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

Hicks: DOD eying inflation for long-term contract impacts

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who recently met with dozens of defense business executives, said the Pentagon is discussing the ongoing impact of historic inflation with both large and small defense contractors, but noted there has not yet been a substantial uptick in requests for equitable adjustments to contract prices.

As Pratt rolls out UBL to F-22 bases, execs see potential for expansion to other fleets

While Pratt & Whitney works to incorporate a new approach to engine maintenance across the F-22 fighter fleet, the company is eyeing opportunities to expand the effort to the F-35 and commercial customers, executives told Inside Defense.

Sikorsky-Boeing and Bell compare dueling FLRAA proposals as Army nears decision

The Army is drawing closer to choosing the aircraft that will replace perhaps its most iconic helicopter: the Black Hawk.

Pentagon expects to submit first CMMC rulemaking for OMB review in July

The Pentagon will start the formal process in July to make regulatory changes to its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program with the submission of a new rulemaking to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review, according to a Pentagon spokesman.

Pentagon waivers for CMMC requirements to be determined based on DOD contract needs

The use of waivers for the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program will be determined based on the needs of acquisition officials for specific contracts, not the qualifications of a company bidding for contract selection, according to CMMC director Stacy Bostjanick.

NIST adds new data formats for foundational CMMC publications

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has added two new data formats intended to improve the usability of four publications that are foundational to the Pentagon’s cyber certification program.

LaPlante sworn in as DOD acquisition chief

Bill LaPlante has been sworn in as under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, filling the senior-most Pentagon vacancy.

The week ahead

Senior defense officials are slated to speak at several events this week.

Army expects electric tank by 2050, official says

The Army intends to field all-electric tanks by 2050, a top service energy and environment official told Inside Defense on Friday, but it will require major technological improvements to meet that target.

Air Force's first chief architect officer to resign

Preston Dunlap, the Air Force's first chief architect officer, will resign from his role in the coming weeks, he announced in a LinkedIn post.

CYBERCOM seeks $236 million for unfunded priorities

U.S. Cyber Command has sent Congress a list identifying $236.4 million in unfunded priorities, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.

HII releases its solution to the Navy's plea for open architecture autonomy

Shipbuilder and defense technology company HII has released a suite of autonomy solutions that can turn any ship, vehicle or platform in any domain into a robotic platform -- a technology the company has dubbed "Odyssey."