By Debalina Ghoshal Modern warfare operates in an increasingly contested environment where adversaries possess not only advanced weapon systems but also sophisticated cyber capabilities that can disrupt critical defense technologies. The complexity of contemporary missile defense systems requires seamless integration between multiple subsystems and the main weapon platform. As demonstrated…
While Taiwan tensions are often viewed through a U.S.-China lens, the gravest strategic consequences would fall on Japan and the Philippines. Chinese control of Taiwan would fundamentally alter the regional balance, potentially isolating both nations and forcing them into accommodation with Chinese regional dominance regardless of U.S. positions. Taiwan's location…
By Robbin Laird In late 2020, Murielle Delaporte and I published our book entitled: The Return of Direct Defense in Europe: Meeting the Challenge of XXIst Century Authoritarian Powers. A major emphasis in that book was that the broad challenge was inclusive of European infrastructure and the clear need for…
Ambassador Kenneth Moorefield's offers a first-person account of his experiences during the Vietnam War as both a soldier and a diplomat, culminating in his evacuation from the Saigon Embassy in 1975. The article then describes his post-war efforts to aid Vietnamese refugees and American veterans, followed by his return to Vietnam in…
The 2025 iteration of Exercise Iron Fist represents a significant milestone in U.S.-Japan military cooperation, with American Marines and Japanese forces conducting their largest bilateral amphibious training exercise in Japan's strategically vital southwest islands region. Running from February 19 through March 7, 2025, this exercise showcased the evolving partnership between…
Operation Spider Web stands as the most sophisticated drone warfare operation in modern military history, representing the culmination of Ukraine's remarkable transformation from drone technology importer to global innovator. On June 1, 2025, Ukraine's Security Service executed a coordinated strike using 117 drones across five Russian airbases spanning 4,300 kilometers,…
2016-03-02 Our colleague Air Vice Marshal (Retired) John Blackburn has focused attention on the energy security shortfall for Australia for some time. As an island continent at the bottom of the Asia Pacific region, Australia is heavily dependent upon liquid energy imports and with a rapidly disappearing domestic refinery production capacity,…
2016-01-30 Recently, our partner defenceWeb looked at the evolving challenges of maritime defense and security seen from South Africa. Thursday, 28 January 2016 Economic growth through development of the ocean economy as part of Operation Phakisa requires effective maritime surveillance and defence, with nearly 4 000 kilometres of South Africa’s…
