The Insider

The Army conducted a successful launch of a Precision Strike Missile from an M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System for the first time this month, according to the service and prime contractor Lockheed Martin.

The production qualification test was conducted at White Sands Missile Range, NM on April 10, and demonstrated PrSM’s ability to launch from an M270A2, as well as “engage a target with precision and lethality,” according to an Army press release.

According to the Army, the missile’s performance was “nominal for all parameters” while also demonstrating its lethality and readiness. Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, the program executive officer for missiles & space, called the test “another significant milestone for the PrSM program.”

Increment One of PrSM has a baseline range of 400 km, and Lozano told Inside Defense last month that they were through about half of the eight flight tests scheduled in fiscal year 2025. The Army expects a milestone C decision sometime in July, he said at the time.

During the recent test this month, the missile fired at multiple targets that included a radar and rotary wing platform, according to Lockheed. Carolyn Orzechowski, Lockheed’s vice president of precision fires launchers and missiles, said in a statement this week that the test demonstrates PrSM can work “seamlessly” with the tracked 270A2 launcher, which fires the same munitions as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.

Additionally, the company noted the short-range flight demonstrated PrSM’s ability to “maneuver and maintain accuracy, even under the most stressful conditions.”

“While PrSM's primary mission is long range fires, Lockheed Martin validates accuracy and reliability of the missile even at the shortest distances before we provide it to warfighters,” Orzechowski said.

The Air Force is already looking for ways to upgrade the E-7A Wedgetail, before the first prototypes are even completed, according to a notice posted by the service this week.

The request for information calls for potential “cutting-edge” technologies that could be incorporated onto what the service called an “advanced E-7A,” such as new sensors, communications systems and electronic-warfare defense systems.

Contracts for such upgrades wouldn’t be awarded until at least fiscal year 2027, according to the notice -- about one year before the first Wedgetail prototype is scheduled for delivery.

Boeing is working on the two rapid prototypes of the Wedgetail -- a modified Boeing 737-700 fitted with a Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array sensor from Northrop Grumman -- with the first scheduled for delivery in FY-28, according to previous Defense Department documents.

“The existing E-7A Rapid Prototyping (RP) program is intended as a speed-to-ramp effort to resolve urgent capability gaps existing within the E-3 Sentry fleet,” the notice states. “The Government intentionally did not include emerging new capabilities in the RP effort.”

E-7A is intended as the Air Force’s next Air Moving Target Indicator and battle management, command and control platform, replacing the aging E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System.

Boeing and the Air Force inked a $2.6 billion contract for the two prototypes last year after a protracted negotiation period.

The Air Force will make a production decision next fiscal year on the two “operationally representative” prototypes, and the service expects to buy up to 26 E-7As by FY-32.

Partner nations Australia, Turkey and South Korea each operate variations of the Wedgetail, with deliveries to those countries starting more than a decade ago. Deliveries of the platform to the U.K. are several years delayed.

Lockheed Martin today named 26-year company executive Evan Scott as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective immediately, according to a Lockheed news release.

Scott has previously served as Lockheed’s treasurer and as the CFO in two business areas, including its missiles and fire control unit since January 2024, per his LinkedIn. Scott is succeeding Jay Malave, who “advised the company that he is pursuing other opportunities,” the release states.

"Over his 26 years at Lockheed Martin, Evan has earned the utmost respect as an experienced finance and operations leader, with deep understanding of our business and mission. I am confident he is the right choice to drive our continued growth and lead our finance organization with excellence," James Taiclet, the company’s CEO, said in a statement.

Malave took on oversight of Lockheed Martin’s financial operations in 2022, after serving as the CFO of L3Harris from 2019.

Lockheed Martin will deliver its first-quarter earnings results on April 22. It comes at a moment of interest for investors who will likely want to know the extent to which President Trump’s recent tariff designations are impacting the company’s wallet. Lockheed Martin also recently lost a major bid for the Air Force’s sixth-generation manned fighter to Boeing, potentially putting its future projections in a rocky position.

