Rethinking Australian Defence: The Perspective of Ross Babbage

05/27/2025
Stephen Kuper of Defence Connect  in an interview with Dr. Ross Babbage held before the recent Federal elections discussed the changing global order. The pair discussed a range of subjects following Babbage’s recent trip to the United States, including: Australia’s need to prepare for a more direct involvement in kinetic…

The Osprey Down Under: The MV-22 Operating in Australia

05/27/2025
By Robbin Laird In this article, we are highlighting photos of the MV-22 recently operating in Australia in the Northern Territory. The aircraft comes along wtih the Marines in their regular rotation to work with the ADF each year. The first photos show the Osprey participating in Pitch Black 24.…

A Blueprint for Action for the USAF: How to Enhance Combat Readiness to Meet the Strategic Challenges Facing the U.S. and Its Allies

05/26/2025
By Robbin Laird The United States Air Force stands at a critical crossroads. After decades of counterinsurgency operations and peacetime bureaucracy, America's air arm faces an uncomfortable reality: it may not be adequately prepared for the high-intensity conflicts that could define the next decade. This sobering assessment comes from one…

Countering Asymmetric Attrition Strategies: Optimizing the Combat Approach of the Ready Force

05/24/2025
By Murielle Delaporte For thousands of years, military commanders have considered mass — having more troops and equipment than the enemy — a critical factor in winning battles. The last fifty years have seen a shift from mass to precision, a trend that has accelerated since the end of the…

Air Power in an Age of Strategic Uncertainty: The Perspective of General Moseley

05/23/2025
By Robbin Laird Dateline: Canberra, Australia Recently, General "Buzz" Moseley spoke via video link to the May 22, 2025 seminar held by the Sir Richard Williams Foundation in Canberra, Australia. General Moseley was the 18th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. Moseley was a distinguished war fighter…

Australia in Era of Strategic Uncertainty: The Defence Dimension

05/22/2025
Robbin Laird Dateline: Canberra, Australia On May 22, 2025, the first seminar of 2025 for the Sir Richard Williams Foundation was held at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. The seminar was entitled: The Imperatives for Cost Effectiveness in Multidomain Operations. The program for the seminar laid out the…

The KC-130J: A Key Enabler of Marine Corps Aviation Operations

05/21/2025
By Robbin Laird On 30 April 2025, I had the chance to talk with Major White, the Operations Officer at VMGR-252. This is a KC-130J squadron based at the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point and is part of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The last time I visited the…

Australia’s Littoral Defense Strategy and Regional Security

05/20/2025
By Robbin Laird Dateline: Canberra, Australia Australia's approach to littoral defense represents a strategic pivot that extends far beyond simple territorial protection. As outlined in the national strategy, this approach demands a fundamental rethinking of force deployment and equipment, creating opportunities for enhanced regional cooperation and security integration. Reframing Territorial…