Science & Tech
US Drone Pilots Are As Skeptical of Autonomy As Are Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk
There are many reasons to be cautious about greater autonomy in weapons like drones, according to the men and women at the joystick.
Threats
Britain Digs In Against ISIS, Russia
Sensing a “darker threat environment,” America’s ally launches its first strategic review in half a decade.
Ideas
America’s First Female Four-Star on Diversity in the Military
What has the U.S. military finally realized about workforce diversity and mission success? Retired Gen. Ann Dunwoody spells it out.
Science & Tech
The Military Will Test a New Terrifyingly Loud Noise Gun
The Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program is developing lasers that create a screaming ball of plasma on their target.
Policy
What the UN Can Do To Fix Its Peacekeeping Mission
UN peacekeeping missions are 'not suited to engage in military counterterror operations,' according to the first independent report on UN peacekeeping operations since 2000.
Science & Tech
What’s Inside the Justice Department’s Secret Cybersecurity Memo?
Despite calls for its release, the government will not make public a memo that Sen. Ron Wyden says is crucial to the Senate’s looming cybersecurity debate.
Threats
Expect Less Than Advertised As Turkey Enters ISIS Fight
White House officials called Turkey's new role in the fight against ISIS 'game-changing.' In reality, Ankara's escalation is likely to achieve much less than expected.
Defense Systems
Satellite-launching drone program enters next phase
DARPA awards Boeing $6.6 million to continue developing the reusable, hypersonic Experimental Spaceplane.
Defense Systems
Dell releases family of secure, fast wireless firewalls
The SonicWALL TZ series taps the speed of 802.11ac wireless to add deep packet inspection at line speed.
Science & Tech
An Unexpected Voice Speaks Out Against Backdoored Encryption
Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff joins the league of technologists who have come out against the FBI’s push to put holes in privacy technology.
Policy
There’s One Big Problem with the White House Plan to Close Guantanamo
The Obama administration says some prisoners will have to be transferred to U.S. soil. But current law bars any such move — and by some readings, it forbids even looking at options.
Science & Tech
The Scientists and Technologists Who Want To Keep AI Out of Weapons
Stephen Hawking, Steve Wozniak, and hundreds of others signed an open letter that begged leaders to stop a military robotics arms race.
Ideas
Obama's Unnecessary and Risky Foreign Policy Gamble
The President's supporters say he's taking America 'out of the rut of history' with Iran, but he's actually making a generational mistake.
Defense Systems
With new night-vision goggles, soldiers don't need a scope to aim
The system wirelessly connects the goggles with a weapon-mounted sight, allowing soldiers to shoot from the hip or around corners without exposing themselves.
Defense Systems
Air Force wants common tools for pay-as-you-go cloud
The service wants to establish standard processes that could work for all the military services in support of the JIE.
Defense Systems
Navy, Marines order up more Blackjack UAS
A $78 million contract modification calls for six more of the drones used for ISR and target acquisition on land and at sea.
Ideas
The Iran Deal and the Future of Nuclear Nonproliferation Efforts
Negotiations with Tehran show that the global nuclear order works best as a coherent whole. But each component faces real challenges in order to keep the peace.
Policy