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Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K Slam Eagles taxi to parking after arriving at Kunsan Air Base, ROK, Nov. 3, 2025, during Freedom Flag 25-2. FF 25-2 is a routine, regularly scheduled training event designed to prepare joint and combined forces for combat to defend the Republic of Korea.

Feb. 11, 2026

Beyond the Peninsula: What OPCON Transfer Means for the Indo-Pacific

On the surface, wartime OPCON transition can appear a niche topic, marked by a change in the leadership of the South Korea-U.S. alliance’s combined military command structure.

white and yellow light digital wallpaper

Feb. 10, 2026

Decision-Based Artificial Intelligence and the Strategic Reordering of Military Power

The public acknowledgement of the increasing use of decision-based artificial intelligence (AI) in U.S. defense provides a backdrop to a structural reordering of how military missions will be generated, exercised, and contested.

Graphic representation of inversely proportional interaction of menacing nature of conflict, probability of risk avoidance or mitigation and perception of threat and resultant experience of dread. With high contextual menace, a decreased probability of avoidance or mitigation of risk factors increases the perception of threat, and the experience of dread; while increased probability of avoidance or mitigation of risk lessens contextual menace, perceived threat and experienced dread.

Feb. 9, 2026

Perceptions of Threat, Correlates of Dread, and Collective Instability

This essay argues that individual and collective perceptions of threat—and their neurocognitive correlate, dread—are key drivers of instability, volatility, and violence, and must be understood and engaged as strategic elements of modern cognitive warfare and deterrence.

Cover of book, Neuroscience, Neuroculture, and Neuroethics

Feb. 6, 2026

Neuroscience, Neuroculture, and Neuroethics

This book provides a broad overview of the cultural changes incurred by neuroscience and neurotechnology, and explores the evolving fields of neuroeconomics, neuropolitics, and neuroethics. It offers a multi-disciplinary view of how neuroscience and neurotechnology will affect society, and illustrates how these tools and methods are being used in research and ever-expanding practices in varying fields.

Zhang Youxia (front) in 2023 swearing an oath as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

Feb. 5, 2026

Xi’s military purges will make him wary of invading Taiwan

On 25 January, China’s People’s Liberation Army announced that Central Military Commission Vice-Chair Zhang Youxia and Chief of the Joint Staff Department General Liu Zhenli were under investigation for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law.”

A member of China's People's Liberation Army stands as DF-5C nuclear missiles are displayed during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Beijing on Sept. 3.

Feb. 4, 2026

America risks a nuclear-arms race with China

On 3 February, INSS China Center Director Dr. Phillip Saunders was quoted in The Economist in the story, “America risks a nuclear-arms race with China."

NIST physicists used this apparatus to coax two beryllium ions (electrically charged atoms) into swapping the smallest measurable units of energy back and forth, a technique that may simplify information processing in a quantum computer. The ions are trapped about 40 micrometers apart above the square gold chip in the center. The chip is surrounded by a copper enclosure and gold wire mesh to prevent buildup of static charge.

Feb. 4, 2026

Quantum Technologies, Part Two: Recognizing Risks and Threats to National Security and Defense

Quantum science and technologies, while nascent, are being leveraged within and across a variety of military applications to fortify extant capabilities, and forge others anew, an example of which being the newly announced Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID) Critical Technology Area.

NIST physicists used this apparatus to coax two beryllium ions (electrically charged atoms) into swapping the smallest measurable units of energy back and forth, a technique that may simplify information processing in a quantum computer. The ions are trapped about 40 micrometers apart above the square gold chip in the center. The chip is surrounded by a copper enclosure and gold wire mesh to prevent buildup of static charge.

Jan. 27, 2026

Quantum Technologies: Focusing a Bit Upon Realities

Quantum technologies are often discussed in terms of being “revolutionary.” In the long term, this may likely be true, but at present, at least in military contexts, perhaps a more useful framing is to ask: in what domains and ways do quantum capabilities demonstrably outperform contemporary classical approaches; where are such technologies still insufficiently mature in readiness and operational feasibility; and what effects do such technologies exert on force design, intelligence tradecraft, and risks to national security?

A human woman and a humanoid robot face each other in profile, illuminated by contrasting red and green lighting against a gradient background, suggesting a moment of confrontation or connection between human and artificial intelligence.

Jan. 26, 2026

AI-powered military neurotech: Mind enhancement or control?

Neurable, a consumer neurotechnology startup, has partnered with the Air Force to study whether electrode-studded headphones can track service members’ cognitive fitness, much like Garmin smartwatches have monitored Space Force members’ physical fitness, company and government officials said this month.

The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) welcomed two experts from Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS), Dr. Hiroshi Yamazoe and Mr. Reito Kaneko, for a research dialogue. They are pictured with Dr. Phil Saunders (left) and Dr. Clint Work in INSS. They all stand in the atrium of National Defense University.

Jan. 22, 2026

INSS hosts counterparts from Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS)

On 21 Jan, the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) welcomed two experts from Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS), Dr. Hiroshi Yamazoe and Mr. Reito Kaneko, for a research dialogue.

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