2014-11-08 When a country has joined the F-35 global enterprise, whatever variant they start with they can clearly mix and match going forward. The commonality of the combat systems and the cockpit makes flexibility an inherent capability. Australia has made a clear commitment to the F-35 and to reshaping its…
2014-11-07 By Robbin Laird Visiting the USS Arlington for someone who lived in Arlington on September 11, 2001 is a very poignant event. And it is especially so for someone like me who was in the Pentagon that day. I went into my meeting. Suddenly, I felt the building rock.…
11/08/2014: The Marines and Sailors of 1st Marine Division commemorated the 10-year anniversary of the Second Battle of Fallujah, Operation AL FAJR, by hosting a ceremony at Camp Pendleton. The ceremony honored all service members who participated in the historic battle, and reunited veterans from private to general officer in…
2014-11-04By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake We started our visit to The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Fallon Naval Air Station with the outgoing and incoming commanding officers of Plans, Programs and Tactics, or STRIKE (N5) in the Center. Plans, Programs and Tactics, or STRIKE (N5) is involved…
2014-11-06 Training for Electronic Warfare: Shaping a Combined Arms Approach By Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird During our visit to Fallon, we had a chance to discuss the role of Airborne Electronic Attack with CDR Mike “Beaker” Miller, Naval Strike and Warfare Center, Airborne Electronic Weapons School (HAVOC). CDR Miller…
2014-10-28 By Robbin Laird In a recent interview, Lou Kratz, underscored the core strategic point concerning what the F-35 deployed as a fleet can contribute: When the program that we recognize today as the F-35 was first conceived, there was a national and international recognition of the need for rapid…
11/01/2014: Bold Alligator 2014 is a crisis response exercise and continues the work of Bold Alligator 2012 and Bold Alligator 2013. It is about calibrating insertion forces against various threats. Insertion Forces Front Line Defence The forces are American and coalition with several nations contributing ships, and combat personnel to…
2014-11-03 by Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake During our visit to The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, we had a chance to discuss with the new CO of TOPGUN his approach coming into the job. CDR Edward "Stevie" Smith is the current TOPGUN CO, and a previous TOPGUN Instructor…