The USMC and Digital Interoperability: Shaping an Integrated Distributed Force

04/03/2020
By Robbin Laird As the first combat force in the world to operate the F-35, the Marines experienced the challenge but also the impacts of what a fifth-generation aircraft can deliver to the battlespace. At the heart of what a four-ship formation of F-35s can deliver is an integrated core…

Employing Unmanned Surface Vehicles to Enhance Port and Harbor Security

04/03/2020
By George Galorisi The deployment of two U.S. Navy hospital ships, USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort, to the ports of Los Angeles and New York City, respectively, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic has made international news. It has also put a punctuation mark on the importance of ports and…

An Update on French Defense Industry in the Lockdown: Furloughs and Dividends

04/03/2020
By Pierre Tran Paris - Dassault Aviation has suspended its €212 million ($232 million) dividend on financial year 2019, withdrawn its business forecast for 2020, and placed some staff on furlough in response to disruption caused by coronavirus. “To support Dassault Aviation in this unprecedented crisis, the board decided today…

Coronavirus Impact: France Pulls Out from African West Coast Maritime Security Mission

04/03/2020
by defenceWeb The French Navy has suspended its Mission Corymbe off West Africa due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, and withdrawn a vessel from the area. The patrol vessel Lieutenant de Vaisseau Le Henaff, which departed Brest on 3 March for West Africa, returned to France at the end of the…

An Update on French Defense Industry During the Lockdown: April 1, 2020

04/01/2020
By Pierre Tran Paris - Arquus last week delivered 13 VAB armored troop carriers to support the French army in the African Barkhane operation, and an initial batch of 100 VT4 light vehicles for national security, the vehicle manufacturer said March 31. Meanwhile, Nexter partially restarted production March 30 after…

The Contribution of the Australian Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessel to Smart Sovereignty

04/01/2020
By Robbin Laird The argument of my forthcoming report on the nature and impact of the new build Australian OPV program is that the new build OPV is shaping a new template for Australian shipbuilding. And it is one in which the role of the prime contractor is being redefined…