2016-03-05 According to a story on the French Ministry of Defense website, the combination of Reapers and Harfangs have exceeded 15,000 operational hours during the Operation Barkhane. The RPA squadron Belfort deployed in early 2013, and now has flown more than 15,000 hours with its RPAs. The French Squadron operates two…
2016-03-05 In this video produced by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the Japanese look back to 2015 and the evolution of the strategic environment and the evolution of the Japanese Self Defense Force.
2016-03-01 Part of the Australian re-set on defense is the construction of new submarines. And these submarines will carry combat systems, almost certainly American, designed to be software upgradeable, like the Wedgetail or F-35, to evolve over time and to connect more effectively with a better connected Australian Defence Force…
2016-03-04 Given the capabilities of the KC-30A in terms of fuel loads, reach and range (including its own capability to be refueled) and the reach of a fleet of F-35s in terms of their interactive capabilities, the combination will be a powerful one. We are visiting Edwards AFB next week and…
2016-02-29 The venerable CH-53 has been a staple for Marines in providing heavy lift since the Vietnam War. The origins of the heavy lift helo is described by Wikipedia as follows: In 1960, the United States Marine Corps began to seek a replacement for their HR2S piston-powered helicopters. On 27 January 1961, the Marine Corps…
2016-03-02 Recently, our colleague Col. "Jeep" Willi from the Joint Airpower Competence Center (JAPCC) brought to our attention a new journal which in part will be dealing with the information warfare being practiced and refined by the global competitors of the US and its allies. ‘Defence Strategic Communications’ is a…
2016-02-27 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake During a recent visit to Pax River, we had the chance to discuss the F-35 test approach and way ahead with Andrew Maack. F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) chief test engineer. Although we were at Pax River, the F-35 ITF is rooted in…
2016-03-02 Our colleague Air Vice Marshal (Retired) John Blackburn has focused attention on the energy security shortfall for Australia for some time. As an island continent at the bottom of the Asia Pacific region, Australia is heavily dependent upon liquid energy imports and with a rapidly disappearing domestic refinery production capacity,…
