An Update on the Japanese Defense Budget, 2020

08/31/2020
The Japanese are reworking their defense capabilities to provide for enhanced perimeter defense. We projected this trajectory for Japanese defense policy in our book on Pacific defense published in 2013. According to the preface to the Japanese Ministry of Defence's overview of the way ahead for its defense programs: Japan…

NATO and AGS: Its Impact on the German Airborne SIGINT Decision

08/30/2020
By Robbin Laird The remotely piloted solution (Pegasus) versus a manned aircraft solution (Global 6000) for airborne SIGINT should take into account the coming of AGS to NATO. The NATO Air Ground Surveillance approach is built around a remotely piloted solution which dovetails nicely with such a solution for airborne…

HMAS Canberra Returns from Regional Presence Deployment 2020

08/28/2020
According to the Australian Department of Defence in a press release dated August 13, 2020: "HMAS Canberra and embarked forces returned to Australia after successfully completing Regional Presence Deployment 2020. "The Australian Defence Force has embarked on a regional deployment to conduct exercises within Southeast Asia and Hawaii over the…

A Naval Air Station Pax River Update on the CH-53K: August 2020

08/28/2020
According to an August 21, 2020 release by Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the CH-53K sea trials went extremely well. A team of pilots and engineers from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River recently completed a crucial series of sea trials of…

German Platform Decisions: How to Compare Pegasus With Global 6000

08/26/2020
By Robbin Laird With the US Navy’s FMS Offer to Germany for Triton having expired without being extended, Germany is now pursuing a manned aircraft alternative for the SIGINT mission. The approach would be to buy three Bombardier G6000 aircraft and equip them as special mission aircraft. Germany already has…

USS Tripoli Joins the Fleet: Re-Imaging the Role of L-Class Ships

08/25/2020
We tracked in some detail of the coming of the new class of LHAs to the fleet. The flagship is LHA-6, the USS America. These ships represent a significant break from the past in that it can operate as a flagship of an amphibious task force with unprecedented airpower onboard.…

NATO Mine Disposal Operations in Norwegian Waters

08/25/2020
According to a recent news story on the NATO website, "Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG 1) has concluded a historical ordnance disposal operation, enhancing knowledge about the seabed by working in Norwegian waters and contributing to the Norwegian compiled historic ordnance database. "Conducted between 4-12 August, 2020 in…

Exercise TRIDENT TRAP: July 2020

08/25/2020
The first Exercise TRIDENT TRAP was conducted in July 2020. EX TT20 is a joint Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare exercise. P-8A Poseidon aircrew and maintenance personnel from RAAF Number 11 Squadron together with support staff from Number 92 Wing based at RAAF Base…