Regional Presence Deployment: An Australian Perspective

09/28/2020
By Lieutenant Commander Todd Fitzgerald HMA Ships Stuart and Arunta sailed in company with ships from Japan, South Korea and the United States in the Pacific Ocean this week. Commanding Officer Arunta Commander Troy Duggan said he welcomed this opportunity to continue close and effective cooperation with key partners in the region. “RAN remains committed to strengthening…

Shaping Combat Architecture for Blue Water Expeditionary Operations

09/27/2020
By Robbin Laird As the USMC focuses on how it can best help the US Navy in the maritime fight, two key questions can be posed: "How is the Marine Corps going to contribute most effectively to the Pacific mission in terms of Sea Control and Sea Denial? “And how…

Surface Warfare Officers and Training for the High-End Fight

09/26/2020
By Robbin Laird I have argued that the shift from the land wars to the new strategic environment is best described as the shift to full spectrum crisis management. The return to great power competition and to an ability to dominate the high-end fight is the usual description of the…

The Abraham Accords: What They Mean and Shaping a Way Ahead

09/26/2020
By Robbin Laird Recently, I discussed the Abraham accords and their impact with Professor Amatzia Baram. We last met in person at a conference in Bahrain which discussed a number of Middle East issues, and now with Bahrain as one of the signatories to the agreements, we had a chance…

Working Mobile Basing for Australian Defense: The Case of the the 3CRU Detachment

09/25/2020
By Betina Mears Joining units across the country to build the air surveillance picture, Air Force personnel from No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit (3CRU) deployed from RAAF Base Williamtown to the Corindi regional area in support of Exercise Lightning Storm. A small of contingent of specialist technical and logistics…

The Ground Combat Element in the Pacific Reset

09/24/2020
By Robbin Laird As the USMC works its relationship with the US Navy, a core focus is upon how the Marine Corps can provide for enhanced sea control and sea denial. A means to this end is an ability to move combat pieces on the chessboard of the extended battlespace.…

UAE-Based Al Tariq Enhancing PGM Range

09/23/2020
By Guy Martin AL TARIQ (formerly Barij Dynamics) continues to enhance its ‘Al Tariq’ range of precision-guided munitions (PGMs) and is about to start production on the improved Block II version. Theunis Botha, Chief Executive Officer of AL TARIQ, told defenceWeb that the upgraded Block II version includes a variety…

Visiting MAWTS-1, September 2020: A Discussion with Col. Gillette About Shaping a Way Ahead

09/22/2020
By Robbin Laird Prior to my visit in early September 2020, I conducted a series of teleconferences with MAWTS-1 officers in the late Spring and early Summer. The focus of those discussions was upon mobile and expeditionary basing and how the training for this key capability was being shaped going…