Mongolia Takes MiG-29s as Poland Resumes Operations

Mongolia has accepted a pair of MiG-29UB two-seat fighters donated by Russia under the orders of President Putin. The acceptance ceremony took place on November 26—the nation’s Independence Day—at the military base within the fence of the Chinggis Khaan International Airport that serves the capital city, Ulaan-Baatar.

Speaking at the event, the commander of the Mongolian air force, Brigadier General Enkhbayar, described it as the “opening of a new page for Mongolian aviation.” He added that the two aircraft, received free of charge, will improve the service’s combat efficiency, and enable it to fulfill the primary task of patrolling Mongolian airspace and keeping control of the nation’s borders. Addressing the personnel of 303 and 337 Squadrons, he called upon them to treat the two MiGs as “the symbols of our cooperation with Russia.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, Major General Zabit Khairbekov, deputy commander of the Russian Air and Space Force, noted that Mongolian aviation began operations in 1925 using three Russian-made Junkers F13 transports, which were supplemented six years later by combat aircraft from Soviet stocks. In 1970, the Mongolian air force entered the jet age with the formation of a MiG-17 squadron. In the 1977-1984 time frame, it mastered MiG-21PF supersonic interceptors. The latter remained operational until recently when their structural lifecycles expired.

One of two MiG-29UBs donated by Russia is seen during the November 26 handover ceremony. (photo: MPA/Mongolian state TV)

Numerous media reports from earlier this century suggested that Mongolia would take a handful of MiG-29 and/or Su-27 fighters, but this did not materialize. Left without Russian aid, the Mongolian air force inventory gradually reduced to a few Antonov An-24/26 tactical airlifters and a dozen airworthy Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters.

President Putin made the decision to resume military aid during his official visit to Ulaan-Baatar in September this year. The two sides signed a protocol on the resumption of an earlier agreement covering military-technical cooperation centered on free-of-charge shipments of military equipment from Russian army stocks. In addition to the MiGs, Moscow has donated a handful of the Pechora-2M medium-range SAM systems.

Russia’s defense ministry provided the following comment: “The ties between Russia and Mongolia have their roots in the long history of cooperation between the two nations. They feature the spirit of good neighborhood, carry a comprehensive character, and develop in the direction of strategic partnership. Regarding the military sphere, the Russian side has always taken an active part in building Mongolia’s armed forces, including providing the Mongolian air force with aviation equipment and training Mongolian personnel.”

In another development earlier this month, Poland made the decision to resume flying its MiG-29s, which have been grounded since March this year following two crashes. With 30 aircraft on strength, the type is the second most numerous tactical aircraft in the Polish air force inventory, after the F-16.

Source:www.ainonline.com

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Relationship with allies key to maintaining competitive edge, says SF commander

The Army’s Special Forces or “Green Berets” are strengthening the Mongolian military through $23 million of funding to a mobile training team, a special operations commander said Wednesday morning.

As the threat of Russia and China continues to grow, relationships with partner nations like Mongolia take increased importance as the Army looks to consolidate its competitive advantage in the Asia-Pacific region, explained Col. Owen Ray, 1st Special Forces Group commander.

“The threats that we do face, everything from counter-terrorism to active competition with a near-peer competitor, are growing,” said Ray during a media roundtable at the Pentagon. “The value is our enduring relationships that strengthen and assure our Allies and partners.”

The Mongolian mobile training team from 1st Special Forces Group conducts long-range markmanship training

The Mongolian army requested the training unit to better support their U.N. peacekeeping deployments. This training team can travel throughout Mongolia’s countryside and remote regions to train Mongolian Soldiers on small-unit tactics, medical tasks, communications, platoon-level mission planning, base security and convoy operations.

Ray said the Army has increased its engagement with the Asian nation the past two years, as Mongolia has been a key partner after providing support to NATO and U.S. Soldiers during operations in Afghanistan.

Operating in the Indo-Pacific region poses numerous travel and logistics challenges for special operations Soldiers, said Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Lake, who recently returned from a six-month tour to Mongolia.

Lake said special ops Soldiers must weather those hurdles to maintain relationships with partner nations like Mongolia. Peer relationships can be crucial to maintaining a competitive edge over potential adversaries, he said.

