2016-08-11 Making its debut in a multi-national exercise, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has deployed its KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport to RAAF Base Townsville for Exercise Pitch Black 12. Measuring 58 metres in length and with a wingspan of 60 metres, the KC-30A is a heavily modified Airbus A330…
2016-08-11 RAAF BASE DARWIN, Australia For the first time, U.S. Air Force F-16C aircraft have deployed to Exercise PITCH BLACK 16 (PB16) in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport. On July 19, a RAAF KC-30A flew non-stop with six F-16Cs from Kadena Air Base, Japan…
2016-08-11 Recently, the Marine’s premier attack helicopter landed on the HMAS Canberra during the RIMAC exercise. According to a story by Leut. Andrew Ragless and published on August 8, 2016: HMAS Canberra has been visited by one of the most potent attack helicopters in the United States Marine Corps, the AH-1 SuperCobra. Landing…
2016-08-08 On August 5, 2016, Second Line of Defense visited Williamtown Airbase to meet with Group Captain Stuart Bellingham, Commanding Officer of No. 42 Wing (the Wedgetail squadron). When you visit the squadron what is striking is that the squadron is colocated with the System Program Office (SPO). When you…
2016-08-07 Currently, Second Line of Defense is in Australia and participating in the upcoming Williams Foundation seminar on air-sea integration. Initial interviews have been conducted at Amberley and Williamtown airbases and provide updates on the C-17, KC-30A and Wedgetail roles and evolutions within the RAAF and its global operations. Many…
2016-08-07 According to a press release issued on August 2, 2016, the F-35 completed its AIM-9X flight tests. The F-35 Lightning II advanced its combat capability by launching an air-to-air missile and directly hitting a drone over a military test range off the California coast on July 28. U.S. Air…
2016-08-07 Over the years, the MV-22 has been certified on a number of coalition ships, the latest is the HMAS Canberra. During an interview when a Dutch ship was conducting certification trials, the Captain of the ship highlighted what was at stake with the effort: In a phone interview prior…
2016-08-03 By Kenneth Maxwell As Rio de Janeiro prepares for the opening of the Olympic and Paralympic Games this Friday many of the old dilemmas are very much on display. The city provides a magnificent backdrop. When viewed from the top of the "Pão de Açúcar," the iconic mountain that…
