2015-12-02 While Putin was working the Syrian opportunity in September, the Russian Prime Minister was visiting the disputed islands with Japan. His visit paved the way for a building program on two of the four disputed islands. As reported in The Japan Times on December 2, 2015: Russia is constructing…
2015-11-24 By Robbin Laird, Harald Malmgren and Ed Timperlake When analysts and intelligence experts were highlighting the warming sun of the Arab Spring, there was much hope: democracy was in the air and the gap between Islam and the West might be closing. Rather than a warming sun, close observers…
2015-12-01 By Harald Malmgren ISIS-Supported terrorism in Paris and ballooning refugee flight from violence in and around Syria has combined to generate heightened apprehensions and political discord among Europeans. Political discord has increased not only between EU governments but also within individual EU nations on how to deal with these…
2015-06-02 By Robbin Laird The Royal Navy (RN) is returning the large deck carrier business after many years absence. This means that the RN while shaping the concepts of operations for it new carrier and the RAF for the new carrier air wing, the two services are not constrained by…
2015-11-16 By Robbin Laird The Wedgetail is part of the Royal Australian’s 21st century air power transformation effort and strategy. It is the core air battle management platform in the RAAF and is often referred to as an AWACs, although it is not. As the RAAF describes the Wedgetail: The…
2015-11-28 The Luftwaffe operates the Heron 1 in Afghanistan with support from Airbus Defence and Space. The German Air Force focuses on utilization of the aircraft and Airbus and Defence and Space is responsible for operating the systems and guarantees the operational readiness of Heron 1 in Afghanistan. This services business model…
2015-11-27 By Gulshan Luthra Dateline New Delhi. According to reliable sources, the vital first test in ejecting a missile from its onboard silos was conducted November 25. Proverbially, adding a feather to the cap of the Indian Navy and scientists from DRDO and BARC, the firing was done remotely from…
2015-11-27 Readers of Second Line of Defense were not surprised by the Turkish shootdown of the Russian aircraft. Hardly, an unpredictable event, the shootdown is a function of the evolving situation and Turkish objectives. With regard to context, Professor Amatzia Baram highlighted two important data points going into this phase of developments…
