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The ADF–USMC Partnership: Building a Modern Defense Alliance for the Indo-Pacific

01/15/2026 By Robbin Laird The deepening partnership between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) is increasingly at the center of Australia’s defense strategy for the Indo-Pacific. While recent commentary has emphasized the risks of deepened integration for Australian sovereignty, this narrative can underestimate the many advantages flowing to Australia across doctrine, operations, industry, and regional access.… Read more »

Beyond FCAS: SAAB Positions Itself

01/14/2026 By Pierre Tran Paris - Saab, the Swedish builder of the Gripen fighter jet, appears to have emerged as a potential plan B for Airbus Defence and Space, if a Franco-German €100 bln ($116 bln) project for a European future combat air system fails to take off. A Dec. 18 summit in Berlin came and went without France and Germany… Read more »

Dr. Richard Weitz: A Career Dedicated to Security Policy and International Affairs

01/13/2026 Dr. Richard Weitz stands as a prominent figure in the realm of political-military analysis, recognized for his in-depth research, policy contributions, and prolific writing. Over decades of dedicated service in academia, think tanks, and policy advisory roles, Dr. Weitz has shaped conversations on security dynamics across Europe, Eurasia, East Asia, and among the world’s major powers. Dr. Weitz currently holds… Read more »

HMHT-302: The New River Foundation for America’s Heavy-Lift Future

01/12/2026 By Robbin Laird At Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina, a quiet transformation is reshaping the future of American heavy-lift aviation. Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302, known by its call sign HMHT-302, has changed in mission by becoming the training squadron now for the CH-53K. What might appear as a routine administrative reorganization represents something far… Read more »

Looking Back on 2025: Reflections on a Year of Military Transformation and Global Realignment

01/11/2026 By Robbin Laird As I reflect on 2025 from my vantage point as a defense analyst with over four decades of experience observing military transformation and strategic shifts, this year stands out as a watershed moment in the evolution of warfare and international security architecture. The patterns I witnessed throughout 2025 represent not merely incremental changes, but fundamental transformations in… Read more »

Solving the CONOPS Gap: How COTS Uncrewed Systems Enable the Navy’s Hybrid Fleet

01/08/2026 By George Galdorisi The U. S. Navy stands at the precipice of a new era of technology advancement. In an address at a military-industry conference, the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael Gilday, revealed the Navy’s goal to grow to 500 ships, to include 350 crewed ships and 150 uncrewed maritime vessels. This plan has been dubbed the “hybrid… Read more »

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The LVC Dynamic: A Key Force for Change in Combat Pilot Training

09/29/2025 The landscape of military aviation training stands at a critical juncture. As combat aircraft have evolved into increasingly sophisticated platforms bristling with advanced sensors, networked communications, and complex mission systems, the challenge of preparing pilots to operate these systems effectively has grown exponentially. The emergence of fifth-generation fighters has fundamentally altered the calculus of pilot… Download PDF Now »

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An Estonian Perspective on the European Defense Renaissance

01/07/2026 By Pierre Tran Paris – France and Sweden have offered the Rafale and Gripen to Ukraine, raising questions of practicality and financing, but an eventual delivery of the fighter jets could… Read more »

Dr. Paul Bracken: Shaping Thought on Strategy, Technology, and Security

01/06/2026 Dr. Paul Bracken stands at the crossroads of political science, management, and technology as a renowned professor at Yale University. Holding dual appointments in the Yale School of Management and… Read more »

The Return of VMM-264: Rebuilding Marine Corps Tiltrotor Capacity in an Era of Strategic Competition

01/05/2026 By Robbin Laird The reactivation of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 (VMM-264) represents far more than a simple administrative redesignation or force structure adjustment. It signals the Marine Corps’ recognition… Read more »

Examining the True Force-Mass Potential of Large Uncrewed Underwater Vessels

12/31/2025 By Dr Tom Loveard and Dr Marcus Hellyer. This article has been motivated by C2 Robotics’s internal company analysis of ongoing test and evaluation activities employing the Speartooth large uncrewed… Read more »

The 2025 Book Publishing Year for Second Line of Defense: 16 New Titles

12/28/2025 The 2025 publishing year brought together a remarkably coherent body of work that spans contemporary defense transformation, global political change, and historical reflection, while continuing to deepen long‑standing partnerships with… Read more »

America Needs to Rethink Relocation Challenges for Its Afghan Fighters

12/18/2025 By James Durso After NATO forces evacuated Kabul in August 2021, the U.S. government implemented Operation Allies Welcome to remove Afghan allies, including interpreters, embassy staff, and others who worked… Read more »

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VMM-162 Supports Anti-submarine Warfare Exercise

11/28/2025 U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162, U.S. Marines with VMM-162 support an anti-submarine warfare exercise during Atlantic Alliance 25 at Surface Combat Systems Center Wallops Island, Virginia,… Read more »

22nd MEU(SOC)

11/26/2025 U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready… Read more »

USS Tripoli to Japan

11/24/2025 The America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived at Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo in Sasebo, Japan June 23, 2025. The American Forces Network produces and delivers unique, immediate… Read more »

How The U.S. Army Can Enhance Joint Operations

11/21/2025 U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 35 series military occupation specialty can play a crucial role in gathering and analyzing intelligence on targets in joint operations. These assessments can support the… Read more »

BALTOPS 2025

11/19/2025 The German Navy Berlin-class replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main (A1412) refuels the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) during exercise Baltic Operations 2025 (BALTOPS 25)… Read more »

Protecting Undersea Infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

11/17/2025 Off the coast of Gotland, Sweden, scientists from the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) are deploying cutting-edge acoustic sensors to see if they might help NATO Allies… Read more »

Preparing MQ-9 for takeoff

11/14/2025 U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare an MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft for takeoff at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, June 2, 2025. The… Read more »

SLD BOOKSHOP

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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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Fight Tonight Force: Combat Readiness at the Speed of Relevance

12/27/2025 Robbin F. Laird’s Fight Tonight Force book to be published January 10, 2026, explores the urgent necessity for democratic nations, notably Australia, to transition from long-term planning to immediate combat… Read more »

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