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05/07/2024
By Robbin Laird I had a chance to talk with LtCol Howard DeCastro, the first CO of MAWTS-1 and LtGen Barry Knutson, the eighth commander of MAWTS-1, the day before the change of command ceremony at MAWTS-1. We talked about the approach of MAWTS-1 from the beginning and the importance of continuing the tradition and approach going forward for the… Read more »
05/06/2024
By Pierre Tran Paris - The armed forces minister, Sébastien Lecornu, is due to make an official visit to Vietnam to attend French and Vietnamese commemoration on May 6 and 7 of the bloody battle of Dien Bien Phu, which marked the defeat of French colonialism in the southeast Asian nation. The memorial events mark the 70th anniversary of that… Read more »
05/05/2024
After returning to the United States from Australia on April 25, 2024, I buckled up again for a flight to Yuma, Arizona to have the privilege of witnessing the MAWTS-1 change of command ceremony. In the process of finishing up our forthcoming book on MAWTS-1, this seemed a good way to close out our effort. One of the architects of… Read more »
05/04/2024
By Robbin Laird An aspect of modern Western strategic thinking has been a focus on gray zone conflict. This is an area I have always found confusing. In a world which I would characterize as one of the rise of multi-polar authoritarian movements and states, their constant conflict efforts have indeed been in the gray zone punctuated with direct periods… Read more »
05/02/2024
By Robbin Laird Although the Australian Defence Strategic Review and the recent Surface Fleet Review indicated that the threat environment was deteriorating in the here and now, the major investments are being made for a force that will not arrive for a decade. How then to enhance the ADF in the next three to five years? Or in the words… Read more »
04/30/2024
When I met with LtGen Heckl earlier this year, we discussed the way ahead for the USMC in operating a distributed force, and he underscored it all starts with logistics. “The pacing factor for everything we are doing in shaping the distributed force is logistics and to do so in a contested environment. We are focused on our ability to… Read more »
03/03/2024
Maritime autonomous systems can be used a variety of ways to support the combat force. My book to be published this month, The Coming of Maritime Autonomous Systems: Empowering and Enhancing the Kill Web Force discusses how they can complement, supplement or supplant a manned force in specific combat situations. This report looks at one… Download PDF Now »
04/30/2024
By Pierre Tran Paris – The French and German defense ministers signed April 26 a memorandum of understanding, with a target of signing contracts by the end of the year… Read more »
04/26/2024
At the April 11, 2024 Williams Foundation seminar, the former head of the Air Warfare Center and now Director General for Air Combat Capability, Air Commodore Ross Bender, addressed the… Read more »
04/24/2024
By Robbin Laird I followed up with Jennifer Parker on April 19, 2024 with regard to her presentation on how to conceptualize Australian maritime strategic interests and strategy. We focused… Read more »
04/23/2024
By Pierre Tran Paris – Sales and orders of the defense sector of the French aeronautics and space industry fell in 2023 compared to the previous year, while overall sales… Read more »
04/21/2024
By Robbin Laird This was the title of the presentation by Chris McInnes, a noted Australian airpower and defence analyst, to the April 11, 2024 Williams Foundation Seminar. He provided… Read more »
04/16/2024
The answer is that it does not look like the defence strategy which has been followed throughout most of the post-war period. The threat envelope is quite different. There is… Read more »
05/06/2024
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, prepare to depart Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, Feb. 29, 2024, during Bomber Task Force…
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04/26/2024
NATO Allies practise amphibious operations in Harstad, Norway to prepare for exercise “Nordic Response 2024”, as part of NATO exercise “Steadfast Defender 2024”. NORWAY 02.26.2024 Natochannel
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04/24/2024
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, prepare to depart Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, Feb. 29, 2024, during Bomber Task Force…
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04/22/2024
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, conduct a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fire training range in preparation for Exercise Nordic Response 24 in Setermoen,…
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04/12/2024
The 58th Fighter Squadron from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, conducts F-35A Lightning II training operations at MacDill AFB, Florida, Feb. 28, 2024. TAMPA, FL, 02.28.2024 Video by Senior Airman…
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04/08/2024
Meet some of the crew as they talk about the U.S. Navy’s newest Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) ship. The first of its name, the ship honors United States Marine Corps…
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03/09/2024
A first person view of a Green Beret performing a joint military free fall jump with Greek special operations forces. This jump strengthened the partnership between 10th SFG(A) and Greek… Read more »