Changing the Mindset: “The ESG-MEB is Not an ARG-MEU on Steroids!”

03/21/2012
Second Line of Defense had a chance to sit down with one of the two Harrier squadron commanders aboard the USS Kearsarge during the Bold Alligator 2012 exercise. Earlier, we discussed with Lt. Col. Hermley, Commanding Officer, Marine Attack Squadron 231, MCAS, Cherry Point, and the approach to be followed…

Putin Boldly Defends Military Reform

03/20/2012
by Richard Weitz Perhaps the most original content in Vladimir Putin’s pre-election article on Russian defense policy is his comprehensive support for Russia’s controversial military reform program. Putin and other Russian leaders understand that, no matter how good the new weapons Russia is receiving, the Armed Forces need a newly…

The UK, Allies and Re-thinking the F-35C

03/19/2012
3/19/12 by Robbin Laird As Ed Timperlake has argued in a companion piece, the UK shifting from the F-35C to an F-35B/A mix would make inherently good sense. https://sldinfo.com/the-uk-rethinks-the-f-35c-decision-shaping-a-british-led-expeditionary-strike-group/ At the heart of the shift is the ability to gain significant flexibility with the use of the new UK carriers…

“A Most Ubiquitous Threat”

03/19/2012
Mine Warfare In Bold Alligator-12 and Expeditionary Warrior-12 Scott C. Truver, PhD In a SLD interview (http://www.sldforum.com/2012/03/the-way-ahead-after-bold-alligator-2012/), COL Bradley Weisz, Deputy Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group TWO, highlighted the importance of mine warfare (MIW), particularly mine countermeasures (MCM), in the joint/combined-forces Bold Alligator 2012 exercise conducted in February. “Both ESG-2 and…

A Grand Strategy To Revive Manufacturing

03/18/2012
by Richard McCormack Manufacturing News http://www.manufacturingnews.com/ March 16, 2012 The United States has no strategy for revitalizing U.S. manufacturing, but representatives from 18 organizations have put forth a set of proposals that could be the foundation of such a policy. Organized by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the…

The UK Rethinks the F-35C Decision: Shaping a British led Expeditionary Strike Group

03/16/2012
3/16/12 by Ed Timperlake The UK is rethinking its carrier aircraft decision.  In large part this is because of the cost necessary to build traps and cats on the Queen Elizabeth class carrier.  In part it is because of the impact of Libya and Bold Alligator in reminding strategists and…

DOD Missing Out of Another Market? Impact of the Super Tucano “Decision”

03/16/2012
While military exports to the U.S. and elsewhere would help, they may not be pivotal, Curado said. Embraer now gets half of its defense sales from the domestic market and sees this slice growing to as much as 75 percent in the next few years, he said. “There’s an opportunity…