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

AeroVironment-Kratos relationship is trained on 'a real opportunity'

The new AeroVironment-Kratos Defense & Security Systems strategic relationship is focused on a particular customer and a "real opportunity," according to Kratos' chief executive.

Reporting loss for quarter, Maxar says it made cost cuts that 'affected several hundred' jobs

Maxar Technologies said it "engaged in significant cost reductions" during the most recent quarter.

Vectrus reports improved sales, profit

Vectrus said sales in its most recent quarter hit $326 million, up 2% from the same three-month period a year earlier.

KeyW reports lower sales

KeyW said today sales in its most recent quarter reached $113 million, down almost 10% from the same three-month period a year earlier.

Huntington Ingalls hires LaCroix

Huntington Ingalls Industries said earlier this month it has named James LaCroix, a former Naval Undersea Warfare Center official, corporate director of the company's advanced technologies office in Newport, RI.

CACI hires Shields

CACI International said it has named retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Shields senior vice president of advanced technology for mission adoption.

The week ahead

This week House appropriators mark up their version of the fiscal year 2020 defense spending bill, while senior Pentagon officials are scheduled to make a host of appearances around the Washington area.

Pentagon wants to hook tech companies up with 'trusted' venture capitalists to block China

The Pentagon intends to launch a program next month to connect small, but promising technology companies with “trusted” venture capitalists, rather than risk the companies going into business with Chinese investors.

Pentagon again seeks to restrict bid protest process

The Pentagon, as in previous years, has sent Congress a legislative proposal to impose bid protest timeliness rules at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims that would mirror those at the Government Accountability Office, with the intent to reduce decision times and block contractors from lodging protests with both entities.

Pentagon wants Congress to ease pricing data pulls

The Pentagon is asking Congress to loosen restrictions on some large acquisition programs by reducing the amount of data required to make determinations of "price reasonableness."