Ideas
To foster Middle East peace and prosperity, help Kurdistan fend off extremists
Two steps are urgently needed, says the regional government’s U.S. envoy.
Science & Tech
The Pentagon wants a common network for its counter-drone systems
The Army-led task force wants candidates by early next year.
Threats
Defense One Radio, Ep. 201: Conflicts to watch in 2026
CFR's Paul Stares unpacks the latest annual survey of foreign policy experts bracing for what might lie ahead.
Policy
Pentagon will cough up summaries of three years of safety investigations, per NDAA
Sen. Warren pushed for the disclosure amid rise in military aviation mishaps.
Policy
Leaders tapped to fill months-long vacancies atop NSA, Cyber Command
The signals-intelligence titan and the combatant command have been without a permanent leader since April.
Policy
Trump rebrands Congressionally-approved troop housing subsidy as ‘warrior dividend’ bonus
More than $2.9 billion in reconciliation funds was allocated to beef up troop housing allowances. Now it’s being used for $1,776 checks.
Science & Tech
Special operators seek larger ranges for electronic warfare and drone development and training
“We're going to start having some of these uncomfortable discussions,” said one official.
Policy
Space Force Special Operations Command? Congress has questions, too
The service defended its need for a SOCOM component. Defense experts said it’s redundant.
Policy
After eight months, administration signals a potential leader for NSA, CyberCom
The White House has asked senators to confirm a promotion for Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, deputy director for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Policy
Nearly 300 days after purge, Pentagon taps new Air Force vice chief, JAG
Air Mobility commander nominated to be vice chief; Oklahoma Air National Guard commander to be top judge advocate general.
Science & Tech
Building post-quantum gear is hard. A new partnership aims to make it easier
A European chipmaker and software firm are offering shortcuts to incorporating heavyweight encryption.
Policy
After shedding thousands of feds, Trump admin's new 'Tech Force' aims to recruit workers to two-year jobs
Some of the recruits to government service will be on leaves of absence from private-sector companies, raising conflict-of-interest questions.
Business
Next presidential jet will arrive a bit earlier than projected, Air Force says
Boeing's first VC-25B Air Force One jet is now slated to enter service in mid-2028.
Threats
New GAO, Navy reports warn of serious V-22 Osprey safety risks, with some fixes stretching into 2030s
The pair of accountability reports highlight Joint Program Office woes and maintenance failures.
Ideas