Evolving C5ISR Systems for the Hypersonic Age: Crafting an Ecosystem for the “Fight at the Speed of Light” Force
As hypersonic weapons transition from experimental concepts to operational reality, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence,…
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In the early 1990s, as the Soviet Union collapsed and new nations emerged from its ruins,…
Read More »The United States Prepares to Deploy Hypersonic Weapons: What are Key Questions Shaping a Way Ahead?
The United States had a significant lead on hypersonic weapons when I worked for Secretary Wynne…
Read More »Putin’s Shadow Boxing with NATO: How Russia Created the Very Threats It Claims to Combat
In February 2022, as Russian forces massed on Ukraine’s borders, Vladimir Putin delivered a rambling televised…
Read More »Russian Geopolitical Challenges: The Economic Relationship with the Baltic States
The economic transformation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania over the past decade represents one of Europe’s…
Read More »From Regional War to Global Contest: A Perspective on the War in Ukraine from the Summer of 2025
What began in February 2022 as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally transformed into something far…
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Technically, the CH-53K is a marvel of modern rotary-wing aviation. It features three General Electric T408 (GE38-1B) turboshaft engines delivering 7,500shp each, composite rotor blades for superior performance and reduced maintenance, and a wider cabin compared to its predecessors. The cockpit is fully digital, integrating fly-by-wire controls for enhanced safety, maneuverability, and pilot workload reduction. Triple external cargo hooks allow for flexible logistics and underslung operations, while enhancements in ballistic protection and survivability systems ensure crew safety in hostile conditions. The EDM-1 holds the distinction of being the very first fully-configured test aircraft constructed for the CH-53K program. Its first flight took place on October 27, 2015, at Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach, Florida Development Flight Center. Extensively instrumented, EDM-1 was tasked with validating every core aspect of the...