Ideas
How Ukraine’s defense industry innovates at the speed of modern war
The reasons are far more organizational than technological.
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Don't bottleneck defense-personnel vetting with a small-business set-aside
Screening a million federal employees a year has never been a small job, and it's getting bigger.
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The National Security Council is missing in action
The Trump administration's lack of a consistent rationale for the war on Iran underscores the importance of a functioning NSC.
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Iran war shows the strategic limits of tactical strikes
A complex web of economic and geopolitical consequences are keeping victory out of reach.
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This missile just proved itself in Iran. The US needs more, ASAP
Despite its advantages, the Precision Strike Missile has so far been procured in relatively small quantities.
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Pentagon leaders called Claude AI 'woke.' Tests show otherwise.
The blacklist against Anthropic deprives the federal government of one of the most rigorously neutral—and capable—AI models.
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Take the win. Stop the war.
Killing leaders is the easy part. The post-9/11 wars show that it’s what follows that turns into a disaster.
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The quantum curtain
What if citizens get unbreakable encryption? Welcome to the latest edition of Fictional Intelligence.
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Going hunting
What will it take to counter the smart mines of tomorrow? Welcome to the latest edition of Fictional Intelligence.
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The Pentagon moves into the era of affordable mass
Even as cheap drones deplete expensive air defenses near Iran, the U.S. military is working to turn the tables.
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Why the US went to war without a plan to evacuate DOD civilians, contractors, and others
A diplomatic veteran cites operational secrecy—and describes how things might have gone better.
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The US built up its missile defenses—and will need to do it again
The war against Iran has depleted stocks of vital interceptors.
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Why the US attack on Iran is unlikely to produce regime change in Tehran
A conversation with veteran diplomat Donald Heflin, a leader at Tufts University's Fletcher School.
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Expect Iranian regime to respond to US‑Israeli strikes as existential threats
The response to last year's strikes on nuclear sites was muted. Don't expect this one to be the same.
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Defense One Radio, Ep. 204: “Until the Last Gun Is Silent” by Matthew Delmont
A historian explores patriotism, U.S. foreign policy, and the anti-war movement during the Vietnam era.
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Defense One Radio, Ep. 203: Fictional intelligence
The authors of a new series discuss how they're exploring the future of conflict through short stories.
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'Mission ahead, heavens above'
Welcome to Fictional Intelligence, the first of a monthly series that explores the future through short stories.
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Pakistan’s burgeoning arms industry is a strategic opportunity for the US
A defense-industrial partnership could benefit the Pentagon while mitigating Chinese influence.
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