EABOs, the U.S. Navy and Reshaping Combat Clusters for Insertion of Effective Force

03/04/2024
The Marines are building new capabilities for force insertion which complement more traditional ways of operating. How do you insert force in various locations to hit the enemy where he isn’t? The basic concept of "hit where the enemy isn't" was well articulated in an interview, I did with the…

The United Kingdom Frames a New Uncrewed Systems Strategy

03/03/2024
Recently, the UK Ministry of Defence announced its new strategy to accelerate the development of uncrewed systems for its armed forces and to generate products for export as well. In a 22 February 2024 press release by the UK MoD, this new strategy was introduced as follows: A new strategy…

The Launch Point: Why a Combined Arms Operation with Maritime Autonomous Systems?

02/29/2024
By Robbin Laird In my last article, I highlighted a third way one can discuss autonomous systems working with manned air systems. This third way would focus upon crafting combat clusters which work in a combined arms operation involving a manned air system with autonomous maritime systems especially working as…

Autonomous Systems and Manned Platforms: From Teaming to Combined Ops

02/26/2024
By Robbin Laird Generally, when autonomous systems are discussed in relation to manned systems, the focus is upon teaming. Images of the Australian Loyal Wingman come to mind whereby the autonomous system is seen as a slaved system to a manned aircraft, hence the term teaming. A key capability of…

Crafting and Shaping the Nacelle Improvement Program for the Osprey: The Role of Industry

02/22/2024
By Robbin Laird Improving sustainment has been an ongoing major effort throughout the evolution of the tiltrotor enterprise. The Nacelle Improvement program (NI) is a major milestone in this effort. When discussing sustainment, an important metric is the mission-capable rate (MC). That rate - expressed as a percentage of total…

An Update on European Drones: February 2024

02/16/2024
By Pierre Tran Paris - Airbus is taking more time to decide on the early stage of design for a European medium-altitude, long-endurance drone, with the industrial partners looking for a good fit with specifications, Guillaume Faury, chief executive of the aircraft builder, said Feb.15. “The preliminary design review (PDR)…

From the CH-46 to the MV-22B: A Generational Leap and the Learning Curve

02/10/2024
By Robbin Laird In my recent interview with LtGen Heckl, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, and the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration, we went back to his time as the second squadron commander to have taken the Osprey into combat. He was an experienced CH-46 pilot…

The French Parliamentary Hearing of François Michel, Chairman of John Cockerill, 31 January 2024

02/07/2024
By Pierre Tran Paris - It was thanks to information shared on a social media link of the Association of Defense Journalists, a press club, this correspondent suited up to attend the Jan. 31 French parliamentary hearing of François Michel, chairman of John Cockerill, a Belgian company which builds armed…