Shaping a Way Ahead for Pacific Defense: The Evolving Role of the USAF

09/21/2021
By Robbin Laird During my recent visit to Hawaii, I had a chance to talk with Brigadier General Michael Winkler, Director of Strategic Plans, Requirements and Programs at the Pacific Air Force. We discussed a wide range of subjects, but in this article, I will focus on our discussion of…

The ADF and Marine Rotational Force-Darwin: Training in the Top End

09/20/2021
By Lieutenant Gordon Carr-Gregg More than 2000 troops from the Australian Defence Force and Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) have completed a high-end live-fire warfighting exercise at Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory. Commander 1st Brigade Brigadier Ash Collingburn said Exercise Koolendong confirmed the ability of United States and…

Allies, Partners and Marines in the Indo-Pacific: The Challenge of Building Effective Deterrent Forces

09/19/2021
By Robbin Laird In my interview with Lt. General Rudder, the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (COMMARFORPAC), he clearly outlined the way ahead for the Marines in the Pacific and identified a number of challenges to be faced and met to shape that way ahead. During my visit to…

Australia Changes its Submarine Acquisition Path: French Reactions

09/17/2021
By Pierre Tran Paris - France heaped bitter resentment on Canberra’s axing an industrial partnership to build 12 attack submarines for the Australian navy, while opting to order American-designed boats as part of a strategic alliance with the U.S. and the UK. The French foreign and defense ministers filled on…

The Wagner Group to Work with Mali Government?

09/16/2021
By Pierre Tran Paris - France has warned of pulling military support out of Mali following a media report of a prospective deal between Bamako and the Wagner Group, a shadowy Russian company of mercenaries seen to be expanding its presence in Africa. The French defense and foreign ministers told…

Seam Warfare, Exercises and Deterrence

09/15/2021
During my visit to Honolulu to visit PACAF and MARFORCOM in August 2021, I had a chance to discuss how U.S. forces are shaping a way ahead for Pacific defense. Ed Timperlake and I are finishing our book entitled Maritime Kill Webs, 21st Century Warfighting and Deterrence which highlights the…

Three Key Weapons Systems for the Marines in the Pacific: F-35s, Ospreys, and C2 at the Tactical Edge

09/14/2021
By Robbin Laird As the Marines rework how they work Pacific defense both with the joint and coalition forces, three key weapon systems enabling the effort are the F-35, the Osprey and C2 capabilities at the tactical edge. Each of these systems brings different capabilities to the fight, but the…

India’s Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant Begins Sea Trials

09/13/2021
By India Strategic New Delhi. Sea trials have begun of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’ designed by Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and which is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a Public Sector Shipyard under Ministry of Shipping (MoS). “This is a major milestone and…