Author Archive

Patrick Tucker

Science & Technology Editor

Patrick Tucker
Patrick Tucker is science and technology editor for Defense One. He’s also the author of The Naked Future: What Happens in a World That Anticipates Your Every Move? (Current, 2014). Previously, Tucker was deputy editor for The Futurist for nine years. Tucker has written about emerging technology in Slate, The Sun, MIT Technology Review, Wilson Quarterly, The American Legion Magazine, BBC News Magazine, Utne Reader, and elsewhere.
Defense

Drones are now bullets: How a new Pentagon policy may accelerate robot warfare

The new policy also allows more units to buy drones, which should boost the demand signal to industry.

Defense

Allies struggle to work with US military in space operations, GAO finds

An excess of overlapping roles, classification, and unfilled jobs are hurting U.S. collaboration with partners in space.

Science & Tech

Pentagon pushes US dronemakers to innovate as quickly as Ukraine does

DIU’s Project GI initiative aims to embed frontline insights into a perpetual loop of design, testing, and deployment.

Science & Tech

Hegseth halves staff of Pentagon’s testing-oversight office

The move may reduce the quality of DOT&E’s second opinions, but may not affect safety, former officials said.

Defense

Trump: Golden Dome to cost $175B, be ready in three years

Defense officials have said it would take at least five to seven to develop its space-based weapons.

Science & Tech

As space becomes more crowded, Space Force turns to AI

The newest service wants to understand where automation can augment—or even replace—humans in monitoring space for threats.

Science & Tech

Industry launches $100B AI-infrastructure effort to keep ahead of China

Oracle, OpenAI focus on data centers as AI race begins to turn on computing power instead of math.

Science & Tech

Are AI defense firms about to eat the Pentagon?

Competitors are becoming collaborators in the industry’s hottest segment.

Defense

Biden allows Ukraine to use ATACMS to strike Russia

The move comes after what one former Ukrainian official called a “a significant and extremely painful delay.”

Exclusive Science & Tech

Rocket startup debuts with record-breaking supersonic flight

Dawn Hypersonics' rocket drone could shake up the hypersonic missile game.

Science & Tech

Trump’s climate skepticism could hurt military operations

Proposals to “dismantle” NOAA and roll back energy efforts pose “a huge risk,” said one expert.