D360’s Defense Outlook series examines the dynamics and interdependencies among strategy, budget, forces, and acquisitions. This series includes recurring annual reports on the defense budget, force structure, acquisition trends, and U.S. defense strategy.
It is clear that threats are growing and forces need to grow to meet them. Any further cuts are over and forces will increase assuming budget deals avoid sequestration. This report reviews force structure for each military service and identifies three themes about the forces this year.
This report analyzes the FY 2017 defense budget request looking at trends in the budget, differences from previous requests, and key issues for policymakers as they consider the budget and begin looking to the next administration.
This inaugural report in the Defense Outlook Series looks back at what happened in 2015, specifically with respect to strategy and the security environment, the debate in Congress over the defense budget and force structure, and changes in the acquisition system, and looks ahead to what these developments may mean in 2016 and beyond.
This report details the plans for major acquisition programs over the next fifteen years and explores the complicating factors that may make the situation more problematic for policymakers. It analyzes a range of options to mitigate the bow wave, including increasing the budget, cutting additional force structure, and making trades among major acquisition programs.
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the current and future outlook for defense acquisition by combining detailed policy and data analysis.