2014-11-08 When a country has joined the F-35 global enterprise, whatever variant they start with they can clearly mix and match going forward. The commonality of the combat systems and the cockpit makes flexibility an inherent capability. Australia has made a clear commitment to the F-35 and to reshaping its…
2014-11-07 By Robbin Laird Visiting the USS Arlington for someone who lived in Arlington on September 11, 2001 is a very poignant event. And it is especially so for someone like me who was in the Pentagon that day. I went into my meeting. Suddenly, I felt the building rock.…
11/08/2014: The Marines and Sailors of 1st Marine Division commemorated the 10-year anniversary of the Second Battle of Fallujah, Operation AL FAJR, by hosting a ceremony at Camp Pendleton. The ceremony honored all service members who participated in the historic battle, and reunited veterans from private to general officer in…
2014-11-05 Recently, the Rome based think tank, Centro Studi Internazionali, published their look at the F-35 program, its impact on Italian defense and the role of Italy within the global enterprise. The report was authored by Francesco Tosato who is the analyst in charge of military affairs at the Center…
2014-11-03 The Marines this year are celebrating their 239th birthday. A good way to honor the Marines would be not only to remember the battle of Dong Ha, Vietnam, but to honor the men who fought there. The entire Second Line of Defense team wishes to support the suggestion of…
2014-11-04By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake We started our visit to The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Fallon Naval Air Station with the outgoing and incoming commanding officers of Plans, Programs and Tactics, or STRIKE (N5) in the Center. Plans, Programs and Tactics, or STRIKE (N5) is involved…
2014-11-06 Training for Electronic Warfare: Shaping a Combined Arms Approach By Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird During our visit to Fallon, we had a chance to discuss the role of Airborne Electronic Attack with CDR Mike “Beaker” Miller, Naval Strike and Warfare Center, Airborne Electronic Weapons School (HAVOC). CDR Miller…
2014-10-28 By Robbin Laird In a recent interview, Lou Kratz, underscored the core strategic point concerning what the F-35 deployed as a fleet can contribute: When the program that we recognize today as the F-35 was first conceived, there was a national and international recognition of the need for rapid…
