The Insider

JAGM successfully launches from canister-based launcher
By Dan Schere
October 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM

The Joint Air-to-Ground Missile successfully integrated with a cannister-based launcher, known as the JAGM Quad Launcher (JQL) during a ground-based demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ in late August, prime contractor Lockheed Martin announced today.

During the Aug. 28 demonstration, the JAGM was shot from a quad launcher positioned at a 45-degree angle and the shot directly hit a “stationary ground target,” according to Lockheed. The launch enabled data collection for the JAGM’s ignition, launch and flight, the company said in a news release.

Casey Walsh, Lockheed’s program management director of Multidomain Missile Systems, said in a statement that “this pivotal milestone showcases the versatility and adaptability of JAGM to provide a robust defense capability for multiple mission scenarios.”

“By driving progress in areas like vertical launch and counter-UAS capabilities with JAGM, we're helping to ensure that our users have the tools they need to stay innovative and ahead of emerging threats,” he said.

Walsh, speaking to reporters last week ahead of the Association of the United States Army Conference, said the Yuma demonstration shows that JAGM is moving into a role where it can be utilized in a “360-degree defense” capability.

The JAGM is expected to eventually be used in Navy surface vehicles against unmanned surface vehicles, and it was also recently used in a counter UAS demonstration by the Army when the missile was fired from an Apache helicopter, Walsh said.

“Primarily right now, these munitions can be used off of Apaches in attack battalions with the Army. This is a new market space for the JAGM in vertical launched missile defense,” he said.

Walsh added that the JAGM’s counter UAS capability using a dual mode seeker head has been demonstrated a few times. Lockheed plans to conduct more vertical launch live fire demonstrations, including one in November.

“This first demonstration, [with] a 45-degree shot, is paving the way for future software updates and adjustments to optimize our JAGM for a vertical launch scenario, and for those new targets that are big threats in our services right now in counter UAS,” he said.

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
October 13, 2025 at 5:00 AM

The Association of the United States Army hosts its annual convention in Washington this week.

Monday

The Association of the United States Army hosts its annual convention in Washington. The event runs through Wednesday.

The INSIDER daily digest -- October 10, 2025
By John Liang
October 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Senate hearing that considered the nomination of the next Air Force chief of staff, plus early coverage of next week's AUSA conference and more.

We start off with coverage of retired Air Force Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach's testimony to Capitol Hill regarding his nomination to be the service's top uniformed officer:

Wilsbach: Pentagon-level test and evaluation needs to 'support, not hinder' service efforts

The Pentagon's operational test and evaluation office should only play an advisory role to the services without having the power to mandate testing structures, said retired Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, President Trump's nominee for Air Force chief of staff.

Air Force readiness, maintenance accounts would take priority under Wilsbach

Solving staggering readiness and parts availability issues should be pushed to the forefront of the Air Force's program planning and budgeting activities, according to service chief of staff nominee and retired Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach.

Compass Call facing 10 months of 'risk,' CSAF nominee says

While anticipating the delivery of two more EA-37B Compass Call aircraft by the end of the year, the delivery of the next slate of the electronic warfare aircraft "is at risk by 10 months," according to retired Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, the Air Force chief of staff nominee.

Document: Wilsbach nomination hearing testimony

We also have a preview of next week's AUSA Conference:

Right to repair or not, Army already has the tools to fix its tactical vehicles, Mack Defense CEO says

While the Army wants more technical data access from manufacturers under its Common Tactical Truck (CTT) program, Mack Defense President and CEO David Hartzell says the service already has what it needs to maintain the tactical vehicles it has.

AM General bets on reimagined 105mm mobile artillery to win Pentagon interest at AUSA

AM General will arrive at next week's Association of the U.S. Army conference with a fresh pitch to the Pentagon: a reimagined version of its Hawkeye mobile artillery system that it says is lighter, faster and deadlier than before.

(Follow our AUSA coverage.)

Since the Army's transformation initiative was announced, the service has been zeroing in on Red River Army Depot as a facility that could potentially be repurposed through a public-private partnership:

Army moving forward on private-sector involvement for Red River with CSO

With a new solicitation issued today, the Army is signaling it plans to competitively procure "innovative commercial items, technologies and services" at Red River Army Depot, TX through a commercial solutions opening, or CSO.

Document: Army's RRAD 'innovative commercial items' solicitation

Document: SkyFoundry Act of 2025

Navy postpones new missile program industry day
By Abby Shepherd
October 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM

The Navy has postponed its upcoming industry day for a new missile program due to the ongoing government shutdown.

The Naval Modular Missile industry day, originally set for Oct. 21-22, is now postponed to an unknown date.

