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War in the Modern Age: The Social Media Dimension of the War in Ukraine

10/31/2025 The war in Ukraine is the most documented conflict in human history, and at the center of this digital chronicle sits Telegram, a messaging application that has transformed from a simple communication tool into a multifaceted instrument of warfare. Since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Telegram has served simultaneously as a lifeline for civilians, a command-and-control platform for… Read more »

Redefining How We Train Modern Fighter Pilots

10/30/2025 By Robbin Laird The cultural image of the fighter pilot is etched in our minds: a maverick aviator, wrestling a difficult machine through the sky, defined by raw "stick-and-rudder" skill. We picture an ace relying on instinct and reflexes to outmaneuver an opponent in a classic dogfight. For decades, this romantic image wasn't far from the truth, and our training… Read more »

The Baltic Energy Cut-off of Kaliningrad from Mother Russia

10/28/2025 In the early morning hours of February 8, 2025, a 9-meter tall clock in downtown Vilnius reached zero, marking one of the most significant geopolitical transformations in European energy history. As the final seconds ticked away, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania severed their last physical connection to the Soviet-era power infrastructure that had bound them to Moscow for more than six… Read more »

U.S. Marine Corps Debuts New Littoral Capabilities at Balikatan 2025

10/27/2025 By Robbin Laird Exercise Balikatan 2025, the 40th iteration of the annual U.S.-Philippine military exercise, marked a significant milestone in the evolution of U.S. Marine Corps littoral warfare capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. Conducted from April 21 to May 9, 2025, the exercise showcased the debut of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment's new rotational force concept alongside advanced unmanned surface… Read more »

The Poland-Belarus Border Closure: Its Global Impact

10/23/2025 In September 2025, Poland made a decision that reverberated far beyond its borders with immediate consequences for global trade. Citing security concerns following the Zapad-2025 military exercises and Russian drone incursions, Warsaw closed all crossing points with Belarus, effectively severing one of the most important arteries in the China-Europe trade network.1 The closure stranded over 130 freight trains in Belarus… Read more »

The Ukraine War’s Asian Dimension: Situation Report, October 2025

10/21/2025 As the war in Ukraine enters the fall of 2025, what began as a regional European conflict has transformed into a global struggle with profound implications for the Indo-Pacific. Far from remaining spectators to events thousands of miles away, major Asian powers, China, North Korea, Japan, South Korea, and India, have become deeply enmeshed in the conflict, each pursuing distinct… Read more »

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The LVC Dynamic: A Key Force for Change in Combat Pilot Training

09/29/2025 The landscape of military aviation training stands at a critical juncture. As combat aircraft have evolved into increasingly sophisticated platforms bristling with advanced sensors, networked communications, and complex mission systems, the challenge of preparing pilots to operate these systems effectively has grown exponentially. The emergence of fifth-generation fighters has fundamentally altered the calculus of pilot… Download PDF Now »

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Visiting Italy’s International Flight Training School: Initial Thoughts

10/19/2025 By Robbin Laird After learning about the International Flight Training School during my visit to Rome in November 2024, I was eager to understand more about Italy’s innovative approach to… Read more »

The War in Ukraine: Situation Report, October 2025

10/18/2025 The maneuvers in the war in Ukraine in the Fall of 2025 show several dynamics at once. The Russians are using attacks on civilian targets to undercut the will of… Read more »

Ukraine’s Robot Army: The Rise of Unmanned Ground Vehicles in Modern Warfare

10/10/2025 The battlefields of Ukraine are witnessing a technological revolution that is reshaping the nature of ground combat. While aerial drones have dominated headlines throughout the conflict, a new category of… Read more »

Renewable Energy Economics: The Challenges that Need to Be Met

10/10/2025 On April 28, 2025, at precisely 12:33 CEST, the lights went out across the Iberian Peninsula. What began as a voltage surge at a solar installation in Spain cascaded into… Read more »

Fight Tonight: The Major Answers to Readiness at the Speed of Relevance

10/09/2025 By Robbin Laird The Sir Richard Williams Foundation’s September 18, 2025 seminar posed a fundamental question that cuts to the heart of modern defense planning: How does a nation achieve… Read more »

The Hidden Cost of Flying Yesterday’s Trainers

10/08/2025 By Robbin Laird When the first T-7A Red Hawk trainer arrives at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph this December, it will mark more than just the introduction of a new aircraft.… Read more »

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Osan DFT

09/26/2025 U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lighting II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing conduct flight operations during a deployment for training… Read more »

Atlantic Trident 25

09/24/2025 A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, conducts aerial refueling operations with F-35A Lightning IIs from the 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath,… Read more »

Bamboo Eagle 25-1

09/22/2025 U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing paticipate in Bamboo Eagle 25-1 at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. The 354th participated in Bamboo Eagle to improve the… Read more »

The King Stallion Works with the Joint Force

09/10/2025 U.S. Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) and 2nd Distribution Support Battalion (DSB) perform external lifts at U.S. Coast Guard base Sector Key West, Florida, July 28, 2025. Marines… Read more »

The King Stallion Works Interagency Tasks

09/08/2025 U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Fred Miller, from Nevada and a CH-53K King Stallion crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461, looks out of a CH-53K near Naval… Read more »

HMH-461 Aviation Expo

09/05/2025 U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, showcase a CH-53K King Stallion as part of Fleet Week New York 2025, at… Read more »

SLTE 1-25

09/03/2025 U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 conduct simulated troop insertion operations with 2nd Battalion 23rd Marines at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Feb.… Read more »

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The Second Line of Defense team provides high quality publications with regard to key global strategic developments. You can purchase these on a number of booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

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Training Combat Pilots for the Kill Web Era: A Strategic Evolution

10/21/2025 The shift from counterinsurgency operations in the Middle East to major power competition has fundamentally transformed how Western militaries must prepare for combat. This strategic pivot, which I explored in… Read more »

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