By Robbin Laird As we work through force structure change to deal with the new strategic environment, terms like C2, ISR and training are being changed significantly. New concepts of operations are being shaped, with modifications of existing platforms to play new roles and responsibilities, and new platforms being designed…
By Robbin Laird With integratability comes an opportunity to shape a kill web approach to platform modernization. It is a question of how the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and what each platform not only can contribute to the whole, but what it needs to be…
By Robbin Laird I have been focusing in a series of articles on the mobile basing role of the USMC within the evolving maritime kill web approach. Earlier articles highlighted key requirements to perform expeditionary basing, as well as challenges facing sustainment and support for such a force. A key…
By Robbin Laird Sikorsky is working with NAVAIR and the USMC to deliver a new build heavy lift helicopter, the CH-53K. This is a digital aircraft, while its predecessor the CH-53E, is a mechanical aircraft. What this means is that the aircraft is digitally designed and manufactured by means of…
By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake We had the opportunity to work with and for Secretary Wynne when he was in the Defense Department. He was involved in many innovations which revolved around shaping an information force before the term became fashionable, which involved pushing information to the edge of…
By Robbin Laird In a series of articles based on interviews with the USMC, the nature and scope of the digital interoperability initiative being pursued by Marine Corps Aviation has been highlighted. In one of those articles, the discussion highlighted a way ahead with regard to digital interoperability for the…
When considering contributions which the USMC can make to the joint or coalition force in Pacific operations, an ability to put an air arming and refueling point on virtually any spot on the kill web chessboard is clearly a key contribution. These are referred to as FARPs or Forward Arming…
The strategic shift from the land wars to full spectrum crisis management is a very significant change. Operating against adversary forces who have full spectrum capability requires building and training a force which can prevail in a wide variety of contested environments. We have argued that shaping interactive kill webs…
