2015-09-23 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake Recently, General “Hawk” Carlisle underscored that the USAF is already engaged in reshaping the force to execute fifth generation warfare. It is important to look at the impact of the F-22 operations on the total force. We do not wish, nor do the…
2015-09-26 By Robbin Laird During a visit to Royal Air Force (RAF) Coningsby to discuss various air power issues, including the Rapid Reaction Aircraft, dealing with the resurgent Russians during Baltic Air Patrols and in the airspace surrounding Britain, the Typhoon upgrades and transition, and fifth generation warfare transition issues…
2015-10-03 Recently, a KC-30A refueled a KC-30A with the new boom system. On 13 August 2015 two KC-30 aircraft from RAAF Amberley conducted a Air to Air refueling training sortie. The Australian Air Force KC-30 aircraft is carrying out an air to air refueling operation using the Airbus Defence and…
2015-09-25 By Richard Weitz When considering China and Russia, new or dramatically enhanced strategic technologies could vitally affect U.S. security during the next 15 years. Under certain conditions, revolutionary improvements in these capabilities could disrupt a strategic balance, but under different circumstances they strengthen stability and deterrence by making military…
10/03/2015: Italy was the lead nation for the NATO Air Policing Mission for the first part of 2015, reinforced by Poland. According to a Lithuanian Ministry of Defense press release on December 30, 2014: The incoming detachment of Italian Air force will participate in the 37th NATO Air Policing mission and…
2015-09-26 “In June 2005 the Squadron officially moved to its home base at RAF Coningsby and by July it was teaching new pilots for 17(R) Squadron on a formal course. Bucking the trend of recent squadron disbandments, 29(R) Squadron officially ‘stood up’ for operational service on 4 November 2005. This…
2015-09-24 By Robbin Laird The USMC is as integrated a force as exits as a 21st century combat force. They use their KC-130Js in a very flexible role supporting their air-ground-sea combat team. They have seen a major transformation with the coming of the Osprey, whereby they are the paired…
2015-09-20 By Robbin Laird In 2008, the USAF selected the Airbus A300MRTT tanker. It was a clear winner from the standpoint of what the USAF wanted from a tanker. But politics and the anomalies of the US acquisition process intruded and the next Administration picked a Boeing tanker, one which…
