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Event Proceedings
Stay up-to-date - presentation packs, speeches and other materials from our previous events are available for download.
Conference reports: Dr Robbin Laird, Williams Foundation Fellow, and contributor for Second Line of Defense, produces a conference report highlighting the innovation, challenges and policy implications presented. He also interviews a number of senior Defence personnel to produce a series of smaller topical articles.
Australia’s Air Power: Ready for Tonight, Preparing for Tomorrow
Australia's Royal Australian Air Force is shifting from expeditionary operations to homeland defense readiness amid heightened regional tensions, with Air Commodore Peter Robinson emphasizing a "fight tonight" philosophy that prioritizes immediate operational capability with current assets rather than waiting for future systems.
The RAAF has modernized significantly with F-35s, Super Hornets, and Growler electronic warfare aircraft, but faces challenges in sustained operati
Oct 6
Navigating the New Normal: A Paradigm Shift in Australian Defence Policy
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Paper #12 By Dr Robbin Laird The contemporary Indo-Pacific security...
Oct 5
Unlocking Military Potential: The Immediate Opportunities in Uncrewed Systems
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Paper #11 By Dr Robbin Laird The recent Williams Foundation seminar on...
Oct 3
Reimagining Maritime Security: Australia’s Collaborative Approach to Uncrewed Systems
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Interview Paper #10 By Dr Robbin Laird Australia faces one of the world’s...
Oct 1
Rethinking Defence Logistics: The Strategic Imperative for Change
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Conference Paper #9 By Dr Robbin Laird In an era of shifting geopolitical...
Sep 30
Beyond Fight Tonight: Building Resilience and Capacity Across Defence and Industry
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Conference Proceeding s #8 By Dr Robbin Laird The ghost of inadequate...
Sep 29
Building Australia’s Defence Industrial Base: The Strategic Imperative for Early Investment and Sovereign Capability
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Conference Proceeding s #7 By Dr Robbin Laird In an era of growing strategic...
Sep 27
UK Strategic Defence Review 2025: Transforming Air Power for a New Era of Threats
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Conference Proceeding s #6 By Dr Robbin Laird Air Commodore Alun Roberts,...
Sep 25
Learning from History: Australia’s Defence Industrial Mobilization Imperative
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Conference Proceeding s #5 By Dr Robbin Laird In an era of unprecedented...
Sep 24
The Invisible Battle: Synchronizing Non-Kinetic Effects in Modern Warfare
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Conference Proceeding s #4 By Dr Robbin Laird From left: AVM (Retd) Zed...
Sep 22
Rethinking Military Transformation: From Platform-Centric to Threat-Informed Innovation
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Conference Proceeding s #3 By Dr Robbin Laird The nature of military...
Sep 22
The Air Defence Reality Check: Why Australia Has Less Time Than It Thinks
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Conference Proceeding s #2 By Dr Robbin Laird For decades, integrated air and...
Sep 19
Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Conflicts Today
Fight Tonight: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance - Conference Proceeding s #1 By Dr Robbin Laird On September 18, 2025, the Sir...
Sep 18
The Imperative for Cost Effectiveness in Multidomain Operations: Final Report - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Imperative for Cost Effectiveness in Multidomain Operations : Final Report, 22 May 2025 Link to ebook (Defense.info)
Jun 17
Shaping a Way Ahead for the Australian Defence Force in the Context of Global Strategic Transition - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping a Way Ahead for the Australian Defence Force in the Context of Global Strategic Transition, 3 June 2025 Link to...
Jun 3
An Update on the Royal Australian Air Force: A Conversation with Air Marshal Chappell - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, An Update on the Royal Australian Air Force: A Conversation with Air Marshal Chappell, 2 June 2025 Link to article...
Jun 2
The Need to Speed Delivery for the Ready Force and Enabling a More Cost-Effective Future Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Need to Speed Delivery for the Ready Force and Enabling a More Cost-Effective Future Force, 1 June 2025 Link to...
Jun 1
Air Power and the Challenge of Shaping an Effective Ready Force Which Can Deliver Deterrence by Denial - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Air Power and the Challenge of Shaping an Effective Ready Force Which Can Deliver Deterrence by Denial , 29 May 2025...
May 29
Enhancing the Ready Force: Providing the Optimal Mix to Deliver the Desired Combat Effect - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Enhancing the Ready Force: Providing the Optimal Mix to Deliver the Desired Combat Effect, 28 May 2025 Link to article...
May 28
Budgeting for an Enhanced Ready Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Budgeting for an Enhanced Ready Force, 27 May 2025 Link to article (Defense.info) If the strategic environment is...
May 27
Enhancing Non-Kinetic Capabilities in the Ready Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Enhancing Non-Kinetic Capabilities in the Ready Force, 26 May 2025 Link to article (Defense.info) At the 22 May 2025 Sir...
May 26
A Blueprint for Action for the USAF: How to Enhance Combat Readiness to Meet the Strategic Challenges Facing the U.S. and Its Allies - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, A Blueprint for Action for the USAF: How to Enhance Combat Readiness to Meet the Strategic Challenges Facing the U.S....
May 26
Putting the Nature of the Military Capability Threat from the Multi-Polar Authoritarian World in Perspective - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Putting the Nature of the Military Capability Threat from the Multi-Polar Authoritarian World in Perspective, 25 May...
