60th Anniversary of First E-2 Flight: Looking Back and Shaping a Way Ahead

10/25/2020
By Robbin Laird This week the Navy's Airborne Command and Control Community celebrated the 60th anniversary of the first E-2 flight. According to a story released by the public affairs team from Naval Air Force Atlantic: "While the U.S. Navy celebrated its 245th birthday this October, the Airborne Command &…

Historic GCC Commercial Flight: Israel and UAE Link Up Via Etihad Airways

10/24/2020
By India Strategic Tel Aviv/ Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has become the first GCC carrier to operate a commercial passenger flight to and from Israel. The historic flight, operated by an Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, was flown in partnership with the Maman Group,…

Building Blocks on the USS Ford: Reshaping the Flight Deck and Ops Tempo

10/23/2020
By Robbin Laird In the last article on the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), I looked at one key building block which enhances both the ops tempo of the strike package on the USS Gerald R. Ford as well the flexibility of the weapons packages which can be moved…

Unmanned Air Systems and the USMC: A MAWTS-1 Perspective

10/22/2020
By Robbin Laird Two years ago, I published a chapter on the USMC’s recent experience with unmanned air systems in the book edited by John Jackson, entitled, One Nation Under Drones. I focused on the substantial experience they have accumulated with Scan Eagle and then with the Blackjack system. The…

The UK Defence Strategy: “Integrated Operating Concept”

10/21/2020
The UK is clearly in a period of significant strategic change. The twin impacts of COVID-19 and BREXIT are enough to assure that. With the significant impact of the new aircraft carrier driving significant change with regard to air-sea integration, an evolution we have spent considerable time engaged in with…

Norway Increases Defense Budget to Support Long Term Defense Plan

10/20/2020
According to a press release by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence on October 16, 2020, Norway is increasing its defense spending to strengthen its defense capability and military readiness. A challenging strategic environment constantly reminds us that cannot take our freedom and security for granted. The Government will continue to…

An Update on Naval Group: Euronaval, 2020

10/19/2020
Paris – Naval Group awaits a high-level political decision on the next-generation aircraft carrier, particularly whether the vessel will be nuclear or conventionally powered, the executive chairman of the French shipbuilder said Oct. 19. A number of “scenarios” have been studied for the carrier, including the propulsion system, Pierre Eric…