By Robbin Laird The F-35 is termed a fifth-generation platform, but is better understood as a first generation flying combat system. Or a next generation capability or foundation for building a C2/ISR infrastructure for the integrated distributed force. Because the F-35 is being stood up worldwide with both the U.S.…
By Robbin Laird We had three different sets of presentations throughout the International Fighter Conference 2019 which discussed how the capabilities of the French, German and Eurofighter operating forces in. the years to come will evolve. Namely, the new Future Combat Air System, Rafale and Eurofighter modernization. But the core…
By Max Blenkin The big grey warships, the frigates and guided missile destroyers, may well be the star athletes of the modern Royal Australian Navy, but it’s always been the little ships which did most of the work. The numbers tell the story. Budget documents for 2019-20 show the Navy’s minor combatants, the patrol boat fleet and minehunters, achieved 4,098…
By Lieutenant Commander Kelli Lunt An Australian command task group element was based in a Japanese ship for the first time during a mine counter-measures exercise in Japan. Minehunters HMA Ships Diamantina and Gascoyne, together with a commander task group, participated in Exercise Hyuga Nada, a mine counter-measures exercise, off the coast of…
Given that the USAF is having to relearn mobile basing and are flying the same aircraft as the USMC (although the the USAF for now is not following the recommendation of an earlier COS of the USAF that they acquire F-35Bs), it is not surprising to find USAF pilots onboard…
By defenceWeb The United Arab Emirates’ Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL) has signed an agreement with the Kenya Air Force to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for its aircraft. GAL, part of the newly created Edge defence conglomerate, made the announcement during the Dubai Air Show last week. It…
By Robbin Laird The Italians have had a number of firsts with regard to the F-35 global enterprise. As I wrote in 2015: At the beginning of the 20th Century, Italy was a pioneer in combat aviation. Although different at the beginning of the 21st century, Italy has again emerged…
By Robbin Laird At last year’s International Fighter Conference, the team working on the Franco-German Future Combat System program provided an overview on the launch of the effort. At this year’s conference, the team provided an update on progress over the first year, and underscored key timelines into what was…