“These relationships that we’re building … will continue on in the future and they will be a good partner in the region,” Lake said of the Mongolian military.

The 1st Special Forces Group, consisting of about 2,500 Green Berets, combat support and combat service support Soldiers, have limited resources but small, specialized units can make a big difference, said Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Curran, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group.

“We can’t be everywhere,” said Ray. “We’re a limited sized force and we have to work through our partners for them to be able to solve some of their own issues.”

The successes of the Special Forces’ participation in joint combined exchange training programs help make partner nations self-reliant and give U.S. forces a greater strategic advantage, Ray said. He cited the Philippine Army’s success in the city of Marawi where Filipino forces successfully defeated ISIS with limited U.S. assistance. The 60-year relationship and U.S. enduring partnership with the Philippines has improved the effectiveness of their forces, he said.

“We’re not training them to shoot anymore,” said Curran, who advised in the creation of the Philippine Light Reaction Company 19 years ago and has maintained relationships with them since. “We’re training them how to command and control to the degree of mission command.”

Ray said exercises like Cobra Gold and the recent Balikatan exercise in the Philippines helps build resilience against peer competitors and potential adversaries. Ray noted one change in this year’s exercise: Filipino forces requested a “forced-entry taking back sovereign terrain” training resembling a possible threat by Russia or China.

“Our approach is to work multi-laterally,” Ray said, “to bring in different partner nations to focus on their ability to defend their own sovereignty, to build their resilience to coercion.”

Source:www.frontiersman.com

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Khaan Quest 2018 int'l peacekeeping drill wraps up in Mongolia

ULAN BATOR, June 28 (Xinhua) -- An annual multinational peacekeeping exercise, code-named Khaan Quest 2018, concluded with a closing ceremony at Five Hills Training Area near the Mongolian capital on Thursday.

"First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all participating countries for sending their military servicemen to the multinational military exercise," Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Hurelsukh said at the closing ceremony of the military exercise.

"Peace and tranquility are the foundation of a nation's development. Therefore, Mongolia always welcomes any initiative to strengthen international and regional peace and security, and actively participates in the UN (United Nations) peacekeeping operations," he said.

A total of 1,400 military personnel from 26 countries, including Mongolia, the United States, China, Russia, Germany, Bhutan and Qatar have participated in the two-week-long military exercise.

Bhutan and Qatar's military servicemen have for the first time participated in the exercise.

Khaan Quest 2018 consisted of a command post exercise and a field training exercise focusing on peacekeeping and stability operations. Individual events include checkpoint control, combat casualty care, water patrolling and civilian protection.

Within the framework of Khaan Quest 2018, the participants provided medical treatment to more than 1,000 citizens.

In addition, cultural and sports events were held during the exercise, with the aim of promoting the traditions and customs of all participating countries.

The peacekeeping exercise was launched in 2003 by the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) in cooperation with the then U.S. Pacific Command and a United Nations peace support fund. It expanded to a multinational drill in 2006.

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Mongolian Armed Forces host Khaan Quest 2018 peacekeeping field-training exercise

FIVE HILLS TRAINING AREA, MONGOLIA

06.28.2018

Story by Sgt. David Bedard 

134th Public Affairs Detachment  

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The Mongolian Armed Forces hosted a United Nations peacekeeping field-training exercise June 14 to 28 at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, as part of Khaan Quest 2018.

The purpose of Khaan Quest is to gain U.N. training and certification for multi-national participants through the conduct of realistic peace-support operations, to include increasing and improving U.N. peacekeeping operations interoperability and military relationships among the participating nations. 

Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Oliver Meza, field-training exercise lead, said the training began with academics, which taught service members representing the seven participating nations U.N. doctrine such as protection of civilians, personal code of conduct, rules of engagement and escalation of force.

Meza said instructor staff comprised representatives from several participating nations. Each instructor attended a two-week U.N. Global Peace Operation Initiative train-the-trainer course at different locations throughout the world.

“Primarily, we're teaching peacekeeping principles,” Meza said. “We provide a class prior to the lane-execution exercise – an entire day of peacekeeping principles – so each platoon has a basic peacekeeping knowledge before they begin the exercise.”

