Leveraging the RAF Marham and RAF Lakenheath Strategic Opportunity: The USAF and the RAF Shape 21st Operational Capabilities

05/20/2016
2016-05-18 With the RAF and the USAF setting up four squadrons of aircraft between them at two nearby RAF bases, there is a clear opportunity to shape a common sustainment solution. And the impact of so doing could be significant on the North Sea neighbors, namely, the Danes the Norwegians…

Canada and the F-35: The Danish Decision Provides a Way Ahead for Regional Defense

05/19/2016
2016-05-17 Recently, Denmark selected the F-35 as their next combat aircraft in an open competition with Eurofighter and Super Hornet. Not only did they select the F-35, they have released public information with regard to that selection process and how they reached their decision. In the Question and Answer session held…

The Danish Fighter Decision and Its Significance

05/18/2016
2016-05-15 By Robbin Laird In April 2015, the Sir Richard Williams Foundation of Australia cohosted a symposium on Integrating Innovative Airpower with the Centre for Military Studies at the University of Copenhagen. The symposium was being held as the Danes were being threatened by the Russians in rather dramatic terms…

Shaping a Way Ahead for the F-35 in UK Defence: The Perspective of Air Commodore Harvey Smyth

05/15/2016
2016-05-12 By Robbin Laird During my visit to the United Kingdom in May 2016, I had a chance to meet with Air Commodore Harvey Smyth and members of the RAF Lightning Force team. Air Commodore Smyth was the Tornado Force commander and has been involved with the F-35 program throughout…

The European Air Group Works 4th and 5th Generation Air Combat Integration

05/14/2016
2016-05-14 Recently, the European Air Group held a working group which continued their work on 4th and 5th generation integration which is viewed as crucial with 5th generation aircraft here now. The 2016 two-day 4th 5th Generation Integration Information Forum was held at the home of the EAG, RAF High…

The Osprey Tanking the F-35: “Multi-Mission Everything”

05/09/2016
2016-05-06 By Robbin Laird When Lt. General Davis, the Deputy Commandant of Aviation spoke at the Williams Foundation seminar on new approaches to air-land integration, he described a key aspect of the evolving Marine Corps approach with their air assets as “multi-mission everything". Technology is important to this effort, and…

The RAF and Royal Navy Prepare for the F-35 (Video)

05/06/2016
2016-05-06 According to the UK MoD: "Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Pilots are training to fly the new state-of-the-art stealth jet the F-35B Lightning II alongside their US counterparts at Marine Air Corps Station Beaufort, South Carolina. The highly advanced 5th generation jet will come into UK service from…