SLDinfo.com - Second Line of Defense | Delivering Capability to the Warfighter

Dealing with the World We Are In: Guidance for a Way Ahead

02/19/2025 By Robbin Laird We are publishing four books this year which provide detailed assessments of the question of how did we get where we find ourselves today. In addition, we are publishing assessments as well of aspects of shaping a way ahead, which provide a partial answer to how we leverage what we have in order to achieve what Western… Read more »

Cold Weather Training: Enhancing Capabilities for Operations in the High North

02/15/2025 By Robbin Laird I have focused since my time working with the USCG and with Rear Admiral (Retired) Gilbert, on the challenges of the Arctic opening. I wrote a good deal on this subject from 2010-2015, including highlighting the need for new icebreakers. Well that did not happen. Ed Timperlake and I focused later on the standup of the new… Read more »

An Interview With General Lionel Catar, Commander of the 27th BIM

02/14/2025 By Murielle Delaporte Conceived of as “a forum for an exchange between industries and specialized military units operating in a variety of environments ”, General Catar is delighted to “welcome this community to Grenoble, capital of the Alps and of the French Army Mountain Infantry Brigade, the 27th BIM”, and is confident in the success of the first edition of… Read more »

The Publication of Defense XXIV: Reworking U.S. and Allied Defenses to Deal with the Multi-Polar Authoritarian Challenge

02/10/2025 Beginning with the year 2020, we have published an annual publication to highlight defense dynamics and developments over the past five years. This provides a unique insight into developments during this period by providing assessments published in real time during that period. We started with 2020 and highlighted the pandemic year. After that we started the series officially with ts… Read more »

The Ospreys Train for their Super Bowl Appearance in Super Bowl LIX

02/09/2025 U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys, tiltrotor aircraft, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 774, Marine Aircraft Group 49, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and VMM-764, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, perform a formation flight over New Orleans, Feb. 4, 2025. The flight was a rehearsal in preparation for a flyover of Super Bowl LIX. 02.04.2025 Video by Lance Cpl.… Read more »

A January 2025 Update on the Indian Air Force MRFA Program

02/03/2025 By Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd) New Delhi. Conscious of serious capability gaps, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) had announced formation of a high-level committee to address shortages in the Indian Air Force (IAF). For some time, the IAF has been grappling with the reduced fighter aircraft with the squadron strength coming to an all-time low of 31 vis-à-vis the… Read more »

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Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective

10/07/2024 On September 26, 2024, the most recent seminar of The Sir Richard Williams Foundation was held. It was entitled: “Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective.” This seminar focused on how the force in being or the ready force was focused on improving its capability, its survivability and lethality for the fight tonight.… Download PDF Now »

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Further Consolidation of the European Land Weapons Business: KNDS Acquires Texelis

01/31/2025 By Pierre Tran Paris – The French unit of KNDS and Texelis have signed an outline agreement on the acquisition of the builder of powertrains for armored vehicles by the… Read more »

Logistical Support for Distributed Maritime Effects

01/28/2025 By Robbin Laird I am publishing a book later this year forcused on the paradigm shift in maritime operations. For this paradigm shift, the U.S. must get beyond a primary… Read more »

An Estonian Perspective on Building European Defence Capability

01/26/2025 By Pierre Tran Paris – The Estonian ambassador, Lembit Uibo, pointed up Jan 21 the need for compromise when ordering weapons from European Union nations, the U.S. and other allies,… Read more »

“Baltic Sentry”: An Important Place to Start for Accelerating the Paradigm Shift in Maritime Operations

01/23/2025 A recent NATO decision provides a golden opportunity to work an effective approach accelerating the paradigm shift in maritime operations. At a summit of NATO Baltic allies held on 14… Read more »

Driving Innovation for the Maritime Forces: Keeping up with the Criminal Class

01/20/2025 By Robbin Laird When I was working with the U.S. Coast Guard, more than a decade ago, the Commandant was considering a new acquisition approach. The acquisition approach became known… Read more »

A Paradigm Shift in Shipbuilding

01/15/2025 There is a shift in how the maritime warfighting force is evolving and with that significant elements for a paradigm shift in the maritime force. One aspect of that paradigm… Read more »

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Devil Ray T18 Smart Uncrewed Surface Vehicle

02/19/2025 According to a MARTAC press release dated November 4, 2024: On 11/4/2024, Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), an innovator in Smart Uncrewed Surface Vessels (SUSVs), is proud to unveil its much-anticipated… Read more »

Desert Guardian Exercise

02/17/2025 U.S. Central Command and 10th Mountain Division modernize their forces and offer opportunities for innovation of emergent equipment that the U.S. Army will use to modernize tactics, techniques, and practices… Read more »

Ramstein Flag 24

02/14/2025 Allied fighter jets participating in NATO exercise Ramstein Flag 24 fly in formation over the west coast of Greece, Oct. 4, 2024. Over 130 fighter and enabler aircraft from Greece,… Read more »

15th MEU Loads MV-22B Ospreys With Disaster Relief Supplies at Laoag Airport

02/12/2025 U.S. Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, alongside Philippine Marines assigned to 4th Marine Brigade, load disaster relief supplies into MV-22B Ospreys… Read more »

F-35s Arrive at MCAS Iwakuni

02/10/2025 U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrive at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 13, 2024.… Read more »

Heavy Lift at WTI 1-25

02/07/2025 U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, conduct heavy lift exercises as part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 1-25 at Auxiliary Airfield 2 near Yuma,… Read more »

Fighters of the Fourth

02/05/2025 U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Alexandria Leyh, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, showcases her responsibilities at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, May 24, 2024. She contributes… Read more »

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The Second Line of Defense team provides high quality publications with regard to key global strategic developments. You can purchase these on a number of booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

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Transporting Patriot Missiles aboard MV-22B Osprey

01/09/2025 U.S. Army Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment and U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing transport Patriot… Read more »

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