2013-09-26 By Robbin Laird The United States is no longer a superpower. It is clearly a significant global power. The period where the Soviet Union collapsed and left the US in a lopsided leadership position was a clear anomaly. This period is in the rear view mirror. Some asserted during…
2013-09-26 Although the F-35B is a new aircraft, and new skills are being learned, the USMC is clearly harvesting experience where relevant to shaping the combat approach of the new aircraft. In a discussion with a combat-hardened Marine who is a weapons loader for the Harrier, the shaping of the approach…
2013-09-25 One of the issues Secretary Wynne was briefed on and given a hands on look was Maintenance of Low Observable characteristics approach being shaped at the 33rd FW. USAF maintainers showed the Secretary how they were addressing the effort and rolling out the LO maintenance capability. The LO maintainers…
2013-09-23 By Ed Timperlake John Boyd in his lecture (which I sat through twice) had a sine qua non building block for his work: the F-86 versus Mig-15 exchange rate kills by his beloved F-86 in "MIG Ally. " The exchange rate was approximately 10 to 1. Lessons learned at…
2013-09-22 Brazil is the 6th largest economy in the world. It is also a leader of a significant group of developing nations which is called the BRIC nations. This term refers to the developing countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The NSA spy scandal has clearly hurt U.S. national security interests.…
2013-09-21 In our discussion in the ready room of VMFAT501with Lt. Col. Steve Gillette and Major Michael Rountree, Major Rountree discussed how the Harrier has been used the flexibility which the jet brings to MAGTF operations. SLD: The V of STOVL is really the important point. The flexibility of the…
2013-09-21 With the changing strategic situation in Asia, the government of the Philippines is reworking its relationship with the U.S. military. According to sources in Manila, a key consideration is the mobility, which the evolving USMC brings to the stage. As this source noted: “The Marines can move rapidly with the…
[caption id="attachment_57414" align="alignnone" width="300"] The EU-Singapore deal is the first with a country from south-east Asia (Photo: European Commission)[/caption] 2013-09-21 Singapore is a key country in South East Asia, economically, and strategically. We have written about the growing role for European defense industry in working with Asian countries, and Singapore is…