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Policy Blog
- Navy Shortfall In P-8 Antisubmarine Aircraft Could Be A Problem For The Air Force Too (From Forbes)
The U.S. Navy is buying ten fewer P-8A Poseidon antisubmarine planes than its validated warfighting requirement, an odd move at a time when the maritime threat from China and Russia is growing. By not filling its full requirement, the sea service might also be creating a problem for a sister service. The Air Force wants to use the same version [ Read More…]
- Daniel Gouré, Ph.D.
- Pentagon Force Planning Should Not Discount The Russian Military (From RealClearDefense)
The Washington defense establishment has largely dismissed Russia as a long-term threat to U.S. and NATO security. In their minds, Russia has not only lost the war in Ukraine, but has been so ground down by Ukraine’s resistance that it will not pose a threat to NATO for years to come. This view does not match the reality on the [ Read More…]
- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D
- Leidos Approach To Army’s Athena Recon Aircraft Stresses Integration Skills, Networking Experience, Analytic Expertise (From Forbes)
Technology company Leidos leads one of four industry teams competing to provide the Army’s Athena sensor aircraft. It’s a fierce rivalry because the winner will have an edge in defining the future of aerial reconnaissance for multi-domain operations. Each company– Leidos, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman and Sierra Nevada–has a different take on how Athena should be configured, but they all are [ Read More…]
- Senator Rick Scott Roundtable On Fentanyl Crisis With Families, Border And Law Enforcement Leaders, And Subject-Matter Experts
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) hosted a public roundtable in the Russell Senate Office Building about the fentanyl crisis and steps to address it. The event was also livestreamed via his Twitter and Facebook accounts. Lexington Institute’s Paul Steidler spoke about the pressing need for more vigorous inspection of postal packages entering the United States from other countries, especially packages lacking advanced electronic data. He noted that 2019 legislation requiring such inspections, the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Protection, passed the House [ Read More…]
- How Should The Navy Power Its Next Destroyer? (From Forbes)
The Navy has begun developing a successor to its Arleigh Burke class of destroyers. It is designated DDG(X), with the “X” underscoring that the design has not yet been fleshed out. The sea service wants a warship with much greater range and fuel efficiency, and integrated electric propulsion. What isn’t so clear is the right type of engine to generate all the electricity needed for propulsion and other functions. Gas turbines are the most efficient at peak power, but diesel [ Read More…]
- Statement To Postal Regulatory Commission Re: Mail Standards Report for Congress
The U.S. Congress has directed the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to “analyze the feasibility of restoring service standards for market-dominant products (mail) that were in effect on July 1, 2012, including an examination of the resources and structural and operational changes needed, and the impacts on market growth and revenue.” As part of this process, the PRC has requested public input, which the Lexington Institute has provided. We urge Congress and the PRC to compel the U.S. Postal Service to [ Read More…]
- Boeing Says Production Of Super Hornet Fighters Will Cease In 2025 As Company Pivots To New Opportunities (From Forbes)
Boeing Defense & Space revealed on February 23 that it expects production of new F/A-18 Super Hornets to end in 2025. It may run somewhat longer if the company wins a fighter competition in India, and upgrades to the delivered fleet of fighters will continue for some time. But the end of new production is fast approaching for a plant that has built over 2,000 Hornets, Super Hornets and Growler derivatives. It had to happen someday. Boeing Defense & Space [ Read More…]
- Right-Wing Calls To Cut Defense Would End Up Targeting The Republican Base (From Forbes)
In their zeal to rein in government spending, some elements of the GOP caucus in the House of Representatives seem willing to slash defense spending. Regardless of whether that is a good or bad idea, the idea of Republican lawmakers blocking defense increases seems counter-intuitive. Republicans have been supporters of “peace through strength” for many years, and their electoral base has benefited handsomely from support for the joint force. If defense outlays were cut, the axe would fall first and [ Read More…]
- Drama And Chaos At The Federal Trade Commission (From The Hill)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is having a meltdown. Congress should remedy the root cause before this seriously damages the U.S. economy. The FTC is supposed to protect the public from deceptive or unfair business practices and from unfair competition. But in a fiery resignation announcement on Valentine’s Day, FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson charged FTC Chair Lina Khan with “disregard for the rule of law and due process.” This includes “willful disregard” for congressional limits on the FTC’s power and [ Read More…]
- The Critics Are Dead Wrong: The F-35 Is A Game Changer (From 1945)
Critics of the F-35 fail to recognize that the Joint Strike Fighter program is writing a new chapter in history as the Free World’s fighter of choice. It has overcome numerous technical challenges while lowering the price of individual aircraft and significantly improving maintainability and sustainment. Ultimately, the value of the F-35 is reflected in the fact that 17 nations are currently flying or have decided to acquire the aircraft. They did so based on independent analyses of the platform’s [ Read More…]
- The Military’s Vision Of Joint, All-Domain Warfare Is Doomed Without A Robust Identity Tool (From Forbes)
The Pentagon has a vision of future warfare that requires a network it calls Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2). The network would enable access to a cloud-like computing environment in which even warfighters at the tactical edge could obtain quick access to whatever information they need. However, there is a challenge to implementing the network that must be overcome. The system needs a reliable Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM) tool that can assure only legitimate users are tapping [ Read More…]
- Washington Is Escalating Its Military Role In Ukraine. What Happens When Russia Reacts? (From Forbes)
The Biden administration is gradually expanding the U.S. military role in Ukraine. Not only are more lethal U.S. weapons being sent, but allies are being urged to do the same and in some cases the weapons depend on U.S. inputs to be targeted accurately. This slow escalation is a reasonable response to Russian moves against the Kyiv government, but Washington seems to have grown complacent about how Moscow might react. Eventually Russia too will ratchet up, and when that happens [ Read More…]
- A Dynamic U.S. Oil Industry Will Curb Gargantuan Emissions From Russia And China (From RealClearEnergy)
The war in Ukraine and the end of the pandemic have spotlighted a difficult, stubborn reality for zealous environmental activists in the U.S. and Europe: none of their efforts will mean anything unless sizable emissions cuts are made in Russia and China. Instead of just continually bashing big oil and the technology companies that are helping them to cut emissions and operate more efficiently, environmentalists can form a working alliance with those who consistently lower emissions. The best environmental practices [ Read More…]