The Insider

The Defense Department announced today that a military package worth $250 million would be transferred from U.S. stocks to Ukraine.

The package, which is being funded via Presidential Drawdown Authority, includes:

• AIM-9M missiles for air defense;

• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);

• 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;

• Mine clearing equipment;

• Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;

• Javelin and other anti-armor systems and rockets;

• Hydra-70 Rockets;

• Over three million rounds of small arms ammunition;

• Armored medical treatment vehicles and humvee ambulances;

• Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing; and

• Spare parts, maintenance, and other field equipment.

“This announcement is the Biden administration's forty-fifth tranche of equipment to be provided from DOD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021,” DOD said. “It includes additional air defense and artillery munitions, mine clearing equipment, medical vehicles and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression on the battlefield and protect its people.”

The Pentagon said the package will be funded using previously authorized PDA funds for Ukraine that remained after a revaluation process that concluded in June.

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has coverage of a nascent Pentagon initiative to build "attritable" autonomous weapon systems within the next two years, a new dry combat submersible for special operations forces, the Missile Defense Agency exploring expanding its national missile defense mission beyond North Korea and Iran and more.

The Pentagon's No. 2 civilian gave a major speech this morning on autonomous weapon systems:

DOD reveals new initiative to rapidly mass-produce autonomous weapon systems

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks today unveiled a new Pentagon program called "Replicator" that aims to produce and field thousands of "attritable" autonomous weapon systems within the next 18 to 24 months in a bid to counter China's surging military ambitions with a next-generation arsenal that is "small, smart, cheap and many."

U.S. Special Operations Command's new dry combat submersible achieved initial operational capability this summer, but defense officials are disclosing little about its capabilities:

Dry combat submersible: No wetsuit required

Costing $70 million per hull, U.S. Special Operations Command has fielded a dry combat submersible (DCS) to "complement" current underwater delivery vehicles for transporting special operations forces.

Laura DeSimone, the Missile Defense Agency's executive director, said the Pentagon's policy shop has tasked the agency to consider options for defending against a wider set of nations beyond Iran and North Korea:

MDA tasked to explore missile defense policy shift, brace for 'regional' strikes by Russia, China

The Pentagon is considering expanding current national missile defense policy -- which is focused on threats from North Korea and, should Tehran obtain a long-range nuclear capability, Iran -- to also counter "regional" aggressors, including Russia or China, according to a senior Defense Department official.

The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit has partnered with the Space Safari Program Office of Space Systems Command on tactically responsive space systems:

DOD seeking solutions for tactically responsive space systems

The Defense Department is looking for commercial solutions to develop and demonstrate on-orbit tactically responsive space systems, according to a notice posted yesterday.

An Army official recently discussed the future of robotics in the service:

Army Futures Command official says robots will reduce demand for soldiers

Robots must play a key role in warfare, particularly when it comes to sustainment and creating a “demand reduction” for soldiers, an official with Army Futures Command said Wednesday.

More Army Futures Command news:

Army Futures Command official seeks industry involvement in modernization

The Army will need to work closely with private industry to realize its many modernization goals, especially those requiring emerging technologies, according to a three-star from Army Futures Command.

AeroVironment announced today it plans to acquire Tomahawk Robotics, a maker of artificial intelligence-enabled robotic control systems, for $120 million in a mix of cash and stock.

"The acquisition will enable deeper integration of both companies' technology, leading to enhanced interoperability and interconnectivity of unmanned systems through a singular platform with similar control features," an AeroVironment statement reads. "This will ultimately enable warfighters to operate various connected robotic solutions in the battlefield and share information between multiple domains with one common controller."

Tomahawk Robotics will become part of the small uncrewed aerial systems business unit within AeroVironment's Unmanned Systems segment.

"We intend to retain all of their workforce and existing facilities in Florida," said AeroVironment's CEO and Chairman Wahid Nawabi. “We will support all existing Tomahawk Robotics customers and their products will remain platform agnostic to the market and within the industry. We also plan to introduce Tomahawk Robotics solutions to AeroVironment's growing network of more than 55 allied nations.”

