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10/16/2024
By Robbin Laird I have returned from Australia and the latest Sir Richard Willians seminar. In that seminar, we dealt with the challenge of how to enhance the ready force while investing in the future force. The modernization of the ADF is a case study in the clash between force design for an envisaged future force and the need to… Read more »
10/15/2024
By Robbin Laird The Marines assisted in relief efforts in the Philippines after a Typhoon hit that country. And as has been done in the past, the dynamic duo of the KC-130J and the Osprey provided the means to do so. As Capt Mark McDonough noted in a 14 October 2024 story: MANILA, Philippines -- U.S. Marines across multiple forward-deployed… Read more »
10/10/2024
By Robbin Laird I had a chance to follow up with Jennifer Parker on her excellent presentation at the 26 September 2024 Sir Richard Williams seminar which focused on the evolving threat environments in the littorals and insights to be gained from operations in the Black Sea, Red Sea and the Philippine’s Sea. She argued in that presentation that new… Read more »
10/07/2024
The September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams Foundation focused on accelerating the capabilities of the ready force. Defence industry in Australia is obviously a key player in the ability for the government to find ways to enhance the ready force. A panel of six industrial representatives discussed this challenge lead by Katherine Ziesing of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation as… Read more »
10/07/2024
Some time ago – more than a decade – I worked with Alan Dupas, the noted French space expert, on a project for a European space company on the future of space in 2020. We focused on the key point that although a space company was most closely identified with launchers and satellites, the future was its engagement in the… Read more »
10/05/2024
By Robbin Laird The strategic environment has clearly changed and the level of real world conflict has escalated, whether in terms of major hot wars – in the Middle East and in Europe – or in terms of active gray zone conflicts. The ready force needs to deal with this real world rather than than just preparing for a future… Read more »
10/07/2024
On September 26, 2024, the most recent seminar of The Sir Richard Williams Foundation was held. It was entitled: “Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective.” This seminar focused on how the force in being or the ready force was focused on improving its capability, its survivability and lethality for the fight tonight.… Download PDF Now »
10/04/2024
It is fine to have long-range force structure planning, but what happens when the operational environment is rapidly changing for your operational force? How to adapt the ready force effectively… Read more »
10/03/2024
In the September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams seminar, we focused on how the force in being can evolve effectively in the near to mid-term as investments are being made… Read more »
10/02/2024
By Robbin Laird The panel on combat mass was chaired by the former Air Commander Australia, AIRMSHL (Retd) Darren Goldie who provided an overview to the discussion. AIRMSHL (Retd) Darren… Read more »
10/01/2024
By Robbin Laird We focused in the September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams seminar on ways for the force in being to be augmented in the short to midterm. But… Read more »
09/30/2024
By Robbin Laird When you are a medium-sized force and not adding a lot of manned platforms in the next five years, how to you enhance combat mass? Or put… Read more »
09/29/2024
By Robbin Laird If one is focused on how the force in being can be a more ready force, one will generally look in vain in the political class for… Read more »
10/16/2024
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Charles Tuan, an AH-1Z attack helicopter pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Rein.), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, explains the purpose of firing an AGM-179 joint…
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10/14/2024
U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and Royal Australian Air Force members with 24th Squadron unload personnel…
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10/11/2024
On July 10, 2024, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) celebrated its 83rd birthday. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo) (Music licensed from DeWolfe Music) 07.10.2024 Video by…
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10/09/2024
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, drop cargo from an MV-22B Osprey at Mount Bundey Training Area, NT, Australia, July 9,…
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10/07/2024
U.S. Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 12 build guided bombs for an F-35B Lightning II aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. 05.29.2024 Video by Travis Minyon F-35…
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10/04/2024
F-35B Lightning II aircraft, assigned to the VMFA-121, conduct flight operations at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The F-35 Joint Program Office is the Department of Defense’s focal point for…
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10/02/2024
U.S. Navy Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and Swedish Marines perform casualty care for a casualty evacuation exercise event on Gålö…
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10/15/2024
Pacific Marines work alongside members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to stage and transport relief supplies in the Northern Philippines, Oct. 6 to 8, 2024. The U.S. Department… Read more »