Ideas

A Jordanian Man's Journey From the Arab Spring to al-Qaeda Foot Soldier

After pro-democracy protests failed in Jordan, one teenager's determination to make a difference led him into the arms of al-Qaeda in Syria.

Business

Military Retirement Changes Could Cut Into New, Old Troops' Benefits

Under the current system, personnel who serve 20-plus years get a pension. But what about everyone else?

Defense Systems

Navy awards $60.9M deal for maritime drone program

Northrop Grumman will supply support for its BAM-D Global Hawk.

Defense Systems

Humans, computers and the quest for Sensing as a Service

At the GEOINT symposium, AFRL’s Steve Rogers talks about the gap between automated systems and true autonomy.

Business

Report: US Needs New Small Nuclear Bombs

CSIS’ Clark Murdock argues that only such weapons can deter rogue states from seeking nukes of their own.

Ideas

What a Yemeni Missile Teaches Us About the Iran Deal

The U.S. and its regional partners are going to have to work a lot harder because missiles are missing from the P5+1 nuclear negotiations.

Policy

Here’s Why Hillary Clinton Is Staying Quiet on National Security

She's gambling that the Democratic base will vote on other issues. Will it pay off in November 2016?

Defense Systems

DISA: We need industry more than ever

A panel of agency IT leaders says the "old days of us against you are over."

Defense Systems

Airborne 'stealth launch' of CubeSat said to be underway

DARPA and the Air Force are readying a program to launch small, inexpensive satellites on short notice.

Defense Systems

Navy making faster work of software upgrades

Sometimes little things, like “eradicating” XP, make a difference.

Ideas

After Ukraine, NATO's Chance for a New Normal

Can Defense Secretary Ash Carter and European leaders turn NATO's historic Ukraine response into a new future for the alliance?

Business

America’s Drone Pilot Shrink Says They Need a Vacation From War

The men and women fighting America’s drone war can’t go home, no matter where they are.

Threats

Pentagon Building Cruise Missile Shield To Defend US Cities From Russia

The military moves to set up an expensive sensor-and-shooter network, but is the threat real?

Ideas

Why the US Hasn't Pinned the OPM Hack on China

Getting China to stop this activity is at the top of Washington's diplomatic agenda. Stopping foreign intelligence services from spying, however, is not.

Threats

The Inequality of War

A new report confirms that more than ever across the globe, peace begets peace and violence more violence. And without significant change, the inequality will only worsen.

Policy

John McCain Wants to Change How the Military Buys Weapons

Two big changes could make leaders and services accountable for weapons-contract overruns.

Defense Systems

Air Force concludes fast-acquisition 'PlugFest' test

The event was part of the broader Bending the Cost Curve program, which aims to cut acquisition cycles for some program from years to weeks.