The Insider

Inside the Army highlights
By Courtney McBride
April 9, 2018 at 8:42 AM

Some must-reads from this week's edition of Inside the Army:

1. The Army Rapid Capabilities Office, established in August 2016 with a mandate to close critical gaps on an accelerated basis, is moving inside the traditional acquisition process.

Full story: As RCO transitions to a program executive office, Army seeks flexibility

2. Army senior leaders expect to make cuts to existing programs in order to fund their ambitious modernization objectives over six priority areas, according to the service secretary.

Full story: Esper: 'We know we need to trim programs' to fund modernization

3. HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Funding instability has led to a slight schedule slip in requirements development for the first Future Vertical Lift aircraft, but the Army aims to regain ground where possible, according to the TRADOC capability manager for FVL.

Full story: TCM FVL: CS 3 AOA is behind schedule; should still hit milestone A target

4. The Army's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle procurement schedule has been extended by one year and is now slated to close in fiscal year 2036, as cited in a summary of the Defense Department's December 2017 Selected Acquisition Reports released April 3.

Full story: JLTV procurement stretched by one year

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
April 9, 2018 at 5:00 AM

The week ahead will be driven by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' appearance on Capitol Hill, but it is also packed with other congressional hearings and Washington-area defense conferences.

Monday

The Navy League's annual Sea-Air-Space conference begins at National Harbor, MD, and runs through Wednesday.

New America hosts its Future of War Conference in Washington featuring several senior Pentagon officials.

Tuesday

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on U.S. Transportation Command.

The National Defense Industrial Association hosts a conference on ground robotics.

Wednesday

The House Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on U.S. cyber operations with former government officials.

The House Armed Service emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee holds a hearing on U.S. cyber policy with government officials.

The Senate Armed Services emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee holds a hearing on U.S. Special Operations Command transformation challenges.

The Senate Armed Services readiness subcommittee holds a hearing on the health of the defense industrial base.

The Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee holds a hearing on U.S. nuclear policy and strategy.

The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee holds a hearing on the Missile Defense Agency's FY-19 budget request.

The National Defense Industrial Association holds its annual Missile Defense Day on Capitol Hill.

The Association of the United States Army hosts a discussion on the Close Combat Lethality Task Force, featuring Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Robert Wilkie.

The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments holds an event on nuclear programs.

Thursday

The House Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the fiscal year 2019 budget with Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Joseph Dunford.

The House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee holds a hearing on combat aviation readiness.

The House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee holds a hearing on delivering a 355-ship Navy.

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the Army's FY-19 budget request.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies holds an event on maritime challenges in Northern Europe.

The Hudson Institute holds an event on Defense Department cloud computing.

The Heritage Foundation holds an event on the Coast Guard.

Friday

The House Armed Services personnel subcommittee holds a hearing on military personnel.

The Hudson Institute holds and event on great power competition.

DOT&E releases memo on procedures for cybersecurity in acquisition programs
By John Liang
April 6, 2018 at 3:32 PM

The Pentagon's operational test and evaluation director has issued a memo that "provides policies and procedures for the test and evaluation of cybersecurity as part of all operational test and evaluation (OT&E) of systems and capabilities in the Department of Defense."

The April 4, 2018 memo states:

The purpose of testing cybersecurity during OT&E is to assess the ability of the system to enable operators to execute critical missions and tasks in the expected operational environment. DOT&E will consider adherence to the guidance contained in this memorandum and cited references when reviewing and assessing the adequacy of cybersecurity in all operational tests.

Read the full memo here.

The INSIDER daily digest -- April 6, 2018
By John Liang
April 6, 2018 at 1:18 PM

Army Futures Command, cost overruns for the Navy's Advanced Arresting Gear program, a slew of Air Force news and more highlight this Friday INSIDER Daily Digest.

Continued coverage of the recent AUSA Global Force Symposium:

Perna: Army Futures Command the right home for RDECOM

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The formation of Army Futures Command will enable the three existing major commands to focus on their core missions, according to the head of Army Materiel Command.

