The RAAF’s Air Combat Group in Transition

09/23/2015
2015-09-22 By Robbin Laird In this interview, the discussion continues with Group Captain Robert Denney, Chief of Staff, for the Air Combat Group. In an interview conducted at Williamtown Air base on August 12, 2015, Denney discussed the challenges of current operations and working the transition whereby Super Hornets have…

Aussie C-130s Support Force Insertion

09/23/2015
09/23/2015: A Company of Army Commandos have parachuted out of three Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and dropped into the waters of Exmouth, Western Australia to fight and defeat a simulated enemy during the inaugural Australian Defence Force Exercise Northern Shield. The Special Forces contingent descended into Exmouth against the setting…

First Australian-Indian Bilateral Naval Exercise

09/23/2015
09/23/2015: The inaugural bilateral maritime exercise between India and Australia, AUSINDEX15, was held in Visakhapatnam, India between 12 - 20 Sep 2015. Three Royal Australian Navy platforms and a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C made the passage to India for the exercise. HMA Ships Sirius and Arunta and submarine Sheean…

F-22s Come to Middle East Operations: The ACC Commander Looks at the Way Ahead

09/22/2015
2015/09/15 By Robbin Laird During my recent visit to Australia, where the Royal Australian Air Force is shaping its path ahead with regard to transformation via what it calls Plan Jericho, its combat experience in the Middle East is providing an important input to the way ahead. As the new Chief…

Combat Ready F-35s Arrive at Hill AFB

09/21/2015
09/21/2015: The 388th Fighter Wing received their first two F-35A Lightning II Aircraft at Hill AFB, UT, on September 2, 2015. The two aircraft, tails 5071 and 5072, are both Block 3I jets, which provide initial warfighting capability. That includes data links, multi-ship sensor fusion ability, the updated Integrated Core Processor, and…

Italian Built F-35 Makes First Flight

09/21/2015
09/21/2015: The F-35 is being built on three final assembly lines. The main one is in Fort Worth Texas. The second one is located at Cameri Air Force Base in Italy. This facility will transition to a full up maintenance facility after its run of planes have been built. Planes…