May 25
Dr. Marcus Hellyer on Breaking the Autonomous Systems Defence Employment Barrier - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Dr. Marcus Hellyer on Breaking the Autonomous Systems Defence Employment Barrier, 24 May 2025 Link to article...
May 24
Australia in Era of Strategic Uncertainty: The Defence Dimension - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Australia in Era of Strategic Uncertainty: The Defence Dimension, 23 May 2025 Link to article (Defense.info) Yesterday,...
May 23
Air Power in an Age of Strategic Uncertainty: The Perspective of General Moseley - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Air Power in an Age of Strategic Uncertainty: The Perspective of General Moseley, 23 May 2025 Link to article...
May 23
Enhancing the Ready Force: A Key Imperative for Australia in the Evolving Strategic Environment - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Enhancing the Ready Force: A Key Imperative for Australia in the Evolving Strategic Environment, 23 May 2025 Link to...
May 23
Defence Industry in Australia: Building Strategic Depth and Resilience in Support of the Ready Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Defence Industry in Australia: Building Strategic Depth and Resilience in Support of the Ready Force, 7 October 2024...
Oct 7, 2024
Enabling and Defending the National Information Society: The Space Dimension - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Enabling and Defending the National Information Society: The Space Dimension, 7 October 2024 Link to article...
Oct 7, 2024
Shaping a Way Ahead for Airpower in a Contested Region: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping a Way Ahead for Airpower in a Contested Region: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz, 7 October 2024...
Oct 7, 2024
The Challenge of Shaping the Way Ahead for the Ready Force and Preparing for Future Threats - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Challenge of Shaping the Way Ahead for the Ready Force and Preparing for Future Threats, 5 October 2024 Link to...
Oct 5, 2024
How Does the Ready Force Deal with a Rapidly Changing Operational Environment? - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, How Does the Ready Force Deal with a Rapidly Changing Operational Environment? 4 October 2024 Link to article...
Oct 4, 2024
The Chief of the Australian Army Explains How They are Dealing with the Simultaneous Challenges of the Three R’s - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Chief of the Australian Army Explains How They are Dealing with the Simultaneous Challenges of the Three R’s, 3...
Oct 3, 2024
Building Combat Mass: An Air Force Perspective - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Building Combat Mass: An Air Force Perspective, 2 October 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) The panel on combat mass...
Oct 2, 2024
The Force in Being to Protect the Nation: It's More than the ADF’s Role - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Force in Being to Protect the Nation: Its More than the ADF’s Role, 1 October 2024 Link to article (Defense.info)...
Oct 1, 2024
Building Combat Mass: A Navy Perspective - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Building Combat Mass: A Navy Perspective, 30 September 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) When you are a medium-sized...
Sep 30, 2024
The Challenge for Defence Readiness: The Impact of Politics - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Challenge for Defence Readiness: The Impact of Politics, 29 September 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) If one is...
Sep 29, 2024
The Perspective of Australia’s AUKUS Partners on Shaping the Way Ahead for Airpower - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Perspective of Australia’s AUKUS Partners on Shaping the Way Ahead for Airpower , 28 September 2024 Link to article...
Sep 28, 2024
The September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams Foundation Seminar: An Initial Take - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams Foundation Seminar: An Initial Take, 27 September 2024 Link to article...
Sep 27, 2024
Conference Proceedings: Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective
Dr Robbin Laird Final Report: Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective - will be released in October...
Sep 26, 2024
Shaping a Way Ahead for Airpower in a Contested Region: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping a Way Ahead for Airpower in a Contested Region: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz, 7 October 2024...
Sep 7, 2024
Conference Proceedings: The Multi-Domain Requirements of an Australian Maritime Strategy
Dr Robbin Laird Final Report: The Multi-Domain Requirements of an Australian Maritime Strategy 11 April 2024 More articles from Dr Laird...
May 17, 2024
The Strategic Shift in Australian Defence Requires a Shift in the Approach for Australian Defence Industry - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Strategic Shift in Australian Defence Requires a Shift in the Approach for Australian Defence Industry, 16 May 2024...
May 16, 2024
A Focused Force: Autonomous Systems and a Distributed ISR Enterprise - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, A Focused Force: Autonomous Systems and a Distributed ISR Enterprise, 14 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) As the...
May 14, 2024
Australia’s New Defence Strategy: Reshaping the ADF into a Focused Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Australia’s New Defence Strategy: Reshaping the ADF into a Focused Force, 9 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) The...
May 9, 2024
Layered ISR and a Focused Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Layered ISR and a Focused Force, 9 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) If you want to shape an effective focused...
May 9, 2024
Shaping C2 for the ADF and Coalition Forces: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Mike Kitcher - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping C2 for the ADF and Coalition Forces: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Mike Kitcher, 7 May 2024 Link to...
May 7, 2024
RPAs, Autonomous Systems and How to Strengthen the ADF in the Next 3-5 Years - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, RPAs, Autonomous Systems and How to Strengthen the ADF in the Next 3-5 Years, 6 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info)...
May 6, 2024
Cognitive and Information War and the “Gray Zone” - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Cognitive and Information War and the “Gray Zone”, 5 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) An aspect of modern...
May 5, 2024
How to Enhance Space’s Contribution to Australian Multi-Domain Operations in Support of Maritime Operations - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, How to Enhance Space’s Contribution to Australian Multi-Domain Operations in Support of Maritime Operations, 4 May 2024...
May 4, 2024
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