The Insider

New Australian submarine industry strategy focuses on investment in workforce, includes HII contract
By Abby Shepherd
March 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM

As part of a new Australian AUKUS submarine industry strategy, shipbuilder HII has been awarded a $9.6 million (AUD) -- or roughly US$6 million -- contract to deliver a pilot program meant to integrate more Australian suppliers and products into the U.S. industrial base.

The Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification pilot program will be implemented over the next two years and will “accelerate the identification and qualification” of these Australian sources, according to an HII news release.

“This contract represents a significant milestone in building a resilient and globally integrated supply chain for nuclear-powered submarines,” HII CEO Chris Kastner said in a statement. “HII has a long history of working with suppliers to ensure they meet the highest standards in safety, security, and performance. We welcome Australian partners to help build out this critical nuclear shipbuilding capability and ensure the long-term success of AUKUS.”

The new Australian strategy released last week calls for AU$30 billion to be invested in the country’s industrial base and calls for further investment in workforce training and educational programs.

The U.S. has agreed to sell at least three Virginia-class submarines to Australia starting in the early 2030s, yet builders are currently unable to deliver these boats at a two-a-year cadence. Australia has pledged to give $3 billion to the U.S. to aid on-time production and has already delivered $500 million of this.

Elbridge Colby -- the Trump Administration’s pick for under secretary of defense for policy -- told lawmakers at his confirmation hearing last week that he does support AUKUS and called it a “model of the type of cooperation we need to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”

Yet, Colby did bring up concerns related to the U.S. shipbuilding industry’s ability to meet the country’s own force structure goals, as well as the targets to deliver boats to Australia by a certain date. The potential threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific means the U.S. should be poised to defend itself with its own submarines, he said.

“If we can produce the attack submarines in sufficient number and [at] sufficient speed, then great,” Colby said. “But if we can’t, that becomes a very difficult problem because we don’t want our servicemen and women to be in a weaker position and more vulnerable and God forbid, worse, because they’re not in the right place at the right time.”

Senate committee advances Feinberg and Phelan nominations
By Tony Bertuca
March 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM

The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to advance the nominations of Stephen Feinberg, whom President Trump has picked to be deputy defense secretary, and John Phelan, who has been tapped to serve as Navy secretary.

The committee released a statement saying the nominations will be reported to the Senate floor for confirmation votes.

Anduril executive nominated to be next Army under secretary
By Dan Schere
March 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM

Michael Obadal, currently an executive at Anduril, has been nominated by President Trump to be the Army's next under secretary, according to a nomination posting from Congress.

Obadal’s LinkedIn page lists him as a “senior director” with Anduril for the past two years.

Obadal is an Army veteran who earned a degree in international studies from Virginia Military Institute, then served both overseas and in stateside posts as an attack helicopter officer before joining U.S. Special Operations Command, according to a biography from the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, where he is listed as an ambassador.

He spent 18 years commanding units and task forces throughout Army and Joint Special Operations, according to the bio. Obadal also worked on counterterrorism efforts when he commanded Joint Special Operations Command’s Joint Inter-Agency Task Force for the National Capital Region, and Operation Gallant Phoenix in Jordan.

If confirmed, Obadal would succeed Gabe Camarillo, who served as under secretary during the Biden administration.

Obadal’s nomination follows the Senate confirmation of Trump nominee Dan Driscoll as Army secretary last month.

The INSIDER daily digest -- March 11, 2025
By John Liang
March 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's now-rebranded future Integrated Visual Augmentation System, Japan's Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile program and more.

The Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System is now called Soldier Borne Mission Command:

Prototyping for now-rebranded future IVAS variant will occur in two phases

The Army plans to prototype its next phase of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System in two phases, according to a new request for information posted to sam.gov last week.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced this week it had notified Congress of a potential Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile support services sale, which includes test preparation, transportation and coordination meetings in the U.S. and Japan:

Japan eyes Pentagon assistance with developing advanced long-range strike capability

The State Department has approved a potential $200 million foreign military sale to Japan for support services related to the country's Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP) program, a move that strengthens U.S.-Japan defense ties as Tokyo pushes forward with its next-generation, precision-strike capability.

Coverage of the Army's Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node:

Army expects second TITAN delivery this month

The Army will receive its second shipment of the Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node before the end of March, according to an email a service spokesperson sent Inside Defense last Friday.

