African Ship Joins the Australian Fleet Review: A Former USCG Cutter Continues Its Service Life

09/26/2013
2013-09-26 by Kim Helfrich Editor’s Note: In another way to understand the 1,000 Ship Navy, this article discusses the role of a Nigerian ship globally which comes from the transfer of a former USCG cutter.  NNS Thunder, Africa’s only representative in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) international fleet review, has ported…

Shaping the Weapons Approach for the F-35B: Leveraging the Harrier Experience

09/25/2013
2013-09-26 Although the F-35B is a new aircraft, and new skills are being learned, the USMC is clearly harvesting experience where relevant to shaping the combat approach of the new aircraft.  In a discussion with a combat-hardened Marine who is a weapons loader for the Harrier, the shaping of the approach…

An Update on F-35 Low Observable Maintenance at the 33rd Fighter Wing

09/24/2013
2013-09-25 One of the issues Secretary Wynne was briefed on and given a hands on look was Maintenance of Low Observable characteristics approach being shaped at the 33rd FW. USAF maintainers showed the Secretary how they were addressing the effort and rolling out the LO maintenance capability. The LO maintainers…

From the “Silent” Eagle to Stealth: Why the South Korean Air Force Should be Concerned (Updated)

09/23/2013
2013-09-23 By Ed Timperlake John Boyd in his lecture (which I sat through twice) had a sine qua non building block for his work: the F-86 versus Mig-15 exchange rate kills by his beloved F-86 in "MIG Ally. " The exchange rate was approximately 10 to 1. Lessons learned at…

Is Brazil the Enemy?

09/22/2013
2013-09-22 Brazil is the 6th largest economy in the world.  It is also a leader of a significant group of developing nations which is called the BRIC nations. This term refers to the developing countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The NSA spy scandal has clearly hurt U.S. national security interests.…

Not McArthur This Time: But U.S. “Returns” to the Philippines 21st Century Style

09/21/2013
2013-09-21 With the changing strategic situation in Asia, the government of the Philippines is reworking its relationship with the U.S. military. According to sources in Manila, a key consideration is the mobility, which the evolving USMC brings to the stage. As this source noted: “The Marines can move rapidly with the…