2017-11-10 Dr. Harald Malmgren Europe is in a period of fundamental transition. French President Macron has put great energy into what sees as the next phase of European development, namely intensified integration of the EU member states into a common framework of governance. He has even called for a common…
11/16/17: The ground crew deployed with the KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) conduct a post flight inspection on the hose and drogue system of the aircraft. The inspection is looking for any damage, which may have been caused in flight. It is vital that the hose and drogue are…
2017-11-10 By Robbin Laird In a visit to Langley AFB on October 31, 2017, I had a chance to talk with Brigadier General Novotny, Deputy Director of Plans, Programs and Requirements at the Air Combat Command. I first met “Blend’r” when visiting RAF Lakenheath where he was the CO of…
11/15/2017: For the first time in a decade, three U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) coordinated operations in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. The USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Strike Groups staged a complex series of air and sea exercises with Japan. According…
2017-11-10 By Robbin Laird The F-35 undergoes final assembly and checkout at three plants around the world – in Italy, in Japan and in Fort Worth, Texas. The Italian and Japanese lines are low rate production lines whereas the Fort Worth line is the high rate production facility. The Fort Worth…
2017-11-11 The first F-35s have arrived in Norway as the Norwegian Air Force stands up its initial training capability. According to an article published November 10, 2017 on the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the ceremony welcoming the new addition to the Norwegian Defence Force was highlighted. Rain, sun, wind and…
2017-11-10 By Robbin Laird The transformation of Marine Corps aviation and with innovations in terms of the ability of the Marines to operate at greater distance, speed and more effectively in distributed operations began with the Osprey. The F-35B is now being added to the force and it provides, sensing,…
2017-11-12 An important aspect of the F-35 final assembly facility in Fort Worth is the capability to produce three variants of the aircraft on the same assembly line. Now that capability has been demonstrated off of the Italian line as the first F-35B built outside of the United States came…