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A Look Back at the Australian Space Effort
Dr Robbin Laird 30 December 2021 At the recent Williams Foundation seminar focused on Australian space held on December 1, 2021, the...
Dec 30, 20216 min read


Conference: The Requirements of a Sovereign Defence Space Capability - Program and Presentations
The Requirements of a Sovereign Defence Space Capability National Gallery of Australia 1 December 2021 Final Report Dr Robbin Laird...
Dec 1, 20213 min read


The Australian Submarine Decision: Challenges and Next Steps
Dr Robbin Laird 26 October 2021 The decision by the Morrison Administration to shift from a conventional submarine to a nuclear submarine...
Oct 26, 20216 min read


Allies, Partners and Marines in the Indo-Pacific:
The Challenge of Building Effective Deterrent Forces Dr Robbin Laird 19 September 2021 In my interview with Lt. General Rudder, the...
Sep 19, 20215 min read


Australia Changes its Submarine Acquisition Path: French Reactions
Pierre Tran 17 September 2021 Paris – France heaped bitter resentment on Canberra’s axing an industrial partnership to build 12 attack...
Sep 17, 20216 min read


On Target: 'Time for New Capability Acquisition Strategies'
Brian Weston 'Time for New Capability Acquisition Strategies' Australian Defence Business Review – July/August 2021 p 62 For more than...
Aug 31, 20213 min read


The Shift in Training: Defining the Challenge
Dr Robbin Laird 17 August 2021 This is the third article in our series on training and the strategic shift in warfighting and deterrence....
Aug 17, 20219 min read


Tomorrow’s Air Force Airbases
Dr Peter Layton 25 July 2021 The Chief of Air Force’s strategic intent update makes airbases a priority for future investment. Airbases...
Jul 25, 20216 min read


On Target: 'Australia’s Air Force and its Future Focus ‒ ‘Always’'
Brian Weston Australia’s Air Force and its Future Focus ‒ ‘Always’ 'Australian Defence Business Review – May/June 2021 p 60 The Royal...
Jun 30, 20214 min read


Australia Under Attack from China: How the U.S. Can Provide a Near Term Response
Ed Timperlake and Dr Robbin Laird, Australia Under Attack from China: How the U.S. Can Provide a Near Term Response, 12 June 2021 Link...
Jun 12, 20216 min read


Supporting Australia To Deter China Helps America
Dr Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake, Supporting Australia To Deter China Helps America, 11 June 2021 Link to article Supporting Australia...
Jun 11, 20214 min read


Next Generation Autonomous Systems: Final Report - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Next Generation Autonomous Systems: A Williams Foundation Special Report , 9 June 2021 In this report, the key themes and presentations at the April 8, 2021, Williams Foundation seminar on Next Generation Autonomous Systems are highlighted. A number of interviews with participants are included as well as insights from earlier interviews from pre-COVID visits to Australia. In addition, selected articles are included in an appendix which address the question o
Jun 10, 20214 min read


Defence Industry and Working with Defence in Shaping a Way Ahead for Autonomous Systems
Dr Robbin Laird, Defence Industry and Working with Defence in Shaping a Way Ahead for Autonomous Systems, 8 June 2021 Link to the article Defence Industry and Working with Defence in Shaping a Way Ahead for Autonomous Systems - Second Line of Defense (sldinfo.com) The development and incorporation of autonomous systems into the Australian fifth-generation force requires a close working relationship between defense industry and the Department of Defence and the services. But
Jun 8, 20218 min read


Rethinking Strategy: Warning Time, Events and Crisis Management - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird Rethinking Strategy: Warning Time, Events and Crisis Management Defense Info, 7 June 2021 Paul Dibb, the well-known...
Jun 7, 20213 min read


The Australian Army, Navy and Air Force Shape a Way Ahead for the Inclusion of Autonomous Systems
Dr Robbin Laird, The Australian Army, Navy and Air Force Shape a Way Ahead for the Inclusion of Autonomous Systems, 5 June 2021 Link to the article The Australian Army, Navy and Air Force Shape a Way Ahead for the Inclusion of Autonomous Systems - Second Line of Defense (sldinfo.com) WGCDR Keirin Joyce noted: “All of the services see robotic autonomous systems as a significant part of the road ahead. It’s just that the services are getting after them differently.” At the Wil
Jun 5, 202112 min read


Perspectives on the Introduction of Autonomous Systems into Combat
Dr Robbin Laird, Perspectives on the Introduction of Autonomous Systems into Combat, 4 June 2021 Link to article Perspectives on the Introduction of Autonomous Systems into Combat | Defense.info The Williams Foundation seminar on Next Generation Autonomous systems held on April 8, 2021, began with two presentations which focused on the nature of the challenges of introducing autonomous systems into the combat force. The first presentation was by Group Captain Jo Brick of the
Jun 4, 20214 min read


Shaping the Way Ahead for Robotic and Autonomous Systems and ADF Force Development
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping the Way Ahead for Robotic and Autonomous Systems and ADF Force Development, 1 June 2021 Link to article Shaping...
Jun 1, 20216 min read


The Integrated Distributed Maritime Force: The Impact of Maritime Autonomous Systems
Dr Robbin Laird, The Integrated Distributed Maritime Force: The Impact of Maritime Autonomous Systems, 29 May 2021 Link to article The Integrated Distributed Maritime Force: The Impact of Maritime Autonomous Systems | Defense.info At the recent Williams Foundation seminar on Next Generation Autonomous Systems, Vice Admiral Noonan, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, provided his perspective on the way ahead for maritime autonomous systems in the build out and evolution of the
May 29, 20215 min read


The Quest for Next Generation Autonomous Systems: Impact on Reshaping Australian Defence Forces
Dr Robbin Laird The Quest for Next Generation Autonomous Systems: Impact on Reshaping Australian Defence Forces , Defense.info 25 May 2021 At the April 8, 2021, Williams Foundation Seminar on Next Generation Autonomous systems, the moderator was WGCDR Keirin Joyce. I had met Joyce at an earlier Williams Foundation presentation on unmanned systems and had a chance to follow up on his take on the issues discussed at the seminar in a phone interview on May 14, 2021. When I fir
May 26, 20217 min read


On Target: Then Now Always ‒ Centenary of the RAAF Operational Presence and Persistence ‒ Personnel
Brian Weston 'On Target - 'Then Now Always ‒ Centenary of the RAAF' in Australian Defence Business Review, Mar/Apr 2021 p.84 The Royal...
Apr 30, 20214 min read
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