Post-Global Hawk Shoot-down: Next US Moves With Regard to Iran

06/26/2019
By Lt. General (Retired) Deptula After the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down an unmanned and unarmed U.S. Navy surveillance drone last week, President Trump exercised significant restraint, calling off a planned kinetic strike against the offending surface-to-air missile (SAM) launch site. Many—including the Iranian leadership—expected to see a retaliatory attack in…

Crafting Australian Active Defenses: The Israeli Impact

06/26/2019
By Max Blenkin Israel is a nation under constant threat, and has developed very advanced defensive capabilities including an air and missile defence (IAMD) system and that could be of relevance to Australia. At the lowest level is Iron Dome, a mobile Counter Rocket and Mortar (C-RAM) system, the development…

Global Operational Sustainment: The Aussies and the US Continue the C-17 Cross- Servicing Agreement

06/25/2019
The RAAF recently announced their continuation of the cross-servicing agreement between USAF C-17s and Aussies C-17s. According to a recent article published by the RAAF: The United States and Australia have agreed to a cross-servicing arrangement for the repair and maintenance of C-17A Globemasters. The establishment of an Aircraft Repair and…

Iranian Global Hawk Shoot Down: An Example of How Unmanned Assets Expand Decision Making Options

06/23/2019
One of the points about flying unmanned aircraft is that you have a wider range of opportunities to respond to a shoot down. If it is a manned asset, you have to respond to recover the downed pilot or mission crew and to do so with significant impact. With an…

Poland and the F-35

06/22/2019
During the recent visit of the Polish President and a high-ranking Polish delegation, many key defense issues were discussed with President Trump and his Administration. Among those issues was the potential purchase of the F-35 by Poland. According to an article published on the Polish Ministry of Defence website, this…

The US Navy Working Maritime Security with African Partners

06/22/2019
By defenceWeb The United States Navy is working with partners in Africa to help them enhance maritime security, with exercises, training and aid being delivered, according to US Navy Admiral James Foggo III. “The maritime domain has strategic security implications; not only do piracy and other illicit maritime activities threaten…

Putting FCAS Into a Broader European Political Context: The EU, Brexit and Shaping a Way Ahead

06/20/2019
By Pierre Tran Paris - French and German defense ministers attended an unveiling of a mock-up of a new fighter jet at the Paris air show, even as the two countries compete to fill top jobs in the European Union, and the UK Conservative party limps toward selecting a new…