By Robbin Laird During my November 2023 visit to MAWTS-1, I had a chance to talk with Major Kyle “Elton” McHugh, tactical air department head at MAWTS-1. McHugh was originally a Harrier pilot who transitioned to the F-35B and served for three years with the first forward deployed F-35B squadron,…
U.S. Marines assigned to Tactical Air Control Party, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, participate in a close air support exercise during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-24 at WISS Airfield, near Indio, California, Oct. 6, 2023. WTI is an advanced, graduate-level course for selected pilots and enlisted…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to MAWTS-1 in 2018, the shift from operating in the land wars to dealing with challenges which could be posed by peer competitors was clearly underway. At the center of the shift was clear recognition of the need to deal with the ongoing challenge…
By Robbin Laird I have attended the International Fighter Conference in the past but missed this year’s offering. This year’s conference was held in Madrid, and I was interested in what was discussed at the conference as I am focused on the way ahead for Western air combat forces in…
One of the training missions being worked at MAWTS-1 with the increased focus on maritime operations has been upon the TRAP mission. Already in the Libyan operations, the Osprey demonstrated its unique qualities in performing this mission. Now MAWTS-1 is working to standardize the training for this important mission set.…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to MAWTS-1 during the first week of November 2023, I had a chance to talk with Colonel Eric Purcell, the CO of MAWTS-1 about the coming of the CH-53K to the USMC. This is the third new air system I have seen come to…
F-35B Lightning II aircraft attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 conduct flight operations on the flight deck aboard amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), April 2. VMFA-211 is embarked aboard Tripoli as part of the U.S. Marine Corps' Lightning carrier concept demonstration. The Lightning carrier concept demonstration…
U.S. Marines along with coalition service members, foreign and domestic, all assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One participated in Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-24 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Sept. 10, through Oct. 29, 2023. WTI is an advanced, graduate-level course for selected…
