The Next Phase of Development for Osprey Nation: From Reach to Working Effectively in an Integrated Distributed Force

10/31/2019
By Robbin Laird Recently, I had a chance to visit Naval Air Station Patuxent River and to meet with Col Matthew Kelly, who is in charge of the V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275). I first met “Squirt” when he was an F-35B test pilot and indeed was selected as test…

Reflections on Recent Syrian War Developments

10/29/2019
By Richard Weitz With the death of terrorist leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi at the hands of U.S. Special Forces, the so-called Islamic State has lost critical finances, territory, and now leadership. These blows have removed several sources of the Islamic State’s attractiveness, both regionally and globally. Al-Baghdadi had uniquely sinister…

French Naval Group and the Greek Navy: Building out the FDI Frigate

10/27/2019
By Pierre Tran LORIENT, France - The Greek navy chief of staff was foreign guest of honor at the Oct. 24 ceremony of first cutting of steel for the frigate for defense and intervention (FDI), signaling Naval Group’s aim to help close a sale of the new French warship. Admiral…

Defending Australia: The Role of Fifth Generation Manoeuvre Capabilities

10/26/2019
By Robbin Laird At the recently concluded Williams Foundation Seminar held in Canberra, Australia on October 24, 2019, the series launched in 2013 to discuss the nature and impact of fifth generation force capabilities in the defense of Australia and its capabilities to work with core allies continued. At this…

Vice Admiral (Retired) Tim Barrett Looks Back at the Royal Australian Navy’s Seapower Conference 2019: Shaping a Way Ahead for the RAN

10/22/2019
By Robbin Laird It is always a pleasure to sit down and talk with Vice Admiral (Retired) Tim Barrett.  I learn a lot and have a chance to clarify and crystalize what I am learning about the evolution of the Navy and the ADF going forward. This time we met…

A Case Study of the Evolving Integrated Distributed Force: The Australian Maritime Border Command

10/21/2019
By Robbin Laird Canberra, Australia I am currently in Australia supporting the next Williams Foundation Seminar on “Fifth Generation Maneuver Warfare.” I will be leaving next to go to Bahrain for a military conference there and will do a presentation on the shift towards a new approach to warfare by…

Russia as an Asia Pacific Power: The Perspective of Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan

10/21/2019
By Robbin Laird In the shifting narrative of Vladimir Putin as the leader of Russia, over time he has downplayed Russia’s modernization engaged with the West to shaping a Euro-Asian perspective and promoting the concept of Russia as a unique Eur-Asian power. Although the Obama Administration referred to Russia as…

NAS Lemoore and the F-35 C: The Perspective of Captain Max McCoy

10/20/2019
In an interview with VADM Miller earlier this month in San Diego, the F-35C Wing Commander joined by phone and participated in the interview. And he provided an update on the F-35C in the Carrier Air Wing and its impact. Captain Max McCoy highlighted what one might call the forcing…