The Navy's Advanced Arresting Gear program will cost more:

Navy reports cost growth in AAG program, new $2.2B target reflects CAPE estimate

The Advanced Arresting Gear program -- a new technology critical to the Navy's next-generation aircraft carrier -- will cost 10 percent more than expected to develop and deliver to the fleet.

The Marine Corps wants new parachute systems:

Marine Corps insists new parachute is needed, rejects legacy and Army systems

In a new report to Congress, the Navy Secretary rejected the notion that legacy Marine Corps and Army parachute systems will satisfy the service's requirements, and defended the Navy's testing strategy of its new system, according to documents viewed by Inside the Navy.

Boeing this week hosted reporters at its St. Louis facility:

Boeing submits Block III Super Hornet for Indian navy fighter competition

ST. LOUIS -- Boeing has pitched its Block III F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to the Indian navy and is prepared to build a facility in the country to comply with the prime minister's "Make In India" initiative, according to a company executive.

Boeing unveils MQ-25 prototype, teams with Rolls Royce for engine

ST. LOUIS -- After years of development, Boeing unveiled its prototype for the Navy's MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker competition and revealed the air vehicle uses the same engine as the RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-4C Triton.

More unmanned systems news:

Air Force to increasingly rely on MQ-9, speed upgrades amid mixed test findings

The Air Force is defending the performance of its MQ-9 Reaper following a fiscal year 2017 report by the director of operational test and evaluation that showed the remotely piloted aircraft still faces radar system deficiencies.

More news from this week's issue of Inside the Air Force:

Six prototype programs to advance aircraft, EW pod, GBSD technologies

The Air Force's acquisition chief recently notified lawmakers of progress made on six prototyping programs during the second half of 2017, according to a March 24 letter Inside the Air Force reviewed this week.

Air Force laying groundwork for E-4B recapitalization AOA later this year

As the Air Force overhauls its nuclear command, control and communications enterprise, an analysis of alternatives starting later this year will explore how to jointly replace the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center and the Navy's smaller E-6B.

Air Force awards new JDAM contract as program spending soars

The Air Force increased Boeing's contract for the Joint Direct Attack Munition program by $311.8 million, the Defense Department said April 2.

Gorgon Stare to receive BLOS upgrades while Air Force explores replacement

Gorgon Stare, the Air Force's sensor program of record for wide-area motion imagery mounted on MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft, will receive a limited slate of upgrades in the near future but isn't currently expected to grow across the Reaper fleet, the service recently reported to Congress.

The Army's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle procurement schedule will conclude a year later than planned:

JLTV procurement stretched by one year

The Army's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle procurement schedule has been extended by one year and is now slated to close in fiscal year 2036, as cited in a summary of the Defense Department's December 2017 Selected Acquisition Reports released April 3.

The Defense Department is still figuring out how to implement the president's order to deploy National Guard troops to the southern border:

Pentagon scrambles to stand up new border security cell to support Trump's strategy

The Pentagon has established a new team to determine how it can support President Trump's order to send National Guard troops to the southern border and expand military assistance to the Department of Homeland Security.

Inside the Air Force highlights
By Rachel Cohen
April 6, 2018 at 10:10 AM

Some must-reads from this week's issue of Inside the Air Force:

1. The Air Force is defending the performance of its MQ-9 Reaper following a fiscal year 2017 report by the director of operational test and evaluation that showed the remotely piloted aircraft still faces radar system deficiencies.

Full story: USAF to increasingly rely on MQ-9, speed upgrades amid mixed test findings

2. Five Air Force procurement programs saw cost swings of more than $1 billion over the last year, and 24 of the service's systems shrank by $2.5 billion in aggregate, the Defense Department said this week.

Full story: DOD finds cost of two dozen Air Force programs shrank by $2.5 billion

3. The Air Force's acquisition chief recently notified lawmakers of progress made on six prototyping programs during the second half of 2017, according to a March 24 letter Inside the Air Force reviewed this week.

