Next F-35s Across the Atlantic: Dutch F-35s to Fly from Edwards to the Netherlands

03/05/2016
2016-03-05 According to an article published by Edwards AFB on 2/24/2016: A Dutch F-35A Lightning II will touch down on home soil for the first time for environmental compatibility trials this spring according to a Royal Netherlands Air Force release. [caption id="attachment_85353" align="alignnone" width="300"] Two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A…

Edwards AFB Looks Back at F-35 ITF Testing in 2015

03/05/2016
2016-03-05 The F-35 Integrated Test Force is based at Pax River and Edwards AFB and is a completely integrated test effort. In our interview with Andrew Mack, ITF chief test engineer, at Pax River, he discussed how integrated the two teams were in practice> We talk and work together every…

First Arrestment of an F-35C with External Weapons Load

03/05/2016
2016-03-05  Lt. Cmdr. Daniel “Tonto” Kitts, an F-35 Lightning II test pilot assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, landed in the history books Feb. 10, 2016, when he performed the first arrestment of an F-35C with external weapons. Flight 282 of aircraft CF-03…

Working 4th/5th Generation Integration: F-35s from Edwards Come to Mountain Home AFB

03/05/2016
2016-03-05  According to an article published by Airman 1st Class Jessica Evans and published on February 22, 2016, Edwards has sent F-35s to the Mountain Home AFB to work integration with legacy aircraft. MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho - Six F-35As arrived at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, Feb. 8,…

Rolling Out the F-35 Fleet from the Testing Perspective: An Interview with the Chief Test Engineer for the F-35 ITF at Pax River

03/02/2016
2016-02-27 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake During a recent visit to Pax River, we had the chance to discuss the F-35 test approach and way ahead with Andrew Maack. F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) chief test engineer. Although we were at Pax River, the F-35 ITF is rooted in…

Australia Re-Sets Its Defense Policy: The Defence White Paper 2016 Looks Beyond the Platform Shopping List

02/28/2016
2016-02-26 By Robbin Laird The Australian government has recently released a new Defense White Paper along with two accompanying documents, a defense industrial policy statement as well as defense integrated investment program. Together, these documents express the concern with the dynamics of change in the region and beyond, and Australia’s’…

The USAF Thinks About the Wolfpack: The Renorming of Airpower

02/27/2016
2016-02-24  Recently, Defense News reported cutting edge thinking from the USAF in which manned aircraft flew with unmanned aircraft to shape a joint mission. AFRL, working with the Air Force’s test pilot school, has already demonstrated that this concept of teaming a manned with an unmanned aircraft is possible in a…

Looking Back: Remembering Desert Storm and Looking Forward to the Renorming of Airpower

02/25/2016
2016-02-25 As we look at the evolution of airpower, and its evolving role in military operations, we have argued that they can form the backbone for the insertion of force, properly calibrated, effects achieved and withdrawn. Evolving concepts of operations under the influence of technology are clearly changing the ways…