Defense

Factbox: What happens in a U.S. government shutdown?

By Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker and Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker, Reuters

In shutdowns, nonessential government employees are furloughed, or placed on temporary unpaid leave. Workers deemed essential, including those dealing with public safety and national security, keep...
The Mysterious Threat to Pilots That the Pentagon Can’t Solve

By Ciro Scotti

Episodes of oxygen deprivation affecting the pilots of F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet — and other military aircraft including the F-35 — are on the rise and remain an unsolved mystery.
What Game Theory Tells Us About Trump’s ‘Madman’ Approach to North Korea

By Rob Garver

Is Donald Trump out of his mind? Maybe he wants North Korea to think so.
Does the Army’s $580 Million Handgun Have a Fatal Flaw?

By Ciro Scotti

Last January, the Army made a $580 million decision: It would replace its longstanding sidearm, the M9 Beretta, with a new modular handgun made by the U.S. arm of the German-controlled gunsmith Sig...
Why the Escalating Threats Between Trump and Kim Won’t End in War

By Patrick Smith

The supercharged threats volleyed between President Trump and Kim Jong Un this week bring us closer to war with the North Korea than at any time since Pyongyang tested its first nuclear device in...

Here’s the Real State of the $1 Trillion U.S. Nuclear Upgrade

By David Francis

The American nuclear arsenal is just about the same as it was when Trump took office.
Here’s Why North Korea Put Guam in Its Crosshairs

By David Francis

Hours after President Donald Trump threatened North Korea with fire and fury like the world has never known, Pyongyang announced it is "examining the operational plan" to attack Guam, a tiny U.S...
Why the Price of the F-35 Keeps Soaring

By Ciro Scotti

The most costly fighter ever built is getting even more expensive. A new General Accounting Office report says the Pentagon will spend an additional $3.9 billion over the next five years on “...
The Media Has to Stop Provoking Trump’s Worst Instincts

By Rob Garver

For a man constantly boasting about his extraordinary negotiating prowess, President Trump made a pretty obvious rookie mistake on Tuesday, with his apocalyptic-sounding promise to deliver “fire and...
Five Things You Need to Know About Plans to Privatize the Afghan War

By David Francis

The White House is actively considering a plan to turn a big chunk of the war in Afghanistan over to private contractors. That’s according to Erik Prince, founder of the Blackwater security firm, who...

This New Sniper Drone Could Be the Future of Urban Warfare

By Ciro Scotti

A new military drone designed for urban warfare can be mounted with an assault weapon, a grenade launcher or a sniper rifle – all of which can be fired remotely.
China Flexes Its Naval Might as the North Korea Threat Intensifies

By Ciro Scotti

As the saber-rattling gets louder across the Korean Peninsula, China is building up its navy, and its submarines could soon run more silent than America’s.
How the Military Discards Injured Troops and Denies Them Veterans Benefits

By Ciro Scotti

Since 9/11, the percentage of soldiers given “bad paper” discharges has spiked – but many of them were let go because of behavior related to post-traumatic stress syndrome and traumatic brain...
How Congress Could Give the A-10 Warthog Fleet a Second Wind

By Eric Pianin

It was something of a relief to Warthog admirers that the House Armed Services Committee this week took an important first step towards preserving three A-10 squadrons that have been targeted for...
Defense Expects a Huge Increase, but They May Already Have What They Need

By Eric Pianin

Prominent Republican defense hawks including Senate Armed Services Committee Chair John McCain of Arizona and House Armed Services Committee chief Mac Thornberry of Texas have loudly complained that...

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