Full story: Six prototype programs to advance aircraft, EW pod, GBSD technologies

4. U.S. Strategic Command expects to achieve initial operational capability this year for a new Satellite Communications Integrated Operations Environment that will bring together key capabilities and expertise from across the Defense Department.

Full story: STRATCOM, services stand up joint SATCOM operations floor

Thunderbirds pilot dies in crash
By Rachel Cohen
April 5, 2018 at 5:52 PM

One Thunderbirds pilot died April 4 when his F-16 fighter jet crashed during a routine aerial demonstration training flight at the Nevada Test and Training Range, according to the Air Force.

The service will investigate the incident, the latest of multiple military aircraft crashes this week.

"It is unknown how this accident will impact the remainder of the 2018 Thunderbirds season," the Air Force said April 4.

The NTTR, hosted at Nellis Air Force Base, also saw two crashes last fall, including one fatal incident in an undisclosed aircraft and another where two A-10s crashed during training with no casualties.

State Department approves $1.3B howitzer sale to Saudi Arabia
By Tony Bertuca
April 5, 2018 at 4:55 PM

A potential deal to sell 180 Paladin howitzer systems to Saudi Arabia for $1.3 billion has been approved by the State Department, according to a notice from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The foreign military sale would involve selling 180 155 mm M109A5/A6 medium self-propelled howitzer structures for conversion to 177 M109A6 Paladin howitzer systems, DSCA states.

The sale would also include other associated equipment and support services.

There is no prime contractor at this time, according to DSCA.

"This sale will increase the Royal Saudi Land Force's (RSLF) interoperability with U.S. forces and conveys U.S. commitment to Saudi Arabia's security and armed forces modernization," DSCA states. "The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to meet current and future threats and provide greater security for its border regions and critical infrastructure. The RSLF currently has M109A2, A3 and A5 howitzers in its inventory. These additional modernized howitzers will enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to support its deployed forces and defend its borders."

The State Department also approved $1 billion in possible foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia last month. The announcements coincide with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the United States.

The Saudi military has faced criticism for its conduct in Yemen's civil war and American lawmakers last month unsuccessfully tried to end U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition.

Kratos opens new facility in Australia
By John Liang
April 5, 2018 at 4:39 PM

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions said Thursday it has opened a new facility in Australia to support that government's military unmanned aerial systems efforts.

The new facility is located in New South Wales near the Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross and will be the "center" of Kratos' emerging Australian defense business, according to a company statement.

While Kratos says it is "initially focused on Unmanned Aerial System tactical/target and range support system opportunities," the company "has identified opportunities in the country for each of its five divisions."

Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne attended the opening, saying: "Using aerial target systems enables the [Australian Defence Force] to undertake specialized training effectively and efficiently, using realistic scenarios that ensure our personnel have the skills needed to respond to any threats."

Payne added that the Australian government is investing $200 billion Australian (about US$153.6 billion) in the country's defense capability "over the next decade to ensure the ADF is equipped to succeed in our challenging strategic environment."

Kratos President and CEO Eric DeMarco said in the statement: "I am excited to be expanding our international footprint and leveraging the (approximate) $85 million in investments we have made to develop and field a suite of high performance UAS which provide ideal solutions for both the U.S. DOD and many foreign defense agencies. Today's announcement of our Australian facility opening demonstrates continued commitment and successful execution of our business plan to be the global leader in high performance jet UAS."

Germany cleared to buy $2.5 billion in U.S. drones
By Tony Bertuca
April 5, 2018 at 4:37 PM

The State Department has approved a potential $2.5 billion foreign military sale of four MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems to Germany, according to an announcement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Along with the four Triton systems, the sale would include one mission control station, one main operating base, one forward operating base and other associated equipment and support services.

The prime U.S. contractor, Northrop Grumman, would be responsible for integration, installation and functional platform compatibility testing, while Airbus Defence and Space, located in Germany, would be in charge of development, manufacturing, testing and installation.

