Ideas
Military AI needs guardrails—not to slow it down, but to keep it useful
Modifying commercial models isn’t as easy as removing the parts that discourage users from killing people.
Policy
TRADOC shuts its doors, part of Army effort to shrink the number of generals
Training and doctrine will now be handled by Army Transformation and Training Command.
Business
SOCOM to get robotic anti-drone turret for maritime platforms
Defense tech startup Allen Control Systems landed a contract for Bullfrog, which can use a variety of common weapons.
Business
Defense One Radio, Ep. 195: Europe's growing defense industry
The EU's ambassador to the U.S. underscores the importance of the bloc's $910 billion defense plans known as Readiness 2030.
Ideas
How Trump can make defense reform stick
It will require sustained presidential attention and unprecendented transparency.
Defense Systems
Air Force’s AI ambitions mean simplifying its tangle of networks
Over the next year, battle-networks chief aims to reduce systems to a “rational number.”
Threats
China, China, Chi—wait, what? Air Force mulls next steps amid homeland focus
Officials tout applicability of ongoing modernization, but experts and former officials have doubts.
Exclusive
Policy
More than 60K defense civilians have left under Hegseth—but officials are mum on the effects
Months into a hastily ordered overhaul, officials declined to disclose metrics, discuss problems.
Policy
Agencies should prep for mass layoffs if shutdown occurs, White House says
OMB is requesting updated reduction-in-force plans even if a shutdown is averted.
Threats
DOGE risks Americans’ data by operating outside federal law, Democrats say
A report released by the Senate Homeland Committee's ranking member says lax security practices cause “serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities, privacy violations, and risk of corruption.”
Business
Defense One Radio, Ep. 194: Highlights from AFA's Air, Space & Cyber Conference
Our editors explore the dominant themes from this year's edition.
Threats
Inside NATO’s response to Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace
Russia’s increasing violations of NATO met with new radars, missiles, “calm heads.”
Threats
‘We need to be ready to go’: AFSOC preps for potential Caribbean missions
AFSOC held a long-planned exercise on St. Croix just days before the first U.S. strike on an alleged drug boat.
Policy
Foreign ties are crucial to US space dominance, officials say
More partnerships, tighter alliances are needed to counter advances by China and others, U.S. space leaders said.
Ideas
China’s new missiles on parade: showpieces or showstoppers?
The Sept. 3 parade was clearly meant to convey China's growing military strength and technological ambition.
Threats