The Insider

The INSIDER daily digest -- May 3, 2024
By John Liang
May 3, 2024 at 1:59 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Navy needing to replenish its Standard Missile stocks in the wake of defending shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi missile attacks, plus coverage of a new Defense Innovation Unit report and more.

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro revealed this week that the Defense Department's decision to terminate SM-3 Block IB production -- and save $1.9 billion -- was baked into the FY-25 budget request before recent real-world events provided a showcase for the advanced guided-missile interceptor to defeat ballistic missile threats:

SECNAV: DOD needs to 'relook' SM-3 Block IB termination after Iran strike, Pacific forecast

The Navy secretary says Pentagon leaders need to reconsider plans to terminate Standard Missile-3 Block IB production in light of recent Red Sea missile defense missions, Iran's missile attack last month against Israel and the likelihood of similar engagements in a potential conflict in the Pacific.

A new Defense Innovation Unit report is out:

DIU says 10 technologies made successful transitions in FY-23

The Defense Innovation Unit released its fiscal year 2023 annual report today which noted that 10 technologies successfully transitioned from prototypes to fielded capabilities.

DIU pushes partnerships with U.S. allies

The Defense Innovation Unit's fiscal year 2023 annual report highlighted successful partnerships with U.S. allies like India, the U.K., Australia, Japan and Ukraine.

Document: DIU's FY-23 annual report

The Navy's top civilian this week acknowledged that the Navy and Marine Corps are jointly developing a memorandum of understanding pertaining to amphib readiness:

Navy, Marine Corps narrowing in on amphib readiness requirements

The Navy and Marine Corps are advancing a joint effort to clarify requirements and metrics for amphibious warship readiness, according to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, who today said the services believe they need at least nine of the ships ready for action around the clock.

The Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (C3BM) Aerial Networking line for the Air Force would grow to $147.1 million in the fiscal year 2025 budget request from $76.8 million asked for FY-24:

Air Force amps up ABMS work with Phalanx Griffon program in FY-25

The Air Force wants to nearly double its budget for the airborne networking segment of the Advanced Battle Management System as it ramps up a newer effort called Phalanx Griffon, according to budget documents released with the fiscal year 2025 budget request.

The CEO of HII discussed his company's quarterly earnings this week:

HII CEO: Manufacturing and shipbuilding labor major factor in delays

There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution to shipbuilding delays, but labor is the most contributing factor, shipbuilder HII Chief Executive Officer Chris Kastner told investors in a first-quarter earnings call Thursday.

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center found that semiconductors are one of the technology sectors where the opportunity for disruption of U.S. economic and national security is highest:

DOD, GSA and NASA working to implement semiconductor product ban

The Defense Department, General Services Administration and NASA are considering the implementation of a rule that would ban executive agencies from obtaining certain semiconductor products.

U.S., Japan, Australia eye potential collaborative combat aircraft and more for joint development
By Jason Sherman
May 3, 2024 at 12:17 PM

The United States, Japan and Australia have inked a "landmark" agreement to explore trilateral cooperation on efforts to develop collaborative combat aircraft, autonomous systems and composite aerospace materials, the latest development in a growing three-way compact between Washington, Tokyo and Canberra.

On May 2, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed a three-way Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) Projects Arrangement during a Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting in Hawaii.

“Science and technology cooperation is vital to maintain their collective edge and deepen their defense cooperation,” according to a May 3 joint statement. “This landmark arrangement allows the respective defense organizations to pursue areas of interest for operationally relevant advanced collaboration.”

A Pentagon spokesman said the full text of the agreement will not be made public.

The statement notes the agreement provides a new channel for defense officials from the three nations to “further discuss cooperative opportunities in the areas of collaborative combat aircraft and autonomous systems and composite aerospace materials.”

Falk elected as Lockheed board's independent lead director
By John Liang
May 3, 2024 at 10:05 AM

Lockheed Martin announced this week that Thomas Falk had been elected as independent lead director of the board.

Falk succeeds Daniel Akerson who, along with James Ellis, retired from the board following the company's annual stockholders meeting.

Falk has served on Lockheed's board of directors since 2010 and as Audit Committee chair since 2015. As independent lead director, he "will assume all duties and responsibilities of that position, including presiding over executive sessions of independent directors, approving agendas for board meetings and providing feedback to management," according to a company statement.

He will also chair the board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and serve as ex officio member of each of the other committees. As part of Falk's election as independent lead director, Patricia Yarrington has been appointed chair of the board's Audit Committee, the company said.

