2016-09-29 Recently, the new Chief of Staff of the USAF, General David Goldfein, referred to the "moral imperative of high end training." "I came to believe that high end training against the most difficult threat in the most difficult environment is nothing short of a moral obligation, and we had…
2016-09-25 By Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird Last May we published an article entitled: Boeing in Denmark: The New Alabama? Amazingly, having lost the fighter competition in Denmark, Boeing is back taking on a sovereign state and treating Denmark as if it were the state of Alabama in the tanker…
2016-09-23 In a recent press release from Airbus Defence and Space, dated September 22, 2016, it was announced that Airbus Defence and Space had reached an agreement with the European Aviation Safety Agency for the design and development of unmanned aerial systems intended for certification in civilian operations. “After more…
2016-09-23 Exercise KAKADU has come to a close in the north of Australia with 19 ships and submarines showing Navy can rapidly deploy a large number of major fleet units and lead a multinational maritime force. Navy has a constant presence in the seas around Australia and Exercise KAKADU provided…
2016-09-22 Earlier, Second Line of Defense has raised the question several times about whether the execution of the Mistral deal made any sense in light of Russian actions in Europe. As Steve Blank noted in 2014: Whatever the logic of negotiating a deal with Russia in 2011, the strategic situation has changed dramatically. The seizure…
09/21/2016: The Chief of Army's Exercise 2016 was an invitation-only event held in Adelaide on Brisbane on 5 – 8 September 2016. The theme was ‘Redefining boundaries for the 21st century land forces’. According to the Australian Army: The Chief of Army’s Exercise provides the Australian Army, together with its national,…
2016-09-16 By Robbin Laird During the Williams Foundation seminar on Air-Land integration, a key speaker was Brigadier General Chris Mills, Director General, Army Modernization for the Australian Army. After his presentation, I had a chance to discuss with him his perspective on the way ahead of the Australian Army for…
2016-09-19 By Robbin Laird On the Friday after the Williams seminar on air-sea integration, I had the chance to tour the headquarters of the Australian Navy’s Fleet Base East on Garden Island, Sydney. Garden Island is the largest historic naval area on Sydney Harbour, with use going back to the founding…