Defense Industry

The transition of the US military from focusing on counterinsurgency to deterring and defeating great-power rivals will require vigorous modernization of US and allied military capabilities. The United States must harness cutting-edge Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, while simultaneously developing new capabilities and operational concepts to employ these technologies in tandem with existing legacy systems.

Content

In the News

Mar 8, 2016

Barno and Bensahel in War on the Rocks: Three Minutes to Midnight: Closer to Nuclear Conflict than We Think

By David Barno & Nora Bensahel

Read the full article here.

Defense Industry Korea

Defense Industrialist

Mar 5, 2016

The defense economics of John McCain, Part 2

By James Hasik

How more of “Economics 101” would slowly restructure the US armed forces Senator John McCain has a penchant for what the late Phil Hartman of Saturday Night Live might have called Simple Caveman Economics. As I review the pronouncements from his perch at the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain seems to hew markedly to four […]

Defense Industry Economy & Business

Defense Industrialist

Mar 2, 2016

“General, you’re fired.”

By James Hasik

The business of defense under President Donald J. Trump Now that we’ve had a super Tuesday, it’s Groundhog Day. Perhaps Hillary and The Donald are seeing their shadows, and we’ll have another six weeks before the big parties’ nominees are absolutely known. And yet, I’m feeling a sense déjà vu after reading another round of anguished editorials: […]

Defense Industry Politics & Diplomacy

Defense Industrialist

Feb 26, 2016

The defense economics of John McCain, part 1

By James Hasik

What if all development contracts were fixed-price? Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee, is hopping mad about the bomber formerly known as the Long Range Strike Bomber. The B-21, as Air Force Secretary Deborah James named the LRS-B today, is to be developed by Northrop Grumman under a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. McCain […]

Defense Industry Economy & Business

Defense Industrialist

Feb 23, 2016

How to kill the Long Range Strike Bomber, part 2

By James Hasik

Why not a drone? Some reasons for and against manning the next strike aircraft. As I noted last Friday, Northrop Grumman has been awarded development of the US Air Force’s hoped-for Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B), and the political-industrial campaign to kill the project is on. Unsuccessful teamed bidders Boeing and Lockheed Martin may each see […]

Defense Industry Security & Defense

In the News

Feb 23, 2016

Barno and Bensahel in War on the Rocks: Why We Still Need the Draft

By David Barno & Nora Bensahel

Read the full article here.

Defense Industry Security & Defense

In the News

Feb 23, 2016

Hasik Quoted by Wall Street Journal on Raytheon’s Partnership with Foreign Aerospace Companies

By James Hasik

Read the full article here.

Defense Industry Security & Defense

In the News

Feb 22, 2016

Hasik Quoted by Dow Jones Business Journal on Jet Trainer Designs

By James Hasik

Read the full article here.

Defense Industry Security & Defense

Defense Industrialist

Feb 19, 2016

How to kill the Long Range Strike Bomber, part 1

By James Hasik

As Lockheed may soon argue, why not just more stealth fighters and cruise missiles? Early this week, the US Government Accountability Office turned away another contract protest, ruling that the US Air Force had acted reasonably in awarding development of its future Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) to Northrop Grumman. We yet await Boeing’s decision on […]

Defense Industry Security & Defense

Defense Industrialist

Feb 16, 2016

Economics of the Third Offset, part 1

By James Hasik

Why the shift of billions from procurement to development funding? Funding for American military materiel is set to shift from buying to designing. If the US Congress more-or-less adopts the Pentagon’s fiscal year 2017 budget request, spending on research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) would increase by 5 percent—$6.4 billion—over fiscal 2016 , and procurement would […]

Defense Industry Security & Defense

Experts