Policy
As drones proliferate, Army pilots worry about their future. Will a new approach to flight school help?
The service is shedding aviation units and working to turn initial helicopter training over to industry.
Business
Funding for E-7 Wedgetail included in bipartisan deal to end 41-day government shutdown
Despite Pentagon and Air Force protests, Congress continues to support the radar jet program.
Business
Just one prototype won’t cut it anymore, Pacific Marine commander tells industry
MARFORPAC is working faster, so it needs companies with innovative gear to show up with multiples.
Threats
Longest shutdown in history creating a readiness hole of unknown proportions
The heads of several military professional organizations came together to beg Congress to open the government.
Sponsor Content
Cyber Fortress 2025: AI-Enabled Edge & Cyber Resilience
Cyber Fortress 2025 united military, industry, and academia to test Virginia’s power grid resilience. Featuring GDIT’s AI-powered DOGMA and AWS cloud, the exercise showcased real-time threat detection, cyber-physical coordination, and mission readiness in contested environments.
Policy
Senate moves on shutdown deal that would fund DOD by CR until Jan. 30
Deal would also ensure administration follows law ensuring backpay. Next up: more procedural moves to send it to the House.
Threats
Pacific soldiers push forward with transformation, with an eye on China
“The cost of failure is too damn high,” Gen. Ronald Clark says.
Sponsor Content
Improving Mission-Critical Defense IT Operations with End User Insights
Senior DOD leaders depend on secure, resilient technology to drive global missions and national security decisions. Yet aging, siloed IT infrastructure threatens readiness, collaboration, and command effectiveness across critical defense operations.
Threats
Defense One Radio, Ep. 198: Jon Wolfsthal and “A House of Dynamite”
A veteran of the National Security Council shares what the movie got right and wrong on U.S. missile defense and nuclear command and control.
Business
Defense tech companies will weather the shutdown. But what happens next?
Some primes are doing all right, while small companies brace for uncertainty under a CR.
Voices
Science & Tech
Space Force astronauts? New report says guardians in space would be asset for future ops
Experts say humans in space would be advantage, alongside needed tech improvements.
Ideas
The Pentagon must activate this powerful, underused approach to acquisition
The modular open systems approach is already encouraged. It’s just not used enough.
Policy
Pentagon policy shop shifts story on pause in Ukraine aid again
A second Senate hearing this week further mined the tension between DOD and its congressional oversight bodies.
Threats
Exercise underscored need for AI, autonomy, C2, and networks
Operating with speed, scale, and agility in the Indo-Pacific is “probably the most challenging thing” the military does, PACAF commander says.
Exclusive
Business
Draft list of attendees for Hegseth acquisition-reform speech shows wide industry interest
The guest list for the Pentagon’s new policy roll-out reveals the rapidly changing face of defense tech.
Policy
Experts see promise, risk in Pentagon’s draft acquisition reforms
A draft memo is circulating ahead of SecDef Hegseth’s Friday speech.
Policy
‘We’re closer to the end': Lawmakers signal some progress in bipartisan talks to end shutdown
The funding lapse is set to reach record levels but senators in both parties voice mild hope of progress.
Threats
China is already dominating the data war in the Pacific, experts say
'Lack of focus' is slowing needed change at the Pentagon, a former acting SecDef says.
Policy
Pentagon’s policy shop is a ‘Pigpen-like mess': Sen. Cotton
Senate Armed Services Committee members from both parties question DOD missteps, actions that contravened president’s foreign-policy positions.
Threats
At NSA, a leadership vacuum and staff cuts threaten operations and morale
"That’s what happens when your boss disappears, and then some of your lead unicorns also disappear,” one person said.
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