By Robbin Laird During my recent visits to Jax Navy, Mayport, Fallon Naval Air Station and to North Island Naval Air Station, I had a chance to meet with a wide range of Navy officers focused on reshaping air-maritime capabilities to have a more effective and lethal combat force. The…
By Pierre Tran Five Rafales took off July 27 from Mérignac, southwest France, with Indian air force pilots starting a 7,000 km flight to India, with a further five units staying in France for pilot training, the Indian embassy said in a statement. “India took a significant step in strengthening…
By Robbin Laird I have attended the International Fighter Conference for the past two years in Berlin. I provided several analytical pieces on presentations and discussions at those two events as well as reports covering the events as well. I was certainly looking forward to coming to Berlin and seeing…
Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland accepts the Gaszyn Challenge from the Polish 1st Territorial Defense Brigade and challenges the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade, June 18, 2020 at Bemowo Piskie Training Area. The Gaszyn Challenge is to show support for a Polish girl named Hania who is suffering from a…
According to a story published in July 2020 by the Japanese Ministry of Defence, the Japanese Navy is participating in the EU anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden. On June 12th and 21st, JS Onami conducted an anti-piracy joint exercise (including communications training, firearms exercises, etc.) with the Spanish Navy Frigates “Numancia”…
By Robbin Laird Last month, the Australian government announced its new defense strategy and force development plan for the decade ahead. It represents both continuity and change from the 2016 strategy, but clearly expresses a recognition of the new strategic environment within which Australia finds itself. It also expresses both…
A SH-60S Sea Hawk, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, is seen conducting flight operations in the Arabian Gulf. HSC 26 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the…
By Robbin Laird Last February, I visited San Diego and met with Vice Admiral Miller, the US Navy’s Air Boss. During that meeting, we discussed a shift from what I call the integrated to the integratable air wing and its impact on innovation for the fleet and the joint force.…