F-35C Operational Testing Onboard USS Abraham Lincoln

09/01/2018
In a story by USNI News’s Megan Eckstein published on August 27, 2018, the operation of F-35s onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln was highlighted. ABOARD USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, IN THE ATLANTIC The Navy’s F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter has been incorporated into a carrier air wing’s cyclic flight operations…

F-35 Training at MCAS Beaufort

07/12/2018
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, also known as the Warlords, practice dropping inert or non-exploding bombs at Townsend Bombing Range, Ga. MCAS Beaufort owns and operates the training range so we can train to deploy without deploying to train. BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES 04.26.2018 Video by Lance Cpl. Christian Moreno …

The Coming of the F-35 to the UK: Working Through the Challenges

06/26/2018
By Robbin Laird During my visit to RAF Marham in May 2018, I had a chance to visit once again and to meet with senior RAF and Royal Navy personnel responsible for the standup of F-35 capability on UK soil. MoD is building new facilities to support the jet, and…

Shaping the UK Carrier Strike Group: The Perspective of Commodore Andrew Betton and Col. Phil Kelly

06/22/2018
By Robbin Laird During my visit to Portsmouth, England and to RAF Marham in early May 2018, I visited senior Royal Navy and defense personnel involved in the standing up of the UK carrier strike capability. After my morning briefings with the Royal Navy with regard to preparing the carrier…

An Update on F-35 Manufacturing: Donald Kinard Talks with Aerospace Manufacturing

06/21/2018
Ed Hill, Aerospace Manufacturing In this Q&A session Don Kinard, Lockheed Martin senior fellow F-35 production, discusses with Ed Hill how the defence giant is applying automation, robotics and additive manufacturing to production of the F-35 Lightning II. Q) At what stages have you introduced more automation in your aircraft construction. Is…

Visiting VMX-1 at MCAS Yuma: Working MAGTF Modernization

06/21/2018
By Robbin Laird What was clear from my visit to MAWTS-1 and getting a chance to look at the work of the latest WTI is that the Marines are working ways to enhance the combat capability of the MAGTF but in a way that can reach back to joint assets…

An Update on Leveraging the F-35 in Shaping a Way Ahead: The Perspective of Air Commodore David Bradshaw

06/19/2018
By Robbin Laird Air Commodore Bradshaw was appointed as Lighting Force Commander, Royal Air Force Marham in April 2017 and he succeeded Air Commodore now Air Vice-Marshal H. Smyth. Earlier, I have had the chance to discuss the standing up of the F-35 within the RAF with Air Vice-Marshal Smyth…