Ideas
Six reasons the Pentagon should retire ‘deterrence by denial’
The recent decade has exposed the concept’s weaknesses.
Defense One Radio, Ep. 133: Unpacking the 2023 Air, Space & Cyber conference
In this episode, we review several things we learned at the Air & Space Forces Association's biggest annual event.
Defense One Radio, Ep. 132: The Pentagon’s new drone fixation
We dig into the new Replicator initiative, and explore Anduril's recent UAV-firm acquisition.
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.
Time to change US policy toward Niger and its West African neighbors
There are three main problems—including that it's not working.
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.
Featured eBooks
