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Expert Analysis
In-depth thinking by our highly experienced network of military scholars and practitioners.
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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 67 min read
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 59 min read
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 312 min read
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 114 min read
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 307 min read
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 2910 min read
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 277 min read
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 257 min read
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 248 min read
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 2214 min read
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 228 min read
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 198 min read
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 184 min read
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 171 min read
Shaping a Way Ahead for Autonomous Defence Capabilities for the ADF - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping a Way Ahead for Autonomous Defence Capabilities for the ADF by Denial, 17 June 2025 Link to article...
Jun 173 min read
Strategic Transformation for a New Era: Reworking the Australian’s Army’s Role in Australian Defence - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Strategic Transformation for a New Era: Reworking the Australian’s Army’s Role in Australian Defence, 16 June 2025 Link...
Jun 166 min read
Australia and the Way Ahead with Autonomous Systems - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Australia and the Way Ahead with Autonomous Systems, 15 June 2025 Link to article (Defense.info) During my visit to...
Jun 155 min read
Reshaping Combined Arms Operations: Lessons Learned from Drone Warfare Operations - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Reshaping Combined Arms Operations: Lessons Learned from Drone Warfare Operations, 14 June 2025 Link to article...
Jun 146 min read
The Autonomous Revolution: How Australia Could Transform Defense Through Maritime Robotics - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Autonomous Revolution: How Australia Could Transform Defense Through Maritime Robotics, 13 June 2025 Link to article...
Jun 137 min read
The Maritime Revolution: How Autonomous Vessels Are Reshaping Naval Strategy - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Maritime Revolution: How Autonomous Vessels Are Reshaping Naval Strategy, 12 June 2025 Link to article...
Jun 124 min read
Training for Modern Airpower Operations: How to Address the Challenges - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Training for Modern Airpower Operations: How to Address the Challenges, 9 June 2025 Link to article (Defense.info) On...
Jun 95 min read
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 35 min read
Australian Army’s Strategic Pivot: Adapting for the Indo-Pacific Century - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Training for Modern Airpower Operations: How to Address the Challenges, 3 June 2025 Link to article (Defense.info) I had...
Jun 34 min read
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 25 min read
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 14 min read
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 295 min read
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 286 min read
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 275 min read
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 267 min read
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 265 min read
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 259 min read
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 245 min read
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 233 min read
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 237 min read
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 233 min read
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, 20247 min read
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, 20245 min read
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, 20244 min read
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, 20244 min read
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, 20245 min read
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, 20246 min read
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, 202411 min read
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, 202412 min read
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, 20247 min read
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, 20245 min read
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, 20247 min read
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, 20246 min read
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, 20242 min read
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, 20244 min read
Military personnel and bases left exposed to missile threats
The Foundation’s Chair, Air Marshal (Retd) Geoff Brown AO, who is also the former Chief of Air Force, was quoted in the public media this...
Jul 26, 20241 min read
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