State of Defense 2026

Strategic military advantage is increasingly defined by speed, integration, and decision-making under pressure. Strategic competitors are advancing capabilities in cyber, space, AI-enabled systems, and long-range precision weapons while operating across the spectrum of conflict in ways that challenge traditional assumptions about deterrence and escalation. At the same time, the Pentagon is working to translate years of planning and investment into operational capability—balancing readiness, modernization, and force design.

The seventh annual State of Defense series will examine how the U.S. military is navigating these realities. Defense One will convene senior leaders from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force, alongside leading experts, to explore the strategic choices guiding defense priorities in 2026. The series will spotlight how services are integrating capabilities across domains, adapting operational concepts, and positioning the force to sustain military advantage, offering public-sector leaders insight into how strategy is being executed at the highest levels of national defense.