07/16/2014: RQ-21 RPA for the USN-USMC Team [maxgallery id="67616"] The first two photos are credited to Navy Media Content Services and the next three to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. In the first photo, the RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS) is recovered…
2014-07-15 By Robbin Laird It was a pleasure when visiting the Second Marine Air Wing in June 2014, to be able to visit with the VMU-2 squadron and to get a perspective on how UAVs are part of the future of combat, and not learn that they are the future…
2014-07-14 According to a press release dated today from Airbus Defence and Space: Airbus Defence and Space has successfully completed the first paratrooping trials of the A400M new generation airlifter. Spanish Army troops took part in a series of jumps at drop zones in France and Spain. The 11-flight test…
2014-07-09 By Robbin Laird One does not build military aircraft primarily to fly at airshows. It is fun to see such aircraft, visit static displays and talk with manufacturers and users alike. But the reality of military aircraft innovation is seen in the battlespace, and how operators, maintainers and leaders…
2014-07-12 While the press focuses on the F-35B landing vertically (amazing press out there!), Lt. Col. "OD" Bachman and the squadron is moving from Eglin to MCAS Beaufort where the F-35B partners will train as well in the future. Italians, British and other nations who acquire the B will come…
2014-07-07 By Richard Weitz Recent tests have seen progress for two key elements of the evolving missile defense system deployed by the United States and key allies. The first set of tests involve key elements for the new Ground Based Interceptor to be deployed in Alaska. And the second set…
2014-07-02 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake When we wrote our book on the evolution of Pacific challenges and strategy with Richard Weitz, we focused on the core necessity to shape a modular and scalable force to provide for the kind of forward presence, which the US needed to operate…
2014-07-08 By Robbin Laird During my recent visit to the 2nd I have had the opportunity to visit the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing for a number of years. The Wing has been an important force for innovation in the period in which I have been visiting. KC-130Js, and Ospreys are…
