U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Rein.), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and U.S. Navy sailors assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), receive AH-1Z Viper Helicopters aboard the USS Green Bay, in the Philippine Sea, July 20, 2024. VMM-262 (Rein.) conducted the fly-on…
The Indians are building new nuclear submarines as well as a new base to enhance their maritime capabilities. This is clearly in response to China coming into the Indian backyard and shaping Chinese access to ports in the region and frequent military presence in such ports to expand their influence.…
U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, load ordnance during F-35B Lightning II ordnance operations aboard the amphibious assault ship the USS America (LHA 6), in the vicinity of Miyako Strait, Aug. 21, 2024. Marine F-35Bs brings a 5th generation multi-discipline strike capability to…
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces executed a series of precise airstrikes on multiple Houthi weapons storage facilities situated within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, Nov. 9-10. These facilities housed a variety of advanced conventional weapons used by the Iran-backed Houthis to target U.S. and international military and civilian vessels navigating international…
We have recently published several articles which deal with the challenge of the Ukrainian war on global security. One article analyzes the implications of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential election victory on the ongoing war in Ukraine. The articles explore differing perspectives on a potential negotiated settlement, contrasting the approaches of…
U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II strike fighter aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fly alongside a KC-130J Super Hercules tanker aircraft assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, during an aerial refueling exercise in the vicinity of the Miyako Strait,…
Next year, I am publishing a book on the tiltrotor enterprise. I have been interviewing and engaging with Marines using the aircraft since 2007, the first time I flew on the aircraft. There seems to be a cottage industry of folks writing about the difficulty of flying the aircraft and…
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, perform maintenance on an MV-22B Osprey in preparation for Super Garuda Shield 2024 at Juanda International Airport, East Java, Indonesia, Aug. 24, 2024. Super Garuda Shield is an annual exercise that has significantly grown in…
