Battle Drills at WTI 2-23

04/17/2023
Training during a battle drill exercise, part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-23, at K-9 Village, Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, April 1, 2023. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1, providing standardized advanced tactical training and readiness, and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and…

Exercising Day Tactics at WTI 2-23

04/14/2023
USMC air assets assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), operating from a forward arming and refueling point during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-23, near Yuma, Arizona, April 1, 2023. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1, providing standardization advanced tactical training and…

Ground Threat Reduction Drill MAWTS-1 WTI 2-23

04/12/2023
U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft, assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), lands during a ground threat reaction drill, in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-23, at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, March 30, 2023. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted…

Agile Basing and Endurability as a Key Deterrent Capability: A Conversation with the Air Commander Australia

04/11/2023
By Robbin Laird My colleague John Blackburn and I met with Air Vice-Marshal Darren Goldie, the Air Commander of the RAAF, in his office on 4 April 2023. One key element which we discussed was the growing significance of agile basing and operations as part of the evolving Australian deterrent…

Offensive Air Support Training at MAWTS-1: WT 23-2

04/10/2023
U.S. Marines with Command, Control and Communication, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), board an MV-22B Osprey aircraft during an offensive air support exercise, part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) 2-23, at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, April 4, 2023. WTI is a seven-week training event…

External Lift Training During WTI 2-23: The CH-53K Makes Its Initial Appearance

04/08/2023
U.S. Marine Corps CH-53K King Stallion helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, participates in an external lift training exercise during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-23 at Auxiliary Airfield II near Yuma, Arizona, March 28, 2023. According to the CO of MAWTS-1,…

Ground Force Artillery in a Kill Web Maneuver Force

04/07/2023
By Robbin Laird As the joint force works was to distribute for enhanced survivability but integrated through C2/ISR strands, there is a new role for ground force mobility. One example of this was suggested in my interview in Copenhagen with a senior official with Weibel, the radar company and focused…

Triton’s Role in Australian Defense and Deterrence

04/06/2023
By Robbin Laird I have followed the progress of Triton in the coming of the 21st century U.S. Navy kill web enterprise for some time. The first interview I did focusing on Triton was during a 2011 visit to San Diego. In an interview with Commander Johansson, the P-3 commander…