Defense Systems

An unexpected source of mobile security: Ada

The longstanding DOD programming language goes from mainframes to mobile devices.

Ideas

Keeping Killer Robots on a Tight Leash

As militaries contemplate autonomous weapons technology, they must anticipate and plan for its consequences.

Science & Tech

The Navy is Preparing To Launch Swarm Bots Out of Cannons

The military’s swarm robots move from sea to air with a new program to shoot drones.

Ideas

What Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi Must Do Next

Tikrit exposed that Iran is not as strong as advertised in Iraq — and Washington not as weak.

Business

Pentagon: We Can’t Afford to Replace Aging ICBMs, Bombers, Subs

Even if sequestration goes away, the Defense Department will need at least $10 billion more per year to modernize its nuclear arsenal, procurement chief says.

Science & Tech

The Pentagon's Cartographers Won't Be Robots Anytime Soon

Machines are increasingly taking on routine scanning tasks, but are still no match for human analysts.

Policy

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Leaders Strike Iran Deal

It's still unclear whether the agreement will garner enough votes to override a White House veto.

Threats

How the Military Can Reinforce the Pivot to Asia

A broader investment in technology and innovation can create the necessary edge to win future battles in the Pacific.

Defense Systems

3 reasons software-defined networking is streamlining DOD IT

SDN is tailor-made for the consolidation, automation and security needs of the department, Juniper’s Brian Roach writes.

Defense Systems

Army equips first combined Shadow/Apache unit

The move puts control of manned and unmanned operations under one roof as part of the service's restructuring plan.

Defense Systems

Pentagon's near-zero power plan could change the game for wireless sensors

DARPA's N-ZERO program would make devices that lie dormant but aware until triggered by a specified event.

Science & Tech

Pentagon Seeks Sensors That Last for Years

Reducing battery drain by a factor of 1,000 will enable true “persistent surveillance.”

Science & Tech

New Tech Will Allow Navy To Target with Jamming Pods

Faster datalinks will allow the Navy’s EA-18 Growler to pinpoint insurgents with weapons-quality accuracy.

Science & Tech

US Hospitals Could Save Billions If They Took This Lesson from the VA

Most hospitals don’t have good ways of measuring the complex costs associated with an individual patient’s stay in the hospital. The VA is one surprising exception.

Science & Tech

A Global Consensus on Cyber Security Is Gaining Momentum

Here’s what to look for in two meetings that will explore how states with limited capacity can draw upon technologically sophisticated countries.

Policy

Tom Cotton: Obama's Iran Deal May Lead to Nuclear War

The hawkish junior senator discusses the 'moderate' turn in his national security thinking, and why he thinks bombing Iran should be a viable option for the U.S.

Science & Tech

Can Facial Recognition Technology Help US Spies Predict China's Next Island?

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is using technology akin to facial recognition to track and predict China's strategy for militarizing a region known as Mischief Reef.