Maritime Remotes and the Evolving Surface Fleet: An Element of the Integrated Distributed Force

03/07/2020
By Robbin Laird At the upcoming Williams Foundation Seminar to be held on March 26, 2020, the role of autonomous systems in the evolution of the combat force is the focus of attention. Clearly, a key aspect of this evolution will be the role of maritime remotes within the maritime…

Loyal Wingman: Part of the Next Generation Autonomous Systems to be Examined at the Next Williams Foundation Seminar

03/07/2020
Since 2013 the Sir Richard Williams Foundation seminars have focused on building an integrated fifth generation force. Recent seminars have evolved from the acquisition of new platforms to the process of shaping and better understanding the environment in which the integrated force will prepare and operate. Moreover, they have highlighted…

Building the Australian Offshore Patrol Vessel: Contributing to and Leveraging the Integrated Distributed Force

03/06/2020
By Robbin Laird For the past few years, I have been visiting Australia to participate in and to write the reports for the bi-annual seminars held by the Williams Foundation which focus on defense transformation by the ADF in a changing strategic environment. In the course of this work, it…

C-2 for the Distributed Integrated Battlespace: The Marines Exercise the MUOS Sat Com Capability

03/06/2020
It is logical that the USMC which is focused on enhanced capability to perform distributed operations but to do so in an integratable approach are keenly interested in both digital interoperability across the force and the ability to command that force with agile C2. One of the elements in that…

Morocco Begins Harfang UAV Operations

03/04/2020
By defenceWeb Morocco’s military has apparently taken delivery of three Harfang (Heron) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a number of years after expressing interest in acquiring them from France. According to Intelligence Online, the Moroccan military received the three Israel Aerospace Industries-built UAVs on 26 January. The aircraft will most likely…

Northern Viper 20: Japanese SDF Trains with the USMC

03/04/2020
The JGSDF conducted Northern Viper, a field training exercise with U.S. Marine Corps in Hokkaido from January 22nd to February 8th. The participating forces include 4th Infantry Regiment, 5th Field Artillery Unit, 1st Antitank Helicopter Unit from the JGSDF, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Aircraft Group 36 from U.S. Marine Corps.…

Audit Office Calls on France to Boost UAV Fleet – With Caution

03/02/2020
By Pierre Tran Paris - France should reach agreement on a European project for a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone, while keeping close budgetary watch and ensure military needs were met, the national audit office said in a Feb. 25 report. That report was published just a few days before Airbus presented…