The Navy Re-Focuses on the High-End Fight: What Implications for the Navy Reserves?

04/26/2021
By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake In working on our book for USNI press, we have focused on how the U.S. Navy is reworking its approaches to shape new capabilities for the high-end fight. Obviously, a refocus from a two-decade primary role in supporting land wars to a return to…

An Update on the USS Gerald R. Ford, April 2021

04/25/2021
ATLANTIC OCEAN – Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) successfully completed Combat Systems Ship’s Qualification Trials (CSSQT) April 17, representing a major milestone in validating the ship’s capability to defend itself and the crew. The trials, which commenced in February, consisted of five phases. The completion…

Arctic Gold 21-2: Working Fifth Gen Agile Combat Operations

04/22/2021
The Arctic Gold 21-2 exercise is working the USAF's approach to what the Navy call distributed operations. During the exercise this month, airmen are practicing Agile Combat Employment capabilities. These capabilities allow them to work dislocated operations and to still generated integrated combat power. In other words, they are working…

Working Air-Sea Integration: The UK and Netherlands Shape a Way Ahead

04/21/2021
The Dutch and UK Marines operate as a fully integrated force. With the coming of the new UK Queen Elizabeth carriers, there are expanded opportunities for air-sea integration as well. According to a March 31, 2021 UK Ministry of Defence story, the UK Carrier strike group will integrate a Dutch…

Next Generation Autonomous Systems: An Australian Perspective

04/13/2021
On April 8, 2021, the Williams Foundation held its latest seminar, one that was originally scheduled for March 2020. It was an in person conference for Australians, but we will be highlight the seminar in a report on the conference as well as providing presentations as well as interviews with…

Shaping a 21st Century U.S. Navy: The Perspective from Second Fleet

04/12/2021
By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake The advantage of visiting two startup commands – C2F and Allied JFC Norfolk – under one Vice Admiral is that one can see how the 21st century navy is being shaped.  We started our March visit by meeting with VADM Lewis’s Chief of Staff…

The Marines Work F-35B in Expeditionary Warfare Training

04/11/2021
Multiple F-35B Lightning II's with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct vertical landings at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, April 6, 2021. 3rd MAW and I Marine Expeditionary Force continue to pave the road for the rest of the Marine…

Danish Air Force Receives First F-35: A Key Building Block for Defense Transformation

04/11/2021
On April 7, Denmark's first F-35A, L-001, was delivered to the Royal Danish Air Force. The Kingdom of Denmark commemorated the milestone with members of the Ministry of Defence, Danish Defence, the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization, the Royal Danish Air Force, U.S. Military Services, and industry partners at…