How late is too late for new weapons?

EnergySource Nov 14, 2024

Europe’s new industrial plan faces formidable obstacles

By Andrei Covatariu

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has promised to put forth in her second term a new Clean Industrial Deal to mobilize investment in infrastructure and industry, and reduce dependence on energy imports. But energy supply challenges and geopolitical hurdles risk undermining plans to restore Europe’s industrial competitiveness.
Defense Industry Energy & Environment
How late is too late for new weapons?

New Atlanticist Oct 30, 2024

In defense of Draghi’s defense idea: Three models for a centralized defense procurer for the EU

By Thomas Goldstein

Only a European defense procurer can provide the institutional reform to overcome intra- and intergovernmental paralysis and invest at scale.
Defense Industry Defense Policy
How late is too late for new weapons?

New Atlanticist Oct 28, 2024

The US needs a stronger defense industrial base. Option contracts can help.

By Michael Hogan

The US government would pay a premium on current orders, but it would then have the option to purchase a larger amount within a fixed timeframe.
Defense Industry Defense Policy

Content

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 […]

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Defense Industrialist

Sep 26, 2016

Applying an investor’s mindset to military aid

By James Hasik

Restricting US military aid may affect more than Israeli industry and the IDF. As has been widely reported, the United States and Israeli governments have come to a new ten-year understanding of how the former will subsidize the latter’s military spending. The new amount that the Obama Administration promises to submit annually to the US […]

Defense Industry Drones

Defense Industrialist

Sep 21, 2016

My strike fighter for a cooling line

By James Hasik

Lockheed Martin’s recent quality problem reminds us how challenging massively multinational development and production programs can be. Almost a squadron’s worth of Joint Strike Fighters, Courtney Albon wrote for Inside Defense, “may not fly for months.” As Colin Clark wrote for Breaking Defense, the US Air Force and the Royal Norwegian Air Force have suspended […]

Australia Defense Industry

Defense Industrialist

Sep 14, 2016

How to man the unmanned: A counterpoint

By Ian Fairchild

Unquestionably, the Air Force needs to retain experienced operators if the service hopes to remain the most powerful air force on the planet. The question of how to best do this surfaces in many areas. How to retain more women and minorities? How to retain more fighter pilots? Earlier this week, Defense Industrialist editor James […]

Defense Industry Drones
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Experts

Staff

Alexander Young

Project Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Jongsun Kim

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Hannah Hunt

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Fellow

Owen J. Daniels

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Tom Mancinelli

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Justina Budginaite-Froehly

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Industry European Union
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