Latest news with #BradCooper
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump names nominees to take over commands in the Middle East and Africa
President Donald Trump is nominating Vice Adm. Brad Cooper to take over as the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, the Pentagon said Wednesday. If he is confirmed, it would mark just the second time that a Navy admiral has held the job. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement that Trump also is nominating Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson to head U.S. Africa Command. Anderson would be the first Air Force general to lead the command, which was created in 2007. Cooper is currently deputy commander of U.S. Central Command and has extensive experience serving and leading troops in the Middle East. The current head of the command, Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, is slated to retire after more than three years in the post. It is a crucial role as the region has been shaken by conflict, with the Trump administration pushing to broker a ceasefire deal after 20 months of war in Gaza and pressing for an agreement with Iran in negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. A 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Cooper commanded naval forces in the Middle East for close to three years as the head of the Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain. He left in February 2024 to take over as deputy at Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and is based in Tampa. Army and Marine generals have largely held the Middle East job since it was created in 1983. And two of the recent leaders — former Army Gen. Lloyd Austin and former Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, went on to serve as defense secretary. Central Command covers 21 countries across central and south Asia and northeast Africa and has overseen the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Syria and Yemen. The only Navy officer to ever lead Central Command was Adm. William Fallon, who resigned after a year and retired. At the time, Fallon said he was stepping down due to press reports that suggested he was opposed to then-President George W. Bush's Iran policies. He said the reports were wrong but the perception had become a distraction. Cooper is a surface warfare officer and served on guided-missile cruisers, destroyers, aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. He commanded a destroyer and a cruiser. During his time leading the 5th Fleet, Cooper set up the Navy's first unmanned and artificial intelligence task force, and he led naval operations against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. He also oversaw the Navy's role in Operation Prosperity Guardian, the U.S.-led coalition created in late 2023 to counter Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. He previously served as commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic and commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea. Cooper is the son of a career Army officer and got his master's degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University. Anderson, nominated to lead operations in Africa, is a pilot who has flown the KC-135 tanker, the C-130 transport aircraft and the U-28A surveillance aircraft used largely by special operations forces. He has flown more than 3,400 flight hours, including 738 in combat. He is currently serving as the director of joint force development on the Joint Staff. According to the Air Force, he commanded a special operations squadron, an expeditionary squadron, an operations group and a special operations wing. He also led the task force that coordinated the repositioning of U.S. forces from Somalia and headed Special Operations Command, Africa, from 2019 to 2021. Africa Command is the newest of the Pentagon's geographic commands and covers the bulk of the African continent. Much of the U.S. military's efforts there have focused on combatting extremist groups and training local forces. Anderson would be the seventh general to head Africa Command. To date, four of the previous leaders were Army generals and two were Marines. Anderson is from Ypsilanti, Michigan, and graduated from the ROTC program at Washington University in St. Louis.
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Why this Camberwell family home of 40 years cracked $4.2m
A Camberwell home with a rooftop city view and four decades of family memories has sold under the hammer for $4.298m in front of a packed crowd who crammed indoors to escape the rain. The five-bedroom Victorian at 9 Avenue Rd had been in the same hands for more than 40 years before Saturday's auction brought a crowd of about 80 into the home's expansive open-plan living zone. Despite the weather, four local families competed for the keys, with two pushing the price well beyond the $3.95m on-the-market figure. The result also soared above the property's initial $3.7m-$3.9m price guide. Set on about 815sq m, the double-fronted, double-brick home blends original marble fireplaces, ceiling roses and hall arches with a luxurious renovation completed about 15 years ago. Behind its iron-laced verandah and high front fence lies a gas and solar heated pool, a spa pavilion, commercial-grade outdoor kitchen and a city-facing rooftop terrace. It also features a theatre room, ground-floor guest suite and a four-car basement garage — features that helped make it a standout among prestige offerings in the suburb. All four bidders were from nearby, with the home eventually secured by a local family. The sellers, who are now downsizing, were supported by their extended family during the auction and described as private but warm, with neighbours dropping by during the campaign to share fond memories of the home and the people in it. Ray White Balwyn auctioneer Brad Cooper said it was an emotional day for the vendors, but the result was a testament to the quality of the property and its location just steps from Camberwell Junction and close to top schools and transport. The property is also zoned for Camberwell High School. Despite the wet weather, Mr Cooper said the auction ran smoothly indoors thanks to the home's spacious design — with several large living areas making it feel more like a party than a property sale.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Overland Park mayor talks Royals in city; look at 2025 Kansas legislative session
