The U.S. Navy’s Journey to Achieve a “Hybrid Fleet”

07/21/2025 By George Galdorisi The Navy-After-Next will be a “Hybrid Fleet.” This concept was first articulated by then-CNO Admiral Michael Gilday and embraced by his successor, Admiral Lisa Franchetti. The basics of this initiative were described in the Chief of Naval Operations Force Design 2045 which called for 350 crewed ships and 150 large uncrewed maritime vessels. This innovative concept was… Read more »

Australia at the Crossroads: Navigating the U.S.-China Strategic Competition

07/20/2025 By Robbin Laird Alan Dupont's recent analysis published in The Australian presents a clear warning about Australia's foreign policy trajectory. In his view, Australia is dangerously drifting toward China while simultaneously weakening its foundational alliance with the United States. This drift, he argues, threatens to leave Australia in a "national security no-man's land" where is not fully committed to its… Read more »

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461) Brings the King Stallion to the Force

07/18/2025 By Robbin Laird Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461) at MCAS New River, North Carolina plays the foundational role in introducing the CH-53K King Stallion into Marine Corps operational service. Their operational expertise directly informs the ongoing transition of additional Marine Corps squadrons to the King Stallion. Here is a chronological outline of their key activities since the CH-53K achieved… Read more »

Putin’s War Economy: How Ukraine’s Invasion Became a Tool for Domestic Control

07/17/2025 By Robbin Laird ladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has fundamentally transformed Russia into a war economy, but not in the way many initially expected. Rather than serving merely as a means to achieve territorial conquest, the prolonged conflict has evolved into something far more strategically valuable for Putin: a mechanism for consolidating domestic power and tightening his… Read more »

U.S.-Philippines Military Cooperation: Fast Boat Bases and Unmanned Systems Contribute to South China Sea Strategy

07/16/2025 As tensions in the South China Sea reach new heights, the United States and Philippines are dramatically expanding their military cooperation through a combination of new infrastructure projects and cutting-edge unmanned systems. The United States plans to fund and construct a facility capable of hosting watercraft and assault boats on the western coast of Palawan, strategically positioned to support Manila's… Read more »

Marines Break New Ground in Anti-Submarine Warfare During Atlantic Alliance 2025 Exercise

07/14/2025 In a significant demonstration of evolving naval warfare doctrine, U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 successfully integrated into anti-submarine warfare operations during Atlantic Alliance 2025, marking a significant evolution in how the Navy-Marine Corps team approaches undersea threats. The exercise, conducted at the Surface Combat Systems Center on Wallops Island, Virginia, represents the culmination of experimental efforts… Read more »