Visiting the CH-53K Manufacturing Line Five Years Later: From 2018 to 2023

06/13/2023
By Robbin Laird I first visited the Sikorsky plant in Stratford, Connecticut in 2018 to view the beginning efforts to standup the production line for the new build CH-53K helicopter. I returned in May 2023 to see the progress in doing so as the CH-53K begins its journey to the…

Eric Trappier Provides on Update on the Rafale and European Airpower: May 2023

05/27/2023
By Pierre Tran Paris - The closed communications system of the F-35 posed problems for flying cooperative combat missions with the planned European Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Eric Trappier, executive chairman of Dassault Aviation, told French senators May 24. “Collaborative combat” consisted of close links between fighter jets, effectively…

An Update on the Ghost Shark: The Perspective of David Goodrich, Anduril Australia

05/17/2023
In a 20 April 2023, an article by Gregor Ferguson in The Australian provided an overview of the Ghost Shark program. In that article, the author highlighted the anticipated role of the XL-AUV or extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. “Make no mistake, (XL-AUVs) will be a game-changer,” said former Royal…

Working the Architecture for the Next Generation European Air Combat System

04/28/2023
By Pierre Tran Paris - France, Germany, and Spain, the partner nations of a European future combat air system, are due to pare down the short list of architecture options for a new generation fighter jet by the middle of next year, an air force officer said. “There is an…

Ensuring European Sovereignty in Producing High-Performance IR Sensors

01/13/2023
By Pierre Tran Paris - A 10-strong European consortium is launching a four-year, €18 million ($19.8 million) project to select a common chip foundry to build next generation infrared sensors for military applications, said David Billon-Lanfrey, chief strategy officer of Lynred, which leads the group. The European Defence Fund is…