Science & Tech

Special Operators Are Using Rapid DNA Readers

Conducting a midnight SEAL raid on a terrorist compound? Positive DNA identification is just 90 minutes away.

Ideas

It’s Time To Arm the Sunni Tribes

The United States must work with what partners it has available in Iraq, not fictitious ones it might prefer.

Policy

NSA Domestic Spying Will Start Stopping This Week

Lawmakers only have until Friday—not June 1—to resolve their standoff over the NSA's domestic surveillance, according to a new memo from the Obama administration.

Science & Tech

VA’s ‘Grand Challenge’: Open-Source Prosthetic Limbs for Veterans

The VA hopes a contest will spur innovation in replacement limbs the way DARPA jumpstarted self-driving cars.

Science & Tech

The Navy Is Trying To Hack-Proof Its Drones

Aerial robots weren't expected to become part of the Internet of Things, but now the Navy needs to protect them from cyber threats.

Science & Tech

The Air Force's Secret Space Drone Is Headed Back To Orbit

Less than five years ago, the X-37B became the first U.S. spacecraft to land on a runway autonomously. Now, as before, few know what its mission actually is.

Threats

This Is What Bin Laden Was Reading Just Before He Was Killed

The English-language books in particular present a fascinating picture of the terrorist's interests, including journalist Bob Woodward’s account of president Obama’s wars.

Defense Systems

Air Force takes steps to fix drone pilot shortage

The service is boosting pay and retention bonuses, training more pilots and reducing the number of missions.

Defense Systems

NAVAIR looks to bolster cyber defenses for weapons systems

The command’s Cyber Warfare Detachment is seeking proposals to fill gaps in cyber warfare capabilities and defenses across the board.

Threats

US Helicopter Shot at By Anti-ISIS Forces; Commander Blames Iran

No. 2 U.S. special operations commander in region says dumb rumor fueled by Quds Force leader is making the U.S. job in Iraq much harder.

Ideas

Ramadi is Only Part of the Problem With Iraq

The defeat at Ramadi should not have happened, but the war to save Iraq will be won in Mosul.

Threats

The F-35 Won't Be Going To War Against ISIS Just Yet

The U.S. Marine Corps will declare its vertical-flight Joint Strike Fighter ready for war in July, but a top general says it’s unlikely the jets will head to Iraq any time soon.

Threats

Is US Foreign Policy Ignoring Homegrown Terrorists?

U.S. intelligence officials say the most likely terror threats facing American citizens come from 'home-grown' extremists. So why is it largely absent from debate in Washington?

Threats

How Terrorist Bounties Are Calculated

Osama Bin Laden had a $25 million prize on his head, and even that might have been undervalued.

Science & Tech

The Army Is Shopping for Cyber Weapons

As part of the Pentagon's plan to beef up its capabilities, the service is reaching out to providers to see what kinds of tools are available.

Defense Systems

Air Force plans to spend $4B on Global Hawk drone program

Northrop Grumman will maintain and modernize the long-range ISR aircraft over the next five years.

Defense Systems

DISA releasing heavy-duty suite for mobile classified comm

The kit will allow secure voice, video and data access to SIPRNet from any Internet connection, and will be available DOD-wide.