2016-04-15 By Robbin Laird During the Airpower Conference hosted by the Chief of Staff of the Royal Australian Air Force, the co-leaders of the Plan Jericho project, Group Captains Andrew “Jake” Campbell and Peter Mitchell, provided an update on the Plan Jericho effort. And the approach permeated the discussion at…
2016-04-14 By Harald Malmgren 2016 is a year of political disorder in many nations. Long established political parties are suffering fragmentation and leadership disputes. In some nations new parties are forming and gaining momentum. In others fringe parties are gaining traction and emerging as mainstream challengers. Voter frustration and discontent…
2016-04-13 By Robbin Laird Last August, I had to chance to visit the SRG and discuss its mission, platforms and evolution with Air Commodore Westwood, and members of his team. Air Commodore Westwood characterized SRG as a “pre-Jericho” force in the sense that the various ISR and C2 assets within…
2016-04-11 By Robbin Laird During my visit to Australia in March 2016, I was able to follow up earlier discussions with 2nd Squadron with the new head of 42nd Wing to focus upon Wedgetail, its role in the integrated task force in the Middle East, and evolving the capability as…
2016-04-09 By Robbin Laird In a recent UK MoD announcement concerning the UK role in Baltic defense, it was announced that RAF Typhoons will be deployed along with the HMS Iron Duke. This is clearly designed to operate forward an to provide for NATO defense in the Baltic region. As…
2016-04-09 According to an article on the UK Ministry of Defence website, the Ministry of Defence has announced contracts worth 167 million pounds to upgrade and build new facilities at RAF Marham, the future home of the UK F-35B Lightning II squadrons. The contracts, which will create 300 new jobs,…
2016-04-08 Editor's Note: With all the fireworks about Donald Trump, what is missed is that both Trump on the Republican side and Sanders on the Democratic side represent rejections of the current state of affairs with regard to outsourcing manufacturing from the United States. It is no surprise that…
2016-04-08 By Robbin Laird The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operate from ships supplied at sea by the Military Sealift Command (MSC). This Command is the crucial logistical lynch pin of the sea services, without which the United States would not have an effective maritime combat force. But the decline…
