A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
In a sweeping power shift, Democrats won majorities in both the House and Senate in the midterm elections, raising questions about how Congress and the administration will navigate the stalled …
Midterm Results Trigger a Showdown Over Defense Spending Read More
The recent announcement that the United States has “on-orbit space control weapons” has sent a shockwave through the space community. There have never been official weapons in space, bar a …
Space as a Domain of War: Decoding “Space Control Weapons” Read More
A recent $87.6 billion supplemental funding request from the White House to pay for the Iran war and other expenses complicates an already tense budget process in Washington. The supplemental …
Iran War Supplemental Deepens FY27 Budget Uncertainty Read More
The Navy’s newly released long-range shipbuilding plan carries an ambitious price tag: around $1.2 trillion for new ship construction over 30 years, more than 30 percent above what the previous …
The Navy’s Golden Fleet Has a Price Problem Read More
The White House recently released a historic $1.5 trillion national security budget that sets out expansive investment plans for munitions, shipbuilding, drones, and emerging technologies, while also pouring billions into …
Inside the Pentagon’s Historic $1.5 Trillion FY27 Budget Request Read More
With U.S. and Israeli operations expanding in scale, the war in Iran is testing the limits of tactical military success. The ongoing campaign has severely degraded Iranian capabilities, but it …
Tactical Success and Strategic Ambiguity in the Iran War Read More
U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have triggered a high-intensity conflict that will test munitions inventories and production lines. In the initial days of the operation against Iran, the U.S. …
War with Iran Puts Pressure on Munitions Inventories and Signals Future Demand Read More
Iranian security strategy largely rests on the country’s short- and medium-range missile arsenal, developed as a national means to deter Tehran’s rivals and, in the event of conflict, impose unacceptable costs. Thus Iran fired multiple salvoes at Israel in 2024, as part of its ‘True Promise’ I and II operations, and launched more this past June during the ‘Twelve-Day War’. Iran also hit the Gulf during these missions, and with renewed hostilities breaking out, appears to be more heavily targeting its littoral neighbors.
Iranian Missile, Drone Strikes Target Gulf Countries Read More
Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s combined fourth-quarter reports indicate a banner year for fighter aircraft deliveries, but a deeper look reveals important context and program-specific headwinds from 2025. Overall, the only …
American Fighter Primes in Review: A Breakdown of Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s 2025 Jet Deliveries Read More
The Pentagon has released a new National Defense Strategy (NDS) that represents a shift in Washington’s strategic posture, placing renewed emphasis on homeland defense, bolstering U.S. influence in the Western …
National Defense Strategy Prioritizes the Western Hemisphere, Shifts Burden-Sharing to Allies Read More