The threat to the U.S. Navy from cyber intrusion has become a crisis. Hackers, particularly those from Russia and China, are not limiting themselves to attacks on computers and networks. Now they are engaged in a massive assault on the entire Navy enterprise, including ships, weapons systems, research and development establishments, the supply chain, and shore facilities. According to a recent report, the Navy and its private sector partners are inadequately prepared to deal with the growing threat. But the [ Read More…]

Governor Cuomo is looking to aggressively build offshore wind power to serve New York City and Long Island, despite its high cost and threat to grid reliability. In fact, the U.S. currently has just one, yes one, offshore wind facility. California and much of Europe have so far taken a pass on offshore wind. Offshore wind projects also face challenges of physical security, environmental opposition, regulatory uncertainty and vulnerability to hacking. Lexington Institute’s Paul Steidler has written a commentary for [ Read More…]

The crisis facing Boeing’s 737 MAX jetliner is gradually wending its way to resolution. Sometime in the first quarter of 2020, the plane will again be flying commercial routes. But even when all of the regulatory approvals are in hand, it will take time to get 300+ planes out of storage and into service. Numerous technical tasks must be accomplished, and diverse players must sign off. That’s one reason why Boeing wants to get the planes delivered expeditiously, rather than [ Read More…]

The Air Force is developing a secret bomber designated the B-21 Raider that is pivotal to the future success of U.S. strategy in the Pacific. Many of the details about the bomber’s cost and design are not publicly available. However, if you listen closely, there is much that can be learned about this “secret” program. For instance, because of the way the program was structured, new technology will not be a show-stopper and production costs will be surprisingly low. The [ Read More…]

The U.S. Army’s number one modernization priority is Long-Range Precision Fires (LRPF). Arguably, the most important program being pursued under the LRPF umbrella is the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). This missile will replace the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). It will have a longer range than ATACMS, at least 499 kilometers and as much as 700 kilometers. The PrSM is intended to dominate to so-called deep battle zone, the area between 100 and 700 kilometers where currently our great power [ Read More…]

Congress begins almost every fiscal year with a Continuing Resolution to extend prior-year funding levels, because it hasn’t completed work on a new annual budget. This year, there’s a danger it never will. Concern is growing on Capitol Hill that partisan wrangling over a border wall and impeachment will distract from completing a budget, and in the end 2019 appropriation levels will continue through fiscal 2020. That would preclude a planned 14% increase in military weapons accounts while undermining training [ Read More…]

President Trump isn’t likely to be removed from office through the impeachment process, but he could fail in his reelection bid if there is an economic recession. In such a scenario, leading to the seating of a chief executive from the Democratic Party, there would be major consequences for America’s military. Defense spending would probably plummet, and the mix of military spending would shift away from weapons. Military tensions with China and Iran would likely ease, even as military tensions [ Read More…]

Russia has sought to use many of the processes, traditions and norms of the current international system as part of its hybrid warfare arsenal, not only in the pursuit of its national interests but to undermine that global order. An example of this is Moscow’s efforts to exploit the international legal regime through what has become known as lawfare. This is defined as “the strategy of using – or misusing – law as a substitute for traditional military means to [ Read More…]

When energy policies work, American families benefit. An October report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers finds that the increased domestic production of natural gas and oil is saving a family of four $2,500 a year. Yet, much of these savings have been offset by higher electricity bills due to renewable power subsidies and related fees and assessments. There needs to be greater transparency on how energy policies impact families, especially the poor. Lexington Institute’s Paul Steidler has [ Read More…]

The Department of Defense this week disclosed an agreement with F-35 fighter prime contractor Lockheed Martin that will reduce the average production cost of each fighter by 12.7% across three production lots. The tri-service, multirole fighter that is also being sold to a dozen overseas allies thus continues its steady progress towards becoming the global standard for tactical aircraft. 450 F-35s are now operating from 19 bases around the world, providing a potent and increasingly more affordable deterrent to aggression. [ Read More…]