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Defense Industrialist

Nov 10, 2016

Big guns but no bullets?

By James Hasik

The US Navy has at least three options for fire support ashore, and should move out smartly with more than one. As James Holmes of the Naval War College wrote on The National Interest last month, “the US Navy has an image problem.” Perhaps, as Steven Wills of Ohio University (aka. Lazarus) argued in the comments, it’s merely that ships […]

Afghanistan Defense Industry

Defense Industrialist

Nov 3, 2016

Technological disjunctures and the 21st century destroyer

By Danny Lam

The future of surface warfare requires cooperation across borders. Sea control in the twentieth century revolved around fleets based on battleships, then aircraft carriers. Lesser vessels like destroyers and frigates were for constabulary duty during peacetime, and during wartime, for assisting the main battle fleet in defeating opposing navies to restore control of seas. In […]

China Conflict

Defense Industrialist

Nov 1, 2016

Will Roper’s economical way back to coastal artillery

By James Hasik

Not every Third Offset choice will be this easy, but the Strategic Capabilities Office has found an excellent solution. At the CSIS’s Third Offset Conference last week, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that Will Roper’s Strategic Capabilities Office has found a solution to the United States’ shortfall in coastal artillery. The simplicity is almost obvious: modify the Army’s existing Army Tactical Missile […]

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Defense Industrialist

Oct 27, 2016

How late is too late for new weapons?

By James Hasik

The Pentagon’s drive for innovation is up against adversaries’ efforts to “occupy leading positions” themselves. Back at the beginning of August, I wrote an essay about how soon was too soon with new weapons. Some historical perspective, I thought, should inform the aims of the Pentagon’s Third Offset strategy. And yet, to focus a moment on […]

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Defense Industrialist

Oct 25, 2016

No through-ticket to Manila

By James Hasik

Some indications from history on how Philippine “separation” from the United States might affect military planning. Back in March, as Military Times optimistically reported, the US military was planning to place “permanent logistics facilities” at five bases in the Philippines. In May, the Philippine presidential election put a quick end to that. Since then, new President Rodrigo […]

China Conflict

Defense Industrialist

Oct 20, 2016

Nuclear buying power

By James Hasik

Who wins and who loses when the Pentagon prohibits exclusive dealing? On October 11, the US Air Force received prospective contractors’ proposals its its Ground-Based Strategic Deterrence (GBSD) program, its effort to begin replacing its Boeing LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) by 2030. The USAF is sufficiently concerned about its choices for cost-effective […]

Defense Industry Nuclear Deterrence

Defense Industrialist

Oct 18, 2016

With GPS, failure is not an option.

By James Hasik

For all its dependency on GPS, the Pentagon has been quietly ignoring the potential vulnerabilities of GPS—until just about now. Raytheon’s new GPS Operational Control System (OCX) might just be the most troubled program the Pentagon is running. This June, OCX incurred a dreaded Nunn-McCurdy breach, when its projected costs were judged to have increased […]

Defense Industry Drones

Defense Industrialist

Oct 7, 2016

More rapidly remaking the military

By James Hasik

Rapid capabilities offices, incremental investments, and a wave of public entrepreneurship may signal some needed cultural change. Egypt is getting more MRAPs. As Defense Industry Daily reported Wednesday, the US Defense Department is sending a second batch of surplus armored vehicles—to match the 762 already sent—“to equip Egyptian soldiers tackling Islamist militants in the Sinai […]

Defense Industry Economy & Business

Defense Industrialist

Oct 3, 2016

One Huey replacement or two?

By James Hasik

The timing of the USAF’s RFI for new helicopters begs questions about its requirements and its relationship with industry. As Phillip Swarts reported for Air Force Times, on September 9 the US Air Force posted its request for information (RFI) for replacing several squadrons of UH-1N Hueys. As Jim McAleese related from the Air Force […]

Defense Industry Security & Defense

Defense Industrialist

Sep 27, 2016

Beyond the MAD-ness of the Airbus-Boeing rivalry

By James Hasik

In the long run, military requirements and funding may matter more than trade disputes. In a 574-page report last week, the World Trade Organization ruled that the European Union and several of its member states had failed to adjust their behavior on their subsidies to Airbus, after its last mammoth ruling on their subsidies to […]

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