U.S. spy chief says 'no-limits' partnership between China and Russia now extends to Taiwan
By Tony Bertuca
May 2, 2024 at 4:18 PM

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said today that China and Russia have begun closer military ties that could possibly threaten Taiwan.

“We see China and Russia, for the first time, exercising together in relation to Taiwan and recognizing that this is a place where China definitely wants Russia to be working with them, and we see no reason why they wouldn’t,” Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Haines said the “no-limits” partnership between China and Russia means the U.S. military and intelligence community are becoming increasingly concerned about a potential conflict scenario involving both countries.

“Certainly it’s a possibility,” she said. “The question of just how likely it is, I think differs depending on the scenario.”

Haines said China and Russia are cooperating “across really every sector of society.”

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said the United States has “become even more concerned about our joint force requirements in an environment where” China and Russia are cooperating.

Kruse said the military needs to take into account “whether or not we actually believe there would be two full-up” battlefronts against China and Russia.

“And we would need to take that into account, in force structure and planning,” he said.

The INSIDER daily digest -- May 2, 2024
By John Liang
May 2, 2024 at 2:21 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Navy shipbuilding, a nascent Russian anti-satellite capability and more.

A legislative proposal submitted by the Navy to Congress would allow up to six voyage repair ship availabilities of about 15 to 30 days in an international shipyard -- opening the door for emergent voyage repairs during peacetime and in times of conflict:

Lawmakers, Navy officials go back and forth on resolving shipbuilding issues

Capacity for ship repairs and construction continues to be a top issue for the Navy and Marine Corps, service officials told lawmakers today on Capitol Hill. Outsourcing ship repairs to foreign countries is a potential solution, the officials added, one already raised last month by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro.

Assistant Defense Secretary for Space Policy John Plumb testified before the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee this week:

Plumb: Russia developing satellite with a nuclear weapon

Russia is developing a satellite to carry a nuclear weapon on-orbit that could wipe out satellites for a year or more, a top Defense Department official confirmed today at a congressional hearing.

The top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee wants to make sure that if the Defense Department gets to spend more than the congressionally mandated budget cap, so should non-defense spending:

Top Senate appropriator insists on 'parity' if defense spending caps are to be broken

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) said today that any effort to increase defense spending in fiscal year 2025 above the cap set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act must also be matched by a boost in non-defense funds.

Keep an eye out this summer for a counter-small uncrewed aircraft system demonstration:

SAIC will be among industry participants in summer CUAS demonstration

DENVER -- SAIC will be among the industry participants in a demonstration to be conducted by the Pentagon's Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System Office (JCO) this summer, according to a company employee.

The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington this week, appealed to defense contractors to develop "alternative" positioning, navigation and timing for the U.S. military:

Grady says electronic warfare has become a dominant feature of Ukraine conflict

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady said today that electronic warfare, though it didn't play a major role in earlier phases of Ukraine's conflict with Russia, has now become a "defining feature of that battlespace."

Originally scheduled for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, the Army delayed the critical design review on a certain missile program to the following fiscal year, according to the Army’s FY-25 budget request:

Army delays design reviews and flight tests for extended range GMLRS

The Army has delayed a critical design review and qualification flight tests for the Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket system by about eight months, according to a service spokesperson.

William Streilein, chief technology officer for the chief digital artificial intelligence office, said at Adobe’s 2024 Government Forum today that some areas of the department, like intelligence analysis, are already prepared and ready to adopt generative AI into their processes:

DOD tech official says intel analysis and back-office functions are ready to adopt generative AI

A senior Pentagon technology official said today that Task Force Lima has found intelligence analysis and back-office functions are the two largest application areas within the Defense Department for generative artificial intelligence, noting DOD is prepared to accept the role of AI as a "teammate."

The State Department has issued a proposed rule that would exempt the British and Australians from certain export control regulations:

State moves to ease weapons export regulations in support of AUKUS

The State Department is proposing to exempt the U.K. and Australia from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to better bolster the trilateral AUKUS agreement and "foster defense trade and cooperation between and among the United States and two of its closest allies."

Marine Corps expands radar portfolio in accordance with Force Design evolution
By Nick Wilson
May 1, 2024 at 5:29 PM

The Marine Corps has reorganized its radar systems portfolio to meet evolving force design goals, expanding the scope of a program office that was once focused solely on the Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar to encompass multiple future expeditionary systems.

