Policy
Air Force revives a deployment concept used for the GWOT—with a few twists
Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0 is the latest move away from Biden-era attempts to orient the force toward China.
Policy
Space Force probably needs twice as many guardians, vice chief says
The service’s budget and constellation have doubled since its founding, Gen. Shawn Bratton noted.
Ideas
Defense One Radio, Ep. 202: The known perils of regime change
A scholar of civil wars warns against repeating the past mistakes from U.S. military interventions abroad.
Sponsor Content
Operation StormBreaker
To further the Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) goal of enhancing quality of life for both Marines and their families, IT leaders achieved significant time and cost savings through an innovative software factory built in an AWS landing zone.
Threats
As ICE becomes more violent, state and local officials struggle to fight back
They seek limits and accountability for the deadly immigration crackdown that the White House calls vital to national security.
Science & Tech
As combat evolves, leaders seek not ‘super-athletes’ but ‘human weapon systems’
The military wants to measure and build the ability to perform missions, not just do pushups.
Science & Tech
DOE seeks batteries with four times the juice
Six teams will get money to build manufacturable prototypes in two years.
Sponsor Content
Building AI-ready networks: A Public Sector Guide
$500B AI investment reshapes government—discover how AI transforms missions, operations, and citizen services.
Ideas
Bombing Iran would shore up its regime
External attacks stir up nationalism and redirect public anger outward, a “rally-around-the-flag” effect long documented by political scientists.
Ideas
Trump’s Greenland threat has already hurt US security—but far worse may come
A hostile takeover would shatter America’s key alliance, limit its military’s global reach, and invite economic reprisal.
Voices
Defense Systems
Army unveils new tank—five years early
Built largely of commercial parts, the first M1E3s will head out for testing this summer, the Army’s chief of staff said.
Business
Got an idea for reforming defense acquisition? The Pentagon’s all ears.
“We need radically different ideas,” says assistant defense secretary.
Policy
Where’s all that Golden Dome money going? Lawmakers want to know
Appropriations bill would give Pentagon two months to detail its spending on the sprawling missile-defense program.
Policy
Navy’s future fighter jet program revived in new funding bills
Appropriators bucked plans by the Navy, Pentagon, and the White House to freeze F/A-XX.
Policy
Shutdown odds plummet after House and Senate strike bipartisan deal on 2026 funding bills
If the full Congress approves, the Defense Department would get $838.7 billion, a sub-1% increase.
Ideas
Trump’s Greenland ambitions could wreck alliances that underpin the modern world order
A former diplomat looks at the president's latest ally-shaking outburst.
Science & Tech
China is building ‘full-stack’ defense-innovation cities
While the U.S. struggles to add rare-earth factories and drone-test ranges, Beijing is creating them in clusters.
Defense Systems
Trump’s ‘battleship’ could be most expensive US warship in history
Congressional researchers wonder whether BBG(X)’s cost and risks were properly analyzed before its rollout.
Policy
CNO drops hints about forthcoming ‘Fighting Instructions’ strategy
The new vision will arrive amid Navy efforts to expand its fleet and keep existing ships ready to deploy.
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