Strategic Influence

China raises the cost of Indonesia’s neutrality

China is steadily shaping Indonesia’s development choices—making neutrality harder to sustain—by linking growth, finance and political recognition in ways that quietly raise the cost of resisting Beijing’s core interests.

Military History

Why Hitler declared war on the United States

Hitler seized Pearl Harbor as the moment to formalise a long-planned clash with the United States. Japan’s entry promised naval weight and distraction—so Berlin rushed to declare war first and widen the conflict fast.

Strategic Influence

Why North Korea is modernising its conventional arsenal

North Korea is rebuilding its conventional forces using Russian funding and battlefield lessons. This shift widens regional risk, adds non-nuclear pressure options, and points to faster arms competition shaped by modern warfare experience.

Air & Space Power

Air New Zealand tests a new generation of electric planes

Air New Zealand is testing electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft, exploring sustainable alternatives to conventional aviation. Early trials focus on short regional cargo flights and hydrogen fuel systems, advancing cleaner, low-emission flight technologies.

Communication & Cognition

What Did the Biophilia Hypothesis Get Wrong?

Biophilia (affinity with nature) is not universal or purely instinctive. Cultural and individual differences exist, shaped by both environment and genetics, with roughly half of nature connectedness attributable to heredity and distributed like personality traits.

Strategic Influence

Japan okays record defence budget amid rising tensions with China

Japan has approved its biggest defence budget yet. It aims to achieve 2 per cent of gross domestic product ( Australia 2.05% in 25/26) sooner than planned. Missiles and drones are key buys—funding will likely mean higher taxes.

Technology & Innovation

A drone ‘war is more silent and more deadly’ — and America is behind

Drone warfare now shapes daily survival and battlefield outcomes. Cheap, adaptable systems dominate. Forces that fail to match speed, scale, and electronic resilience risk being outpaced in any high-intensity conflict shaped by constant aerial threat.

Welcome to The Runway, a platform of curated content designed to develop the intellectual edge of aviators in Australia’s Air Force

Brought to you by Royal Australian Air Force leaders, straight to your homepage and inbox.

View the latest About The Runway

Taking off on The Runway

Strategic Influence

Why North Korea is modernising its conventional arsenal

North Korea is rebuilding its conventional forces using Russian funding and battlefield lessons. This shift widens regional risk, adds non-nuclear pressure options, and points to faster arms competition shaped by modern warfare experience.

Communication & Cognition

What Did the Biophilia Hypothesis Get Wrong?

Biophilia (affinity with nature) is not universal or purely instinctive. Cultural and individual differences exist, shaped by both environment and genetics, with roughly half of nature connectedness attributable to heredity and distributed like personality traits.

Air & Space Power

Air New Zealand tests a new generation of electric planes

Air New Zealand is testing electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft, exploring sustainable alternatives to conventional aviation. Early trials focus on short regional cargo flights and hydrogen fuel systems, advancing cleaner, low-emission flight technologies.

Military History

Why Hitler declared war on the United States

Hitler seized Pearl Harbor as the moment to formalise a long-planned clash with the United States. Japan’s entry promised naval weight and distraction—so Berlin rushed to declare war first and widen the conflict fast.

Introducing The All New

Runway App

You asked, we listened! We’ve made it easier than ever to support your professional development on the go – explore The Runway’s new mobile app. Everyone has 5 minutes to learn something new, so download the app today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to sharpen your intellectual edge.

Our Partners

Access Program Wirraway via ADELE ADELE

Found something worth contributing to The Runway? Contribute

Explore by topic

View all topics

Air & Space Power

Leadership

Strategic Influence

Communication & Cognition

Cyber

Technology & Innovation

Wellbeing

Military Management