Counterring Hybrid Threats

11/08/2015
2015-11-08 By Richard Weitz The United States and European allies and partners can respond more effectively against the kinds of hybrid threats we gave been discussing on Second Line of Defense. NATO can take actions, primarily in the military and intelligence fields, to deter and counter direct Russian threats against…

Reshaping Concepts of Operations: Eurofighter, the F-35, the UK and Italy

12/03/2014
2014-11-25 By Robbin Laird Both the UK and Italy will operate a mixed Eurofighter and F-35 fleet.  Both have operated the Tornado, which is reaching the end of its service life.  Both will sort through evolutions of the Eurofighter to encompass some of the mission sets for Tornado as the…

USS America’s Peruvian Port Visit

09/06/2014
09/06/2014: The future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) sits at anchorage in the port of La Punta during a scheduled port visit to Callao, Peru. America is currently traveling through the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility on her maiden transit, “America Visits the…

Afghanistan, Dust Storms and Demanding Operations: The Recapitalization Bill

04/27/2014
2014-04-27 With Afghan operations drawing down, it is important to remember how challenging the Afghan enivornment is and the impact of that operational environment has been on US and allied military equipment. A recent photo from Camp Bastion is a good reminder of the demanding Afghan environment. [caption id="attachment_64851" align="alignnone"…

An End of the Year Update on the Indian Navy: Building Out the Carrier Fleet

01/04/2014
2014-01-03 By Gulshan Luthra Naval Chief Admiral DK Joshi has observed that as a carrier-centric force, the Navy was looking forward to the arrival of INS Vikramaditya and to integrate her “into our operational architecture.” “Given our vast maritime domain, far-flung island territories, national interests, and the extremely dynamic geo-strategic environment,…

HMLA-469 Over Helmand

12/26/2012
12/26/2012: U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Richard G. Deibler, UH-1Y Venom door gunner and Lance Cpl. Joshua S. Martinez, UH-1Y Venom crew chief with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 469, Marine Aircraft Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), conducts operations over Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2012. HMLA-469 provided…

The Indian Defense Market: Changing Dynamics

08/19/2012
2012-08-19 By Richard Weitz The back-to-back visits of U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, in charge of that country’s military-industrial complex, to India last month demonstrate the heightened competition for India’s defense import market, currently the largest in the world. India accounted for…

Reconciling with Taliban Leaders

01/12/2012
By Dr. Richard Weitz The issue of promoting an enduring reconciliation between the Afghan government and influential members of the Taliban is the most controversial element of the peace process. The intent is to exploit the fact that the Taliban leadership is not a cohesive group. Some Taliban leaders might…