The return of direct defense to Northern Europe as seen Sweden restore conscription, the Finns move closer to the United States, the Danes increasing defense spending and the Norwegians emphasizing their "total defence concept." As the Norwegian Ministry of Defence has defined this approach: An example of how Norway is…
According to a story by David Pugliese and Tyler Dawson published in the National Post on December 6, 2018, the Canadian government is establishing a new military aircraft testing facility in Ottawa and moving it from Cold Lake. The federal government will create a new centre of excellence in Ottawa to…
In an historic day in Australian aviation, the first two F-35A Joint Strike Fighters to be permanently based in Australia arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown. The Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, and Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP, were there to welcome the aircraft…
By Robbin Laird, Research Fellow, Williams Foundation, Canberra A great photo opportunity was provided by the arrival of the first two F-35s from the United States to their operating base at Williamtown Air Base in Australia on December 10, 2018. [maxgallery id="121867"] But as the saying goes “fortune favors the prepared.”…
Pilots and maintainers assigned to the 311th Fighter Squadron, stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Oct. 11, 2018, to train with Marine and Navy pilots. This joint training provides F-16 Viper pilots in upgrade training their first opportunity to practice flying…
By Robbin Laird Normally, the TLP is held in Spain at Albacete Airbase. We visited Albacete Airbase in 2016 and talked with Spanish Air Force pilots concerning their Eurofighter operations at the base. As we noted at the time: “Albacete flies a regular Quick Reaction Alert force to provide for…
On 5 December 2018, brothers Kyle and Jace Brokenshire had the rare opportunity to fly an F/A-18 sortie together as part of Exercise Lightning Focus. This was the first time the brothers have flown the F/A-18 Hornet together in the Royal Australian Air Force. [maxgallery id="121787"] To celebrate the occasion,…
By Robbin Laird The RAAF F-35s on on their way to Williamtown and thereby opening the F-35 Aussie fleet operations in-country. As the Aussies work out their sustainment approach on the various airbases where the F-35s will operate in normal times as well as crisis times, the F-35 partners of…
