The Non-Reluctant Arctic Power: Russia and the Arctic

07/03/2011
07/03/2011 The Arctic is a key strategic area, and fundamental to the energy and resource foundation for 21st century growth.  And the US is lacking core capabilities to operate in the region, but we will hold off investing in core capabilities. What seems to be missing is the Pentagon study,…

An Update on the X3: A Conversation with Hervé Jammayrac

07/02/2011
07/02/2011: During the Paris Air Show, Second Line of Defense talked with Experimental Test Pilot Hervé Jammayrac of Eurocopter.  Jammayrac provided an update on the aircraft and the test program.  In many ways, the new helicopter was a star at the airshow, bereft of many new flying aircraft. The X…

The Indian Fighter Competition and the Future of Eurofighter

06/29/2011
06/29/2011 - While attending the Paris air show in June, Second Line of Defense sat down with a senior Eurofighter executive to discuss Eurofighter in the Indian fighter competition.  A special focus of our efforts has been upon the intersection between the future evolution of the Eurofighter and the Indian…

Facing the Challenges of the Future in the Middle East

06/28/2011
A Conversation with Amir Oren Member, Editorial Board of Haaretz in Tel Aviv *** [caption id="attachment_19925" align="alignleft" width="123"] Amir Oren (Credit: click on picture)[/caption]   06/28/2011 - Amir Oren is a senior correspondent and columnist for Haaretz and a member of the newspaper's editorial board. He writes about defense and…

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…

An Unheralded Victory for the 12th Air Force

06/28/2011
06/28/2011 by Ed Timperlake “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” John Lennon A tremendous and unnoticed US Air Force victory is being won right off the shores of America.  And this victory highlights the impact of a Hi-Lo mix of technology. “Brazilian planes silence Dominican…

The Chinese Quest

06/27/2011
By Richard McCormack Manufacturing News, May 31, 2011 06/06/2011 - China has embarked on a goal of becoming the world’s leader in science, technology, invention, innovation and commercialization through a wide range of “techno-nationalistic” policies, spending programs and incentives. [caption id="attachment_19945" align="alignleft" width="178" caption="(Credit: CENTRA Technology, Inc.)"][/caption] It is receiving…

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…