“We recognize the importance of this event to our industry partners and apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause,” a government notice states.

Naval Sea Systems Command and the program executive office for integrated warfare systems “remain committed to providing industry with the opportunity to learn more about the NMM program, its acquisition strategy, and collaboration opportunities once the event is rescheduled,” the announcement adds.

According to the initial notice, NMM will include long-range hypersonic variant and scalable configurations, multiple weapons in a single launcher cell, and will be created through a collaborative approach with the U.S. Air Force to begin an open government-reference architecture.

The announcement today follows another earlier this week -- the postponement of an industry day for the development of a new Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile variant.

Senate passes defense policy bill to conference with House
By Tony Bertuca
October 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM

Despite the ongoing federal shutdown, the Senate voted 77-20 tonight to pass the annual defense authorization bill, teeing the legislation up to be conferenced with the House.

The bill has been stalled on the floor for weeks but Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) announced a breakthrough on allowing votes for nearly 20 amendments.

Among the more noteworthy votes of the night was the voice-vote passage of an amendment authored by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would repeal the 2002 Iraq War authorization for the use of military force, along with the 1991 Gulf War AUMF.

“The 1991 and 2002 AUMFs are obsolete," Kaine said in a statement. "Iraq is now a strategic partner, and leaving these AUMFs on the books runs the risk of potential misuse by presidents of both parties. Today’s vote is significant because Congress is finally reaffirming its solemn constitutional responsibility in decisions as important as whether or not we should send servicemembers into harm’s way."

Lawmakers, however, clashed over partisan stances on President Trump’s recent deployment of the military to U.S. cities.

Senators rejected by a party-line vote an amendment from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) that would have limited armed forces' support to civilian law enforcement operations.

Lawmakers also rejected an amendment from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) that would have blocked deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities if their presence is opposed by local officials.

Duckworth released a statement, however, saying she had received assurance from Wicker that the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on Trump’s deployments of the National Guard.

Meanwhile, a federal judge in Chicago on Thursday issued a ruling blocking Trump’s planned deployment of Guard troops in Illinois. A similar ruling has also blocked the deployment of Guards troops to Portland. The administration is appealing.

Senators also rejected an amendment from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that would have prohibited the use of federal funds to procure or modify foreign aircraft for presidential airlift. The amendment was related to Qatar’s controversial gift of a jet to President Trump to be used as Air Force one.

Conference negotiations are expected to soon begin with the House in the hopes of passing a final bill sometime in November.

When lawmakers form a conference committee, they will need to address their level of authorized defense spending as the Senate’s bill is more than $30 billion more than the House’s version.

Both bills also contain significant acquisition reform measures that enjoy bipartisan support and come as the Pentagon is preparing to advance its own procurement reform agenda.

The INSIDER daily digest -- October 9, 2025
By John Liang
October 9, 2025 at 1:39 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's Integrated Battle Command System, plus shipyards, the Army's governance model for managing the organic industrial base and more.

Northrop Grumman has some ideas regarding the Army's Integrated Battle Command System:

Northrop pitching lighter, more mobile IBCS in response to Army calls for 'adaptive' variants

Northrop Grumman executives are sketching a vision of the Army's Integrated Battle Command System stripped from its tented command posts and packed onto light vehicles, vans or even civilian buildings -- a response to the Army's recent solicitation for an "adaptive" version of its flagship air and missile defense network.

The Pay Our Public Shipyard Workers Act -- a bipartisan bill introduced Oct. 3 by Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) would ensure that funding is appropriated for public shipyard worker pay at four shipyards spread across the country:

Bipartisan bill would protect pay for public shipyard workers despite government shutdown

A new bill aims to protect pay for public shipyard workers, amid an ongoing government shutdown and subsequent uncertainty surrounding pay for the civilian and military workforce.

When the Army Transformation Initiative was rolled out May 1 at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, multiple members of Congress raised questions during a series of hearings over the summer about whether a proposal to “review and consolidate operations” at depots and arsenals would result in massive cuts to sites in Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama and Texas:

Cotton says Army's governance model for OIB needs to change

The Army's governance model for managing the organic industrial base is in need of reform in order to reduce inefficiencies and put the United States on the path to better solving its munitions shortfall, says Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR).

General Dynamics Land Systems is in the news:

Epirus, GDLS team up once again to make high-power microwave capabilities mobile

Defense startup Epirus and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) unveiled their joint mobile counter-drone capability today, marking the second system on which the defense technology vendors have teamed up to make that gives high-power microwave platforms mobility.

