Shaping a New Combat Capability for 21st Century Operations: The Coming of the F-35B to the New British Carrier

10/06/2015
2015-09-27 By Robbin Laird Earlier I have visited the Queen Elizabeth and discussed the initial approach to shaping a cross-modernization strategy for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. The SLD team has visited the RAF based at Beaufort USMC Air Station and talked with the team there about…

The Importance of Innovation by Design for Combat Success: Building on the Legacy of Air Marshal Dowding

10/05/2015
2015-09-23 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake Recently, General “Hawk” Carlisle underscored that the USAF is already engaged in reshaping the force to execute fifth generation warfare. It is important to look at the impact of the F-22 operations on the total force. We do not wish, nor do the…

Two 21st Century Air Systems Work Together: KC-30As Refuel F-35As

10/04/2015
2015-10-03 Recently, a KC-30A refueled a KC-30A with the new boom system. On 13 August 2015 two KC-30 aircraft from RAAF Amberley conducted a Air to Air refueling training sortie. The Australian Air Force KC-30 aircraft is carrying out an air to air refueling operation using the Airbus Defence and…

The Next Round of the Military Competition: Considering Non-Nuclear Strategic Technologies

10/04/2015
2015-09-25 By Richard Weitz When considering China and Russia, new or dramatically enhanced strategic technologies could vitally affect U.S. security during the next 15 years. Under certain conditions, revolutionary improvements in these capabilities could disrupt a strategic balance, but under different circumstances they strengthen stability and deterrence by making military…

First Flight of Italian-built F-35

10/03/2015
10/03/2015: On Sept. 7, the first F-35A assembled outside the US, made its very first flight from Cameri airbase. The aircraft, designated AL-1, is the first of eight aircraft currently being assembled at the Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility at Cameri, in northwestern Italy. During the flight, that lasted about…