The Evolution of the Viper Attack Helicopter: JAGM Testing

12/05/2021
Recently, VMX-1 tested the Viper Attack Helicopter with the JAGM weapon, and for the purpose of enhancing the Marine Corps's capability to support maritime/littoral missions. This is how the December 2, 2021 USMC press release described the effort: HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS – Marines from Marine Operational Test & Evaluation Squadron…

Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2021 and Australian Defence

12/05/2021
By Justin Burke The announcement of the AUKUS partnership has prompted the old accusation that Australia is ‘trying to find its security from Asia rather than in Asia’ to resurface in public debate, most recently in former prime minister Paul Keating’s recent National Press Club address. The basis for this…

The G/ATOR and Expeditionary Warfare

11/21/2021
By Ashley Calingo, Marine Corps Systems Command Force Design 2030 details Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger’s vision for maintaining the relevance of the Corps in the new age of great power competition. Developed to enable the Marine Corps to adapt and outmaneuver its adversaries, Force Design 2030…

An Update on the UK Carrier Strike Group: October 2021

11/09/2021
According to a story published by the UK Ministry of Defence on October 5, 2021, the UK Carrier Strike Group looks forward to a busy autumn in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East. Having passed the midway point of its first operational deployment, the UK Carrier Strike Group is preparing…

Indian-UK Konkan Shakti 2021 Exercise: October 2021

10/27/2021
By Indian Strategic New Delhi. The sea phase of maiden Tri-Service exercise ‘Konkan Shakti 2021’ between the Armed Forces of India and United Kingdom is being held off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea. On completion of harbour planning phase, the sea phase of the exercise commenced on October 24 and…

Marine Corps Leadership Focuses on Ground-Based Ship-Killing Missiles

09/28/2021
  By Ashley Calingo Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.—The Marine Corps’ top modernization priority is fulfilling the requirement for a ground-based anti-ship missile capability. The operational requirement for this ship-killing capability is a relatively new development stemming from the Commandant’s Planning Guidance and the Corps’ Force Design 2030 efforts. “As…

You Have Heard of AUKUS: But What About Wedgetail?

09/26/2021
By Robbin Laird The news this past few days has been filled with discussions, arguments, “fake news,” and other desiderata about the Australian decision to enter the nuclear attack club. But what can be missed is that the Australians have been driving innovations in the United States and the United…