Ideas
Trump’s New Arms-Sales Policy Is Good but Sounds Awful
We must reintegrate arms exports into the U.S. foreign-policy process — and do a far better job of explaining why than the Trump administration has managed so far.
Policy
A Law Meant to Punish America’s Foes Is Hurting Its Partners: Mattis
The secretary asked senators to punch a hole in the sanctions law they passed last year.
Policy
F-35 Sale to Taiwan Not Worth the ‘Risk,’ Experts Warn
As the Trump administration takes an aggressive stance on China, senators push an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter deal with Taiwan.
Ideas
Arms Sales Decisions Shouldn’t Be About Jobs
Basic foreign policy principles should drive potential weapons exports, not pork-barrel politics.
Policy
Trump Backs Off Budget Veto in Odd White House Event Laden with Misstatements
The mischaracterization of the 2018 defense budget as the biggest ever was just the start.
Business
How to Grow the Military Without Buying More Ships, Planes, Tanks
Pentagon leaders want to shorten the time spent on overhauls, keeping the weapons more available to fight.
Business
What ‘Buy America’ Looks Like at an Overseas Air Show
State Department officials say they’re upping their presence at the Singapore Airshow this week as part of the administration’s push to sell more arms abroad.
Science & Tech
How Fake Data Can Help the Pentagon Track Rogue Weapons
The Air Force Research Laboratory bought software that trains machine-learning tools to spot groups amassing biological, nuclear and chemical weapons.
Ideas
If We're Going to Export More US Arms, Let's Do It Smarter
Here are some ways to help ensure that rising sales don't undermine American security.
Business
Boeing May Lose Canada’s Super Hornet Order, Yet Jet’s Outlook is Bright
The past year has brought a trade dispute with Ottawa, a big deal with the U.S. Navy, and improved prospects elsewhere.
Ideas
North Korea’s New Missile Is a Game-Changer
Photos show a nose cone big enough to carry multiple warheads, plus countermeasures that U.S. missile defenses have never been tested against.
Threats
North Korea’s Military Capabilities, In Review
North Korea has embarked on an accelerated buildup of weapons of mass destruction and modernization of its already large conventional force.
Business
US Air Force Wants to Get New Nuclear Weapons Faster
Just months into the first development contracts, the service’s top general is looking for ways to speed things up.
Science & Tech
Three-Star General Wants AI in Every New Weapon System
The department's Project Maven uses machine learning to go through drone video feeds but that's just the beginning, Air Force Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan said.
Ideas
Building an H-Bomb in Plain Sight
Usually countries build nuclear weapons in secret—but not North Korea.
Threats
Here’s What the US Could Sell South Korea and Japan to Counter North Korea
Trump doubles the allowable size of Seoul’s warheads and promises to transfer more sophisticated weapons to Asian allies.
Ideas
Lower-Yield Weapons Will Raise, Not Lower, the Threshold for Nuclear Use
Giving the U.S. president more flexible options will improve deterrence.
Policy
Pentagon Tightens Rules After Fake Cops Buy $1.2M in Weapons
A sting operation run by the Government Accountability Office revealed a number of loopholes that bad actors could use to buy excess military arms and equipment through the 1033 program.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Accelerates Work on Multi-Warhead Interceptor
Officials won’t say it’s because of North Korea. But experts say Pyongyang’s planned ICBMs will almost certainly release decoys to cloak their nukes.
Ideas