Maritime Autonomous Systems and Force Development: Shaping a Way Ahead

04/17/2025 By Robbin Laird I had a chance to talk with Chris Morton during the 2025 Navy League meetings held the first week of April 2025. Morton is the Aerospace and Defence Global Industry Director at IFS which is an enterprise software company. We discussed the arrival of maritime autonomous systems and their impact on capital ship navies. Morton noted that… Read more »

The U.S. Approach to Defense and Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific: Deconstructing Admiral Paparo’s Recent Testimony

04/16/2025 By Robbin Laird Recently the Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command presented testimony before the Congress. In this piece, I will deconstruct that testimony to highlight key elements for shaping a way ahead in the near to mid-term. Not only is this necessary to focus on what the force needs now, but redesigning the force along these lines will not… Read more »

The Return of the Nuclear Deterrence Challenge in Europe

04/14/2025 By Robbin Laird The war in Ukraine has brought the nuclear question back again as a central topic in European security. And now the Trump Administration with its focus on European defense by Europeans, coupled with the unfinished business of the Ukraine war, have intensified considerations of what is the way ahead for NATO deterrence of Russia. I worked on… Read more »

Leadership is More than a Title — It is a Calling

04/09/2025 By Lt. General (Retired) David Deptula Leadership is more than a title — it is a calling. Few have answered that call with the depth of dedication, intellect, and vision that Michael Wynne demonstrated as the 21st Secretary of the United States Air Force. Wynne led with an unwavering commitment to innovation, modernization, and the men and women in uniform… Read more »

CMV-22B and Distributed Maritime Operations: A Key Enabler

04/03/2025 By CAPT (Ret) Christoper C. Misner, Senior Manager, Bell Strategic Pursuits The U.S. National Defense Strategy prioritizes the Indo-Pacific as a critical theater for national security. Yet, the current U.S. Navy fleet would likely struggle to meet the logistical demands of the Joint Force across the vast maritime distances involved in prolonged combat operations within this area. One reason is that… Read more »

European Defence Uptick: The View from the Defense Industries

04/01/2025 By Pierre Tran Paris - Two European arms companies, KNDS France and MBDA, recently pointed up their hefty investment to boost production of cannon shells, artillery, and missiles, indicating a willingness to anticipate orders, and their access to extensive funds. The willingness of those two privately held companies to invest in new plant and parts could be seen in contrast… Read more »