Defense Systems

Made in the USA: Defense companies tense as Congress pressures them to buy domestic

A draft version of the 2025 defense authorization act has several provisions targeting China-made critical materials.

  • Lauren C. Williams
Threats

Army’s future artillery may include wheeled howitzers, automated cannons, and long-range mortars

Wheeled howitzers are “having great effect in a place like Europe,” Army Futures chief says.

  • Sam Skove
Ideas

Kill the zombie Space National Guard idea

Guardsmen in space-related jobs belong in the Space Force.

  • Todd Harrison
Threats

The D Brief: Gaza pier opens; Israel closes border crossing; Russia’s space-nuke R&D; Congressional split; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Patrick Tucker and Bradley Peniston
Policy

House authorizers: cut F-35 purchases to fix problems

Their version of the defense policy bill would reduce the Pentagon’s 2025 purchase by 10 jets.

  • Audrey Decker
Policy

An Army drone branch? Idea advances in House subcommittee

Tactical and Land Forces panel’s NDAA proposal would also fund 3 “unfunded priorities.”

  • Sam Skove
Threats

The D Brief: DOD’s Rafah concerns; Mideast diplomacy; ‘SOF renaissance’; Hurricane hunters’ woes; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

Russian space nuke could render low-Earth orbit unusable for a year, US official says

Pentagon’s space-policy leader noted with concern Moscow’s recent veto of a UN resolution against putting nuclear weapons in space.

  • Audrey Decker
Policy

Air Force declares major cost breach for new helicopter program

The service wants to halve its buy of the helicopter, which is driving up per-unit costs.

  • Audrey Decker
Policy

Prepositioned stocks will get new aid to Ukraine quickly, top US officer says

Aircraft are likely “already flying” material toward the beleaguered country, senior official says.

  • Patrick Tucker
Threats

The D Brief: Aid bill heads to Biden; UK also boosts funding; How will Kyiv use it?; Foreign-policy poll; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson
Policy

How will Ukraine spend its new US aid?

It’s a fraught question amid Russian gains, uncertain long-term U.S. support, and Kyiv’s eventual need to end the war.

  • Sam Skove
Policy

Controversial surveillance program gets 2-year extension

Biden signed a law that extends Section 702 authorities into 2026—and lacks proposed limits on intelligence agencies' right to gather and search Americans' communications.

  • David DiMolfetta
Threats

The D Brief: House OKs aid; Likely stateside impact; US to withdraw from Niger; AI-powered dogfight; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

House passes long-awaited aid for Ukraine, Israel, Indo-Pacific

Two months after the Senate acted, the lower house responds to an increasingly desperate Kyiv.

  • Patrick Tucker
Threats

Today's D Brief: Explosions over Iran; What’s in the House aid bills; Army’s deepfakes; New ‘reusable’ rocket idea; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Aid votes coming?; Ukraine war casualty counts; A plan to restart F-35 deliveries; Navy to miss recruiting goal; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: 16 die in Russian attack; SecDef, China talk; Missile duels’ price tag; Army recruiting, on track at last; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

In a budgetary first, Air Force will launch two programs without asking Congress in advance

The service is using a power granted by lawmakers in the 2024 NDAA.

  • Audrey Decker
Threats

Today's D Brief: House edges toward aid vote; Ukraine’s eastern front erodes; Defense leaders on the Hill; GOP vs. ‘radical environmentalists’; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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