Congress
Of 46 types of aircraft surveyed – from the new F-35 to the aging JSTARS – not one met the Pentagon’s goal of being 80 percent “mission capable.” Most of them, in fact, keep getting worse.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
The move “will put special operations command on par with the military services for the first time,” acting SecDef Chris Miller announced today
By Paul McLearyGA-ASI’s MQ-9B: The right UAV for persistence, power, and performance
When assessing the state of the art of unmanned aerial systems, it’s critical to be very clear about what various aircraft can and can’t do – and could never do.
A new rule passed by Congress in 2017 requires that the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs serve four-year terms. A second term would have meant Hyten would be in office for six years and worn the uniform for 44 years.
By Paul McLeary
How the Integrated Battle Command System is essential to the vision of the connected battlespace
The demand signal from allies and coalition partners points to the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) as a transformational command and control capability for integrated air and missile defense that’s going to be in strong, global demand for years to come.
“I think Space Force and its advocates hoped that they’d have a radically new approach to budgeting and acquisition,” CSIS’s Mark Cancian says, but Congress is unlikely to agree.
By Theresa Hitchens
With the UAE turning to China for armed drones, policymakers in the Trump administration worry about Beijing’s efforts to gain influence in the Middle East.
By Riad Kahwaji and Paul McLeary
A major overhaul is coming in software for missile warning
Space Systems Command’s FORGE program is the first, major missile-warning software modernization effort in 20 years.
The Senate Appropriations Committee proposal adds $2.4 billion to procure more weapons ASAP – especially F-35s – and cuts longer-range R&D by $2.1 billion.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. and Theresa Hitchens
Anthony Tata, who called President Obama a “terrorist leader” now runs the Pentagon’s policy office
By Paul McLeary
After months of speculation, Esper meets the fate of so many other officials over the past four years and is fired by Tweet
By Paul McLearyBreaking Defense daily newsletter
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Today’s $9.4 billion award to General Dynamics Electric Boat kicks off construction on the first of 12 Columbia-class submarines.
By Paul McLeary
The Democrats so far have underperformed expectations in House and Senate races, but tight contests in Michigan, Alaska, and North Carolina await resolution
By Paul McLeary
The Navy awarded a big contract to modify its newest aircraft carrier — tossing the ball back to Capitol Hill which demanded the work, but neglected to provide funding.
By Paul McLeary
“The Trump Administration has made it clear that they’ll put lethal weaponry in just about anyone’s hands without regard to potential loss of life so long as the check clears,” Rep. Eliot Engel says.
By Paul McLeary
Speaking publicly and in alarming terms about a partisan political issue does not come naturally to retired generals and former senior national security leaders. These public servants, many of them wartime commanders and leaders, are not given to histrionics or hyperbole. So when hundreds (it’s now up to 780) of national security leaders – including 22 retired…
By James Kitfield
Insights on digital transformation following successes on B-21 and Sentinel
Customers and employees are experiencing the ‘Butterfly Effect’ of digital transformation from key national security programs.
The transition from one president to another is not a formality, nor is it inconsequential. The 911 Commission found that the transition from President Clinton to President Bush contributed to the senior leadership missing the clues that al Qaeda planned to attack America. In September, the co-chairmen of the 911 Commission wrote this: “To be…
By Sean O'Keefe