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas side suburb of Overland Park scored a major employer this past week when .' The high-tech financial industry Fortune 500 company says it will add 2000 jobs by 2030 to the Aspira Campus. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog makes his first appearance on '4 The People' to talk about what it means, and whether the city remains a 'player' in the Royals sweepstakes. Then Brad Cooper of the Sunflower State Journal shares his insights on the 2025 Kanas legislative session. Plus, a look ahead to governor's races coming next year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
NATO warships in the Red Sea fight are proving that deck guns can fight a drone war
NATO warships deployed to the Red Sea have used their deck guns to shoot down Houthi drones. The deck guns fire cheaper ammunition than expensive surface-to-air missiles. Former US Navy officers told BI that the engagements prove this weapon is still very much relevant. NATO warships deployed to the Red Sea have been using their deck weapons, from autocannons to naval artillery guns, to shoot down Houthi drones over the past few months. The engagements demonstrate that naval deck guns are not only still relevant but also offer warships a more cost-effective way to destroy drones than expensive surface-to-air missiles, retired US Navy officers told Business Insider. Earlier this month, the French military released footage of one of its frigates using a deck gun to destroy a Houthi drone above the Red Sea. The weapon appears to be the Italian-made 76mm naval autocannon, in service since the 1960s. It fired several rounds into the distance, causing a target to explode in the sky. After the first shot, a small object can be seen flying past the line of sight. The French said this was the rubber cover that protects the gun barrel but "still allows for emergency firing," suggesting that the hostile drone was unexpected and particularly close. The kill marks the latest but not the first disclosure of a NATO warship using its deck gun to take out a Houthi drone, showcasing the value of these weapons in a maritime drone fight. The range of naval guns is typically within around 10 miles, close enough that any targeting failure or misfire could leave the warship dangerously exposed. In November, the Navy destroyer USS Stockdale was in the middle of an intense, hourslong shoot-out with the Houthis. At one point, a low-flying drone crossed in front of the warship. It was detected late, but a kill order was given, and the vessel's five-inch gun blasted the threat out of the sky. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the deputy commander of US Central Command, said in January when he disclosed the incident that it's a proud moment to destroy a threat with a missile, "but there's a lot of high-fives when you shoot something down with a gun, kind of World War II-style." The Mark-45 five-inch deck gun mounted on US destroyers and cruisers was first deployed in 1971. The naval artillery gun is made to hit surface, air, and land targets and has a range of roughly 13 nautical miles; it's typically guided by radar against air targets. In its fully automatic firing mode, it can fire up to 20 rounds a minute with an autoloader. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers carry 600 rounds of conventional ammunition, while Ticonderoga-class cruisers, which have two Mark 45s, can hold 1,200 shells. This is a far greater magazine depth than the air-defense missile capacity. This class of destroyers is equipped with as many as 96 vertical launching system cells, while the cruisers are equipped with around 120 VLS cells. Not all these launch tubes carry the Navy's Standard Missile interceptors, like the SM-2, SM-3, or SM-6. They are also equipped with land-attack missiles. While surface-to-air missiles appear to be the main air-defense tool that US and European warships have used to eliminate Houthi drones and missiles, the deck gun engagements suggest the weapon could be useful in future maritime conflicts where drones are prominent. Bradley Martin, a retired Navy surface warfare captain, said that while the naval deck gun was always intended to be part of a layered defense, the Red Sea conflict shows that this weapon is ideal for destroying small attack drones that fly slower than a cruise missile. Maritime drones can be launched in large numbers and are relatively cheap compared to other munitions. "A gun provides an inexpensive counter," said Martin, now a senior policy researcher at RAND. "What we're learning is that having short-range kinetic capability, like a gun offers, is very valuable," he added. A longer-range kinetic capability, like the SM-2, can strike enemy aircraft or anti-ship missiles some 90 nautical miles away. But with a $2 million price tag, it's a significantly more expensive option than a Mk-45 round for taking out a cheap drone worth a few thousand dollars. Martin said that deck guns are a good way to get ordnance out quickly and can be used in various ways. A warship, for instance, may track a target via radar or a camera and fire precisely at it; alternatively, air burst rounds can release lots of shrapnel into the air, making it difficult for a drone to pass through. US warships are armed with other ways to defend themselves at closer ranges as well. These include the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles. A US warship had a close call with an incoming missile early in the Red Sea fight that required CIWS employment. Archer Macy, a retired Navy admiral, said that it's ultimately the job of the vessel's combat system and the operators to best align each weapon with the incoming threat. He noted that while a deck gun is ideal for the smaller, slower targets, it could potentially engage subsonic cruise missiles, too. Macy, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Missile Defense Project, said that the Mk-45 has a muzzle velocity of over 2,500 feet per second, meaning the projectile travels at very high speeds. "It's a lot cheaper than a Standard Missile, and you can put a lot more of them out in a hurry," Macy explained. "And you carry more on your ship." In an air-defense situation, a warship tends to fire more than one missile at a target and then see if it works to eliminate the threat, and if it doesn't, the ship will move to launch another, Macy said. Instead, the vessel can put out nearly a dozen five-inch rounds in seconds and fill the sky with shrapnel. "It doesn't all have to be done with missiles," Macy said. "When in doubt, use a gun — if it's appropriate." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
