Consumption rates across seven key munitions used in the war in Iran suggest that remaining U.S. stockpiles will be insufficient for future conflicts, particularly the stocks of interceptors for air and missile defense systems. Read: https://bit.ly/4eJ7V1m

While roughly 49% of units of munitions the DOD requested in FY 2027 cost less than $600,000 per unit, this figure increases to over 70% in FY 2031 based upon projected munitions budget requests. Read more: https://bit.ly/4eJ7V1m

Russia targets Ukrainian positions, logistics routes, and nearby cities that are critical for military operations on the battlefield. The most frequently damaged areas include the Donetsk region, Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Read: https://bit.ly/3TmjW4m

“The third winter campaign—from November 2025 to February 2026 provides the clearest evidence for Russia’s intentional leveraging of seasonal conditions in its targeting strategy and overall geography of coercion,” writes CSIS experts. Read: https://bit.ly/3TmjW4m

For the first time ever, Beijing has publicly demonstrated a submarine-launched ballistic missile test into international waters, marking China's advancement in strategic nuclear strike capabilities. Read more: https://bit.ly/4vSocas

The lack of additions to the Entity List since October 2025 marks a sharp break from years of U.S. strategy. Because procurement networks continually shift, a list that stops expanding tracks fewer of the relevant actors, eroding its value as a control. Read: https://bit.ly/4gNYOxI

U.S. FMS obligations increased by over 347% from FY 2015 to FY 2025, reflecting an expanding global demand for U.S. defense systems, particularly munitions & manned aircraft, and deeper security cooperation with allies. Read more: https://bit.ly/4eJ7V1m

The Malacca Strait is the busiest oil chokepoint in the world & a critical conduit for oil and gas trade. The Taiwan Strait plays an outsized role in technology supply chains thanks to its proximity to global technology giants Taiwan, China, Japan, & South Korea. Learn more: https://bit.ly/44bpQrp

The Russian military has suffered 1.4 million battlefield casualties and as many as 450,000 deaths since its February 2022 full-scale invasion. Since World War II, no major power has suffered anywhere near these numbers of casualties or fatalities in any war. Read more https://bit.ly/4vQXO0v

All NATO allies with the exception of Greece increased defense spending above inflation between 2022 and 2025. CSIS's Seamus Daniels examines NATO's commitment to increased defense spending as NATO allies head to the Ankara Summit. Read: https://bit.ly/4vJaQx0

U.S. FMS obligations have also increased by over 347% from FY 2015 to FY 2025, reflecting an expanding global demand for U.S. defense systems, particularly munitions and manned aircraft, and deeper security cooperation with allies.

The industry-wide imperative to increase munitions production has also led to significant changes within the overall supply chain, especially in the solid rocket motor sector.

While roughly 49% of units of munitions the DOD requested in FY 2027 cost less than $600,000 per unit, this figure increases to over 70% in FY 2031 based upon projected munitions budget requests.

The total obligated amount of defense spending for munitions has risen by 330% since FY 2010. But CSIS analysis of the consumption rates in the war in Iran suggest that remaining U.S. stockpiles will be insufficient for future conflicts.

The increase of new nontraditional firms receiving defense contracts from the Pentagon points to rising commercial sector participation and innovation.

By initiating & incentivizing large-scale public & private investments, deploying novel industrial policy tools, & undertaking significant defense acquisition reforms, the DOD has made meaningful progress toward fostering an industrial base for wartime readiness.

At about 4.6% of GDP, the budget request of $1.5 trillion for FY 2027 marks a notable increase in defense spending. But a state of wartime footing also demands an ecosystem of competitive, innovative firms that can quickly field & sustain military systems in large quantities. 🧵More: bit.ly/4eJ7V1m

Data shows that the China Coast Guard (CCG) patrols at Scarborough Shoal have significantly increased in 2026, a remarkable feat given that 2025 was already a record year for CCG presence at the shoal. China’s activities at Scarborough have entered uncharted territory. Read: https://bit.ly/4va171I

In 2024, nearly $1.3 trillion of Chinese trade transited the Taiwan Strait—nearly 33% more than through the Malacca Strait. The Taiwan Strait is especially crucial in supplying China with industrial imports like oil, coal, natural gas, ores, & metals. Read: https://bit.ly/44bpQrp

Combined Russian & Ukrainian casualties in the war in Ukraine have exceeded 2 million with many plausible explanations: Russia’s attrition strategy, its failure to effectively conduct combined arms & joint warfare, its poor tactics & training, corruption, & low morale. Read: https://bit.ly/4vQXO0v

The most prominent Russian offensives of the past year advanced at roughly the pace of the Battle of the Somme during World War I. More broadly, Russian rates of advance have been among the slowest of any great power in any war in the last century.

Data shows that Ukraine has successfully conducted long-range, medium-range, and short-range strikes against tens of thousands of Russian targets, from energy infrastructure to military bases.

Russian missile and drone strikes have aggressively targeted Ukrainian civilian and military targets, as well as exploited Ukraine’s limited supply of air defense interceptors. Russian ground forces are attempting to push forward on several axes.

“Russian battlefield casualties and fatalities are significantly greater than Ukrainian casualties and fatalities. The Russia-Ukraine casualty ratio was between 2:1 and 3:1, though the rate has likely risen to nearly  8:1 in the first half of 2026,” write Seth Jones & Riley McCabe.

New CSIS data shows Russia has lost the military initiative in Ukraine as costs continue to mount, having suffered 1.4 million battlefield casualties and as many as 450,000 deaths since its February 2022 full-scale invasion. 🧵 Read more here: bit.ly/4vQXO0v

The most prominent Russian offensives of the past year advanced at roughly the pace of the Battle of the Somme during World War I. More broadly, Russian rates of advance have been among the slowest of any great power in any war in the last century.

LIVE NOW I What must America defend in a contested world? Tune-in for a panel at CSIS's Global Security Forum with Paul Ryan, Vincent Viola, and Jennifer Griffin on the future of American statecraft. Join: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTQYxvUdniM

LIVE NOW I A panel on how the changing character of war is reshaping the demands of command - from technological disruption to battlefield adaptability to the pace and complexity of modern conflict. Join: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY8uS8R3m2k

LIVE NOW | A panel at CSIS's Global Security Forum discusses how the U.S. can marshal private capital and modernize investment authorities to strengthen national security. Join: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXYNBq0540E

The lack of additions to the Entity List since October 2025 marks a sharp break from years of U.S. geoeconomic strategy. Due to the shifting nature of procurement networks, a list that stops expanding tracks fewer relevant actors, eroding its value as a control. Read: https://bit.ly/4gNYOxI