By Robbin Laird During my visit to Helsinki in February 2018, I had a chance to discuss the approach and modernization of Finnish Defense with Jukka Juusti, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence. The Permanent Secretary manages and supervises the activities of the Ministry of Defence together with the…
Footage of an MC-12 Liberty during take off. 02.23.2018 Video by Senior Airman Timothy Kirchner Air Force Content Management Mission
The MC-12W is a medium-to low-altitude, twin-engine turboprop aircraft. Its primary mission is providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support directly to ground forces. The MC-12W is a joint forces air component commander…
Cpt. Thomas Harris, commander, Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, and his team gave a Patriot System briefing to members of the Estonian Defense Forces at the Support Command Center, Tallinn, Estonia Feb. 23. Minister of Defense, Jüri Luik, Chief of Defense Gen. Riho Terras, U.S. Ambassador to…
With changes in the region, and with new dynamics of change in the North Atlantic, how might Australia rethink its defense policy? It is clear that the current government has put in place a fundamental transformation of Australian defense policy with the RAAF being significantly modernized, the navy recapitalized but…
By Robbin Laird When I attended the 2016 RAAF Airpower Conference, the main focus was upon the newly released White Paper and related documents announcing the government’s ways ahead on defense modernization. The Conference highlighted key elements for the modernization of the Australian Defence Force and the importance of shaping…
By Robbin Laird The US has introduced a new generation of combat aircraft. These aircraft are different from legacy aircraft notably, in that they are designed, crafted and built differently – they are software upgradeable, data rich military aircraft for 21st century forces. The challenge is to build out the…
3/20/18: Footage of AC-130 in-flight. 02.23.2018 Video by Senior Airman Timothy Kirchner Air Force Content Management Mission
The AC-130U: “Spooky” gunships’ primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. Close air support missions include troops in contact, convoy escort and point air defense. Air interdiction missions are conducted against preplanned…
Prior to its deployment to Nellis, the RAAF issued this article on its participation on RF 2018-1.From 29 January–16 February 2018 around 340 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel will deploy to Nevada to train in the world’s most complex air combat environment during Exercise Red Flag 18-1. The RAAF…
