By Pierre Tran Paris – There has been little interest in big consolidation moves in the European defense industry, with the creation of EADS the last time there was a major merger, said Thales executive chairman Patrice Caine. The European Aeronautics Defence and Space company, the previous name for Airbus,…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to NAWDC in early July 2020, I had a chance to continue discussions begun earlier in the year with the CO of NAWDC and his senior officers. Rear Admiral Brophy had highlighted as one major change at NAWDC from the time when I had…
By Robbin Laird This week the Navy’s Airborne Command and Control Community celebrated the 60th anniversary of the first E-2 flight. According to a story released by the public affairs team from Naval Air Force Atlantic: “While the U.S. Navy celebrated its 245th birthday this October, the Airborne Command &…
By Robbin Laird October 3, 2020 is German Unity Day. This is a very significant date in history, which changed the face and fate of modern Europe. The face is clear; the long term impact on the fate of modern Europe is not. I have spent much of my life…
By India Strategic Tel Aviv/ Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has become the first GCC carrier to operate a commercial passenger flight to and from Israel. The historic flight, operated by an Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, was flown in partnership with the Maman Group,…
By Robbin Laird In the last article on the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), I looked at one key building block which enhances both the ops tempo of the strike package on the USS Gerald R. Ford as well the flexibility of the weapons packages which can be moved…
By Robbin Laird Two years ago, I published a chapter on the USMC’s recent experience with unmanned air systems in the book edited by John Jackson, entitled, One Nation Under Drones. I focused on the substantial experience they have accumulated with Scan Eagle and then with the Blackjack system. The…
The UK is clearly in a period of significant strategic change. The twin impacts of COVID-19 and BREXIT are enough to assure that. With the significant impact of the new aircraft carrier driving significant change with regard to air-sea integration, an evolution we have spent considerable time engaged in with…
