2017-01-09 According to a story on the French Ministry of Defence website. France has just completed its sixth rotation to the Baltics to participate in the Baltic Air policing mission. [caption id="attachment_93080" align="alignnone" width="300"] Mirage 2000-5 de l'Escadron de Chasse 1/2 "Cigognes" en vol dans le ciel de Lituanie dans le…
2017-01-08 By Robbin Laird On December 12, 2016, the first two operational jets for the Italian Air Force arrived from the Cameri FACO to their operational airbase at Amendola. The air base has been the home for many years of the AMX ground attack aircraft. It is now home as…
2017-01-02 By Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird We last visited VMF-121 prior it being declared IOC with the F-35B. That visit was in the Summer of 2014 and we spent time the then XO of the Squadron, Major Summa, now Lt. Col. Summa and the CO of the Beaufort Squadron…
2017-01-07 According to an article published by the UK MoD on January 1, 2017, “2017 is set to be the year of the Royal Navy as it prepares to welcome new ships to the fleet, following one of their busiest years since the end of the Cold War.” Defence Secretary Sir…
2016-12-17 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake During our most recent visit to USMC Air Station Yuma, we had a chance to meet with the head of MAWTS-1 and discuss the way ahead for USMC concepts of operations as seen from this key tactical innovation center. [caption id="attachment_92535" align="alignnone" width="273"] The…
2016-12-30 By Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird In addition to the interview which we had with the CO of MAWTS-1, Col. Rowell, we had a chance to talk with Lt. Col. Nelson, the XO of MAWTS-1 and Major Duke. Lt. Col. “Cowboy” Nelson was on the deployment under the command…
2016-12-29 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake Col. Rowell is the first Commanding Officer of VMX-1: Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1. VMX-1 includes the operational test & evaluation (OT&E) and science & technology (S&T) activities that have supported Marine Aviation from HMX-1, VX-9, MACCS-X and MAWTS-1. One…
2016-12-06 By Todd Miller Statistics, Milestones, Capabilities, Flight characteristics, Test protocols, Cost, Software blocks. It is easy to get lost in the complexity of the F-35 program. The combined F-35 fleet now has over 75,000 flight hours, yet for many there remains a lack of understanding. Much of this can…
