Ideas

The Senate's defense-policy bill looks for threats in the rear-view mirror

The upper house orders up an investigation of the 2020 SolarWinds hack while saying all but nothing about AI.

Science & Tech

Lockheed, Northrop share $1.5B contract for new comms satellites

Seventy-two satellites, which will begin launching in 2026, will be “the space backbone for the Joint All Domain Command and Control.”

Policy

Women face misogyny, barriers to promotion in special operations forces, US Army study says

The “very small percentage” of respondents who espoused such views included officers and senior enlisted leaders.

Threats

Russian jets playing chicken with US planes over Syria, officials say

Air Forces Central Command reports head-on passes; denies Russian state-run media reports U.S. is doing it, too.

Business

Why BAE is paying $5.5B to acquire Ball's aerospace unit

BAE's largest-ever acquisition deal takes aim at the rapidly growing space sector.

Threats

Hundreds of DOD personnel supporting Maui recovery efforts

Death toll in the devastating wildfires has risen to 111, with more than 1,000 people still missing.

Threats

How innovation cells in Army combat units are harnessing soldiers’ ideas

Four divisions are turning projects around in record time, from leashed drones to mold trackers.

Defense Systems

Army hopes big-data techniques can help secure its clouds

“Multifactor authentication will not be enough,” said the Army’s senior cyber leader.

Science & Tech

Plasma breakthrough could enable better hypersonic weapons, spacecraft

Hot electronics are a big problem for next-generation missiles. The fourth state of matter could be the solution.