Perry World House News and Analysis

One-way attack drones: Low-cost, high-tech weapons ‘democratize’ precision warfare
Michael C. Horowitz and Lauren Kahn | The Conversation | April 16, 2026

PWH Faculty Director Michael C. Horowitz and Lauren Kahn have a new piece in The Conversation discussing how the use of drones in warfare is changing the landscape.

“Commercial manufacturing, precision guidance and advances in artificial intelligence and autonomy have democratized the ability of militaries and militant groups to accurately strike their adversaries,” write Horowitz and Kahn.

 

Iran is Teaching Us Something About the American War Machine
David Wallace-Wells | The New York Times | April 15, 2026

Speaking with The New York Times’ David Wallace-Wells, PWH Faculty Director Michael C. Horowitz provided insight on the types of autonomous weapons systems being used in the war in Iran.

“It used to be only a small number of states that could launch precision strikes,” writes Horowitz. “But now every country around the world and many militant groups can do low-cost strikes at scale.”

 

Financing Resilience for Ocean Economies
Perry World House | April 14, 2026

On Thursday, April 9, Perry World House convened a workshop titled “Financing Resilience for Ocean Economies.” Together, experts discussed how to close the urgent $175 billion annual investment gap in ocean resilience. The workshop unpacked the elements and framing needed to create a more coherent, and appropriately scaled oceans financing architecture.

Cunningham Headlines Kelleher Forum on China’s Information-Age Military Strategy
Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland | April 13, 2026

Perry World House Faculty Fellow Fiona Cunningham was recently the featured speaker for the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland’s annual Kelleher Forum.

In her keynote, Cunningham discussed how China’s military strategy and the role that technology plays in advancing its core objectives.

New Report | Maintaining our Medical Edge: Strategic Partnerships at Home and Abroad
Perry World House | April 13, 2026

On February 23-24, 2026, Perry World House, with co-sponsorship from the Wyss Foundation, convened scholars and policy experts to examine how medical engagement can strengthen military readiness. As a stark reminder of the urgency of these discussions, this conference marked the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and concluded only days before the United States and Israel launched major operations in Iran.

This report synthesizes key takeaways from this conference.