Some Joint Strike Fighter news:

F-35 pilots at Nellis Air Force Base could train on JSE as soon as this month

DENVER -- The Joint Integrated Test and Training Center at Nellis Air Force Base, NV could soon receive a final assessment of its Joint Simulation Environment before the synthetic test system can be officially stood up in the next few weeks, according to a senior Air Force materiel leader.

Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites will be on the first launch later this year, with launches taking place each month until all 126 Transport Layer, 28 Tracking Layer and four missile defense demonstration satellites are on orbit:

SDA Tranche 1 satellites to begin launching in late summer

The Space Development Agency is now expecting its first operational satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture to launch late this summer, the agency announced, about a year after initially scheduled.

The INSIDER daily digest -- March 10, 2025
By John Liang
March 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has coverage of a new Joint Strike Fighter simulator trainer, space-based missile warning satellites and more.

We start off with continuing coverage of last week's AFA Warfare symposium in Colorado:

F-35 pilots at Nellis Air Force Base could train on JSE as soon as this month

DENVER -- The Joint Integrated Test and Training Center at Nellis Air Force Base, NV could soon receive a final assessment of its Joint Simulation Environment before the synthetic test system can be officially stood up in the next few weeks, a senior Air Force materiel leader said Wednesday.

Next Gen OPIR GEO readying for launch this year, needs ULA's Vulcan rocket certified

DENVER -- The first satellites of the Space Force's program to augment missile warning from geosynchronous Earth orbit will be ready to launch this year, a top official said this week, but they will need the United Launch Alliance's rocket to be certified to launch such a mission.

(Read our full AFA Warfare Symposium coverage)

Some Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture news:

SDA Tranche 1 satellites to begin launching in late summer

The Space Development Agency is now expecting its first operational satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture to launch late this summer, the agency announced, about a year after initially scheduled.

The Light Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems (L-MADIS) capability, which was developed in-house by the Marine Corps' ground-based air defense program office, consists of a "fighting pair" of Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicles:

Marine Corps using L-MADIS to protect ships from aerial threats as Pentagon continues hunt for low-cost drone defense

The Marine Corps is using a mobile air defense system to protect amphibious warships from drones and other aerial threats, according to a service spokesperson, who told Inside Defense the recently developed capability now deploys with each Marine Expeditionary Unit as part its Low Altitude Air Defense detachment.

In a recent memo, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed "all DOD Components to adopt the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) as the preferred pathway for all software development components of business and weapon system programs in the [Defense] Department":

Pentagon moves to streamline and scale new software procurement

The Defense Department is being directed to adopt special contracting pathways for rapidly acquiring software, according to a new memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Document: Hegseth memo on software

Anduril wins $640 million contract for counter-drone base protection systems
By Nick Wilson
March 10, 2025 at 11:51 AM

Anduril Industries has received a $642 million contract to produce a new counter-drone system for the Marine Corps, capping off a competition to fulfill what service officials have described as an "urgent need" to better defend buildings, bases and other installations.

Under the award, Anduril will deliver, install and sustain the Installations-Counter small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (I-CsUAS) at domestic and international locations, according to a March 7 Pentagon announcement. Anduril beat out proposals from nine other vendors, the notice states.

As unmanned aircraft become increasingly cheap and prevalent, defending fixed sites has become a critical need, officials said last year. Group 1-3 commercial, off-the-shelf UAS -- smaller systems with a maximum weight of 1,320 pounds -- are of special concern.

Presently, the Marine Corps is using leased counter-drone systems to meet this defensive need ahead of the I-CsUAS program of record. Leased systems had been fielded to five locations as of June 2023, with the addition of a sixth site expected in fiscal year 2025.

Following the award to Anduril, a single I-CsUAS system will be procured for operational assessments, according to FY-25 budget documents.

The actual I-CsUAS fielding timeline seems to be lagging the schedule laid out in the budget books, which predicted the contract would be awarded before the end of FY-24, the operational assessment would occur in the second quarter of FY-25 and initial operational capability would be declared in the third quarter of FY-25.

The service’s latest budget request contains $53 million in procurement and $11 million in research and development funding for the program, though Congress has yet to pass a spending package and is now considering extending stopgap funding patches to span the full fiscal year.

