2017-12-28 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake The shift from engaging in the land wars and the con-ops associated with those land wars to preparing for higher tempo and higher intensity operations are key to the transformation of U.S. and allied forces. The challenge facing the liberal democracies was well put…
2018-01-06 According to an article published by the French Air Force on January 4, 2018, a FAF AWACS was deployed from December 9-15 2017 in support of operations in French Guiana, which is located on the northeast coast of South America. The mission was in support of providing a protective…
2017-12-29 As we end 2017, the team at Second Line of Defense would like to note that we have focused for MANY years on the re-norming of airpower associated with the coming of the fifth generation aircraft. There have been many opponents along the way, and many of these folks…
2017-12-18 Last year, the Chief of Naval Operations had enough with the growing emphasis on what our adversary’s might be able to do as opposed to focusing on U.S. and allied modernizations to support the freedom of action of the liberal democracies. Adm. John Richardson in October 2016 argued: "We're going…
2017-12-16 By Robbin Laird In an interview earlier this year, the Chief of Staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lt. General Hood highlighted what he saw as a key area of competence for the Canadian Air Force and Navy, namely anti-submarine capabilities. He underscored that their new helicopter and…
2017-12-01 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake As the USAF looks to its evolving air combat capability for 21st century operations, clearly continuing the path of innovation being shaped by the Pilot Operators of the capabilities of the fifth-generation aircraft is a crucial driver for change. The introduction of sensor…
2017-11-27 If the USMC leadership and the Osprey nation of marine corps operators had not had the courage to introduce the Osprey to combat in 2007, we could still be debating the Osprey as some sort of prototype. But by deploying the asset, building out its capabilities and learning how…
2017-11-28 A U.S. Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) conducts an aerial refuel in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) near Welton, Ariz., Oct. 5, 2017. After a long career in the USMC, the Prowler is being retired as the Marines…
