Allies and Weapons: European Industry Provides Capabilities in Shaping a Way Ahead for Fifth-Generation Enabled Air Combat

08/08/2017
2017-07-28 By Robbin Laird The coming of the F-35 provides a significant opportunity to leverage the investment efforts of core allies as is happening in the UK with 5th Gen weapons such as Meteor and SPEAR 3: F-35 as a global enterprise – the 9-Nation MOU encourages US allies in…

Looking at Red Flag 17-3 from a Marine Corps Point of View

08/07/2017
2017-08-07: Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 "Wake Island Avengers," 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, participate in Red Flag 17-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., July 10 to 28. Red Flag 17-3 is a realistic combat training exercise involving the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps and this iteration…

USAFE Prepares for US Deployment of F-35s in Europe: Working With Allies Who are Leading the Way

07/29/2017
2017-07-22 Earlier we highlighted the key way in which allies are leading the way for the United States in standing up F-35 squadrons abroad. A key dynamic in the shift from COIN-centric land wars to a twenty-first century combat force is what the US and its closest allies will learn from each other thanks…

F-35A at the Paris Air Show, 2017

07/13/2017
2017-07-13 The F-35A was a key element for this year's Paris Air Show. In the videos below, the F-35A at the Paris Air Show is highlighted. Paris Air Show: F-35 makes its debut from Shephard Media on Vimeo. Earlier, we have provided a series of video and photo updates on…

Visiting II(AC) Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth: The Perspective of Squadron Leader Martin Pert

06/29/2017
2017-06-29 By Robbin Laird During my visit to RAF Lossiemouth in March 2017, I got an update on the evolving experience of the Typhoon as an expeditionary force. My discussion with the Squadron Leader for II(AC) Squadron, Martin Pert, highlighted the evolving experience of II(AC) Squadron with the aircraft. Most…

Allies, Missiles and the F-35: The Case of the Joint Strike Missile

06/29/2017
2017-06-29 During a visit to Norway earlier this year, the Norwegian Deputy Minister of Defense underscored the importance of allies building new missile capabilities for the F-35 as a coalition aircraft. In the discussion with Mr. Øystein BØ, the State Secretary and Deputy Defense Minister at the Norwegian Ministry of Defense,…