Sikorsky successfully flies 'rotor blown wing' UAS prototype in two different modes
By Dan Schere
March 10, 2025 at 7:30 AM

Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky successfully flew its "rotor blown wing" uncrewed aerial system prototype in both helicopter and airplane modes, the company announced today.

Weighing 115 pounds, the rotor blown wing UAS has a twin proprotor, which takes off in a fashion similar to a helicopter and can then “transition” to horizontal forward flight for “long-endurance missions,” according to the company.

Sikorsky announced in May 2024 that it was conducting flight tests of the UAS to support the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s initiative to develop vertical takeoff and landing UAS that can operate in a variety of weather conditions. The drone can be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, among other applications.

In January, Sikorsky completed more than 40 takeoffs and landings with the aircraft, including 30 transitions between helicopter and airplane modes, according to the company. It reached a cruising speed of 86 knots during its horizontal flight, and wind-tunnel tests provided “validation of the newly developed control laws by correlating them with real-world experimental data.”

Sikorsky Innovations Director Igor Cherepinsky said in a statement that the new control laws were required “for this transition maneuver to work seamlessly and efficiently.”

“The data indicates we can operate from pitching ships decks and unprepared ground when scaled to much larger sizes,” he said.

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
March 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events around Washington this week. Meanwhile, a stopgap continuing resolution is set to expire.

Tuesday

The House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee holds a hearing on U.S. shipbuilding.

The House Appropriations Committee holds a hearing on innovative techniques in military construction.

The Washington Space Business Roundtable hosts a discussion with Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein.

Wednesday

The Senate Armed Services readiness subcommittee holds a hearing on the current readiness of the Joint Force.

Thursday

FedScoop hosts its Federal Forum conference.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion with the commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center on collaborating with Japan.

DefenseOne hosts a discussion on the state of the Navy and Marine Corps.

Friday

The stopgap continuing resolution is set to expire.

House looks to jam Senate with yearlong CR that favors DOD ahead of shutdown deadline
By Tony Bertuca
March 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM

Ahead of a Friday night deadline, the House GOP has proposed a stopgap continuing resolution that would fund the federal government through September, adding about $8 billion for defense and cutting non-defense around $13 billion, while also granting the Pentagon authority to spend money on "new-start" programs.

The bill is opposed by Democrats who say it would cut vital domestic spending and not do enough to boost national security.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who has spent weeks trying to get fiscal hardliners to support a CR, has said he wants to pass the bill as soon as Tuesday, relying on only GOP votes and then adjourning the House. Doing so would “jam” the Senate, where the bill would need 60 votes to pass and is opposed by most Democrats.

Johnson issued a dare to Senate Democrats, saying if they voted against the CR the result would be known as the “Chuck Schumer shutdown,” referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

Johnson, who has the slimmest majority in the history of the House (218 to 214), will need just about every Republican to back the CR.

Meanwhile, Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) called the CR a “slush fund” and said a short-term measure should be enacted beyond the Friday deadline to give bipartisan negotiators more time.

It is also unclear how much support Johnson’s CR has among Senate Republicans.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told Fox News he did not believe the government would shut down but also withheld his support for the House’s CR proposal because it included only modest funding for defense and border security.

“The CR is terrible on defense and the border,” he said. “I want a commitment. We're going to have more money for border and defense before I vote for the CR, but I think we'll keep the government funded. The only thing we need to be shutting down is Iran's nuclear program, not our government.”

Bipartisan lawmakers introduce bill to maintain fighter force structure
By Vanessa Montalbano
March 7, 2025 at 5:55 PM

Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jason Crow (D-CO) on Thursday introduced legislation that would maintain each of the Air Force's fighter squadrons as the service seeks to divest older jets and procure more modern ones.

The "Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act" would establish requirements for future fighter purchases to restore and modernize each of the “39 service-retained, combat-coded fighter squadrons available to the secretary of defense,” according to a news release. It would also give Congress significant oversight into how the Air Force chooses to recapitalize the aging fleet.

In its fiscal year 2025 budget request, the Air Force indicated its fleet would reach 4,903 aircraft -- a historic low -- as the service moves to divest 250 aircraft and procure 99.

