The Insider

The Air Force is focused on 13 technical research areas to get its munitions portfolio on par with advancements in air dominance, including advanced control actuation systems, autonomy and improved aircraft integration, according to a broad agency announcement the service posted today.

Among the service’s top priorities are modeling, simulation and analysis. The idea, according to the Air Force Research Laboratory, is to be able to foster collaborative, simulated scenarios to evaluate the weapons performance under a sustained threat or in various environments.

“Concepts include, but are not limited to, intercommunicative weapons, novel damage mechanisms, lethal and novel destruct mechanisms, multiple targeting and time critical delivery,” the BAA states. “Detailed modeling includes, but is not limited to, sensors, aerodynamics, autopilots, navigation and guidance schemes, propulsion, warheads, fuzes, datalinks, fire control, launcher, suspension, carriage and release, error filters, environment (wind, fog, and dust), lethality, vulnerability and threats.”

Other important research areas include modular aircraft integration technologies, more precise guidance algorithms against maneuvering targets, innovative Find, Fix, Target, Track and small datalink technologies for the detection of threats to aircraft and related information sharing in part via high velocity fuzing. Additionally, the Air Force is interested in optionally autonomous engagement management systems to maximize aircraft survivability in battle zones and determine the best countermeasure response.

Any machine learning capability developed for the weapons systems should “facilitate a swarm of networked collaborative and autonomous weapon systems,” the service wrote. “Technology must demonstrate the ability to reconcile prescribed targets within a dynamic battlespace.”

Affordability is also a crucial requirement for future munitions, with the service indicating it wants to investigate both conventional and conceptual munitions warhead technology as it relates to the destruction, damage, defeat or denial of function of targets of interest. The researchers should focus on varying amounts of blast or damage outcomes, selectable effects and micro-warheads.

“Novel concepts of target defeat are encouraged to augment or replace the more traditional kinetic energy methods,” according to the BAA. “Research and development of energetic materials that could increase overall warhead performance. Including new or advanced explosive formulations and characterization, additive manufacturing of energetic materials, and high energy-rate fabrication advancement.”

On the power side, the service is looking to reduce the amount of energy and weight required to fire air-to-air missiles, starting with innovative thermal management, guidance electronics, and power generation and storage techniques, plus the miniaturization of batteries and internal packaging components to include propellant formulations and grain structures.

Specifically, the service is seeking “technologies that are able to maintain the operating pressures of a rocket motor while reducing mass to increase the performance,” the BAA notes. “As well as non-eroding throat technology utilizing advanced material (metallic inserts, ceramics, etc.) able to perform in severe environments such as high stagnation temperatures and pressures, abrasive propellants (high aluminum content) and high stress/strain.”

This BAA is intended to direct service-wide munitions research, design, development and eventually prototyping through 2029. Businesses are invited to submit white papers throughout the period of this BAA, and related proposals may be requested by a contracting officer. The cumulative amount for awards issued under this BAA is not expected to exceed $750 million.

U.S. Special Operations Command is nearly doubling the ceiling of a 2022 indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for Counter Unmanned Systems from $967.6 million to $1.9 billion, according to a Nov. 6 justification and approval notice from the Defense Department.

SOCOM chose Anduril Industries to be a “counter-unmanned systems, systems integration partner” at the time of the original award in January 2022. SOCOM chose Anduril out of 12 competing proposals, Inside Defense reported then.

The contract ceiling increase, as stated in the Nov. 6 J&A document, is to “fulfill immediate C-UxS capability expansion and support requirements from Ukraine and Israel Supplemental funding for USSOCOM, United States Army, United States Marine Corps and other agencies.”

As the Ukraine and Middle East conflicts have raged on, DOD has continued to place a heavy emphasis on rapidly fielding UAS and counter UAS capabilities. The J&A document notes that SOCOM “continues to pursue technical solutions to fulfill its SOF-peculiar requirements” under DOD Directive 3800.01e -- the executive agent for groups 1, 2 and 3 counter sUAS.

