The Strategic Shift: The Challenge of Mobile Basing

06/09/2018
By Robbin Laird The strategic shift is a crucial one for the liberal democracies. That strategic shift is from a primary focus on counter insurgency and stability operations to operating in a contested environment with high tempo and high intensity combat systems as a primary tool set. It is about managing conflict…

The Arrival of the F-35s at RAF Marham: The Dambusters Return

06/08/2018
The arrival of the first F-35s from the United States to Britain on June 6, 2018 to their operating base at RAF Marham required a change in the sign entering RAF Marham as can be seen in the featured photo. The entire effort to rebuild Marham to support the UK…

Indo-Pacific Endeavor 18: The Participation of the Royal Australian Navy

06/07/2018
In an article published on June 2, 2018 by the Royal Australian Navy and written by Lt. Ryan Zerbe the Royal Australian Navy's participation in Indio-Pacific Endeavour was the focus of attention. A Joint Task Group of Royal Australian Navy ships and embarked soldiers and marines has set sail from Townsville, bound…

Defense Secretary Mattis in Asia: The Singapore Speech

06/06/2018
Defense Secretary James N. Mattis met with several Indo-Pacific leaders on the sidelines of the 2018 International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore June 1. According to a June 2, 2018 article published on the Department of Defense website: During Mattis’ meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the…

The Coming of TyTan: The UK Works its Typhoon Sustainment Strategy

06/06/2018
By Robbin Laird In past visits to the UK and to Spain, I have spent time with Eurofighter squadrons and have focused on the upgrade path for the aircraft. I have talked with various fighting forces about Typhoon operating in various allied operations as well to get a sense of…

Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II in WTI-2-18

06/05/2018
In a story written by Lance Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin  and published on March 28, 2018, the role of a new variant of a a precision weapon. U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One built 2.75-inch rockets configured with Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II during ordnance building training.…

Norwegian Updates on The Standup of Their F-35s

06/05/2018
On May 22, 2018, three additional F-35s arrived at Ørland Air Base in Norway. According to a Norwegian Ministry of Defence press release dated May 23, 2018: Six aircraft are now on Norwegian soil. – Our new F-35s are a major investment and the most important acquisition to strengthen the…

The Allied Dimension in Play: The US Navy Selects the Naval Strike Missile

06/03/2018
By Robbin Laird Last week, the Pentagon announced that Raytheon has won a $14.8 million contract to purchase the Naval Strike Missile for the Littoral Combat Ship and to put it in line to do the same for the new class of frigates which the US Navy is postured to…