Defense Systems

Service heads demur on DOD's cloud plan

At a D.C. defense policy event, the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force skirted the issue of the Pentagon's centralized cloud procurement strategy.

Business

Lockheed: Pentagon Negotiators Are Becoming More Unpredictable

The company’s CFO says willingness to discard precedent has stalled a new deal for the F-35 — and even affected the C-130.

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.

Ideas

Chinese Sub Commanders May Get AI Help for Decision-Making

But can a recent news report be taken at face value? A CNAS fellow unpacks the intersection of Chinese tech, messaging, and naval power.

Threats

Want to Understand the Future of War? Talk to Chuck Krulak

As Marine commandant, Krulak bucked Pentagon wisdom and rebuilt the Corps for small, messy conflicts. Now his ideas run through the National Defense Strategy, urban-ops doctrine, and Jim Mattis' head.

Policy

Qatar Wants to Host US Ships, Expand Air Base For American Families

Amid the Saudi-led blockade, the Qatari defense minister came to Washington seeking deeper ties with U.S.

Ideas

The US Navy's Next Frigate Should Jumpstart a Revitalization of the Defense Industrial Base

As it searches for a good design at a good price, the Pentagon should bear in mind decades-old lessons about manufacturing's ties to national security.

Ideas

Give the Low-Yield SLBM its Day in Court

There are advantages to lowering the yields on a portion of America's nuclear-tipped sub-launched ballistic missiles.

Threats

Nuclear Command Network Would See Comprehensive Upgrade Under Trump Plan

While the ICBMs, bombers, submarines and cruise missiles get lots of attention, the network connecting them also needs updating.

Threats

North Korea-Bound Ships Could Soon Be Routinely Intercepted by the US and Allies

Foreign ministers from the U.S. and about 20 other countries will weigh the measures as part of new pressure on Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile weapons programs.

Policy

The Pentagon’s Secrecy Is Undermining Its Quest for a Bigger Budget

Last year, U.S. Navy and defense leaders warned their people to watch what they say. Lawmakers say that’s made it harder to argue for spending bumps on Capitol Hill.

Business

US Navy: More Ships, Tech, Training, Could Help Prevent Collisions at Sea

The comments come as the Pentagon prepares to submit a budget plan expected to call for increases in the size of the military.

Threats

A Holiday Spike in Russian Vessels Near UK Waters

A pair of late-December incidents near Britain's territorial waters are just the latest approaches by Russian maritime forces over the past few years.

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

It Took Comfort 39 Days to Get Pierside in Puerto Rico. That's a National-Security Problem.

The hospital ship's poor utilization suggests that the US military's biomedical support doctrine needs shoring up.

Threats

US Army, Navy Cyber Commands Ready Far Ahead of Schedule

The components bring more than half of the 6,200 cyber troops that will make up a fully operational U.S. Cyber Command next year.

Ideas

Should the US 'Send In the Marines' After Hurricanes?

The military can make a big difference right away but humanitarian deployments should generally be rare and brief.