Cogs of War

Fear culture still rules Pentagon acquisitions. What can leaders do to fix it?

Listen here: warontherocks.com/2025/07/solv...

Despite recent top-down orders and reforms, fear of getting it wrong keeps the Pentagon locked in old acquisition habits. What would it take to break free?

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Time to Supercharge Europe’s Innovation Ecosystem - War on the Rocks Commercial drones repurposed within weeks, counter-drone systems developed and tested in real time — Ukraine’s battlefield innovations have shown that

As NATO works to restore the alliance’s technological edge, Europe’s tech entrepreneurs are experiencing a new innovation renaissance.
warontherocks.com/2025/07/time...

Titans, Trailblazers, and Translators: Forging a Unified Defense Industrial Paradigm - War on the Rocks A foundational, and increasingly dangerous, tension defines the American defense enterprise. It is a narrative that pits industrial mass against digital

America’s defense edge comes from tapping all strengths, not narrowing the field.
warontherocks.com/2025/07/tita...

Factories First: Winning the Drone War Before It Starts - War on the Rocks Wars are won by factories before they are won on the battlefield. Recognizing that the United States lacks the manufacturing depth for the coming drone

America’s drone arsenal could scale overnight, but manufacturers still lack a clear reason to pivot.
warontherocks.com/2025/07/fact...

Friction, Fog, and Failure in a Software-Defined Force - War on the Rocks The U.S. military is rushing toward a software-defined future, one where networks are unified, platforms are cloud-connected, and the fight is shaped by

The promise of military dominance through networks and code means little if those systems can’t perform when warfare becomes unpredictable and chaotic.
warontherocks.com/2025/07/fric...

For the unmanned maritime startups lucky enough to survive the first valley of death, a second valley — the struggle to make startups creditworthy to support long-term leases — proves equally daunting, writes Mark Wooters.
warontherocks.com/2025/07/unma...

How does a small country build a defense advantage? Latvia’s ambitious approach combines local industry, expansive training ranges, and lessons from the front lines.

Listen here: warontherocks.com/2025/07/less...

A Workforce Strategy for America’s Shipbuilding Future - War on the Rocks It’s no secret that America’s shipbuilding workforce is in crisis. The nation is struggling to retain a sufficient workforce to meet existing

The jobs are there, the pay is strong, but America’s next generation isn’t flocking to shipbuilding. What should come next?
warontherocks.com/2025/07/a-wo...

The SPEED and FoRGED Acts Compared - War on the Rocks On June 9, House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith introduced H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution

Want a faster, more agile Pentagon? These two bills could be the key. See what Congress is proposing in its latest defense overhaul.
warontherocks.com/2025/07/the-...

What’s the secret to aerospace innovation that’s practical, powerful, and priced right?

Listen here: warontherocks.com/2025/06/insi...

Warfighters want tech now, but the government worries about vendor lock, data rights, and architecture. Can we have both speed and control?

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Putting the Defense Industry Through Wargames – War on the Rocks

When the defense industry joins the fight in wargames, better policies and smarter strategies follow.
warontherocks.com/2025/06/putt...

How the Arsenal of Democracy Can Get Back on its Feet with Some Help from the Past – War on the Rocks

Leaders keep calling for America to rebuild its arsenal of democracy, but that era is gone. How can it be done?

Steel and Silicon: Shipbuilding’s Defense Tech Moment – War on the Rocks

Austin Gray offers some real talk on what software oriented nontraditionals can offer to American shipbuilding for @cogs0fwar.bsky.social
warontherocks.com/2025/06/stee...

Steel and Silicon: Shipbuilding’s Defense Tech Moment – War on the Rocks

Shipyards are skeptical, tech firms are ambitious — can they find common ground and deliver the ships America needs?

The Defense Department struggles to adopt high-tech solutions. These experts reveal how to change that.

Listen here: warontherocks.com/2025/06/the-...

How to Contribute to Cogs of War - War on the Rocks Cogs of War is our dedicated vertical on defense technology and defense industrial base issues produced in partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton. Read on

If you have something to say about defense technology and industry, we want your voice. Contribute to Cogs of War and shape the debate. warontherocks.com/jo...