2016-01-02 By Robbin Laird Although the notion of C5ISR has taken hold, the concept can confuse more than it clarifies. C2 is become an essential element for force structure transformation, rather than focusing excessively on the ISR, or collection of information to inform decisions. The shift from the kinds of…
2016-01-02 By Richard Weitz Recent weeks have offered several opportunities to better understand the Kremlin’s worldview. On December 3, President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual presidential address to the Federal Assembly at the Kremlin’s St George Hall before an audience of more than 1,000 people. Putin again called for a…
12/28/2015: HMAS PERTH is being undocked following the completion of the docking phase of IMAV 06 at the AMCCUF at Henderson WA. Whilst docked major maintenance tasks have been conducted on the ships underwater fittings and appendages as well as the ships hull receiving new antifoul coatings. Production work will…
2015-12-23 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake There is a growing literature on the challenges to U.S. forces facing more difficult combat conditions as competitors and adversaries enhance their capabilities. The anti-access, area denial challenge, in particular, has been a key theme as the sea services face the future; but…
2015-12-23 By Robbin Laird © 2015 FrontLine Defence (Vol 12, No 6) Counter-insurgency (COIN) warfare has been the dominant template in U.S. military engagements for more than a decade. Joint warfare has been largely defined in terms of the air and naval services supporting the ground forces doing COIN. COIN…
12/18/2015: The F-35A Lightning II from the 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, at Tyndall Air Force Base is seen flying in support of Exercise Checkered Flag 16-01. Checkered Flag is a large-force exercise which simulates the employment of a large number of aircraft and is an opportunity to highlight…
12/18/2015: An F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 conducts a vertical landing at a Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015. VMFA-121 marked another important milestone in the evolution of the aircraft conducting their first Close Air Support…
12/18/2015: LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) -- The first two Norwegian F-35s arrived here Nov. 10. Shortly after, a Norwegian pilot flew the F-35 Lightning II for the first time, in conjunction with the Royal Norwegian Air Force's birthday. The F-35 program took its first step forward, integrating partner nations…
