Russia Signs Deal with France for Warships

06/28/2011
News Brief By Kirsten Ashbaugh 06/27/2011 - Russia has signed a long-expected agreement with France to buy two Mistral-class warships in a US$1.7 billion (€1.2 billion) contract.  Anatoly Isaikin, director of the state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport, and Patrick Boissier, president and CEO of the shipbuilder DCNS that will construct the…

Transatlantic Defense Troubles

06/27/2011
By Dr. Richard Weitz 06/27/2011 - In early June 2011, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released a comprehensive report on European countries’ defense industrial policies. Thus far, European governments have devoted sufficient resources to keep their deployed forces in a state of high readiness. Often this has…

Sustainability: The Missing Factor in the U.S. Defense Debate

06/20/2011
By Dr. Robbin Laird 06/20/2011 - The U.S. defense debate is being framed as defined by constrained fiscal choices and program cuts.  Also, the real need for a strategic review for the post-Afghan military is pressing. But rampant so-called “contingency” operations are sucking up operational money and draining procurement capabilities…

F-35, Maintenance and the Challenge of Service Standardization

06/20/2011
An Interview with Master Gunnery Sergeant McKay and Major Margolis 06/20/2011 - In late April 2011, Second Line of Defense sat down with Master Gunnery Sergeant Thomas McKay and Major Margolis of HQMC Aviation Logistics Support Branch.  The focus was upon the strategic opportunities inherent the F-35 program to re-shape…

21st Century Air Capabilities

06/18/2011
By Dr. Robbin Laird 06/18/2011 - 21st century air capabilities are built around the three “M”s.  The aircraft need to be multi-mission and manufactured to be significantly more maintainable than 20th century aircraft. The Three "M"s (Credit: SLD) In today’s world, the acquisition of aircraft in financially stringent environments favors…

Crafting Solutions at the TACC in Dialogue with USTRANSCOM

06/16/2011
The Planning Piece An Interview with Major Fuller [caption id="attachment_18862" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Major Fuller During the SLD Interview (Credit: SLD)"][/caption] 06/16/2011 - Major Christopher Fuller of the Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC) kicked off the roundtable by discussing airlift planning for missions into Iraq, Afghanistan and for humanitarian operations.  A…

An Update on the A400M Program

06/16/2011
06/16/2011: Cédric Gautier, head of the A400M program, provided an update on the program at the Airbus Trade Media event in mid-May 2011. [slidepress gallery='an-update-on-the-a400m-program'] Photo Credit: Airbus Military Gautier started by providing an overview on the aircraft itself.  He argued that this is “a new modern aircraft with modern…

Insights from the TACC

06/16/2011
A Wrap Up Discussion with Captain Brockhoff 06/16/2011 - After an overview briefing and a visit to the Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC) command center, Second Line of Defense sat down with Captain Brockhoff to focus on several items highlighted in the morning briefing. Captain Justin Brockhoff is the Chief…