Ideas
The US needs more than troops at a Syrian airbase to constrain ISIS, Iran
Continued support for the SDF, plus more burden-sharing, is necessary to protect U.S. interests.
Policy
Air Force leaders axe major China-focused organizational efforts
The service continues to unravel its “reoptimization for Great Power Competition” strategy.
Policy
NSA has 2,000 fewer people now, meeting Trump-admin goal
The exact size of the agency’s workforce is not publicly known, but a fact sheet distributed by Maryland last year put it at 39,000.
Policy
Congress to probe US strikes on boats in Caribbean
The U.S. Senate and House Armed Services committees will open bipartisan inquiries amid conflicting Trump-administration statements.
Ideas
The awful arithmetic of our wars
If we don't figure out a way to fight far more cheaply, we won’t be able to afford to win a single battle.
Business
Space Force won’t say who got money to start developing orbital interceptors
Federal regulations don’t require disclosure for awards under $9 million.
Business
Defense One Radio, Ep. 199: Rep. Rob Wittman
The Virginia Republican discusses the Pentagon’s acquisition reforms, the SecDef’s legislative-affairs bottleneck, and his priorities for the upcoming spending bills.
Policy
Lawmakers vow action to force Russian concessions in proposed Ukraine deal
House Republicans are adamant that the end of the war not be the “Munich Agreement all over again.”
Defense Systems
USAF plan to fly C-5, C-17s even longer elicits concern
Service says it needs to hedge against delays to planned Next-Generation Airlift plane.
Defense Systems
NATO has built a cloud for Ukraine’s classified battle data
The last hurdle is figuring out information-sharing policies to keep it all safe.
Defense Systems
The Army is taking counter-drone experimentation from Europe to INDOPACOM
A joint exercise with Poland and Romania, plus a counter-drone competition, took place this month.
Science & Tech
Counter-drone warfare at scale? Army demo shows it’s getting closer
In just a few days, Project Flytrap stood up a defensive network in northern Germany.
Policy
DOGE is no longer a 'centralized entity,' personnel chief says
But the renamed U.S. Digital Service continues its work, as do DOGE teams throughout government, Office of Personnel Management says.
Threats
To China's war planners, AI is just another thing to deceive
The People’s Liberation Army is prepping for battles in which AIs work to distort each others' reality.
Threats
