Free Republic

Hypersonic weapons are reshaping modern military competitions. As the U.S. advances its capabilities, understanding the structure, progress, and strategic intent of its programs is essential. Current efforts focus on building reliability and interoperability across domains, creating a cohesive defense network. This integration provides a strategic advantage in contested environments, ensuring systems remain accurate, resilient, and adaptable for future operational needs. Background The United States is currently developing three hypersonic weapons programs: the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS), the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), and the Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM). Compared with China, which reportedly has five hypersonic...

The Boy Scouts of America taught me valuable lessons about tying knots, lighting fires, and what it means to be a man, but I’m glad to see the Department of War reconsidering its historic partnership with the Scouts. Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America taught young men wilderness survival skills, fostered friendship, and trained boys to become citizens and leaders. In order to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, a young man must not just demonstrate mastery of many skills but also plan his own project, leading others. For these and other reasons, the military awards an automatic...

It happens like clockwork every time the presidency changes hands, especially when it changes parties: Retired colonels and majors, soi-disant “defense analysts” and tenured bureaucratic insiders whose opinions have been unfashionable under the ancien regime emerge to craft a series of Bold Recommendations On Reforming Defense. The latest Group of 13 from the Center for Defense Information throws on the mantle of “non-partisanship” - CDI’s mantra includes increasing international cooperation (read: the perenially effective UN); reduced reliance on unilateral military power to resolve conflict (read: passing the Global Test); reduced reliance on nuclear weapons (read: a second chance to lose...