Pacific Strategy X: ISR Services to the Honeycomb

10/24/2011
10/24/2011 - As the presence forces operate in the Pacific from the Arctic to Australia, a key enabler will be the ISR inputs or services which support and enhance deployed decision-making centers, whether in the combat aircraft of the 5th generation or by the ships and longer-range strike assets. The…

Pacific Strategy IX: Inserting the UCAS Into Maritime Operations

10/23/2011
10/23/2011 - A key development for the evolution of U.S. Pacific operations will be the use of new remotely piloted vehicles as part of the C4ISR capabilities.  So called-unmanned systems are clearly not that; but are an important part of extending the reach and persistence of the strike and reconnaissance…

The Turkish Re-Set: A Cause for Concern in the West?

10/23/2011
10/22/2011 - By Franck Znaty The current US administration sees Turkey as a model to be replicated for Arab and Muslim countries.  It is viewed as a Muslim majority country within secular institutions, western ally and NATO member, with a strong economy and pro-market policies, a newly-found tight control of…

Turkey Positions for US Military Withdrawal from Iraq

10/23/2011
10/23/2011 by Richard Weitz Now that all U.S. combat troops are scheduled to withdraw from Iraq by the end of this year, Iraq’s neighbors are positioning themselves.  These neighbors are maneuvering to manage the resulting transformation in their regional security environment. [caption id="attachment_25373" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The latest Weitz Report on…

The Libyan Air Operation: A French Perspective

10/21/2011
10/22/2011 - Second Line of Defense sat down with recently retired Lt. General Desclaux.  Desclaux’s last command was as French Commander of Air Defense and Air Operations for the French Air Force.  The General has a distinguished and comprehensive background in air operations, with significant NATO experience as well. An…

Pacific Strategy VIII: Re-Thinking the CVN

10/21/2011
10/21/2011 - The presence and scalable force structure for the Pacific, which we are laying out here, is intended to be suggestive and not completely comprehensive.  Every weapon system and platform will not be discussed, but the key categories of platforms and weapon systems are discussed as a means of…

Pacific Strategy VII: “Aegis is My Wingman”

10/20/2011
10/20/2011 - In a phrase, this is how the remaining core naval assets are integrated into a scalable Pacific capability.  The F-35s, whether land or sea-based as a Z axis C4ISR D force can bring the entire surface and subsurface fleet into a scalable operation.  An economy of force capability…