By Robbin Laird Marine Corps Air Station, New River. Yesterday, during my visit to New River, I experienced flying in the cockpit of the Marine Corps’s latest key air capability, the CH-53K. I was in the cockpit with LtCol Luke “Amber” Frank, the VMX-1 Detachment OIC. He is a very…
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Riley McDowell USS Gerald R. Ford Public Affairs ATLANTIC OCEAN — Combat Systems divisions assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) have helped the ship earn its Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) certification November 17 while underway in the Atlantic Ocean. The certification, ensures that the…
By Robbin Laird I have attended and reported on the last two International Fighter Conferences, both held in Berlin, in 2018 and 2019. Unfortunately, this one was held on a Zoom stage due to the COVID-19 world. This year I was especially looking forward to coming to Berlin, because my…
By Airman 1st Class Brooke Moeder, 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs The Royal Australian Air Force returned a majority of its F-35A Lightning II pilots, maintainers and aircraft to RAAF Base Williamtown, Australia, in December 2019, but still maintains a joint pilot-training and maintenance presence at Luke AFB. RAAF Maj.…
By Robbin Laird In my last piece, which addressed the question of the way ahead for the Australian army in the evolving approach of the ADF to Indo-Pacific operations, the question was posed: Will the Australian Army fully embrace amphibiosity? Will they shift from the USMC’s legacy position of amphibious…
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…