“James Taiclet and Maria Ricciardone, vice president, treasurer and investor relations, will reaffirm the company's previously issued 2025 guidance,” Lockheed Martin said in the release today, noting their discussion will be “exclusive of the evolving impacts of tariffs and the recent Next Generation Air Dominance announcement.”

Newly confirmed Navy Secretary John Phelan has tapped Brett Seidle to perform the duties of service under secretary, replacing Victor Minella in the role, according to a Tuesday memo.

Seidle has been serving as the acting assistant Navy secretary for research, development and acquisition, and will continue performing this role in addition to his new position.

Minella, who has served in the Navy in various capacities since 1987, has been performing the duties of acting under secretary since Jan. 22. Minella is voluntarily leaving the position and retiring, a Navy spokesperson told Inside Defense.

"I want to thank Mr. Victor Minella for his service performing the duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy. Dr. Brett Seidle will perform these duties until further notice," Phelan wrote in an X post.

The April 15 memo lays out several stipulations for Seidle’s tenure in the roll and retains various authorities for Phelan, who took the helm as Navy secretary a few weeks ago and has cast himself as a business-minded outsider eager to implement acquisition and procedural reforms.

According to the document, Phelan will “reserve the right to exercise any and all of the authorities temporarily reassigned to Dr. Seidle,” and will “retain approval of intelligence, counterintelligence, intelligence-related, special access program and sensitive activity packages.”

In February, President Trump nominated retired Navy Captain and former Virginia Senate candidate Hung Cao to serve as Navy under secretary. The Senate has not yet voted on Cao’s confirmation, and it is unclear when it will do so.

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system and more.

At least one lawmaker thinks the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system should be based in his state:

Congressman's Golden Dome pitch highlights dilemma in new homeland missile defense plans

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) has a message for the Pentagon: When it comes time to install elements of the Trump administration's "Golden Dome for America," Wisconsin is open for business.

The head of the Space Development Agency is back on the job this week:

Tournear resuming role at SDA this week

Derek Tournear will resume his duties as Space Development Agency director on Thursday following a monthslong stint on administrative leave, according to an Air Force spokeswoman.

The recent relocation of Patriot capability from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to U.S. Central Command required 73 C-17 cargo aircraft sorties:

Patriot shift to CENTCOM raises questions about strategic lift, INDOPACOM priority, more

The Pentagon's decision to shift a Patriot missile battalion from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East has drawn fresh scrutiny over U.S. strategic priorities and highlighted the extraordinary burden such redeployments place on both the strategic airlift fleet and Army missile defense forces.

The Government Accountability Office recently released a report on the Defense Department's Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control system:

DOD tells government watchdog of plans to streamline CJADC2

A process is underway to evaluate the extent to which military investments are aligned with and achieving the goals of Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2), and the Pentagon told a government watchdog that data on streamlining the effort will emerge as the review evolves.

Document: GAO report on CJADC2

House Democrats are decrying the Trump administration's announced tariffs -- which currently sit at a minimum 10% rate on the bulk of U.S. imports -- arguing that they impose needless economic pain on U.S. allies and strain military alliances:

Lawmakers, industry brace for tariff impact

Following a chaotic fortnight for international trade, during which President Trump imposed and then partially rescinded wide-ranging tariffs on U.S. trading partners, lawmakers and defense executives alike are trying to make sense of and prepare for the likely effects of these tariffs on their businesses, constituents and international relationships.

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the strategic lift required to transport a Patriot missile battalion from one region to another, plus the Pentagon's Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control program and more.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's top officer told lawmakers recently that the recent relocation of Patriot capability to the U.S. Central Command theater required an eyepopping 73 C-17 cargo aircraft sorties -- a major draw on the Pentagon’s limited strategic lift capacity:

Patriot shift to CENTCOM raises questions about strategic lift, INDOPACOM priority, more

The Pentagon's decision to shift a Patriot missile battalion from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East has drawn fresh scrutiny over U.S. strategic priorities and highlighted the extraordinary burden such redeployments place on both the strategic airlift fleet and Army missile defense forces.

