LexNextThe Lexington
Policy Blog
- Twelve for Twelve: Congress Needs to Fund Another National Security Cutter (From RealClearDefense)
The U.S. Coast Guard is in the midst of an unprecedented modernization effort. It is completely replacing its existing ships, acquiring new heavy polar icebreakers, expanding procurement of the Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC), beginning production of the Offshore Patrol Cutter and starting to build the first of nearly 60 Fast Response Cutters. The Coast Guard is also acquiring new [ Read More…]
- Daniel Gouré, Ph.D.
- Micro Nuclear Reactors to Change Future War (From Warrior Maven)
To date, the U.S. military has not had a major problem getting to a military contingency. The problems emerge once U.S. forces arrive. A particular vulnerability is created by the need to resupply far flung bases and outposts. Each convoy loaded with fuel food, ammunition and supplies constitutes a potential vulnerability. At the same time, the demand for support, particularly [ Read More…]
- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D
- Raytheon Space & Airborne Systems Rewrites The Rules For Defense Technology (From Forbes)
Raytheon is one of the biggest military contractors in the world, but it didn’t get there by bending metal. Instead, it mined core competencies in sensors, networks, smart munitions and electronic warfare to fashion an enterprise continuously on the cutting edge of innovation. That quality is readily apparent in its Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) unit, which is helping to [ Read More…]
- Why The Pentagon Must Have The B-21 Bomber Soon, And Shouldn’t Let Other Programs Slow Its Pace (from Forbes)
Development of the Air Force’s super-secret B-21 bomber appears to be making steady progress, which is a good thing because none of the bombers in the current fleet will be able to address all of the necessary targets in the future. We need the B-21 to assure that even the most distant, heavily defended and mobile targets can be destroyed if deterrence is to be maintained against near-peer adversaries. Assuming the development program stays on track, the greatest danger to [ Read More…]
- The Strong International Push for E-Commerce Shipping Reform
The international postal system governing the shipment of small packages (4.4 pounds or less) is causing significant financial losses for many countries, distorting markets, and it must be fixed quickly. Postal officials in seven industrialized countries have offered these and other timely observations to the Lexington Institute over the past 10 days. At issue is the future of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the United Nations specialty organization that sets rates and regulations for international mail and packages, through a [ Read More…]
- General McConville for CSA Means Army Modernization Will Continue (From RealClearDefense)
On Tuesday the White House announced the nomination of General James McConville to be the next Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army (CSA). In his current position as Vice Chief of Staff, McConville has been helping to lead the charge on Army modernization. Along with current CSA General Mark Milley, Army Secretary Mark Esper and Under Secretary Ryan McCarthy, McConville has been personally and daily managing the effort to transform the Army into a 21st Century fighting force. With [ Read More…]
- Pence Gives Boeing’s Super Rocket Thumbs Up, Directs NASA To Accelerate Moon Work (From Forbes)
Vice President Pence, chairman of the National Space Council, this week directed an acceleration of work to return U.S. astronauts to the Moon. In the process, he confirmed that a super-rocket Boeing is developing will remain the centerpiece of NASA’s human spaceflight program. Called the Space Launch System, it will be the biggest rocket ever built, and its first big mission is to carry Americans back to the Moon. An evolved version will later go to Mars. But Pence made [ Read More…]
- Why President Trump Went To The Tank Plant In Lima, Ohio (From RealClearDefense)
Last week, President Trump visited Lima, Ohio. Lima has one other distinguishing feature. It is the home of the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC), the only factory in the United States capable of building main battle tanks. The Trump Administration recognized the need to modernize the Army and simultaneously restore the relevant industrial base and create many hundreds of skilled jobs for American workers. As the President’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, wrote in the New York Times just before the [ Read More…]
- Army Budget Cuts Hit Pennsylvania Hard As Trump Reelection Bid Gears Up (From Forbes)
The same week that workers at the Army’s Ohio tank plant learned their programs were getting more money, workers at a helicopter plant in Pennsylvania learned that their Army program was being canceled. It’s a big deal at the Boeing rotorcraft plant near Philadelphia, because 2,000 workers support production of the Army’s CH-47 Chinook. Chinook is the Army’s heaviest, fastest helicopter, but it has lost lift capacity as equipment was added, and a planned upgrade would have restored that capacity. [ Read More…]
- Don’t Squander America’s Energy Prowess (From InsideSources)
America has become a worldwide energy powerhouse. This means millions of middle-class jobs, an improved balance of trade, far less likelihood of wars over oil and a cleaner environment. The biggest threat to these gains is not the Green New Deal, but rather various actions by governors and state utility commissions. Lexington Institute’s Paul Steidler addresses these issues in a commentary for InsideSource sources here.
- The A-29 Super Tucano Is The International Market Leader For Light Attack Aircraft
The U.S. Air Force’s program to acquire a light attack aircraft appears to be on hold indefinitely. One issue that contributed to the decision to cancel its planned procurement and to re-open the OA-X experiment with alternative platforms was uncertainty regarding the international demand for a light attack platform. However, the international market appears to have made its choice. The A-29 Super Tucano, built by a team headed by Sierra Nevada Corporation and Embraer, is leading all possible contenders. In [ Read More…]
- President Trump Visits The Last Tank Plant In America, Which He Helped Save (From Forbes)
The Joint Systems Manufacturing Center at Lima, Ohio is the last factory in the United States capable of building main battle tanks. President Trump is visiting there this week to highlight his military plans and efforts to revitalize American manufacturing. After suffering a near-death experience under the president’s predecessor, the tank plant is gearing up for increased activity thanks to the strong support of legislators like Mike Turner (R-OH) and increased Pentagon spending on the Abrams tank. President Trump has [ Read More…]
- US Missile Defense Breakthrough: Navy Ships to Destroy Enemy ICBMs (From Warrior Maven)
The Pentagon plans a “first-of-its-kind” test of an unprecedented weapons capability to intercept and destroy an enemy Intercontinental Ballistic Missile *ICBM” — from a Navy ship at sea using a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA. The concept, as articulated by Pentagon officials and cited briefly in this years’ DoD “Missile Defense Review,” would be to use an advanced SM-3 IIA to “underlay” and assist existing Ground-Based Interceptors (GBI), adding new dimensions to the current US missile defense posture. Read the full [ Read More…]