Defense Business Briefing -- Sept. 18, 2018

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

This week's top story

Lockheed Martin Ventures invests in Australian innovation fund

Lockheed Martin confirmed its venture capital arm has invested in Main Sequence Ventures, the VC firm managing the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Innovation Fund.

News & notes

Defense industrial base report again delayed

A long-awaited defense industrial base report slated for release this week has again been delayed, according to the Pentagon.

Approps bill boosts spending on industrial base analysis

House and Senate appropriators have agreed to allocate nearly $50 million in fiscal year 2019 for industrial base analysis and sustainment.

Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO: 'Special focus on space' is generating optimism

The plans to create a Space Force could boost Aerojet Rocketdyne's business, the company's chief executive said.

Industrial base report delayed as hurricane approaches

The Pentagon and White House have delayed the public release of a much-anticipated defense industrial base report amid the approach of Hurricane Florence along the Carolina coast.

Appointments & promotions

Oshkosh hires Hawkins; Kimmitt to retire

Oshkosh said this week Thomas Hawkins has been named senior vice president for government relations, while Jay Kimmitt, the company's longtime government operations chief, will retire at the end of the year.

Stackley tapped to lead L3's communications and networked systems unit

L3 Technologies said it has named Sean Stackley, hired early this year, president of its communications and networked systems business.

Harris promotes Mehnert

Harris Corp. said it has named Dana Mehnert president of its communication systems business, effective Sept. 30.

What's happening

The week ahead

Senior Pentagon officials will appear at events around the Washington area this week, including the Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is traveling to Macedonia.

For Inside Defense subscribers

Spending bill restricts funding for Pentagon's JEDI cloud

The defense spending bill agreed to by conference negotiators limits how the Pentagon can spend its funding for cloud efforts, including the high-profile Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure initiative.

DSCA head defends cost waivers granted to foreign weapons buyers

The head of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency says cost waivers granted to countries buying U.S. weapons are key to securing arms deals, as some lawmakers have questioned the practice of giving billions in discounts to rich Middle Eastern nations.

DOD's latest cost-savings effort hits turbulence amid watchdog criticism

The Pentagon since 2011 has been unable to prove that a series of internal efficiency initiatives have saved billions and its latest effort may be headed for a significant disruption.