Science & Tech
War on Autopilot? It Will Be Harder Than the Pentagon Thinks
Despite defense contractors’ glittering demonstrations, difficult realities are challenging the military’s race to network everything.
Science & Tech
US Defense R&D Funding Falls As China’s Keeps Growing
2021 budget request would see Pentagon funding shrink from $64.5 billion to $59 billion.
Science & Tech
One Step Closer to a Batsuit for Soldiers
Researchers announce new military funding in search for body armor skin that could be 300 percent stronger than anything we’ve seen before.
Science & Tech
The Pentagon Is Spending Millions on Hunter Drones With Nets
Shooting drones down over cities isn’t ideal. Nabbing them in midair is an intriguing alternative.
Science & Tech
US Expected to Loosen Restrictions on Land Mines — Smart Ones, Anyway
The new rule could pave the way for the Army to deploy networked, sensor-packed remote-controllable mines far from the Korean peninsula.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Seeks a Way to Shoot Down Putin’s ‘Invincible’ Hypersonic Missiles
A $13 million DARPA contract will get Northrop working on the problem.
Policy
Here’s what Ukraine’s New Ambassador Is Asking from the US
Yelchenko intends to stress Crimea in meeting with Pompeo, who reportedly said Americans don’t care about Ukraine.
Science & Tech
Spies Like AI: The Future of Artificial Intelligence for the US Intelligence Community
Putting AI to its broadest use in national defense will mean hardening it against attack.
Ideas
Saudi Arabia’s Phone Hacking Shows We Need Better Encryption — Not Backdoors
End-to-end encryption isn’t good enough. Files and cloud backups need strong crypto as well.
Science & Tech
Toward a War With Fewer Radio Calls
A recent Air Force test that data-linked an F-35 and an F-22 promises to move and combine data automatically.
Science & Tech
As Putin Schemes to Extend His Reign, Expect New Forms of Internet Repression
Russia under a president-for-life will likely grow more insular and less open to Western influence.
Science & Tech
When Both Sides Have Drones, How Do You Know Which Ones to Kill?
The U.S. Army recently tested a system that helps defenders wipe the skies of just the unfriendly aerial robots.
Science & Tech
The US Wants to Intimidate China with Hypersonics, Once It Solves the Physics
The U.S. is pressing ahead with new missiles, but questions remain about engineering, tactics, and even geopolitics.
Science & Tech
Iran Is Expanding Its Online Disinformation Operations
Tehran isn’t as practiced as Moscow at purveying propaganda online, but they’re no slouches.
Exclusive
Science & Tech
Iran Is Getting Ready to Blow Up A Fake Aircraft Carrier, Again
To test weapons, try out tactics, and intimidate adversaries, Iranian forces may attack its barge-borne “carrier” as soon as March.
Science & Tech
US Government To Restrict Sale of AI for Satellite Image Analysis
Software that can analyze satellite photos would be treated like a weapon.
Science & Tech
What's Next for Iran's Cyber Actors?
The country has grown as a talented, and destructive, network threat over the last several years.
Science & Tech
Space Force Is Go for Launch, But ‘Thousands’ of Decisions Remain
The 2020 defense authorization act ushers in the first new service branch in 72 years.
Science & Tech