By Pierre Tran Paris - Patrick Pailloux has been appointed as the head of the Direction Général de l’Armement (DGA), with the senior official taking up Nov. 17 the top job at the arms procurement office, an official notice of the Nov. 10 cabinet meeting said. Pailloux, a former officer…
Australia stands at a maritime crossroads. The choices it makes in the coming years will shape not only its security and economic prosperity, but also the stability of the wider Indo-Pacific region. The Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition, as covered in detail by The Australian, showcased this inflection point: expanding…
In 2007, an MV-22 Osprey touched down on the deck of HMS Illustrious, marking the first time this distinctive tiltrotor aircraft had landed on a non-American vessel. The moment was more than a technical milestone. It was a preview of a transformation that would reshape Marine Corps aviation over the…
By Robbin Laird This is the second in our series about our 16-year path associated with our defense websites, Second Line of Defense and Defense Information. Recognition of the contribution of the many talented individuals who have contributed to the path forward is central to highlighting the path forward as…
By Robbin Laird Research Fellow, Sir Richard Williams Foundation, Canberra, Australia In an age of instant reactions, social media pile-ons, and policy-by-press-release, the University of Canberra has launched an audacious experiment: a center dedicated to the radical proposition that historical perspective and civil disagreement might actually improve public policy. The…
By Robbin Laird We stand at a peculiar moment in history where multiple powerful forces are reshaping the global order, yet these variables of change do not converge toward any clear, coherent outcome. This paradox defines our era: dramatic transformation without discernible destination. In a recent conversation I had with…
By Pierre Tran Paris - France achieved near record breaking arms export orders in 2024. France won in 2024 export arms orders worth €21.6 billion ($25.1 billion), up from €8.2 billion in 2023, the annual report of the armed forces ministry to parliament said, marking the second-highest value of foreign…
The maritime industry stands at the threshold of a technological revolution that promises to fundamentally change how ships navigate the world's waterways. Remote piloting technology, which allows marine pilots to guide vessels from shore-based control centers rather than boarding ships in dangerous conditions, represents a pivotal shift toward safer, more…
