C2 for a Distributed Maritime Force: A Key Building Block for 21st Century Defense

03/17/2021
By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake It is clear that C2 is a key element for shaping the way ahead for maritime operations. The U.S. Navy highlights the importance of distributed maritime operations as it reworks its way ahead with regard to 21st century deterrence and warfighting. As Navy Vice…

Evolving Maritime Unmanned Surface Vehicle Capabilities: The Importance of Exercises and Real-World Tasking

03/08/2021
By Robbin Laird 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…

Looking Back and Looking Forward with Regard to Airpower: Don’t Ignore Organizational Culture in Sorting Through Mastering the Targeting Enterprise

02/28/2021
By Robbin Laird In his book, Selling Schweinfurt, Col. Brian D. Vlaun discusses how combat leaders, supported by their structures that provide cross-cutting assessments of target effectiveness, sorted through the challenge of how to use the World War II European-based bomber force. The core effort was pretty straightforward — attrite…

Japan-U.S. Bilateral Exercise “Forest Light“

02/26/2021
From December 7th to 18th, 2020, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) conducted the Japan-U.S. Bilateral Exercise “Forest Light” with the U.S. Marine Corps in Sekiyama Training Area, Somagahara Training Area and Camp Somagahara. “Forest Light” aims to enhance bilateral cooperation and improve bilateral response capabilities by conducting field training…

Drone Warfare: Working Countermeasures

02/07/2021
By Pierre Tran Paris – The use of low-cost armed drones in bloody conflicts in central Europe, North Africa and the Middle East highlights the need for countermeasures, while the UK is showing interest in ordering these cheap and deadly weapons. Armed unmanned aerial vehicles were used to wreak havoc…

RAAF Hornets Farewell from Williamtown Airbase

02/02/2021
By Flight Lieutenant Jessica Aldred An eight-ship formation of F/A-18A/B Hornets filled the Williamtown skyline in a fitting farewell to the aircraft as it was retired from No. 77 Squadron on December 11. With the squadron transitioning to the F-35A Lightning II this month, Air Force’s only remaining Hornet squadron…