The former G/ATOR program office was redesignated as Program Manager for Expeditionary Radars (PM ExR) in September 2023 and now includes a few distinct “product lines,” including G/ATOR and a group of unnamed future radar systems, program official Mark Lamczyk said today at the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington.

In addition to G/ATOR, “the other product line is our future radar systems,” Lamczyk said. “I won't be speaking too much, deliberately, about that. But those are initiatives to achieve integrated air and missile defense [and] enabled integrated fire control, which are concepts in the commandant’s force design strategy.”

“Lastly, we do have a small portfolio of foreign military sales cases which are our former, legacy Marine Corps programs that are still out with our coalition partners that we support mainly with training and some sustained capability,” he added.

Gen. Eric Smith, who was confirmed by the Senate as Marine Corps commandant in September, has not publicly released an official Commandant’s Planning Guidance, though he has issued multiple interim guidance documents affirming the service’s force design trajectory.

Today, Lamczyk said the G/ATOR program is roughly halfway through full-rate production with contractor Northrop Grumman. The program office is placing increased focus on the sustainment of deployed systems and is looking for alternate producers of system components to aid in sustainment, he said.

Additionally, PM ExR is preparing to “recompete” an acquisition support contract in an effort to combine support work for G/ATOR and the future radar systems product line.

“I mentioned that we had two primary product baselines in the PM ExR and that's the G/ATOR and the future radars,” Lamczyk said. “Those are currently separate support contracts and we'll be releasing a [request for proposals] later this summer which combines those support contracts into one, overarching expeditionary radar acquisition support requirement.”

The office will publish the RFP in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024 and plans to award the contract in the first quarter of FY-25, Lamczyk added.

The Marine Corps’ FY-2025 budget request includes $72 million for G/ATOR and anticipates full operational capability in FY-28.

The INSIDER daily digest -- May 1, 2024
By John Liang
May 1, 2024 at 2:45 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Virginia-class submarine program, a Marine Corps air defense system, Navy readiness issues and more.

In a letter to defense appropriators, 120 House lawmakers state U.S. undersea supremacy must be preserved to deter an increasingly emboldened China and Russia:

Courtney rallies 120 bipartisan lawmakers to push appropriators to restore submarine cut

Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, today released a letter to defense appropriators with 120 signatures from lawmakers seeking the restoration of funding for a Virginia-class submarine in fiscal year 2025.

The Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, is "going to [Initial Operational Test and Evaluation] here in the next couple of months, and then that looks like fielding early next fiscal year," a senior Marine Corps official said during the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington this week:

MADIS and L-MADIS air defense systems advance toward FY-25 fielding decisions

Two of the Marine Corps' developing mobile air defense systems are advancing toward fielding decisions, expected before the end of fiscal year 2025, according to Steve Bowdren, program executive officer for land systems.

The House Armed Services readiness subcommittee held a hearing this week on Navy readiness:

Lawmakers question Navy officials, again, on readiness issues

The Navy's and Marine Corps' sealift capacity is not where it needs to be, lawmakers told service officials Tuesday at a House Armed Services readiness subcommittee hearing, which largely revolved around availability delays, recapitalization plans and potential solutions to construction backlogs.

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi said during a National Defense Industrial Association webinar that four RDER programs were first approved last year:

Pentagon tech chief announces four RDER projects headed into production

Pentagon technology chief Heidi Shyu announced that four Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve projects are headed into production.

The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee would prefer the congressionally mandated defense spending limit was higher:

Rogers set to mark defense bill to spending cap as lawmakers question DOD modernization plans

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) today said he intends to honor the defense spending cap mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act when he leads the panel in its mark-up of the annual defense authorization bill, though he stressed that he thinks the $895 billion limit is far too low.

The Boeing- and Leonardo-made Grey Wolf helicopter is set to replace the UH-1N Iroquois in its mission to patrol U.S. Global Strike Command nuclear silos:

Grey Wolf helo program cost growth triggers Nunn-McCurdy breach

Costs for the MH-139 Grey Wolf grew enough to trigger a critical Nunn-McCurdy breach, the Air Force notified Congress last week, because of a reduction in the number of helicopters the service plans to buy.

The Space Development Agency this week announced a potential $414 million contract to build eight satellites for launch in 2027 “to accelerate fire-control capability for global detection, warning and precision tracking of advanced missile threats” including maneuvering hypersonic weapons:

Boeing nabs FOO Fighter to build new space-based, missile tracking fire-control 'efforts'

The Defense Department has tapped Boeing's Millennium Space Systems to build eight satellites for the FOO Fighter program -- a project whose exact capability remains classified but is tied to the efforts to rapidly develop a low-earth orbit Resilient Missile Warning and Missile Tracking capability against the most advanced threats.

