On March 6th, the Japan-Australia Public-Private Defence Industry Forum was jointly held for the first time by the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) and the Department of Defence of Australia. In the forum, both goverments shared information with participating companies on systems and structures surrounding defense industries of their…
In a press conference held by the Japanese Defense Minister, he provided an update on the standup of Japanese F-35s in Japan. I will provide a report on the additional deployment of F-35A aircraft to the Misawa Air Base. The concrete schedule of the additional deployment of Air Self-Defense Force…
We recently visited RAF Marham and will report on that visit along with visits to RAF Coningsby and Portsmouth as well. On May 16, 2018, the UK Ministry of Defence announced the imminent arrival of the first jets for the Dambusters squadron. Gavin Williamson confirmed the imminent arrival of the…
The Dutch government has released a new White Paper on Defence. In this video, the Dutch MoD makes its case about the importance of a close relationship between society and the military in terms not dissimilar to developments in the Nordic countries as well. We are the Ministry of Defence.…
By Robbin Laird During a visit to Bodø Airbase on April 25, 2018, I had a chance to discuss Norwegian Air Force training with the Finns and the Swedes as they expand their cooperation to provide for enhanced regional defense. Major Trond Ertsgaard, Senior Operational Planner and fighter pilot from…
A key dynamic associated with the strategic shift to higher intensity operations is working airbase defense as well as mobile basing options. With regard to Norway, the new main operating base for F-35s will be at Orland Air Station in central Norway. The Norwegians, along with the US and the…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to Ørland Airbase, I had a chance to talk with Brigadier General Aage Longva, Vice Chief of the Norwegian Air Force, whose last post was Wing Commander at Ørland Airbase as well as with Lt. Col. Eirik Guldvog, XO/COS 132 Wing Commander. Those interviews…
U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (April 3, 2018) U.S. Marines with Light Armored Reconnaissance, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment (BLT 2/6), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), fly an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations, April 3, 2018. The 26th MEU…