3rd MEB and the Philippine Relief Mission:Veterans in the Making Working on Veteran’s Day

11/11/2013
2013-11-11 In recent testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, the Commandant of the USMC highlighted the importance of readiness to the Corps in performing its global missions. Our nation expects a force capable of responding to crisis anywhere around the globe at a moment’s notice.  Readiness is the critical…

Re-Shaping American 21st Century Airpower: The Coalition and Partnership Dimension

11/10/2013
2013-11-10 by Robbin Laird Frequently peppering American presentations about the evolution of military strategies, approaches and capabilities are references to the central importance of coalitions and of partners. But what is not often realized is HOW fundamentally the situation has changed over the past thirty years.  When coalitions and partners…

Lessons Learned at Cameri: Their Implications for Asia

11/04/2013
2013-11-04 By Robbin Laird The Italians were significant innovators at the beginning of the era of airpower. They continued throughout the history of airpower to innovate and with the launch of the F-35, they are proving to be innovators once again. Their facilities at Cameri provide support not only for…

The Zumwalt Leaves its Dry Dock

10/31/2013
10/30/2013: The Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer DDG 1000 is floated out of dry dock at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard. The ship, the first of three Zumwalt-class destroyers, will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces and operate as part of joint and combined expeditionary forces.…

The Impact of Advanced Fusion in 5th Generation Fighters on Combat Capability

10/30/2013
2013-10-30 by Michael Skaff, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company When Col John Boyd documented the concept of the Observe-Orient-Decide-Act (OODA) loop as it pertains to tactical aviation and the energy maneuverability egg it was in an era when fighter physical performance was the dominant factor. Although there were simple fire control radars…