By Lieutenant Commander Kelli Lunt An Australian command task group element was based in a Japanese ship for the first time during a mine counter-measures exercise in Japan. Minehunters HMA Ships Diamantina and Gascoyne, together with a commander task group, participated in Exercise Hyuga Nada, a mine counter-measures exercise, off the coast of…
Given that the USAF is having to relearn mobile basing and are flying the same aircraft as the USMC (although the the USAF for now is not following the recommendation of an earlier COS of the USAF that they acquire F-35Bs), it is not surprising to find USAF pilots onboard…
By defenceWeb The United Arab Emirates’ Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL) has signed an agreement with the Kenya Air Force to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for its aircraft. GAL, part of the newly created Edge defence conglomerate, made the announcement during the Dubai Air Show last week. It…
By Robbin Laird The Italians have had a number of firsts with regard to the F-35 global enterprise. As I wrote in 2015: At the beginning of the 20th Century, Italy was a pioneer in combat aviation. Although different at the beginning of the 21st century, Italy has again emerged…
By Robbin Laird At last year’s International Fighter Conference, the team working on the Franco-German Future Combat System program provided an overview on the launch of the effort. At this year’s conference, the team provided an update on progress over the first year, and underscored key timelines into what was…
From September 29th to October 24th, 2019, the JGSDF participated in the Vigilant Isles 19 field training exercise in the U.K. alongside the British Army at Garelochhead Training Camp, Strone Camp, and in the Loch Ewe area. Approx. 20 members of the JGSDF including members of the JGSDF Fuji School…
By Robbin Laird I have just returned from Berlin. I attended the International Fighter Conference 2019 and visited Checkpoint Charlie and shared thoughts with German friends of the thirty-year anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Both events had much in common – the Cold War is over but…
On October 15th and 16th, the JMSDF conducted bilateral exercise KAEDEX 2019-2 with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in waters and airspace south of Kanto region. The exercise aims to enhancing the JMSDF’s tactical skills and strengthening relations with the RCN. In the exercise, two JMSDF destroyers, JS Shimakaze and JS Chokai, and…
