Business

How Defense Offsets Help Drive the Global Defense Industry

The market for offsets, or pledges defense contractors make with foreign governments to secure future business, is set to double in the next five years. By Patrick Costello

Business

Is the Pentagon Wasting Billions on a Tracking System for Its Contractors?

The Project on Government Oversight levied a stern warning at the Pentagon's over-reliance on contractors enjoying too little scrutiny. By Charles S. Clark

Business

6 Charts That Show What Defense Personnel Really Think About the Acquisition Process

In a new poll, the Pentagon's weapons buyers lay out their biggest concerns. By Katherine Peters

Business

How the Defense Department's Procurement Problems Are Hurting National Security

The Pentagon spends too much time and money buying weapons that don't deliver. By Marcus Weisgerber

Science & Tech

How 3D Printing Could Help Replace Russian Rockets

The Pentagon could field an alternative to the Russian-made RD-180 rocket engine faster, but the technology is unproven. By Marcus Weisgerber

Business

State Department Clears Sale of 46,000 Tank Rounds for Iraq

The pending sale would bolster the Iraqi Army, which has been fighting Islamic State militants all year. By Marcus Weisgerber

Science & Tech

US Red Tape Threatens Drone Sales in the Middle East

American companies are being bested by foreign firms when it comes to selling unmanned aircraft to friendly militaries overseas, says Textron Systems boss Ellen Lord. By Marcus Weisgerber

Business

The Trouble With Defense Acquisition May Be the Workforce

The Defense Department could be doomed to wasteful spending when it comes to large weapons contracts if it doesn't change key incentives guiding its acquisition managers, a new report says. By Katherine McIntire Peters

Policy

Congress Has Many Ideas To Fix the Broken Security Clearance Process

Lawmakers have been practically stepping on each other’s toes with proposals to fix the security clearance process. By Eric Katz

Science & Tech

The Defense Industry Is Expanding the Use of 3D Printing

The Navy is still several years away from being able to print spare parts for ships and airplanes, but ‘that day will surely come.’ By Marcus Weisgerber

Business

Hagel’s Right-Hand Man on Acquisition Reform

Frank Kendall’s close relationship with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has helped elevate his plans for acquisition reform. By Marcus Weisgerber

Business

Here's How the Military Wants To Fix the Way It Buys Weapons

Defense Undersecretary Frank Kendall says the Better Buying Power 3.0 plan will keep the Pentagon from losing its technological edge. By Charles S. Clark

Science & Tech

Boeing and SpaceX Tapped To Free NASA from Russian Launches

NASA awarded a $4.2 billion contract to Boeing and a $2.6 billion contract to SpaceX to send its astronauts into orbit without help from Russia. By Tim Fernholz

Science & Tech

Navy Ships Will Get $2.5 Billion in Cyber and Intelligence Upgrades

Five companies just won mutli-year contracts to consolidate ship-based networks for future missions. By Bob Brewin

Business

Nearly 8 out of 10 'Small' Federal Contractors Are Actually Giants

Nearly 80 percent of the companies receiving small business federal contracts last year were anything but 'small businesses.' By Charles S. Clark

Ideas

If the Pentagon Buys Less, It Needs to Invest More

If the military is supposed to use the peace to prepare for the next war, it has to spend more on research & development. By Gen. Norton A. Schwartz and Col. Tom Harrison

Ideas

How to Fix the Government's Security Clearance Mess

We need to continuously monitor who has top secret clearance. Here’s how. By Steve Nguyen

Business

Competition Is Declining in Pentagon-Awarded Contracts

Three years after setting goals for competitively-bid contracts, the Defense Department has failed to meet even one of those goals. By Katherine McIntire Peters

Business

The Intelligence Community Needs to Keep Better Tabs on Its Contractors

Decreasing the intelligence community's reliance on contractors could save money and cut bureaucratic inefficiencies. But first, tracking methods will have to improve. By Charles S. Clark