A majority of the planned divestments would come from aging aircraft or those the service no longer considers combat capable, including the A-10 Warthog and F-15C Eagle. The idea is to prioritize quality over quantity, former Air Force officials have said, so it can put needed dollars that would have been allocated to sustain older platforms into more viable accounts.

Lawmakers have in recent years turned down efforts to reduce the legacy fleet, arguing it would significantly impact service preparedness. As a result, the Air Force in FY-25 only had enough purchasing power to ask for 60 new stealth fighters -- 18 F-15EX Eagle II jets and 42 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters -- rather than its stated goal of buying at least 72 annually, leaders from the previous administration indicated in the budget proposal.

The government is operating under a continuing resolution until at least next week while lawmakers continue to tease out the details of a final FY-25 spending bill.

If enacted, the legislation would “also prioritizes recapitalization of USAF Active Duty, Guard and Reserve units that are based in the homeland to improve the readiness of our Total Force fighter formations,” the news release stated. “Over the last 30 years, the Air Force fighter force structure has been reduced by nearly 60%, while the average age of fighter aircraft has increased by 200%.”

The FY-24 National Defense Authorization Act included a provision requiring the Air Force secretary to establish a “long-term tactical fighter force structure, recapitalization, training and sustainment plan for the active and reserve components of the Air Force.”

That plan, which is meant to be balanced against operational readiness and accompanying risk, will justify the next 12 years of procurement, divestment and mission reassignments for each unit, according to last year’s NDAA.

“The Department of Defense is simply not buying enough fighters to replace our aging aircraft that must be retired. The Air Force fighter fleet is currently in crisis, which now threatens our ability to project power and defend the skies over our homeland and along our borders,” Bacon and Crow said in a joint statement. “This legislation will stop the decline and stabilize the Air Force fighter force structure across the Active Duty, Guard and Reserve components. The brave men and women that protect the skies over our nation need the best equipment to do the job, and our legislation will give them the tools to do just that.”

The bill, which was introduced to the House Armed Services Committee, was co-sponsored by Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Andy Harris (R-MD), Steny Hoyer (D-RI), John James (R-MI), Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH).

The INSIDER daily digest -- March 7, 2025
By John Liang
March 7, 2025 at 2:38 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Defense Department software procurement, the Space Force's program to augment missile warning from geosynchronous Earth orbit and more.

In a memo issued this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directs "all DOD Components to adopt the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) as the preferred pathway for all software development components of business and weapon system programs in the [Defense] Department":

Pentagon moves to streamline and scale new software procurement

The Defense Department is being directed to adopt special contracting pathways for rapidly acquiring software, according to a new memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Document: Hegseth memo on software

More coverage from this week's AFA Warfare conference in Colorado:

Next Gen OPIR GEO readying for launch this year, needs ULA's Vulcan rocket certified

DENVER -- The first satellites of the Space Force's program to augment missile warning from geosynchronous Earth orbit will be ready to launch this year, a top official said this week, but they will need the United Launch Alliance's rocket to be certified to launch such a mission.

(Read our full AFA Warfare Symposium coverage)

Senior Pentagon acquisition officials have begun implementing changes to the way the department does business in compliance with new executive orders:

DOD launches contracting review, freezes civilian purchase cards to comply with DOGE order

The Defense Department, in compliance with President Trump's executive order implementing the "DOGE" initiative, is reviewing its contracting operations and policies and has suspended civilian government purchase cards typically used to procure items priced at $10,000 or less, according to new memos released by senior Pentagon officials.

Document: DOD memo on contract process review and warrant appointments

 

Document: DOD memo on use of government purchase cards

Elbridge Colby submitted answers to advance policy questions to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week regarding his nomination to be under secretary of defense for policy:

U.S. should stay committed to AUKUS as long as it can meet domestic needs first, senior Pentagon nominee says

As defense policy shifts under the Trump administration, the United States should remain committed to the submarine-focused AUKUS security partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom as long as U.S. industry can build enough attack boats to meet domestic needs first, the nominee for a senior Pentagon post indicated this week.