GDLS throws hat in the ring for new Army robotic vehicle program

General Dynamics Land Systems has replied to the Army's call for industry interest in a new robotic vehicle development project months after the service squashed its Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program under the Army Transformation Initiative.

Wilsbach falls short of promising to follow lawmakers' reconciliation bill intent
By Vanessa Montalbano
October 9, 2025 at 12:06 PM

President Trump's nominee to be the next Air Force chief of staff, recently retired Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, said today he would aim to follow congressional intent when doling out funds from the reconciliation bill but declined to fully commit to those guidelines.

“I will carry out funding in accordance with the law, and I will strive to do my best,” Wilsbach said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today to consider his nomination to be the Air Force’s top officer.

Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) asked Wilsbach if he would carry out congressional intent for the boost in funds, even though most of that money isn’t legally bound by Congress’ suggestions.

In July, the congressional defense committees sent guidance tables to the Pentagon to help inform how DOD will spend the $150 billion it was appropriated as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill.

The 12-page document covers numerous areas, including missile defense, shipbuilding, munitions, unmanned drones, industrial base support and more.

“That’s not an explicit answer, is it?” Wicker said in response to Wilsbach.

“No,” Wilsbach said, “but I definitely will follow the law.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Wilsbach will be reinstated as a general and replace Gen. David Allvin, who plans to retire near the beginning of November.

Navy postpones NATO Sea Sparrow industry day, citing shutdown
By Nick Wilson
October 9, 2025 at 11:19 AM

The government shutdown has prompted the Navy to postpone an industry day focused on the development of a new Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile variant for the United States and international partners.

Originally scheduled for Oct. 14, the industry day is now postponed indefinitely, according to a service announcement. The delay is one of the first outward signs of disruption within the Navy resulting from the now nine-day-old government shutdown.

The Pentagon says it is continuing most acquisition activities in the early days of the shutdown and has outlined priority areas including critical munitions, shipbuilding, depot maintenance and Golden Dome in addition to Middle East and U.S. southern border operations.

The Navy and the NATO Sea Sparrow Project Office are interested in developing a “Next Significant Variant” to serve as a successor to the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Block II to counter current and future threats.

The NATO Sea Sparrow Project Office, a joint international effort consisting of 12 nations, was launched in 1968 to collaboratively develop, sustain and upgrade interoperable defensive capabilities to counter anti-ship threats.

Muon Space awarded $44.6M for weather-monitoring satellite prototypes
By Shelley K. Mesch
October 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM

The Space Force has awarded Muon Space $44.6 million to develop and build a space-based environmental monitoring prototype that can assist mission planners while also being used as wildfire detection.

The demonstration is paid for through the Phase III Small Business Innovation Research Other Transaction Authority and will build upon Muon’s existing, commercial technology, according to a Space Systems Command announcement.

SSC System Delta 810, which manages space-based sensing and targeting, will work with Muon to “mature and integrate” the technology from the company’s commercial FireSat prototype into a new set of three dual-use satellites. The program hopes to build upon the Space Force’s goal to contract commercial environmental monitoring through a data-as-a-service model, SSC said.

“SSC is focused on accelerating the delivery of cutting-edge capabilities to our Guardians and warfighters,” said Andy Betz, SYD 810 chief of advanced programs. “This Phase III award exemplifies our commitment to fully implement the U.S. Space Force’s Commercial Space Strategy and take advantage of the speed, innovation and capabilities offered by the commercial sector. Through these efforts, we will both create strategic advantages and support Combatant Commander objectives.”

Muon’s FireSat Protoflight satellite launched in March in partnership with the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance with three operational satellites planned to launch next year, according to the company. The multispectral infrared imaging payload can operate as a thermal sensor to detect and track wildfires.

The Space Force satellites will build upon that payload -- called Quickbeam -- to add additional spectral beams, according to SSC. The advanced payload would be able to collect “critical information for global terrestrial cloud forecasting, theater weather imagery data, and actionable environmental surveillance to support timely military operations, planning and execution,” Betz said.

That technology gets at the Joint Requirements Oversight Council’s priorities for cloud characterization and theater weather imagery, Muon noted. SSC said the data would be used for planning flights, ship routing, satellite launches and air and ground operations.

"This mission demonstrates the power of dual-use design -- we're not just adapting existing technology, we're creating a platform that excels at both missions simultaneously," said Muon Space CEO Jonny Dyer. "By building on our commercial FireSat foundation, we can deliver operational value immediately while proving scalability for future defense missions. We're honored to continue our partnership with Space Systems Command to help ensure environmental data is accessible when and where it matters most -- supporting faster decisions in dynamic, high-stakes conditions."

