TORANTO ‘STRINGBAG' LESSONS REVISITED

The modern US military has gone down this path of innovation and improvisation before, with one good example being the transformation of four Ohio-class strategic submarines into cruise-missile platforms.

PENETRATING MARITIME A2/AD

Increasing the range of air-to-surface missiles has become an important factor in penetrating A2/AD defences, particularly in the maritime environment.

NAVIES SURFACE INTEREST IN UNMANNED SYSTEMS

Unmanned systems manufacturers are finding a responsive market for their products among navies in the Indo-Pacific region.

DEFEND AND DETER

The air defence threat-and-response equation exists increasingly in integrated layers. AMR looks at two examples of how Western navies use missiles to defend against and deter the integrated air threat.

COVID SETBACK FOR SOF TRAINING

Special operations training programmes across the Indo-Pacific region have been significantly hampered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID ADDS TO MALAYSIAN DEFENCE FUNDING PROBLEMS

Malaysian defence acquisition, not rapid at the best of times, has been hit hard by frequent changes in government and by the worsening economy caused by COVID-19.

HUAWEI'S PERCEIVED THREAT EXPLAINED

The UK has banished Huawei from its telecommunications networks. Was this the result of US pressure, or domestic concern over the reliance Britain placed on the firm for critical infrastructure?

SOF CHALLENGES AS GREAT POWER RIVALRY BUILDS

As Superpower competition expands in Asia, regional special forces are looking to re-equip to meet sub-threshold threats.

UNDERWATER FORCE MULTIPLIERS

Submarine-launched unmanned platforms are looking to covertly penetrate hostile A2/AD areas where their ‘mother ships’ fear to go.

FERRETING AROUND FOR SECRETS

Japan has experienced an increase in visits by Chinese and Russian ISR aircraft, but also has snoops of its own.

ASSESSING THE US NAVY'S ‘LIGHTNING CARRIER' CONCEPT

In recent years, there has been much debate over the future of the United States Navy’s aircraft carrier force. Voracious have been the critics over the cost and vulnerability of America’s nuclear-powered large-deck carriers (CVNs) in the face of modern anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) systems such as China’s much-vaunted anti-ship ballistic missiles.

AIR DEFENCE REAWAKENS

There is renewed urgency to provide air defence systems that not only work in isolation, but can be networked for ground protection in depth.

SHIPBUILDING UNDERWAY DOWN UNDER

Australia’s plan to ramp-up sovereign shipbuilding gathers pace.

MARITIME FOBS FOR SEABORNE SOF

Across Asia Pacific, special operations forces (SOF) are receiving upgrades in maritime capability to support emerging mission sets associated with the Great Power Competition (GPC).

MAKING THE SHELL FIT THE JOB

Artillery ammunition developments are driven by greater flexibity of round, the need for more range and increased accuracy.

LOOKS REALLY CAN KILL!

Tracing the development of high tech flying helmets for frontline pilots.

JAPAN'S SIGINT CHALLENGE

While Japan has long been involved in the electronic warfare domain, the country’s navy needs to enhance its strategic EW capabilities.

FIGHTING BACK AGAINST UAS

A widening range of methods are being fielded to take down UAS depending on their size.

ARISE MARITIME UNMANNED VTOL

A number of OEMs are at various stages of developing unmanned rotorcraft that can be used off the back of a variety of warships.

ARH - STICK OR TWIST

The Australian Defence Force is closing in on a decision on whether it will keep faith with its Airbus Tigers, or risk going for a new type of attack helicopter.

A MATTER OF STATUS

SE Asian shipyards, traditionally smaller, look to build affordable vessels but may face economic peril in the post-COVID-19 world.

UAVS OVER THE MARITIME HORIZON

Maritime patrolling with UAVs has becoming the norm, allowing manned missions to be dedicated to more labour intensive tasks.

AI CUTS THE CLUTTER

Artificial Intelligence is helping to assist the collection and analysis of SIGINT on and off the battlefield in an increasingly crowded electromagnetic spectrum.

MORE THOUGHTS ON SINGAPORE'S F-35B

There have been more developments in Singapore’s F-35B Lightning II acquisition. Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen recently said that the city-state was in the “final stages” of buying the Lockheed Martin 5th Generation fighter.

BIGGER AND BADDER

Infantry Fighting Vehicle operators want more punch from their medium calibre cannons - and onboard missiles will increase the number of blows they can deliver.

5TH GENERATION FIGHTERS; BEYOND LOCKHEED MARTIN

International competition is 'hotting up' to design alternatives to Lockheed Martin’s 5th Generation F-22 and F-35 combat aircraft. And 6th Generation is just over the horizon.

THE GENERATION GAME

The selection of the F-35 by US defence partners in Asia shows how seriously the perceived threat from China’s own fifth-generation Chegdu J-20 is being taken.

UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLES: TRANSITIONING CAPABILITY

Unmanned ground vehicles will see a significant take up in Asia as a flexible, cost effective and mission agile alternative to more expense manned systems.

SINGAPORE KEEPS ITS SPEAR TIP SHARP

The modernisation of Singapore’s armed forces is moving into high gear.

NOT YET WAR OF THE WORLDS

A UK consortium named Dragonfire is working towards initial laser demonstrations which will potentially culminate in a weaponised capability over the next ten years - but it won’t be Star Wars.