Editorial

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


  • Wait, where are all the women?
    Wait, where are all the women?

    Not including our own editorial team, we have only three women participating in the Defense News Conference. Candidly, that’s pretty unacceptable.

  • Finding a safe place for big ideas at the Pentagon
    Finding a safe place for big ideas at the Pentagon

    Placement of an office toward the top echelon at the Pentagon doesn’t prompt success.

  • China is watching
    China is watching

    Obviously, global perception shouldn’t define U.S. policy. But if we talk about how today’s rhetoric might be interpreted by allies, which we do, we certainly should consider how it might be interpreted by adversaries.

  • What’s left in the dust of a massive merger?
    What’s left in the dust of a massive merger?

    If you’re not really big, and you’re not categorically small, then you’re going to have a harder time competing.

  • Maybe alliance tensions could land us in a better place
    Maybe alliance tensions could land us in a better place

    The European Union is touting merits of its efforts to fund members in defense efforts, after NATO criticisms.

  • Can we really get Europe to cut the Russia cord? It’s complicated.
    Can we really get Europe to cut the Russia cord? It’s complicated.

    The theory is that the European Recapitalization Incentive Program, or ERIP, will help six nations (start to) get off Russian equipment, while increasing the sale of U.S. weapon systems abroad in the process. A win-win, for the United States. But perhaps more nuanced for its European allies.

  • Is this a JEDI mind trick?
    Is this a JEDI mind trick?

    I don’t question industry’s ability to develop a secure, capable cloud infrastructure for the Pentagon. I do question how on earth the Pentagon screwed up the competition so badly.

  • Let these Pentagon leaders do their job
    Let these Pentagon leaders do their job

    If government is going to restrict these individuals from tapping their expertise or create proverbial muzzles that prevent or dissuade them from performing, then why are they there in the first place?

  • Pentagon’s Jason group is not worth mourning
    Pentagon’s Jason group is not worth mourning

    While a rather novel concept in the 1960s, it’s not so much today.

  • Let’s talk about what it actually means to be a small business
    Let’s talk about what it actually means to be a small business

    If you caught the Twitter storm from Anduril’s Trae Stephens earlier this week, you would have discovered that the definition of a small business should require more thought than perhaps the Pentagon is bothering to invest.