Ideas

Global defense spending jumped in 2023

Security crises drove year-over-year growth to its highest level in a decade.

Policy

Air Force’s wishlist includes money for parts and readiness

The $3.5 billion “unfunded priorities” list also includes money for exercises and military construction projects.

Policy

House passes $825B defense bill, racing the clock to avoid shutdown

Bill includes new money for ships, planes, ground combat vehicles, and AI.

Policy

Navy offers 2-option shipbuilding plan

One path shows the service's desired path; the other, a plan for no real growth in the Navy budget.

Ideas

Use 'hedge forces' to break the Pentagon's force-structure death spiral

The U.S. military must move away from exquisite general-purpose units and weapons.

Threats

Space Force seeks orbital-refueling tech in new budget

But spending caps will slow counterspace efforts, space chief says in interview.

Policy

Pentagon budget request aims to balance congressional limits, foreign needs, and innovation

“This should be the wake-up call that tells us we need to be buying different stuff,” one expert said.

Policy

Army continues focus on munitions amid Ukraine war, China tensions

The service is also seeking alternatives to its long-range cannon program amid technical problems.

Policy

Air Force warns of cuts to planned buys in upcoming budget

And, officials say, if Congress blocks aircraft retirements, it will have a ripple effect on other programs.

Ideas

Biden shouldn’t stick to a defense-budget deal the House will not honor

Instead, the president should take a page from his former boss’ playbook—and seek the money the military needs.