The INSIDER daily digest -- October 8, 2025
By John Liang
October 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a recent Army cruise missile defense intercept test, a Senate hearing that touched on Indo-Pacific security and more.

The Army recently conducted a cruise missile defense intercept test:

IBCS coordinates cruise missile intercepts in key follow-on operational test

The Army notched a key milestone in its air and missile defense modernization push last week when soldiers successfully intercepted two maneuvering cruise missiles using the Integrated Battle Command System, or IBCS, in a contested environment, according to the service.

The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing this week on the nomination of John Noh to be assistant defense secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs:

Lawmakers, experts call White House's Taiwan aid policies 'dangerous, destabilizing'

Lawmakers and national security experts expressed concerns Tuesday over the Trump administration's alleged withholding of military aid to Taiwan, amidst fears of a potential Chinese invasion in the coming years.

Lawmakers question nominee for Indo-Pacific security affairs on National Defense Strategy, AUKUS

Lawmakers this week expressed concerns over a potential shift in the prioritization of countering China in the impending National Defense Strategy, which has yet to be released, and raised worries on the implications of the AUKUS review, which was confirmed today to be released this fall.

Document: Senate hearing on Noh, Young, Lane, Beck nominations

The Justice Department has reached a settlement with a defense contractor over the allegedly failed implementation of cybersecurity standards:

Georgia Tech agrees to DOJ settlement over alleged failure of implementing defense cyber standards

The Georgia Tech Research Corp. and the Justice Department have reached an $875,000 settlement to resolve False Claims Act violations, where the defense contractor allegedly submitted a falsified cyber assessment and failed to implement cybersecurity requirements mandated by the Defense Department.

With work ongoing in the Commerce Committee, the full Senate is not positioned to incorporate the SHIPS legislation into its version of the fiscal year 2026 defense policy bill:

SHIPS Act hung up in Senate Commerce Committee, lawmakers say

The bipartisan SHIPS for America Act is working its way through the Senate Commerce Committee, which will require more time to work on the legislation before it can be advanced towards passage, lawmakers said this week.

Space Force awards Blue Origin $78M to expand space vehicle processing
By Shelley K. Mesch
October 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM

The Space Force awarded Blue Origin $78.25 million to expand space vehicle processing capacity at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL, the service announced today.

The contract through the National Security Space Launch Space Vehicle Commercial Solutions Opening calls on Blue Origin to increase the number of space vehicles the service can process to meet Space Systems Command’s launch manifest needs, according to a previous solicitation for the program.

“This second CSO award reflects our continued commitment to meet both national security and commercial launch requirements,” said Col. Dan Highlander, director of Operations Integration for SSC’s Assured Access to Space directorate. “This additional capacity will ensure the USSF is able to continue to deliver responsive and resilient launch capabilities to the warfighter, and the public-private partnership behind the new capacity enables us to cost-share with commercial industry to our mutual benefit.”

This is the second of such contracts SSC has awarded. In April, the Space Force awarded Astrotech Space Operations a similar contract to increase space vehicle processing capacity at Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA. That contract totals $77.5 million, SSC said in that announcement.

Textron developing Launched Effect for air, ground ISR
By Dan Schere
October 7, 2025 at 2:50 PM

Textron Systems is developing a Launched Effect system that is equipped with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, and can be launched from the air or ground, the company announced today.

The Damocles LE system has “autonomous tracking capabilities and advanced artificial intelligence,” but also uses a human in the loop for supervision, according to a company announcement.

Damocles uses a “precision unitary munition” to ensure accurate targeting, and has a low signature, according to Textron. Other payloads can be integrated into the system, such as electronic warfare effects, due to the use of a modular opens systems architecture.

Army senior leaders have emphasized in recent months that the service must diversify its Launched Effects portfolio, with efforts to field short-, medium- and long-range Launched Effects -- akin to exploding drones.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s April 30 memo, establishing the Army Transformation Initiative, directs the Army to field a combination of air and ground Launched Effects in every division by the end of 2026. In response, the service has issued a series of solicitations for low-cost Launched Effects and conducted a three-week user demonstration with 20 different systems at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA this summer.

The INSIDER daily digest -- October 7, 2025
By John Liang
October 7, 2025 at 1:18 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on GM Defense's Infantry Squad Vehicle, the Air Force's KC-47 airborne refueling tanker and more.

GM Defense executives recently showcased the company’s Milford Proving Ground facility in Michigan:

GM Defense plans to root autonomy in its ISVs

WARREN, MI -- GM Defense hopes to offer the Army an Infantry Squad Vehicle engrained with drive-by-wire technology by the end of the year as the company sees a desire from the service to pull soldiers from the driver's seat.

