VMM 268 Trans-Pacific Flight

09/25/2017
09/25/2017: U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron VMM 268, nicknamed the “Red Dragons,” return from a six-month deployment to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sept. 19, 2017. The “Red Dragons” supported the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as the aviation combat element for the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Crossing over 5,300…

The First Sea Lord Addresses Defense Transformation

09/24/2017
2017-09-13 By Robbin Laird The UK has announced its new shipbuilding strategy, one which seeks to leverage the modularity approach introduced by building the new Queen Elizabeth class carriers. Now the First Sea Lord has addressed the question of the role of the maritime sector in generating broader defense transformation.…

Grim Reapers Onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln

09/22/2017
2017-09-13 USS Abraham Lincoln, the first US Navy aircraft carrier capable of accommodating the F-35C Lightning II, welcomed the fifth-generation jet fighter on board earlier this month. The “Grim Reapers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 101 (VFA 101), the training squadron for the F-35C, joined the USS Abraham Lincoln while underway on…

Australian Peacekeeping : Honoring 70 Years of Service

09/18/2017
09/18/2017: A national commemorative service to mark the 70th Anniversary of Australian Peacekeeping and a dedication ceremony for the new Australian Peacekeeping Memorial was held at the site of the new memorial on Anzac Parade, Canberra on Thursday 14 September 2017. The public event was attended by His Excellency General the…

The Maritime Services, the Allies and Shaping the Kill Web

09/14/2017
2017-09-06 The US and allied militaries are working a significant military transformation. This transformation is being driven in part by the shift from engaging in slo mo war to preparing for high intensity and high tempo operations. In many ways, the two key regions where this transformation is being ramped…

Shaping a Way Ahead to Prepare for 21st Century Conflicts: Payload-Utility Capabilities and the Kill Web

09/14/2017
2017-09-03  by Ed Timperlake This article argues that payload utility can be a driver for understanding the future development of combat systems. To understand Pu with full honor to John Boyd, it can be noted that Observe/Orient (OO) is essentially target acquisition, and Decide/Act (DA) is target engagement. Thus there…