The last Operation Shader RAF Tornado has left the Middle East for the UK. According to an article published on February 5, 2019 on the UK Ministry of Defence website, after almost 40 years serving the UK on military operations across the world, RAF Tornados have returned home for the…
By Robbin Laird Last year during my visit to Norway, I had a chance to visit several airbases and talk with a wide variety of Norwegian officers and defense officials. With the return of direct defense challenges to the Nordics, there has been a major shift to recapitalizing the force,…
By Robbin Laird Last year during my visit to Norway, I had a chance to visit several airbases and talk with a wide variety of Norwegian officers and defense officials. With the return of direct defense challenges to the Nordics, there has been a major shift to recapitalizing the force,…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to Germany in February 2019, I had a chance to talk with a number of retired senior Bundeswehr officers and procurement officials. My focus is upon the challenge facing the US and its NATO allies to rebuild their forces to be able to have…
When visiting Berlin over the years, the dramatic change in Germany and in Europe is physically notable, The Potsdamer Platz in Berlin went from being part of the demarcation point between East and West Berlin, and then the breaching point between the two parts of the divided city inn 1989.…
Recently, Andrew Rettman of EuObserver provided an overview on the continuing Russian campaign in and against Ukraine. It is risky to stop near the old grain silo on the road from Mariupol to Marinka, two towns in eastern Ukraine. Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) snipers had targeted the site from the…
By Robbin Laird For the last three years, I have traveled extensively in Northern Europe to discuss the Russian challenge and the return of direct defense. During a visit to Germany in February 2019, I am visiting Germany to discuss with German experts and retired senior German military, their assessments…
In the latest Strategic Insights Report, we address the question of the way ahead with regard to a European Future Combat Air System. As part of the revival of the Franco-German working relationship, the two governments have proposed to shape a future combat air system to replace both the Rafale…
