Latest news with #DanScavino
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mysterious Shipping Container Rocket Launcher Spotted At Trump's Visit To Fort Bragg
A containerized launcher designed to fire the same suite of artillery rockets and ballistic missiles as the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) has appeared at the U.S. Army's Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The ability to launch ballistic missiles, in particular, from what is outwardly indistinguishable from any other shipping container, presents a flexible strike capability that is harder for opponents to spot. Ukraine's recent Operation Spiderweb covert drone attacks highlighted to a dizzying degree the value of even lower-end concealed fires capabilities. The launcher inside the container is visible off to the side in a video, seen below, from President Donald Trump's visit to Fort Bragg today, which was posted online by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino. Trump was given demonstrations of various Army capabilities at the base's Holland Drop Zone, including the launch of artillery rockets. A separate launcher, the type of which is not immediately clear, was used to fire those rounds. President Trump arrives at the Holland Drop Zone—Fort Bragg… — Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) June 10, 2025 President Trump also observed paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division jump from a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane and a mock special operations assault involving Green Berets and the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment SOAR). A transporter erector launcher for the Soviet-designed Scud ballistic missile, or a full-scale mockup of one, is also notably present in the footage of the special operations demonstration. Bragg is the Army's main special operations hub, as well as home to the 82nd Airborne Division, among other units. The 82nd Airborne Division — Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) June 10, 2025 FORT BRAGG—@USArmy — Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) June 10, 2025 TWZ has not been able to quickly find additional information about the containerized launcher, but it is not entirely new. In August 2024, Military Times posted a video of it, seen below, across its social media accounts, but with no additional context. We have reached out to the Army for more details. What is clear is that the containerized launcher, the entire roof of which is designed to open to one side, can accommodate two of the same ammunition 'pods' used as the tracked M270 MRLS and wheeled M142 HIMARS launch vehicles. Pods are available that come loaded with six 227mm guided artillery rockets, a single Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile, or two Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). ATACMS and PrSM, the latter of which is beginning to enter Army service now to replace the former, are both short-range ballistic missiles. Current-generation 227mm artillery rockets in Army inventory can hit targets some 50 miles (around 80 kilometers) away, and a variant with a maximum range of just over 93 miles (150 kilometers) entered production last year. The longest range variant of the ATACMS short-range ballistic missile in Army service today can reach targets out to 186 miles (300 kilometers). The initial version of PrSM, also known as Increment 1, has a range of 310 miles (500 kilometers), but there are also plans to extend that out to 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) or more. It's worth noting that a PrSM with a range beyond 620 miles/1,000 kilometers would be categorized as at least a medium-range ballistic missile. The Army is also developing an anti-ship variant of PrSM with a new seeker and is eyeing further versions with 'enhanced lethality payloads' that could include miniature smart bombs and kamikaze drones. The Army is also currently exploring new pods loaded with smaller rockets that could expand the magazine depth of M270 and M142 launcher vehicles, but at the cost of a reduction in range. The service has been experimenting with new launcher vehicles that can fire this same family of munitions, including uncrewed types and a design offering significantly expanded ammunition capacity. Being able to launch this array of rockets and missiles already gives M270 and M142 immense flexibility. A containerized launcher would open up additional possibilities, including the ability to turn any truck that can carry a standard shipping container into a platform capable of firing long-range guided rockets and missiles. This, in turn, could help the Army more readily expand its available launch capacity as required. The containerized launchers could also be deployed in a fixed mode, offering forward operating bases the ability to hold targets at risk dozens, if not hundreds of miles away. This can include providing an on-call form of organic air/fire support for troops operating far from the forward base. The launcher inside the container cannot traverse laterally, but an array of them could be positioned in such a way to provide maximum coverage in all directions. Being a container-based design, whether deployed in a truck-mounted or fixed configuration, they would be readily relocatable from one location to another. The containerized launchers could also be loaded on rail cars and or employed from ships with sufficient open deck space. In any of these modes, the launcher would benefit from its unassuming outward appearance. This would present challenges for opponents when it comes to detection and targeting, since any container could potentially be loaded with rockets or ballistic missiles. As already mentioned, Ukraine just demonstrated the value of concealed launch capabilities in its unprecedented covert drone attacks on multiple Russian air bases. Other countries, including Russia, China, and Iran, have also been developing containerized launch systems for artillery rockets and/or missiles. In terms of naval use, specifically, it's also worth mentioning here that the U.S. Navy is already in the process of fielding a different containerized missile launcher, designed to fire Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and SM-6 multi-purpose missiles, in shipboard and tractor-trailer configurations. The Navy launcher is based on the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) found on various American and foreign warships, and is directly related to the Army's ground-based Typhon system that can also currently fire Tomahawks and SM-6s. How close the containerized launcher seen at Fort Bragg may or may not be to becoming an operational capability is unclear, but its potential value is not hard to see. Contact the author: joe@
NDTV
14-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Watch: Six Saudi Fighter Jets Escort Donald Trump's Air Force One Into Riyadh
As US President Donald Trump flew into Riyadh on Tuesday, he received a ceremonial escort from six Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s as his plane, Air Force One, approached the kingdom's capital. Taking to X, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino shared the video showing the Saudi warplanes escorting the presidential aircraft during its final approach to Riyadh. In the caption, Mr Scavino thanked the Saudi government for the escort and for having "President Trump's back". "Thank you for the escort, and having President Trump's back-We all appreciate it. See you on the ground shortly, THANK YOU!!!" Mr Scavino wrote one X. Separately, Margo Martin, a White House official, also posted video of the escort online, declaring, "Saudi F-15's providing honorary escort for Air Force One!" Watch the video below: Good morning from Air Force One, Saudi Arabia! Thank you for the escort, and having President Trump's back—We all appreciate it. See you on the ground shortly, THANK YOU!!!🇺🇸🇸🇦 — Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) May 13, 2025 Trump is on a multi-day tour of the Gulf. Upon touchdown at King Khalid International Airport, he was greeted on the tarmac by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman (MBS). The two walked a purple carpet flanked by a guard of honour - a privilege only bestowed upon the most favoured guests. After leaving the tarmac, the duo engaged in a conversation during a reception in the royal treatment. There, they sat on golden chairs next to golden tables under massive portraits of the crown prince, King Salman, and the late founder of the kingdom, AFP reported. The pair also partook in a traditional Arabic coffee ceremony. Later, Trump headed to the Al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh. The Crown Prince and the US President walked through a labyrinth of marble corridors with gold-embellished wooden doors before arriving in a vast reception hall dotted with gigantic chandeliers. In Saudi Arabia, Trump praised the country's leadership for its modernisation push and said Iran, Lebanon and Syria all had the opportunity for a brighter future. The Middle East would be "defined by commerce, not chaos," he said. Of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump said, "I like him a lot". "Critics doubted it (Saudi's rise) was possible, what you've done, but over the past eight years. Saudi Arabia has proved the critics totally wrong...I like him a lot. I like him too much," the US President said. Marking his commitment to a "close relationship" between the US and Saudi Arabia, Trump also announced he was lifting sanctions on Syria at the request of MBS and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and said, "Oh, what I do for the crown prince." He further described the kingdom as "the center of the world".
