The Central Blue | Williams Foundation

The Central Blue

The Central Blue is a forum designed to promote informed discussion and debate about air power issues affecting Australia. Our scope is broad, covering topics from tactical integration to strategic theory; and from historical lessons to future capabilities. We welcome submissions from any source, and particularly encourage serving military practitioners to contribute, in order to foster a new generation of air power thinkers.

16 hours ago
6 min

#AirForce2121: Air Force’s Strategic Culture as a Force for Continuity

We welcome back our editorial colleague WGCDR Ulas Yildirim as he asks a provocative #AirForce2121 question: is Air Force on a path to...

Jul 17
7 min

The autonomy advantage: Is the ADF missing an opportunity? - WGCDR Keirin Joyce

In April this year, The Sir Richard Williams Foundation's return-from-COVID seminar Next Generation Autonomous Systems (NGAS) offered a...

Jul 11
7 min

Space law and military operations 101 – Dr Dale Stephens and Jenna Higgins

Despite its futuristic feel, the first space war has already been fought, and by some decades. In 1991, in fact – the Gulf War[1]. While...

Jul 3
6 min

How Safe is Too Safe? Putting the Reasonably Back in Reasonably Practicable

This week The Central Blue welcomes back Flight Lieutenant Joshua Vicino as he asks some 'reasonably challenging' questions about...

Jun 19
6 min

Tomorrow’s Air Force Airbases: Fit for Purpose, Robust and Resilient

This week we welcome back Dr. Peter Layton who turns a spotlight to a sometimes-understated aspect of airpower: Airbases. As airpower...

Jun 5
12 min

From Frankenstein to Astro Boy: Humans, Automation, and Warfare

In April this year Group Captain Jo Brick (an esteemed editor at The Central Blue) gave a compelling presentation to the Williams...

May 22
8 min

All Teeth and No Tail – Evolving the Air Power Workforce

This week we welcome back Wing Commander David Hood to discuss how the Royal Australian Air Force can better engage the full spectrum of...

May 16
6 min

A Need for an Australian Space Force

In his first piece for the Central Blue, Dr. Graham Wild explores Australia’s future and outlines the need for our own Space Force. Space...

May 8
6 min

The Right People in the Right Place at the Right Time

Not all motivations are the same. Corporal Dylan Williamson demonstrates the importance for supervisors, and the Australian Defence Force...

May 2
8 min

Leading Edge – Australia’s air and space power in the next century

In this piece, multiple-time contributor Chris McInnes makes the argument that the RAAF must build the capacity and capability to lead...