Ideas

The inside story of how the Navy spent billions on the 'Little Crappy Ship'

Littoral combat ships were supposed to launch the Navy into the future. Instead, they broke down across the globe. Now the service is getting rid of them.

Congress has 11 days to pass 12 funding bills—and that's not likely

A former deputy director of the CBO expects a shutdown—of possibly record-breaking length.

The Space Force needs a brand-new culture of its own

It doesn’t do organized violence—and shouldn’t pretend that it does.

China is honing runway-repair teams

In a Pacific conflict, sustained air operations will turn on the ability to keep airfields open.

We got all six defense-industry stakeholders in a room. Now what?

A unique forum reveals rifts—and potential ways forward—in the quest to improve defense innovation.

Beware of Pentagon techno-enthusiasm

A massive new drone effort, while laudable in its quest for simpler weapons, does not come without strings attached.

The Senate's defense-policy bill looks for threats in the rear-view mirror

The upper house orders up an investigation of the 2020 SolarWinds hack while saying all but nothing about AI.

Get mental health stigmas out of the clearance process

Old attitudes toward mental health treatment must no longer dissuade people from applying for cleared jobs or seeking help after receiving one.

Air Force deal sets a precedent others should follow

By obtaining the data rights for two helicopters, the service sets itself up to save money and improve readiness.

Extend the Pentagon’s ban on China’s consumer drones

The rest of the federal government—and state and local agencies and even private-sector infrastructure companies—should quit using this Chinese technology.

The latest Iran deal is a win-win

A complicated prisoner swap should ease drug shortages that are killing ordinary Iranians—and put new pressure on Tehran’s leaders.

To compete with China in STEM, Pentagon should invest in HBCUs

The DOD can't leave the potential of historically Black colleges and universities untapped.

China’s war planners are leaning harder on its militia

The PLA’s reserve auxiliary force dwarfs the regular military, but is understudied and too often overlooked.

What DOD can learn about smarter innovation from a roll of toilet paper

Its focus on Silicon Valley has obscured lessons from the less-techy world of consumer products.

House cuts to Pentagon climate-resilience plans weaken the military

As weather grows harsher, hardening bases and gear is investment in capability.

A defense treaty is not how Biden should fix the Saudi relationship

To fend off Iran, Riyadh must improve its military, not rely on U.S. protection.