Science & Tech
‘Hellscape’: DOD launches massive drone swarm program to counter China
INDOPACOM wants to be able to find and hit 1,000 targets in 24 hours. Cheap drones are the answer—if DOD can make them quickly enough.
Science & Tech
As DOD steps up response to bioweapon threat, China plays complicated role in biosecurity
A new biodefense council looks to get ahead of the next pandemic.
Threats
Putin’s chef meets his ‘window.’ What does that mean for the future of Ukraine?
The legacy of the world’s most famous mercenary leader is likely copycat organizations, and little else, experts say.
Science & Tech
Lockheed, Northrop share $1.5B contract for new comms satellites
Seventy-two satellites, which will begin launching in 2026, will be “the space backbone for the Joint All Domain Command and Control.”
Science & Tech
New Chinese research examines how to get drones to target without GPS
But camera data can’t tell a drone whether hitting a target is a bad idea.
Defense Systems
Army hopes big-data techniques can help secure its clouds
“Multifactor authentication will not be enough,” said the Army’s senior cyber leader.
Science & Tech
Plasma breakthrough could enable better hypersonic weapons, spacecraft
Hot electronics are a big problem for next-generation missiles. The fourth state of matter could be the solution.
Science & Tech
Army looks to de-tangle its networks to combat China’s ‘digitally native’ military
By year’s end, troops should be able to jump on a network from just about any location, an Army cyber leader said.
Science & Tech
The next big space business: satellite pictures of other satellites
As space debris proliferates and new weapons appear, a new market is rising to document it all.
Science & Tech
New AI laser system to guard US capital region from unauthorized aircraft
‘The first line of defense is actually that they will beam a laser at the cockpit of the aircraft.’
Exclusive
Science & Tech
The Pentagon just launched a generative AI task force
A conversation with the leader of Task Force Lima reveals its objectives—and the main questions it's trying to answer.
Policy
Future wars will turn on space-cyber-special operations triad: Army SOF chief
The success of information ops is “the most important lesson learned from Ukraine right now.”
Science & Tech
Army aims to make 1 million artillery shells a year, starting in fiscal 2025
New manufacturing techniques helping U.S. ramp up production of critical munition need.
Policy
Pentagon: US must fix two things if AUKUS is to transform partner militaries
Top policy official says shoring up industrial base, reforming export-control law are key.
Threats
Afghanistan shows the U.S. needs a doctrine not just for fighting wars, but also leaving them
And other lessons from Thursday’s hearing on the 2021 evacuation.
Threats
‘More capable than anything we have’: lawmakers, witnesses, express alarm on UFO phenomenon
Witnesses recounted other-worldly events, but the head of the government office investigating those claims isn’t biting.
Science & Tech
AI is supposed to become smarter over time. ChatGPT can become dumber.
‘The real takeaway is that Large Language Models are unstable,’ one expert said.
Science & Tech
New DIU head seeks to scale up DOD, Silicon Valley tech partnerships
Pentagon must reassure the startup world by showing it can put new commercial technology into operation, says the new head of the Defense Innovation Unit.
Science & Tech
US is losing AI edge to China, experts tell lawmakers
‘China will be able to outspend us if they choose to do so,’ said one former senior Pentagon official.
Threats