Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.
Navy to broaden industry participation in contractor-owned and operated UAS services
The Navy is looking to expand the pool of companies providing contractor-owned and operated unmanned aircraft systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
NIST sets June webinar to review proposed guidance changes for handling controlled unclassified information
The National Institute of Standards and Technology will hold a webinar on June 6 to provide an overview of changes in the first draft of revision three for Special Publication 800-171, a foundational document that guides how agencies set cyber policy for contractors on protecting sensitive federal data.
Tech group seeks clarity on rate of return to enter defense industrial base as CMMC program faces delays
More tech companies are interested in joining the defense industrial base, according to Ross Nodurft, who leads the public-sector-focused Alliance for Digital Innovation, but uncertainties over how much it will cost to comply with the upcoming Pentagon cyber certification program that has faced delays is a top concern.
The week ahead
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events this week, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is slated to appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee to discuss U.S. competition with China.
Army considering IFPC Inc. 2 production competition; technical data package not available
The Army is exploring whether to compete the planned production of Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc. 2) beginning in fiscal year 2024 after the service receives the 16 systems and 60 interceptors Leidos subsidiary Dynetics and Raytheon Technologies developed under a short-term prototype agreement.
MDA seeking 'innovative,' 'disruptive' proposals for missile defense in the '2045 time epoch'
The Missile Defense Agency -- created nearly 20 years ago -- is beginning to think about the next 20 by launching a new initiative to explore future technologies and associated architectures that could be needed in 2045, asking industry to propose "new, innovative and potentially disruptive" concepts to protect the nation from anticipated future threats.
Debt ceiling negotiations ensnare defense bill
Senior Republicans say gridlock on Capitol Hill over the debt ceiling and GOP-backed spending cuts have forced a delay to the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill, a massive, must-pass piece of legislation lawmakers were scheduled to begin crafting last week.