Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

cipherbrief

Welcome! Log in to stay connected and make the most of your experience.

Input clean

military

(Original Caption) 9/5/1963-Washington, DC- Flying over the Virginia side of the Potomac River, the impressive site of the world's largest office building crops into view. The Pentagon, which covers 34 acres of land including a 5-acre pentagonal center court, houses personnel of the U.S. Department of Defense, which includes the Departments of Army, Navy and Air Force. This bird's eye view also shows part of the 67-acre parking space area.

Assessing the Pentagon’s Mission to Rebuild the ‘Arsenal of Freedom'

DEEP DIVE — The Pentagon is waging war against its own acquisition bureaucracy. In a sweeping speech on Friday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth [...] More

Brad ChristianDoDTech/Cybernational securitymilitary

The Latest

Rearming a Fractured Ally: Should the U.S. Let Turkey Back Into the F-35 Program?

Rearming a Fractured Ally: Should the U.S. Let Turkey Back Into the F-35 Program?

CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is signaling fresh optimism that his country could once again acquire U.S.-made F-35 [...] More

Europemilitary
The U.S. Needs More Patriot Missiles

The U.S. Needs More Patriot Missiles

CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING – On June 23, the U.S. Army used roughly 30 Patriot missiles to defend against an Iranian attack on Al-Udeid, the largest U.S. [...] More

DoDnational securitymilitary

Where Senate Appropriators are Steering Defense Dollars

Walter Pincus

Where Senate Appropriators are Steering Defense Dollars

OPINION — “The {Senate Appropriations] Committee recommends increases for [fiscal 2026 Defense Department (DoD)] programs and initiatives that are [...] More

Walter PincusFine Printmilitary
Can the U.S. Fix a Broken System of Acquiring Weapons?

Can the U.S. Fix a Broken System of Acquiring Weapons?

DEEP DIVE – It’s a rare area of bipartisan agreement in Washington: a belief that the U.S. must reform the way it develops and obtains its weapons. [...] More

military
The U.S. Has 40,000 Troops in the Middle East

The U.S. Has 40,000 Troops in the Middle East

CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING -- Recent U.S. strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities propelled the 40,000 American forces in the region into the spotlight [...] More

Middle EastDoDnational securitymilitary

The Math Behind Trump's $1 Trillion Defense Budget

Walter Pincus

The Math Behind Trump's $1 Trillion Defense Budget

OPINION — “The President's FY ‘26 [Fiscal Year 2026] National Defense Budget requests $1.01 trillion, which is a 13 percent increase from FY '25 [...] More

Walter PincusFine Printmilitary
Beijing’s Rare Disclosure on DF-5B Missile Signals Shift in Nuclear Messaging

Beijing’s Rare Disclosure on DF-5B Missile Signals Shift in Nuclear Messaging

CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING -- China’s state television put a rare public focus on Beijing’s DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missile earlier this month, [...] More

ChinaNuclearmilitaryAsia
Former CIA Director on the Priority Intelligence Requirement in Iran

Former CIA Director on the Priority Intelligence Requirement in Iran

EXPERT INTERVIEW – Tehran’s response on Monday to U.S. attacks against its nuclear facilities over the weekend was measured and possibly calibrated [...] More

IranNuclearIntelligenceIsraelMiddle Eastmilitary

The Many Parts of Trump's Golden Dome Missile Defense Plan

Walter Pincus

The Many Parts of Trump's Golden Dome Missile Defense Plan

OPINION — “The Golden Dome for America Industry Summit will be held on June 11, 2025 at the Von Braun Center downtown Huntsville, Ala., at the [...] More

Walter PincusFine Printmilitary

Where are the Sage Advisors When You Need Them?

Walter Pincus

Where are the Sage Advisors When You Need Them?

OPINION -- “There are few things you can do that are more gratifying and more satisfying, and when you look back, being able to say that maybe, you [...] More

IntelligenceWalter Pincusmilitary
As U.S. Commitment Wanes, Europe Faces Questions About its Own Defense

As U.S. Commitment Wanes, Europe Faces Questions About its Own Defense

EXPERT INTERVIEW – In the early weeks of the second Trump administration, questions were raised about Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, as the [...] More

EuropemilitaryNATO
The Challenges – and Opportunities – of a ‘Golden Dome’ Defense System
Badge
deep dive

The Challenges – and Opportunities – of a ‘Golden Dome’ Defense System

DEEP DIVE – Donald Trump vowed Tuesday to finish building a “Golden Dome” defense shield before the end of his term that would protect the nation [...] More

militaryAmericasNorth AmericaReporting