The 11th brigade has formed a composite company rotation through the Tully Training Area in central Queensland to refine their foundation warfighting skills. The Tully rainforest and jungle represents some of the toughest training environments available, with training catering to the individual and section in the first instance, then progresses…
U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 load ordnance onto an AV-8B Harrier II jet at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Aug. 31, 2022. AV-8B Harrier II jets assigned to VMA-223 were loaded with AIM-120A missiles and ADM-141A Tactical Air-Launched Decoys for the pilots to practice…
By Robbin Laird During my September 2022 visit to Australia, I had a chance to talk with Robert Dane, the CEO of Ocius, about the way ahead for maritime autonomous systems in both defence and security missions for the Australian forces. In 1996, Robert Dane, a passionate sailor and environmentalist,…
Exercise COASTWATCHERS is Defence’s premier bilateral exercise series with the Solomon Islands. It is developed jointly with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to build Solomon Islands’ Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) and policing capabilities. There are three iterations planned for 2022 – July, September and November. Exercise COSTWATCHERS…
At the recent Williams Foundation on the challenge of building out a more lethal and survivable ADR, the newly appointed Chief of Navy, VADM Mark Hammond provided his perspective on the way ahead of the RAN and the nation in meeting these challenges. His text delivered at the seminar follows:…
U.S. Marine Corps Lt Col. William Woodward, commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force UNITAS LXIII, gives an interview at São Pedro da Aldeia, Brazil, Sept. 13, 2022. UNITAS is the…
By Robbin Laird I had a chance to discuss maritime issues with Rear Admiral Torben Mikkelsen both in Copenhagen during my visit in June 2022 and at the Euronaval exposition in Paris during the week of October 16, 2022. He has been Admiral Danish Fleet Commander since 2017 and recently…
U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 perform external lifts and fire GAU-21 .50-caliber machine guns from CH-53K King Stallions at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Aug. 4 - 24, 2022. This was the first time the Marine Corps deployed the King Stallion in an exercise. HMH-461…
