By Robbin Laird Alan Dupont's recent analysis published in The Australian presents a clear warning about Australia's foreign policy trajectory. In his view, Australia is dangerously drifting toward China while simultaneously weakening its foundational alliance with the United States. This drift, he argues, threatens to leave Australia in a "national…
By Robbin Laird Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461) at MCAS New River, North Carolina plays the foundational role in introducing the CH-53K King Stallion into Marine Corps operational service. Their operational expertise directly informs the ongoing transition of additional Marine Corps squadrons to the King Stallion. Here is a…
A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53 King Stallion aircraft assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, executes an external lift of Humvee during an Advanced Motorized Operations Course as part of Integrated Training Exercise 1-25 at Training Area Lava, Marine Corps Air-Ground…
By Robbin Laird ladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has fundamentally transformed Russia into a war economy, but not in the way many initially expected. Rather than serving merely as a means to achieve territorial conquest, the prolonged conflict has evolved into something far more strategically valuable for…
As tensions in the South China Sea reach new heights, the United States and Philippines are dramatically expanding their military cooperation through a combination of new infrastructure projects and cutting-edge unmanned systems. The United States plans to fund and construct a facility capable of hosting watercraft and assault boats on…
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members prepare to land in V-22 Ospreys assigned to 108th Aviation, Transport Aviation Group, during a bilateral insert exercise in support of Iron Fist 25, at JGSDF Camp Ainoura, Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan, Feb. 23, 2025. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability…
In a significant demonstration of evolving naval warfare doctrine, U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 successfully integrated into anti-submarine warfare operations during Atlantic Alliance 2025, marking a significant evolution in how the Navy-Marine Corps team approaches undersea threats. The exercise, conducted at the Surface Combat Systems Center…
A U.S. Marine V-22 Osprey with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) prepares to land during a raid for realistic urban training (RUT) in Lynchburg, Virginia, Mar. 19, 2025. RUT, an exercise hosted by Expeditionary Operations Training Group (EOTG), is comprised of different training scenarios that enable the 22nd MEU…
