Remembering Finnish Independence Day: December 6

12/08/2019
We want to remember our Finnish allies and their day of independence. And that allows a chance to remember that most remarkable of Finns, C.G.E. Mannerheim. In an article by Timo Vihavainen, a Finnish historian and professor emeritus of Russian Studies at the University of Helsinki, first published in February 2005, updated June…

Finland Participates in NATO Cyber Coalition 2019 Exercise

12/07/2019
In an article published by the Finnish Ministry of Defence on December 5, 2019, the engagement of Finland in the NATO Cyber Coalition 2019 Exercise was highlighted. Finland participated as a partner country in NATO’s Cyber Coalition 2019 exercise. Held in Tartu on 2 to 6 December, the exercise is…

Remembering Pearl Harbor in 2019: Anticipating Tactical and Strategic Surprise

12/07/2019
By Robbin Laird One way to remember December 7, 1941 is to go back to the actual day and recall the events. December 7, 1941 dawned an ordinary Sunday for now-retired Lt. James "Jim" Downing and hearing his recount of the day is a very important way to remember the…

The Royal Australian Navy’s Amphibious Force at Full Strength

12/06/2019
By Lieutenant Rilana Ostheim The Royal Australian Navy is now one of the world’s premier amphibious forces after the fleet’s two Canberra-class landing helicopter docks (LHDs) and landing craft achieved final operational capability. The entire amphibious capability acquired under Joint Project 2048 – including HMA Ships Adelaide and Canberra, their 12 landing craft…

RAAF’s P-8 Completes Initial Deployment to the Middle East

12/06/2019
By Andrew McLaughlin The deployment of an RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime ISR aircraft to the Middle East has concluded. The aircraft was deployed under the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) in September in response to the June shoot-down of a US Navy RQ-4A Global Hawk UAS by Iran, and subsequent…

The F-35, CNI Evolution, and Evolving the Combat Force

12/04/2019
By Robbin Laird The F-35 is termed a fifth-generation platform, but is better understood as a first generation flying combat system. Or a next generation capability or foundation for building a C2/ISR infrastructure for the integrated distributed force. Because the F-35 is being stood up worldwide with both the U.S.…

Are Eurofighter and Rafale Modernization Paths Crossing Cutting or Parallel?: Perspectives from the International Fighter Conference 2019

12/03/2019
By Robbin Laird We had three different sets of presentations throughout the International Fighter Conference 2019 which discussed how the capabilities of the French, German and Eurofighter operating forces in. the years to come will evolve. Namely, the new Future Combat Air System, Rafale and Eurofighter modernization. But the core…

An Update on the New Offshore Patrol Vessel

12/03/2019
By Max Blenkin The big grey warships, the frigates and guided missile destroyers, may well be the star athletes of the modern Royal Australian Navy, but it’s always been the little ships which did most of the work. The numbers tell the story. Budget documents for 2019-20 show the Navy’s minor combatants, the patrol boat fleet and minehunters, achieved 4,098…