2016-02-04 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake Our visit to the Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) concluded with an interview with two members of the British contingent of the ITF, along with a senior U.S. test engineer — which, in itself, was a demonstration of how the ITF works as…
2016-02-08 The week prior to the first transatlantic flight of the F-35, this one done by an Italian pilot, a USAF pilot became the first pilot to fly 500 hours on the F-35. According to an article by Airman First Class Ridge Shan, 56th Fighter Wing, and published February 3,…
2016-02-04 By Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird In a visit to Pax River on January 8, 2015, we had a chance to talk with members of the Integrated Test Team at Pax River, which includes Marines, Navy, Brits and civilians as well as contractors. This team is wringing out the…
2016-02-07 The UK MoD has been a pioneer in services contracts and outsourcing those contracts over the years. The Public Financing Approach or PFI may not be the quickest way to put in place an acquisition and support system. but the UK government uses the approach to leverage the private…
At 1430 on February 5th, the first Italian made F-35A flew into the pattern at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland and touched down. Known to all Naval Aviators as “Pax” this historic flight of an Italian fighter pilot, wearing his cold water survival suit, flew the single seat, single engine F-35A…
By Robbin Laird, Ed Timperlake and Murielle Delaporte U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) stands as the base of the Navy sea pyramid, providing the foundation and services that enable the warfighting ship to operate at and from the sea. Yet when it comes to the struggle for resources, the…
2016-02-04 Kenneth Maxwell In a period of profound historical change as we are undergoing, understanding is at a premium. And what might be called the “inside the beltway” phenomenon is a key barrier to shaping effective understanding and policy responses. The culture of the analysts drives the debate, not the…
2016-02-03 The development of India’s indigenous fighter is an important development for India and might well reshape the export market as well. It has been an uphill battle to develop the aircraft and to get it into production and operations. But India is making clear progress with regard to the way…
