US Industry Struggles To Strip Chinese Tech From Networks

US Industry Struggles To Strip Chinese Tech From Networks
US Industry Struggles To Strip Chinese Tech From Networks

“[N]obody was watching too closely to see just how far these Chinese components and hardware have infiltrated U.S. businesses,” one telecoms expert says.

Missile Defense Costs To Soar $5B A Year: CBO

Missile Defense Costs To Soar $5B A Year: CBO
Missile Defense Costs To Soar $5B A Year: CBO

CBO estimates that developing F-35-launched boost-phase interceptors to defend against North Korean ballistic missiles would cost $25 billion to $40 billion to develop, with an additional $10 billion to $20 billion a year to operate.

OSD, Air Force Grapple To Fix Space Acquisition Structure

OSD, Air Force Grapple To Fix Space Acquisition Structure
OSD, Air Force Grapple To Fix Space Acquisition Structure

“There are some places that will have some interesting dialogue,” says Shawn Barnes, the Air Force’s point person on working out future space acquisition authorities under the Space Force.

US Electronic Warfare: You’re Doing It Wrong

US Electronic Warfare: You’re Doing It Wrong
US Electronic Warfare: You’re Doing It Wrong

CSBA says the US is investing in the wrong jammers to counter Russia and China’s powerful EW forces. There’s another approach that would exploit our adversaries’ weaknesses.

DoD Should Consider Truly Autonomous Weapons: Bipartisan AI Commission

DoD Should Consider Truly Autonomous Weapons: Bipartisan AI Commission
DoD Should Consider Truly Autonomous Weapons: Bipartisan AI Commission

“The Commission is not glorifying the prospect of AI-enabled warfare, [but] adopting AI for defense and security purposes is an urgent national imperative.”

House Armed Services Scrutinizes F-35 Costs, ABMS, Army Modernization

House Armed Services Scrutinizes F-35 Costs, ABMS, Army Modernization
House Armed Services Scrutinizes F-35 Costs, ABMS, Army Modernization

The HASC wants an independent cost estimate on the F-35 and some detail — any detail — on the plan to replace AWACS. It’s also a little curious about robot tanks.

A ‘Solarium’ For Hacking: Sen. King  Launches Cyber Strategy Panel

A ‘Solarium’ For Hacking: Sen. King  Launches Cyber Strategy Panel
A ‘Solarium’ For Hacking: Sen. King Launches Cyber Strategy Panel

With members from Congress, the executive branch, and the private sector, the commission plans to issue a final report by year’s end.

The Rest Of The Story: Trump, DoD & Hill Readied INF Pullout For Years

The Rest Of The Story: Trump, DoD & Hill Readied INF Pullout For Years
The Rest Of The Story: Trump, DoD & Hill Readied INF Pullout For Years

WASHINGTON: Unreleased Pentagon documents and Congressional demands for information reveal that Washington has long planned for the day when the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia would be ripped up. The report by the Joint Staff and Strategic Command, exclusively obtained by Breaking Defense, make clear that as far back as 2013 — a…

Why We Need A Space Force: CSIS’s Todd Harrison

Why We Need A Space Force: CSIS’s Todd Harrison
Why We Need A Space Force: CSIS’s Todd Harrison

Space Corps? Space Force? Space Command? Ever since Rep. Mike Rogers put the Space Corps cat amongst the Air Force pigeons in April last year, debate has raged within the Air Force, the wider space enterprise, Congress and across the four services about just what must be done. President Trump glommed onto the idea and…

Mattis & Dunford On The Long, Uncertain Road To Space Force

Mattis & Dunford On The Long, Uncertain Road To Space Force
Mattis & Dunford On The Long, Uncertain Road To Space Force

There’s no timeline, no cost estimate, and no certainty Trump’s proposed Space Force will even happen. Even the interim step of creating a Space Command is being dialed down, a significant policy shift.

What Really Matters In The Defense Authorization Act & What Didn’t Get Done

What Really Matters In The Defense Authorization Act & What Didn’t Get Done
What Really Matters In The Defense Authorization Act & What Didn’t Get Done

Most coverage of the annual defense policy bill has focused on program changes: more ships (including six icebreakers!), no change to F-35’s, more RDT&E, no JSTARS recap, a growl (but no more) on ZTE, and many more (the bill and report run 2,500 pages). Less discussed, but of more import in the long run, are the…

Hyten: Space Force Report In ‘Next Few Weeks’ After Shanahan Cancels Meet

Hyten: Space Force Report In ‘Next Few Weeks’ After Shanahan Cancels Meet
Hyten: Space Force Report In ‘Next Few Weeks’ After Shanahan Cancels Meet

Of DoD’s proposed reforms, the biggest thing not included in the NDAA is the Space Development Agency, which would appear to strike a blow at the heart of DoD space acquisition: the Air Force-run Space and Missile Systems Center. SMC has long been criticized for its slow pace, bureaucratic stovepipes, and opacity, but praised for its technical brilliance.

Despite Trump’s Rhetoric, U.S. Defense Firms Pitch Moving Production To India

Despite Trump’s Rhetoric, U.S. Defense Firms Pitch Moving Production To India
Despite Trump’s Rhetoric, U.S. Defense Firms Pitch Moving Production To India

As big defense firms line up to pitch their fighter planes to India, the government of Narendra Modi is demanding they build in India, something that might be at odds with the Trumpian America First philosophy.

Mattis Makes New Plea To HASC For Russian Sanctions Relief

Mattis Makes New Plea To HASC For Russian Sanctions Relief
Mattis Makes New Plea To HASC For Russian Sanctions Relief

CAPITOL HILL: Defense Secretary James Mattis fired off a new letter to House Armed Services leadership on Tuesday, asking lawmakers again to vote in favor of waivers for certain countries Washington is trying to sway into its orbit, but who continue to do business with Russian defense firms. The letter was delivered to HASC chairman Rep.…