Recently, the Australian Aegis combat ship, the HMAS Hobart, returned from its engagement in the Regional Presence Deployment 2020, This Australian Department of Defence video highlights the engagement of the ship in the deployment. This year, one of Australia’s most advanced warships is leading the Royal Australian Navy’s largest and…
By Robbin Laird On Friday, October 9, 2020, I had a chance to visit the USS Ford and to get an update on the progress of this formidable warship. Earlier, Ed Timperlake and I have visited the USS Ford in 2015 and discussed the next generation large deck carrier with…
By Robbin Laird As the fleet re-works blue water maneuver warfare and expeditionary operations from the sea, a key element of the effort is shaping an effective weaponization approach and strategy. Doing so is a work in progress and a major challenge for the United States and its allies. During…
In an article published by the UK Ministry of Defence on September 28, 2020, the UK role in Exercise Joint Warrior was highlighted. Taking part will be the Royal Navy’s largest and most powerful warship HMS Queen Elizabeth, taking her place at the heart of a UK-led NATO Carrier Strike…
By Robbin Laird With the shift from the land wars to rebuilding U.S. forces for contested operations with peer competitors, the role of training is changing significantly. There clearly was innovation during the land wars, but the geographical battlespace was well known, and air and maritime power could operate with…
By Robbin Laird During my visit to NAWDC in July 2020, I had the chance to continue my discussion on the evolution of electronic warfare with Captain Brett Stevenson, the CO of HAVOIC. During the earlier teleconference, we discussed a number of issues, most notably that being able to operate…
The RAAF from the initial moment of considering F-35 acquisition has focused on shaping a fifth generation Australian Defence Force. And for such a force to be able to operate, it needs to be integratabtle and expeditionary. That is what was being tested out in the month long "Lightning Storm"…
By Robbin Laird I first viewed an CMV-22B in person when attending the Reveal ceremony in Amarillo, Texas held on February 6, 2020. But I am not stranger to the Osprey having seen my first Ospreys at Second Marine Air Wing in 2007. At that time there were four Ospreys…
