Second Line of Defense

For almost ten years, Second Line of Defense has been delivering insightful interviews with military personnel and their support teams. Our discussions have taken place globally and have centered around the advancements and changes in the defense capabilities of democratic nations. Our reporting stands out and has been extensively shared both online and in print. We concentrate on the progress of U.S. and allied military forces, engaging with key leaders and influencers in the field to explore these developments.

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The Paradigm Shift in Maritime Operations: What Potential Role for Future Tiltrotor Systems?

1 day ago | sldinfo.com | Robbin Laird

By Robbin LairdIn my forthcoming book on the paradigm shift in maritime operations, I focus on the importance of pairing distributed capital ship operations with the capabilities that air vehicles and autonomous systems can provide to deliver maritime effects in a contested environment. To achieve competitive overmatch in the air, performance characteristics like range, speed, and payload capacity is paramount.
I Marine Expeditionary Force

2 days ago | sldinfo.com | Robbin Laird

Skip to content U.S. Marines with I Marine Expeditionary Force have conducted a multitude of exercises and operations across the Indo-Pacific throughout 2024. I MEF provides the Marine Corps a globally responsive, expeditionary, and fully scalable Marine Air-Ground Task Force, capable of generating, deploying, and employing ready forces and formations across the Pacific.
The Textron Aviation Defense Offering for the U.S. Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System

3 days ago | sldinfo.com | Robbin Laird

By Robbin LairdAt the recent Sea-Air-Space Conference held in National Harbor, Maryland, Textron Aviation Defense was featuring its offering for the Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System. The Navy seeks to replace the aging T-45 Goshawk — with the candidates being the multi-engine Textron Aviation Defense-Leonardo-M-346N, the single-engine Boeing-Saab T-7 and the single-engine Lockheed Martin-KAI T-50.
Space-Enabled Distributed Forces: Orbit’s Contribution

4 days ago | sldinfo.com | Robbin Laird

I met with Asaf Punis, VP of Marketing and Business Development of Orbit at during the 2025 Navy League meetings held the first week of April 2025. I was especially interested in talking with him because of my interest in C2 enabling a distributed kill web force. With the coming of maritime autonomous systems which can deliver mesh fleets to provide ISR and C for a distributed force, such capability dovetails in interesting ways as the LEO satellite networks evolve.
C-5M Super Galaxy

4 days ago | sldinfo.com | Robbin Laird

Skip to content A time-lapse of the sunrise with the U.S. Air Force C-5M Super Galaxies parked on the flight line at Travis Air Force Base in California Dec. 30, 2024. The C-5M is a strategic transport aircraft and is the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory.
The H-1s at MAWTS-1: Participating in Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-25

5 days ago | sldinfo.com | Robbin Laird

U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper pilots assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), are seen in the photo slide show below at the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 2-25 at Mesquite, California, April 14, 2025. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1 which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine aviation in support of the Marine Air Ground Task Force, Joint and Coalition Forces.
USS Gerald R. Ford and JMSDF

1 week ago | sldinfo.com | Robbin Laird

Skip to content The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), sails in formation with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Kashima-class training ship, JS Kashima (TV-3508), front and Hatakaze-class guided missile destroyer JS Shimakaze (TV-3521) while conducting routine operations in the Atlantic Ocean, September 23, 2024.
Maritime Autonomous Systems and Force Development: Shaping a Way Ahead

1 week ago | sldinfo.com | Robbin Laird

By Robbin LairdI had a chance to talk with Chris Morton during the 2025 Navy League meetings held the first week of April 2025. Morton is the Aerospace and Defence Global Industry Director at IFS which is an enterprise software company. We discussed the arrival of maritime autonomous systems and their impact on capital ship navies. Morton noted that Western navies needed to deal with asymmetric threats for forces like the Houthis as well as higher-end adversaries.
The U.S. Approach to Defense and Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific: Deconstructing Admiral Paparo’s Recent Testimony

1 week ago | sldinfo.com | Robbin Laird

By Robbin LairdRecently the Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command presented testimony before the Congress. In this piece, I will deconstruct that testimony to highlight key elements for shaping a way ahead in the near to mid-term. Not only is this necessary to focus on what the force needs now, but redesigning the force along these lines will not get us caught up into discussions of long-term acquisition choices.
35th FW F-35 exercise Arctic Gold 25-1

1 week ago | sldinfo.com | Robbin Laird

Skip to content F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 354th Fighter Wing participate in exercise Arctic Gold 25-1 on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.