By Robbin Laird I have been focusing in a series of articles on the mobile basing role of the USMC within the evolving maritime kill web approach. Earlier articles highlighted key requirements to perform expeditionary basing, as well as challenges facing sustainment and support for such a force. A key…
By Robbin Laird Sikorsky is working with NAVAIR and the USMC to deliver a new build heavy lift helicopter, the CH-53K. This is a digital aircraft, while its predecessor the CH-53E, is a mechanical aircraft. What this means is that the aircraft is digitally designed and manufactured by means of…
By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake We had the opportunity to work with and for Secretary Wynne when he was in the Defense Department. He was involved in many innovations which revolved around shaping an information force before the term became fashionable, which involved pushing information to the edge of…
In a June 10, 2020 article by Richard Spencer of the London Times, their Middle East Correspondent, highlighted how Iran was building out its way ahead for dealing with the Untied States. Why not build a model of a Nimitz class American carrier for target practice? "Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has…
On June 4, 2020, RAAF Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld provided his concluding remarks at the virtual RAAF Airpower Conference on the Indo-Pacific Region. Originally, the conference was to be held in March 2020, but was postponed due to COVID-19. But the RAAF’s Airpower Development Centre has moved ahead with a virtual…
By Pierre Tran Paris - Arquus, a French military vehicle builder, unveiled June 8 a virtual tour of a stand planned for Eurosatory, a trade show for land weapons, cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis. The company, a unit of the Swedish Volvo truck company, launched its line of Armis…
By Robbin Laird In a series of articles based on interviews with the USMC, the nature and scope of the digital interoperability initiative being pursued by Marine Corps Aviation has been highlighted. In one of those articles, the discussion highlighted a way ahead with regard to digital interoperability for the…
When considering contributions which the USMC can make to the joint or coalition force in Pacific operations, an ability to put an air arming and refueling point on virtually any spot on the kill web chessboard is clearly a key contribution. These are referred to as FARPs or Forward Arming…
