The Coming of the CH-53K: Preparing for Its Long-Term Supportability

11/27/2018
By Robbin Laird As I have noted earlier, the CH-53K is the next major USMC air platform, which reflects a 21st century development, build and support process. The aircraft is a digital aircraft and has been designed with supportability built into the aircraft. The software upgradeability of the aircraft allows…

The Future Combat Air System: The View From Paris

11/26/2018
By Pierre Tran Paris, November 26, 2018 The French government and industry are in negotiations for a budget to upgrade the Rafale fighter jet to an F4 standard of higher capability, and also funding for architecture and concept studies for a next-generation fighter, a source close to the talks said.…

The F-35 and Data Fusion: A Perspective from the International Fighter Conference 2018

11/26/2018
By Robbin Laird At the International Fighter Conference 2018, one of the key themes was the standup of the F-35 in several air combat forces, and the impact of this effort on the way ahead for air combat forces. One of the presenters at the conference was an experienced F-16…

The French Air Force and FCAS: Perspectives from the International Fighter Conference 2018

11/25/2018
By Robbin Laird The French Air Force (FAF) is one of the most active Air Forces in the Western World. They have had significant demand on the force and have been stressed through a continual flow of operations. They are a nuclear-armed Air Force and their focus on Quick Reaction…

Russia, INF and START: Putin is Focused on Enhancing The Impact of his Nuclear Force

11/25/2018
By Stephen Blank When the U.S. government announced it was withdrawing from the INF treaty due to Russian violations of the treaty that are now universally acknowledged, a flood of critical article immediately ensued. However, virtually none of those articles mentioned Russian nuclear strategy or policy, reflecting these commentators’ ongoing…

Germany, Fighters and the Future of Air Combat: Perspectives from the International Fighter Conference, 2018

11/24/2018
By Robbin Laird This year’s International Fighter Conference held in Berlin provided a chance for the participants and the attendees to focus on the role of fighters in what we have been calling the strategic shift, namely, the shift from the land wars to operating in higher intensity operations against…

Crafting a Fifth Generation Combat Force: The Perspective of Air Marshal (Retired) Geoff Brown

11/24/2018
By Robbin Laird At the International Fighter Conference 2018, Air Marshal (Retired) Geoff Brown provided an overview of how the RAAF has shaped a way ahead along with the Australian Defence Force to craft what they refer to as a fifth-generation combat force. In the case of the Royal Australian…

Berlin, Germany and the International Fighter Conference 2018: A Look Back

11/22/2018
By Robbin Laird I spent a good deal of the 1980s traveling within and dealing with German security issues. A key challenge in the early part of the decade was the Euromissile challenge and working common positions among European partners and with the United States to deal with Soviet intrusions…