Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.
Contractors warn of uncertainty ahead, but report increased sales
Top contracting executives noted the current period -- with surging COVID-19 cases, a continuing resolution and an upcoming election -- is uncertain, but said so far they have been able to maintain sales and profit.
Leidos says nearly all employees are back to work
Leidos has about 97% of its employees working regular hours, despite the ongoing pandemic, according to the company's chief executive.
BWXT chief says new Esper shipbuilding plan would be 'favorable' to its business
The chief executive of BWX Technologies said the shipbuilding plan laid out by Defense Secretary Mark Esper last month would be beneficial to the company.
L3Harris says it's narrowing its independent research and development focus
The chief executive of L3Harris Technologies said the company has cut the number of projects it's funding with independent research and development dollars to focus on promising technologies.
Arlington Capital Partners unveils BlueHalo
Private-equity firm Arlington Capital Partners said it has formed BlueHalo, a new national security company created by combining AEgis Technologies, Applied Technology Associates and Brilligent Solutions.
DOD responds to congressional watchdog on controversial YRC loan
The Defense Department has responded to the inquiries of a special congressional commission in the matter of a controversial pandemic stimulus loan made to a trucking company with connections to the White House, according to a letter obtained by Inside Defense.
CACI, Oshkosh defense group, others report improved quarterly sales
Less than 1% of CACI International's 23,000 employees have contracted COVID-19, the company's chief executive said.
Parsons to acquire Braxton Science & Technology Group
Parsons said it has agreed to acquire Braxton Science & Technology Group and its subsidiaries in a move meant to expand Parsons' space, cyber and intelligence work.
GD reports about 1,800 COVID-19 cases among employees
About 1,800 of General Dynamics' roughly 100,000 employees have come down with COVID-19 and about 1,500 are "fully recovered and back to work," according to the company's chief executive.
Boeing announces new $67 million tanker charge
Boeing announced it took another $67 million KC-46 tanker charge in the third quarter of 2020, bringing its out-of-pocket costs for the program to nearly $4.8 billion.
Raytheon to divest Forcepoint business
Investment firm Francisco Partners said it has agreed to acquire Raytheon Technologies' Forcepoint cybersecurity business.
Aerojet Rocketdyne reports increased sales, lower profit
Aerojet Rocketdyne said sales in its most recent quarter totaled $528 million, up almost 10% from the same three-month period a year earlier.
The week ahead
Senior Pentagon officials are scheduled to speak at a number of virtual events this week. The U.S. general election is Tuesday.
Election 2020: A Biden win could mean policy changes at DOD
If former Vice President Joe Biden performs as polling suggests and defeats President Trump on Nov. 3, the Defense Department could see significant changes, despite a likely continued focus on COVID-19 and great power competition with China.
DOD rule establishes cyber compliance regime ahead of full CMMC implementation
The Pentagon will require government contractors to submit a self-assessment of their compliance with the 110 controls in National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 starting Nov. 30, establishing a new cyber regime for contractors under the Defense Department that will have a wide-ranging impact on the DOD supply chain.
Arrington: Pentagon to establish resolution process for CMMC assessment disputes
The Defense Department is working with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body to develop a process for companies to dispute their cyber assessment results and get an objective ruling from the Pentagon's lead contracts agency.