RAF Lossiemouth and the P-8: Center of Coalition Maritime Domain Awareness Strike Capability

01/27/2017
2017-01-27 Last year, in a visit to Norway, the UK Minister of Defence signed an agreement with Norway in the wake of Norway’s decision to procure the P-8. As we have written elsewhere about the P-8, it is a 21st century maritime domain awareness strike capability. https://sldinfo.com/the-arrival-of-a-maritime-domain-awareness-strike-capability-the-impact-of-the-p-8triton-dyad/ According to a story…

The Chairman of the Jt Chiefs Welcomes the New Sec Def to the Pentagon: The Beginning of a New Approach

01/27/2017
2017-01-22 In an unprecedented situation, three senior positions are held by senior Marine Corps officers, one current and two former. President Donald J. Trump and newly appointed Secretary of Defense James Mattis watch as parade participants march past the White House reviewing stand during the 58th Presidential Inauguration Parade in…

USS H.W. Bush CVN 77 Prepares for Deployment

01/23/2017
2017-01-23  NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Nearly 6,000 Sailors attached to the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) will depart Norfolk and Mayport, Florida, Jan. 21, for a regularly-scheduled deployment. Led by Commander, Carrier Strike Group 2, Rear Adm. Kenneth R. Whitesell, the GHWBCSG is comprised of the staff of…

The Crowsnest for the New UK Carriers

01/22/2017
2017-01-22 According to a Ministry of Defence story published on January 16, 2017, the UK is building a new helo based Crowsnest as part of the operational capability onboard their new class of carriers. The deal with Lockheed Martin will see the start of manufacturing on the new Crowsnest system.…

RAF Air Commodore Duguid Looks at the Future of the RAF: Shaping a Key Role for Typhoon

01/21/2017
2017-01-18 In the December 2016 issue of Eurofighter World, an interview with Air Commodore Ian Duguid at RAF Coningsby focused on the evolving role of the RAF's Typhoons within the evolving capability mix going forward. The RAF is evolving, changing to meet new demands. Tornado — for decades a lynchpin of…

Shaping a 21st Century Defense Strategy: The Norwegian Way Ahead

01/16/2017
2017-01-08 By Robbin Laird Norway stands at an interesting global and historical point in the evolution of Western defense. It faces directly resurgent Russia and faces the challenge with its Nordic partners of Baltic defense as well. Then with the Arctic opening and the High North actually part of Norwegian…

Evolving Technological Threats: The Coming of High-Speed Maneuvering Weapons

01/15/2017
2017-01-08 By Robbin Laird As Mark Lewis, the former Chief Scientist of the USAF, has warned repeatedly, high speed weapons, notably hypersonic ones, are on the way and will be part of the evolving threat environment. As he wrote in 2010: Aerospace engineering is ultimately about pushing the boundaries, and…

Shaping the Way Ahead for the Combat Insertion Force: The 15th MEU Goes to Sea with the USS America

01/14/2017
2017-01-07 By Robbin Laird A simple news release highlights the evolving USN-USMC combat team as a key step forward in shaping the combat infrastructure for the sea base which can support evolving capabilities for the assault force. According to a press release from the USMC dated January 6, 2017: The…