The Insider

By John Liang
October 3, 2024 at 2:28 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on space-launch rockets, a Defense Science Board report on critical infrastructure, analysts' takes on the Pentagon's Replicator 2 initiative and more.

A Vulcan heavy-lift rocket is scheduled to launch its Cert-2 flight tomorrow at 6 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL:

ULA 'supremely confident' in upcoming Vulcan certification launch

The United Launch Alliance is "supremely confident" that the second certification flight for the Vulcan rocket will be successful and earn the approval needed for certain National Security Space Launch missions, CEO Tory Bruno said.

Some solid-rocket motor news:

Anduril announces new rocket motor mixer expected to boost speed and scale of SRM production

Anduril Industries is launching a new partnership with machinery-maker FlackTek to develop and build a new mixing machine intended to increase the speed and scale of solid-rocket motor production.

A recently released executive summary of a Defense Science Board report on Defense Department dependencies on critical infrastructure "focused on dependencies of DOD installations on outside-the-fence critical civilian infrastructure and the concomitant implications for force projection and continuous sustainment":

DSB sees urgent need for civilian critical infrastructure resiliency

The Pentagon has not treated its responsibility to ensure the resiliency of critical civilian infrastructure with the urgency it deserves, a Defense Science Board task force said in a new report.

Document: DSB executive summary of critical infrastructure report

Inside Defense spoke with a number of analysts to get their takes on the Pentagon's Replicator 2 initiative:

Replicator 2 focus on counter-drone tech could signal shift to large buys

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's memo announcing Replicator 2 would focus on countering small drones signals that procuring counter-drone technology at scale has been elevated to the highest level, analysts told Inside Defense this week.

Lockheed Martin has nabbed a multibillion-dollar missile contract:

Air Force moves ahead with $3.2 billion multiyear award for LRASM and JASSM

The Pentagon last week awarded Lockheed Martin a $3.2 billion multiyear procurement contract to boost production of its Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles through July 2032 in a bid to replenish the nation's dwindling munitions stockpile.

By John Liang
October 3, 2024 at 11:56 AM

Leidos has hired Thomas Downey as the company's top public relations executive, reporting to CEO Tom Bell.

Downey joins Leidos after a 31-year career at Boeing, including more than a decade as the latter company's top communications official.

In his role, Downey will lead all aspects of the company’s internal and external communications and marketing functions, according to a Leidos press release.

By John Liang
October 2, 2024 at 2:52 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the SECDEF's annual "heartburn letter" to lawmakers about the defense policy bill, the Navy CNO's efforts to drive down ship maintenance delays and more.

In a recent missive to lawmakers, known as a "heartburn letter," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin highlights "topics of significant concern for the Department" regarding the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill, which "if left unaddressed . . . will substantially impact the Department's ability to accomplish our strategic goals":

Austin says buying second VA submarine would cut into next-gen fighter program

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Pentagon is opposed to legislation that would require the Navy to purchase a second Virginia-class submarine in fiscal year 2025, along with numerous other provisions that could become part of the upcoming defense authorization bill.

Document: Austin's FY-25 'heartburn' letter

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti said today that ensuring ships and other platforms can expediently complete maintenance is paramount to this effort and will be a priority in future budgets:

Franchetti: Platform maintenance, readiness are leading budget priorities in Navy push to avoid war in 2027

With the Navy's focus placed squarely on deterring conflict with China in 2027, the service’s top officer will prioritize investments aimed at driving down maintenance delays and improving the readiness of existing ships, submarines and aircraft as she formulates fiscal year 2026 and 2027 budgets.

Lockheed Martin has nabbed a multibillion-dollar missile contract:

Air Force moves ahead with $3.2 billion multiyear award for LRASM and JASSM

The Pentagon last week awarded Lockheed Martin a $3.2 billion multiyear procurement contract to boost production of its Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles through July 2032 in a bid to replenish the nation's dwindling munitions stockpile.

In a broad agency announcement released this week, the Army's Energetics Basic Research Center "seeks to increase the Army's intellectual capital in energetic materials (EM) and improve its ability to address future challenges":

Army Research Office looking to develop new, synthetic explosives for future fights

The Army is worried it won't keep up its dominance in range and lethality on future battlefields due to inadequate energetics and limitations with current weapon systems and is starting to explore developing synthetic energetics, according to a broad agency announcement posted by the Energetics Basic Research Center (EBRC) Tuesday.

Document: Army energetics BAA

A new Government Accountability Office report on the Columbia-class submarine program recommends "the Navy require the shipbuilder to revise its estimated cost at completion and include thorough analysis in its reporting; and that the program identify information it needs to determine whether investments in the supplier base support Columbia-class construction goals":

GAO: Navy must revise cost estimates, determine true impact of industrial base funding for Columbia class

The Navy needs to revise cost estimates for its Columbia-class submarine construction and develop a consistent method of identifying whether supplier development funding (SDF) is helping the program correct its schedule, the Government Accountability Office reported Monday.

Document: GAO report on the Columbia-class sub program

By Dan Schere
October 1, 2024 at 5:15 PM

As the Air Force envisions a future in which a network of small bases in austere locations allows airmen to swiftly plug in and out of operations, service officials are calling on the Army to bulk up its portion of air base defense.

“I would feel more confident if we had a more robust, active base defense, quite frankly,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin told reporters at the Pentagon recently. “That’s one of those where we’ve been working with the Army, and that’s something that the [Defense] Department has taken on as a joint requirement that we need to improve our base defenses.”

