Chemring Australia and Positioning as a Second Source Supplier for F-35 Flare Production

03/31/2014
2014-03-31  By Robbin Laird While visiting Australia, and visiting various Australian defense facilities and participating in a future of airpower conference hosted by the Williams Foundation, I had a chance to talk with Thales as well as four suppliers for the F-35 program in Australia. This provided a good sense…

Ferra Engineering in Aerospace and Defense: An Australian F-35 Global Supplier

03/30/2014
2014-03-30 By Robbin Laird Ferra engineering is an international company based in Australia, which engages in the design, manufacture and delivery of advanced aerospace/defense components and systems for a number of well-known manufacturers. The company is an Australian based supplier for the F-35 as a global program, and as such,…

The UMSC’s Distributed Laydown in the Pacific: A Key Element in a Deterrence in Depth Strategy

03/29/2014
2014-03-29 By Robbin Laird Following my visit to Australia, I had a chance to talk with Lt. General. Robling, the Commanding Officer for the USMC in the Pacific.  Soon the Marines are coming for their first rotational force training with the Aussies for the next six months. Undoubtedly, there will be…

Global Uncertainties: Ukraine Intrudes on the 21st Century

03/28/2014
2014-03-28 by Kenneth Maxwell The international consequences of Russia's reincorporation of the Crimean peninsula are still unfolding. The leaders of the G-7 industrialized nations, meeting at the Hague, Netherlands, abandoned their participation in the G-8 summit, scheduled to take place in June, in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, where Russia hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.…

South Africa and Brazil Strengthen Defense Relationships: An Impact of the Gripen Acqusition?

03/28/2014
2014-03-28 By Guy Martin The visit to South Africa last week by Brazilian defense minister Celso Amorim has resulted in defense ties between the two countries being strengthened, with cooperation in the fields of training and technology, particularly regarding air-to-air missiles. During his four-day visit to Africa between March 19…