THE Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Number 4 Squadron Combat Control Team has the important job of being the first on the ground to assess the viability for aircraft and personnel arrival. During Exercise COPE NORTH, Number 4 Squadron worked with United States Air Force (USAF) and Japan Air Self-Defense…
Luke AFB is where the F-35 global enterprise has been launched. Pilots AND maintainers have been trained for the USAF and all the partner nations which have purchased the F-35A. They fly together — including flying each other's airplanes — and maintain together. When we use the term F-35 global…
Even the most advanced aircraft in the world may not always have a successful landing. Or, it can just simply get stuck somewhere. That’s why a team of testers from Edwards AFB linked up with representatives from Lockheed Martin to go over crash recovery procedures for the F-35 Lightning II…
By Robbin Laird The kill web appraoch at sea is tapping into a number of key real world operational developments as well as new technologies which will enhance distributed operations and lethality. Three sets of new stories recently published although not linked in the press, clearly are linked in terms…
As the Western Alliance looks to deal with the evolving Russian challenge, the question of how fragmentation in the EU or NATO can be overcome in a crisis. With the Russians playing Europe a la carte, it will be about being able to enhance capabilities at the point of stress…
By Robbin Laird During my current visit to Australia working with the Williams Foundation, I had a chance to meet with the former head of the Aussie Navy, Vice Admiral (Retired) Tim Barrett, and to discuss the Australian approach going forward with maritime power. I have had the privilege of…
As the strategic shift from the land wars gains momentum the investments and training in an appropriate 21stcentury crisis management and high intensity combat force will not be modelled on the Cold War European based force. It is not about a German-US Army brotherhood with significant presence. It is not…
By Robbin Laird It is clear that 1914 was a clear turning point in European history with clear impacts on global history and development. While the 19thCentury saw the rise of the European powers, the coming of World War I destroyed the European dominance of the global system. 2014 is…
