Why Not Buy Wedgetail and Move Out Beyond AWACS: Coming Terms with a 5th Generation Enabled Force

02/22/2017
2017-02-15 The Aussie Wedgetail has come to Red Flag 2017-1 and has provided advanced C2 and support to a fifth generation enabled air combat force. F-35s, F-22s and advanced legacy aircraft like Typhoons have been supported throughout by the most advanced air battle management system operating today. And it is…

The Norwegian Airpower Conference, 2017: Shaping a Way Ahead for Norwegian and Northern Tier Defense

02/16/2017
2017-02-13 By Robbin Laird During the first week of February this year (February 7-9), the Chief of Staff of the Norwegian Air Force sponsored an airpower conference entitled “Evolution to a Fifth Generation Air Force.” I had a chance as well to conduct a number of interviews while in Norway…

F-35 at Red Flag: Renorming of Airpower in Process

02/15/2017
2017-02-11 We have focused on the impact of fifth generation aircraft for many years. Our focus has been upon their impact on the renorming or rebasing of airpower or the transformation of combat approaches and the shaping of new concepts of operations. https://sldinfo.com/flipbooks/Renorming%20Air%20Power/RenormingAirPower/ http://online.flipbuilder.com/lrty/wdem/ https://sldinfo.com/the-f-35-and-21st-century-defence-shaping-a-way-ahead/ For the Marines, we focused early…

F-35 B Course Pilots Prepare for Combat

02/15/2017
02/17/2016: Luke's first B-course students conducted their first training sortie in the F-35 getting ready for their combat deployment assignment.. LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Air Force’s first F-35 Lightning II basic flight course class took to the skies for the first time as they entered the live flying portion…

An Overview on Red Flag 17-1: USAF, RAF and RAAF Perspectives on the Evolution of Airpower

02/12/2017
2017-02-03 Red Flag 17-1 Commanders discuss changes to this exercise with participation from the F-35A. A number of key perspectives are provided throughout, ranging from the key role of the reserves, to the important role of the Wedgetail, to the F-22 squadron having already learned from the Marines with regard to…

New Head of the Norwegian Air Force in a Period of Significant Airpower Transition

02/11/2017
2017-01-28 The Norwegian Air Force is to have a new Chief of Staff. According to a story published on the Norwegian Ministry of Defence website on January 27, 2017, Brigadier General Tonje Skinnarland was appointed Major General and Chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force today (CRNORAF). “Skinnarland is an…

F-35B Refueling

02/07/2017
02/07/2017: United States Marine Corps Air Traffic Control Facilities Officer Captain Joseph Ellis discusses the F-35B Lightning II refueling exercise taking place on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 31, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps Video by Lance Cpl Desiree D King) CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES Credit:Marine Corps…

Red Flag 2017-1: The USAF, RAAF and the RAF Shape Capabilities for the Contested Battlespace

02/03/2017
2017-01-28 The fifth generation evolution of the USAF is being highlighted as F-35s from Hill and F-22s from Langley are key integrated elements for Red Flag 2017-1. Both are key parts of shaping new capabilities in the contested battlespace and are working with the RAF and the RAAF in incorporating cyber and…