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

Pentagon developing plan to grade contractors on 'cyber score'

The Pentagon is moving forward with plans to score defense companies on cybersecurity, similar to measuring credit scores, as one Defense Department official says DOD's current efforts regarding contractor cybersecurity are not sufficient.

Leidos reports quarterly sales, profit boost

Leidos said sales during its most recent quarter reached $2.7 billion, up about 5 percent from the same three-month period a year earlier. Quarterly profit hit $188 million, up 65 percent from the prior year.

Perspecta reports improved sales, lower profit

Perspecta said sales in its most recent quarter reached $1.1 billion, up 49 percent from the same three-month period a year earlier.

Fanning says AIA is 'working closely' with Pentagon on progress payments plan

The Aerospace Industries Association has been 'working closely' with the Defense Department as DOD weighs how to revamp its approach to progress payments and performance-based payments.

Huntington Ingalls reports improved sales, profit

Huntington Ingalls Industries said sales in its most recent quarter reached $2.2 billion, up 10 percent from the same three-month period a year earlier.

Applied Insight acquires Applied Technology Group and Stratus Solutions

Applied Insight has acquired Applied Technology Group and Stratus Solutions in an effort to "strengthen Applied Insight’s advanced cloud, analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities."

Northrop names Prakash to head Japan business

Northrop Grumman has named Om Prakash chief executive of Northrop Grumman Japan.

Northrop taps Deeble to lead Australia business

Northrop Grumman said it has named Chris Deeble chief executive of Northrop Grumman Australia.

The week ahead

Senior Pentagon officials are scheduled to speak around the Washington area this week. Congress is out.

DOD to begin writing permanent 'middle-tier acquisition' policy

The Pentagon's acquisition office is set to host a meeting where officials will begin hashing out a permanent policy for "middle-tier acquisition" programs after allowing the services to experiment with the streamlined authority over the past year.

Pentagon seeks to accelerate artificial intelligence developments under new strategy

The Pentagon plans to work with a range of commercial companies to rapidly develop artificial intelligence capabilities "responsibly and ethically," according to a new Defense Department strategy.