2016-11-15 By Robbin Laird During my visit to RAF Lossiemouth in late April 2016, I had a chance to meet with the Officer Commanding and members of the Tornado Operational Conversion Unit, XV(R) Squadron. When one looks at the end of an era, in this case the sun setting on…
2016-11-12 By Kenneth Maxwell One thing is certain: none of the pundits predicted the victory of Donald Trump. As one stunned commentator said when Trump passed the 270 barrier of electoral college votes, guaranteeing his victory during the early morning of November 9th: They were all "spectacularly wrong." So was Hilary Clinton and her supporters. They thought, even as…
2016-11-14 By Robbin Laird During a June 2016 visit to RAF Lossiemouth, I had a chance to discuss the GSS or Ground Support System approach for the Typhoon with an RAF officer involved with GSS. This digital system is a key part of both maintaining the Typhoon and enhancing its…
2016-11-14 According to a press release published on November 14, 2016, Airbus Defence and Space highlighted an important step forward for the program. The Airbus A400M new generation airlifter has further expanded its capabilities as a tanker by successfully demonstrating air-to-air refueling contacts with another A400M. In two flights conducted from…
11/14/2016: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Finnish President Sauli Niinistö to NATO Headquarters for the first time on Wednesday (9 November 2016). The two leaders discussed the security situation in the Baltic region and how to deepen NATO’s close partnership with Finland. Credit Video: NATO Channel
2016-11-13 By Robbin Laird When I was a kid, I remember the images of deterrence which were provided by strip alert bombers against the Soviet threat. Now we have images in the press of the strip alert Typhoons dealing with the air defence of the United Kingdom against a wider…
2016-11-12 By Robbin Laird During my visit to RAF Lossiemouth in April 2016, there was a chance to talk with the Officer Commanding Engineering and Logistics Wing at RAF Lossiemouth. Obviously, the operation of the Typhoon fleet is dependent upon the engineers and logisticians to forge an effective hub for…
2016-11-11 By Robbin Laird During a visit to RAF Lossiemouth in June 2016, I had to discuss with an experienced Typhoon pilot now in 1 (F) Squadron, the evolution of Typhoon and its performance in recent Middle Eastern operations. This pilot’s background was initially with the Army and then he became a…