The J&A document also notes that the special operations forces counter drone program has had “continued congressional interest” for the past four years, “enabling SOF to accelerate C-UAS capabilities for austere locations abroad.”

“Based on the current high threat environment driving an increased force protection footprint for deployed SOF, USSOCOM is facing urgent procurement demands in support of US SOF and our partners,” it states.

The Army has awarded Repkon USA a contract with a ceiling of $435 million to build a TNT production facility in Graham, KY -- which would make it the only domestic production facility for the material in the United States.

TNT is used in ammunition, bombs and grenades, and is the “primary explosive fill” for 155mm artillery shells, according to the Army. The current supply chain for the material relies on overseas sources.

Maj. Gen. John Reim, the joint program executive officer for armaments and ammunition, said today that the “state-of-the-art facility is essential to the JPEO A&A’s mission to develop, procure and field safe, reliable and lethal munitions to our joint warfighters and international partners.”

“This project will also further strengthen our defense industrial base, enabling munitions production at speed and scale,” he said.

Army acquisition chief Doug Bush said today that the award is a “major step forward in rebuilding our industrial base and ensuring we have the critical capabilities to support our warfighters.”

“Reshoring TNT production gives us the ability to control and secure our supply chain for this vital component, especially in an era of increasing global challenges,” he said.

A year ago, Bush had said $650 million had been set aside in the Ukraine security supplemental spending package for a domestic TNT production facility. The package was passed by Congress this past spring.

Friday’s announcement comes as the Army continues to increase its production of 155mm ammunition in response to the U.S.’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. The Army has set a goal of reaching 100,000 rounds per month by the end of fiscal year 2025.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday that there is $4 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority remaining, and multiple announcements of U.S. weapons transfers to Ukraine can be expected in the weeks before President Biden leaves office on Jan. 20 and former President Trump begins his second term.

The Army wants to learn more from industry about adding signals intelligence sensor capabilities for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle platform, in preparation for operating in a multidomain environment, according to an Oct. 28 notice.

The Army’s Product Manager for Aerial Enhanced Radars, Optics and Sensors is seeking information from industry on extended-range electronic intelligence as well as communications intelligence sensor solutions, according to the request for information. The technologies should have a high Technology Readiness Level that will require 12 months or less of development.

The Army met its acquisition goal of 204 aircraft for the Gray Eagle in 2019, the service has said previously. However, Congress has continued to add procurement money for additional drones to be deployed to the Army National Guard.

In response to questions from Inside Defense about what prompted the Army to explore adding SIGINT to the Gray Eagle, and how much of the fleet the capability would be deployed to, the service issued a statement on Nov. 6 saying: “The Army continually monitors the evolution of technologies and potential threats and this RFI is designed to obtain information from industry on advanced SIGINT technologies to understand future potential capabilities.”

“At this point this RFI will not directly result in a solicitation for procurement. As the Army has not made procurement a decision for this capability there aren’t specific units identified to receive it,” the Army said in the statement.

Responses to the RFI are due Nov. 25.

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on missile defense policy under a second Trump administration, the Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle program and more.

We start off with a look at how a second Trump administration would influence missile defense policy:

Missile defense enterprise could see massive expansion under next Trump administration

The Pentagon's missile defense enterprise could be poised for a major expansion under the next Trump administration, including tripling the planned buy of Next Generation Interceptors, accelerating the Glide Phase Interceptor development and defending the nation against not just North Korean threats, but also Russian and Chinese ICBMs.

More missile defense news:

DOD last year approved 20% cost hike in Army’s IBCS program; from $11B to $13.2B

The estimated price tag for the Integrated Battle Command System increased to $13.2 billion -- a 20% hike over the previous $11 billion projected cost, as part of the Pentagon's decision last year to approved the Army air-and-missile-defense networking capability for full-rate production.

Document: DOD modernized SAR on the IAMD system

Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean, program executive officer for Army ground combat systems, spoke about the Robotic Combat Vehicle program during a Nov. 6 web event hosted by GovExec:

Army Robotic Combat Vehicle faces a challenge on two fronts

As it stands, the Robotic Combat Vehicle isn't as autonomous as the Army wants it to be, because the current technology is just "not that great," a senior Army official said during a web event Wednesday.

