Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.
Competitive prototyping: Inside the Marine Corps' Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle competition
The Marine Corps has extended the prototype testing phase for its future Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, claiming at least three additional months to evaluate prototypes from three companies vying to produce a platform that will support the service's mobile reconnaissance battalions into the future.
Navy exploring commercial options for UUVs
Responding to a congressional request, the Navy is in the early stage of gathering information from commercial vendors about the availability of large diameter unmanned undersea vehicles (LDUUVs) that may have potential for military use.
Defense groups seek closer alignment in CISA self-attestation common form with NIST secure software framework
Two large defense contractor associations see a disconnect between the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's draft common form for self-attesting the security of software from contractors and the document behind the upcoming new policy, the NIST Secure Software Development Framework.
Northrop awarded $43M NGP contract modification
The Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a nearly $43 million contract modification for its polar-orbiting satellites, according to a recent Defense Department notice.
Boeing announces foreign military sale of 18 Chinooks to South Korea, one to Spain
Boeing will produce 18 CH-47F Block I Chinook helicopters for South Korea and one for Spain as part of a U.S. foreign military sale.
RTX wins $118M award for ground combat vehicle targeting sensor systems
The Army has awarded RTX a $117.5 million contract for low-rate initial production of the third generation forward looking infrared B-Kit (3GEN FLIR), the company announced Wednesday.
Mercury Systems announces board of directors leadership changes
Mercury Systems has announced leadership changes to the company's board of directors.
The week ahead
Senior defense officials will appear on Capitol Hill this week for several high-profile nomination hearings.
White House opposes several weapons provisions in House defense bill
Though the White House "strongly supports" enactment of the annual defense authorization bill for the 63rd consecutive year, the Office of Management and Budget has detailed provisions related to weapon systems and other areas that it opposes in the House version of the legislation scheduled for a vote this week.
New LASSO program aims to give Army infantry units loitering, tank-killing punch
The Army is kicking off an "urgent" acquisition effort to give dismounted infantry a new tank-killing capability: a man-portable, tube-launched, kamikaze uncrewed aircraft called the Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program -- the latest indication of how the Russia-Ukraine war is changing modern combat.