Policy
Inside the Pentagon’s Game of Musical Chairs
Richard V. Spencer is the year’s third acting defense secretary — but there are a lot more moving pieces than that.
Business
US Could Use Turkish F-35 Parts Contracts to Entice New Customers
Ankara is on track to forfeit work worth billions of dollars if it is booted from the F-35 program.
Business
Court Clears Pentagon to Award JEDI Lawsuit
The ruling against Oracle allows the government to award the contract in August to Microsoft or Amazon Web Services.
Policy
Milley: War with Iran Would Draw Forces from Great-Power Focus
The four-star Army general received questions but few challenges at his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing.
Ideas
How We Tamed the F-35’s Spiraling Costs — and Created a Model for Controlling Waste
The former defense secretary says defending America means defending taxpayers’ dollars.
Threats
Sexual Assault Allegation Surfaces About Nominee for Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman
Cleared by Air Force investigators, Gen. Hyten may yet face questions during his Senate confirmation process.
Policy
Brand New Marine One Helicopter To Make Debut at Trump’s July 4th Parade
Other aircraft slated to fly over include the B-2 stealth bomber, F-22 Raptor and Air Force One.
Policy
Lawmaker: Human Problem at Pentagon Worse than Tech Problem
Rep. Jim Cooper says Congress shouldn’t accept a government topped by acting political appointees.
Threats
Brussels Forum, Live
Watch the livestream from the German Marshall Fund's annual Brussels Forum.
Ideas
We’re Not Playing Acquisition Pac-Man Anymore
Today’s defense acquisition officials have freedom of movement akin to an open-world game. They need to use it.
Science & Tech
How the Pentagon Nickel-and-Dimed Its Way Into Losing a Drone
The lion’s share of the U.S. drone fleet is easy prey for advanced air defenses. It didn’t have to be that way.
Ideas
Trump Might Not Want War, but the Military Is Steering His Iran Policy
The buildup in the Middle East is coming at the request of the forces responsible for the region.
Policy
Mission No. 1: Esper Will Attend NATO Meeting Next Week
Avoiding international embarrassment, soon-to-be Acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper will attend a regularly scheduled defense ministers meeting.
Science & Tech
Pentagon, Lockheed Martin Failed to Ensure Proper Parts for F-35
Watchdog questions adherence to contracts and performance incentives for Defense’s largest buy.
Policy
Shanahan Out; Army Secretary Esper to Be Acting SecDef
Trump tweets the news after reports that the FBI was looking into a violent domestic dispute from nine years ago.
Ideas
How to Step Back from the Brink with Iran
Right now, everything both sides do to strengthen their defenses looks to the other side like preparation for attack.
Business
This Kansas Aircraft-Parts Supplier Is Flying High on Secret Military Projects
A longtime maker of airliner parts, Spirit Aerosystems is finding new work in the defense sector.
Ideas
The US Military Emits More Carbon than Sweden
Even as it begins to grapple with climate change, the Defense Department remains the world’s single largest consumer of oil.
Threats
How to Navigate the Fog of War on Iran
The question of how to read U.S. intelligence on Iranian threats—and how to respond to them—is at the center of a debate over military escalation.
Ideas