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…
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…
By Robbin Laird Syria is being controlled by Russia and Turkey, two elements of the rise of 21st century authoritarianism. While the EU discusses and while the United States retreats or whatever it is doing, Turkey and Russia are shaping the territory from which the migration crisis is holding Europe…
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…
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…
By Robbin Laird Putin came to power at the end of the Yeltsin presidency when appointed Prime Minister by Yeltsin in 1999 after which he would become the second president of the new Russian state. What Putin would create is the rebirth of the centralized Russian state or perhaps better…
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…
Last year’s International Fighter Conference provided a chance for the participants and the attendees to focus on the role of fighters in what we have been calling the strategic shift, namely, the shift from the land wars to operating in higher intensity operations against peer competitors. It is clear that combat…
