Policy
US spy chief fires intelligence leaders who disputed Trump’s Venezuela-gang claims
A National Intelligence Council assessment rebutted the president's claims that Tren de Aragua is carrying out an “invasion” overseen by the Venezuelan head of state.
Science & Tech
Pacific multidomain task forces are looking for long-range drones
MDTFs are getting their chance to experiment as Transformation-in-Contact units.
Threats
Army prepping for Pacific conflict with prepositioned equipment, logistics hubs
Moving weapons, ammunition, fuel, and even water around the vast theater will be a huge challenge.
Exclusive
Policy
JSOC commander likely to be SOCOM pick, sources say
The White House “loves" Vice Adm. Mitch Bradley, but final decisions are not yet in.
Defense Systems
F-47 will have 70% better combat radius than F-22, Air Force says
Infographic says service plans to buy at least 185 of the sixth-gen fighter.
Threats
Trump’s Qatari Air Force One would pose massive security risks
Treating the aircraft as safe for the commander in chief with just a few modifications is "absurd," one former senior defense official said.
Threats
How China’s tech giants wired the Gulf
Ubiquitous Chinese gear, infrastructure, and deals belie the narrative of close U.S.-Gulf cooperation—and raise grave security concerns.
Science & Tech
AI is helping the Pentagon go from finding targets to predicting threats
With the next chapter of Maven, NGA aims to spot not just known objects but “anomalies.”
Ideas
Norms have changed in South Asia, making future de-escalation much harder
The India-Pakistan ceasefire shouldn’t disguise the fact that philosophy, proliferation, and U.S. inattention are working against it.
Defense Systems
Golden Dome push sets stage for telecom battle over spectrum access
The White House’s project to beef up domestic missile defense could lead to a regulatory and legal fight over radio frequencies.
Defense Systems
Make big things small and small things big: SOCOM’s gear wishlist
As special operations forces prepare to take on a wider set of missions, their tech needs are growing more ambitious.
Science & Tech
Air Force Special Operations wants to fire cruise missiles from Reaper drones
The demand for AFSOC forces is increasing, creating new pressure to re-imagine current tools.
Ideas
State defense forces can fill a homeland gap
With just a few changes, these volunteer military units can do much more to help with Army and Guard missions.
Exclusive
Policy
State Department plans deeper-than-anticipated staff cuts
Some 3,400 jobs are now expected to be eliminated starting on June 2, up from around 2,000.
Policy