The UK Prepares for F-35 Expeditionary Operations

07/18/2019
By Robbin Laird Last year, the Dambusters squadron flew from Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station to RAF Marham and began its operational life in the UK. I have had the chance over the past few years to visit both Beaufort MCAS and RAF Marham as well as RAF Lakenheath and…

Mission Data System Files for Core Allies: The Norwegian-Italian Reprogramming F-35 Lab

07/15/2019
The NIRL provides Norway and Italy F-35 mission data files used to assess what threats to search for and when, enabling the 5th generation fighter to decipher and control the battlespace. A ceremony was held at the end of June 2019, opening the new facility. [maxgallery id="125938"] In an article…

USAF F-35s Serviced by Norwegian Maintainers at Orland Airbase

07/11/2019
by Master Sgt. Austin May ORLAND AIR BASE, Norway – For the first time outside the U. S., Norwegian and American F-35 Lightning II maintainers worked together on their aircraft June 17, 2019. A team of five maintainers and four pilots from the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed to Norway…

The F-35 Demo Team at the Bagotville International Air Show, June 2019

07/10/2019
Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team pilot, flies during the Bagotville International Air Show in Quebec, Canada, June 22, 2019. The team performed during both days of the air show. In an article published by Robert Williamson on July 5, 2019, the F-35 at the Air Show…

Community Day at RAAF Williamtown: Focusing on the F-35

07/06/2019
On 5 July 2019, RAAF Base Williamtown hosted an F-35A Community Day for invited community members, leaders, organisational representatives and Defence community partners of the Hunter region. Guests were treated to a ‘windscreen’ familiarisation tour with Air Force personnel providing commentary and a unique insight into the Base, its infrastructure…

The Dutch Conduct a Long Range Strike Mission with Their F-35s

06/26/2019
By Andrew McLaughlin The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has conducted a 9,000km rapid reaction deployment training mission from Edwards AFB in California to a range in the Netherlands. The June 13 strike mission was conducted RNLAF pilots and two F-35As based with the joint 323rd Test and Evaluation Squadron (323rdTES)…

Poland and the F-35

06/22/2019
During the recent visit of the Polish President and a high-ranking Polish delegation, many key defense issues were discussed with President Trump and his Administration. Among those issues was the potential purchase of the F-35 by Poland. According to an article published on the Polish Ministry of Defence website, this…

Visiting the Paris Air Show: The Challenge of Viewing the Future of Air Combat Capabilities

06/14/2019
By Robbin Laird In 2012, I wrote a piece for Breaking Defense which focused on the Bold Alligator Exercise that year and how the image of change was difficulty to see. The coming of the Osprey was about to totally change amphibious operations, but because it was an amphibious exercise, folks…