Department of War Archives

An aerial view of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 15, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John Wright)

A policy gap is threatening the Pentagon’s AI innovation pipeline

The stakes are especially high because the future of U.S. military capability will depend heavily on technologies developed outside the traditional defense industry.

4 days ago By Morgan Plummer

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael Aguilar, members of Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Federal Aviation Administration, and key leaders from White Sands Missile Range, N.M., support a high-energy laser test using the AMP-HEL system March 7, 2026. (Courtesy Photo)

Inside a ‘first of its kind’ counter-drone laser test in the American desert

JIATF 401 and the FAA, along with about half a dozen other agencies, conducted the test between March 7-8, an evaluation fast-tracked by back-to-back incidents involving counter-drone…

Mar 16, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

Watchdog urges DOD to address external factors affecting CMMC implementation

A new report from the Government Accountability Office found that the Pentagon has not completely identified factors beyond its control that risk the CMMC program’s overall success.

Mar 12, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

A U.S. Air Force XQ-58A Valkyrie, an autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, flies over Eglin Air Force Base’s Gulf Test and Training Range. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ilka Cole)

Pentagon, IC want industry to provide an ‘evaluation harness’ to standardize testing of AI systems

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) launched a a program called MYSTIC DEPOT.

Mar 11, 2026 By Jon Harper

Screenshot of a DOD video of Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael and Defense Innovation Unit Director Travis Metz observing a drone dominance demonstration at Fort Benning, Ga., March 2, 2026. (DoW video by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dennis Buzard)

British company tops leaderboard for Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Program

The DOD announced the winners of the program's first "Gauntlet."

Mar 9, 2026 By Jon Harper

A U.S. Soldier, assigned to 277th Maintenance Support Company, Task Force Badger, surveys the southern border at Del Rio, Texas, March 6, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Walker Pino)

Senators criticize agencies over dual counter-drone incidents in Texas after briefing from officials

A senior defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told DefenseScoop Wednesday that the Pentagon’s counter-drone entity — known as Joint Interagency Task Force 401 —…

Mar 4, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence