In Depth Analysis, Commentary, and Publications
In discussions on missile defense, the matter of countermeasures—decoy warheads and other deceptive missile payloads—is often invoked but insufficiently explored. For decades, popular commentators assumed that adversaries could readily develop countermeasures capable of defeating U.S. missile defense systems. With Russia and China having deployed missile defense countermeasures in their nuclear arsenals, it was assumed that...
On August 12, 2025, the CSIS Defense and Security Department hosted a conversation on a conversation on space-based nuclear threats and the future of space security.
On July 30, 2025, the CSIS Defense and Security Department hosted a conversation on developments in U.S.-UK strategic cooperation.
Affordable mass has become the watchword of defense modernization, be it swarms of drones or satellite constellations. What could such an approach mean for air and missile defense? Networks of passive, proliferated sensors could make one meaningful contribution.
On July 21, the CSIS Missile Defense Project rolled out our new report, Mesh Sensing for Air and Missile Defense. As threats to missile defense assets increase, the study assesses a vision for passive, proliferated sensor networks for surface-based air and missile defense. Using historical case studies and computer simulation-based analysis, the report identifies new considerations for sustainment, mission planning, network design, and mobility when deploying proliferated sensor meshes on Earth.
On July 2, 2025, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) will host a Strategic Landpower Dialogue event featuring Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army General James Mingus. The discussion will explore Army force planning, readiness, and initiatives to build a modern, capable force.
On June 27, 2025, the CSIS Defense and Security Department hosted a conversation on the escalation risks and the implications for the future of Iran's nuclear program.
On June 27, 2025, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) will host a Strategic Landpower Dialogue event,featuring General Ronald Clark, Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific. The discussion will explore the role of landpower in the Indo-Pacific, contributions to joint operations, and the Army’s posture in the region.
Missile defense modernization depends on more than hardware. Civilian weather agencies like NOAA and NASA play a quiet but critical role.
On June 12, 2025, the CSIS Missile Defense Project hosted a fireside chat with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, on why protecting America's electromagnetic spectrum is critical to U.S. national security. The discussion examined spectrum challenges across defense, critical infrastructure, and emerging technologies that underpin our national security.
