In a July 13, 2021 article on the UK Ministry of Defence website, the extension of the carrier cooperation agreement was highlighted. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin have extended an agreement to enhance cooperation on aircraft carrier operations as they met in Washington. The two…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing in July 2021, I had a chance to talk with MAG-31, notably the VMFA-115 Operations Officer, about their squadron’s time in Finland training with the Finnish Air Force last month. Because I was in MCAS Cherry Point, and not…
The United States, Australia and Japan are working a modular task force built around what amphibious ships can bring to the fight. Amphibious ships can contribute significantly to sea control and sea denial. Two recent articles, one American and one Australian highlight the current effort. In an August 5, 2021…
The United States Air Force's 26th Special Tactics Squadron out of Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico train at Fort McCoy, Wis., on the installation's different drop zones June 23-24, 2021. Airmen participate in free-fall jumps out of C-130s from the Minnesota Air National Guard's 133rd Airlift Wing out…
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is a core initiative of the Macron Administration for both defense modernization and building out defense cooperation with its core Airbus allies, Germany and Spain. The Administration is committed to the modernization of their core combat fighter aircraft, the Rafale, for the next thirty…
According to the Australian Department of Defence: "RAAF’s six E-7A Wedgetails are best described as a command centre in the sky. Each is equipped with multiple radars and tech that allows it to scan and communicate with up to 80 aircraft and ground and sea units over an eye-popping distance…
U.S. Marines with Ground Sensor Platoon (GSP), Battlefield Surveillance Company, 2nd Intelligence Battalion (Intel Bn), II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Information Group, test a new sensor system to enhance battlefield awareness during a training exercise at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, July 15, 2021. The exercise was held to test the…
By Robbin Laird I first visited Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26) in 2007 when they were beginning the MV-22B Osprey transition. Now, the Osprey is the backbone of the Marine Corps combat assault support community. And with both heavy-lift and light-attack helicopter squadrons, the Second Marine Aircraft Wing (2D MAW)…