Unmanned Air Systems at MAWTS-1: The Training and TPP Challenge

06/23/2018
By Robbin Laird There is probably no single air platform more affected by the transition from the strategic shift from counter-insurgency to the high-end fight than unmanned aerial systems. These systems have come to the fore during counter-insurgency operations and have provided significant persistent surveillance for the ground forces. They…

The European Political Crisis: The Impact of Germany

06/22/2018
By Harald Malmgren Next week the European Union will hold a key summit. But that summit is being defined by and overshadowed by the political changes throughout key European states. The crisis in Germany is especially central to the fate of the summit. In late May and in the early…

Shaping the UK Carrier Strike Group: The Perspective of Commodore Andrew Betton and Col. Phil Kelly

06/22/2018
By Robbin Laird During my visit to Portsmouth, England and to RAF Marham in early May 2018, I visited senior Royal Navy and defense personnel involved in the standing up of the UK carrier strike capability. After my morning briefings with the Royal Navy with regard to preparing the carrier…

The Certainty of Uncertainty: Brazil and Its Fall Presidential Elections

06/22/2018
By Kenneth Maxwell With the Presidential election in Brazil due this October the country remains profoundly split between uncompromising extremes. And the political scene remains highly uncertain. Hovering in the background is the figure of the ex-president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, better known as Lula. He is…

Honoring the Australian Veterans of the Battles of Fire Support Patrol Bases Coral-Balmoral

06/22/2018
Former members of 3rd Battallion, Royal Australian Regiment, who fought in the Battles of Fire Support Patrol Bases Coral and Balmoral are honoured as they march into the Madden Club at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville. [maxgallery id="118091"] The commemorative service was followed by a demonstration of 3 RAR’s mechanised combined arms…

An Update on F-35 Manufacturing: Donald Kinard Talks with Aerospace Manufacturing

06/21/2018
Ed Hill, Aerospace Manufacturing In this Q&A session Don Kinard, Lockheed Martin senior fellow F-35 production, discusses with Ed Hill how the defence giant is applying automation, robotics and additive manufacturing to production of the F-35 Lightning II. Q) At what stages have you introduced more automation in your aircraft construction. Is…

Visiting VMX-1 at MCAS Yuma: Working MAGTF Modernization

06/21/2018
By Robbin Laird What was clear from my visit to MAWTS-1 and getting a chance to look at the work of the latest WTI is that the Marines are working ways to enhance the combat capability of the MAGTF but in a way that can reach back to joint assets…

The Coming of the CH-53K from the Standpoint of the Transformation of the MAGTF

06/20/2018
By Robbin Laird The CH-53k will replace the CH-53E. It will be the premier heavy lift helicopter. It has a number of key performance characteristics which make it a significant upgrade over the CH-53E, notably, an ability to carry three times of the external load of the CH-53E. There are…