The events were spread across the training area with nations rotating in a round-robin fashion. Training included protection of civilians, convoy operations, counter improvised-explosive device operations, presence patrol, distribution of humanitarian goods, checkpoint operations, crowd control and protection of a U.N. designated site.

The U.S. fielded two platoons during the exercise, one from the Alaska Army National Guard's 297th Regional Support Group and another from the U.S. Marine Corps' 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force platoon leader 2nd Lt. Seiga Kudo said he relished working with other nations during the exercise.

“This is a rare opportunity to get the experience and skill of multiple countries,” Kudo said. “We get to share a lot of information, and that is a very good thing.”

Meza said the exercise trained and tested peacekeeping skills that are quite different from the conventional warfare and counter-insurgency skillsets most of the attendees normally train for.

“There's the old saying, 'Hearts and minds,' and that's the foundation of peacekeeping principles,'” Meza said. “(There are) a lot of negotiations prior to any … kinetic force to accomplish the mission.”

The sergeant said training wasn't the only dimension of Khaan Quest that added to units' peacekeeping capabilities. The nation's hosted cultural events during the evenings showcasing their heritage.

“These cultural events allow students, instructors and command teams to come together for one reason, and that's to learn about each other's culture,” Meza said. “When those events are conducted, you see the benefits of such cultural events out on the lanes. There's an understanding and a respect for other countries and other cultures, and it bridges that communication barrier very well.”

Meza said operating at the Five Hills Training Area provides the multi-national participants a unique opportunity to operate in an unfamiliar environment.

“(A benefit is) units that don't usually have the opportunity to train in such a dynamic training area,” he said. “It allows them the opportunity to do something different that's challenging and rewarding outside of their normal training facilities.”

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Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise Khaan Quest 2016 commences with opening ceremony

      Story by Cpl. Janessa Pon

Cpl. Janessa Pon

Members of the Mongolian Armed Forces stand in formation before the Khaan Quest 2016 opening ceremonies May 22 at Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Khaan Quest 2016 is an annual multinational peacekeeping operations exercise conducted in Mongolia and is the capstone exercise for the Global Peace Operations Initiative. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon)

This year’s Khaan Quest, held annually in Mongolia, is serving as the capstone exercise for the United Nations Global Peace Operations Initiative program, which provides pre-deployment training to GPOI partner countries preparing to support UN Peacekeeping Missions and is scheduled to take place May 22-June 4.

The ceremony was attended by the president of Mongolia, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia, Jennifer Zimdahl Galt, and the U.S. PACOM commander, Admiral Harry Harris Jr.

“(Participants) have come from near and far to our beautiful country bound by a single cause of world peace,” said Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.
“Today, Khaan Quest is universally recognized as one of the most prestigious regional events with ever-increasing reputation, significance and participation.”

The needs of people worldwide serve as a constant reminder to us of the necessity of peaceful resolution of disputes and global service, which is the driving force behind these peacekeeping operations, according to Elbegdorj.

After Elbegdorj’s opening remarks, Harris addressed the audience, detailing the importance of multinational relationships and training.

“This year’s training will take us to the next level,” said Harris. “The Five Hills Training Facility will be home to militaries from around the world – about 2,000 soldiers from more than 40 countries. This facility will provide them with a specialized setting to learn and train together and will work to enhance interoperability and develop common tactics. All of this will ultimately enhance our collective effectiveness to support global peacekeeping operations.”

After the opening remarks, platoons from participating countries marched past the reviewing stand and flags flown to signify patriotism and the developing relationship between participating countries.

“In 2003, Khaan Quest began as a joint training endeavor between Mongolia and the U.S.,” said Harris. “Now, it’s a premier peacekeeping exercise involving dozens of nations from around the world. This is a testament to the power of partnership.”

The exercise will consist of four main events: Command Post Exercise (CPX), Field Training Event (FTE), Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) projects, Health Services Support Engagement (HSSE) as well as training on critical enabler capabilities such as unmanned aerial systems, explosive ordnance disposal and counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED). USPACOM is the Organization Coordinating Event (OCE) for the exercise and provides command and control for all KQ 16 activities.

The field training exercise aims to hone service members’ skills in peacekeeping operational procedures through training in weapons familiarization, small boat operations, survival training and a multinational platoon competition.

