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…

Project Independence or How to Shape a Pentagon Strategy for Greatness

06/30/2011
06/30/2011 The Pentagon is presently under-going the “mother of all budget drills” in order to find $400B over the next twelve years.  We hope the cuts will be based on a long-term strategic review of our national interests and what we want our military to do in the years ahead. …

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…

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…

A New Middle East

06/27/2011
By Franck Znaty 06/27/2011 - "There are currently no doubts about the stability of the regime in Egypt.” It was in these words that the newly-installed Military Intelligence Director of the  Israel Defense Forces' (IDF), Major General Aviv Kochavi, presented his assessment of the political situation in Egypt to the…