A naval failure in the Strait of Hormuz
Why can’t the world’s most powerful military secure the Strait against a country that has no navy?
How long will it take to replenish the US military’s munitions stockpiles?
This week on The Break Out, we look at how long it might take to restock thousands of US munitions used against Iran.
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Europe’s military advantage depends on sovereign command of the ground truth
As NATO and European governments accelerate investment in space-based intelligence, decision advantage will depend on how quickly sovereign and commercial capabilities can be fused into a trusted operational picture.
Major trends and takeaways from the Defense Department’s Unfunded Priority Lists
Mark Cancian and Chris Park of CSIS break down what is in this year's unfunded priority lists and what they say about the state of the US military.
National Guard chief looks to keep 25 Guard fighter squadrons, but may need help from Hill
“We have 25 fighter squadrons in the Guard right now. And when I look at the global demand, my personal view is I think we need to keep all 25 of those. I think our nation needs that capability,” said National Guard chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson.
To cool the war over amphibs, the Navy and Marines need a clearer justification
Congress should not shoot the messenger, but help the Navy and Marine Corps explain why 31 amphibs is the right number, CSIS's Mark Cancian argues in this op-ed.
A year into Ukraine, looking back at 5 prewar predictions
A year ago, Mark Cancian of CSIS laid out five things to watch for in a war between Ukraine and Russia. Now he assess where things ended up.
How the Pentagon is shaping its next cyber strategy
Drawing on Breaking Defense's TechNet Cyber 2026 coverage, this eBook examines how the Pentagon is advancing AI, cybersecurity, and cyber strategy to strengthen the future force.
Three key takeaways from the Biden administration’s National Security Strategy
The National Security Strategy is finally out, 22 months into the Biden administration. But what does it actually say?
‘A bloody mess’ with ‘terrible loss of life’: How a China-US conflict over Taiwan could play out
Early results from a DC think tank's wargame suggest the US would prevail in defending Taiwan from China, but at a heavy cost that would leave it ill-prepared for new threats from Russia or Iran.
Analyzing the biggest changes in the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 update
Last month's update to the Marine Corps strategic guidance included many changes from the original document. Mark Cancian of CSIS goes in depth on what shifted, and why it matters.
A year after Jan. 6, DoD’s vague extremism definition could set up new problems
"DoD is taking the attitude towards violent extremism that the Supreme Court took towards pornography; they will know it when they see it," writes Mark Cancian. "That was not a useful legal test for pornography, and DoD will run into the same problem."
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Scaling AI for Defense Teams Without Increasing Data Risk
AI is expanding the mission data footprint across defense environments, increasing the need for scalable, layered data-at-rest (DAR) protection.
What would it take to defend Ukraine? Potentially, billions of dollars.
Mark Cancian of CSIS takes a look at two strategies for US military deployment to deter Russia - and how realistic they may be.
Afghanistan Is Not Done With Us; Four Long-Term Dangers Await
The message was clear, from the mouths of military officials, the State Department and President Joe Biden himself: Aug. 30 marked the official end of the US war in Afghanistan. But, as Mark Cancian writes below, just because the US has decided it is done with Afghanistan does not mean Afghanistan is done with […]
In Afghanistan, Contractors Were Unsung Heroes Of US Efforts
As the US spends its final hours in Afghanistan, Mark Cancian of CSIS notes that more contractors have died (8,000) than US service members (7,000) in post 9/11 operations.
What If The Bigger Shipbuilding Budget Just Doesn’t Come?
“The Navy’s going to have a huge problem,” Mark Cancian, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said of the service’s likely budget squeeze.