F-35 2.0 and Changing the Defense Eco-System

09/13/2018
By Robbin Laird We have argued for more than a decade that leveraging fifth generation aircraft allowed for the re-norming of airpower. With the evolution of the F-35 and with the buy of the aircraft by several key allies, those allies are starting to introduce the aircraft into their forces,…

Onboard the USS Kearsarge with the 22nd MEU

09/12/2018
By Todd Miller The 22ndMarine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) VMM-264 Reinforced takes us on board the USS Kearsarge during deployment work-ups For many, the Marines will always be defined by the tenacious and bloody battles in the South Pacific during WWII. Rightly so. Today, these specialists in amphibious warfare and mobility…

The Indian-US Defense Partnership: New Steps Forward

09/11/2018
By Richard Weitz The inaugural meeting of the U.S.-India ‘two-plus-two’format that met on September 6, 2018 in New Delhi made substantial progress in deepening and broadening the bilateral defense relationship. Now the challenge is to seize the opportunities generated by the new format. The September 6 meeting brought together Indian…

Reshaping Royal Australian Asset Availability: The Case of the Collins Class Submarine

09/05/2018
By Robbin Laird It would be hard to find a key combat asset for the Australian Defence Force, which has received more criticism over the years than the Collins class submarine. Yet while the past is behind us, the narrative has clearly changed. The Royal Australian Navy working with its…

Reshaping the Australian Air Force Cadets Program: A Key Element of 21st Century Defense Infrastructure

09/04/2018
By Robbin Laird When one thinks of defense infrastructure, a key element is the people in the force and the infrastructure, manufacturing, science, technology, and engineering that support it. But clearly, having a dedicated committed and capable pool of recruits both into the support structure and the force is absolute…

China and the Politics of Space Control

09/03/2018
By Richard Weitz In late August, 2018 the Chinese Foreign Ministry published its position paper regarding the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, which will run from September 18 and October 5 in New York. In this document, Beijing has again professed concern about the militarization of space—somewhat awkwardly…

An Update on the HMS Queen Elizabeth and the UK F-35s: August 2018

09/02/2018
We have followed the building and preparation for the new Queen Elizabeth class submarines by the UK over the past few years. Now the new carrier is coming to the United States for integration with the UK F-35Bs, which are in the United States, and working with the USMC as…