02/14/2015: The aviation element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadrom (VMM) 166, departs for embarkation in preparation for the unit's Western Pacific/Middle East deployment, Feb. 12. The 13th MEU provides a forward deployed, flexible sea-based Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis…
02/14/2015: HMAS Melbourne deployed to the Middle East Region for Operation Manitou, Australia’s contribution to the US-led multi-national Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) on 9 August 2015. In her seven-month deployment, Melbourne made a significant impact on drug trafficking and enhanced maritime security in the region, seizing nearly one tonne of illegal…
02/14/2016: It is clear that at the critical point in the initial destruction of the Taliban, that the United States could have avoided a full blown engagement in Afghanistan. The problem with occupying a country with such a radically different culture from that of the United States will always be…
2016-02-06 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake Last week saw one of the worst snow storms ever experienced in the Washington DC area. And the weather the last couple of days have been rough as well with storms and heavy rain. But yesterday after a stormy beginning, the sun peeked…
2016-02-12 by Senior Airman Alex Fox Echols III It is a given that no aircraft leaves the ground unless it is working properly. But that challenge is multiplied here during the three-week Red Flag 16-1 exercise. Hundreds of aircraft maintainers assigned to flying squadrons from around the world work long hours…
2016-02-12 By Scott Truver In the early morning of Feb. 18, 1991, the U.S. amphibious warship USS Tripoli (LPH-10) struck an Iraqi contact mine in the northern Persian Gulf, ripping a 25-foot by 23-foot hole in her starboard side below the waterline. The quick reaction of her commanding officer and his crew managed…
2016-02-10 By Richard Weitz U.S., Japanese, and South Korean diplomats are pushing Russia and China to adopt a hardline in response to the recent DPRK nuclear and missile tests. This pursuit is likely to be in vain, though fortunately Seoul and Washington have more direct options that they can pursue.…
2016-02-12 According to an article published by our partner defenceWeb, Egypt is to receive both Mistral class ships later this year. The Egyptian Navy will take delivery of its two Mistral class landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessels in June and September this year from French shipyard DCNS. According to AFP,…
