flight, in which she had hoped to be the first pilot to circumnavigate the globe.
Because the images are blurry, Romeo said his team will return to the site later this year to take clearer photos to confirm if it is indeed the long-lost plane.
Key US military facility in Pacific devastated by rogue waves
Rogue waves crashed into a bar at U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands on Saturday, Jan. 20, causing damage that could take months to repair. The first wave forcefully burst through doors, hurling them off their hinges and sweeping two individuals standing outside into the rapidly flooding interior.
The affected island, known as Roi-Namur, has been a crucial U.S. military facility in the Pacific since Marines took control away from Japan in World War II.
Recovery for the island’s civilian infrastructure might take years, impacting all Department of Defense personnel living there. Army-provided photos revealed widespread flooding on the island, with a dining facility submerged in mud.
120 military personnel call the island home and roughly 80 were evacuated during the incident, according to the Army.
Waves also damaged unaccompanied housing and a church and submerged an automotive complex and theater. The aftermath revealed a few minor injuries to individuals.
The Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site focuses on testing and evaluating ballistic missile defense systems and space surveillance operations. According to the Army, the recovery could span years.
Aerial photos showcase the extensive damage on Roi-Namur, the second-largest island on the Kwajalein Atoll, with parts still submerged.
The Kwajalein Atoll houses specialized instruments, including high-fidelity radars and optical sensors, making it the forefront of long-range missile testing and defense. Its remote Pacific location makes it one of the few places where the U.S. military can test intercontinental ballistic missiles. The annual Department of Defense tests examine missile flight characteristics, capabilities, and reliability.
Morgan emphasized the importance of clearing and assessing the safety of the runway. Once open, it will facilitate the movement of people and equipment, initiating the recovery process.
Restoring the island’s infrastructure is dubbed “Operation Roi Recovery,” with about 60 personnel remaining on the island to begin restoring utilities.
