Policy

Air Force leaders axe major China-focused organizational efforts

The service continues to unravel its “reoptimization for Great Power Competition” strategy.

  • Thomas Novelly
Threats

The D Brief: US, Ukraine in talks; Counter-drone war, at scale?; China’s anti-AI playbook; Spies see opportunity in feds’ fear; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

To China's war planners, AI is just another thing to deceive

The People’s Liberation Army is prepping for battles in which AIs work to distort each others' reality.

  • Tye Graham and Peter W. Singer
Threats

Pacific soldiers push forward with transformation, with an eye on China

“The cost of failure is too damn high,” Gen. Ronald Clark says.

  • Jennifer Hlad
Threats

The D Brief: Buildup near Venezuela continues; War plans for Nigeria; China’s 3rd carrier; Powder sickens 7 at Andrews; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Thomas Novelly and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Acquisition reforms, debated; Boat-strike briefing; US troops to Damascus; China’s mini drone carrier; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

Today’s D Brief: EU backs Ukraine peace talks; AUKUS, back on; AI in Europe; NNSA idles most staff; And a bit more.

  • Lauren C. Williams and Bradley Peniston
Defense Systems

China: NSA has been hacking our national time systems for years

“NSA does not confirm nor deny allegations in the media regarding its operations,” an NSA official told Nextgov/FCW.

  • David DiMolfetta
Policy

Air Force spikes plans to stand up command focused on competing with China

Service says it will create a new role focused on modernization efforts instead.

  • Thomas Novelly
Exclusive Threats

China’s burgeoning undersea sensor net aims to turn the ocean transparent

The PLA is building a self-healing “kill web” to surpass today’s brittle kill chains.

  • Tye Graham and Peter W. Singer
Threats

China is ‘pacing threat,’ Army Secretary says—while backing Trump’s homeland defense push

Driscoll’s comments follow Pentagon documents detailing shift away from Indo-Pacific.

  • Thomas Novelly
Science & Tech

Lawmakers call for more defense biotech research as China pursues breakthroughs

Shelf-stable blood, biological camouflage, and biosensors are just some of the potential innovations.

  • Meghann Myers
Threats

The D Brief: Guard deployments on hold; 4th speedboat bombed; Russia strikes Lviv; China’s black-market oil; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Ideas

'Shadow economies' are growing. Military planners and operators must take them into account

Black markets prolong wars, defang sanctions, fray alliances, and help rogue governments and groups survive and thrive.

  • Maj. Benjamin Backsmeier
Threats

Elon Musk’s SpaceX took money directly from Chinese investors, company insider testifies

The newly unsealed testimony marks the first time direct Chinese investment in the company has been disclosed, raising new questions about foreign stakes in one of America’s most important military contractors.

  • Justin Elliott and Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica
Threats

The D Brief: DOD sheds 60K civilians; EU warns Moscow; USAF’s new ‘homeland’ focus; China’s airborne gets help; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

China, China, Chi—wait, what? Air Force mulls next steps amid homeland focus

Officials tout applicability of ongoing modernization, but experts and former officials have doubts.

  • Thomas Novelly
Threats

The D Brief: Hegseth yanks brass to Quantico; Drones close Danish airports; AFSOC’s Caribbean work; Russia’s AI drones; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Trump’s Ukraine reversal; Russian refineries, hit; China’s missiles; Iran’s rebuilding effort; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Ideas

China’s new missiles on parade: showpieces or showstoppers?

The Sept. 3 parade was clearly meant to convey China's growing military strength and technological ambition.

  • John S. Van Oudenaren and Peter W. Singer
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