Ideas
The Weapons of Tomorrow Must Come Cheaper, Faster and Simpler Than Before
Instead of trying to build silver bullets for the future, policymakers and industry must become better at responding to the unpredictable.
Ideas
Ukraine’s Military Needs More Than Just Arms
Let’s not overstate how lethal arms can save Ukraine. Here’s how the US and Europe really can help develop a professional and capable force.
Ideas
The World Needs New Rules for Armed Drones
New data shows how armed drones are proliferating around the world and why international standards to govern them are overdue.
Ideas
What Is the Future of War?
Facing a new inflection point, 'Future of War' project members sound off with their take on where conflict is headed in the 21st century.
Ideas
Hold Your Fire: The Intelligence Community’s Problem With Privacy Officers
They are routinely called terrorists, but they are the Intelligence Community’s own privacy watchdogs and they deserve respect.
Ideas
Why America's Obsession With Iran’s Centrifuges Could Give Tehran the Bomb
The fixation with Iran’s machines diverts us from the real threat.
Ideas
How Shinzo Abe Is Modernizing Japan's Military
Tokyo's counterterrorism ambitions following ISIS's beheadings of two Japanese hostages is part of a broader realignment of Japan's armed forces, says AEI's Michael Auslin.
Ideas
America Needs To Engage With Its Enemies, Not Isolate
Raw strength and power is necessary for deterrence, but off-ramps from conflict can be created by building relationships.
Ideas
Why Size Doesn’t Matter When Judging the Intelligence Community
Instead of criticizing how big the Intelligence Community has grown, let’s get the US to do a better job explaining why.
Ideas
Reform Pentagon Acquisition By Slowing Down the F-35
John McCain and Ash Carter want real acquisition reform? Great, they can start by slowing – or stopping – the F-35.
Science & Tech
The Marines Are Building Robotic War Balls
The future of amphibious assault looks kind of like an explosive inner tube. It’s really a drone.
Ideas
What the Military Compensation Commission Must Do To Succeed
History shows that policymakers listen to blue ribbon defense commissions when they’re done right – like this one was.
Ideas
How Reforming Benefits Could Undermine the Pentagon's Future
The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission's recommendations are appealing to reformers. But here's how they could actually end up doing irreversible harm to the all-volunteer force.
Ideas
The Wrong Move: Adding Nuclear Weapons to the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Despite the wishes of two key Congressmen, more nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe is a bad idea.
Ideas
The US Intelligence Community Is Bigger Than Ever, But Is It Worth the Cost?
The intelligence community has grown to an enormous size and Americans have no clue what they’re paying for.
Science & Tech
Here’s What You’ll Find on the Fighter Jet of 2030
Military leaders reveal their hopes and fears for the 6th Generation fighter they will desperately need.
Ideas
Ignore the Pundits: US-Israeli Security Relations Are Stronger Than Ever
US defense secretaries’ relationships with their Israeli counterparts have been among the closest of any around the world.
Ideas
It’s Time To Arm the Ukrainians
President Obama must change course and give Ukrainians the arms they need to stop Putin.
Ideas
Ash Carter Has One Shot To Keep the Pentagon’s Technology Edge
Carter likely has only one shot to shape the Pentagon budget entirely on his own.
Ideas