Shaping a 21st Century USCG: The Key Role for Maritime Patrol Aircraft

04/19/2011
­­­By Dr. Robbin F. Laird 04/19/2011 - The Obama Administration has come to power at a global turning point.  The President has underscored the importance of working with allies and shaping a new global engagement for the United States. At the same time, he has emphasized the need to enhance…

China-Russia Relations and the United States: At a Turning Point?

04/13/2011
By Dr. Richard Weitz 04/12/2011 - Since the end of the Cold War, the improved political and economic relationship between Beijing and Moscow has affected a range of international security issues. China and Russia have expanded their bilateral economic and security cooperation. In addition, they have pursued distinct, yet parallel,…

Defense Department Prepares for CyberWar

04/12/2011
The Current State of Play By Dr. Richard Weitz (Credit: Bigstock) 04/12/2011 - Ensuring the security of the cyber domain has emerged as one of the most serious challenges to U.S. national and economic security. Of all U.S. government departments, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has evinced the greatest…

The Eurocopter Approach

04/09/2011
Manufacturing for Sustainability: The Eurocopter Approach 04/09/2011- During the SLD visit to the Eurocopter manufacturing facility in February 2011, SLD sat down with Alain Rolland, Senior Vice President, Center of Excellence Dynamics.  Rolland has had wide-ranging experience within Eurocopter, including Super Puma program director, director for all Eurocopter commercial programs,…

Visiting the Dauphin Final Assembly Line

04/09/2011
Visiting the Dauphin Final Assembly Line: An Interview with Michel Guichard 04/09/2011 - During the SLD visit in February 2011 to the Eurocopter facilities in France, a tour was conducted of the new Dauphin Final Assembly Line (FAL).  The tour and interview was conducted with Michel Guichard, the Deputy Director…

Eurocopter Star Flex Technology

04/09/2011
Eurocopter Star Flex Technology: Building Rotor Hubs for Light and Medium Lift Helicopters 04/09/2011 - During the SLD visit in February 2011 to Eurocopter, Xavier Philippot, Head of the Star Flex Process, provided a tour of the composite facility where the main rotor heads or hubs are built for the…

Developments in Pirate Trends and Tactics

04/01/2011
By Karsten Von Hoesslin, Senior Analyst, Risk Intelligence Strategic Insights, No. 28 (November 2010) 04/01/2011 - Evidenced in other parts of the world, particularly in South East Asia, piracy that adapts to countermeasures and re-strategizes is always the most effective. Somali pirates have proven to be no different in terms of…