F-35A aircraft commenced scheduled flying operations at RAAF Base Williamtown during the last week of January 2019. [maxgallery id="123444"] The two aircraft from No 3 Squadron began a phase of operations designed to verify and validate the jet’s capabilities. These operations will continue for the next two years, in the…
Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, RAN hosted Chief of Staff for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, Admiral Yutaka Murakawa in Sydney for a Counterpart Visit on the 29th January 2019. [maxgallery id="123430"] This is Admiral Murakawa’s first visit to Sydney, Australia which included wreath laying at…
On February 11, 2019 the Government announced the formal signing of the Strategic Partnering Agreement for the Future Submarine Program between Defence and Naval Group. The signing, held at Russell Offices, Canberra, was attended by Australian Prime Minister the Hon Scott Morrison, MP, Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to 2ndMAW in January 2019, I had a chance to talk with the Commanding Officer of MAG-26, Colonel Boniface. I have had the opportunity to talk with Chris Boniface several times since we first met at the Bold Alligator exercises almost a decade ago.…
In an article published by AFO on February 4, 2019: Australia's military has been deployed to tackle devastating "once-in-a-century" floods that have inundated homes, schools and airports in the country's northeast, forcing hundreds to flee and bringing crocodiles onto the streets. [maxgallery id="123376"] The Australian Defence Forces delivered 70,000 sandbags,…
The last Operation Shader RAF Tornado has left the Middle East for the UK. According to an article published on February 5, 2019 on the UK Ministry of Defence website, after almost 40 years serving the UK on military operations across the world, RAF Tornados have returned home for the…
By Robbin Laird Last year during my visit to Norway, I had a chance to visit several airbases and talk with a wide variety of Norwegian officers and defense officials. With the return of direct defense challenges to the Nordics, there has been a major shift to recapitalizing the force,…
By Robbin Laird Last year during my visit to Norway, I had a chance to visit several airbases and talk with a wide variety of Norwegian officers and defense officials. With the return of direct defense challenges to the Nordics, there has been a major shift to recapitalizing the force,…
