Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem 21: Shaping a Way Ahead

05/27/2021
By Robbin Laird Recently, 3rd Fleet completed what it called its “Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem 21” exercise. Here the Navy was able to work with a number of different companies bringing either their maritime remotes or autonomous systems to be seen and tested in a number of mission areas. To…

Shaping a Way Ahead for North Atlantic Defense: The Perspective of VADM Lewis

05/26/2021
By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake With the strategic shift from the land wars, and meeting the evolving Russian challenges, Admiral Richardson, then the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), directed the re-establishment of the U.S. 2nd Fleet in 2018. He put VADM Lewis in charge of the command, but it…

Exercise Arnhem Thunder

05/25/2021
By Flight Lieutenant Robert Cochran Air Force has deployed approximately 50 aircraft and over 500 personnel to the Northern Territory for Exercise Arnhem Thunder 21. As one of Air Force’s largest domestic training exercises for 2021, Arnhem Thunder provides important force generation training, focusing on high-end collective training and involving multiple…

Osprey Works with Royal Navy Auxiliary Fleet

05/24/2021
According to an article published on May 19, 2021 by the Royal Navy, an Osprey aircraft operated with the RFA Mounts Bay in a historic first operation. Amphibious ship RFA Mounts Bay has become the first Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel to operate with the US military’s unique Osprey ‘tiltrotor’ aircraft…

The Allied JFC Norfolk: Second Fleet’s Portal to NATO Navies

05/23/2021
By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake As the U.S. Navy works its 21st century approach to fighting as a distributed but integrated fleet, a key element of success in doing so will be its ability to work more effectively with allied navies as they evolve as well.  As the maritime…

The Challenge of Preparing for Future Operations for 2nd MEF

05/22/2021
By Robbin Laird II Marine Expeditionary Force supports service and Combatant Commander’s initiative as required. At the same time, II MEF is in transition and must focus on preparing for future operations, and shape new ways to do so while being able to operate now. This is hardly an easy…