PRC Strategy in Asia: Impose “Prohibitive Costs” To Opposing Their Will

03/18/2014
2014-03-18  While attending the Williams Foundation Seminar on Air Combat Operations: 2025 and Beyond, Dr. John Lee of the Kokoda Foundation provided a base line brief on how to understand the Chinese challenge, military and non-military to the region. The contribution of Aussie airpower and associated military capabilities was to…

The RAAF Adds New Tanking Capability: A Key Step in Building Out Its Reach, Range and Sustainability

03/14/2014
2014-03-14 By Robbin Laird During my visit to Australia, I have had a chance to visit No. 33 Squadron, at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley in the state of Queensland. The Squadron operates the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). My mentor and guide for my day at the…

After the Brazilian Fighter Deal: An Update on the Evolution of Brazilian Aviation

03/14/2014
2014-03-14 By Kenneth Maxwell Brazil quietly deepening air combat capabilities and promoting overseas civilian aircraft exports After years of delays over the choice of a new generation of jet fighter aircraft Brazil has been quietly developing its defense capabilities. The decision to go ahead with the deal with Swedish company Saab…

F-35 Lightning II Arrives at Luke AFB: And the Aussies Prepare to Come

03/14/2014
03/13/2014: F-35 Lightning II Arrives at Luke AFB By Paul Giblin The Republic Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:55 PM Air Force test pilot Roderick Cregier flew several slow, low loops through the Arizona sky before landing Luke Air Force Base’s first F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jet Monday, launching a…

The Wedgetail Enters into Service: The Aussies Build Out their 21st Century Airpower Capabilities

03/12/2014
[slidepress gallery='visiting-the-wedgetail-squadron-at-williamtown-raaf-base-australia'] 2014-03-07  The Aussies entered the 21st century with an aging Air Force. The silver lining in that difficult position is that as the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) began to modernize, they could do so within the context of new 21st century capabilities. The process really began by…

The Way Ahead for NATO: The Ukrainian Crisis Intrudes

03/12/2014
2014-03-13 By Andrew Haggard British Prime Minister David Cameron will host the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s next ministerial summit in September 2014 at Cardiff, United Kingdom. Previously, the alliance was expected to focus on “capabilities, partnerships and Afghanistan,” which U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel described as, “three priority areas…