Threats
Why the ‘narrow,’ ‘short-term’ sanctions reversal for Russia is neither
Sanctions relief for Russia will be difficult to undo.
Business
Demand signals are up, but supply chain risks may still hinder production
As the Trump administration pushes for faster weapons production, supply chain vulnerabilities could trip progress.
Policy
Aircrew who died in KC-135 crash likely lacked parachutes
The Air Force removed chutes from the tankers in 2008 to save time and money.
Sponsor Content
Readiness and Care: Accelerating Defense Health Platforms
Clinical readiness depends on data readiness. Learn how AI-driven interoperability is reshaping defense health operations.
Threats
Iran’s defense industrial base is ‘functionally defeated’: Hegseth
“Bad things can happen,” defense secretary says of Thursday’s KC-135 crash over Iraq
Defense Systems
Fighter jets are downing Iranian drones—a dangerous, expensive mission
Former pilots laud the arrival of cheap munitions and help from Ukraine.
Sponsor Content
Get Quantum Ready with Palo Alto Networks
Winning the quantum era starts with cybersecurity. Discover how government agencies can prepare for quantum-safe encryption today.
Science & Tech
Defense One Radio, Ep. 205: New heat science and the future of soldiering
An Army researcher unpacks new initiatives to expand research into human performance.
Defense Systems
B-21 spotted in aerial-refueling test flights
The milestone follows a top commander’s warning about aging tankers supporting the new bomber.
Voices
Defense Systems
AI-enabled watch towers set to proliferate along the border
GDIT pitches autonomous station with better sensors, more computing power.
Policy
StateChat users move to older AI model as State dumps Anthropic
The chatbot's new model is trained on data only through May 2024, 13 months behind Claude.
Policy
INDOPACOM was all in on Anthropic. Now it’s working to adjust
The administration’s government-wide ban on the company’s AI tools has forced the command to work faster to be “model-neutral.”
Policy
NSA, Cyber Command get a permanent leader, ending 11-month gap
Gen. Joshua Rudd has spent his career largely in special operations and joint command roles.
Threats
Russia-linked hackers appear on Iran war’s cyber front, but their impact is murky
Some experts question the significance of pro-Russia “hacktivist” groups.
Exclusive
Policy
A year into Hegseth’s cuts, defense civilians report ‘degraded performance’ and low morale
And the hiring freeze is still keeping overseas civilians from taking new jobs stateside.
Threats
SecDef leaves Iran war’s timeline in Trump’s hands
The Pentagon is focusing on operational objectives for success, leaving out Trump’s calls for “unconditional surrender” and an “acceptable” new leader.
Science & Tech
New science on heat is changing the future of soldiering
Suffering in the sun doesn’t make better troops.
Business
Anthropic sues DOD, Hegseth, and a dozen other federal agencies
The company asserts that its designation as a supply-chain risk is an illegal retaliation, not an action to protect national security.
Exclusive
Policy
Hegseth presses Defense civilians to deploy for immigration enforcement
"We all think it's absurd," one Army civilian told Defense One.
Ideas