Operation Spider Web stands as the most sophisticated drone warfare operation in modern military history, representing the culmination of Ukraine's remarkable transformation from drone technology importer to global innovator. On June 1, 2025, Ukraine's Security Service executed a coordinated strike using 117 drones across five Russian airbases spanning 4,300 kilometers,…
By Robbin Laird On June 5, 2025, I had a chance to talk with Air Vice-Marshal Nick Hogan, the Head of Air Force Capability within the RAAF about the challenges and opportunities of incorporating autonomous systems within the Australian Defence Force and the impact this will have on the force.…
By Robbin Laird I gave one of first public presentations certainly by an outsider in Israel on the F-35 at the annual airpower conference held by the Fischer Institute in Tel Aviv on May 25, 2011. I gave a presentation on fifth generation aircraft which highlighted how the coming of…
Artisans on the Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) H-53 aircraft line work on a CH-53K King Stallion, the first inducted for maintenance at the depot. FRCE inducted the aircraft April 17 as the first of 14 planned for induction as part of the Age Exploration Program, Depot (AEPD); it is…
A recent Forbes analysis by retired Air Force General David Deptula examines how Ukraine's innovative drone strikes are reshaping military doctrine — and exposing American weaknesses When Ukrainian forces launched coordinated drone attacks against four Russian airbases on June 1, 2025, they weren't just destroying enemy aircraft — they were…
During my visit to Australia in May-June 2025, I have focused significantly on the coming of autonomous systems and how to incorporate them effectively into the Australian Defence Force and for security operations. I have published a new book which looks specifically at the paradigm shift in maritime operations and…
We have a growing experience with drone warfare and its impacts. The best way to understand their impact is how they have already re-shaped combined arms operations. Notably when combined with payload revolution and fifth generation warfare operations, as seen in the recent Israeli operation in Iran, drones are becoming…
In the early hours of June 13, 2025, Israel launched the most significant military operation against Iran since the Iran-Iraq War, with the F-35I "Adir" stealth fighter playing a pivotal role in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dubbed "Operation Rising Lion." The operation represents a watershed moment in Middle…