More SM-3 missiles needed in future, Del Toro says
By Abby Shepherd
May 1, 2024 at 2:29 PM

After hundreds of Red Sea attacks on Navy and commercial vessels over the past few months, there's a need for a steady supply of munitions like the Standard Missile-3, which Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told lawmakers today the service needs more of.

SM-3s will be needed in greater numbers, Del Toro said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing that touched on shipbuilding delays, faltering recruitment numbers and future unmanned technology the Navy plans to invest in.

“I truly believe that SM-3s will be needed in greater numbers in the future, given the operations that took place in defense of Israel here recently, where some were fired and very effectively, so I think given the future threat and our deterrence mission in the Pacific, we are going to need more SM-3s in the future,” Del Toro said.

In April, ahead of Congress’ approval of a $95 billion supplemental spending package, Del Toro called for $2 billion dedicated to replenishing weapons stocks -- including SM-2s, SM-6s and SM-3s -- following heavy defense against Houthi rebel and Iranian attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

New Arkansas facility will begin producing SkyHunter interceptors by early 2026
By Nick Wilson
May 1, 2024 at 12:04 PM

A new missile facility in Camden, AR will begin producing SkyHunter interceptors in late 2025 or early 2026 for a developing Marine Corps air defense system, according to Ground Based Air Defense Program Manager Col. Andrew Konicki.

In February, RTX Technologies and Israeli company Rafael broke ground on the facility, which will eventually produce Tamir interceptors for the Israeli Iron Dome and SkyHunter missiles for the Marine Corps’ developing Medium Range Intercept Capability.

“We're tracking right now that the facility is going to be up online within calendar year 2025, so, the latter end of 2025 and then they'll start producing things there towards the tail end of 2025 and into calendar year 2026,” Konicki told Inside Defense today during the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington.

The Marine Corps has been working with industry to establish a domestic source of MRIC interceptors. SkyHunter is “essentially the same thing” as the Tamir missile, Konicki said, sharing about 95-99% commonality.

MRIC is a system “derivative” of Iron Dome that is being “Americanized” for use by the Marine Corps in detecting, tracking and shooting down cruise missile threats, he continued.

The Marine Corps’ FY-25 budget request includes $111 million for the program to support the purchase of 12 launchers and 242 missiles as it transitions from rapid prototyping to rapid fielding.

The service plans to begin fielding an initial MRIC battery in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 following a quick reaction assessment scheduled for September, Konicki confirmed.

Army cancels contract for Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool
By Dan Schere
April 30, 2024 at 4:41 PM

The Army has canceled the Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool (EWPMT) task order due to "evolving requirements and a strategic realignment within the program," the service announced today. The task order was under the RS3 Enterprise contract.

EWPMT is a tool for commanders to plan, control and manage the electromagnetic spectrum, and was identified by the Army as one of 28 key modernization efforts in 2021, Inside Defense reported at the time.

The realignment, according to the Army, will involve the fielding of current EWPMT capability as well as software architecture modernization. The Army and Marine Corps are collaborating on a pilot to shift EWPMT’s “electromagnetic warfare and spectrum management capabilities” to the Tactical Assault Kit framework, used for “presenting situational awareness data” and creating visualizations. Using this framework will help deliver capability to the joint force, the Army stated today.

The use of the Tactical Assault Kit framework will ensure “microservice-based, modular software architecture,” which will satisfy Army and joint force requirements, as well as ensure agile development and integration, according to the service.

For fiscal year 2025, the Army has requested about $2 million for the EWPMT program, which would be used for the “transition and integration” of Navigation Warfare Situational Awareness software, according to service budget documents.

Marine Corps aims to rapidly develop C-UAS solutions with new 'fusion center'
By Nick Wilson
April 30, 2024 at 2:35 PM

The Marine Corps is prioritizing the rapid development of counter-drone technologies with a new "fusion center" established within the past few months at Quantico, VA, service officials said today during the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington.

The new center will absorb the existing Rapid Capabilities Office and will look to aid promising technologies in bridging the “valley of death,” or transition from early research and development efforts into production and fielding.

“The fusion center and the fusion framework is larger than just the RCO. So, you bring in elements of the programs of record and the acquisition systems and sustainment elements,” said Brig. Gen. David Walsh, commanding general of Marine Corps Systems Command. “It's the RCO plus a lot of additional stakeholders around that, that'll enable that full, enduring capability.”

