Adding Triton to the ADF is an important step forward in building out the kind of long range ISR and C2 capabilities to empower the reach of the ADF. Enhanced reach of the ADF is a key strategic goal of the Australian government as they re-focus on their region. Recently,…
U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, are transported by a CH-53K King Stallion assigned to Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 across multiple locations near Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 20, 2021. The CH-53K will replace the CH-53E, which has served the Marine…
Marines in two CH-53K King Stallions from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron, executed the recovery of a downed Navy MH-60 helicopter on 4-5 Sept. 2021 in Bishop, California. The two day operation was the first official fleet mission for the CH-53K King Stallion, as it undergoes operational assessment while…
By Robbin Laird In this report, I have brought together my pieces (with one exception) on the CH-53K published since mid-2020. The one exception? II start the report with a NAVAIR press release about the event highlighted on the cover page photo. All of these articles show steady progress towards…
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mike Noonan said the announcement was the single most consequential decision made in relation to the navy in his lifetime. In this video, he explains why. We have published a four part series on defense.info focused on the shift from the new conventionally powered attack…
By Robbin Laird Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 declares their initial operations capability (IOC) for the F-35B Lightning II on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 25, 2021. VMFA-242 is the second combat-capable forward-deployed F-35B squadron assigned to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The importance of the F-35 and their…
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is a core initiative of the Macron Administration for both defense modernization and building out defense cooperation with its core Airbus allies, Germany and Spain. The Administration is committed to the modernization of their core combat fighter aircraft, the Rafale, for the next thirty…
The CH-53K King Stallion executing night vision goggle helicopter aerial refueling. It is the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations vertical, long-range, heavy-lift, logistic backbone of the Marine Corps, today and for the next fight. Day. Night. All weather. Credit: NAVAIR July 16, 2021 Recently, Col. Perrin from NAVAIR provided an update…
