Looking Back and Looking Forward with Regard to Airpower: Don’t Ignore Organizational Culture in Sorting Through Mastering the Targeting Enterprise

02/28/2021
By Robbin Laird In his book, Selling Schweinfurt, Col. Brian D. Vlaun discusses how combat leaders, supported by their structures that provide cross-cutting assessments of target effectiveness, sorted through the challenge of how to use the World War II European-based bomber force. The core effort was pretty straightforward — attrite…

Japan-U.S. Bilateral Exercise “Forest Light“

02/26/2021
From December 7th to 18th, 2020, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) conducted the Japan-U.S. Bilateral Exercise “Forest Light” with the U.S. Marine Corps in Sekiyama Training Area, Somagahara Training Area and Camp Somagahara. “Forest Light” aims to enhance bilateral cooperation and improve bilateral response capabilities by conducting field training…

The Future is Now for Enhanced Integratability: The Perspective of Major General Anders Rex

02/05/2021
By Robbin Laird There is a growing emphasis on what is referred to as “multi-domain” C2 as a key means to be able to operate in the extended battlespace. A new effort to do so is being spearheaded in the United States, which is referred to as Joint All-Domain Command…

RAAF Hornets Farewell from Williamtown Airbase

02/02/2021
By Flight Lieutenant Jessica Aldred An eight-ship formation of F/A-18A/B Hornets filled the Williamtown skyline in a fitting farewell to the aircraft as it was retired from No. 77 Squadron on December 11. With the squadron transitioning to the F-35A Lightning II this month, Air Force’s only remaining Hornet squadron…

Resolute Hunter: Shaping a New Paradigm

01/25/2021
By Robbin Laird During a visit to Naval Air Station, Fallon in November 2020, I had a chance to visit the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC). My visit occurred as the US Navy was hosting the 3rd iteration of a relatively new exercise called Resolute Hunter which is being…

The UK Carrier Strike Group Reaches Initial Operating Capability

01/13/2021
According to an article published by the UK MoD on January 4, 2021, the new UK carrier strike group built around its unique strike carrier, the Queen Elizabeth, has reached IOC status. The CSG has reached Initial Operating Capability (IOC), meaning all elements of the group from fighter jets to…