By Robbin Laird I have attended the International Fighter Conference in the past but missed this year’s offering. This year’s conference was held in Madrid, and I was interested in what was discussed at the conference as I am focused on the way ahead for Western air combat forces in…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to MAWTS-1 during the first week of November 2023, I had a chance to talk with Colonel Eric Purcell, the CO of MAWTS-1 about the coming of the CH-53K to the USMC. This is the third new air system I have seen come to…
By Robbin Laird I wrote a chapter in the 2018 book entitled, One Nation Under Drones, which focused on the experience of the USMC with UAVs to date. I wrote this piece as the Marines were shifting from the primary focus on the land wars and to an enhanced focus…
By Robbin Laird From my first visit to MAWTS-1 with Ed Timperlake to MAWTS-1 to my most recent visit in November 2023, I have been impressed with how focused the team is upon force integration which can be created with real forces, not power points or by wargames or what…
By Pierre Tran Paris - The French, German and Spanish air force teams have trimmed down a shortlist of architectures for a European Future Air Combat System to four from five, French air force major general Jean-Luc Moritz said Nov. 9. The air force officers were working in close cooperation on selecting…
By Robbin Laird In November 2023, I sat down with George Galdorisi to discuss the way ahead for maritime autonomous systems. He started by looking at where we are currently with autonomous systems more generally. He noted that we have seen significant progress with air and ground unmanned systems over…
By Ed Timperlake The horrific aftermath of the tragic end of the Afghan war is rippling through that country. But you can help deal with the tragedy left behind by the way the Afghan withdrawal was done. These truly courageous Afghans are in clear and present danger. The fanatical Taliban…
Recently, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 59 demonstrated a new mission capability which a UAS can deliver for the fleet. As J.P. Lawrence wrote in a 3 November 2023 article published in Stars and Stripes: "The 5th Fleet has used drone boats extensively in the Middle East for…
