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Forward Defense in-depth analysis

Report Mar 27, 2025

Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare: Final report

By Whitney M. McNamara, Peter Modigliani, Tate Nurkin

The Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare presents a software-defined warfare approach, offering recommendations for the DoD to adopt modern software practices and seamlessly integrate them into existing platforms to enhance and strengthen defense strategies.
Artificial Intelligence Defense Policy
Forward Defense in-depth analysis

Report Jan 4, 2025

‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense

By Robert Soofer with contributions from Kari Anderson, James McCue, Tom Karako, Mark J. Massa, Alyxandra Marine, and Jonathan Rosenstein

A comprehensive analysis of U.S. homeland missile defense, addressing policies, security challenges, and strategies to counter threats from North Korea, China, and Russia.
China Defense Technologies
Forward Defense in-depth analysis

Report Jan 14, 2025

The next decade of strategic competition: How the Pentagon can use special operations forces to better compete

By Clementine G. Starling-Daniels, Theresa Luetkefend

Clementine G. Starling and Theresa Luetkefend discuss how the Department of Defense and Joint force should more effectively leverage Special Operations forces in strategic competition.
Africa China

All in-depth research & reports

Strategic Insights Memo

Aug 18, 2023

Employing artificial intelligence and the edge continuum for joint operations

By James E. Cartwright and Jags Kandasamy

In Spring 2023, experts from the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Forward Defense program and Latent AI convened for discussions on employing artificial intelligence for joint operations. This memo builds upon takeaways and insights gleaned from those meetings.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Technologies

Report

Aug 14, 2023

How modern militaries are leveraging AI

By Tate Nurkin, Julia Siegel

Tate Nurkin and Julia Siegel explore the implications of incorporating artificial intelligence into military operations and the challenges of the US Department of Defense’s adoption of human-machine teaming.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Report

Jul 7, 2023

Building a navy fighting machine

By Bruce Stubbs

Bruce Stubbs explores the barriers impeding the US Navy’s approach to strategy development and force planning and offers recommendations for reform.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Report

Jun 8, 2023

Operationalizing integrated deterrence: Applying joint force targeting across the competition continuum

By Gen James Cartwright, USMC (ret.), Lt Col Justin M. Conelli, USAF, Clementine G. Starling, and Julia Siegel

General James E. Cartwright, Lieutenant Colonel Justin M. Conelli, Clementine G. Starling, and Julia Siegel advance a framework for operationalizing integrated deterrence.

China Defense Industry

Issue Brief

Jun 1, 2023

Autonomy and asymmetry: The future of Norway’s defense 2022-2042

By August Cole

August Cole provides an in-depth examination of Norway’s potential defense strategies, the implications of autonomous drones and artificial intelligence, and the necessary transformation of military norms in response to the threats from Russia and beyond.

Defense Policy Eastern Europe

Issue Brief

May 22, 2023

Roles of the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

By Arnold Punaro

Major General Arnold Punaro, USMC (ret.) gives an inside look on evolution of the GNA, what factors make for a successful chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the “unfinished business” of the reforms that led to the creation of the CJCS office.

Defense Policy National Security

Issue Brief

May 1, 2023

US strategy and force posture for an era of nuclear tripolarity

By Keir Lieber, Daryl G. Press

Keir Lieber and Daryl Press lay out a vision for the future of US nuclear doctrine and strategy under the condition of nuclear tripolarity.

China Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Apr 27, 2023

Beyond launch: Harnessing allied space capabilities for exploration purposes

By Tiffany Vora

Tiffany Vora assesses current US space exploration goals and highlights areas where US allies are positioned for integration as part of Forward Defense’s series on “Harnessing Allied Space Capabilities.”

China Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Apr 27, 2023

Integrating US and allied capabilities to ensure security in space

By Nicholas Eftimiades

Nicholas Eftimiades analyzes the potential benefits to US national security offered by allied integration as part of Forward Defense’s series on “Harnessing Allied Space Capabilities.”

China Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Apr 27, 2023

The NewSpace market: Capital, control, and commercialization

By Robert Murray

Robert Murray considers the commercial space market and key drivers of development as part of Forward Defense’s series on “Harnessing Allied Space Capabilities.”

China Defense Industry

Issue Brief

Apr 27, 2023

Harnessing allied space capabilities

By Robert Murray, Tiffany Vora, and Nicholas Eftimiades

Forward Defense experts examine how US space strategy can recognize the comparative advantage of allies and partners in space and best harness allied capabilities.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Report

Apr 12, 2023

Atlantic Council Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption interim report  

By Eric Lofgren*, Whitney M. McNamara, and Peter Modigliani

The DoD must accelerate defense innovation adoption from the leading edge of the private sector. This report has ten recommendations to do so.

China Defense Industry

Issue Brief

Apr 3, 2023

Game-changers: Implications of the Russo-Ukraine war for the future of ground warfare

By T.X. Hammes

T.X. Hammes describes the most significant gamechangers for ground warfare from the Russo-Ukraine war and the lessons that US, allied, and partner policymakers should draw from the conflict for their own force posture and development.

Conflict Defense Industry
U.S. Air Force photo by J.M. Eddins Jr.

Hybrid Conflict Project

Dec 22, 2022

Scoping the gray zone: Defining terms and policy priorities for engaging competitors below the threshold of conflict

By Atlantic Council’s Gray Zone Task Force

This Strategic Insights Memo, produced by Forward Defense’s Gray Zone Task Force, considers the scope of modern gray zone activity and the implications for US and allies strategy.

China Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Dec 20, 2022

Arms racing under nuclear tripolarity: Evidence for an action-reaction cycle?

By Matthew Kroenig

Matthew Kroenig argues that there has not been a nuclear arms race since the Cold War—but that China’s nuclear buildup might start one.

Arms Control China

Report

Dec 5, 2022

Taiwan: The key to containing China in the Indo-Pacific

By John B. Barranco

2021-2022 Senior Marine Corps Fellow John Barranco considers the role of the US-Taiwanese relationship in deterring Chinese aggression and ways in which the United States can strengthen this relationship.

China Conflict

Issue Brief

Nov 5, 2022

Strengthening deterrence with SLCM-N

By John R. Harvey and Robert Soofer

John Harvey and Robert Soofer argue that the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile is necessary to deter Russia and China

China Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Nov 3, 2022

Power projection: Accelerating the electrification of US military ground vehicles

By Reed Blakemore, Tate Nurkin

Reed Blakemore and Tate Nurkin highlight advantages and propose next steps of the electrification of US military ground vehicles in this Global Energy Center and Forward Defense issue brief.

Climate Change & Climate Action Defense Industry

Issue Brief

Aug 2, 2022

Space traffic management: Time for action

By Mir Sadat, Julia Siegel

Mir Sadat and Julia Siegel highlight challenges to and opportunities for addressing space traffic management in this Forward Defense issue brief.

China National Security

Report

May 25, 2022

Eye to eye in AI: Developing artificial intelligence for national security and defense

By Tate Nurkin, Margarita Konaev

As artificial intelligence transforms national security and defense, it is imperative for the Department of Defense, Congress, and the private sector to closely collaborate in order to advance major AI development priorities. However, key barriers remain. As China and Russia develop their own capabilities, the stakes of the military AI competition are high, and time is short.

Artificial Intelligence China
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Forward Defense leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, the military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.

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