By Robbin Laird The cultural image of the fighter pilot is etched in our minds: a maverick aviator, wrestling a difficult machine through the sky, defined by raw "stick-and-rudder" skill. We picture an ace relying on instinct and reflexes to outmaneuver an opponent in a classic dogfight. For decades, this…
The battlefields of Ukraine are witnessing a technological revolution that is reshaping the nature of ground combat. While aerial drones have dominated headlines throughout the conflict, a new category of unmanned systems is quietly transforming military operations: unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). From experimental prototypes to mass deployment, Ukraine's ambitious push…
By Robbin Laird Modern warfare has reached an inflection point. As technology accelerates and battlespaces become increasingly complex, military aviation faces a fundamental truth: the next generation of military superiority will belong not to those with the most aircraft, but to those who make the smartest investments in their human…
I talked with Tom Webster of Textron Aviation Defense on July 15, 2025 about the legacy of combat pilot training and the reshaping of that approach to embrace the fifth generation and multi-domain combat pilots needed for the high-end fight. This article deals with the first part of our conversation…
By Robbin Laird In 2021, my book entitled Training for the High-End Fight: The Strategic Shift of the 2020s was published. I am starting a series of article re-engaging on this critical issue in the run up to my visit this Fall to the Italian International Flight Training School where…
By Robbin Laird The recent operations Midnight Hammer and Rising Lion represent the culmination of decades of strategic airpower investment, demonstrating how prescient weapons development from the early 2000s enabled decisive military options in 2025. However, these successes have exposed critical capacity limitations that require immediate attention to maintain credible…
By Robbin Laird On June 5, 2025, I had a chance to talk with Air Vice-Marshal Nick Hogan, the Head of Air Force Capability within the RAAF about the challenges and opportunities of incorporating autonomous systems within the Australian Defence Force and the impact this will have on the force.…
During my visit to Australia in May-June 2025, I have focused significantly on the coming of autonomous systems and how to incorporate them effectively into the Australian Defence Force and for security operations. I have published a new book which looks specifically at the paradigm shift in maritime operations and…
