2016-11-13 By Robbin Laird When I was a kid, I remember the images of deterrence which were provided by strip alert bombers against the Soviet threat. Now we have images in the press of the strip alert Typhoons dealing with the air defence of the United Kingdom against a wider…
2016-11-12 By Robbin Laird During my visit to RAF Lossiemouth in April 2016, there was a chance to talk with the Officer Commanding Engineering and Logistics Wing at RAF Lossiemouth. Obviously, the operation of the Typhoon fleet is dependent upon the engineers and logisticians to forge an effective hub for…
2016-11-11 By Robbin Laird During a visit to RAF Lossiemouth in June 2016, I had to discuss with an experienced Typhoon pilot now in 1 (F) Squadron, the evolution of Typhoon and its performance in recent Middle Eastern operations. This pilot’s background was initially with the Army and then he became a…
2016-11-10 By Robbin Laird RAF Lossiemouth currently is a Typhoon and Tornado base, but with the Tornados to be phased out within the next few years, the Typhoons will be joined by the P-8, which will probably operate as well from Lossie. This provides the opportunity to integrate the Typhoons with…
2016-11-10 By Robbin Laird During my visit to RAF Lossiemouth in April 2016, I had the chance to talk with OC II(AC) Sqn, the commander of one of world’s oldest and most famous squadrons. He was the squadron commander who led the transition from RAF Marham to Lossie in 2014.…
2016-11-10 By Richard Weitz Pessimism about Europe’s global power potential was pervasive at the Valdai Conference. Many speakers, from Russia and elsewhere, saw the Continent in current crisis and generation-long decay. In particular, they cited deep dissatisfaction with the bureaucratic, technocratic, and formalistic nature of the institution and its disrespect…
2016-11-09 With the election of President Trump, a key question is how he will pursue national security and how he will shape American defense capabilities in the period ahead. He has clearly indicated that he does not want to send the US military on ill defined operations with questionable strategic purpose; he…
2016-11-09 By Robbin Laird In an historic election, the American people of chosen Donald Trump as there President. To say that there is shock in the media and among the Inside the Beltway folks would be to put it mildly. I remember walking into the Pentagon after Reagan became President…
