Policy

Trump Calls for a Space Force, a Concept His Pentagon Opposes

The president’s words could reanimate a legislative proposal that the defense secretary and others thought they had killed.

Policy

Here’s What the Services Want from Congress This Year

After lawmakers pass the budget promised by February’s bipartisan deal, the three secretaries have other priorities for legislative action.

Ideas

Putin Says Russia’s New Weapons Can’t Be Beat. With AI and Robotics, They Can.

Instead of single interceptors rising to meet an enemy missile, think about swarms of sub-launched UAVs armed with explosives, sensors, and brains.

Defense Systems

Protest against U.S. Transcom cloud contract withdrawn

A proposed sole-source task order with Amazon Web Services prompted the protest. It's still unclear how "the issues involved were resolved to Microsoft’s satisfaction."

Defense Systems

Army announces long-awaited DCGS contract

After years of protests and legal wrangling, Palantir is finally part of the Army's battlefield intel analytics system.

Defense Systems

DOD secures IT support for Joint Navigation Warfare Center

LinQuest wins a, $99.2 million contract to support a Defense Department-run center used for navigation warfare functions.

Policy

Exit, Rex Tillerson

The secretary of state is out after 14 months on the job.

Defense Systems

Service heads demur on DOD's cloud plan

At a D.C. defense policy event, the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force skirted the issue of the Pentagon's centralized cloud procurement strategy.

Ideas

How Postponing a Wargame Helped Create a Diplomatic Opening

Delaying Foal Eagle 2018 made an underappreciated contribution toward the first meeting of U.S. and North Korean heads of state.

Business

How Much Do America’s Arms Makers Depend on Foreign Metal? No One Seems to Know

Certainly, no one seemed concerned about it until Trump’s tariffs sent them scrambling to find out.

Defense Systems

Air Force awards $961M drone support contract

AECOM’s URS Federal arm wins a $961 million contract to help the Air Force operate and maintain unmanned aircraft.

Ideas

The Administration Must Explain Its Use-of-Force Theories. Today.

That's not just a good idea; it's the law. A report to Congress is due on Monday.

Ideas

A Trump-Kim Summit: 'Why the Hell Not?'

Direct talks between America’s and North Korea’s heads of state have never been tried, and nothing else has worked.

Defense Systems

What to make of DOD's latest cloud moves

Speculation is still swirling about the implications of the draft solicitation for JEDI -- and about why a separate agreement for cloud-migration services was scaled back so dramatically.

Ideas

Foreign Governments Are Funneling Money into Trump's Hotels. We Still Don't Know How Much.

The Trump Organization’s response to the problem of foreign governments trying to curry favor with the president is an empty gesture.

Business

Comptroller: Pentagon's First Audit Will Be Worth Its Nearly-$1B Pricetag

At a Senate hearing, DoD's David Norquist defended the cost of the first-ever financial accounting and provided new details about the effort.

Science & Tech

Russia Could Disconnect from the Internet. Yes, the Entire Country

Robust internal networks will keep the military and government operating, says Putin’s top IT advisor.

Ideas

Trump Risks Trading Away the US-South Korean Alliance

Kim Jong Un is offering a deal at a price that could be way too high—and that the president could easily accept.