Commentary

Superlatives in the FY24 budget request won’t cut it for US forces

Congress will have to bail out the military again and pay the full costs of inflation.

2 days ago

Why the US military should build modular nuclear reactors

One of the main objections to the expansion of nuclear power in the U.S. is based on the perception that it is dangerous.

6 days ago

How is the US military space sector doing? Depends who you ask.

Despite a robust pipeline of activity, the military space-industrial base is facing a number of economic and industrial challenges.

The stars have aligned for the Philippines in the South China Sea

But one star — funding for the Philippine military — isn't shining so bright.

2 weeks ago

Weaponized balloons challenge US air superiority — quite littorally

The littorals are the messy area between sea and land, ground and sky, and air and space. U.S. leaders should prevent adversaries from exploiting them.

2 weeks ago

Germany’s military ‘Zeitenwende’ is off to a slow start

It would be easy to lay all of the blame for this sorry state of affairs at Germany’s feet. But it would also be wrong.

3 weeks ago

Adopt a talent recruitment solution to spark a movement at the DoD

The workforce crisis is an opportunity for radical creativity.

3 weeks ago

This picture, taken on Jan. 23, 2023, in Toulouse, France, shows screens displaying the logos of OpenAI and ChatGPT.

What will ChatGPT mean for the US defense-industrial base?

ChatGPT is already creating benefits as well as risks for defense professionals.

3 weeks ago

Lessons Congress has learned one year into the Ukraine war

The conflict in Ukraine proved at least two key points about defense innovation that Congress must prioritize.

4 weeks ago

How to make smart trades across US drone forces

Don't assume that the lowest-cost solution is always the best bet.

5 weeks ago

US needs attritable systems, strategic logistics analysis to win wars

The key to victory will rely on the adoption of weapon systems simplistic in design, rapidly reproducible and highly lethal.

5 weeks ago

How to bring innovation to America’s nuclear strategy

We must move beyond the narrow debate on types and numbers of nuclear weapons, and think bigger, bolder and more imaginatively.

5 weeks ago

Climate-forward defense: Achieving a military mind shift

To succeed in future conflicts, militaries must look beyond merely making bases and equipment more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

5 weeks ago

China on the mind: It will be a busy year for Australia

Australia is attempting to reestablish itself as the preferred ally of Pacific island nations.

5 weeks ago

Give Ukraine the tanks it needs, not a ‘petting zoo’

The West plans to send small quantities of four different types of tanks to Ukraine, placing an onerous logistical burden on the country.

6 weeks ago

The US needs a holistic semiconductor strategy

U.S. industry today remains hamstrung by supply chain disruptions for many critical components.

6 weeks ago

Buying bombs: Why the US often gets it wrong

Why doesn’t the U.S. focus more on munitions? A large factor is armed force service identity.

6 weeks ago

Measuring results in the hyped world of defense investment

Here are five defense investment principles worth remembering.

6 weeks ago

Alone and unafraid: How to prepare to fight and win the next war

As policymakers and war planners prepare for a potential of near-peer conflict — the biggest fight of modern times — two imperatives must be considered.

6 weeks ago

A high altitude balloon floats over Billings, Mont., on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. The huge, high-altitude Chinese balloon sailed across the U.S. on Friday, drawing severe Pentagon accusations of spying and sending excited or alarmed Americans outside with binoculars.

China’s spy balloon can help deflate US nuclear tensions with Beijing

Leaders should turn the diplomatic row into new discussions on strategic stability between two nuclear-armed powers.

6 weeks ago