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…

Call for a New Approach to Shaping an Australian Defense and Security Strategy: The Perspective of Rear Admiral (Retired) Kevin Scarce

10/17/2019
At the 45th Essington Lewis Memorial Lecture delivered this week in Adelaide, Rear Admiral (Retired) Kevin Scarce provided his perspective of the need for Australia to shape an “integrated and wholistic approach” to the threats facing Australia. And in so doing argued that without a broader public engagement this would…

The Evolution of the Indo-Pacific Over the Next Five Years: Implications for Australian Defense

10/13/2019
By Robbin Laird Recently, I attended the Chief of the Royal Australian Navy’s Seapower conference being held in Sydney from October 8th through the 10th, 2019. The conference provided insights into two major questions: What is the development trajectory of the Royal Australian Navy over the decade ahead? And what…

Shaping an Enhanced Japanese-Australian Military Alliance: The First Joint Air Exercise

10/12/2019
With Exercise Bushido Guardian, the Royal Australian Air Force has conducted its first joint air exercise with the Japanese. The exercise is part of the expanded working relationship in defense agreed upon in 2017. The opening of the exercise was highlighted in an article by Corporal Vevornica O'Hara published on…

China Working on Fielding Electromagnetic Weapons: An Indian Perspective

09/17/2019
By Debalina Ghoshal There is no doubt that China is working on sophisticated weapon systems. While China is modernising its nuclear forces, it is also not neglecting its conventional firepower. For example, China is working on electromagnetic technologies with the objective of fielding electromagnetic weapons for its ground, naval forces…