Wedgetail at 10

05/06/2020
By Bettina Mears Important Defence industry partnerships and a culture of excellence have been key to the operational effectiveness of Air Force’s highly advanced airborne early warning and control capability – the E-7A Wedgetail – now celebrating 10 years since its introduction into RAAF service. Air Force operates six E-7A…

The Maritime Patrol Enterprise: Shaping a Kill Web Future

05/05/2020
By Robbin Laird I have had a chance to visit with Rear Admiral Garvin and his team in Norfolk last Fall and earlier this year. We discussed the evolving approach to theater ASW in those discussions along with the evolving approach to training and shaping an effective distributed maritime force.…

The New Build Australian Attack Submarine: Putting It Into Context

05/05/2020
By Robbin Laird Recently, I finished a study of the new build offshore patrol vessel and the shaping of a new template for shipbuilding in Australia. This is the first of three new build ships for the Australian Navy and for the Australian Defence Force. Next is the ASW frigate…

NATO and Defense of NATO Air Space: Intercepts Ramp Up During COVID-19

05/04/2020
RAMSTEIN, Germany NATO aircraft have been busy over the past two days intercepting Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace. On 28 April Polish fighters were scrambled under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission from Estonia to identify two Russian Tu-160 long range bombers, escorted by several fighters and supported by…

Remember the Russian Mistral Amphibious Ship? Certainly, the Turks Do

05/03/2020
You may remember that President Sarkozy made a decision to build Mistral amphibious ships for Putin's Russia. But after some serious rethinking, that sale was voided and a new customer sought. Eventually, the customer for the two ships which had been built was Egypt. And if you fast forward to…

Spain, France and UK Work the Next Round of Baltic Air Policing

05/02/2020
Spain, France and the United Kingdom will take up NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission starting in May, guarding the skies over the Baltic region for the next four months. The three NATO Allies are replacing air force detachments from Belgium and Poland which have protected the airspace of NATO’s three Baltic Allies…

A UK Military Response to COVID-19: RAF Helo Support

05/02/2020
Recently, three RAF Puma helicopters have been dispatched to Kinloss barracks in Moray, Scotland. They are there to be able to respond to COVID-19 incidents throughout Scotland. According to a May 1, 2020 story by David Mackay published by the Press and Journal: "One of the Pumas at Kinloss Barracks…