Indian Air Force Activates Second Rafale Squadron

08/17/2021
By India Strategic New Delhi. The Indian Air Force formally inducted the omni-role Rafale combat jet, widely described as a “game changer”, into No. 101 Squadron at Air Force Station Hasimara in Eastern Air Command (EAC) on July 28. This is the second squadron to induct the jets. Air Chief…

The French Air Evacuation Mission in Afghanistan

08/16/2021
By Pierre Tran Paris - France is flying out military transport aircraft for an evacuation of French and Afghan nationals out of Kabul, in response to security concerns in Afghanistan, Florence Parly, the French armed forces minister, said Aug. 16. “Several tens” of French nationals and “Afghans who have given…

Enabling Flexible Basing Across the Combat Chessboard: The Contribution of the CH-53K

08/16/2021
As the Marines rework how they are going to shape their way ahead with regard to the joint force and full spectrum crisis management, their ability to operate from seabasses to expeditionary bases to the wider littoral operations is a crucial contribution. With their Osprey and F-35B capabilities already providing…

Defence of Japan 2021: A Focus On Proactive Defense Efforts With Allies

08/15/2021
By Thomas Wilkins and Daisuke Akimoto Japan’s new defence white paper, Defense of Japan 2021, affirms Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s continuation of his predecessor Shinzo Abe’s proactive contribution to regional peace and security. Stemming from a desire to counter any trend towards a norm of ‘might is right’ in the region, the white…

An Update on the Australian KC-30 Tanker: June 2021

08/12/2021
In a June 29, 2021 article by Flight Lieutenant Robert Cochran, provided an update of the KC-30A operating in Exercise Arnheim Thunder. Providing air-to-air refuelling services to some of the world’s most advanced combat fighter jets is just another day in the office for Air Force pilots Flight Lieutenant Kristen…

Shaping a Way Ahead for the TACAIR Community: Visiting MAG-14

08/11/2021
By Robbin Laird During my July 2021 visit to 2nd Marine Air Wing, I had a chance to meet with the leadership of MAG-14. I met with Col. Williams, the MAG-14 Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Harrell, the MAG-14 Executive Officer and Maj. Cunningham, the MAG-14 Operations Officer. Based at Cherry…

Shaping a Way Ahead for the Assault Support Community: Visiting the “War Eagles” of MAG-29

08/10/2021
By Robbin Laird During my visit to 2nd Marine Air Wing in July 2021, I had a chance to discuss the way ahead for the assault support community with the Commanding Officer of MAG-29, Col. Joyce, and with Maj. Bowing, the Operations Officer for MAG-29. In terms of aircraft, MAG-29…

Triton Begins Multi-Intelligence Capability Phase

08/10/2021
According to a press release published on July 29, 2021 from NAVAIR, the U.S. Navy has conducted first MQ-4C Triton test flight with multi-intelligence upgrade. The Navy conducted its first test flight of the MQ-4C Triton in its upgraded hardware and software configuration July 29 at NAS Patuxent River, beginning the…