Pilots aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) perform deck landing qualifications in an MV-22B Osprey, MH-60S Sea Hawk, and F-35B Lightning II on March 19, 2018. As the Marine Corps' only continuously forward deployed Marine Expeditionary Unit, the 31st MEU provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide range of…
By Robbin Laird The European Air Group has been an incubator for change within the European air forces. The EAG flies below the radar but is a key asset for the Air Chiefs of 7 major European Air Forces in shaping ways to work more effectively together and to get…
By Robbin Laird During a visit last week to the European Air Group based at High Wycombe in the UK, I had the chance to meet with the Deputy Director of the EAG, Air Commodore Robert Adang of the Royal Netherlands Air Force and got an update on their work…
2018-02-11 By Robbin Laird The Queen visited RAF Marham in early February to open officially the F-35 facility at the base. According to an ITV report dated February 2, 2018: The Queen has taken a tour of RAF Marham in Norfolk to see how it is preparing for the arrival…
2018-01-23 by Edward Timperlake A recent piece by Yissachar Ruas published in Aviation Photography Digest on January 16, 2018 highlighted the coming of the F-35 to the Israeli Air Force. Following a series of rigorous inspections, the Israeli Air Force’s “Golden Eagle” Squadron which flies the F-35A “Adir” Lightning 2…
2018-01-15 The title of a new report issued by our partner the Air Power Development Centre of the Royal Australian Air Force is entitled 5th Generation Air C2 and ISR. A key aspect of the F-35 global enterprise is that air warriors are working throughout the enterprise to reshape air…
2018-01-16 By Robbin Laird The USS Wasp has spent the last few years as the workhorse of F-35B testing for the amphibious fleet. While it was doing this, the Osprey was revolutionizing the strike force onboard the amphibious fleet. And waiting in the wings is the coming of the new…
1/17/2018: USS Wasp pulling in to moor at Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo. The Wasp, capable of operating the U.S. Marine Corp’s F-35B Join Strike Fighter, will replace USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) as the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in 7th Fleet. The F-35 Enabled USS Wasp Arrives in Japan from…