NATO warships in the Red Sea fight are proving that deck guns can fight a drone war
NATO warships deployed to the Red Sea have been using their deck weapons, from autocannons to naval artillery guns, to shoot down Houthi drones over the past few months. The engagements demonstrate that naval deck guns are not only still relevant but offer warships a more cost-effective way to destroy drones than expensive surface-to-air missiles, retired US Navy officers told Business Insider. Earlier this month, the French military released footage of one of its frigates using a deck gun to destroy a Houthi drone above the Red Sea. The weapon appears to be the Italian-made 76mm naval autocannon, in service since the 1960s. It fired several rounds into the distance, causing a target to explode in the sky. After the first shot, a small object can be seen flying past the line of sight. The French said this was the rubber cover that protects the gun barrel but "still allows for emergency firing," suggesting that the hostile drone was unexpected and particularly close. The kill marks the latest but not the first disclosure of a NATO warship using its deck gun to take out a Houthi drone, showcasing the value of these weapons in a maritime drone fight. The range of naval guns is typically within around 10 miles, close enough that any targeting failure or misfire could leave the warship dangerously exposed. 📍Red Sea | Interception by a 🇫🇷 frigate of an aerial drone coming from Yemen, threatening maritime traffic. ➡️ Constant vigilance to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime security from Suez to Hormuz. — The 🇫🇷 Joint Staff - Military operations (@FrenchForces) April 18, 2025 In November, the Navy destroyer USS Stockdale was in the middle of an intense, hourslong shoot-out with the Houthis. At one point, a low-flying drone crossed in front of the warship. It was detected late, but a kill order was given, and the vessel's five-inch gun blasted the threat out of the sky. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the deputy commander of US Central Command, said in January when he disclosed the incident that it's a proud moment to destroy a threat with a missile, "but there's a lot of high-fives when you shoot something down with a gun, kind of World War II-style." The Mark-45 five-inch deck gun mounted on US destroyers and cruisers was first deployed in 1971. The naval artillery gun is made to hit surface, air, and land targets and has a range of roughly 13 nautical miles; it's typically guided by radar against air targets. In its fully automatic firing mode, it can fire up to 20 rounds a minute with an autoloader. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers carry 600 rounds of conventional ammunition, while Ticonderoga-class cruisers, which have two Mark 45s, can hold 1,200 shells. This is a far greater magazine depth than the air-defense missile capacity. This class of destroyers is equipped with as many as 96 vertical launching system cells, while the cruisers are equipped with around 120 VLS cells. Not all these launch tubes carry the Navy's Standard Missile interceptors, like the SM-2, SM-3, or SM-6. They are also equipped with land-attack missiles. While surface-to-air missiles appear to be the main air-defense tool that US and European warships have used to eliminate Houthi drones and missiles, the deck gun engagements suggest the weapon could be useful in future maritime conflicts where drones are prominent. Bradley Martin, a retired Navy surface warfare captain, said that while the naval deck gun was always intended to be part of a layered defense, the Red Sea conflict shows that this weapon is ideal for destroying small attack drones that fly slower than a cruise missile. Maritime drones can be launched in large numbers and are relatively cheap compared to other munitions. "A gun provides an inexpensive counter," said Martin, now a senior policy researcher at RAND. "What we're learning is that having short-range kinetic capability, like a gun offers, is very valuable," he added. A longer-range kinetic capability, like the SM-2, can strike enemy aircraft or anti-ship missiles some 90 nautical miles away. But with a $2 million price tag, it's a significantly more expensive option than a Mk-45 round for taking out a cheap drone worth a few thousand dollars. Martin said that deck guns are a good way to get ordnance out quickly and can be used in various ways. A warship, for instance, may track a target via radar or a camera and fire precisely at it; alternatively, air burst rounds can release lots of shrapnel into the air, making it difficult for a drone to pass through. US warships are armed with other ways to defend themselves at closer ranges as well. These include the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles. A US warship had a close call with an incoming missile early in the Red Sea fight that required CIWS employment. Archer Macy, a retired Navy admiral, said that it's ultimately the job of the vessel's combat system and the operators to best align each weapon with the incoming threat. He noted that while a deck gun is ideal for the smaller, slower targets, it could potentially engage subsonic cruise missiles, too. Macy, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Missile Defense Project, said that the Mk-45 has a muzzle velocity of over 2,500 feet per second, meaning the projectile travels at very high speeds. "It's a lot cheaper than a Standard Missile, and you can put a lot more of them out in a hurry," Macy explained. "And you carry more on your ship." In an air-defense situation, a warship tends to fire more than one missile at a target and then see if it works to eliminate the threat, and if it doesn't, the ship will move to launch another, Macy said. Instead, the vessel can put out nearly a dozen five-inch rounds in seconds and fill the sky with shrapnel. "It doesn't all have to be done with missiles," Macy said. "When in doubt, use a gun — if it's appropriate."
