The F-35 and Pacific Strategy: Shaping a Core Lynchpin

11/08/2012
2012-11-08 By Robbin Laird Many analysts and politicians have discussed the F-35 as if it was a simple replacement aircraft. And in such conversations, the notion of stealth is seen as a high-end capability needed only sparingly and in specialized circumstances. If this were true, the Marines would not be…

The Challenge of Transforming US Forces in South Korea

11/07/2012
2012-11-07 By Richard Weitz The U.S-ROK military alliance has been the foundation of both countries’ strategic policies for over fifty years. The United States and South Korea signed a Mutual Defense Treaty in October 1953 following the 1950-53 Korean War, in which 33,600 American troops were killed and more than 100,000…

Ship Design and Innovation: Captain Mercer Discusses the USS America

11/06/2012
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,…

Ukrainian Security: Drifting Alone

11/06/2012
2012-11-06 by Richard Weitz Ukraine is not currently a full member of any of Eurasia’s strongest military blocs. It remains outside NATO, the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty, and the European Union. Ukraine has joined several weak security institutions, such as the co-founded the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the GUUAM (Georgia-Ukraine-Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan-Moldova),…

The Korean Nuclear Dynamic: Progress Not in Sight

11/06/2012
2012-11-06 by Richard Weitz The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is the only state to have withdrawn from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), unilaterally disabled IAEA containment and surveillance systems, and expelled IAEA inspectors from its territory in 1993. The United States then intervened and negotiated the 1994 Agreed Framework.…

Uzbekistan’s Military Reform and Partner Potential

11/05/2012
2012-11-05 by Richard Weitz Uzbekistan is commonly thought to have the most powerful and capable military and especially internal security forces of the five Central Asian countries. The London-based IISS 2012 Military Balance estimates Uzbekistan’s military and security forces to be around 67,000 people, with 50,000 in the Army and…

An Update on the A330 Tanker From Down Under

11/04/2012
2012-11-04 Australia is a major buyer of the Airbus Military 330 tanker. It has benefited significantly from the development of the tanker for the USAF, and unlike the USAF, will benefit from the result. [caption id="attachment_46972" align="alignnone" width="300"] RAAF A330 MRTT (KC-30A) refueling an F-16 through ARBS. Credit Photo: Airbus…