Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem 21: Test and Verify

04/23/2021
The pathway for the U.S. Navy to integrate unmanned surface vessels into its fleet operations is for these vehicles to be able to effectively and efficiently support real-world tasks that fit into maritime concepts of operations, rather than being disruptive technology to mission operations and undercutting combat capability. in an…

757 Accelerate: Contributing to the Evolving Ecosystem for Innovation

04/23/2021
By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake During out visit to Norfolk in March 2021, we learned that Second Fleet was working a direct relationship with the Navy’s Mid-Atlantic Tech Bridge. The Mid-Atlantic Tech Bridge is described as follows: “The Mid-Atlantic Tech Bridge (MATB) is the first of what we believe…

Arctic Gold 21-2: Working Fifth Gen Agile Combat Operations

04/22/2021
The Arctic Gold 21-2 exercise is working the USAF's approach to what the Navy call distributed operations. During the exercise this month, airmen are practicing Agile Combat Employment capabilities. These capabilities allow them to work dislocated operations and to still generated integrated combat power. In other words, they are working…

Working Air-Sea Integration: The UK and Netherlands Shape a Way Ahead

04/21/2021
The Dutch and UK Marines operate as a fully integrated force. With the coming of the new UK Queen Elizabeth carriers, there are expanded opportunities for air-sea integration as well. According to a March 31, 2021 UK Ministry of Defence story, the UK Carrier strike group will integrate a Dutch…

Israel and the CH-53K Decision: Re-Baselining Heavy Lift Helicopters for Strategic Uncertainty

04/20/2021
By Robbin Laird Recently, the IDF selected the CH-53K to replace its legacy CH-53s. In my last article on this subject, I highlighted one key factor in the decision, namely, the importance of having a new aircraft which reduced pilot training and operational load for reserve pilots. As I concluded:…

HMAS Adelaide and the Sydney Harbour Bridge: A Tight Fit

04/20/2021
By Lieutenant Commander Christopher Thornton Families of the crew of HMAS Adelaide were treated to a day on board to thank them for their support during a busy year for the ship’s company. A highlight of the April 9 family day on Sydney Harbour was when the landing helicopter dock – one of…

The Latest Norwegian Building Block for European Direct Defense

04/19/2021
The build out of the re-established Second Fleet and the standup of Allied Joint Forces Command combined with the key efforts of the Nordic allies is a reshaping North Atlantic defense. In our book on The Return of Direct Defense in Europe, we focused upon the key role which key…