By Robbin Laird Recently I had a chance to discuss with the CO of VAW 121 about the way ahead with coming of air refuelability for the squadron’s Advanced Hawkeyes. I was able to do so after CDR Neil Fletcher had spent a good part of his early day on…
By Robbin Laird The Australian Army faces a significant challenge as it adapts to its role within the ADF and as the ADF refocuses on the Indo-Pacific. A clear consideration is how the Army will address force mobility, basing flexibility, and operate within an integrated air-maritime task force. Several years…
The F-35 fleet emerging in the Pacific is the 21st century version of the US Navy's World War II "big blue blanket." With the Japanese expanding their F-35 fleet and adding the B to its As, training with the USS America is a natural evolution of the collaborative effort. As…
By Robbin Laird For me, the biggest surprise during my several months of discussions about training for the high-end fight has been learning about the contribution of the Romeo community to the innovation underway. With the shift from the primacy of the land-wars to a return to Blue Water operations,…
By Robbin Laird Frankly, until I went to San Diego this February, I had never heard of Maritime ISR officers. And looking at the web, it is apparent that I am not alone. But now NAWDC is training MISR officers and they have their own warfighting patch as well. The…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to NAWDC in early July 2020, I had a chance to continue discussions begun earlier in the year with the CO of NAWDC and his senior officers. Rear Admiral Brophy had highlighted as one major change at NAWDC from the time when I had…
By Robbin Laird This week the Navy's Airborne Command and Control Community celebrated the 60th anniversary of the first E-2 flight. According to a story released by the public affairs team from Naval Air Force Atlantic: "While the U.S. Navy celebrated its 245th birthday this October, the Airborne Command &…
By Robbin Laird In the last article on the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), I looked at one key building block which enhances both the ops tempo of the strike package on the USS Gerald R. Ford as well the flexibility of the weapons packages which can be moved…
