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Observations on the Character of Future #highintensitywar – Jenna Higgins
Editorial Note: Between February and April 2018, The Central Blue and From Balloons to Drones, will be publishing a series of articles that
Mar 21, 20187 min read


2026: Operation Iranian Freedom – Phil Walter, Diane Maye, and Nathan Finney
4 March 2018 Editorial Note: Between February and April 2018, The Central Blue and From Balloons to Drones, will be publishing a series...
Mar 4, 20186 min read


Call for Submissions: High Intensity Warfare
Welcome to 2018! As forecast in our 2017 wrap-up post, The Central Blue is collaborating with From Balloons to Drones on a series of...
Jan 4, 20182 min read


Other Peoples’ Air Power: Air Power With Chinese Characteristics — Peter Layton
Peter Layton’s series on other peoples’ air power has included an examination of Islamic State’s use of unmanned aircraft and the employment
Nov 19, 20175 min read


Other Peoples’ Air Power: Air Superiority without Fast Jets — Peter Layton
Peter Layton continues his analysis of other peoples’ air power. In this post, he looks at Russia’s use of alternative means to deny the air
Oct 15, 20175 min read


A Central Blue debrief with Air Marshal Leo Davies, AO, CSC – Chief of Air Force
We are privileged and excited to introduce our first Central Blue debrief with the Chief of Air Force (CAF), Air Marshal Leo Davies, AO,...
Aug 20, 20175 min read


The Internet of ISR — Paul Hay
If we are already swimming in sensors and drowning in data, what can we do to get our heads above water? Wing Commander Paul Hay argues...
Jun 18, 20174 min read


War in the Sand Pit — Alexandra McCubbin
The War in the Sand Pit conference was held 12-13 May 17 to examine perspectives and lessons from Australia’s wars in Afghanistan and...
May 19, 20175 min read


(Ro)Boots on the ground – Alan Stephens
General Robert Scales argues that it’s time for the West’s armies to face-up to the full implications of the irresistible rise of robots...
Mar 20, 20175 min read


Meeting the challenge of integrated operations – Robbin Laird
Like the RAAF, the Royal Norwegian Air Force is currently undertaking a major modernisation program, including the acquisition of F-35As,...
Mar 13, 20174 min read


The Battle of the Bismarck Sea – Alan Stephens
This week marks the 74th anniversary of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, arguably the most significant action fought by Australians during...
Mar 2, 20176 min read

Launch of the Air Force Strategy 2017-2027 – Alexandra McCubbin
On 27 February, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Leo Davies officially launched ‘Air Force Strategy 2017-2027’, a vision for the Royal...
Feb 27, 20174 min read

Australian Defence needs an Office of Robotics – Alan Stephens
If, as the eminent strategist and military historian Edward Luttwak has argued, the people in our armed services define themselves...
Feb 6, 20174 min read

The economics of air power – Alan Stephens
Economics is almost always a factor in warfare; in the case of advanced air power it is an imperative. 100 million-dollar baby: An RAAF...
Jan 30, 20174 min read


Putting F-35B on the Canberra Class LHDs: The Debate Continues – Steve George
This year’s opening article revisits the F-35B debate sparked by Jenna Higgins’ post from December 2016. Steve George’s...
Jan 9, 201710 min read


Red Team: How to Succeed By Thinking Like the Enemy: A Review – Jason Begley
The term ‘Red Team’ has made the transition from its origins within military war-gaming to the lexicon of both government and business....
Nov 22, 20165 min read


Strategy: Key Thinkers: A Review – Travis Hallen
The study of strategy is a daunting undertaking. Not only must students wade through the dense tomes of the strategy masters but they...
Nov 15, 20165 min read


Strategic imagination: why it matters to the Royal Australian Air Force – Oliver Jiang
Strategic imagination is as important to the Royal Australian Air Force’s future success as the innovation that lies at the heart of Plan...
Nov 4, 20163 min read


Airpower Reborn: A Review – Travis Hallen
‘Anyone writing airpower theory today has a great deal of rewriting to do, because some large conceptual weeds have been allowed to...
Oct 28, 20166 min read


Bombing and civilians: then and now – Andrew Davies
Recent incidents of civilian casualties resulting from air strikes in Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan have brought the spotlight back onto...
Oct 25, 20165 min read
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