Future of War

The Next War’s ‘Butcher’s Bill’ Will Match WWII’s—Unless the US Adapts, Milley Says

NATO militaries must master new technologies, from AI to next-gen long-range fires, within 15 years, Joint Chiefs chair warns.

The Marine Corps Is Redesigning Infantry Battalions for the Future

Recommendations for a nimbler unit organization with fewer grunts and more tech will go to the commandant next year.

Peace with Russia, China ‘Fraying at the Edge,’ Milley Tells Graduating Cadets

New Air Force officers should work “to set the conditions for a future that prevents great power war,” Joint Chiefs chairman says.

US Marines May Have Lost Their ‘Amphibious Edge,’ Leaders Say

Top Marines tell Congress that after deadly AAV accident and years in Middle East, the Corps and its vehicles are unprepared for waterborne operations.

The Biggest Change In a Sanders Administration Might Be a New Definition For ‘Hostilities’

If Sanders sticks with his own precedent in the Senate, he could reshape American military engagement.

Watch: Future Security Forum

Defense One partners with New America to bring you the Future Security Forum in Washington, D.C.

China’s Military Is Getting Better at a Lot of Things at Once: Pentagon Intelligence

The DIA’s first public report cites rapid advances, extended reach, and increasing confidence.

Technology Is Making Warfare in Cities Even Deadlier

From airports to undergrounds, new weapons and brutal tactics will make things worse for urban dwellers.

Beijing Tells South China Sea Command: Prepare for War

The Southern Theatre Command must "concentrate preparations for fighting a war," Chinese president Xi Jinping said this week.

US Soldiers May Take Flying Ubers to the Front Lines

That’s the premise of a new partnership between the U.S. Army, NASA, and the ride-hiring company.

The Pentagon Wants to Bring Mind-Controlled Tech To Troops

The Defense Department’s research arm is working on a project that connects human operators’ brains to the systems they’re controlling—and vice versa.

The Video Game That Could Shape the Future of War

The U.S. Army is developing a new way to test technologies and tactics—but first they have to get tens of thousands of soldiers to play it.

Which Cyberattacks Should the United States Deter, and How?

In theory, there is no reason why the principles of deterrence should not apply to cyberspace. However, there are a number of reasons why it does not work in practice.

The US Army’s Next Big 5 Must Be Capabilities, Not New Platforms

The service’s weapons are increasingly unsuited for tomorrow’s battlefields, but there’s too little time and money to start from scratch.

US Navy Gunners Are Testing A Wearable Heads-Up Display

A service lab has turned a lieutenant’s brainstorm into a testable prototype dubbed the GunnAR augmented-reality headset.