By Robbin Laird During a visit last week to the European Air Group based at High Wycombe in the UK, I had the chance to meet with the Deputy Director of the EAG, Air Commodore Robert Adang of the Royal Netherlands Air Force and got an update on their work…
2018-03-02 At the request of the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Australian Defence Force is providing support to the Department of Foreign Affairs effort following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that stuck central PNG on 26 February 2018. In the video below, the role of the C-130J is highlighted.…
2018-02-22 By Robbin Laird Without the composites revolution, it would be difficult to image an Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Equally, without the composites revolution it would be difficult to envisage the successor to the CH-53E being able to lift three times more than its predecessor. The lift is a function of…
2018-02-17 By Robbin Laird Helsinki, Finland My last official interview in Finland was with the former head of the Finnish Air Force and now Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy for the Finnish Defence Forces, Lt. General Kim Jäämeri. In my discussions in Helsinki, I was increasingly persuaded that a number…
2018-03-02 By Robbin Laird According to an Airbus Defence and Space press release dated March 1, 2018, Belgium's decision to acquire the A300MRTT has highlighted. Madrid, 1 March 2018 – Airbus Defence and Space has received a firm order for an Airbus A330 MRTT Multi Role Tanker Transport from Europe’s…
2018-02-18 By Robbin Laird This week’s Wall Street Journal Saturday essay is on the crippling consensus which has descended on American campuses with the withering of relevant debate to shaping a way ahead for the liberal democracies. In a world where universities think it is somehow acceptable to have safe…
2018-02-16 By Danny Lam Firepower, Mobility and Protection are universal concepts that applies to any combat platform on land, at sea, underwater in air or space. Efficiency and effectiveness, however, are difficult concepts. General Deptula’s combat cloud concept was based on a look at cost per desired effect which often…
2018-02-16 By Robbin Laird Helsinki, Finland The Finnish government is set to acquire 64 new fighter jets for its air force. This is occurring as Nordic defense is being reworked, and the Northern European states are sorting out how to deal with what the Finnish Defense Minister Jussi Niinistö has referred…
