Gates' legacy lies in practical military tech

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who leaves his Cabinet position June 30, spent most of his tenure popping the military's fantasy bubbles that inhibited durable technological and martial innovation, writes Spencer Ackerman at Wired's Danger Room blog.

What Gates sought to do, rather than invest heavily in future ships and aircraft, was produce platforms and systems that were relevant to the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, such as blast-proof trucks, intelligence gear and radio frequency jammers, writes Ackerman.

Ackerman’s blog evaluates the following policies and programs that received thumbs up or thumbs down from the practical-minded secretary of defense: mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles; intelligence surge; killer drones; F-22 Raptor; F-35 Joint Strike Fighter; Future Combat Systems; helicopters for Afghanistan; jammers; Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle; social media; airborne laser; Littoral Combat Ship; and Cyber Command.