Shaping a Porcupine Defense Strategy for the Philippines: The Role of Maritime Autonomous Systems

08/04/2025
This report analyzes the Philippines' "porcupine defense strategy," emphasizing its reliance on maritime autonomous systems (MAS) and distributed lethality to deter aggression in the South China Sea. It highlights the Taiwan-Philippines-Japan strategic triangle and the critical importance of the First Island Chain and Luzon Strait for regional security and global trade. The report details how U.S.-Philippines military cooperation, including fast boat bases and the deployment…

VMM-162 in Anti-submarine Warfare Exercise

07/13/2025
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 transport Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, during Atlantic Alliance 2025 at Pickerel Pond, Maine, July 10, 2025 In a groundbreaking demonstration of evolving naval warfare doctrine, U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162…

The Critical Challenge of Achieving Cost Effectiveness in Multi-domain Military Operations

06/12/2025
The Sir Richard Williams Foundation seminar held on May 22, 2025, at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra examined the critical challenge of achieving cost effectiveness in multi-domain military operations. The event addressed how Australia can "build and maintain military forces that are both affordable and effective in an…

HMH-461 Air Assault Training with the King Stallion

06/10/2025
U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, fly in a CH-53K King Stallion during the air assault portion of Marine Air-Ground Task Force Distributed Maneuver Exercise 1-25 at Marine Corps Air-Ground…

Shaping a Way Ahead for U.S. Air and Space Forces

03/04/2025
The Department of the Air Force faces a crisis. Decades’ worth of insufficient budgets has slowed essential modernization, necessary capacity and key personnel investments. Air Force and Space Force leaders have warned of these risks for years. However, resource decisions were largely out of their control. As a result, the…

Transporting Patriot Missiles aboard MV-22B Osprey

01/09/2025
U.S. Army Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment and U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing transport Patriot missiles on an MV-22B Osprey from Kadena Air Base to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 5, 2024.…

MQ-9 LACM Strike Against Houthi Positions

11/23/2024
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces executed a series of precise airstrikes on multiple Houthi weapons storage facilities situated within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, Nov. 9-10. These facilities housed a variety of advanced conventional weapons used by the Iran-backed Houthis to target U.S. and international military and civilian vessels navigating international…