More than 50 technology initiatives from industry, government labs and universities participated in an annual experiment which focused on early-stage unmanned systems enabled with electromagnetic warfare capabilities:

Companies see opportunities for collaboration at Navy's Silent Swarm exercise

Participants in the Navy's 2024 Silent Swarm demonstration say the event, which grew to its largest size ever this summer, highlights the need for hardware and software vendors to collaborate on the delivery of electromagnetic warfare capabilities in contested maritime environments.

Though much is still unknown in the wake of this week's elections, information gleaned from conversations with congressional analysts and a study of lawmaker seniority sheds partial light on how power is expected to change hands at key defense committees:

Defense committee leadership re-shuffled after Dem losses and GOP wins

The 2024 election, which saw the return to power of former President Trump, has shifted the GOP into the Senate majority, while control of the House remains up for grabs.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin released a memo to U.S. troops today committing the Pentagon to a "calm, orderly and professional transition" to the incoming Trump administration.

“As it always has, the U.S. military will stand ready to carry out the policy choices of its next Commander in Chief, and to obey all lawful orders from its civilian chain of command,” Austin wrote in the memo obtained by Inside Defense.

The previous presidential transition, in which outgoing Trump officials were meant to relinquish the reins of the Pentagon to the incoming Biden administration, was marked by dysfunction and charges of obstruction.

Austin also pledged to keep the military apolitical during what could be a time of turbulent change following a sharply divisive presidential election.

“The U.S. military will also continue to stand apart from the political arena; to stand guard over our republic with principle and professionalism; and to stand together with the valued allies and partners who deepen our security,” he wrote. “You are not just any military. You are the United States military -- the finest fighting force on Earth -- and you will continue to defend our country, our Constitution, and the rights of all of our citizens.”

The Defense Department established an internal team to assist with the upcoming presidential transition in September, which is being led by Performance Improvement Officer and Director of Administration and Management (PIO/DA&M) Jennifer Walsh.

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has a look ahead at what the congressional defense committee leadership will look like in the wake of yesterday's election results and more.

We start off with a look ahead at who will be running the congressional defense committees in the wake of yesterday's election:

Defense committee leadership re-shuffled after Dem losses and GOP wins

The 2024 election, which saw the return to power of former President Trump, has shifted the GOP into the Senate majority, while control of the House remains up for grabs.

More than 50 technology initiatives from industry, government labs and universities participated in an annual experiment which focused on early-stage unmanned systems enabled with electromagnetic warfare capabilities:

Companies see opportunities for collaboration at Navy's Silent Swarm exercise

Participants in the Navy's 2024 Silent Swarm demonstration say the event, which grew to its largest size ever this summer, highlights the need for hardware and software vendors to collaborate on the delivery of electromagnetic warfare capabilities in contested maritime environments.

The Army is sticking with the Black Hawk helicopter replacement program:

Army says it remains committed to FLRAA, even with change in approach to aviation

In spite of a change in philosophy to its overall acquisition approach, and a shakeup that saw the cancellation of one long-term aircraft program earlier this year, Army leaders remain publicly confident that the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft will come to fruition.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have a story on an industry group asking questions about the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program:

Electric sector group seeks clarity on DOD definition of CUI amid CMMC rulemaking process

The Edison Electric Institute is asking the Defense Department to scope what is considered controlled unclassified information in the context of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, building on comments submitted in February to reflect the current situation with the acquisition-focused proposed rule.

Army Futures Command recently stood up its newest All-Domain Sensing Cross-Functional Team, which officially began its mission Oct. 16 and will work in tandem with partners in the Defense Department to streamline technology development, capabilities and processes:

Harnessing the senses: Army Futures Command's newest CFT hopes to standardize sensor technology for the future force

The Army, along with the joint services, has been investing in and developing effective sensors -- perhaps without taking full advantage of them, a senior official said Oct. 31.