The German Heavy Lift Helicopter Competition: Rheinmetall Joins with Sikorsky on the CH-53K Offer

02/11/2018
2018-02-09 Sikorsky is ramping up its engagement to prepare its CH-53K offering to the German military. According to a February 6, 2018, press release fro Rheinmetall, they have signed a new teaming agreement with Sikorsky to support the bid to replace the CH-53 legacy heavy lift aircraft with the new…

Manufacturing the CH-53K: The Development Process is Not Just for the Air System

02/08/2018
2018-01-30 By Robbin Laird For 21st century digital military systems, the development process is both about how you build the evolving aircraft as well as testing the product and evolving the lessons learned into the evolving production process. It is an open-ended learning process. And one, which will characterize the…

The Combat Effect of the Super Tucano: A Tortured Acquisition Saga Gone Good

01/26/2018
2018-01-19 By Robbin Laird When have you read a positive review of our combat experience in Afghanistan from the Pentagon’s Inspector General? Not a common experience for sure, but very recently, the IG underscored a significant advance in how the battle in Afghanistan is going forward. “Less than two years…

A Photo Update on the KC-30A: Preparing for Tanker 2.0

01/25/2018
2018-01-20 by Robbin Laird In March, I will be back in Australia and will be writing the latest report for The Williams Foundation, with this year's seminar year starting with a look at the key challenge of shifting from the land wars to higher tempo and higher intensity operations. I…

Australian Hawkei Vehicles to Iraq for Test and Evaluation

01/23/2018
1/23/18:Two PMV-L Hawkei vehicles have arrived in the Middle East Region to conduct operational test and evaluation trials in Iraq. Soldiers from Task Group Taji 6 will utilise these vehicles throughout the trial period which will assess the sustainability of the vehicles. The vehicles were transported from Australia’s main operating…