The Defense Department has announced a new $1.1 billion aid package that would begin the contracting process to eventually send an additional 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and other weapons to Ukraine.
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Key Issues AUKUS & AI EXX-TACAMO Ukraine equipment
Tony Bertuca is chief editor of Inside the Pentagon, the flagship publication of InsideDefense, where he focuses on defense budget and acquisition policy. He previously worked for the Sun-Times News Group in his hometown of Chicago, IL, and at the New Hampshire Union Leader in Manchester, NH. Tony has also served as managing editor of Inside the Army. He has a master's degree in journalism from Boston University.
The Defense Department has announced a new $1.1 billion aid package that would begin the contracting process to eventually send an additional 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and other weapons to Ukraine.
Senior Democratic lawmakers have proposed a stopgap continuing resolution that would keep the federal government funded through Dec. 16 as well as provide billions in continued military aid for Ukraine.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante, who this week will chair a meeting in Brussels between dozens of national armaments directors, said today the United States must more closely align its defense industrial capabilities with those of foreign allies to not only respond to the "acute threat" stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but also to prepare "for the next Ukraine" in the future.
Senior defense officials are slated to speak at several events this week. Meanwhile, Congress must pass a stopgap continuing resolution to ensure federal funding or the government will shut down after Friday.
The Pentagon has sent Congress its annual collection of selected acquisition reports summarizing the cost, schedule and performance status for dozens of major weapon systems.
The Pentagon's chief technology officer has directed an influential science advisory board to conduct a "tabletop exercise" focused on strategic, operational and budgetary recommendations to bolster the U.S. military in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Senate Armed Services Committee today voted to advance several nominees for senior Defense Department positions, including a new chief of space operations and a new head of U.S. Strategic Command.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said today the Senate will be meeting in October to debate the fiscal year 2023 defense authorization bill.
Senior defense officials are slated to speak at an annual Air Force Association conference this week.
The Defense Department announced another military aid package for Ukraine, this time valued at $600 million to include additional ammunition for long-range artillery, counter-drone systems, mine-clearing equipment and more.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante said today the Defense Department's future-years budget plan has a "wedge" to purchase production-level hypersonic weapons.
The Army has awarded a $311 million contract to Raytheon Missiles and Defense and Lockheed Martin for the delivery of more than 1,800 Javelin anti-tank systems to replenish those that have been sent from U.S. stocks to support Ukraine in its fight against an ongoing Russian invasion.
A new commission charged with reforming the Pentagon's 1960s-era budget planning and programming process got off to a slow start this summer, but the group's chairman says members have been meeting for months and have made "significant progress," though a final report will be delayed.
Key defense business associations are urging Congress to pass a stopgap continuing resolution that increases funding for the Pentagon, thereby alleviating inflation-related stress for defense contractors and their suppliers. (UPDATED)
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several conferences this week and to appear on Capitol Hill.
The Defense Department is open to considering inflation relief for defense contractors working under firm, fixed-price contracts in "extraordinary circumstances," according to a new guidance memo released by the Pentagon pricing chief.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante will be in Brussels on Sept. 28 to chair a multinational meeting of dozens of national armaments directors seeking to support sustained military aid to Ukraine, as well as increased weapon system compatibility.
Senior defense officials say they are working on ways to accelerate foreign military sales, including the Pentagon acquisition chief, who says now is a "golden opportunity" to reform the notoriously bureaucratic system, especially if the administration can focus its efforts around equipping Taiwan.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said today the United States, in coordination with NATO, will soon host a meeting of armaments directors from nations around the world to discuss how the global defense industrial base can be "streamlined" to continue arming Ukraine in its ongoing fight against a Russian invasion.
The Defense Department announced today that it intends to transfer $657 million in military aid to Ukraine, including additional long-range artillery and munitions to help the country defend itself from Russia's ongoing invasion.