In Depth Analysis, Commentary, and Publications
Auctioning the low-3 S-band spectrum for commercial 5G use poses serious national security risks, potentially interfering with military radar and missile defense systems. Given escalating air and missile threats, the U.S. should maintain exclusive military access to this spectrum while continuing to study long-term sharing options.
The most ambitious visions of the Golden Dome missile defense architecture face tough budgetary decisions about their prioritization within the missile defense portfolio, in the Department of Defense capability mix, and across the federal budget.
On January 27, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) entitled “The Iron Dome for America.” In an evolving and diverse threat environment, this order calls for a modernized missile defense infrastructure tailored to present-day and near-future challenges. Achieving the policy goals outlined in the EO will require significant innovation and investment, and issues of feasibility, cost, and implications for strategic stability will again be debated.
Recent concerns about the use of a dozen Standard Missile-3 interceptors and its effect on inventories are somewhat overblown in light of broader trends in procurement and delivery rates over multiple years.
Open-source model regulation is the hottest debate in AI policy. Despite appeals made to national security, proposed constraints on open-source AI distribution might put defense supply chains at risk. This brief assesses those implications for the Joint Force.
The Iran-Israel air conflict presents an unprecedented success story for air and missile defense and highlights the use of these defenses to save lives, protect property, and reduce pressures on policymakers.
The common analysis of recent air and missile defense engagements in the Red Sea through a cost exchange ratio framework ignores both the complexity of those engagements and the complicated value of air and missile defense.
New analysis identifies steps to improve the Department of Defense’s missile-tracking satellite constellation.
As the Department of Defense begins to deploy a space-based sensor constellation, Getting on Track unpacks the design tradeoffs involved and key pitfalls to avoid. Using advanced simulation tools, the authors underscore the necessity of diversifying satellite orbits, designing constellations for early, persistent coverage, and retaining requirements for fire-control-capable sensors.
