Ideas

How to write a defense strategy that sticks

Seek clarity always, specificity sometimes—and produce a yardstick that can be used to measure decisions.

Policy

More automation—that's what the pick to lead Pentagon weapons testing wants

Meanwhile, the comptroller nominee described the conditions needed for a clean audit.

Ideas

‘Fund first, ask questions later’ is a bad way to go

Handing $156 billion to the Pentagon with no clear plan invites not just waste but danger. Here's why.

Ideas

Who should coordinate Europe’s defense buildup?

The best candidate, at least for the near term, has granular understanding of existing forces and informal links to suppliers.

Threats

Pentagon unaffected by latest Microsoft hack, tech chief says

DOD CIO says she's been speaking daily with Microsoft since the zero-day Sharepoint vulnerability was discovered.

Science & Tech

The Pentagon will host a ‘Top Gun’ school for Ukraine-style attack drones

The Defense Department is hoping for “American drone dominance”—but that’s easier said than done.

Policy

House NDAA would deepen Pentagon involvement in domestic, border operations

The House-passed version of the military policy bill makes Defense Department involvement in various domestic and law enforcement activities more permanent.

Policy

House NDAA draft mandates database of contractors used in covert operations

The early stage defense bill draft would create an internal list of contractor clients that assist the U.S. military in its secret operations “to facilitate deconfliction and risk assessment.”

Ideas

To build 'peace through strength,' restore this pillar of US power

Administration cuts are breaking the federal-academic partnership that incubates U.S. technology and talent.

Policy

Drones are now bullets: How a new Pentagon policy may accelerate robot warfare

The new policy also allows more units to buy drones, which should boost the demand signal to industry.