Author Archive
Patrick Tucker
Science & Technology Editor, Defense One
Patrick Tucker is science and technology editor for Defense One. He’s also the author of The Naked Future: What Happens in a World That Anticipates Your Every Move? (Current, 2014). Previously, Tucker was deputy editor for The Futurist for nine years. Tucker has written about emerging technology in Slate, The Sun, MIT Technology Review, Wilson Quarterly, The American Legion Magazine, BBC News Magazine, Utne Reader, and elsewhere.
Science & Tech
Navy secretary vows more money for anti-drone lasers
The Defense Department’s spending on lasers is down, but the need is up.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
U.S. military completes temporary pier off Gaza; deliveries to start within days
Thousands of tons of aid are on the way, one week after the IDF closed a key land corridor.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
The D Brief: Gaza pier opens; Israel closes border crossing; Russia’s space-nuke R&D; Congressional split; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson, Patrick Tucker and Bradley Peniston
Threats
Ukrainians plead with White House to lift missile-use restrictions
The White House is giving Ukraine more weapons, but also “limiting our capabilities,” officials warn.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
The US is still falling behind on electronic warfare, special operators warn
New space and low-power solutions are needed to operate against modern jamming.
- Patrick Tucker
Policy
'Swarm pilots' will need new tactics—and entirely new training methods: Air Force special-ops chief
AFSOC will expand on groundbreaking experiments this summer, Lt. Gen. Bauernfeind says in interview.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
AI, new tech are creating a special-operations ‘renaissance’
U.S. SOCOM wants to use new tools to give small teams a big punch.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Navy slow to adopt modern ship-designing tools, GAO finds
The service is getting in the way of shipbuilders who want to go digital, the watchdog said.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Giant military manta ray drone passes first ocean test
Manta Ray prototype demonstrates propulsion, steering in step toward “real-world operations.”
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
SecDef: I haven't seen a full Israeli plan to protect civilians in Rafah
“We certainly would want to see things done in a much different way” than elsewhere in Gaza, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
How digital engineering could produce new weapons faster
“This enables process automation more broadly,” GDIT engineer says of new accelerator.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
US will ‘continue to provide' ATACMS to Ukraine, national security advisor says
Months of work to build up stocks means the U.S. can give Ukraine more of the sought-after long-range weapon.
- Patrick Tucker
Policy
Prepositioned stocks will get new aid to Ukraine quickly, top US officer says
Aircraft are likely “already flying” material toward the beleaguered country, senior official says.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
Human-rights violations rising in several countries, State Department says
Russian-occupied Ukraine was home to some of the worst abuses, according to new report.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Australia got a new sub drone far faster than the US Navy could have, company says
Anduril says its Ghost Shark proves that UUVs can be designed and built quickly.
- Patrick Tucker
Policy
House passes long-awaited aid for Ukraine, Israel, Indo-Pacific
Two months after the Senate acted, the lower house responds to an increasingly desperate Kyiv.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Geothermal energy easing US military's logistics challenges
DIU is doubling its investment in new technology to harness the heat of Earth's core.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
Why we can shoot down Iranian drones over Israel but not Ukraine
The different outcomes of the weekend’s attacks on Tel Aviv and Kharkiv reflect factors practical and political.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
Europe is already planning for what happens if Ukraine loses. It’s ugly
A newly energized Russia is already escalating grey-zone operations in Eastern Europe, says Estonia’s defense minister.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
Russia could be outshooting Ukraine 10-to-1 ‘within weeks’: EUCOM chief
In House hearing, Gen. Cavoli laid out the consequences of more House inaction on aid.
- Patrick Tucker