DefenceTalkOver the past year, the overall size of DOD’s major defense acquisition program portfolio decreased, from 80 programs to 78, while the estimated cost has decreased by $7.6 billion. The size and cost of the portfolio is currently the lowest in a decade. The decrease in current portfolio cost is due primarily to significant quantity […]https://www.defencetalk.com/defense-acquisitions-assessments-of-selected-weapon-programs-63511/

DefenceTalkToday’s national security landscape challenges the Defense Department with threats ranging from low-tech, lone-wolf terrorists and high-tech peer adversaries to extremist groups that use both approaches, like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency prepares for them all. DARPA Director Dr. Arati Prabhakar spoke here recently with CNN […]https://www.defencetalk.com/21st-century-darpa-tool-could-work-against-isis-63370/

DefenceTalkThe Defense Department is seeking novel ideas to shape its future, and officials are looking to industry, small business, academia, start-ups, the public –- anyone, really –- to boost its ability to prevail against adversaries whose access to technology grows daily. The program, called the Long-Range Research and Development Plan, or LRRDP, began with an […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dod-seeks-novel-ideas-to-shape-its-technological-future-63297/

DefenceTalkBoeing is consolidating management of key defense and space development programs into a new organization to enhance its performance on the pre-production development activities that significantly influence its ability to provide customers with the right capabilities at the right time and cost. “This BDS Development organization is the next step in breaking the cost curve […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-centralizes-defense-space-development-efforts-to-improve-performance-63047/

DefenceTalkAshton Carter was confirmed as secretary defense Thursday, taking on the job of supervising the war against Islamic State jihadists in the final two years of Barack Obama’s presidency. Carter, 60, was approved in a 93-5 vote. An accomplished Pentagon veteran, he will replace Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense. He had previously served as […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ashton-carter-confirmed-as-us-secretary-of-defense-62937/

DefenceTalkRussia is highly likely to intervene in the Baltic states to test NATO’s collective defense commitment, the former head of the Atlantic alliance was quoted as saying by Britain’s Daily Telegraph on Friday. “This is not about Ukraine. Putin wants to restore Russia to its former position as a great power,” Anders Fogh Rasmussen told […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ex-nato-chief-says-russia-likely-to-act-in-baltics-62773/

DefenceTalkNATO is incorporating special operations into all aspects of its operations and training, the commander of NATO Special Operations Headquarters said here yesterday. Air Force Lt. Gen. Marshall B. Webb told the National Defense Industries Association’s Special Operations/Low-intensity Conflict Symposium that the organization is perfectly placed to capitalize on the multinational, multi-network response to threats. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/special-ops-assuming-greater-nato-responsibilities-62473/

DefenceTalkUS President Barack Obama was planning to undo cuts on defense and other domestic programs as part of his budget for 2016, the White House said Thursday. Obama’s main goal is to freeze the so-called “sequester,” a series of automatic cuts which would reduce spending by $1 trillion (roughly 884 billion euros) by 2021 if […]https://www.defencetalk.com/obama-to-reverse-defense-spending-limits-in-2016-budget-62468/

DefenceTalkRenewing their expansive defense framework for another 10 years, India and the US on Sunday decided to kick off joint manufacturing of four relatively modest military products and explore the development of two more high-end technologies. The two nations agreed to step up joint combat exercises, maritime security endeavors, intelligence-sharing mechanisms, military exchanges and the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-us-to-kick-off-joint-production-on-4-defense-projects-62210/

DefenceTalkA recent report from the Congressional Research Service, which examines the cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and other global “War on Terror” operations since 9/11, calculates a cumulative (fiscal year 2001 through fiscal year 2014) nominal price tag of $1.6 trillion. Adding the war funding for fiscal year 2015 that was passed in December pushes the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/wars-in-the-middle-east-have-cost-taxpayers-almost-1-7-trillion-62208/