Ideas
After Oval Office disaster, Europe emerges as Ukraine’s best hope
Friday’s fiery Trump-Zelenskyy meeting sets up hard choices across the Atlantic.
Defense Systems
As space becomes more crowded, Space Force turns to AI
The newest service wants to understand where automation can augment—or even replace—humans in monitoring space for threats.
Threats
Looking to cut Pentagon costs? Start here, watchdog says
As audit fights loom, a watchdog found that DOD weapons costs are going up, not down.
Science & Tech
Hypersonics, autonomous systems top DepSecDef nom’s emerging-tech priorities
Feinberg said it’s time to “move away from expensive, overly sophisticated platforms that take years to develop.”
Policy
In Pentagon shakeup, some see bid for more secret actions, less oversight
Trump's unconventional pick for Joint Chiefs chair brings deep special-warfare experience.
Science & Tech
Defense One Radio, Ep. 173: Testing the Army’s new fighting strategy on Ukraine's doorstep
A 10th Mountain Division brigade commander talks electronic-warfare, innovation, and something he'd never experienced in the Army.
Science & Tech
Pentagon may break up tech offices in acquisition-policy shift
Shakeup may also consolidate service PEO functions and put more R&D costs on industry, a Pentagon source says.
Science & Tech
Microsoft-DARPA collaboration yields possible quantum chip breakthrough
A better way to check and store qubits could enable big applications for smarter drones, better processing, and doing much more with less.
Policy
Pentagon officials are bracing for Musk's DOGE
SecDef hints at pushback, but others worry about the team's record of breaking into databases and making hasty cuts.
Business
With IVAS takeover, Anduril looks to build out human-machine ‘ecosystem’
Microsoft takes back seat as defense-tech firm proclaims a “new path in human augmentation.”
Threats
‘Ceasefire’ or no, Ukraine says it still needs weapons
As Trump announces plans to negotiate, Russia has committed thousands of ceasefire violations—in Ukraine alone.
Threats
Gutting of USAID is making it harder to monitor aid sent abroad, watchdog says
Agency’s IG says locking staff out increases the risk of funds going to “U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.”
Science & Tech
L3 unveils new low-bandwidth, high-autonomy drone swarm tech
The new program could allow operators to manage hundreds—and eventually thousands—of drones.
Policy
Hegseth: Pentagon must return to long-term planning against strategic adversaries
In a Pentagon town hall, new defense secretary vowed to make longer-term plans, deploy tech faster, and have fewer flag officers and smaller staffs.
Business
What Google’s return to defense AI means
More competition in a hot market—and the plain fact that only the Pentagon will set boundaries.
Threats
USAID shutoff will hurt US interests around the globe, including Ukraine
The end of USAID is a win for China and Russia.
Policy
Gabbard and Patel hearings display diverging views of reality, history along partisan lines
Senators focused mostly on the nominees’ past statements, rather than how they may lead in their prospective positions.
Science & Tech
Trump’s ‘Iron Dome for America’ plan would put weapons in space, at a big cost
It’s a Cold War concept for a mission whose threats and tools have long since changed.
Science & Tech
How DeepSeek changed the future of AI—and what that means for national security
China’s breakthrough is an opportunity for American companies to build more efficient tools. That will also help the U.S. military.
Business