F-35A aircraft commenced scheduled flying operations at RAAF Base Williamtown during the last week of January 2019. The two aircraft from No 3 Squadron began a phase of operations designed to verify and validate the jet’s capabilities. These operations will continue for the next two years, in the lead-up to…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to 2ndMAW in January 2019, I had a chance to talk with the Commanding Officer of MAG-26, Colonel Boniface. I have had the opportunity to talk with Chris Boniface several times since we first met at the Bold Alligator exercises almost a decade ago.…
F-35B Lightning IIs with Medium Marine Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced) conduct flight operations carrying Guided Bomb Units from the USS Wasp (LHD 1), Philippine Sea, Feb. 3, 2019. Naval Aviators with the detachment fly the Marine Corps’ newest, most advanced multi-role fighter, the F-35B. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the…
The last Operation Shader RAF Tornado has left the Middle East for the UK. According to an article published on February 5, 2019 on the UK Ministry of Defence website, after almost 40 years serving the UK on military operations across the world, RAF Tornados have returned home for the…
By Robbin Laird Last year during my visit to Norway, I had a chance to visit several airbases and talk with a wide variety of Norwegian officers and defense officials. With the return of direct defense challenges to the Nordics, there has been a major shift to recapitalizing the force,…
By Robbin Laird Last year during my visit to Norway, I had a chance to visit several airbases and talk with a wide variety of Norwegian officers and defense officials. With the return of direct defense challenges to the Nordics, there has been a major shift to recapitalizing the force,…
We have written a number of pieces looking at the impact of Brexit on European defense and will continue to do so. We believe the impact is significant in many way from a negative perspective, but provides significant openings as well if military and political leaders in Europe focus on…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to Germany in February 2019, I had a chance to talk with a number of retired senior Bundeswehr officers and procurement officials. My focus is upon the challenge facing the US and its NATO allies to rebuild their forces to be able to have…
