Ideas
We tried ‘fighting China’ with lower budgets. It didn’t go well.
Tabletop exercises hosted by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments offer one big lesson for the fiscal 2026 spending plan.
Policy
US-Europe divorce unlikely—absent a new crisis
The European Union wants more defense autonomy from the United States. But they still want a partnership with Washington.
Ideas
Add special operators to the Joint Simulation Environment
The X-Men have the right idea: training needs to include the whole team.
Sponsor Content
Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization for DoD IT operations
Discover how the Department of Defense can modernize ITOps using Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization.
Policy
Administration, unions trade lawsuits over ‘national security' order to reduce feds' rights
U.S. agencies have asked a Trump-appointed judge to uphold a ban on unions for Defense civilians and two-thirds of the federal workforce.
Business
Signalgate spurs DOD interest in chat-archiving services
Federal law—and a judge's order—have officials with Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security reaching out to at least one company that specializes in encrypted-message retention.
Sponsor Content
Saviynt ICAM for DDIL
The DOD aims to ensure access to mission-critical systems in DDIL environments through an Identity, Credentialing, and Access Management solution within a Zero Trust framework.
Policy
SecDef gives DOD leaders less than two weeks to lay out cuts, changes
A Friday memo opens a new phase in Hegseth’s hurried effort to shrink the defense workforce.
Science & Tech
The Army wants simple, cheap unmanned tech—here are some options
A 3D-printed kamikaze drone with a jet engine and a self-powered laser for downing incoming threats.
Voices
Insights & Reports
Business
Two rocket makers take step toward Space Force launches
Rocket Lab and Stoke Space receive $5 million apiece to prep their launch vehicles for government inspections.
Science & Tech
Defense One Radio, Ep. 176: Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman
Our State of Defense interview series with the general in charge of the military’s space operations.
Breaking News
Policy
Trump aims to outlaw most government unions on ‘national security’ grounds
White House says little-used provision allows the president to exempt most federal jobs from union protections.
Exclusive
Science & Tech
Trump to get Golden Dome options next week: defense source
The Pentagon may need to create a new organization to build the ambitious missile shield, sources said.
Business
DOD weapons buyer nominee wants to focus on new tech
Michael Duffey also faced lawmakers’ questions about the Yemen-bombing Signal chat.
Science & Tech
Space Force may use SpaceX satellites instead of developing its own, senator says
The satellites in question are part of the data transport layer of the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
Threats
Intelligence officials remain defensive about Yemen-bombing group chat
House testimony followed release of full transcript of the chat over the Signal app — including attack times and weapons.
Science & Tech
New Army tech sips fuel, reduces generator run-time
Infantry squad vehicles and Solar Stiks cut way back on battlefield energy needs.
Business
ULA’s Vulcan cleared for national-security launches
The heavy-lift rocket brings competition to a market dominated by SpaceX.
Defense Systems
Space Force plans to put a multisatellite ‘carrier’ into orbit
Gravitics gets an up-to-$60 million contract to build a satellite that can spit out other satellites as needed.
Business
Shipbuilders swarm Capitol Hill to lobby for aircraft carrier funding
The Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition wants $600 million to secure building of the years-delayed CVN-82.
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