A400M Tests Paratroop Operations

07/03/2014
07/03/2014: The A400M was originally conceived of in a world where lifters were trucks to carry cargo and troops from point A to B.  This world has totally been transformed by operations in the past decade, during which the A400M was being developed and readied for its roll out into…

French Paratroopers Host 82nd Airborne

06/05/2014
06/05/2014: While the Normandy invasion is being celebrated, 21st century paras practice in France for 21st century operations. Members of the French 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment parachute from Nevada and Georgia Air National Guard C-130H Hercules aircraft at the Paolomagno drop zone near Solenzara Air Base, during a joint training exercise for Allied…

A 70-year Remembrance of the B-17 in the Liberation of France

07/03/2013
07/03/2013: A ceremony was held on Noirmoutier island, France, the scene of B-17 raid, and the rescue of downed crewmen after a raid against Nazi air and maritime facilities in this part of France. For the crew that would fly on July 4, 1943, their training saved their lives.  As…

Phase Five: The B-17 Celebration

07/03/2013
07/03/2013: The next phase was the service in the local church accompanied by the presentation of the colors from several French veteran units.  There was then a ceremony at the war monuments outside the church to those who fought in World War I and World War II. Next there was…

French Weapons Familiarization for USMC

06/03/2013
06/03/2013: On May 22, 2013, a detachment from 5th Marine Regiment conducts weapons familiarization with weapons systems from the French 21st Marine Infantry Regiment (21E RIMA), 6th Light Armored Brigade (6E BLB) at Camp Le Cocq, Ferrous, France.  The Marines were participating in a bilateral training with 21E RIMA 6E…

Will Russia Import and Export More Arms to NATO?

04/17/2012
By Richard Weitz For the last few years, the Russian government has made the unprecedented decision to purchase expensive Western military equipment. This has been done partly to fill gaps in Russian military capabilities and partly to use the threat of foreign competition to induce its military industrial complex to…