Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.

MDA taps Lockheed, Raytheon, Northrop to design new hypersonic-busting missile

The Missile Defense Agency has tapped three companies to advance their respective concept designs for a Glide Phase Interceptor, setting up a three-way contest between Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman for a new Aegis guided missile optimized to defeat a new class of ultra-fast maneuvering weapons and give the Navy a second layer of defense against hypersonic threats.

DOD issues formal solicitations for JWCC cloud contract

The Defense Department has invited four major cloud service providers to submit bids for its multivendor Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability effort.

DCMA pauses audits for CMMC assessment organizations to address program changes

Cyber certification audits for certified third-party assessment organizations are currently on hold at the Pentagon while the Defense Department works through changes to its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, according to a DOD official.

Ross: NIST plans to update publication for handling controlled unclassified information

The National Institute of Standards and Technology in 2022 will update its publication guiding agencies and industry on how to secure controlled unclassified information, a key component of the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, according to lead author Ron Ross.

Evolved Strategic SATCOM program embracing competition for space and ground segment

As the Space Force’s Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications program moves through the prototyping phase of its space segment and finalizes the ground segment acquisition strategy, Space Systems Command officials say they are leaning forward in their use of competition to drive innovation and reduce cost.

Electric Boat working through workforce, industrial base concerns as Columbia construction progresses

General Dynamics Electric Boat is taking steps to address vendor base and workforce concerns as the company works to keep the Columbia-class submarine, the Navy’s top acquisition priority, on track, General Dynamics Electric Boat President Kevin Graney told Inside Defense in an interview.

Northrop names new president of space systems

Northrop Grumman has announced Tom Wilson will serve as corporate vice president and president of the company’s space systems business.

New SWAC force design could drive near-term shifts in missile warning, tracking space architecture

The Space Force's new analysis and force design center last month gave industry an early look at its draft recommendation for the service's future missile warning and tracking architecture, revealing possible near-term shifts across the portfolio and seeking feedback from companies on how to best address current and anticipated threats.

Army plans M-SHORAD laser competition in FY-23 for post-prototype production

The Army plans to launch a second competition for Stryker-mounted, 50-kilowatt lasers, giving Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman in fiscal year 2023 a chance at procurement planned beyond initial prototype systems that Raytheon currently owns under a rapid-development and fielding agreement