Mint
13-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Saudi fighter jets escort Donald Trump's Air Force One into Riyadh — Watch the moment
Trump's arrival was marked by a dramatic aerial escort from six Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets as Air Force One entered Saudi airspace. The jets flew in close formation—three on each wing—for the final 30 minutes of the flight, in a highly symbolic show of solidarity. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted footage of the flyby on X, writing, 'Thank you for the escort, and having President Trump's back—We all appreciate it. See you on the ground shortly, THANK YOU!!!' Upon touchdown at King Khalid International Airport, Trump was greeted on the tarmac by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two walked a lavender carpet to a reception area, where they partook in a traditional Arabic coffee ceremony. Trump was accompanied by several high-level officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The President's Tuesday itinerary included a speech at a high-profile investor forum featuring tech leaders such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sam Altman. A state dinner and meetings with top Saudi officials were also on the agenda. Trump's warm reception stood in contrast to the more reserved 2022 visit by former President Joe Biden, whose fist bump with the crown prince was widely scrutinised due to strained relations following the US intelligence community's conclusion that Prince Mohammed had ordered the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump's current Middle East tour includes stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where the Trump Organisation—run by his sons—is developing several luxury real estate ventures. These include a high-rise in Jeddah, a hotel in Dubai, and a golf course complex in Qatar. This trip also marks a symbolic return to Riyadh, the site of Trump's first foreign visit as president in 2017. With promises of massive Saudi investment in the US and close business ties, the tour underscores the intersection of Trump's political and private interests on the global stage.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Gets Full In-Flight Service From Fox News Sycophant
Fox News host and avid Trump supporter Sean Hannity joined the president Monday on his flight to the Middle East, where he conducted an interview for his primetime show. Earlier in the afternoon, Hannity announced on X that he would be joining Trump on his four-day tour through Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. 'We'll be in Saudi Arabia—Riyadh. And we look forward to seeing you all there,' he said while on the tarmac in front of Air Force One, which he observed was 'a pretty big plane." Trump's assistant, Dan Scavino, teased the interview in a brief, soundless video he posted on X. The sit-down will air Tuesday night. Hannity has a history of buttering up his longtime friend, who he speaks with regularly both on and off the air. If the past is any indicator, then Trump was again 'amazing,' as Hannity gushed after speaking with the president back in January. This week's trip abroad coincides with the controversial donation of a luxury Boeing 747-8 plane from the Qatari royal family. The $400 million plane is set to be upgraded to become Air Force One, and Trump plans to use it after leaving office by having it donated to his presidential library. The Trump administration insists that the massive, unprecedented gift doesn't amount to bribery. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump's top White House lawyer, David Warrington, have concluded that the gift is 'legally permissible' because it's going to the U.S. Air Force, then Trump's presidential library foundation. Additionally, they said, the gift doesn't hinge on an official act. Concerns remain, though, especially due to the timing of the gift and how Trump has personal business dealings in the Middle East. 'Clearly he is trying to make money there, and that puts us in an uncomfortable situation,' Jordan Libowitz, vice president in communications for the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told NPR. 'Is America's best interest being served, or is it the best interests of the Trump Organization?' Yet anyone looking to hear any tough questioning on the issue from Hannity, who literally campaigned for Trump on stage back in 2018, may be disappointed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House Unveils Updated Oval Office Design Featuring Gold-Framed Artwork
The Trump administration unveiled a newly renovated Oval Office on Wednesday, April 30, featuring an expanded display of gold-framed portraits of former US presidents as well as a large group of flags. In an interview with ABC News, President Trump said that former President Ronald Reagan's portrait was intentionally displayed more prominently than the others in the collection. The display included Democratic presidents such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Trump said the selection of portraits reflected his love for the country, adding that some of the featured presidents had never previously been displayed in the Oval Office. On his first day in office, Trump issued the 'Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture' executive order, declaring that 'Federal public buildings' should respect 'classical architectural heritage.' Trump reportedly tripled the number of pictures of his predecessors on the walls compared with the Biden administration. Newly released footage by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino offers a 360-degree view of the renovated space. Credit: Dan Scavino via Storyful
