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

Northrop says it has received 'civil investigative demand' from Federal Trade Commission

Northrop Grumman said it received a "civil investigative demand" this month from the Federal Trade Commission in connection with the company’s compliance with a 2018 FTC order on solid rocket motors.

Leidos says even full fiscal year CR would have 'minimal' effect

Roger Krone, Leidos' chief executive, said even if the continuing resolution now in place lasted the full fiscal year, it would take a limited toll on the company.

Raytheon says it's engaged in negotiations with Vista over Forcepoint

Raytheon executives said the company is negotiating with Vista Equity Partners about the value of Forcepoint, the cybersecurity business the two created in 2015.

Lockheed to divest distributed energy solutions group

Lockheed Martin said it has agreed to sell its distributed energy solutions group to TRC Companies.

General Dynamics CEO: Despite significant revenue tied up in protest, company remains 'comfortable'

General Dynamics has about $1 billion in sales under protest, according to the company's chief executive.

Lockheed CEO says risk associated with replacing Turkey F-35 suppliers is covered by government

As Lockheed Martin works to replace Turkish suppliers on the F-35 program, the company's associated risk is covered by the U.S. government, according to the contractor's chief executive.

Raytheon not protesting A4 Sentinel Radar award to Lockheed

Raytheon appears to have missed the window to protest the Army's award to Lockheed Martin of the A4 Sentinel radar upgrade, conceding defeat in the estimated $3 billion project the same week the company won a potentially larger Army radar program, the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor.

LMI Ventures unveils second partnership

LMI Ventures said it has partnered with The Climate Service to help LMI customers assess climate risks. The partnership marks LMI Ventures' second announced to date.

Lockheed adds new board member

Lockheed Martin has added Debra Reed-Klages, a retired energy infrastructure company chief executive, to its board of directors, effective Nov. 1.

UTC taps Mitchill to serve as acting CFO

Neil Mitchill, the chief financial officer of Pratt & Whitney, will become acting CFO of United Technologies on Nov. 1, according to UTC’s chief executive.

Raytheon names leaders for consolidated businesses

Raytheon said Roy Azevedo and Wesley Kremer will lead the Raytheon businesses that will be consolidated as part of the merger with United Technologies.

The week ahead

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak around the Washington area this week, while companies host quarterly earnings calls. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) is also expected to release a "skinny version" of the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill.

Defense industry touts insurance to help small firms certify under DOD cybersecurity program

The National Defense Industrial Association has issued a report that emphasizes the important role that insurance companies can play in helping smaller businesses get certified -- and stave off potential supply shortages -- under an emerging Defense Department program that would establish baseline cybersecurity requirements for vendors and service providers.

Boeing transitions GBSD employees, issues stop-work order to suppliers

Following the Air Force's decision to stop funding Boeing's contract supporting the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, the company has transitioned its employees to other internal jobs and issued a stop-work order to its suppliers.

CISA supply-chain task force briefed by DOD on aggressive schedule for contractor certification

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency task force on supply-chain security was briefed by a Defense Department official who laid out an aggressive schedule for the Pentagon's plan to certify the cybersecurity practices of contractors, with final revisions expected in December and a "transition" to implementation in January.