2012-11-30 Earlier Second Line of Defense had a wide-ranging discussion with Don Kinard of Lockheed Martin, one of the best production specialists in the aviation business today. In that conversation we focused on the approach to building wings for the F-35. https://www.sldinfo.com/the-f-35a-lands-at-eglin-what-does-that-say-about-the-current-state-of-production/ https://www.sldinfo.com/an-update-on-f-35-manufacturing-the-case-of-wing-assembly/ In our most recent visit to the F-35…
2012-11-20 According to an Airbus Military press release: The initial three production A400M new generation airlifters are seen together for the first time in this latest image of the Airbus Military final assembly line (FAL) at Seville, Spain. The photo shows MSN7 (furthest from the camera, and first to be…
Airbus Military has focused for some time on ways to harvest the legacy of CASA to shape a more global strategy. The historical relationship with Indonesia has provided a very good launch point for such an effort. CASA has a long history of working with Indonesia and has more recently…
2012-11-06 In a four-part follow up set of interviews, Second Line of Defense is looking at the role and impact of the USS America. Interviews have been conducted with the prospective commander of the ship, the head of amphibious ship building in the USN, a senior USMC general on its role,…
2012-11-05 by Robbin Laird During a visit to the Gulf Coast, I spent two days at the Austal yard visiting the facility to tour the Littoral Combat Ship as well as the Joint High Speed Vessel. I also attended the keel laying for the sixth LCS and talked with some…
2012-10-30 by Robbin Laird It is not often that a new ship of the line is christened. And when it is, thoughts of how it might be used, where it might operate and how it might make new naval history are part of the excitement. This was clearly evident at the…
2012-10-20 by Robbin Laird The USS America was christened today in the Ingalls shipyard. This is the fourth ship to bear the name USS America. History of USS America It was done with a gathering of veterans, ship workers, and industrialists, members of the crew and various high ranking military…
2012-10-22 Second Line of Defense visited the Seville final assembly line (FAL) in late September for an update on the delivery schedule and process. And our guide to the effort was the senior Airbus Military engineer Jesús Portillo, in charge of the A400M Program Management Office. As with engineers, the approach…
