The UK MoD Contract for Spear 3 Weapons for the F-35B

01/12/2021
Paving the way for other F-35B customers globally, the UK has issued a contract for its procurement of the innovative strike missiles for the fifth generation aircraft. According to a January 6, 2021 article published by the UK MoD: Known as SPEAR3, the next-generation missile can travel long distances at…

UAE Prepares for Commercial Nuclear Operations

01/11/2021
By India Strategic ABU DHABI. The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, ENEC, has announced that its operating and maintenance subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company, Nawah, has successfully achieved 100% of the rated reactor power capacity for Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. This major milestone brings the Barakah plant one…

The German State Buys Significant Stake In Hensoldt

01/09/2021
by Reuters/defenceWeb Germany’s government has decided to buy a 25.1% stake in defence supplier Hensoldt at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Reuters reported last week that the government aimed to purchase the stake from private equity company KKR for 464 million euros ($562 million). Sources with knowledge of the matter…

Multiple Basing, Kill Webs and C2: Shaping a Way Ahead

01/07/2021
By Robbin Laird As the United States and core allies build out the way ahead for an integrated distributed force, a key challenge is shaping C2 systems which fully enable such a force. C2 and ISR have been historically treated as separate terms but increasingly the sensor networks are integrable…

An Update on the CH-53K from VMX-1: The Perspective of Lt. Col. Frank

01/05/2021
By Robbin Laird During my visit to 2nd Marine Air Wing during the first week of December 2020, I had a chance to visit New River Marine Corps Air Station and meet with Lt. Col. Frank, VMX-1, to get an update on the coming of the CH-53K. Lt. Col. Frank…

Visiting MAG-26: The Perspective of Col. Spaid

01/04/2021
By Robbin Laird During my visit to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, and to New River Marine Corps Air Station, I had a chance to visit Marine Aircraft Group 26. Over the years, I have had a chance to come often to MAG-26 and to discuss the MV-22B Osprey, its introduction,…

Exercise Deep Water: Working the Integrated Distributed Insertion Force

12/31/2020
By Robbin Laird Last July, North Carolina-based Marines organized an exercise in which they called Deep Water. In a press release from November 5, 2020, this is how II Marine Expeditionary Force described the exercise: “Marines with 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing are…

Europe, China and Australia: How Far Apart?

12/31/2020
By Robbin Laird With the European Commission spearheaded a closer relationship with China, the gap -- not just geographical -- between Australia and Europe is clearly growing. My own recently published book on the evolution of Australian defence strategy highlights the shift from the away game to the home game…