Document: Colby's USD(P) nomination APQs

The Air Force and the Defense Innovation Unit have selected Zone 5 Technologies and Anduril Industries to move forward in the second phase of the Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV) program, which serves as a testing ground for new military technologies, including highly autonomous, low-cost air-launched munitions:

Air Force advances collaborative autonomy with new low-cost, air-launched munitions

The U.S. military is taking a key step forward in its pursuit of affordable, high-tech weaponry by advancing a new class of precision-guided munitions that can operate collaboratively in real-time, leveraging advanced autonomy and artificial intelligence.

Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein spoke this week at the Reagan National Security Innovation Base Summit in Washington:

Space Force looks to trade legacy systems for new 'protect and defend' capabilities

The Space Force vice chief said Wednesday that the service is reviewing opportunities to divest legacy systems amid a Pentagon-wide effort to reallocate 8% of the fiscal year 2026 budget, though new investments are being eyed for the "protect and defend" mission.

More summit coverage:

DIU official teases new marketplace initiative under 'Blue Manufacturing'

The Defense Innovation Unit is set to launch a digital "marketplace" in the coming weeks where commercial defense technology vendors can seek partners from a group of pre-approved commercial manufacturing companies, enabling the scaled production of their solutions, a DIU official told attendees during the Reagan National Security Innovation Base Summit on Wednesday.

U.S. Transportation Command Commander Gen. Randall Reed testified about his organization before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week:

TRANSCOM commander asks lawmakers to raise limit on foreign, used vessel purchases

The limit on buying used and foreign vessels should be raised even higher, Gen. Randall Reed, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, told lawmakers Wednesday.

Document: TRANSCOM's FY-26 posture statement

AFRL to host industry day on autonomy for air, space, weapons and command and control
By Vanessa Montalbano
March 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM

The Air Force Research Laboratory wants more information from vendors regarding autonomy software, according to a recent industry day announcement, and is planning to host potential partners at its facility in Dayton, OH in May.

“The objective is to align the government-industry community by gathering situational awareness on industry’s readiness to help AFRL develop, prototype and transition autonomy technologies in the current or next epochs,” the notice states. It will also be used to send a signal to companies to help guide where they should direct internal research and development dollars to align with future Air Force needs.

The industry day, which is set to take place May 5-9, is open to traditional and non-traditional defense businesses, academia and any other large or small partners vetted to receive controlled unclassified information. Throughout the week, technical subject matter experts will deliver briefings about the service’s projected autonomy needs and opportunities to enable AI in air, space, weapons and command, control and communications battle management.

This “is a first step toward an overarching goal to accelerate development and transition of autonomy software enabling autonomy systems,” AFRL wrote in the notice. “Autonomy plays a crucial role for scaling our warfighters’ ability to fight with speed, scope, and complexity in pursuit of the DAF’s operational imperatives.”

Army wants to develop an 'airdroppable air vehicle' prototype
By Dan Schere
March 6, 2025 at 4:57 PM

The Army plans to develop an "airdroppable air vehicle" prototype that can operate in anti-access/area-denial environments, according to a government notice posted today.

In A2/AD environments, “traditional forms” of aerial delivery are not possible due to the presence of kinetic and electronic defenses, according to the notice. The Army aims to develop an aerial delivery vehicle that has an increased deployment range from the target, along with improved sensor technology.

Thursday’s notice, a request for project proposals, asks vendors to submit white papers spelling out the “capabilities and willingness of private entities to develop a preliminary Contested Aerial Delivery Development (CADD).”

The white papers, also known as pre-proposals, will be used to conduct system development, testing and evaluation of a preliminary design for the CADD capability, according to the Army.

Among the characteristics the Army is seeking are:

  • The ability to securely transport a payload of at least 250 pounds, with the capability to accommodate payloads of varying shapes and dimensions up to 48 by 96 by 108 inches.
  • Mechanisms to mitigate vibration and shock during flight
  • Demonstration of delivery of payloads with no “significant damage” during five airdrop trials under operational conditions
  • A minimum range of 150 nautical miles verified through flight tests
  • Performance must be maintained at operational altitudes of 5,000 to 15,000 feet above mean sea level.
  • Ability to support release velocities of between 90 and 130 knots.
  • Must demonstrate “sustained flight performance” under wind conditions of between 18 and 25 knots.
  • The system must autonomously stabilize within 90 seconds of release.
  • The sensor kit must be able to operate in temperature ranges of 0 to 40 degrees Celsius and at humidity levels of up to 95% “non-condensing.”

