Analysis & Reports

The report argues that Canada needs to acquire America's stealth F-35 fighter jets to enhance its military capabilities and address strategic defense needs.

The report discusses significant personnel changes and restructuring within the Department of Defense in 2025, including mass layoffs, leadership changes, and a shift in military support roles.

The report details the origins of NORAD's Santa tracking initiative, which began in 1955 when a child mistakenly called a military hotline. This event has since grown into a significant public relations effort involving thousands of volunteers and a dedicated call center.

The report outlines significant military activities and defense developments in the Middle East during 2025, including military strikes between Israel and Iran, Turkey's investment in air defense systems, and Saudi Arabia's potential drone purchases. It highlights the growing defense industry in the region, with nine firms making it to SIPRI’s Top 100 arms producers list.

The report discusses President Trump's plans to arm new battleships with nuclear-armed cruise missiles, highlighting contradictions with previous policy positions and raising concerns about the implications of such weapons for military strategy and escalation risks.

The Trump administration is deploying 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans to support federal law enforcement amid an immigration crackdown. The deployment, coordinated with state officials, is expected to last through February 2025.

The report highlights major developments in the U.S. naval community in 2025, including leadership changes, responses to international activities, and new shipbuilding initiatives.

In 2025, the Trump administration focused on limiting union rights for federal employees, issuing guidance to disregard collective bargaining agreements and signing an executive order banning unions across many agencies. This has led to numerous legal challenges from labor groups, with some court rulings in favor of unions, although many decisions have been put on hold by appellate courts.

The year 2025 marks a transformative period for the US Army, driven by the Army Transformation Initiative, which includes an overhaul of acquisition processes and increased funding for technology and modernization efforts. Key initiatives include a shift towards smaller tech firms, the launch of the FUZE program for investing in military technology, and significant budget requests for network modernization.

President Trump announced the construction of two 'Trump class' battleships, with plans to expand the fleet to 20-25. The new ships will feature advanced weapon systems and are part of a broader initiative to modernize the U.S. Navy's capabilities.

Military recruiting for fiscal 2026 is showing strong progress, with the Department of Defense meeting nearly 40% of its accession goals. All active-duty forces met their fiscal 2025 goals, and the National Defense Authorization Act has increased troop end strength by approximately 26,100 personnel.

President Trump announced the Navy's plan to develop a new class of battleships, termed 'Trump-class', as part of the 'Golden Fleet' initiative, aiming to build 20-25 ships with advanced weaponry, including nuclear capabilities. The first ship is expected to be procured by 2030.

US Cyber Command marked its 15th anniversary in May 2025, facing a prolonged period without a permanent leader following the firing of Gen. Timothy Haugh. Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd is anticipated to be nominated for the position. The command's network defense arm also celebrated its 10th anniversary and was elevated to a sub-unified command. Discussions are ongoing regarding the establishment of a standalone Cyber Force.

Tory Bruno has resigned as the president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, effective immediately, with John Elbon appointed as Interim CEO. Bruno led ULA since 2014 and oversaw the development of the Vulcan rocket. ULA is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

The U.S. Coast Guard has clarified its policy on hate symbols, removing references that labeled them as 'potentially divisive.' This change follows a political hold on the nomination of Adm. Kevin Lunday as commandant, which has now been lifted. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the importance of accurately representing the Coast Guard's stance on hate symbols, reaffirming a zero-tolerance policy.

The Fort Hood OB-GYN abuse case has prompted an investigation that raises concerns regarding the chaperone policy in military healthcare.

The Pentagon has failed its audit for the eighth consecutive time, raising concerns about financial management within the Department of Defense.

The Missile Defense Agency has awarded contracts to an additional 1,086 defense companies for the Golden Dome initiative, doubling the number of firms competing for up to $151 billion in missile defense technology contracts. This initiative aims to enhance missile defense capabilities, including space-based interceptors, and is expected to take a decade to complete.

The US Air Force has selected nine companies for contracts in the second round of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, focusing on developing drone wingmen to operate alongside manned aircraft. This phase, known as 'Concept Refinement', will evaluate various designs for future prototyping. The Air Force is also collaborating with the Navy and Marine Corps to ensure interoperability among services.

The Pentagon has failed its financial audit for the eighth consecutive year, revealing ongoing systemic challenges in accounting for its assets. The Department of Defense has not passed any audits since annual reviews were mandated in 2018, and auditors identified numerous weaknesses in financial reporting. The Pentagon reported significant assets and liabilities and aims to resolve critical issues by 2028.