The command post exercise aims to support Mongolian modernization goals by establishing and globally deploying battalion assets during peacekeeping operations by utilizing scenario-based exercises.

“The need for teamwork is proven again and again, the most recent examples being the tragic earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador,” said Harris. “It reminds us that all nations, no matter how rich or powerful, can use the help of our global community from time to time. And the best time to develop these partnerships is before world events demand them. Harnessing the wealth of capabilities represented by the many militaries here today is a priority. It’s a necessity to successfully address the range of transnational threats present in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.”

The ceremony closed with a final march past the reviewing stands followed by group photos with the guests of honor in the center of the parade deck.

“The U.S. is committed to the Indo-Asia-Pacific and we work diligently with Mongolia and other like-minded partners to build PKO capacity throughout the region,” said Harris. “Mongolia is a model PKO partner, not just with the U.S., but also with NATO and has supported many multinational operations around the world.”

For more information about Khaan Quest, please visit the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/khaanquest. For more information about the GPOI program visit the U.S. State Department’s website – http://www.state.gov/t/pm/ppa/gpoi/

      Story by Cpl. Janessa Pon

Source:www.dvidshub.net

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Mongolian Peacekeepers rescues oil workers in Southern Sudan

By ILYA GRIDNEFF Associated Press

Rebel fighters in South Sudan claimed Tuesday that they captured the capital of an oil-rich state, and they issued an ultimatum to oil companies to shut down production and evacuate workers. U.N. peacekeepers rescued 10 oil workers from the violence, but not before five were wounded.

U.N. peacekeepers from Mongolia rescued 10 staff members from the Russian oil company Safinat just north of the city of Bentiu, said Joe Contreras, a U.N. spokesman. He said two of the five wounded were in critical condition.

A rebel commander, speaking by phone from Unity state, said rebel forces recaptured Bentiu from government troops.

"Our forces have completed mopping and cleaning up operations in and around Bentiu Tuesday morning while other combat units are in hot pursuit of government generals running toward," the northern border, said Brig. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, a spokesman for rebel troops. "The recapturing of Bentiu marks the first phase of liberation of oil fields from anti-democratic and genocidal forces of" President Salva Kiir, he said.

South Sudan saw massive violence sweep the country in December, when fighting broke out between troops loyal to the former vice president and those loyal to Kiir. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed, and more than 1 million have fled their homes.

Koang urged oil companies operating in government controlled areas to immediately begin closing down oil production and evacuate staff within a week. He said a failure to comply would risk the forced shutdown of oil facilities and threaten the safety of staff there.

Despite Koang's claims, the spokesman for South Sudan's military, Col. Philip Aguer, said that the fighting is still ongoing and the picture from Bentiu is not yet clear.

As the fighting continued, Toby Lanzer, the U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan, expressed outrage and frustration with the political and military leaders of South Sudan. He said the renewed outbreak of warfare will further hamper efforts to avoid oncoming hunger.

"What we've been pleading was give the people of your country some breathing space, give the people of South Sudan the space to tend to their cattle, allow them the safety to get to their fields and plant and cultivate," he said.

More than 9,000 civilians are now seeking refuge in the U.N's Bentiu base, he said. Peacekeepers have been deployed to protect civilians hiding in a hospital to prevent a repeat of past hospital massacres, he said.

"There are hundreds of women and children, trying to stay safe in a hospital," Lanzer said, adding later: "I really feel a sense of outrage."

International aid officials have increasingly invoked the word "famine" to describe what South Sudan could face in coming months. The country is extremely poor and most residents survive only on the crops they plant and harvest. Because of the fighting, many residents are not able to plant crops ahead of the coming rainy season.

Last weekend top U.S. and European Union aid officials called for increased global support to combat the oncoming crisis. They noted that 800,000 South Sudanese are internally displaced and 280,000 have fled to neighboring countries. International aid actors say South Sudan faces a funding gap of nearly $800 million.

"This declaration is a wake-up call to prevent a deeper catastrophe from unfolding in South Sudan," said Rajiv Shah, the head of the U.S. government aid arm USAID. "Today, indicators tell us that South Sudan is on the brink of famine, and it's clear that the world must now do more to address this crisis."

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Associated Press reporters Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Jason Straziuso in Nairobi, Kenya contributed to this report.

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