A U.S. F/A-18 fighter has crashed off the coast of Kōchi Prefecture, Japan at 7pm local time today. The pilot is said to have ejected and a search is currently underway.
Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet recently told reporters that the sailing branch is creating an upgunned Expeditionary Strike Group that will combine a traditional three-ship Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with a three ship guided-missile destroyer surface action group (SAG).
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA (AW)) 225 and an Indonesian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fly in formation during exercise Cope West 17 in Indonesia, Nov. 4, 2016. The combined training offered by this exercise helps prepare the U.S. Marine Corps and Indonesia Air Force to work together in promoting a peaceful Indo-Asia-Pacific region while practicing close air support and air-to-air training that will enhance their ability to respond to contingencies throughout the region. Both the U.S. F/A-18D Hornets and Indonesian F-16 Fighting Falcons bring unique capabilities affording the associated nations the opportunity to learn and understand each other’s skills, preparing them for real world contingencies and further strengthening their relationship. (Courtesy photo by TNI-AU Capt. I Gede Ngurah Satrya Wibawa) Continue reading “Cope West 17 concluded”
Bryan Clark and Jesse Sloman from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) has published a study, “Advancing Beyond the Beach, Amphibious Operations in an Era of Precision Weapons,” on how the Pentagon should carry out future amphibious warfare operations.