Author Archives: Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D
As Foreign Demand For U.S. Weapons Surges, Biden Adm. Moves To Expedite Sales (From Forbes)
The U.S. dominates global arms sales with a 40% share of weapons exports. Now the Biden administration sees an opportunity to permanently relegate Russia to second-tier status in that market–a market where Moscow traditionally has been a big player. Russia [Read More...]
Which Companies Will Benefit Most From Modernization Of The U.S. Nuclear Arsenal? (From Forbes)
The U.S. government is modernizing every facet of its strategic nuclear force, the first comprehensive update to its strategic nuclear arsenal since the Cold War ended three decades ago. The fundamental goal of all such activity is to minimize the [Read More...]
Pentagon Discloses Plan For Defending Space Systems (From Forbes)
After many years of assuming that U.S. space systems were safe from attack, the Pentagon has now changed its tune. Russia and China are both acquiring tools for disabling U.S. satellites and ground stations, at a time when America’s joint [Read More...]
Why China Would Be Hard-Pressed To Target U.S. Aircraft Carriers In A Pacific War (From Forbes)
Large-deck, nuclear-powered aircraft are the signature expression of American military power. However, some observers fear the carriers are so big that they could be easily targeted by China in a Pacific war. The concern about survivability seems warranted. With roughly [Read More...]
Looming Budget Cuts Could Devastate Air Force, Undermine Deterrence (From Forbes)
Air Force officials say that the ongoing budget impasse in Congress could result in their service delaying modernization plans and canceling training exercises critical to readiness. The problem extends beyond the possibility of operating for part of fiscal 2024 under [Read More...]
The President’s Power To Launch Nuclear Weapons Highlights A Troubling Paradox In U.S. Strategy (From Forbes)
The U.S. president possesses sole authority to launch the nation’s nuclear weapons. That power is absolute; there is no test of competency, and no one beneath the president in the chain of command has the authority to countermand a launch [Read More...]
The Army’s Most Important Warfighting Tool Isn’t A Weapon, It’s A Network (From Forbes)
The U.S. Army is in the midst of a generational transformation that will carry it from the industrial age into the digital era. The centerpiece of this shift isn’t a weapon system, it’s a warfighting network that enables what the [Read More...]
Army Heeds Lessons Of Ukraine, Rethinks How Abrams Tank Will Fight And Win Tomorrow’s Wars (From Forbes)
On July 28, Army acquisition chief Douglas Bush signed a decision memorandum signaling that his service will embark on an aggressive upgrade of the Abrams tank. When it begins fielding, the M1A3 variant of Abrams will be more lethal, more [Read More...]
SNC Celebrates 60 Years As A Defense Industry Disruptor (From Forbes)
This year marks the 60th anniversary since the Sierra Nevada Corporation was founded. Halfway through the intervening timespan, it was taken over by Eren and Fatih Ozmen, who transformed it into one of the Pentagon’s most unusual suppliers–a privately-held, woman-owned [Read More...]
Indonesia’s Purchase Of F-15EX Fighters Is A Breakthrough For Boeing And The Biden Administration (From Forbes)
Indonesia has announced its intention to purchase 24 F-15EX fighters from Boeing. It may buy more later. This is a breakthrough for Biden administration policy in the Indo-Pacific region, and also for Boeing as it seeks to keep its engineering [Read More...]