Editorial

Defense News offers commentary and opinion that frames the global debate about defense policy, programs and strategy.


  • Even a pandemic can’t stunt geopolitics
    Even a pandemic can’t stunt geopolitics

    This year’s Outlook authors were, understandably, unable to ignore the coronavirus pandemic. But the spread of a disease did not distract them from the affairs of geopolitics.

  • Shipbuilding: Here today, gone tomorrow
    Shipbuilding: Here today, gone tomorrow

    Industry well remembers the 1990s when costs drove the Navy to slash the Seawolf-class sub order from 29 hulls to just three, with no immediate replacement vesse ready to keep the lines hot.

  • When the challenge of coronavirus becomes a catalyst to change
    When the challenge of coronavirus becomes a catalyst to change

    Military leaders for years have said they value agility. Now they will get to watch firsthand which firms are prepared for the long term, who adapts and who merely talks about adapting.

  • When a global health crisis hits home
    When a global health crisis hits home

    At the start, this was a health care crisis certainly, an economic crisis potentially. Now it’s clear that no market is unaffected, and I join the rest of the world in wondering where the defense industry will land.

  • Take that, Trump: Why Amazon can afford to be defiant
    Take that, Trump: Why Amazon can afford to be defiant

    If President Donald Trump figuratively declared war on Amazon chief Jeff Bezos, and by extension Amazon, the approach taken for the JEDI contract award protest the head of Amazon Web Services declaring war on the president.

  • A new future in global arms sales?
    A new future in global arms sales?

    The last few years have seen a subtle transition in how the U.S., as the world’s dominant arms exporter, markets to the world.

  • Why not Microsoft? A look at the JEDI contract
    Why not Microsoft? A look at the JEDI contract

    Conspiracy theories abound around the decision by the Pentagon to award to Microsoft the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract.

  • One step forward, two back
    One step forward, two back

    The latest news on the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle project doesn’t exactly fall neatly within that inspirational vision of a new approach to Army acquisition.

  • US policy toward Ukraine gets more complicated
    US policy toward Ukraine gets more complicated

    Ukraine is in a desperate situation amid the ongoing debate about whether supplying the country with arms could make a tense situation worse.

  • A tale of two future fighters
    A tale of two future fighters

    There’s a tale of two fighters underway in Europe. And countries — and their companies — are choosing sides.

  • Even a pandemic can’t stunt geopolitics
    Even a pandemic can’t stunt geopolitics

    This year’s Outlook authors were, understandably, unable to ignore the coronavirus pandemic. But the spread of a disease did not distract them from the affairs of geopolitics.

  • Shipbuilding: Here today, gone tomorrow
    Shipbuilding: Here today, gone tomorrow

    Industry well remembers the 1990s when costs drove the Navy to slash the Seawolf-class sub order from 29 hulls to just three, with no immediate replacement vesse ready to keep the lines hot.

  • When the challenge of coronavirus becomes a catalyst to change
    When the challenge of coronavirus becomes a catalyst to change

    Military leaders for years have said they value agility. Now they will get to watch firsthand which firms are prepared for the long term, who adapts and who merely talks about adapting.

  • When a global health crisis hits home
    When a global health crisis hits home

    At the start, this was a health care crisis certainly, an economic crisis potentially. Now it’s clear that no market is unaffected, and I join the rest of the world in wondering where the defense industry will land.

  • Take that, Trump: Why Amazon can afford to be defiant
    Take that, Trump: Why Amazon can afford to be defiant

    If President Donald Trump figuratively declared war on Amazon chief Jeff Bezos, and by extension Amazon, the approach taken for the JEDI contract award protest the head of Amazon Web Services declaring war on the president.

  • A new future in global arms sales?
    A new future in global arms sales?

    The last few years have seen a subtle transition in how the U.S., as the world’s dominant arms exporter, markets to the world.

  • Why not Microsoft? A look at the JEDI contract
    Why not Microsoft? A look at the JEDI contract

    Conspiracy theories abound around the decision by the Pentagon to award to Microsoft the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract.

  • One step forward, two back
    One step forward, two back

    The latest news on the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle project doesn’t exactly fall neatly within that inspirational vision of a new approach to Army acquisition.

  • US policy toward Ukraine gets more complicated
    US policy toward Ukraine gets more complicated

    Ukraine is in a desperate situation amid the ongoing debate about whether supplying the country with arms could make a tense situation worse.

  • A tale of two future fighters
    A tale of two future fighters

    There’s a tale of two fighters underway in Europe. And countries — and their companies — are choosing sides.

  • Even a pandemic can’t stunt geopolitics
    Even a pandemic can’t stunt geopolitics

    This year’s Outlook authors were, understandably, unable to ignore the coronavirus pandemic. But the spread of a disease did not distract them from the affairs of geopolitics.

  • Shipbuilding: Here today, gone tomorrow
    Shipbuilding: Here today, gone tomorrow

    Industry well remembers the 1990s when costs drove the Navy to slash the Seawolf-class sub order from 29 hulls to just three, with no immediate replacement vesse ready to keep the lines hot.

  • When the challenge of coronavirus becomes a catalyst to change
    When the challenge of coronavirus becomes a catalyst to change

    Military leaders for years have said they value agility. Now they will get to watch firsthand which firms are prepared for the long term, who adapts and who merely talks about adapting.

  • When a global health crisis hits home
    When a global health crisis hits home

    At the start, this was a health care crisis certainly, an economic crisis potentially. Now it’s clear that no market is unaffected, and I join the rest of the world in wondering where the defense industry will land.

  • Take that, Trump: Why Amazon can afford to be defiant
    Take that, Trump: Why Amazon can afford to be defiant

    If President Donald Trump figuratively declared war on Amazon chief Jeff Bezos, and by extension Amazon, the approach taken for the JEDI contract award protest the head of Amazon Web Services declaring war on the president.

  • A new future in global arms sales?
    A new future in global arms sales?

    The last few years have seen a subtle transition in how the U.S., as the world’s dominant arms exporter, markets to the world.

  • Why not Microsoft? A look at the JEDI contract
    Why not Microsoft? A look at the JEDI contract

    Conspiracy theories abound around the decision by the Pentagon to award to Microsoft the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract.

  • One step forward, two back
    One step forward, two back

    The latest news on the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle project doesn’t exactly fall neatly within that inspirational vision of a new approach to Army acquisition.

  • US policy toward Ukraine gets more complicated
    US policy toward Ukraine gets more complicated

    Ukraine is in a desperate situation amid the ongoing debate about whether supplying the country with arms could make a tense situation worse.

  • A tale of two future fighters
    A tale of two future fighters

    There’s a tale of two fighters underway in Europe. And countries — and their companies — are choosing sides.