On the occasion of the coming 100thAnniversaries of both the RAF and the RAAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, the Chief of Staff of the RAF addressed the Williams Foundation Seminar on the shift from the land wars to high intensity conflict and highlighted he saw the challenges and…
By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake When journalists and many policy makers discuss an area like missile defense they often do so from the perspective of catalogue shopping. What items in the catalogue are of interest? And what do they cost? This is often reflected in presenting the reporting and…
By Robbin Laird Recently, the new Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Dr, Michael Griffin, provided an overview at Hudson Institute on how he sees the role of science and technology in regaining U.S. strategic advantage in an increasingly contested strategic environment. In an earlier speech, he noted…
By Robbin Laird During my visit with Murielle Delaporte to RAAF Base Richmond we had a chance to discuss with the new Air Mobility Group (AMG) Commander his perspectives on the way ahead. We focused primarily upon the KC-30A as well as the introduction of the new C-27J into the…
By Robbin Laird During our latest visit to Australia, we had a chance to talk with the Commander of the RAAF’s Combat Support Group, Air Commodore Ken Robinson at his office at RAAF Amberley. With a country of the size of the United States but only about 25 million people…
By Robbin Laird It is clear that as the Russians and Chinese enhance their challenges to the liberal democracies, a key requirement for the liberal democracies will be an ability to mobilize under the threat of contested operations and to provide for resilient capabilities to defend the nation and ensure…
By Robbin Laird During my most recent visit to Australia, I had a chance to discuss the way ahead for the newly established Air Warfare Centre with its dynamic director, Air Commodore Joe “Vinny” Iervasi. The Air Warfare Centre was launched as part of the Plan Jericho initiative at the…
By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake We have been working the challenge of the transition from the land wars to contested operations with peer competitors for several years. Now it appears this is becoming a challenge more visible Inside the Bletway. For example, the Navy League is holding its Sea-Air-Space…