We start off this end of week INSIDER Daily Digest with a look at robots in the Army, the Navy has issued a huge transport helicopter contract, the Pentagon says Ukrainian pilots will be trained in the U.S., and the Army is bolstering its tactical vehicle fleet.

An Army official recently discussed the future of robotics in the service:

Army Futures Command official says robots will reduce demand for soldiers

Robots must play a key role in warfare, particularly when it comes to sustainment and creating a “demand reduction” for soldiers, an official with Army Futures Command said Wednesday.

The Navy’s newest helicopter program is moving into full-rate production:

Sikorsky receives $2.7B contract extension for CH-53K full-rate production

The Navy has awarded Sikorsky a $2.7 billion block-buy contract modification for the production of 35 additional CH-53K helicopters, according to a Thursday announcement, marking the program’s largest order to date as it moves into full-rate production.

A Pentagon spokesman provided details on the training of Ukrainian pilots:

Ukrainian pilots to train on F-16s in U.S.

Ukrainian pilots are coming to the United States next month to begin training to fly F-16 aircraft, according to the Pentagon’s chief spokesman.

The Army has awarded contracts worth over $150 million for new vehicles:

Army announces additional contracts for tactical vehicles

The Army announced two contracts this week for additional tactical vehicles, according to Defense Department announcements.

Ukrainian pilots are coming to the United States next month to begin training to fly F-16 aircraft, according to the Pentagon’s chief spokesman.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said today that “several” Ukrainian pilots and “dozens” of aircraft maintainers will be arriving at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, for English language training in September and will then move to Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, AZ, to train on F-16 jets.

Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have all pledged to donate F-16s to Ukraine.

"The Department of Defense is announcing today that the United States will soon begin training Ukrainians to fly and maintain F-16 fighter aircraft in support of the international effort to develop and strengthen Ukraine's long-term defenses,” Ryder said.

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest begins with the Army acknowledging it has to pull in private industry to meet its modernization goals, a top House Republican wants to revisit the SPACECOM basing decision, a Pentagon innovator says commercial technology is getting a boost from the war in Ukraine, and the Army is launching a software pilot program.

The Army acknowledges it has to pull in private industry to meet its modernization goals:

Army Futures Command’s No. 2 seeks industry involvement in modernization

The Army will need to work closely with private industry to realize its many modernization goals, especially those requiring emerging technologies, according to the deputy chief of Army’s Futures Command.

A top House Republican wants to look at the SPACECOM basing decision:

GAO to review SPACECOM basing process per Rogers’ request

The Government Accountability Office today said it intends to honor the request of House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and review the basing decision process that determined U.S. Space Command should remain in Colorado instead of moving to his home state of Alabama as former President Trump previously announced.

The war in Ukraine may strengthen DOD’s acceptance of commercial technology:

DIU chief seeks to ‘scale’ commercial tech adoption as Congress considers greenlighting $1B portfolio

Doug Beck, the former Apple executive who in April became director of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit, said today that the war in Ukraine is helping the Washington defense establishment reach a “tipping point” when it comes to adopting commercial technology.

The Army is looking to sharpen its buying process regarding software:

Army will conduct pilot programs for software materiel release

In an attempt to increase efficiency in the software acquisition process, the Army said it plans to conduct materiel release pilots on select “software-intensive programs."

The State Department has approved a potential $500 million foreign military sale to Taiwan for F-16 Infrared Search and Track systems, according to a notice from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The proposed sale will improve Taiwan’s “capability to meet current and future threats by contributing to the recipient’s abilities to defend its airspace, provide regional security and increase interoperability with the United States through its F-16 program.”

The Chinese government, which considers Taiwan to be a renegade province, has said it wants its military to be able to implement “reunification” by 2027.

“This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” DSCA said. “The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region.”

Lockheed Martin will be the principal contractor. The total value of the contract will likely be lower at the end of the negotiating process, DSCA notes.

Earlier this month, the White House announced a $345 million military aid package for Taiwan that will rapidly transfer weapons directly from U.S. stocks, though details remain undisclosed.

The possible FMS deal with Taiwan comes amid other F-16 news, namely that the United States and NATO allies have made the final approvals for F-16s donated by Denmark and the Netherlands to begin arriving to train Ukrainian pilots as that nation continues to fight off a Russian invasion.