2015-05-29 The Marines are the core customers for the V-22. And no military force in the world is more demanding of versatility than the USMC. A good example is how the Marines have driven multi-mission capabilities from their KC-130Js with the harvest hawk system. Here the tanker/lifter becomes weaponized and…
2015-06-02 By Robbin Laird When I first encountered maintainers of the Osprey several years ago at New River, North Carolina, those pioneers referred to themselves as members of the Osprey nation. As the Osprey became a reality for the USMC, and many Ospreys joined those early few, the term would…
2015-05-31 By Robbin Laird and Murielle Delaporte During the visit to the Boeing V-22 Osprey factory at Boeing’s Philadelphia site, we had a chance to sit down with the Vice President of Boeing Tiltrotor Programs, Kristin Robertson. Prior to her current role, she was the Deputy Program Manager of the…
2015-06-01 By Robbin Laird Today, the Commander of the Air Combat Command spoke at an Air Force Association breakfast meeting and discussed the way ahead for the ACC and for airpower more generally. He argued that today’s fights were seeing demand outstripping the supply of capabilities and clearly this worries…
2015-05-28 By Richard Weitz Despite all the attention paid to China’s island-building campaign and newly acknowledged naval ambitions, perhaps the most interesting discussion in the latest China Military Power report released earlier this month was the discussion of China’s nuclear forces. Indeed, China is also the only legally recognized nuclear…
2015-05-30 At the Copenhagen Symposium on Air power held in April, the head of training for the Royal Dutch Air Force focused on training for Dutch pilots as they transitioned to an all fifth generation force. He also indicated that the bulk of their F-35s would be built in Italy.…
2015-05-30 defenceWeb The EU has taken a decision to create a naval force to disrupt human smugglers in the Mediterranean. The force, to be known as EUNavFor Med, will form part of a wider approach to saving lives at sea EU High Representative Federica Mogherini said after a joint meeting…
2015-05-20 By Robbin Laird Recently, I had the chance to talk with the current Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Gavin (Leo) Davies, who will take over as Chief of the Air Force this summer. His tenure comes at a crucial time in the evolution of…
