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

Amphibious warship industrial base is 'underutilized' as LPD procurement pause drags on

With little certainty in the Pentagon's amphibious warship procurement plans, the builders and suppliers that produce these ships are holding their breath as they wait for Congress to complete fiscal year 2024 spending legislation and the Navy to provide a clear shipbuilding forecast.

Northrop teams with Mitsubishi Electric in what appears to be first move toward IBCS Japan

A pair of U.S. and Japanese defense contractors announced a new teaming agreement to "collaborate" on integrated and missile defense capabilities for Japan's ground-based systems, in a move that could be a first step toward exporting to a Pacific ally the U.S. Army's new "game changing" Integrated Battle Command System.

Tech group looks to upcoming defense acquisition rulemaking for details on incorporating CMMC requirements into contracts

The Information Technology Industry Council anticipates details on incorporating acquisition requirements for contractors under the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program will come in the next rulemaking for the initiative, which will focus on making changes to the Defense Department's acquisition regulations.

Professional Services Council raises concerns over implementing CMMC program through contracting supply chain

The Professional Services Council is supportive of the Pentagon's plans to allow self assessment for less sensitive information held by defense contractors under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, while recognizing that contracting officers could still decide to choose a higher level of security than needed to ensure adequate protection of the information on nonfederal systems.

RTX picks Chris Calio as next CEO

RTX Chief Operating Officer Christopher Calio will step up as the company's CEO in May.

Antal joins Leidos as general counsel

Leidos announced it has hired Dan Antal to be the company's general counsel, effective April 1.

Mercury announces corporate reorganization, names new COO

Mercury Systems has announced a reorganization of the company's corporate structure.

HII taps new leader for Australian business and AUKUS efforts

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Australian business efforts are now being led by Michael Lempke, former president of HII's Nuclear and Environmental Services business group.

The week ahead

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

Initial reports on new integrated air and missile defense for INDOPACOM due soon

The Pentagon has a new missile defense assignment: craft a comprehensive strategy for developing, acquiring and operationally establishing an integrated air and missile defense architecture for select locations across U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, a 100-million-square-mile region that constitutes more than 50% of the earth's surface.

DOD to draw up options for 360-degree integrated air and missile defense of European sites

The Pentagon must think anew about missile defense in Europe, including how to defend against air and missile strikes from not only the east -- but also north, south and west -- and provide Congress a report this summer on options for adopting a 360-degree approach to address Russian threats emerging from all strategic directions.