The new center’s initial focus will be developing air defense systems that can protect Marine forces from increasingly prevalent unmanned aircraft systems, Walsh said.

While the Marine Corps is rapidly advancing land-based air defense systems like its Medium Range Intercept Capability to defend ground forces from UAS, the Navy’s ongoing engagement in the Red Sea has demonstrated the need to protect surface ships from drones.

Today, Steve Bowdren, the Marine Corps’ program executive officer for land systems, said the two service branches are considering the application of Marine Corps ground-based platforms for use in shipboard defense, though he provided few details on the specific systems that might be used.

“There is collaboration between our program offices, specifically between [Ground Based Air Defense] and with the appropriate portions of PEO [Integrated Warfare Systems]. We are looking at what they're looking at from a shipboard perspective, and then seeing how that can be applied,” he told Inside Defense on the sidelines of the event.

While Bowdren declined to name specific systems, Kevin Murray, the chief technology officer for Headquarters Marine Corps, said the service is already using the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, for ship defense within its Marine Expeditionary Units.

“We’re already putting MADIS systems on the MEU because they’re organic to the battalions. We’re using that for our own self-preservation in partnership with the Navy,” he said.

Earlier this month, Navy officials revealed a rapid capability effort to mount two adjunct, kinetic, counter-UAS weapon systems on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer The Sullivans (DDG-68) for testing in an upcoming June demonstration. While the officials did not name the weapon systems, they indicated they are commercially available capabilities designed for land-based operations.

The INSIDER daily digest -- April 30, 2024
By John Liang
April 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a delay to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle replacement program, the Defense Innovation Unit seeking a novel cyber defense kit, the Marine Corps developing a smaller littoral connector ship and more.

Intended to replace the current Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the XM30 will feature an unmanned turret with an interchangeable gun along with drive-by-wire and fire-by-wire capabilities:

XM30 transition to major capability pathway delayed to 2025

Due to a three-month delay in contracting, the Army will now make a similar three-month delay in moving the Bradley replacement program to its next acquisition phase, according to a service spokeswoman.

The Defense Innovation Unit describes a new requested solution as a "mobile 'security operations center (SOC) in a box' that can be transported by a nine-person team anywhere in the world":

DIU searching for cyber hunt kit to spot vulnerabilities

The Defense Innovation United posted a new solicitation today seeking a "Joint Cyber Hunt Kit" (JCHK), which would be a secure, portable box that could find and analyze advanced persistent cyber threats.

The Marine Corps is developing a new vessel custom-designed for littoral maneuver, distribution and sustainment, according to service officials, who labeled the new platform the "Ancillary Surface Connector":

Marine Corps procuring new littoral connector ahead of LSM fielding

The Marine Corps is buying a new connector vessel designed for littoral maneuver and sustainment that could help deliver a "bridging solution" for forward-deployed forces ahead of Landing Ship Medium fielding.

An Army aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system was discussed at last week's AAAA Conference in Denver:

Army anticipates deployment of first HADES system around late 2026

DENVER -- Army officials anticipate that the first High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System will be deployed sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.

The Survivable Airborne Operations Center design is based around a commercial aircraft that will be modified to meet military requirements and will include secure communications and planning capabilities:

Sierra Nevada wins $13B contract for SAOC

The Air Force awarded Sierra Nevada a $13 billion contract to design and develop the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, a key component of Nuclear Command, Control and Communication modernization, the service announced late last week.

Bacon to serve as chairman for House subcommittee focused on cyber and innovation
By Georgina DiNardo
April 30, 2024 at 10:41 AM

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) will serve as the new chairman of the House Armed Services cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee, according to an announcement yesterday from House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL).

The subcommittee chairmanship has been left open since Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) resigned from the House effective April 19, a move Gallagher announced in March.

Before this appointment, Bacon served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Agricultural Committee.

“As chairman of the Quality of Life Panel, Rep. Bacon has been a tireless advocate for our servicemembers and military families. Rep. Bacon is a proven leader for national defense, and I am proud to announce that he will serve as chairman of the subcommittee on cyber, information technologies and innovation,” Rogers said in a statement.

“Staying ahead of our adversaries in the digital space is vital. I know Rep. Bacon will bring valuable knowledge and expertise to the subcommittee and I look forward to continuing our work together to strengthen our military,” he added.

Bacon, who previously served in the Air Force where he specialized in electronic warfare, intelligence and reconnaissance, thanked Rogers for the appointment, noting future priorities for the subcommittee.

