By Pierre Tran Paris - Tough talks between industry and the French and German authorities on development cost are holding up a program launch of a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, the French procurement chief said. Joel Barre, head of the Direction Générale de l’Armement procurement office, gave Oct. 2…
By Robbin Laird During my most recent visit to Australia in October 2019, I have had the chance to visit the Chief of Navy’s Seapower Conference and to attend the latest Williams Foundation seminar. And along the way have held roundtables at the Australian National University, the RAAF’s Airpower Development…
By Robbin Laird Recently, I had a chance to visit Naval Air Station Patuxent River and to meet with Col Matthew Kelly, who is in charge of the V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275). I first met “Squirt” when he was an F-35B test pilot and indeed was selected as test…
By Richard Weitz With the death of terrorist leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi at the hands of U.S. Special Forces, the so-called Islamic State has lost critical finances, territory, and now leadership. These blows have removed several sources of the Islamic State’s attractiveness, both regionally and globally. Al-Baghdadi had uniquely sinister…
By Pierre Tran LORIENT, France - The Greek navy chief of staff was foreign guest of honor at the Oct. 24 ceremony of first cutting of steel for the frigate for defense and intervention (FDI), signaling Naval Group’s aim to help close a sale of the new French warship. Admiral…
By Robbin Laird At the recently concluded Williams Foundation Seminar held in Canberra, Australia on October 24, 2019, the series launched in 2013 to discuss the nature and impact of fifth generation force capabilities in the defense of Australia and its capabilities to work with core allies continued. At this…
By Robbin Laird It is always a pleasure to sit down and talk with Vice Admiral (Retired) Tim Barrett. I learn a lot and have a chance to clarify and crystalize what I am learning about the evolution of the Navy and the ADF going forward. This time we met…
By Robbin Laird Canberra, Australia I am currently in Australia supporting the next Williams Foundation Seminar on “Fifth Generation Maneuver Warfare.” I will be leaving next to go to Bahrain for a military conference there and will do a presentation on the shift towards a new approach to warfare by…
