An Update on the Australian C-130J: Plan Jericho and Related Developments

02/16/2019
A range of upgrades and modifications have been fitted under Plan Jericho to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-130J Hercules A97-448, providing the RAAF’s Air Mobility Group with a ‘Jericho Demonstrator’ to explore how it will provide air mobility as part of a Fifth-Generation Air Force. Upgrades include the installation…

The RAF Tornado Returns Home from the Middle East for the Last Time

02/13/2019
The last Operation Shader RAF Tornado has left the Middle East for the UK. According to an article published on February 5, 2019 on the UK Ministry of Defence website, after almost 40 years serving the UK on military operations across the world, RAF Tornados have returned home for the…

2nd Marine Wing at Trident Juncture 2018: The Case of MAG-26

02/13/2019
By Robbin Laird Last year during my visit to Norway, I had a chance to visit several airbases and talk with a wide variety of Norwegian officers and defense officials. With the return of direct defense challenges to the Nordics, there has been a major shift to recapitalizing the force,…

2nd Marine Wing at Trident Juncture 2018: The Case of MAG-31

02/12/2019
By Robbin Laird Last year during my visit to Norway, I had a chance to visit several airbases and talk with a wide variety of Norwegian officers and defense officials. With the return of direct defense challenges to the Nordics, there has been a major shift to recapitalizing the force,…

First Australian Aegis Destroyer Integrates with US Navy’s Cooperative Engagement Capability

01/08/2019
By Robbin Laird I visited the HMAS Hobart at Fleet Base East prior to its time conducting weapons and systems evaluations with the US Navy off of the West Coast of the United States. According to Andrew McLaughlin in an article published on January 7, 2019: The tests were conducted…