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Shaping Direct Defense of Northern Europe: 21st Century Challenges and Solutions

10/18/2018
By Robbin Laird A recent conference sponsored by our partner Risk Intelligence and hosted by the Atlantic Danish Atlantic Treaty Organization focused on “Threat Perception 2018: The Northern European Perspective.” Programme - Threat Perception In effect, the focus of the conference was the nature of the challenges and ways ahead…

Falcon 9 Launch

10/17/2018
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SAOCOM 1A satellite launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. at 7:21 p.m. PDT.  SpaceX completed the secondary mission of landing the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket at Landing Zone 4, which was previously called SLC-4W, at Vandenberg AFB.  This was…

Growlers in Valiant Shield 2018

10/17/2018
Sailors from Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138) perform post-flight operations for a U.S Navy EA-18G Growler as part of exercise Valiant Shield 18, on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 23, 2018.  Valiant Shield is a biennial, U.S. only, field training exercise with a focus on integration of joint training…

The Way Ahead in Shipbuilding: The Perspective of Admiral (Retired) Nils Wang

10/16/2018
By Robbin Laird During my current visit to Denmark, I have a chance to meet with Admiral (Retired) Nils Wang, a dialogue partner for several years in my visits to the country. He has provided the readers of Second Line of Defense with many key insights not only with regard…

AP-3C Orion in Exercise Kakadu  

10/15/2018
Held biennially, Exercise KAKADU is a joint exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force.  In 2018 it included 23 ships, 21 aircraft, a submarine and more than 3,000 personnel from 27 nations, and delivered a range of activities both ashore in Darwin…

Japan and Australia: Working Their Strategic Dynamic

10/13/2018
We consider the evolution of the Australian-Japanese relationship as one of the most critical ones which can affect the reshaping of deterrent capabilities and relations in the Pacific. Both countries are pushing out their defense perimeters to deal with the expanded reach of the Chinese.  Both are introducing new capabilities,…

The Return of Direct Defense In Northern Europe

10/12/2018
By Robbin Laird October 11, 2018, the Danish Atlantic Treaty organization hosted a conference sponsored by our partner Risk Intelligence entitled, “Threat Perception 2018: The Northern European Perspective.” The hosts will provide a full report of the proceedings of the day. The conference provided a detailed look at the presentations…

Aircraft in Valiant Shield 2018

10/12/2018
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon, and a U.S. Air Force E-8 Joint STARS take off from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam to participate in exercise Valiant Shield Sept. 17, 2018.  Valiant Shield is a U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration…