By Robbin Laird During my recent visit to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, I visited Marine Corps Air Station New River and had a chance to meet with two members involved from the outset in HMH-461 standing up the CH-53K. I first visited New River in 2010, where the focus was…
By Robbin Laird As the Marines rework how they approach distributed operations, a key focus is upon how to shape what they call Expeditionary Advanced Operations or EABO. This requires reworking how the air and ground elements operate together to shape a more effective distributed force with reduced force signature…
By Robbin Laird I had the chance recently to meet with LtGen Heckl, the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, and the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration, at his office in Quantico. He is retiring from the USMC this month, so this is my exit interview with…
By Robbin Laird This is our 15th year of publishing. Next year, we are publishing a book highlighting our analyses of that 15-year period. We have seen a dramatic change from the 1990s where the United States was in a pole position to re-shape the world and craft a way…
By Pierre Tran Paris – The background to sales of the Rafale fighter and Falcon business jets was “uncertainty” due to general elections in Europe and France, and president Joe Biden standing down in the U.S. election campaign, Dassault Aviation executive chairman Eric Trappier said July 23. There was “concern”…
According to 2nd Marine Wing, the attack helo squadron HMLA-269 after being sunsetted two years ago has now returned. That is why we might call them the “Phoenix Squadron.” In this story by 2nd MAW published on July 1, 2024 we learn about its rebirth: Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron…
By Robbin Laird My recent discussions with LtGen Heckl and visits to MAWTS-1 have both reinforced the nature of the USMC and its role within the overall strategic shift the U.S. military is undergoing. The U.S. military is being reshaped to enhance its survival and lethality through an enhanced ability…
In an article by Cpl. Nicholas Johnson, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, published on July 6, 2024, interchangeability between the RAAF and the USMC was emphasized as follows: In a demonstration of the ever-increasing interchangeability between U.S. Marine Corps and Royal Australian Air Force aviation, two F-35B Lightning II pilots with…
