By Robbin Laird China has expanded its maritime reach as it modernizes its navy and air force. And has done so through a “buy in strategy” but one that is challenged as well with its approach to “gray zone operations” in the region as well. In a recent article by…
While the EU puts together an initial response to the challenge of Chinese investments and infrastructure ownership in Europe, Italy and France this week signaled sovereign decisions to shape their own approaches within the evolving context. Two articles in the EUObserver published this week provide insights into the priorities of…
By James Bosbotinis The US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published an unclassified assessment of Chinese military developments on 15 January 2019. The report, China Military Power: Modernizing a Force to Fight and Win, disclosed that China is developing ‘new medium- and long-range stealth bombers to strike regional and global targets’, thus confirming long-standing…
With the continuing threat from North Korea and the Chinese pushing out their perimeter of operations, Japan has had little choice than to enhance the capabilities of their forces and push their operational reach out to the Japanese perimeter. According to a recent story in Japan Times published on March…
By Robbin Laird I am writing a three-part series to deal with some lessons learned from the 1980s which provided some insights with the current challenge of dealing with Russia. The Cold War is over; but the Russians are back. This is NOT the Cold War; and we do not…
The Finns are in the process of acquiring four new corvettes equipped to contribute to their national air defense capabilities. They are in the process of acquiring and equipping four new corvettes in this role. The Pohjanmaa-class corvette is a class of general-purpose surface combatants currently under development for the Finnish Navy as part…
Recently, the Norwegian government reminded us of the anniversary of the new phase of European development. Five years have passed since Russia illegally annexed Crimea and Sevastopol on 18 March 2014. This act was a serious violation of international law and a challenge to the established international order. Norway therefore…
It is not just about getting better intelligence through space-based systems to have an historical record of what killed you. It is about the kill web executing the kill function. This report focuses on the way ahead now and for the five year period ahead. The future is now; the…
