Second Line of Defense has followed the UK thinking, construction, and initial trials and preparation for operations by the new UK carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth throughout its life to date. The carrier will have a major impact on UK defense and how the forces will evolve over the next…
By Robbin Laird During my most recent visit to Denmark, I had a chance to visit Royal Danish Air Force bases in the Jutland area. This provided an opportunity to discuss the transition from an F-16 to an F-35 force as well as other changes involving connectivity and decision-making systems…
No media team has followed the birthing and growth of the F-35B more than the Second Line of Defense team. We started with the standup at Eglin AFB. We followed the efforts at Yuma and the departure of the first combat ready squadron to Japan and their initial use in…
The RAAF has taken delivery of its ninth F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and the first to be taken on strength by its first operational flying unit to fly the jet, No 3 Squadron. F-35A A35-009 was delivered to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona where it was accepted by 3QSN in…
By Robbin Laird In my discussions at Penten, I learned of a very innovative approach to providing for the security for mobile systems. They have developed an approach which allows the user to connect with a variety of security systems through a very innovative USB device which allows a mobile…
With the coming of the F-35 to European Air Forces, a key priority is to work the training side of F-35s and fifth generation aircraft with other types of European Aircraft. This has been a key focus of attention by the European Air Group for some time, but this Fall,…
The UK and the US Marines are the major users for now for the F-35B, although the demand for enhanced operational mobility by air faces direct threats to their land bases will almost certainly lead to others joining the ranks of F-35B users. This week the UK MoD announced the…
"The high-end biennial Valiant Shield exercise kicked off in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands on Sunday, with some of the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ most advanced platforms participating in the weeklong event. "The exercise – a high-end, U.S.-only follow-up to the large-scale multi-national Rim of the Pacific exercise every…
