Denmark, F-35, and Shaping the Way Ahead

11/21/2018
By Dr. Gary Schaub, Jr. Acquiring new combat aircraft is a big deal. The combat aircraft fleets of most Western countries are nearing the end of their useful service life and therefore must be replaced. Such acquisition programs have been among the most expensive ever pursued and have therefore been…

Industry 4.0: The Case of the F-35

11/19/2018
By Robbin Laird Because the F-35 has been built from the outset on a digital thread production approach and foundation, the program can incorporate, and contribute to a broader set of industrial transformations, known as Industry 4.0. In other words, the F-35 can produce an innovative combat aircraft but it…

Putin Bails Out the Troika of Tyranny

11/19/2018
By Stephen Blank Recently John Bolton, Director of the National Security Council, gave a speech attacking what he called the Troika of Tyranny: Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, and announcing new sanctions on these states. Perhaps it is not coincidental that Bolton’s speech, announcing a new tough-minded U.S. policy towards Latin America,…

Nigerian JF-17 Acquisition

11/15/2018
by defenceWeb Pakistan has provided an $184 million government guarantee to cover production of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets for the Nigerian Air Force as the Nigerian government continues to fund the type. Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved the $184.3 million sovereign guarantee for the production of three Pakistan Aeronautical…

China, South Africa and Military Logistics

11/15/2018
By Kabelo Tsogang A delegation from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Central Military Commission Logistics Support division, steered by its Deputy Chief of Administrative Office, Senior Colonel Huang Dongping, have visited the South African Department of Defence Logistics Division in Pretoria and Cape Town to finalise hosting the first military…

Rethinking Networks from a 5th Gen Perspective

11/15/2018
By Ian McDonald AM, MSc, DipEng & AVM John Blackburn (Retd) AO, MA, MDefStud The phrase “5th Generation” (Gen) is often dismissed as just another fad, whilst totally missing the paradigm shift in both technology and operations that is implied or intended by it. It is envisaged that mature 5th…

An Update on Trident Juncture 2018: The Strategic Context

11/09/2018
Trident Juncture 2018 is a major NATO exercise which is focused on Northern Tier defense. It also is an exercise for the Norwegians in mobilizing their society to deal with crises in the region in which NATO forces would be called upon to operate from Norwegian soil. A key part…