Ideas

The US May Seek Defenses Against Russian Missiles. We Need to Talk about That.

If the Trump administration goes down that path, it should boldly declare a change in strategy, not hide behind ambiguity.

Ideas

Moscow Has Little Reason to Return to the INF Treaty

The incentives that led Gorbachev to sign the pact are gone. The U.S. needs to prepare for a post-INF world.

Science & Tech

The US is Accelerating Development of Its Own 'Invincible' Hypersonic Weapons

Russia isn’t the only country looking to build invincible hypersonic weapons. Here’s the latest on the U.S. efforts to send missiles and even aircraft five times faster than sound.

Ideas

How to Keep US Missile Defense on the Right Track

Use the coming funding boost to smooth the development of a new kill vehicle and increase GMD testing in general.

Science & Tech

Pentagon Requesting $66M For Laser Drones to Shoot Down North Korean Missiles

The Missile Defense Agency is rushing to put more solutions in the field and trying to put past failures behind them.

Threats

Left-of-Launch Missile Defense: ‘You Don’t Want to Have Just One Solution to the Threat’

The 3-star commander of the US Army’s space and missile-defense efforts talks about the changing mix of ways to counter threats.

Ideas

Don’t Hold Missile-Defense Hostage to the Illusion of a Perfect Grade

How is North Korea improving its ICBMs so quickly? It’s not afraid of a test failure — or six.

Business

Congress Rushes Pentagon $4B for Missile Defense Improvements

The emergency bill is light on details, but it appears to fulfill the military’s wide-ranging November request.

Ideas

Japan Needs Long-Range Strike Capabilities

Ballistic-missile defense systems alone can’t ward off regional threats. Tokyo needs firepower to deter its enemies.

Ideas

Let's Walk This Through: If North Korea Launches An ICBM, Then...

It takes a lot of rosy assumptions to get to President Trump’s 97% chance of success.

Business

With Iran Deal in Jeopardy, US Clears Missile Interceptor Sale to Saudi Arabia

The timing of THAAD sale is reminiscent of Patriot interceptor sale approved two weeks after Iran deal signed in 2015.

Threats

If North Korea Fires an ICBM, the US Might Have to Shoot It Down Over Russia

Missile-defense physics may require interceptors to fly into ‘the teeth of the Russian early warning net.’

Threats

Could North Korea Shoot Down US Warplanes?

Some of Pyongyang's surface-to-air missiles are old, but its newer ones could threaten American aircraft.

Ideas

No, We Cannot Shoot Down North Korea’s Missiles

It's time national leaders speak realistically about missile defense.

Ideas

On North Korea, More Missile Defense Is Not the Answer

Buying more unreliable interceptors would be a wasteful invitation to disaster.

Science & Tech

Drones Will Help Protect Guam From North Korean Missiles

A June 2016 test showed that drones can track missiles, promising better protection for forces and allies under threat of a North Korean missile strike.

Threats

After Sanctioning Pyongyang, China Says the Ball’s in Everyone Else’s Court

Now, Beijing says, the U.S. and both Koreas need to step up and show they're ready to negotiate.

Ideas

Improve Hawai’i’s Missile Defenses — Now

The islands need interceptor missiles to fend off possible attack from North Korea.

Threats

Spooked by North Korea, Lawmakers Resurrect an Old Missile-Defense Idea

Technical experts say space-based interceptors haven’t gotten any more practical since the Reagan era, but House lawmakers still want the Pentagon to plan for them.

Science & Tech

Stinger Missiles Can Now Shoot Down Small Drones

A missile that gained notoriety in the 1980s has been updated for today’s battlefield.