Hung Cao and the new Pacific defense architecture
Robbin Laird and Edward Timperlake discuss newly-appointed Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao’s thoughts on Guam and Vietnam’s roles in the Indo-Pacific when it comes to deterring China.
The Marine Corps 250 year legacy, through the lens of 2nd Marine Air Wing
Robbin Laird, in this column, celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps by looking at the transformation of the 2nd Marine Air Wing.
Air Force cyber resilience in focus
Cyber resilience has become a frontline mission for the US military. Breaking Defense’s new eBook rounds up key reporting from the 2025 Alamo ACE conference with the latest developments in cyber offense and defense.
Building fighter pilots for the software age: Inside IFTS’s training approach
Robbin Laird visited Italy's International Flight Training School in Sardinia at Decimomannu Airbase to see how it approaches training aviators for modern combat.
How the CH-53K King Stallion can transform Marine heavy-lift operations
The CH-53K King Stallion is more than just upgraded CH-53E, explains Robbin Laird in this column.
Credible prompt strike: How hypersonic weapons could transform Pacific deterrence
"Keeping hypersonic missiles in the phase of a science project will not deter the Chinese," writes Robbin Laird in this column.
Baltic Sentry mission could provide proving ground for NATO’s underwater drones
Robbin Laird spoke to Torben Mikkelsen, former head of the Danish navy, about how NATO's Baltic Sentry effort could protect the Baltic Sea from Russian threats.
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Powering the future: Securing America with domestically made microelectronics
Onshoring and investment in military-specific semiconductors anchor a cornerstone of the defense industrial base.
Why adding the Osprey to the Atlantic Naval Air Force matters
Analyst Robbin Laird writes that the CMV-22B "provides significant help with the challenge of contested logistics — a challenge that is only going to get worse with the Navy focused on distributed operations."
How to do integrated training, Marine Corps style
In this op-ed from Robbin Laird, he takes a look at the importance of the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One in training and readiness.
Putin’s diplomacy with North Korea deepens the global risk in Ukraine
In this op-ed, Robbin Laird and Harald Malmgren discuss what Putin's diplomacy with North Korea can mean for the war in Ukraine.
Operations, innovation and training: A discussion with the commander of CSG-4
Columnist Robbin Laird talks naval training with Rear Adm. Max “Pepper” McCoy, commander of Carrier Strike Group 4.
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Data overload threatens decisionmakers as autonomy expands
Reducing cognitive overload on warfighters while improving “time to trust” for autonomous systems is a matter of design.
The Silent Service no more? Pacific submarine fleet a key part of Pacific deterrence
Rear Adm. Jeffrey Jablon, the Submarine Force, US Pacific Fleet (SUBPAC) commander, talks with author Robbin Laird about his view of pacific deterrence.
A controversial idea: Jets for Ukraine in exchange for treaty talks with Moscow
Giving excess fighter jets to Ukraine now will help ensure its safety in the future - but the NATO nations should have strings attached, write Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake.
Sweden’s massive opportunity to rethink its role in Nordic defense
Sweden "has a significant chance for innovation because it can rebuild its defense forces within a wider context and perspective while relying heavily on domestic defense companies that the country has not yet tapped to its full benefit," writes analyst Robbin Laird.
Norway should be at the center of change in Northern European defense
Being part of the new NATO team of Finland, Sweden and Norway, rather than being the sole Nordic NATO leader in this key region, means changes should come to its defense posture, writes analyst Robbin Laird.