The Northrop Grumman Acquisition of ATK: Shaping A Material Foundation for Enhanced Innovation

03/09/2018
Northrop Grumman is in the final stages of acquiring ATK, the space company. But not widely noticed is the key role which ATK plays in composites manufacturing, which is a key part of building 21st century aircraft. ATK plays a key role in the F-35 program from this point of…

UK Air Defence Strategy Launched by Minister of Defence: The Strategic Context

03/07/2018
By Robbin Laird During a visit last week to the European Air Group based at High Wycombe in the UK, I had the chance to meet with the Deputy Director of the EAG, Air Commodore Robert Adang of the Royal Netherlands Air Force and got an update on their work…

RAAF Humanitarian Support: February March 2018

03/02/2018
2018-03-02 At the request of the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Australian Defence Force is providing support to the Department of Foreign Affairs effort following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that stuck central PNG on 26 February 2018. In the video below, the role of the C-130J is highlighted.…

Building the Wings of Man: Another Aspect of the Coming of the CH-53K

03/02/2018
2018-02-22 By Robbin Laird Without the composites revolution, it would be difficult to image an Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Equally, without the composites revolution it would be difficult to envisage the successor to the CH-53E being able to lift three times more than its predecessor. The lift is a function of…

Distributed Operations, Exercises and Building Out Finnish Defense Capabilities: The Perspective of Lt. General Kim Jäämeri

03/02/2018
2018-02-17 By Robbin Laird Helsinki, Finland My last official interview in Finland was with the former head of the Finnish Air Force and now Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy for the Finnish Defence Forces, Lt. General Kim Jäämeri. In my discussions in Helsinki, I was increasingly persuaded that a number…

COPE NORTH 18

02/27/2018
2/27/18: U.S. Air Force Colonel Ryan Sweeney, 36 Wing Operations Group Commander, U.S. Air Force Colonel Britt Hurst, U.S. COPE NORTH Exercise Director, Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) Colonel Kensuke Onishi, the Japanese COPE NORTH Exercise Director, and Royal Australian Air Force Group Captain Ben Sleeman, the Australian COPE NORTH…