The U.S. defense secretary and its top military officer rejected the premise of the recently published “Afghanistan Papers” in The Washington Post — that defense leaders engaged in a deliberate effort to deceive the public on the lack of progress…

Foggo: Russia, China on the Move, From the Arctic to the Med
The commander of U.S. and allied naval forces in Europe and Africa said he is dealing with increased activities by both Russia and China in his vast area of responsibility — which stretches from the Arctic to the southern tip…
Scientists Warn U.S. Running Out of Time to Modernize Nuclear Weapons Systems
America’s current nuclear deterrent force is safe, secure and effective, but the nation is running out of time to modernize the weapon systems in the nuclear triad and the infrastructure that produces and sustains them, three senior military commanders and…

NATO, U.S. See Rise in Russian Naval Activity in Seas Around Europe, Top Commander Says
NATO and U.S. forces in Europe are seeing increased Russian naval activities in all the seas around Europe. But following a meeting with Russia’s military chief they have seen no unprofessional or unsafe incidents at sea or in the air…

Navy, Marines Single Integrated Naval Force Means Sweeping Changes
The two senior officers who are leading the drive to design the future naval forces said they are directing a closely integrated Navy and Marine Corps force structure assessment and plan to review the initial findings on a rolling basis…

Undersecretary Affirms Need for Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons to Counter Russian, Chinese Arsenals
A senior defense official reaffirmed the importance of the nuclear deterrent triad and the need for new sea-based, low-yield nuclear weapons to counter increased nuclear arsenals by Russia and China and Russia’s professed doctrine of early use of low-yield weapons…

Alternative Ships for the Future Fight: Commandant, Others Call for More and Different Classes of Ships for ‘Great Power’ Showdown
The growing military capabilities and escalating belligerence of China, Russia and Iran are increasing the possibility that the U.S. Navy’s unarmed and thin-skinned support and supply ships — and even U.S. commercial cargo vessels — could face hostile action for…
Key House Subcommittee Chairman Rejects Modernization Plans as ‘Happy Talk’
Senior leaders from the four armed services said they have multibillion-dollar, long-term plans to modernize their aged maintenance facilities, but the chairman of a key House subcommittee rejected their “happy talk” and demanded evidence that the services are committed to…
‘Faster and Cheaper’: Two Navy Officials Share Vision of All-Digital Development, Testing and Acquisition of Weapons and Systems
Greater use of digital technology in developing, testing and acquiring new weapons and systems can produce the new capabilities the sea services need to match emerging peer competitors and do so “faster and cheaper,” two senior U.S. Navy officials said…
Pentagon Missile Defense Chief Cites Threats From Maneuverable Missiles, Hypersonic Weapons
ARLINGTON, Va. — With the emergence of peer military competitors, the missile threat is evolving toward the use of maneuverable ballistic and cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons — all of which “drives you into the world of high speed,” Vice…