A new Government Accountability Office report recommends the Defense Department "(1) develop a framework for [Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control] that helps guide investments and measures progress; (2) devise a mechanism for sharing lessons learned; and (3) identify and address key challenges in achieving its CJADC2 goals":

DOD tells government watchdog of plans to streamline CJADC2

A process is underway to evaluate the extent to which military investments are aligned with and achieving the goals of Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2), and the Pentagon told a government watchdog that data on streamlining the effort will emerge as the review evolves.

Document: GAO report on CJADC2

Before they left for recess last week, House Democrats decried the Trump administration's announced tariffs -- which currently sit at a minimum 10% rate on the bulk of U.S. imports -- arguing that they impose needless economic pain on U.S. allies and strain military alliances:

Lawmakers, industry brace for tariff impact

Following a chaotic fortnight for international trade, during which President Trump imposed and then partially rescinded wide-ranging tariffs on U.S. trading partners, lawmakers and defense executives alike are trying to make sense of and prepare for the likely effects of these tariffs on their businesses, constituents and international relationships.

A war over Taiwan would cause a 25% downturn in gross domestic product in Asia, which in turn would plunge domestic GDP by 10% to 12% and spike unemployment by seven to 10 points -- causing 500,000 "excess deaths of despair," which is a metric that measures deaths induced by economic decline:

Taiwan conflict would upend economy, hurt U.S. partnerships, INDOPACOM leader says

Adm. Sam Paparo, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, recently warned the Senate Armed Services Committee that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would strike an instant blow to the world economy and deal long-term damage to the web of allies and partners the U.S. has built over the years.

Senior Michigan state officials recently met with the Trump administration's cabinet to discuss several of the state's priorities, including the future of Selfridge Air National Guard Base:

Trump pledges fighters for Selfridge ANG Base after meeting with Michigan governor

President Trump yesterday said he will work with Michigan's bipartisan leadership to keep Selfridge Air National Guard Base "open, strong, thriving" after its fleet of A-10 Warthogs begins to retire in 2026.

The Army has awarded Teledyne FLIR Defense a new, four-year contract to continue upgrading the mounted reconnaissance system on the service's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV), the company announced April 9.

The NBCRV, also known as the M1135 variant of the Stryker Family of Vehicles, hosts a slew of sensors to monitor and provide feedback to soldiers on nuclear, biological and chemical levels on the battlefield.

This latest $74.2 million contract adds to a five-year $168.3 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract Teledyne won in November for low-rate initial production of the upgraded NBCRV sensor suite, with the Army ordering its first delivery at $7.5 million.

“By continuing to enhance sensor capabilities on NBCRV, we can help ensure future warriors will be ready to detect and respond effectively to a wide range of deadly agents,” Dr. JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense, said in a statement. “We’re proud to expand our support on this vital U.S. Army program and to know that our drone, remote sensing, and integrated solutions are playing a major role to improve standoff and situational awareness.”

As lead integrator, Teledyne will use the latest contract to fund three initiatives: a new, “expanded” sensor suite design, the delivery of six prototypes to the Army and “government testing,” according to the release.

Some of the upgrades to the NBRCV sensor suite include integrating Teledyne’s R80D SkyRaider drone, equipped with the vender’s MUVE B330, a sensor added to unmanned aerial systems for continuous biological threat monitoring. The company has also created a command-and-control system to centralize the information collected from the NBCRV’s devices and sensors, according to the release.

The new NBCRV will also be the first of many Army vehicles to integrate the Vehicle Integrated Platform Enhanced Radiation (VIPER) system, a radiation-detection capability designed to alert crews and commanders of nuclear exposure inside the vehicle and in the battlefield environment they’re driving through. The Army put out a market survey for the capability April 9.

NBCRV upgrade work will go on through 2028 at Teledyne facilities in Stillwater, OK, Elkridge, MD and Tucson, AZ.