The Army is asking for responses to the RPP by March 20.

The INSIDER daily digest -- March 6, 2025
By John Liang
March 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the U.S. military's global supply chain challenges plus coverage from the Air and Space Forces Association's annual warfare symposium in Colorado and more.

We start out with continuing coverage of the AFA Warfare symposium in Colorado:

Air Force logisticians are racing to solve parts supportability problems after long-term degradation

DENVER -- Global supply chains are not as accessible to the Air Force as they once were, following years of changing foreign policy, inflation and the pandemic, service logisticians told Inside Defense.

Rocket Cargo tests could be coming to Johnston Atoll this year

DENVER -- The Air Force Research Lab's Vanguard program could begin testing this year to prove out whether the service can rapidly deliver military cargo to various points around the globe using rockets.

Analysis of alternatives for the Air Force's next tanker is coming to a close

DENVER -- Most of the work related to the analysis of alternatives for the Air Force's Next Generation Air Refueling System has been submitted to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, a senior Air Force official said today, putting a pin in deliberations which have spanned years.

Space Force updated missile warning TTPs between Iranian airstrikes on Israel

DENVER -- After Iran's missile attack against Israel in April, Space Forces Space revised its missile warning tactics, techniques and procedures, which it was then able to use when Iran launched a second attack in October.

The Defense Innovation Unit has awarded a new contract for its Thunderforge effort:

DIU taps Scale AI for new military planning capability in INDOPACOM, EUCOM

The Pentagon's innovation arm has awarded Scale AI a prototype contract for Thunderforge -- an initiative aimed at integrating artificial intelligence into military planning and wargaming, with plans for initial use by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. European Command.

Coverage from this week's Reagan National Security Innovation Base Summit in Washington:

Wicker challenging White House OMB over proposal to surge Navy shipyard workforces

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) has a lot on his plate this month, amid the upcoming expiration of a stopgap continuing resolution that could shut down the government and the crafting of a $150 billion budget reconciliation proposal that would surge spending on missile defense, ships, munitions and other areas.

Palantir co-founder sees new chances for tech disruptors to unseat big defense primes

Joe Lonsdale, a co-founder of Palantir whose venture capital firm has funded companies like Anduril, Saronic and Epirus, said he believes the political landscape in Washington led by President Trump and Elon Musk will force changes to Pentagon procurement that create a more friendly environment for smaller companies looking to win contracts from large defense primes like Lockheed Martin and RTX.

Marine Corps to hold prepositioning logistics support industry day at Blount Island Command
By Nick Wilson
March 5, 2025 at 3:47 PM

The Marine Corps is preparing to release a draft request for proposals and host a June industry day at its Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, FL to discuss an upcoming need for logistics support for its strategic prepositioning program, according to a government notice posted yesterday.

The Marine Corps Prepositioning Program (MCPP) is a global crisis-response effort intended to rapidly deliver equipment and supplies to geographic combatant commanders when needed, supporting a range of operations from combat to disaster relief. Blount Island Command plays a significant role in this initiative as an equipment storage and distribution site.

“Central to this operational deployment methodology and a major component of the Marine Corps' [strategic prepositioning program] is the requirement for specialized combat-readiness logistics services which are achieved through the MCPP contract located at Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, FL,” the notice states.

During the industry day, scheduled for June 24, attendees will be briefed on management and operating functions the Marine Corps outsources to contractors. The service also plans to post a draft request for proposals on May 19.

The MCPP includes three “functional segments” -- a global prepositioning network, a Norway-based equipment stockpile called the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway; and a maritime prepositioning force equipped with maritime prepositioning ships. These ships rotate through Blount Island Command, where they onload and offload supplies for storage and distribution.

The contractor in question is charged with performing “the full range of sustainment, refurbishment, replenishment and specialized preservation logistics services to ensure the combat readiness of equipment and supplies for long-term storage,” the notice continues. The contractor will also handle the supplies prior to re-distribution.

In 2019, KBRwyle Technology Solutions LLC secured a $530 million award to support Blount Island with prepositioning logistics services, the release notes. Initial work under the award was expected to conclude in May 2024, though the contract included options that, if exercised, would bring its total value up to $949 million and extend work into fiscal year 2027.