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

Building Blocks on the USS Ford: Reshaping the Flight Deck and Ops Tempo

10/23/2020By Robbin Laird In the last article on the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), I looked at one key building block which enhances both the ops tempo of the strike package on the USS Gerald R. Ford as well the flexibility of the weapons packages which can be moved to the flight deck and loaded on the strike aircraft.… Read more »

Unmanned Air Systems and the USMC: A MAWTS-1 Perspective

10/22/2020By Robbin Laird Two years ago, I published a chapter on the USMC’s recent experience with unmanned air systems in the book edited by John Jackson, entitled, One Nation Under Drones. I focused on the substantial experience they have accumulated with Scan Eagle and then with the Blackjack system. The primary use has been in terms of ISR in the… Read more »

The UK Defence Strategy: “Integrated Operating Concept”

10/21/2020The UK is clearly in a period of significant strategic change. The twin impacts of COVID-19 and BREXIT are enough to assure that. With the significant impact of the new aircraft carrier driving significant change with regard to air-sea integration, an evolution we have spent considerable time engaged in with the RAF and the Royal Navy over the past few… Read more »

Norway Increases Defense Budget to Support Long Term Defense Plan

10/20/2020According to a press release by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence on October 16, 2020, Norway is increasing its defense spending to strengthen its defense capability and military readiness. A challenging strategic environment constantly reminds us that cannot take our freedom and security for granted. The Government will continue to invest substantially in defence and security, to ensure that Norway… Read more »

An Update on Naval Group: Euronaval, 2020

10/19/2020Paris – Naval Group awaits a high-level political decision on the next-generation aircraft carrier, particularly whether the vessel will be nuclear or conventionally powered, the executive chairman of the French shipbuilder said Oct. 19. A number of “scenarios” have been studied for the carrier, including the propulsion system, Pierre Eric Pommellet said in a telephone news conference ahead of the… Read more »

Qatar’s European Allies Reinforce Qatari Defense

10/19/2020While the new agreements among Israel, Bahrain and the UAE reshape Middle Eastern dynamics, Qatar is enhancing its position working with European allies. A recent article on the UK's Ministry of Defence website highlighted a deepening relationship with Qatar. During a joint visit to RAF Coningsby on October 14, 2020, the defense ministers of Qatar and the UK reinforced the… Read more »

View All »

Platforms, Concepts of Operations and Defense Decisions: The German Case

08/30/2020With the launch of our defense information website (defense.info) , we introduced a micro-site on defense decisions. We wrote: “In this new section of the defense.info website, we will address U.S. and allied upcoming procurement choices and decisions. “We are focused on how platform and system choices affect the evolution of the capabilities, concepts of… Download PDF Now »