Next Generation Missiles and Airpower Modernization: The Case of Eurofighter and the Meteor Missile

11/04/2015
2015-10-29 By Robbin Laird Shaping 21st century U.S. and allied air combat capabilities is a function of the intersection of a number cross-cutting dynamics: The reshaping function of fifth generation warfare, Selective and appropriate modernization of the most capable of non-fifth generation aircraft, The introduction of longer range kinetic and…

RAF Tanker Visits South Africa

11/03/2015
2015-11-02  By Guy Martin Military aviation enthusiasts in Cape Town and Pretoria last week had the opportunity of seeing a Royal Air Force (RAF) Voyager (Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport) aircraft. Airbus Defence and Space officials are promoting the type to the South African Air Force to meet potential VIP,…

Royal Air Force Operations and Evolving Concepts of Operations: Shaping a Triple Transition

11/02/2015
2015-10-28 By Robbin Laird During my visit to Europe in October 2015, I had the chance to visit with senior RAF officers and to discuss RAF operations as well as the double transition with Typhoon modernization as well as the introduction of the F-35. For the RAF, it is really…

A Dominant 21st Century Fighting Force: The Role of the Large-Deck Carrier

11/02/2015
2015-11-02 By Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird Fifty years ago, 1965, in Bancroft Hall at the United States Naval Academy, Plebes (freshmen) were required when making a very loud announcement to a gathering of fellow Midshipman to began with the alert-“attention world, attention world.” It was a time when some…

Test Firing of F-35 Gun

11/02/2015
2015-11-02 F-35 test pilot Maj Charles “Flak” Trickey fires the first aerial gun test burst of the GAU-22/A 25mm gun from F-35A aircraft AF-2. The video shows the aerial gun test, which will provide operational F-35A pilots the ability to engage air-to-ground or air-to-air weapon targets, in addition to beyond…

A Syrian No Fly Zone?

11/02/2015
2015-11-02 The Russian intervention in Syria represents strategic change for the region. Now Russia is backing the sovereign government of Syria, and any U.S. actions in the North of Syria would now come into conflict with both normal UN practice and possible Russian retaliation. In other words, the Russians are…