A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), conducts an external lift exercise during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-22, at Auxiliary Airfield II, near Yuma, Arizona, March 29, 2022. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1,…
By Robbin Laird In my article on meeting the challenge of contested operations and C2, I laid out the nature of the challenge and why meeting the challenge is crucial to combat effectiveness in conflict with peer competitors. I concluded that article with this characterization of the challenge: "How might…
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors assigned to the 3rd Wing take off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson during Polar Force 22-4 in Anchorage, Alaska, April 7, 2022. The F-22 increases lethality against all advanced air threats by minimizing enemy capabilities to track and engage with the jet due to its…
By Pierre Tran Paris - The United Arab Emirates has paid a down payment for its order for 80 Rafale fighter jets, aircraft builder Dassault Aviation said in an April 19 statement. “Today, we received the first down payment of the contract for the acquisition of 80 Rafale by the…
By Robbin Laird When the Chancellor of Germany announced at the end of February 2022 the need for Germany to up its defense spending and to shape a new approach to defense, perhaps a new phase in German defense is underway. But overcoming the atrophy of strategic culture, and a…
F-35As assigned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, conduct flight operations at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Feb. 23, 2022. SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, GERMANY 02.23.2022 Video by Travis Minyon
By Robbin Laird The USMC stood up its first operational unit for the CH-53K on January 15, 2022. That unit is Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina and has been designated as the first fleet CH-53K unit. It will be…
By Robbin Laird The March 24, 2022, Williams Foundation Seminar on “Accelerating the Transition to a Networked, Integrated Force” provided perspectives of core allies of Australia which assessed the state of current affairs with regard to such a force and providing insights with regard to the way ahead. Because the…