The Air Force has issued a production extension justification and approval document for the Boeing-built KC-46 airborne refueling aircraft:

Air Force says buying more KC-46s will help service focus on accelerating NGAS

The Air Force wants to field its Next Generation Air-Refueling System by 2036, leaving Boeing's KC-46A Pegasus tanker as the only platform within reach that can meet the service's modern tanking capability requirements in the near-term, according to a document released Oct. 2.

Document: Air Force's KC-46 production extension J&A document

The Missile Defense Agency late last week published a solicitation asking companies to demonstrate expertise in applying radio-frequency phenomenology, phased array radar design and artificial intelligence techniques to the challenge of distinguishing warheads from decoys in the midcourse phase of flight:

Pentagon seeks new radar AOC 1.1 upgrade to bolster missile defense

The Pentagon has a new plan to improve its family of Upgraded Early Warning Radars, asking industry for help advancing software that sharpens the ability to classify objects in flight.

Document: MDA's advanced object classification RFI

Hung Cao, a retired Navy captain and former congressional candidate, was finally confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as Navy under secretary late last week after being nominated for the post in February:

SECNAV outlines personnel-focused duties for new under secretary as chief of staff exits

Navy Secretary John Phelan has outlined a series of responsibilities for newly confirmed Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao, who is tasked with a portfolio of predominantly personnel-focused initiatives as well as overseeing audit improvements and efforts to utilize Guam as a "power projection platform."

Sikorsky's recently introduced Nomad uncrewed aerial system uses a twin proprotor design, and can take off, hover and land vertically without the need for a runway:

Sikorsky developing family of 'Nomad' rotor-blown wing drones

Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky is developing a future family of rotor-blown wing vertical-takeoff-and-landing drones the company has named Nomad, which previously was known as the rotor-blown wing.

The INSIDER daily digest -- October 6, 2025
By John Liang
October 6, 2025 at 2:35 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on missile defense early warning radars, what the newly confirmed Navy under secretary's priorities will be and more.

A new Missile Defense Agency effort, dubbed Advanced Object Classification (AOC) 1.1, aims to extend improvements already underway with the current AOC 1.0 baseline and reinforce the role of the early warning radars as the backbone of U.S. homeland defense:

Pentagon seeks new radar AOC 1.1 upgrade to bolster missile defense

The Pentagon has a new plan to improve its family of Upgraded Early Warning Radars, asking industry for help advancing software that sharpens the ability to classify objects in flight.

The Navy's new No. 2 civilian has his work cut out for him:

SECNAV outlines personnel-focused duties for new under secretary as chief of staff exits

Navy Secretary John Phelan has outlined a series of responsibilities for newly confirmed Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao, who is tasked with a portfolio of predominantly personnel-focused initiatives as well as overseeing audit improvements and efforts to utilize Guam as a "power projection platform."

Sikorsky's vision includes scaling a new family of drones to various sizes, which could eventually be used to fill capability gaps on the battlefield in surveillance and reconnaissance:

Sikorsky developing family of 'Nomad' rotor-blown wing drones

Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky is developing a future family of rotor-blown wing vertical-takeoff-and-landing drones the company has named Nomad, which previously was known as the rotor-blown wing.

Under a Phase 3 Lane 2 contract, SpaceX will conduct five launches for $714 million, and ULA will conduct two for $428 million, according to Space Systems Command:

Space Force awards $1.14B for FY-26 launches

The Space Force has assigned SpaceX and United Launch Alliance seven National Security Space Launch missions in fiscal year 2026 for a total cost of $1.14 billion, the service announced late last week.

The Air Force recently released a request for information regarding the Advanced Propulsion Acquisition Contract (APAC) Multiple Award Contract (MAC) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract:

Air Force seeks vendor pool to develop advanced engines

The Air Force is looking to strengthen its capability to rapidly develop, produce and eventually mature novel advanced aircraft engine options, according to a recently released request for information.

Document: Air Force AFAC RFI

The week ahead
By John Liang
October 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM

The federal government is still shut down. House lawmakers are on a "district work period." Several Senate hearings take place this week.

Tuesday

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing to consider the nominations of John Noh to be assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, Charles Young to be Army general counsel, William Lane to be Air Force general counsel and David Beck to be the National Nuclear Security Administration's deputy administrator for defense programs.

The Senate Armed Services emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee holds a hearing on threats and challenges posted to Defense Department personnel and operations from adversarial access to publicly available data analysis tools now widely available on the commercial market.

Thursday

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing to consider the nomination of Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach to be Air Force chief of staff.