The Danish Fighter Decision and Its Significance

05/18/2016
2016-05-15 By Robbin Laird In April 2015, the Sir Richard Williams Foundation of Australia cohosted a symposium on Integrating Innovative Airpower with the Centre for Military Studies at the University of Copenhagen. The symposium was being held as the Danes were being threatened by the Russians in rather dramatic terms…

Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System

05/16/2016
05/16/2016: NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY DEVESELU, Romania Video depicting inside the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS), the deckhouse and a Vertical Launch System (VLS) at NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY DEVESELU, Romania.   The AAMDS uses a nearly identical configuration of the Vertical Launch System, fire control system, and SPY-1 radar currently in use…

Shaping a Way Ahead for the F-35 in UK Defence: The Perspective of Air Commodore Harvey Smyth

05/15/2016
2016-05-12 By Robbin Laird During my visit to the United Kingdom in May 2016, I had a chance to meet with Air Commodore Harvey Smyth and members of the RAF Lightning Force team. Air Commodore Smyth was the Tornado Force commander and has been involved with the F-35 program throughout…

The European Air Group and Typhoon Integration: Shaping a Way Ahead for More Effective Operational Impacts

05/15/2016
2016-05-12 By Robbin Laird I returned to the European Air Group on April 27, 2016 to participate in their latest working group session of 4th/5th generation aircraft integration. Here the continued focus is upon how the coming of the F-35 is part of the reshaping of European airpower and enabling…

The NATO Joint Air Power Competence Center Examines 5th Generation Enabled Air Power: Air Warfare in a Networked Environment

05/15/2016
2016-05-13 by Robbin Laird During a visit to the Joint Airpower Competence Center of NATO located in Dusseldorf, Germany, specifically in Kalkar, Germany, I had a chance to discuss their important study on the evolution of air warfare capabilities in a networked environment. The Joint Air Power Competence Center or…