Defence Alternatives was conceived as an answer to the conundrum faced by many in today’s age of data inundation: how to make sense of the evolving defence and security domains, currently deluged with overwhelming volumes of data, opinion, news (often ill-informed) and so-called analysis.
Within its chosen fields – Robotics, Land Warfare, C4ISR and Embedded Systems – Defence Alternatives will endeavour to present concise yet comprehensive news, views and commentary, with the objective of causing readers to say “Now that’s worth thinking about”. This is NOT a comprehensive news site – there are plenty of other sites that repost press releases and public pronouncements: neither does it claim to be an all-embracing information service. There will be many lacunae, some accidental ‘misses’ and – on occasion – misinterpretations of current trends. What it WILL be, if we are fortunate, is always stimulating and thought-provoking.
The impetus behind Defence Alternatives comes from Tim Mahon, whose career in defence, security and aerospace spans four decades. Fifteen years with the then Jane’s Information Group, including a decade living and working in the United States, was followed by a 20+ freelance career that has seen him as consultant, strategist, senior marketing manager, author, writer, reporter, journalist and editor – culminating in three years as Editor-in-Chief of Military Technology in Bad Neuenahr, Germany. With two books to his credit (and two more in progress), approximately 3 million words in print and a history of consultancy that embraces four sovereign governments, United Nations agencies and companies from startups to multinationals, he has a passion for convincing people that there is more to defence than meets the public eye.
He is also convinced our future innovation (and therefore winning edge) lies in the small, entrepreneurial companies that do not receive as much public attention as they should – and aims to put that oversight to rights!