“In order to maintain the world’s most capable and lethal military, we must make modernization and innovation a priority,” Bacon said. “As chairman, I will continue to support enhancing our cybersecurity and will work to advance artificial intelligence and emerging technologies that will be vital for our success on the battlefields of the future.”

Gallagher’s departure also left open the chairmanship position on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, although quickly after Gallagher announced his resignation, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) named Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) to fill the position.

Gallagher’s resignation also left Johnson with a one-seat GOP majority in the House.

DIU announces first deputy director of commercial operations
By Georgina DiNardo
April 29, 2024 at 2:39 PM

The Defense Innovation Unit announced today that Liz McNally has been named as the organization's first deputy director of commercial operations.

DIU said the creation of the position is a “key milestone in executing DIU’s 3.0 strategy of scaling commercial technology innovation across the U.S. Department and delivering maximum strategic impact to the warfighter.”

DIU said that this position will also amplify the Defense Department’s demand signal while making the acquisition process of technology from the commercial sector easier by providing “procedural on-ramps to the DOD.”

“In this role she will bring her diverse experiences from the private sector, the military, and the not-for-profit sector to lead DIU’s collaboration with the commercial tech sector and investment community,” DIU said. “This includes enhanced portfolio company scaling support and related Department partnerships, as well as the defense innovation on-ramp, talent, and investment capabilities resident in National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and National Security Innovation Capital (NSIC).”

DIU Director Doug Beck said it is “is critically important to the Department of Defense” that partnerships with the commercial sector be taken “to the next level.”

“Liz’s expertise and dual fluency across the commercial and military sectors, combining deep experience with both operating businesses and investors as well as downrange in uniform, and on top of her hands-on experience with inspiring service-and purpose-oriented talent, represent an incredible asset to our mission of delivering real change to the DOD at speed and scale,” he said.

Prior to her job at DIU, McNally was a military police officer in the Army before working a variety of private sector and not-for-profit positions, most recently serving as the co-CEO of Schmidt Futures, which is a philanthropic initiative funding technology and innovation research.

DIU said she will work with people across the department, including “teammates” in the Office of Strategic Capital, Office of Industrial Base Policy and its Office of Small Business Programs and partners in DOD’s Defense Innovation Community of Entities.

“I look forward to working across the commercial sector, the DOD and our allies to bring critical solutions to our warfighters on a timescale that matters,” McNally said.

The INSIDER daily digest -- April 29, 2024
By John Liang
April 29, 2024 at 1:55 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on an Army aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system, a multibillion-dollar Air Force contract for an airborne command and control center and more.

We start off with coverage of an Army aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system discussed at last week's AAAA Conference in Denver:

Army anticipates deployment of first HADES system around late 2026

DENVER -- Army officials anticipate that the first High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System will be deployed sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.

The Survivable Airborne Operations Center design is based around a commercial aircraft that will be modified to meet military requirements and will include secure communications and planning capabilities:

Sierra Nevada wins $13B contract for SAOC

The Air Force awarded Sierra Nevada Corp. a $13 billion contract to design and develop the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, a key component of Nuclear Command, Control and Communication modernization, the service announced late last week.

The Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) framework software was delivered to the Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Battle Awareness Center at Buckley Space Force Base, CO:

FORGE framework delivered to OPIR Battlespace Awareness Center

Space Systems Command today delivered the first operational software to set up its framework for the ground systems of space-based missile warning and tracking, the command announced late last week.

The Army's fiscal year 2025 budget request dramatically slashes plans for the Stryker Upgrade program between FY-25 and FY-28 compared to plans the service forecasted in the FY-24 spending blueprint, cutting total spending by 43% and total vehicles upgraded by 62%:

Stryker Upgrade program now a billpayer in new Army POM; annual procurement slashed from 184 to 11

The Army's Stryker Upgrade program -- a project that as recently as last year enjoyed a $1.2 billion annual budget to up-gun and expand improvements across the armored wheeled vehicle -- is now a billpayer, with service leaders siphoning $1.3 billion from future plans to finance other projects.

The Marine Corps is requesting $111 million for the Medium Range Intercept Capability -- a system that combines the Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, the Common Aviation Command and Control System and parts of the Israeli Iron Dome to shoot down airborne threats including cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft:

Marine Corps looks to begin rapidly fielding MRIC air defense system in FY-25

The Marine Corps plans to raise procurement spending on its portfolio of air defense systems in fiscal year 2025 as it looks to begin rapidly fielding the initial battery of a mid-range interceptor system before the end of the upcoming fiscal year.