Ideas

Congress Must Be Willing to Do More With Less Defense Spending

Those who think America spends too much for national defense are as mistaken as those who think that larger defense budget numbers translate into strong security. By Rep. Duncan Hunter

Business

Obama Requests ‘Smaller’ $500 Billion Defense Budget

President Obama’s fiscal 2015 budget request, released on Tuesday, vows to field a smaller military and still protect the nation by projecting a global force. By Stephanie Gaskell and Kevin Baron

Defense Systems

DOD budget reflects impact of cyber, unmanned systems, R&D

The 2015 spending plan cuts back in expected areas, but also shows how the Pentagon's focus is shifting.

Defense Systems

Navy gets minehunting sonar for unmanned underwater vehicles

Raytheon to provide AN/AQS-20A sonar to enhance unmanned systems from Littoral Combat Ships.

Science & Tech

Syrian Electronic Army Threatens to Hack CENTCOM

A group of anonymous hackers backing the Syrian government is threatening to take down U.S. Central Command. By Patrick Tucker

Threats

Pentagon Suspends U.S.-Russian Military Exercises

The Defense Department has halted all military-to-military exercises with Russia in response to the invasion of Crimea in eastern Ukraine. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

Obama Says the 'Window Is Closing' for a Mideast Peace Deal

In an interview with The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, President Obama discusses Iran, Syria and urgency of a Mideast peace deal. By Matt Ford

Policy

Ukraine Is Obama's Biggest Foreign Policy Test Yet

Forget Iran and Syria. Everything now depends on a show of diplomatic strength that will isolate Russia's Putin. By Michael Hirsh

Threats

The Strategy Behind Russia's Takeover of Crimea

Moscow has supported secessionist movements in ex-Soviet states to expand its influence in the region. Is the Crimean crisis just the latest example? By Uri Friedman

Defense Systems

SpaceX gets closer to launching military, spy satellites

The Elon Musk-led company is nearing certification that would put it into competition with Lockheed/Boeing’s ULA.

Defense Systems

Northrop’s Modular Space Vehicle gives Air Force faster satellite capability

The first open systems spacecraft bus will allow for ‘responsive space’ capabilities.

Defense Systems

Drones seen driving spectrum sharing technologies

As commercial drones share the skies with the military and law enforcement, the need for multiband spectrum operations grows.

Threats

Heading Off Russian Invasion, Kerry to Visit Ukraine on Tuesday

Calling Putin a ‘tyrant’ whose actions reflect ‘19th century behavior in the 21st century,’ Secretary of State John Kerry heads to Kiev. By Stephanie Gaskell

Threats

U.S. Demands Putin Pull Back from Ukraine; Security Council Meets

As thousands of Russian forces enter Ukraine, President Obama calls Vladimir Putin, insisting on a pullback and threatening global 'isolation.' By Kevin Baron

Science & Tech

The Army Wants You to Build Them a Laser Truck

The military is pushing ahead with directed energy weapons. by Patrick Tucker

Threats

U.S. Warns Russia a Ukraine Intervention Would Be a ‘Grave Mistake’

Military leaders are keeping a close eye on the rapidly deteriorating situation in Ukraine as the President Obama warns Russia not to intervene. By Stephanie Gaskell

Threats

Will Obama End the War on Terror?

Despite President Obama's pledge to repeal the Authorization for the Use of Military Force when it expires this year, sources say negotiations to get it done haven't even begun. By Michael Hirsh and James Oliphant

Threats

Industry Needs To Do More To Protect the Power Grid From a Cyber Attack

A new paper from the Bipartisan Policy Center recommends creating an industry-led group to do more to prevent cyber attacks on the electric grid. By Aliya Sternstein

Defense Systems

Early successes pave way for more mobile in DOD’s future, CIO says

Operational mobility pilot programs have increased productivity and cut costs, says Takai.

Defense Systems

GAO to DOD, VA on electronic health records: Prove it

The departments need to show that their separate EHR efforts are better than the joint initiative they abandoned last year.