The Challenge of Energy Security in the 21st Century: The Australian Case

03/25/2014
2014-03-25  The global interdependence of the 21st century poses significant challenges when states are forced to handle disruptions, and when competitors to shape outcomes to their advantage use disruptions. Energy security is clearly a key part of global interdependence, and managing energy security is a key challenge facing 21st century…

An RAAF F-22 Pilot Explains the Dramatic Shift to Fifth Generation

03/23/2014
2014-03-23 During the Williams Foundation seminar held in March 11, 2014 in Canberra, the RAAF’s exchange pilot who became a proficient F-22 pilot, RAAF Fighter Pilot Matthew Harper, explained what it was like to become a 5th generation pilot. Not surprisingly, Harper has an impressive background. He has over 2000 hours flying…

Australian Strategic Policy Institute Report: The F-35 is Part of a Region Replete With Modernization

03/23/2014
2014-03-23 From a story on Australian 9 News National: In a report released on Monday, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute says it makes most sense for the federal government to commit to spending between $8 billion and $10 billion on 58 of the fighters, which are expected to enter service…

Fifth Generation Perspectives: The RAAF Weighs in on F-35

03/22/2014
2014-03-22 Excerpted from news.com.au March 22, 2014 BACK in the late 1960s the aircraft chosen as the nation’s key strike weapon into the new millennium — the F-111 swing-wing fighter/bomber — was derided as the “flying Opera House’’ or the “widow maker” due to cost blowouts, delivery delays and serious…

The Coming Impact of the F-35 on RAAF Modernization: Transformation by a Battle Hardened Force

03/21/2014
2014-03-21 by Robbin Laird After The Williams Foundation seminar, I sat down to discuss with one of the organizers of the seminar, Vice Air Marshall (Retired) John Blackburn his take on the questions, which posed to the seminar and how he thought those answers, were generated. The core questions, which…