Defense Business Briefing -- Dec. 3, 2019

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

This week's top story

Dedrone seeks to broaden DroneDefender usage after acquisition

Dedrone has acquired a counter-drone technology and hired its lead developer in an effort to expand its portfolio.

News & notes

Budget impasse delays DOD progress payments study

Congress' inability to pass a fiscal year 2020 budget is delaying the start of a Pentagon study that could change the way defense contractors have been paid for years.

Griffin orders new defense industrial base review

Mike Griffin, the under secretary of defense for research and engineering, has tasked the Defense Science Board with reviewing the U.S. defense industrial base to identify "proactive" steps needed to increase depth, breadth and security.

Pentagon agrees with GAO recommendation to consider contractor ownership

The Pentagon is supporting a Government Accountability Office recommendation that it evaluate risks created by contractor ownership as part of its department-wide fraud risk assessment, according to a new report.

What's happening

The week ahead

Pentagon officials are scheduled to speak around the Washington area this week, while several defense companies are slated to participate in conferences and earnings calls.

For Inside Defense subscribers

Pentagon's new intellectual property chief gets to work

The Pentagon's new director of intellectual property began work last week focused on standing up a "cadre" of experts who can advise and train defense acquisition teams.

DOD looks to collaborate on technology supply chain with 'Five Eyes' allies

The Defense Department and its fellow "Five Eyes" partners are discussing how they can work as a collective industrial base to manage supply chain security risks for emerging technologies, such as fifth-generation telecommunications systems.

DOD-backed group seeks input on 'additional activities' after raucous cyber accreditation meeting

The Professional Services Council, which convened a lively meeting on behalf of Pentagon acquisition officials last week, is seeking industry input on the "additional activities" of an accreditation body that will establish the requirements for third-party auditors expected to certify the cybersecurity compliance of up to several hundred thousand defense contractors beginning next year.