Exercise Point Blank 2018-3: Working 21st Century Air Combat Teaming

12/05/2018
Recently, the RAF hosted the latest iteration of the Point Blank exercises. The French joined the exercise held in the UK for the first time this year. 26 fighter juets plus combat support units participated in the exercise held November 26, 2018 over the North Sea. Two UK F-35Bs, four…

The RAAF P-3s: Adelaide Says Farewell After 50 Years

11/29/2018
After 50 years of military service for Australia, the Orion P-3 is being retired, leaving behind a legacy that includes rescuing sailors, searching for MH370, and Middle East missions. On Tuesday the media was given a final flight on an AP-3C Orion, the third variant of the plane since Orions…

Extending Combat Air Capabilities With Unmanned Systems: An Airbus Defence and Space Perspective from the International Fighter Conference 2018

11/27/2018
By Robbin Laird At the 2018 International Fighter Conference held in Berlin from November 13-15 2018, one of the topics for presentation and discussion is the European concept and approach to what is being called the Future Combat Air System. Here the target is to shape a new combat system…

The Future Combat Air System: The View From Paris

11/26/2018
By Pierre Tran Paris, November 26, 2018 The French government and industry are in negotiations for a budget to upgrade the Rafale fighter jet to an F4 standard of higher capability, and also funding for architecture and concept studies for a next-generation fighter, a source close to the talks said.…

SIMBEX-18

11/15/2018
By India Strategic Visakhapatnam, November 10, 2018 There are only a few militaries that can boast of continuity and cooperation in the field of maritime combat drills like the navies of India and Singapore and that too sustained for 25 years. When the frontline ships of the Eastern Fleet of…

Rethinking Networks from a 5th Gen Perspective

11/15/2018
By Ian McDonald AM, MSc, DipEng & AVM John Blackburn (Retd) AO, MA, MDefStud The phrase “5th Generation” (Gen) is often dismissed as just another fad, whilst totally missing the paradigm shift in both technology and operations that is implied or intended by it. It is envisaged that mature 5th…

Shaping a Combat Infrastructure for 21st Century Operations: Visiting the Danish Joint Data Link Operations Centre

11/05/2018
By Robbin Laird When looking at the evolution of an air force, the normal focus is upon the platforms they fly and the evolution of what those platforms can do organically. With regard to the evolution of the Royal Danish Air Force this would mean focusing upon F-16s and their…

Australia’s Air Task Group in the Middle East: A Look Back at the KC-30A and Its Role

10/31/2018
The Australian Defence Force continues to contribute to the coalition fight against Daesh with the rotation of the E-7A Wedgetail in to the Middle East.  The Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft will help control the tactical movement of coalition aircraft over Iraq and Syria, one of the busiest and…