Australian Anzac-class Frigate Works with French Task Force

05/28/2021
By Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill HMAS Parramatta has joined French Navy Marine Nationale vessels FS Tonnerre and FS Surcouf — operating as the Jeanne d’Arc Task Group — to complete a cooperative passage through the South China Sea. The Sydney-based Anzac class frigate had recently completed the Japan-led Exercise Arc21 with Tonnerre and Surcouf also taking part. The three ships conducted a range…

Australia Stands Up Centre of Expertise for Electronic Warfare

05/06/2021
The Commonwealth Government has announced a plan to establish a Centre of Expertise for Electronic Warfare in Adelaide in conjunction with Flinders University and DEWC T&E. Valued at $5 million over five years, the centre has been established under a Professional Electronic Warfare Training, Education and Research (PEWTER) memorandum of…

The IDF Chooses the CH-53K: Building Block for Manned-Unmanned Operational Future

05/04/2021
By Robbin Laird The IDF recently selected the CH-53K to replace its legacy heavy lift assets, namely, the CH-53D.  It is clear that the IDF is buying the CH-53K for many of the same reasons which USMC is doing so but the IDF has been especially focused on three key…

Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem 21: Test and Verify

04/23/2021
The pathway for the U.S. Navy to integrate unmanned surface vessels into its fleet operations is for these vehicles to be able to effectively and efficiently support real-world tasks that fit into maritime concepts of operations, rather than being disruptive technology to mission operations and undercutting combat capability. in an…

Israel and the CH-53K Decision: Re-Baselining Heavy Lift Helicopters for Strategic Uncertainty

04/20/2021
By Robbin Laird Recently, the IDF selected the CH-53K to replace its legacy CH-53s. In my last article on this subject, I highlighted one key factor in the decision, namely, the importance of having a new aircraft which reduced pilot training and operational load for reserve pilots. As I concluded:…

HMAS Adelaide and the Sydney Harbour Bridge: A Tight Fit

04/20/2021
By Lieutenant Commander Christopher Thornton Families of the crew of HMAS Adelaide were treated to a day on board to thank them for their support during a busy year for the ship’s company. A highlight of the April 9 family day on Sydney Harbour was when the landing helicopter dock – one of…

The Latest Norwegian Building Block for European Direct Defense

04/19/2021
The build out of the re-established Second Fleet and the standup of Allied Joint Forces Command combined with the key efforts of the Nordic allies is a reshaping North Atlantic defense. In our book on The Return of Direct Defense in Europe, we focused upon the key role which key…