Ideas
Biden Just Gave France Something More Valuable than a Submarine Contract
The White House endorsement of European defense apart from NATO is worth more than a $66 billion deal with Australia.
Science & Tech
Learn to Use Data or Risk Dying in Battle, New Army Project Teaches
Project Ridgway pushes soldiers to use—and even create—the artificial-intelligence tools that will confer military advantage.
Threats
Racial Division, Troops’ Role in Protests Has Hurt Minority Recruiting, Air Force Says
Black interest in military service plummeted after the George Floyd protests. Can the Pentagon undo the damage?
Ideas
AFA Conference Wire: New Space Force Uniforms, Hub-and-Spoke
News and notes from the 2021 Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber conference.
Policy
Trump’s Red, White & Blue Air Force One Paint Job is Not Final, General Says
The concept image is “just something that’s on a paper,” according to Air Force acquisition official.
Threats
Biden Counters China’s Allegations Of A New ‘Cold War’ In UN Speech
The president’s remarks on human rights, freedom of navigation, and authoritarianism were a thinly veiled message to Beijing.
Ideas
Why France Is Getting No Sympathy for Its Lost Sub Deal
Its European neighbors have long bristled at Paris’ self-dealing and aggressive sales tactics.
Ideas
AFA Conference Wire: China Warnings and B-21 Numbers
News and notes from the 2021 Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber conference.
Defense Systems
White House nominates John Sherman for DOD CIO
John Sherman was named DOD's principal deputy CIO in 2020 and has been acting in the CIO role since January.
Defense Systems
DARPA’s vision for satellite communications
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is looking to build a low-cost, high-speed reconfigurable optical datalink to interconnect low-Earth Orbit satellites.
Defense Systems
AFGE looks to block Cyber Command reserve program in NDAA
A proposed amendment to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act to pilot a cybersecurity reserve force at the Department of Defense would weaken merit systems principles, according to the largest federal employee union.
Threats
Air Force Secretary Warns of China’s Burgeoning Nuclear Arsenal, Reveals B-21 Detail
Frank Kendall also criticized Congress for not allowing the Air Force to retire old, unneeded warplanes and questioned the need for hypersonic weapons.
Policy
A Rahm Emanuel is Exactly What Japan Wants, Asia Scholars Say
What matters in American politics is not what matters to Tokyo.
Ideas
AUKUS Is the Death Knell of Australia's Strategic Ambiguity
At what cost is Australia attempting to strengthen its deterrence of China?
Policy
Biden to Pitch Partnership at UN, Amid Tension With France and Other Allies
The withdrawal from Afghanistan “opens the chapter” for diplomacy, a senior administration official said.
Science & Tech
