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

Northrop CEO says COVID-19 has made company 'more focused on cost reduction this year'

The chief executive of Northrop Grumman said the ongoing coronavirus outbreak has increased the company's attention to cost savings, particularly in the areas of facilities and travel.

Thoma Bravo to buy Exostar

Private equity firm Thoma Bravo has agreed to buy Exostar, which provides business collaboration for the aerospace and defense industry, among other industries.

COVID-19 could erode Pentagon's progress with dual-use technology startups, Silicon Valley warns

The economic slowdown brought on by COVID-19 could set back the Pentagon's nascent efforts to leverage commercial technologies, as venture capital funding recedes and big money government contracts for nontraditional companies remain elusive, according to new reports and interviews with Silicon Valley insiders.

Mercury CEO says company does not anticipate production delays during coronavirus crisis

The chief executive of Mercury Systems says the company is not expecting the ongoing coronavirus outbreak to delay production or to slow its hiring.

HII CEO says many company processes 'will not go back to the way they were'

The chief executive of Huntington Ingalls Industries said the COVID-19 pandemic will likely permanently change the company.

In Boeing layoffs, defense business will see only small cut

As Boeing announced involuntary layoffs for nearly 6,800 U.S. employees after completing a voluntary layoff program for about 5,500 workers, a company spokesman said the defense and space business is providing stability for the company and will continue hiring.

Booz Allen reports increased sales and profit in FY-20

Booz Allen Hamilton said sales totaled nearly $7.5 billion in its fiscal year 2020, up about 11% from a year earlier.

SparkCognition establishes government business

Artificial intelligence company SparkCognition said it has created SparkCognition Government Systems, focused entirely on government and national defense.

DOJ: Buyer of General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies must divest subsidiary to proceed with deal

The Justice Department announced Odyssey Investment Partners, its portfolio company Communications and Power Industries and General Dynamics must divest CPI subsidiary CPI ASC Signal Division to proceed with the planned acquisition of General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies.

Wagner to depart ManTech

ManTech International said Rick Wagner, president of its mission, cyber and intelligence solutions business group, will depart the company next month.

The week ahead

Senior Pentagon officials are scheduled to participate in several virtual events this week, while the House Armed Services Committee holds its first in-person hearing in three months.

DOD details spending plan for $10.5B in COVID-19 relief funds

The Defense Department has sent Congress a detailed spending plan for the $10.5 billion it has been provided to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cyber solarium staffers highlight need to mandate threat info sharing, hunting on contractor networks

Staffers for the Cyberspace Solarium Commission highlighted the importance of the group's recommendations requiring Pentagon contractors to participate in threat information sharing programs and use threat hunting capabilities on their networks.

FCC chairman pushes back on Pentagon's Ligado claims, as agencies seek to reverse decision

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai says he personally spoke with Defense Secretary Mark Esper prior to the FCC approving Ligado Networks' controversial spectrum license, and Pai pushed back on Pentagon claims in a new letter to lawmakers.