Ideas

Beach Reads: Defense One’s Top Picks for your iPad

Can’t get the sequester out of your swim trunks? Here are some big ideas for your little iPad while you soak up the sun. By Defense One Staff

Ideas

In The Tank: This Week’s Best Defense and National Security Think Tank Offerings

The latest in wonk reads on national security, tech, and more. By Kedar Pavgi

Ideas

DC's Political Paralysis 'Means More Casualties' for Untrained Soldiers

The best place to learn how Washington’s budget impasse is putting troops at risk is the Army’s National Training Center, which has cancelled rotations for the first time since 1981. By James Kitfield

Threats

Worldwide Travel Alert Issued for Al Qaeda Threat

State Department issues advisories, plans to close embassies on Sunday in response to unspecified threat. By Sara Sorcher

Defense Systems

Next-gen Gray Eagle UAS aces flight tests

Improved Gray Eagle doubles mission flight time, payload capacity.

Defense Systems

Deborah Lee James nominated to be next Air Force secretary

James currently serves as the president of the technology and engineering sector at SAIC.

Defense Systems

Army eyes new, lightweight radio system

System would be an alternative to commercial satellite services.

Business

Time to Treat the VA's Problems as DOD's Problems

The VA's letdowns are now the Defense Department's problem, too. It’s time VA readiness were on par with DOD readiness. By Alexander Nicholson

Business

How BAE Systems Execs are Surviving Sequester: Shadeless Airline Windows

Two BAE Systems executive VPs say that they're pivoting away from uncertain U.S. defense dollars and moving into commercial and foreign markes, or "portfolio shaping". By Sara Sorcher

Business

Guantanamo Prison Complex Pricetag: $5.24 Billion

The operating costs for the Guantanamo prison complex will be more than $454 million this year. The cost of running a U.S. maximum security prison? Just $70,000 a year. By Lily Kuo

Defense Systems

The New CIA: Cyber Intelligence Agency

The growing need for cyber intelligence will only increase as new technologies are deployed.

Defense Systems

Lockheed Martin wins Navy contract for helicopter software support

$39M pact calls for providing flight test, technical, management, process services.

Defense Systems

Hagel on DOD budget trade-offs: capacity vs. capability

Sequestration options range from force reductions to 'modernization holiday.'

Ideas

Wanted: A Post-War Watchdog for Nation-Building

The U.S. may be ending big wars, but military 'stability operations' and expensive nation-building projects will continue. The U.S. inspector general in Iraq argues the Pentagon needs someone to oversee contingency spending. By Stuart Bowen

Business

Hagel Presses Congress with Grim Alternatives to Sequestration

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's SCMR lays out tough choices for Congress on how to cut the defense budget without sequestration. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

China is Building a 'New Silk Road' in Afghanistan

Meanwhile, the Pentagon and State Department's plans for a similar transportation network remains in the idea phase. By Steve LeVine

Business

The Government's Real Problem With the Bradley Manning Trial

Despite a guilty verdict on most counts, the government still can't share intelligence. By Matthew Cooper

Policy

Hagel to Reveal Sequester Review, Three Paths for Pentagon Future

With the Strategic Choices and Management Review in hand, Hagel will present three budget scenarios and their consequences to the Defense Department. By Stephanie Gaskell

Threats

Dunford Says 8,000 to 12,000 Troops May Be Needed Through 2017 in Afghanistan

The top ISAF commander says US. troops will be needed for many functions in Afghanistan past 2014, but it will be the Afghans doing the fighting – and dying. By Defense One Staff