Navy Steps Up New Jammer Effort; First New System in 40 Years
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On July 10, the U.S. Navy released a request for proposals for the first all-new electronic jammer in over 40 years. It’s about time since the existing ALQ-99 jammer carried on electronic-warfare planes is gradually losing the ability to keep up with joint requirements — not to mention threats. When the ALQ-99 debuted in 1971,… Keep reading →
Fix Arms Export Laws For Commercial Satellite Sales: AIA
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It is long past time for Congress to reform the current laws governing the export of commercial satellites – an outmoded and counterproductive system intended to enhance national security while inadvertently undermining America’s domestic space industry, a recent Defense Department report makes clear. Whatever Congress’s good intentions when it passed this law in 1998, the… Keep reading →
Fighting The Invisible War: The Electronic Spectrum
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UPDATED: The company has asked we change the author of the article. See note below. During the last decade the execution of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has shown a dramatically changed battlefield, and with it America’s approach to defense is evolving to embrace new dimensions. A new front has emerged with heightened importance. Wars… Keep reading →
Congress: Don’t Let Army Botch GCV, The Bradley Replacement
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The Army’s senior leadership is determined to spend money on a new Ground Combat Vehicle (CV) to replace the aging Bradley Armored Fighting Vehicle. On the one hand, the admission that tracked mobile armored firepower is critical to survival and success in future combat is gratifying. On the other hand, the determination to focus on… Keep reading →
Our Nukes Cost More Than You Think; Stimson Pegs Annual Nuke Spending At $31B
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The defense budget is going down…have you heard? The presidential campaign is shedding a lot of heat, but very little light on this reality; you won’t hear much of substance about how or where it will go down. Or much sensible or reasonable discussion about how we manage a defense build-down in a way that… Keep reading →
Military Sealift Command: A Flexible Key to The Asia Strategy
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This is the first in a series of commentaries defense consultant and author Robbin Laird, a member of the Breaking Defense Board of Contributors, is penning about how the U.S. can and should shape its forces to perform the Asia strategy pivot. As a key part of that, he’ll be looking closely at what he… Keep reading →
The Magnificent Seven Weapons: ‘Awesome On A Shoestring’
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Everyone knows military technology projects take forever and cost billions to produce, right? Just look at the Air Force’s latest fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor. The Raptor’s initial requirement was written in 1981, with the objective of developing an air superiority fighter to counter the Soviet air threat. It was declared operational in December of… Keep reading →
Fight Against Afghan Corruption Pits Few People Against Big Foe
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Anti-corruption programs established to combat graft and fiscal malfeasance in Afghanistan are struggling with a daunting mission. Sparsely resourced, US military and civilian groups battle malign networks that connect distracted American officials, for-profit corporations, predatory Afghan insiders and the Taliban in a toxic system so pervasive that American taxpayers are funding both sides of the… Keep reading →
Why Doesn’t The F-35 Program Follow The Rules?
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By Rep. Todd Akin Why would the most expensive defense acquisition program in American history not be required to follow the rules? The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the future fighter for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The program has been repeatedly reorganized due to growing costs and schedule delays. This year the… Keep reading →
HASC Bill Shows GOP Stuck in Cold War; Reduce SSBN-X, Nukes
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There is broad bipartisan agreement that few national security issues are as critical as how to deal with America’s crippling debt. This means we should spend scarce dollars on the weapons we need for current threats and not on programs with diminishing strategic relevance. Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee, however, apparently are still… Keep reading →