Ideas
Shutdown’s ripple effect: Contractors, small businesses face devastating economic hit
At least 1 million contractor employees face lost paychecks as the funding lapse disrupts their companies' services to agencies and freezes federal operations.
China’s new missiles on parade: showpieces or showstoppers?
The Sept. 3 parade was clearly meant to convey China's growing military strength and technological ambition.
DOD AI initiatives will open the door to new opportunities
Increased spending on AI and autonomy and faster acquisition will spur new alliances, partnership and merger and acquisitions, writes immixGroup analyst Joshua Iseler.
China is working on reusable rockets—and a strategic leap in space power
The U.S. is ahead, but China's ability to close the gap should not be underestimated.
How big will China’s nuclear arsenal get?
No one knows, but we can game out potential endpoints of Beijing’s buildup.
‘The Bomb Lady’ shows how immigrants power national defense
Just when the United States should be nurturing this source of strength, we are doing the opposite.
How China’s new rare-earth export controls target the Pentagon—and the world
The licensing system replaces a cruder, less flexible means of economic leverage.
China's burgeoning drone arsenal shows power of civil-military fusion
Trump's recent executive orders are just one step in a race against a competitor with a very long lead.
Star Wars gets a step closer with new Space Force satellite jamming capabilities
In a world where code can neutralize a threat before the first missile is even launched, Space Force is betting big on systems to keep the upper hand in space without ever leaving the ground.
Musk calls for deorbiting the ISS sooner than planned
The SpaceX CEO's call for early deorbit puts the future of the space station in question, with potential consequences for scientific research and international cooperation.
Trump’s tariffs fit a growing global trend of hardball migration diplomacy
Such diplomacy works both ways, but richer countries by and large have the upper hand.
China’s plan to rule the heavens
A look at Beijing's strategy to relegate the United States to second place in space.
Why NASA’s crew capsule had heat shield issues during Artemis I
An aerospace expert elaborates on these critical spacecraft components.
Digital Twins: Transforming Government Operations with Interoperability
Digital twin technology can replicate almost everything about a physical environment.
Will Musk’s ‘Algorithm’ reduce military inefficiency—or increase risk?
It's good to question Pentagon requirements. But many exist for deadly serious reasons that may not be obvious in a hasty review.
Donald Trump’s approach to US space policy could throw up some surprises, especially with Elon Musk on board
Is a new American space race on?
The Wild West of space: Can government IT tame the risks?
A multi-pronged strategy to deal with the risks is a good idea.
Recruiting the world’s first disabled astronaut doesn’t mean space travel is inclusive
Here's how to change that.
Harris' and Trump's records on space policy
An international affairs expert examines where they differ when it comes to the final frontier.
How to do autonomous flight right
Too many companies are trying to take shortcuts. The Pentagon needs to push back.
