Science & Tech

How Rocket-Makers Ensure 3D-Printed Parts are Strong Enough for Space

Measure them against an industrial standard for welding called AWS D17.1 Class A.

Ideas

This Is the Political Moment to Stop Supporting the Saudi War in Yemen

The deadly attack on a school bus with a U.S. laser-guided bomb should, at last, end Washington's backing.

Defense Systems

PEO structure survives Army Futures reorg -- at least for now

The new Army Futures Command aims to meld all of the service's modernization efforts under one command, but for now the Army program executive officer structure will remain in place.

Policy

Even Trump’s Own Adviser Is Warning About ‘Politicizing’ the Threat From Russia

But the danger he sees is already here.

Ideas

A Year On, Pakistan Still the Weak Link in US South Asia Strategy

The Trump administration's strategy has produced no definitive improvements along its pillars. Pakistan remains a safe haven for terrorist groups.

Ideas

Toward a 21st-Century US Navy Mining Force

Standoff weapons and other initiatives promise a renaissance in U.S. naval mine warfare.

Science & Tech

US Soldiers May Take Flying Ubers to the Front Lines

That’s the premise of a new partnership between the U.S. Army, NASA, and the ride-hiring company.

Business

Why Did Paul Allen Build the World’s Largest Aircraft?

The six-engine, twin-fuselage Stratolaunch has no commercial customers paying to give their rockets a lift. Are there secret military ones?

Defense Systems

Learning from the Army’s complicated move to the cloud

An Army data enterprise executive explains several ways agencies can leverage multivendor shared services to improve cloud development and functionality.

Threats

Boko Haram’s Deadly Impact

A new compilation of data gives insight into the African Islamist insurgency’s reach, tactics, and evolution. It reveals a far higher victim count than previous estimates.

Science & Tech

Ukraine Startup Building Drones with Grenade Launchers

A prototype Ukrainian drone has a grenade launcher. Still unclear: how it’s going to get past Russia’s jammers.

Science & Tech

Someone Is Waging a Secret War to Undermine the Pentagon’s Huge Cloud Contract

The battle for the Defense Department’s $10 billion war cloud is getting a lot more interesting.

Ideas

The Retired Admiral, the President, and the Military Profession

How should a former four-star register his dissent? A Naval War College instructor points to an Aug. 13 memo by Defense Secretary Mattis.

Policy

The US Will Spend Billions in Syria—Just Not on Rebuilding It

The Trump administration has ended a civilian aid program in the country, but the cost of the counter-ISIS fight far outweighs those savings.

Defense Systems

Army upgrades cyber training venue

A task force from the Army cyber protection teams face off against industrial control systems in a week-long cyber training exercise.

Ideas

Better Wargaming Is Helping the US Military Navigate a Turbulent Era

Two leaders of the Joint Staff’s Studies, Analysis, and Gaming Division evaluate the two-year-old effort to increase, improve, and boost the impact of analytic wargaming.

Policy

Trump's Unprecedented Retaliation Draws Unprecedented Rebukes

A dozen former spy chiefs slammed the president after he yanked Brennan's clearance. What comes next?