Author Archives: Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D
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Why U.S. National Security Requires A Robust, Innovative Technology Sector
October 8, 2020- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D Read the full report as a PDF here. Introduction: America is facing the most serious challenge to its security in a generation. Every nation strives for security. Although the phrase “national security” in common usage has military overtones, there are [Read More...] -
Why The President Is The Weakest Link In U.S. Nuclear Strategy (From Forbes)
October 7, 2020- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D The president of the United States has unilateral authority to order the launch of nuclear weapons. It is a paradox of the modern age that the most fearsome power the nation’s chief executive possesses is the one power not subject [Read More...] -
Raytheon Defines First Principles For Building A Space Sensor Layer (From Forbes)
October 2, 2020- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D The defense department plans to build a Space Sensor Layer to track hypersonic weapons. It will likely be concentrated in low earth orbit and be able to track hundreds of incoming weapons simultaneously. Raytheon Technologies is among the companies vying [Read More...] -
Why Taiwan Has Become The ‘Geographical Pivot Of History’ In The Pacific Age (From Forbes)
September 29, 2020- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D As China’s economic and military power has grown, Taiwan has come to occupy a pivotal position in the geopolitics of the Pacific era. If Beijing were to gain control of Taiwan, it would in the process break out of the [Read More...] -
Five Ways GAO Fails To Understand Defense Industry Independent R&D (From Forbes)
September 24, 2020- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D Independent research and development (IR&D) is a type of defense innovation in which companies are reimbursed for work that the government did not request. Its goal is to give companies broad latitude to innovate, exercising judgment and expertise the government [Read More...] -
Raytheon Presses Case For Replacing Lockheed Martin Radar In Missile Defense Of Japan (From Forbes)
September 22, 2020- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D Japan’s decision to cancel construction of a land-based missile defense for the home islands has opened up a new competitive battleground between rivals Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies. Both companies manufacture state-of-the-art missile defense radars, but Raytheon’s SPY-6 is the [Read More...] -
When It Comes To Military Launches, SpaceX May No Longer Be The Low-Cost Provider (From Forbes)
September 17, 2020- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D On August 7, United Launch Alliance and SpaceX won the competition to provide launch services to the Space Force through 2027. However, a curious thing happened with pricing. ULA got $337 million to perform two missions during the first year, [Read More...] -
Why The Plan To Reengine B-52 Bombers Could Cement Pratt & Whitney’s Status As The Air Force’s Top Propulsion House (From Forbes)
September 15, 2020- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D Over the last 20 years, the Pratt & Whitney unit of Raytheon Technologies has won contracts to provide engines for the Air Force’s newest fighter, tanker and bomber. You could say it has won the Triple Crown of Air Force [Read More...] -
Despite Pandemic, The U.S. Army Is In Its Best Shape In A Generation. Here’s Why. (From Forbes)
September 10, 2020- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D The U.S. Army was a mess when Donald Trump became president in January of 2017. Only two of its brigades were in a high state of readiness, its modernization plan was faltering, and the Army seemed trapped in wars in [Read More...] -
Why The Pentagon’s Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System Needs To Be Upgraded And Expanded (From Forbes)
September 1, 2020- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D North Korea is expected to increase the size and sophistication of its nuclear arsenal in the years ahead, including its weapons capable of hitting America. The Trump Administration was planning to upgrade the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system in response; GMD [Read More...]