Monday, March 20, 2023
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 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.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) said today he expects Congress to pass a stopgap continuing resolution that contains more emergency military aid for Ukraine, though the debate may delay passage of the annual defense authorization bill.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante said today he is planning to soon release updated policy guidance aimed at "loosening" contracting regulations to provide inflation relief to defense contractors, especially small suppliers working under firm, fixed-price contracts.
The Pentagon has announced an operational test launch of an unarmed Air Force Global Strike Command Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile early tomorrow morning out of Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA.
Senior Pentagon officials are slated to speak at several public events this week.
President Biden intends to nominate Nickolas Guertin, who was confirmed as director of operational test and evaluation less than a year ago, to be the Navy's new assistant secretary for research, development and acquisition, according to a White House announcement.
The White House is asking Congress to pass a stopgap continuing resolution before the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1 that would provide $13.7 billion in emergency military aid to Ukraine, including more than $7 billion to help replenish U.S. weapons that have been transferred there, according to a proposal from the Office of Management and Budget.
Senior Pentagon officials are considering an inflation relief proposal made by key defense industry associations that would have Congress expand military funding and allow alterations to fixed-price contracts that could help companies battered by surging prices.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who oversees many of the Pentagon's technology development and budgeting decisions, said today that among her top innovation priorities are enterprise cloud computing and artificial intelligence capabilities aimed at increasing the U.S. military's "speed of decision."
The Defense Department has begun planning for long-term military assistance to Ukraine, setting the stage for Congress to appropriate more funding for what Pentagon officials say will be a multiyear commitment.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several public events this week.
An influential Pentagon advisory board is scheduled to meet next month to receive classified briefings on Chinese and Russian space weapons.
The Defense Department, in its biggest tranche of security assistance to Ukraine to date, is preparing to put $3 billion under contract to deliver surface-to-air missiles, long-range artillery, laser-guided rockets and a variety of drones.
Senior defense officials are slated to speak at several Washington think tank events this week.
The United States is sending dozens of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to Ukraine, along with additional drones, artillery, ammunition and other weapons as part of an upcoming $775 million military aid package, according to a senior defense official.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks today highlighted President Biden's recent signing of the CHIPS and Science Act, which she said will "supercharge" U.S. semiconductor research, development and production.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) is leading a bipartisan effort to convince the Federal Communications Commission to rescind an April 2020 decision allowing Ligado Networks to deploy a new, low-power, terrestrial nationwide network after next month that lawmakers say would cause "unacceptable risk" to national security.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks is scheduled to travel to four different states this week to discuss the Pentagon's efforts to strengthen the defense industrial base.
The week ahead is slated to be a quiet one in Washington but senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at different events hosted around the country.
The United States is sending a $1 billion military aid package to Ukraine, including long-range artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, Claymore mines, armored medical vehicles and other equipment, according to a new Pentagon announcement.