Norwegian Quick Reaction Aircraft, Bodø Airbase and Future Basing Challenges

05/24/2018
By Robbin Laird During visits to the United Kingdom, I have had a chance to see and visit with RAF the operators of the quick reaction air capability in the United Kingdom. A key point is that to have two aircraft ready to fly on a moment’s notice, or within…

Nordic Cooperation: A Stronger North?

05/23/2018
In a new report produced under the aegis of NORDEFCO, the Nordic cooperation effort is assessed and analyzed. The authors of the report, Tuomas Iso-Markku, Eeva Innola, and Teija Tiilikainen, focused on the history and the way ahead with regard to Nordic cooperation. https://www.fiia.fi/en/project/a-stronger-north-developing-nordic-cooperation-on-foreign-and-security-policy Eeva Innola is a research fellow…

Trident Juncture 2018, the Defense of Norway and Working 21st Century Deterrence in Depth

05/23/2018
By Robbin Laird Trident Juncture 2018 will be a major NATO exercise. As the head of the Transformation Command in NATO, General Mercier,  put it last year: “NATO needs to hold exercises on a large scale. “Only this way are we able to test all the levels in the alliance:…

Moscow and Missile Defenses: An Update from the 7th MCIS

05/23/2018
By Richard Weitz Russia’s national security elite do not perceive U.S. missile defenses as the most serious obstacle to strategic arms control. Their concerns mostly focus on U.S. long-range conventional strike weapons, U.S. space-based systems, NATO nuclear weapons sharing, U.S. military activities around Russia, non-ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban…

Norway, NORDEFCO and Shaping a Way Ahead with the Nordics

05/22/2018
By Robbin Laird As Norway looks to its defense transformation and working out ways to work more effectively with its allies in extended defense and deterrence, it faces change in Europe associated with significant dynamics of change in Europe from Brexit to Catalonia. At the same time, the US is…

Shaping a 21st Century Air Base at Ørland: Visiting the 132 Air Wing

05/22/2018
By Robbin Laird I have had the opportunity to visit F-35 bases since the standup of the first one at Eglin Air Force base. And this year, I have visited Williamtown, RAF Marham, Ørland, and MCAS Yuma. In each case, changes have been made to accommodate the coming of the…