"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political and economic stability in Europe," DCSA states. "Germany is one of the major political and economic powers in Europe and NATO and a key partner of the United States in ensuring global peace and stability. The proposed sale of the MQ-4C Triton will support legitimate national security requirements and significantly enhance Germany's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and the overall collective security of the European Union and NATO."

The INSIDER daily digest -- April 5, 2018
By John Liang
April 5, 2018 at 2:11 PM

Army modernization, the Defense Department's new chief information officer, satellite communications and more highlight this Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest.

The Army's top civilian official spoke at a Heritage Institute event this morning:

Esper: 'We know we need to trim programs' to fund modernization priorities

Army senior leaders expect to make cuts to existing programs in order to fund their ambitious modernization objectives over six priority areas, according to the service secretary.

During her weekly press briefing today, Pentagon chief spokeswoman Dana White confirmed Dana Deasy's appointment as DOD CIO:

Pentagon bringing on executive known for JPMorgan cloud push

The Pentagon is enlisting Dana Deasy, a longtime corporate executive known for pushing large companies to embrace innovation, to tackle some of the Defense Department's most pressing technology challenges, including cloud computing.

The new operations floor is intended to bring together SATCOM capabilities from across the department into one new facility that will support each of the services and combatant commands:

STRATCOM, services stand up joint SATCOM operations floor

U.S. Strategic Command expects to achieve initial operational capability this year for a new Satellite Communications Integrated Operations Environment that will bring together key capabilities and expertise from across the Defense Department.

On March 8, the Defense Department launched a mobility capability and requirements study as directed by the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act:

TRANSCOM, AMC affirm DOD is conducting a single mobility study -- not two

U.S. Transportation Command and the Office of the Secretary of Defense are conducting only one major mobility study in 2018 with no plans for a second mobility study to launch -- heel-to-toe -- in 2019, as comments by a senior Air Force official last year suggested.

The Air Force's KC-46 tanker program achieved a new FAA certification milestone recently:

Two KC-46 tankers complete new refueling test in FAA certification process

A Boeing KC-46 again successfully refueled a second KC-46 to meet another certification milestone for fuel on-load testing, the company announced this week.

A recent contract for the Air Force's Cobra Dane program is under protest:

BAE protests Air Force's $511 million Cobra Dane radar award to Raytheon

BAE Systems this week filed a bid protest with the Government Accountability Office, arguing it is better qualified than Raytheon to serve as the operations and sustainment contractor for the Air Force's Cobra Dane radar system.

The Navy is working to make sure the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet keeps pace with the Joint Strike Fighter:

Five engineering changes give Super Hornet Block III ability to keep pace with F-35

The Navy has locked in new design changes for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to give the twin-engine fighter improved situational awareness, increased survivability and extended range -- upgrades that allow the fourth-generation weapon system to keep pace with next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

A breakdown of the Air Force programs included in the Pentagon's latest Selected Acquisition Reports:

DOD finds cost of two dozen Air Force programs shrank by $2.5 billion in latest SAR

Five Air Force procurement programs saw cost swings of more than $1 billion over the last year, and 24 of the service's systems shrank by $2.5 billion in aggregate, the Defense Department said this week.

The only company on the West Coast capable of designing, building and repairing naval vessels has some ideas on how to make dry-docking more efficient:

NASSCO recommends efficiencies to speed up surface ship maintenance

SAN DIEGO -- General Dynamics NASSCO, the only design, new-construction and ship-repair facility on the West Coast, is recommending various efficiencies to the Navy for getting vessels out of dry-docking availabilities faster.

DOD IG gives high marks for Next Gen Jammer program
By Justin Katz
April 5, 2018 at 11:38 AM

A new report by the Defense Department inspector general gave Naval Air Systems Command a positive review on its Next Generation Jammer program.

The IG assessed whether NAVAIR "adequately planned and performed a technology readiness assessment of the critical technologies for the Next Generation Jammer program before it progressed into the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the acquisition," the report said.

