By Robbin Laird The V-22 Osprey continues to generate controversy in defense media, but a recent opinion piece in Stars and Stripes argues that the aircraft has become a victim of lazy journalism rather than a genuine safety crisis. Retired Marine Colonel Anthony Krockel, who commanded a V-22 squadron during…
By Pierre Tran Paris - The chief executives of Airbus Defence and Space and Dassault Aviation are seen to be holding the future of European military cooperation in corporate hands, with a Dec. 18 deadline reported to be looming for a new fighter jet project. That mid-December deadline refers to…
By Robbin Laird This week I am visiting Third Marine Air Wing and observing their Steel Knight exercise. And what I will learn will complement what I have observed over the years when visiting the Second Marine Air Wing (2nd MAW) since 2009 The USMC aviation force at a critical…
Dr. Alain Dupas, born on October 11, 1945, in Paris, and passing on June 12, 2022, in Meudon, France, stood as one of Europe’s most influential voices in space policy, technology, and scientific communication. Earning his doctorate from Paris-Sud University in 1997, Dr. Dupas combined rigorous academic training with an…
Military aviation stands at a decisive inflection point. For the past two decades, air power development was largely defined by the demands of counterinsurgency and crisis management in the "land wars" of Iraq and Afghanistan. This era has decisively ended, supplanted by a new strategic reality of peer competitors, proliferating…
By Robbin Laird There was a certain rhythm to the way Danny Lam worked — deliberate, meticulous, unafraid to challenge assumptions. To colleagues at Second Line of Defense, he wasn’t merely another contributor; he was a force, often unpredictable in where his thoughts might go, yet always rooted in clarity,…
When defense analysts discuss "hybrid fleets" combining crewed and uncrewed systems, they inadvertently obscure what may be the most significant transformation in naval warfare since the aircraft carrier displaced the battleship. The term "hybrid" suggests simple addition where manned platforms plus unmanned platforms equals enhanced capability. This mathematical metaphor fundamentally…
By Robbin Laird Australia faces a strategic contradiction that reveals much about the complexities of navigating major power competition in an economically interdependent world. While Canberra signs billions in critical minerals agreements with Washington to counter Chinese dominance, Australian mines majority-owned by Beijing-backed firms continue supplying raw materials vital for…
