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The Coming of the CH-53K: Preparing for Its Long-Term Supportability

11/27/2018
By Robbin Laird As I have noted earlier, the CH-53K is the next major USMC air platform, which reflects a 21st century development, build and support process. The aircraft is a digital aircraft and has been designed with supportability built into the aircraft. The software upgradeability of the aircraft allows…

The Future Combat Air System: The View From Paris

11/26/2018
By Pierre Tran Paris, November 26, 2018 The French government and industry are in negotiations for a budget to upgrade the Rafale fighter jet to an F4 standard of higher capability, and also funding for architecture and concept studies for a next-generation fighter, a source close to the talks said.…

The F-35 and Data Fusion: A Perspective from the International Fighter Conference 2018

11/26/2018
By Robbin Laird At the International Fighter Conference 2018, one of the key themes was the standup of the F-35 in several air combat forces, and the impact of this effort on the way ahead for air combat forces. One of the presenters at the conference was an experienced F-16…

The Return of Direct Defense and Danish Airpower Modernization

11/26/2018
In effect, the Danes like the other Nordics, are having to focus on direct defense as their core national mission, within an alliance context. This will mean as well a shift common to other alliance members from a focus on out of area operations, such as in Afghanistan, back to…

MQ-9 Touch and Go

11/26/2018
An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft from the 163d Attack Wing performs a touch and go April 5, 2017, at March Air Reserve Base, California. CA, UNITED STATES 04.05.2017 Video by Tech. Sgt. Neil Ballecer  163d Attack Wing 

China and the Liberal Democracies: Managing Blowback

11/25/2018
The Chinese Communist regime has made significant inroads within the policy systems of the liberal democracies. But several of the liberal democracies are in the process of trying to rollback the negative effects of Chinese intrusion within our societies. The Trump assault on the trade system and more specifically on…

The French Air Force and FCAS: Perspectives from the International Fighter Conference 2018

11/25/2018
By Robbin Laird The French Air Force (FAF) is one of the most active Air Forces in the Western World. They have had significant demand on the force and have been stressed through a continual flow of operations. They are a nuclear-armed Air Force and their focus on Quick Reaction…

Russia, INF and START: Putin is Focused on Enhancing The Impact of his Nuclear Force

11/25/2018
By Stephen Blank When the U.S. government announced it was withdrawing from the INF treaty due to Russian violations of the treaty that are now universally acknowledged, a flood of critical article immediately ensued. However, virtually none of those articles mentioned Russian nuclear strategy or policy, reflecting these commentators’ ongoing…