The NGJ is an aircraft-mounted, tactical jamming system that will replace technology from the 1970s. The report found that NAVAIR performed well, and did not make any recommendations.

Four Marines killed in CH-53E crash
By Justin Katz
April 5, 2018 at 9:59 AM

Four Marines from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing were killed in El Centro, CA, on Tuesday as a result of a CH-53E Super Stallion crash, the service announced yesterday.

"The aircraft departed the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, to conduct squadron training consisting of aircraft landings in unimproved zones," a Marine Corps statement said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Inside the Pentagon highlights
By Tony Bertuca
April 5, 2018 at 9:52 AM

Some must-reads from this week's edition of Inside the Pentagon:

1. The estimated cost for the Pentagon's major weapon system acquisition portfolio grew by $177 billion, or more than 10 percent, over the last year, swelling from $1.7 trillion to $1.9 trillion.

Full story: Estimated cost of DOD's big-ticket acquisition portfolio grows by $177B

2. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis hosted a group of defense company executives at the Pentagon on Tuesday and has an additional meeting scheduled for Thursday to discuss the Defense Department's key priorities, including the security of classified information, Inside Defense has learned.

Full story: Mattis meeting with defense company executives to discuss priorities

3. Senior Defense Department officials are calling on industry to better protect their supply chains from cyber threats, but uncertainty surrounding DOD's implementation of stringent network security requirements has companies wondering how the department will enforce compliance moving forward.

Full story: Contractors wonder how DOD will enforce supply chain security rules

Trump sending National Guard to southern border
By Tony Bertuca
April 4, 2018 at 5:12 PM

President Trump will sign a proclamation today that immediately deploys National Guard troops to secure the southern border with Mexico, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

Nielsen said the White House would coordinate with state governors and the Defense Department. She said she was unable to provide further details on the size, cost or timeline of the effort because it had only just begun.

"We hope to have the path forward very much specified in the near future," she said.

Nielsen also said DOD was considering building walls at military installations near the border. She added that Trump has been "frustrated" by Congress thus far in his effort to build a wall on the southern border.

DOD did not respond to a request for comment.

Nielsen said the administration does not yet know the cost of the deployment, but compared it to Operation Jump Start under former President George W. Bush, which cost $1.6 billion and involved approximately 6,000 guard troops.

Two White House officials said during a phone call with reporters that final plans were still in development regarding the role of National Guard troops.

The officials said troops could be deployed to the border "very quickly."

Leadership changes planned for Army modernization cross-functional teams
By Courtney McBride
April 4, 2018 at 5:08 PM

The Army today announced a slew of new assignments for one- and two-star generals and one promotable colonel.

Among those changing billets are leaders of some of the eight cross-functional teams pursuing senior leaders' modernization priorities.

Brig. Gen. Christopher “C.D.” Donahue, who is dual-hatted as commandant of the infantry school at Ft. Benning, GA, and director of the Soldier Lethality CFT, will become deputy director for special operations and counterterrorism (J-3) on the Joint Staff.

He will be succeeded in both roles by Brig. Gen. David Hodne, who currently serves as deputy commanding general (maneuver) of the 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Carson, CO.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Maranian, commandant of the field artillery school at Ft. Sill, OK, and director of the Long Range Precision Fires CFT, is slated to become deputy commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division (Combined), Eighth Army, in South Korea.

The Next Generation Combat Vehicle CFT will get a new director in Brig. Gen. Richard Coffman, now the deputy commanding general (maneuver) of the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, KS.

The NGCV CFT is currently led by Brig. Gen. Dave Lesperance, commandant of the Armor School at Ft. Benning.

Maj. Gen. Pete Gallagher, director of the Network CFT, told reporters last week he is no longer dual-hatted. His prior position, director of architecture, operations, networks and space in the office of the CIO/G-6, will be filled by Brig. Gen. David Isaacson.

Kevin Coggins, who had led the assured position, navigation and timing CFT, left his position Feb. 28 and retired from government service. He was succeeded by Willie Nelson.