Topic

emerging technology

6 posts tagged emerging technology from Defense & Donuts.

Why the Air Force's $1.7 Billion E-7A Wedgetail Can't Quite Replace the AWACS It's Been Replacing for a Decade

The Air Force has spent years trying to retire its aging AWACS fleet with the E-7A Wedgetail. So why is the swap taking so long?

K. Brennan

· September 21, 2026 · 4 min read

Why the Army's $1 Billion Distributed Standoff Electronic Warfare System Can't Figure Out What to Jam

The Army's Terrestrial Layer System has burned through a billion dollars trying to jam enemy signals. The problem: nobody can agree on which signals matter most.

K. Brennan

· July 27, 2026 · 4 min read

Army armored warfare

Why the Army's $27 Billion M1 Abrams Upgrade Can't Quite Figure Out How to See in the Dark

The Army's latest M1 Abrams upgrade promises next-gen sensors and network connectivity, but the tank still struggles with basic situational awareness in low-visibility conditions.

K. Brennan

· June 18, 2026 · 5 min read

directed energy Army

Why the Army's Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense System Can't Quite Zap What It's Aimed At

The Army's DE M-SHORAD laser is supposed to burn drones out of the sky cheaply. So why does it keep missing its own deadlines?

K. Brennan

· June 4, 2026 · 4 min read

army ground vehicles

Why the Army's XM30 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Has Spent $20 Billion Trying to Replace a 50-Year-Old Box

The Army has been trying to replace the Bradley IFV for decades. The XM30 program is the latest attempt, and it's already showing familiar signs of trouble.

K. Brennan

· June 1, 2026 · 4 min read

directed energy Navy

Why the Navy's Laser Weapon Can Blind a Drone but Can't Handle a Cloudy Day

The Navy's directed energy weapons can fry drones for pennies per shot, so why aren't they on every ship? Clouds, salt, and physics have opinions.

K. Brennan

· May 18, 2026 · 4 min read

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defense procurement Army procurement Air Force ground vehicles Navy defense spending air defense augmented reality B-21 Raider directed energy drones

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