Policy
Air Force Slashes ‘Bridge Tanker’ Buy, Sets Deadline for Clean-Sheet Aerial Refueler
Stealthy new tanker jet should arrive in the 2030s, service’s top weapons buyer says.
Science & Tech
The Reaper UAV Is Getting Its Own Drone Swarm
Air Force special operators are rigging the venerable uncrewed aircraft with an ISR swarm that may take just one person to control.
Policy
Marines See Early Successes in Retention Push—and Ways to Do Better
Meanwhile, the commandant wants to bring skilled people into the Corps at advanced ranks.
Ideas
Defense One Radio, Ep. 118: U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Chris Donahue
The 18th Airborne Corps commander talks about drones, recruiting, the Pacific theater, challenges posed by China, and more.
Defense Systems
Sketching Out the Rules for Offensive Cyber Operations
The White House released the first-ever National Cybersecurity Strategy this week. It leaves the door open for more defined use cases for cyber operations.
Threats
A Lack of Machine Tools Is Holding Back Ammo Production, Army Says
The U.S. has enough raw materials, but the heavy equipment used to make artillery shells aren’t easy to buy.
Science & Tech
Come Test Your Gear Against Russian Forces, Ukrainians Urge US Defense Firms
That’s just one request by special operators at a SOF conference in Florida.
Threats
As US Rushed Troops to Europe, Logistics Staff Faced Problems Supplying Them With Weapons
U.S. logisticians beat the clock to supply equipment for a snap deployment, but soldiers reported maintenance issues with vehicles and missing equipment.
Policy
Panel Seeks Ways to Accelerate Pentagon Budgeting—and Keep Up with China
Recommendations are expected soon on adapting a decades-old way of doing things for the modern era.
Threats
State of Defense 2023
A year into a war on European soil, U.S. defense planners remain fixated on China.
Threats
State of the Army 2023
The service is prepping for war in the Pacific—and hoping its recruiting problems won’t continue for a fourth consecutive year.
Threats
State of the Navy 2023
Has the fleet settled on a consensus shipbuilding plan just in time to be disrupted by the unmanned revolution?
Threats
State of the Air Force and Space Force 2023
Training airmen to act more autonomously—and gearing up for more autonomous systems.
Threats
State of the Marine Corps 2023
Efforts to fulfill the vision of Force Design 2030 are hitting a groove. But who will replace its architect?
Policy
New National Cyber Strategy: Raise Defensive Baseline for Critical Infrastructure
The White House wants to get electrical systems, gas pipelines, water treatment plants, and more up to a consistent level of cybersecurity.
Science & Tech