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

Pentagon proposes rule to encourage commercial practices

The Pentagon late last month proposed amending defense acquisition regulations to "encourage contractors to propose commercial or non-Government standards and industry-wide practices that meet the intent of military specifications and standards."

DISA awards $49M OTA for new background investigation case management system

The Defense Information Systems Agency announced today it has awarded an other transaction agreement to prototype a case management platform for the National Background Investigations System.

Army to hold tactical cloud industry day in August

The Army's program executive office for command, control and communications-tactical, along with the network cross-functional team, will host an industry day Aug. 1 and 2 in Raleigh, NC, regarding cloud services for tactical formations.

Endeavor Robotics boosts staff, adds manufacturing space

Endeavor Robotics has grown its employee count by 30 percent this year and added about 10,000 square feet to its facility following several key program wins.

L3 Technologies acquires Applied Defense Solutions

L3 Technologies has acquired Applied Defense Solutions, an aerospace engineering, software development and space situational awareness company, for about $50 million.

DigitalGlobe hires Northrop Grumman executive

Maxar Technologies' DigitalGlobe said it has hired Mike Edwards, who most recently served as Northrop Grumman's corporate director of space, intelligence and cyber, to serve as the company's vice president and senior adviser for defense programs.

Leidos taps Boera for Air Force role

Leidos said it has hired retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Boera to lead its Air Force business development.

The week ahead

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is traveling to the NATO summit in Brussels this week, while Congress returns from recess.

Pentagon eyeing new list of weapon systems for rapid prototyping

The Pentagon is considering several weapon systems for new rapid prototyping authority granted by Congress, including the Air Force's hypersonic conventional strike capability, F-22 aircraft modernization and two key Navy missile programs, Inside Defense has learned.

Navy RFI sought industry ability to improve manufacturing costs on shipbuilding

The Navy is examining industry's capabilities to improve manufacturing processes surrounding the service's highest-profile shipbuilding programs such as Virginia-class submarines, Littoral Combat Ships and the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford (CVN-78).