An Update on F-35 Manufacturability

01/30/2012
[caption id="attachment_32648" align="alignleft" width="300"] Frank Dougherty During the SLD Interview (Credit: SLD)[/caption] 01/30/2012 - During Second Line of Defense’s annual visit to the F-35 manufacturing facility, Frank Dougherty, Vice President, F-35 Production Operations provided an update on F-35 manufacturability.  Dougherty has extensive experience with both the F-22 and the F-16,…

The USCG Gets It Right: The 13th Ocean Sentry Aircraft Arrives Ahead of Schedule

01/30/2012
The USCG C-130 and Ocean Sentry fleet provide significant and crucial coverage for the maritime air arm for the USCG. As we have argued: The maritime patrol aircraft, the C-130s and the helos form together the surveillance, lift and action team, which provide significant capabilities to extend the reach of…

Tail Hook is More Than a Party

01/26/2012
01/26/12 by Ed Timperlake Since the term “Tailhook” entered the vernacular (as a rowdy out of control party because of a social engineering agenda that set that media template), American’s may have lost sight that a real tail hook is a deadly serious piece of equipment. It was said during…

The Air Force Association Asks: Where is the Beef?

01/26/2012
01/26/12 We want to recognize the importance of an Air Force Association letter sent  to the Hill outlining their concerns about funding challenges undercutting the ability to have a new power projection strategy.  An impressive range of Air Force influentials weighed in and signed this letter and this is a…

Coalition Engagement in Bold Alligator 2012

01/26/2012
01/26/12 During the week of Second Line of Defense interviews prior to the beginning of the Bold Alligator 2012, Lieutenant Commander George Pastoor provided a unique coalition perspective.  Pastoor is a Dutch Naval Officer with Expeditionary Strike Force 2 and the lead planner for Bold Alligator. SLD: You are a…

The Afghan-Pak Logistics Challenge in 2012

01/25/2012
[caption id="attachment_12920" align="alignleft" width="150" caption=" "][/caption] By Dr. Richard Weitz 01/25/2011 - The success of U.S.-NATO operations in Afghanistan depends on logistics capabilities and security. It is crucial to have secure and effective lines of communication through which supplies can reach the foreign contingents assigned to the International Security and…

BF-6 and BF-8 Land at Eglin AFB: The F-35 Moves Forward

01/25/2012
01/17/12 During Second Line of Defense visits in mid-January 2012 to the participants in Bold Alligator, we were able to focus on the meaning of the arrival of the new USMC F-35Bs to Eglin AFB.  Col. Arthur TOMASSETTI, vice commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing, Air Education and Training Command,…