Thursday, May 15, 2025
Key Issues Army UAS focus Project Convergence FTUAS cancellation
The Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a contract modification worth over $1 billion to begin procuring materials for two future Virginia-class submarines, according to a Tuesday Defense Department announcement, signaling an end to a year-long liability dispute that had put the contract award on hold.
A list of 22 weapon systems marked for transfer to Taiwan -- including several missile systems and F-16 and MQ-9B aircraft -- will not be delivered until 2025 at the earliest, according to the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The Marine Corps' highest-ranking officer is calling on lawmakers to streamline the Pentagon's acquisition process, which he says is slowing down the development and fielding of critical capabilities like the Landing Ship Medium.
The Defense Department is asking Congress to authorize the use of multiyear procurement for 10 block VI Virginia-class submarines, indicating the resulting cost savings are necessary to meeting the Navy's budget estimates.
Contractor KPMG completed a successful live demonstration of its 5G-enabled "smart" warehouse prototype at Marine Corps Logistics Command in Albany, GA, showcasing a prototype designed to improve the efficiency and speed of warehousing logistics.
The Defense Department is asking Congress to include legislative language supporting AUKUS in its upcoming defense authorization bill, including provisions that would enable the transfer of Virginia-class submarines to Australia and allow the United States to expand its submarine industrial base using Australian funding.
The Marine Corps has completed operational analysis and is preparing for a milestone C decision for a prototype ground-based air defense capability intended to protect forward-deployed forces from missiles, aircraft and unmanned systems.
The Navy is looking to expand the pool of companies providing contractor-owned and operated unmanned aircraft systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
The Navy is targeting fiscal year 2025 for an initial deployment of its Littoral Combat Ship mine countermeasures mission package, which achieved initial operational capability earlier this month.
The Navy is taking an "evolutionary" rather than "revolutionary" approach to designing its next-generation large surface combatant, building on the existing Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design and minimizing the addition of untested new features, a senior Navy official said today.
The Marine Corps is looking for additional defense contractors capable of producing two future Amphibious Combat Vehicle variants, although the service cannot share the vehicles' technical data package with prospective builders.
Pre-positioning warfighting equipment in the Indo-Pacific is crucial to preparing for a potential conflict in the region, according to the Marine Corps' assistant commandant, who said the service is drawing 21st century logistics lessons from the conflict in Ukraine.
The Navy plans to expedite development of a carrier-launched hypersonic weapon capability, shifting the program from a traditional acquisition pathway to the Middle Tier Acquisition Rapid Prototyping approach as it attempts to field the system before 2030.
The Navy lacks sufficient quantities of long-range precision fires stockpiled in the Pacific, according to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, who expressed concern over China's growing missile inventory in the region.
The Littoral Combat Ship mine countermeasures mission package has achieved initial operational capability, clearing the way for the Navy to field the new suite of unmanned MCM capabilities designed to keep sailors out of harm's way.
A close partnership between the United States and Australian navies and industry will be key to the success of AUKUS, according to the U.S. Navy's highest-ranking officer, who emphasized the importance of Australian personnel having adequate access to U.S. facilities and information.
The recently passed House bill proposing steep cuts to discretionary federal spending could result in reduced funding for the Pentagon, according to House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), who said the bill could put Navy leadership in an "impossible position."
Textron executives reported a slow first quarter for Bell, the company's helicopter-building subsidiary, but expect to see revenue growth for the remainder of the year as the company resumes work on the Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.
The Marine Corps is implementing engineering upgrades for one of its Amphibious Combat Vehicle variants to improve command and control capabilities following an assessment from the Pentagon's chief weapons tester.
The lead Columbia-class submarine is approximately one-third complete and remains ahead of its official 84-month delivery schedule, while supply chain challenges continue to delay Virginia construction, according to General Dynamics executives.