Policy
Army prep course has graduated 15,000 potential soldiers amid recruiting slump
With less than 30 percent of young Americans eligible for military service, the course aims to boost potential recruits' physical and academic scores.
Defense Systems
How one Army unit uses cheap drones and ChatGPT to train others in modern warfare
Some lessons are basic: don’t name your field HQ’s WiFi “command post.”
Science & Tech
In a first, Army uses Slack-style battlefield software to coordinate field exercises
The ATAK app enables soldiers to mark enemies and send texts—just as their Ukrainian counterparts are doing.
Threats
What the US military can learn from Ukrainian command posts
Two foreign volunteer soldiers described operations centers in frontline Ukraine, from surviving Russian missiles to managing drone feeds.
Science & Tech
Mine-spotting drones and tracked robots: The Army’s efforts to breach minefields with tech
Advanced drones can use machine learning to identify specific mine types.
Business
Army buys long-range business jet to spy on China, Russia
Prototype spy plane flies higher and farther than current equivalents.
Defense Systems
In the 4th Infantry Division, soldiers are cooking up homebrew data tools
And the commanding general is running courses to help others build more.
Science & Tech
Army tests long-range quantum radio communication
A new form of atomic radio detection could protect sensitive communications from hackers—or reveal hidden adversaries.
Ideas
Defense One Radio, Ep. 141: Year in review
We take stock of our last 12 months of interviews, featuring conversations with generals, White House officials, researchers, authors, our own reporters, and many more.
Defense Systems
Budget standoff delays Army’s artillery-targeting upgrade
New system will replace spreadsheets and PowerPoint to generate options at “machine speed.”
Defense Systems
The Army wants smaller command posts. But first it needs great software
What’s missing is the ability to rapidly configure existing gear and networks to a given mission and environment.
Policy
As irregular warfare comes to a crossroads, Congress chips in
IW proponents are wrestling with how to bring their domain into a new era—and to convince others it’s still needed.
Science & Tech