US Working With India on Enhanced ASW Capability

05/24/2019
Clearly, as the challenge from the Chinese Navy grows, the US needs to work with core allies and partners to shape more effective defenses in the years ahead. India is clearly a partner in this effort. According to an article published in April 2019by our partner India Strategic, the US…

Finland Works Its Fighter Replacement Program

05/24/2019
At the beginning of the 1990s, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, Finland established a stance of enhanced independence when it purchased Hornets from the United States and began a process of working with Western allied airpower. In an article published on February 16, 2018, we looked forward and…

Re-shaping C-2: Decision Making at the Tactical Edge

05/22/2019
By Robbin Laird With the introduction of new communications and video technologies, military decision making has changed over the past twenty years. A significant point of change was the introduction of Rover which created what Secretary Wynne, under whose mandate Rover was introduced, referred to as the democratization of the…

Manufacturing the CH-53K: Adding a Key Crisis Management Capability to the Force

05/22/2019
The CH-53K provides a truly unique heavy lift capability. Not only is it fully designed to operate in a wide variety of support missions from the sea base, but it is built as a digital aircraft from the ground up. Given its digital systems, it can work with a variety…

Reshaping the Osprey Fleet: The Logistics Challenge

05/21/2019
By Robbin Laird I have had the opportunity to follow the standup of the Osprey from the outset of its first deployments. Clearly, one highlight of shaping that narrative was the first time it was used in combat in Afghanistan. That interview was done by phone with Lt Col. Bianca,…

Strategy, Concepts of Operations and Technology: The Challenge and Opportunity of Shaping a Distributed C2 Enabled Force

05/20/2019
By Robbin Laird I would argue that the US and its allies are not so much facing a great power competition. I would refer to it as a global contest between 21st century authoritarian powers and the liberal democracies. And on each side of the competition there is significant cross learning…

Fighting at The Speed of Light: Making it All Work

05/20/2019
By Ed Timperlake Honoring, and empowering human’s engaged in the deadly serious occupation of defending their fellow citizens as combat warriors in putting their life on the line  is everything in a military analysis before any future technology discussions can begin. It is no good to talk about future technologies…

An Update on SP-MAGTF: From the Logistical Point of View

05/20/2019
During my recent visit to Australia, a major focus of attention was upon the challenge facing the Australian Defence Force to sustain that force through a crisis period if a peer competitor was involved. And one of the speakers highlighted the significant challenge of moving beyond the Middle Eastern mindset…