Defense
‘Sloppy,’ ‘incompetent’ intelligence chiefs hammered for Signal chat
At Senate hearing, Gabbard, Ratcliffe struggled to recall details of Yemen-strike chat shared with journalist.
Acquisition
Pentagon aims to accelerate acquisition of new tech through software-contracting change
Buyers must default to rapid-acquisition processes long used by DIU, SecDef memo orders.
Defense
Pentagon may break up tech offices in acquisition-policy shift
Shakeup may also consolidate service PEO functions and put more R&D costs on industry, a Pentagon source says.
Defense
What Google’s return to defense AI means
More competition in a hot market—and the plain fact that only the Pentagon will set boundaries.
Defense
Trump’s ‘Iron Dome for America’ plan would put weapons in space, at a big cost
It’s a Cold War concept for a mission whose threats and tools have long since changed.
Artificial Intelligence
How DeepSeek changed the future of AI—and what that means for national security
China’s breakthrough is an opportunity for American companies to build more efficient tools. That will also help the U.S. military.
Artificial Intelligence
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.
Defense
Defense officials hopeful incoming administration keeps funding cutting-edge tech
Amid competing priorities, they pitched dual-use research as key to competing with China.
People
‘Extraordinarily dangerous’: Intelligence community insiders warn against Trump’s DNI pick
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has a “history of irresponsibly promoting misinformation,” said one official.
Defense
Senators want answers from DOD on quantum sensing efforts
Bipartisan letter wonders whether China’s programs “outstrip the efforts of the United States.”
Artificial Intelligence
Can AI predict if a Marine will quit? Corps wants to know
“Retention prediction network” could reveal signs that trainers and recruiters might otherwise miss.
Modernization
Could an easy radio fix have prevented the Trump assassination attempt?
“Being able to talk to other agencies real-time certainly would assist in that response,” one official said.
Defense
Special operators hope AI can reduce civilian deaths in combat
Automation could eventually turn “trigger-pullers into the experts that can do this,” one official said.
Defense
Two programs suggest the Pentagon is getting better at buying technology
The Maven and Collaborative Combat Aircraft efforts display real steps forward, a pair of reports say.
Emerging Tech
Navy still bullish on lasers but widely-deployed directed-energy ship defense remains years away
Quest gains urgency as enemy drones and missiles get better, cheaper, and more widely used.
Emerging Tech
Pentagon planning huge experiment for its connect-everything concept
“We see significant progress,” in opening up DOD data, one observer said. But a bigger, multinational test is coming.
Defense
DARPA wants to use AI to find new rare minerals
With spectral analysis, it’s possible to “tell the difference [between] cocaine that came from one cartel’s area of Colombia versus another.”
Cybersecurity
China is seeking ways to disrupt daily American life should a conflict erupt, Pentagon’s IT leader says
The DISA director also wants more transparency from the IT companies it hires.
Defense
How AI is turning satellite imagery into a window on the future
What can a picture from space tell you? “You're likely to have a drought here that might lead to civil unrest.”
Defense