The F-35 Flight Test Program: 2012

01/28/2013
2013-01-28 The F-35 flight test program ended a successful year in 2012.  We have interviewed many of the participants in the flight test program at Eglin AFB, Fort Worth and Yuma Arizona. The standup of the first F-35B squadron with the USMC is part of an overall innovation approach being…

France and Mali: What Role for Coalitions?

01/27/2013
2013-01-27 According to a recent interview with a senior French military officer, the role of coalitions in shaping an effective approach was discussed. In the interview, the officer argued that an efficient command structure with a clear approach to engagement termination was central. He argued that NATO or EU command…

Taiwan and Beijing: Part I

01/27/2013
2013-01-27 by Richard Weitz The Taiwan situation will remain an insuperable obstacle to better Sino-American ties if the past is prologue. What are those conflicting objectives? Beijing insists on exercising control over Taiwan. The Taiwanese people insist on their right to exercise their political autonomy. And Washington insists on providing…

Shaping the Way Ahead for Airpower: General Hostage Focuses on the Future

01/24/2013
2013-01-24 Second Line of Defense and AOL Defense Board of Contributor Members Dr. Robbin Laird and Lt. General Dave Deptula USAF (Retired) sat down in mid December 2012 with General Mike Hostage, the Commander, Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va. As the commander, he is…

Next Steps for F-35C

01/24/2013
2013-01-23 When we visited Eglin to talk with pilots and maintainers of the F-35 at the Training Facility last August, we passed by the area where the USN is getting ready for its variant of the F-35. https://www.sldinfo.com/an-update-on-the-f-35-integrated-training-center-at-eglin-afb/ It is expected to come to the facility later this year, and…

Second F-35A Posts 500 Flight Hours

01/24/2013
2013-01-23 According to a Lockheed Martin press release: AF-1, joined the 500 flight hour club recently during its 272nd flight. It joins AF-2 which passed the milestone June 26, 2012. The conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) fighter begin flight operations when it made its inaugural flight Nov. 14, 2009. The…