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

Focused on integrating its acquisitions, Constellis readies for new DC-area headquarters

Constellis, the security contractor created by combining the follow-on company to Blackwater with other companies ranging from Triple Canopy to Centerra Group, is concentrating on integrating its legacy businesses, according to its new chief executive.

Aerojet Rocketdyne COO feels well-positioned to compete for GBSD bid

An Aerojet Rocketdyne official says his company is well-positioned to develop large solid-rocket motors for the Air Force’s intercontinental ballistic missile replacement program under a Northrop Grumman prime contract or an integrated team approach with Boeing.

GAO denies Austal's bid protest for $931M LCS planning yard contract

The Government Accountability Office this week denied a bid protest by Austal USA of a shipyard planning contract worth up to $931 million that was awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries earlier this summer.

Northrop Grumman begins work on new Utah facility

Northrop Grumman said it has broken ground on a new facility near Hill Air Force Base, UT, to serve as a future headquarters for its work on the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program.

Leading Chinese drone company calls Pentagon claims 'false and misleading'

The top small drone manufacturer in the world is hitting back at the Pentagon's assertion that the company’s unmanned aerial systems send user data to China, as Defense Department officials use the claim as part of their case for establishing an alternative U.S. supply of small UAS.

Robotic Research unveils Pegasus

Robotic Research, which focuses on autonomy for both the military and the commercial market, last month showed off its Pegasus, the company's transformable unmanned autonomous vehicle.

The week ahead

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak around the Washington area this week. Congress remains out on recess.

Pentagon brass warn about continuing resolution

Congressional staffers say they expect the Defense Department to begin fiscal year 2020 on a stopgap continuing resolution, despite lawmakers having already agreed to a broader bipartisan budget deal.

DOD awards first major contract in new effort to establish hypersonic industrial base

In a watershed development in the race to field a new triad of long-range, hypersonic strike weapons, the Defense Department is selecting defense contractor teams to manufacture prototype common-hypersonic glide bodies -- a key step toward scaling production of new ultra-fast warheads by moving manufacturing from a national laboratory to industry.

Esper talks up 'Fourth Estate' budget review and beyond

Defense Secretary Mark Esper heralded a new internal budget review as a chance for the Pentagon to "make tough decisions" that better align resources with the National Defense Strategy, which calls for greater focus on China and Russia.