USMC WTI 2-18

06/19/2018
On June 17, 2018, Steven Valinski provided his latest article covering USMC developments at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. In his latest piece he highlighted the most recent MAWTS-1 training event, WTI 2-18. While the main objective is to provide advanced aviation tactical training and certification of unit instructors, USMC…

The HMS Queen Elizabeth and Crafting the Way Ahead for Its Initial Deployment

06/15/2018
By Robbin Laird The coming of the HMS Queen Elizabeth to the UK combat force is a trigger for significant defense transformation. Most of the analysis of the new carrier really focuses on the platform and what is necessary to get that platform operational but that is far too narrow…

An Update on the Indian Navy: Submarine Modernization

06/15/2018
By Cmde Ranjit B Rai (Retd) Arakkonam, Chennai. On March 29 a chapter of Indian Navy’s flying prowess as part of its aviation arm, took a farewell bow as eight Tu-142MR (Tuploev) planes of the Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 312 were decommissioned after proudly serving the Indian Navy for…

HIMARS and the USMC: Training for the Higher End Fight

06/14/2018
Marines with 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, arrive at one of their launch positions with the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System at the Air Combat Element landing strip as a part of Integrated Training Exercise 3-18 aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., May…

Working the Way Ahead for the USMC: How MAWTS-1 Supports Change

06/13/2018
By Robbin Laird During my latest visit to MAWTS-1, I had a chance to focus upon recent developments generated by the latest WTI course. Last year, I had a chance to talk with Col Wellons and LtCol Ryan Schiller, the Aviation Development, Tactics and Evaluation Department Head, about work on…

The Strategic Shift: The Challenge of Mobile Basing

06/09/2018
By Robbin Laird The strategic shift is a crucial one for the liberal democracies. That strategic shift is from a primary focus on counter insurgency and stability operations to operating in a contested environment with high tempo and high intensity combat systems as a primary tool set. It is about managing conflict…

Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II in WTI-2-18

06/05/2018
In a story written by Lance Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin  and published on March 28, 2018, the role of a new variant of a a precision weapon. U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One built 2.75-inch rockets configured with Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II during ordnance building training.…