RAAF F-35

12/24/2018
Personnel from the Australian Embassy in Washington, joined Royal Australian Air Force personnel at Luke Air Force Base to host a ‘Mateship’ event recognising contributions to Australia’s F-35 capability. Royal Australian Air Force pilots and maintenance personnel have partnered with United States Air Force units and Lockheed Martin to prepare…

The Dutch Open the Door to Buying Additional F-35s: A Key Building Block in Shaping Their Defense Strategy

12/16/2018
With the Dutch government focused on enhanced defense capabilities, a core building block in the way ahead clearly has been the purchase and involvement of the Dutch in the F-35 program. The Netherlands was one of the original nine partner nations for the F-35 as well as the second international…

F-35C Flight Ops Onboard USS Carl Vinson

12/14/2018
Lightning II aircraft assigned to the "Rough Raiders" of Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) are launched with F/A-18 Hornets during integrated flight operations in support of VFA-147 Safe-For Flight Operations Certification aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).  PACIFIC OCEAN 12.09.2018  U.S. Navy 

Argonauts Complete Carrier Quals: The US Navy Takes a Major Step Forward in Shaping the Kill Web

12/13/2018
Capt. Max McCoy, the commodore of the squadron, told USNI News in a recent interview that having a single point-person overseeing all Navy efforts related to operating and maintaining the new airplanes will prove to be a smart decision. “The F-35C is unlike any other airplane we’ve had to date.…

F-35s Arrive at Williamtown December 10, 2018: But the ADF has Been Focused on Shaping a ‘Fifth Generation” Enabled Force for Some Time

12/10/2018
By Robbin Laird, Research Fellow, Williams Foundation, Canberra A great photo opportunity was provided by the arrival of the first two F-35s from the United States to their operating base at Williamtown Air Base in Australia on December 10, 2018. [maxgallery id="121867"] But as the saying goes “fortune favors the prepared.”…

NATO’s Tactical Leadership Programme 18-4: Amendola Air Base, Italy and Italian F-35s Shape a Way Ahead

12/09/2018
By Robbin Laird Normally, the TLP is held in Spain at Albacete Airbase. We visited Albacete Airbase in 2016 and talked with Spanish Air Force pilots concerning their Eurofighter operations at the base. As we noted at the time: “Albacete flies a regular Quick Reaction Alert force to provide for…

The F-35 Global Enterprise and Australia: The Opportunity for Allies to Learn How to Conduct Sustained Engagement Crisis Operations

12/08/2018
By Robbin Laird The RAAF F-35s on on their way to Williamtown and thereby opening the F-35 Aussie fleet operations in-country. As the Aussies work out their sustainment approach on the various airbases where the F-35s will operate in normal times as well as crisis times, the F-35 partners of…

The RAAF Gets Ready for the Arrival of their First F-35s

12/06/2018
The RAAF is getting ready to receive their first F-35s in country on December 10, 2018. In preparation for the arrival in country, the Australian Department of Defence has generated a series of videos explaining the F-35 and its unique capabilities to the public. This one focused on the helmet…