Fight for the future

The concept of ‘minimum viable capability’ is critical to shifting Australia’s thinking on how to get cutting edge technologies into the hands of military personnel fast enough to give them an advantage on the battlefield.

Ukraine is fighting our war

On the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of his country, Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko has delivered a blunt and heartfelt message to Australia—Ukraine is fighting our war.

Ships still have a place at sea

Despite the growing lethality of anti-ship missiles and hunter-killer submarines, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, the head of Australia’s Navy, firmly believes that surface sea power still has a major role to play in modern conflicts.

Protecting Australia

Australia’s most senior military officer has warned that the nation faces complex and interwoven threats including high-end military capabilities, economic coercion, climate change and AI-driven dangers to democracy in a post-truth world.

Behind the wheel

In a recent interview, former cabinet minister Christopher Pyne recalls the knock on effects on Australia’s manufacturing capacity of the closure of South Australia’s car plants.

The horror of dealing with Trump

Former Australian defence minister Christoper Pyne has compared the experience of dealing with US President Donald Trump’s administration to watching the supernatural horror film The Conjuring.

Lessons in leadership

Former Defence Minister Kevin Andrews recalls the worrying security briefings which stiffened Australia’s resolve to acknowledge and face China’s expansionist agenda.

Diplomacy and defence must work together

Strong diplomacy is crucial to avoid conflict, and the Australian Defence Force must operate within an envelope created and expanded by the nation’s diplomatic efforts, says ADF chief Angus Campbell.

Australia enters the missile age

The government has accepted the review’s recommendations in the public version of the review report signalling a major restructuring of Defence capability to enable it to deal with major military threats.

Beauty and the beast

The bestial cruelty displayed by Russia’s invaders has shocked the world but only deepened Ukraine’s determination to fight for its survival.

Continuity in strategic planning

The former Australian defence minister Ian McLachlan has made a timely plea for genuine bipartisanship in defence planning to provide advice based on experience and to ensure continuity across successive governments.

The future of air power

Defence analysts have been predicting the eclipse of manned aircraft since the invention of ground to air missiles in the 1950s, but Russian air losses in the war in Ukraine could see a fundamental shift in military doctrine with expensive manned platforms replaced by cheaper drones for some close support missions.