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

Parsons COO says federal-infrastructure combination has eliminated stovepipes

Nearly a year after Parsons combined its federal and infrastructure businesses, the contractor's chief operating officer says the move has benefited both units.

Dedrone acquires DroneDefender

Dedrone said it has acquired DroneDefender from Battelle and launched a new consultancy called Dedrone Defense.

Thales sees opportunity for growth in U.S. market

Thales is seeing new ways to bolster its presence in the U.S. defense market, according to a top strategy executive.

FLIR adds Aria Insights technology

FLIR Systems said it has acquired the intellectual property and certain assets of Aria Insights, previously known as CyPhy Works.

BWX Technologies says it's restarting nuclear fuel production line

BWX Technologies said it has begun reopening its TRISO nuclear fuel production line and will soon expand its capacity to meet "client interests in Department of Defense microreactors, space reactors and civil advanced reactors."

QinetiQ says new acquisition will more than double the size of its U.S. operations

British company QinetiQ said it has agreed to acquire Manufacturing Technologies, dubbed MTEQ, in a deal that would more than double its U.S. business.

VT Group acquires DELTA Resources

VT Group said it has acquired DELTA Resources, a 350-employee company specializing in naval systems engineering and technical services for the Navy.

Lockheed Martin promotes Cahill

Lockheed Martin said it has named Timothy Cahill senior vice president of Lockheed Martin International, effective Oct. 14.

Murphy joins BAE board

BAE Systems' U.S. business said it has appointed former Army Under Secretary Patrick Murphy to its board of directors.

Colabatistto to retire

CAE said Gene Colabatistto, president of the company's defense and security group, will retire at the end of the year.

The week ahead

Senior Pentagon officials are scheduled to appear around the Washington area this week. Congress remains on recess.

Defense industry groups question Pentagon's new cyber rules

Three of the largest defense industry associations are raising questions about the Pentagon's new cybersecurity certification, including concerns about the "aggressive" implementation time line and the lack of clarity on how the protections will be applied across different programs and suppliers.

SBA warns of contractor shortages from Pentagon's cyber certification plan

The Small Business Administration's advocacy office is urging the Defense Department to subject its draft cybersecurity certification program to a formal notice-and-comment rulemaking process, warning the complexity and costs of the plan could undermine the Pentagon's contracting goals.