By Robbin Laird With the new Abraham accords, the collaborative opportunities for the IDF with GCC partners are clearly expanded. At the same time, the range of security control necessary to protect the shift in the transit of energy supplies is significant and requires new capabilities and new approaches to…
By Australian Defence Business Review Production of the first Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime ISR aircraft for the RAAF commenced in late October at the company’s Moss Point facility in Mississippi. Being acquired under a cooperative development program with the US Navy, the RAAF currently has a requirement for…
The job of packing up a six-year deployment in the Middle East Region has proven a massive test for No. 33 Squadron - in more ways than one. Almost 70 tonnes of equipment needed to be catalogued, prepared and transported when the squadron concluded its deployment of a KC-30A Multi-Role…
By Robbin Laird In my last piece, which addressed the question of the way ahead for the Australian army in the evolving approach of the ADF to Indo-Pacific operations, the question was posed: Will the Australian Army fully embrace amphibiosity? Will they shift from the USMC’s legacy position of amphibious…
RAAF Base Williamtown is home to the tactical fighter element of the Air Combat Group and the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) element of Surveillance and Response Group. RAAF Base Williamtown is at the centre of a multimillion-dollar infrastructure modernisation and upgrade program in order to better support the…
By Robbin Laird Recently I had a chance to discuss with the CO of VAW 121 about the way ahead with coming of air refuelability for the squadron’s Advanced Hawkeyes. I was able to do so after CDR Neil Fletcher had spent a good part of his early day on…
By Robbin Laird The Australian Army faces a significant challenge as it adapts to its role within the ADF and as the ADF refocuses on the Indo-Pacific. A clear consideration is how the Army will address force mobility, basing flexibility, and operate within an integrated air-maritime task force. Several years…
The F-35 fleet emerging in the Pacific is the 21st century version of the US Navy's World War II "big blue blanket." With the Japanese expanding their F-35 fleet and adding the B to its As, training with the USS America is a natural evolution of the collaborative effort. As…