Read the full story, now available to all.

By John Liang
October 1, 2024 at 1:46 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a "strategic partnership" between a pair of space defense contractors, the Army buying 30D printers to build small counter-UAS systems and more.

Satellite bus supplier Apex is teaming up with Anduril Industries:

Anduril, Apex announce partnership to accelerate space systems

Startup defense contractor Anduril Industries announced a "strategic partnership" with California-based satellite bus supplier Apex to deliver capabilities fulfilling the space domain's "deep mission need," the company announced today.

Lawmakers last week approved an Army proposal to reprogram funds for a 3-D printer project that sought $16.2 million for the Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems program, a sum that would raise fiscal year 2024 allocation for the budget line from $30.7 million to $47 million, a 30% increase:

Army cleared to buy 3-D printers for small units to experiment with UAS fabrication, repair

Congress has approved an Army request to immediately launch a project to provide 3-D printers to small units to experiment with manufacturing spare parts for -- and even building from scratch -- rucksack-portable, uncrewed aircraft systems, allowing on-demand repair and customization.

Up to $984 million in fiscal year 2024 defense funds will be available for Office of Strategic Capital direct loans ranging from $10 million to $150 million, "to approximately ten successful applicants," according to a recent notice:

Pentagon announces $984M inaugural OSC loan program

The Defense Department's Office of Strategic Capital has announced the availability of nearly $1 billion for its inaugural loan program aimed at spurring investments in emerging technologies, according to a recent Federal Register notice.

In a recent memo, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin determines that "Replicator 2 will tackle the warfighter priority of countering the threat posed by small uncrewed aerial systems (C-sUAS) to our most critical installations and force concentrations":

Austin reveals Replicator 2 will focus on counter-sUAS

The second iteration of the Pentagon's Replicator initiative will focus on countering small uncrewed aerial systems, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo released Monday.

Document: Austin memo on Replicator 2 direction and execution

The Air Force wants the Army to do more on helping to defend air bases:

Army, Air Force draw lines over air base defense while questions about funding loom

As the Air Force envisions a future in which a network of small bases in austere locations allows airmen to swiftly plug in and out of operations, service officials are calling on the Army to bulk up its portion of air base defense.

By Abby Shepherd
October 1, 2024 at 11:25 AM

The Navy has awarded a $525 million contract to defense contractor Raytheon to produce Block II Evolved Seasparrow Missiles for the U.S. and other allied nations, according to a press release Monday.

“The role of self-ship and local area defense has become increasingly important, and ESSM Block 2 delivers critical capability in this mission,” Raytheon’s President of Naval Power Barbara Borgonovi said in a statement. “By partnering with the U.S. Navy and allied navies, we’re ensuring this versatile system is ready to support our fleets around the world.”

ESSM Block II is a short- to medium-range guided missile that is ship-launched and dual-mode, and has an increased maneuverability compared to Block I.

Block II also “reduces dependence on shipboard illumination and is integrated on a wide variety of combat systems and launchers,” which allows users to keep pace with threats in different marine environments, according to RTX.

“Leveraging learning from other active seeker systems -- such as AMRAAM and Standard Missile 6 -- RTX is using common hardware and factory processes across multiple missile platforms to enable cost savings and increased production capacity,” according to the company’s statement. “Additionally, the consortium continues to invest in test infrastructure and material to keep capacity ahead of demand and accelerate deliveries.”

By Nick Wilson
October 1, 2024 at 10:16 AM

RTX's Pratt and Whitney has received a $1.3 billion Navy contract for continued work on the F135 engine core upgrade for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to a Monday Pentagon announcement.

The award will “provide for the design, analysis, rig testing, engine test preparation, developmental hardware, test asset assembly, air system integration, airworthiness evaluation, and product support planning in support of the continued maturation” of the engine, the announcement states, indicating work is expected to conclude in March 2028.

In a statement shared with Inside Defense, Pratt & Whitney’s Military Engines business President Jill Albertelli said the contract is “critical to continuing our positive forward momentum on this program.”

“It allows us to continue work in the risk-reduction phase with a fully staffed team focused on design maturation, aircraft integration and mobilizing the supply base to prepare for production,” Albertelli added.

The company’s F135 engine completed a preliminary design review for the F-35 engine core upgrade in July, putting the program on pace to field by 2029. Last year, the Air Force officially decided to modernize the F-35’s existing engine rather than develop a new one, making Pratt the sole vendor for the project.

By Nick Wilson
October 1, 2024 at 9:49 AM

The Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin two contracts worth up to a combined $3.2 billion for work on the Trident II D5 missile -- the submarine-launched ballistic missile used by both the United States and United Kingdom -- according to a Monday Pentagon announcement.

The award, which arrived on the final day of fiscal year 2024, provides Lockheed Martin Space with a $2.1 billion modification to an already-awarded, but previously unpriced contract for Trident II D5 missile production and “warhead 93/mark7 development,” the announcement states.

The contract also benefits foreign military sales, the notice adds, noting $143 million of the Navy’s FY-24 funds will be obligated for the award. Work is expected to conclude by September 2029.

Separately, Lockheed’s Rotary and Mission Systems business has received more than $1.1 billion for “strategic weapon system Trident fleet support, Trident II shipboard integration increment eight, and navigation subsystem development,” the DOD announcement continues.

This award also benefits FMS to the U.K. with work expected to conclude in September 2031. However, the contract is being awarded “subject to the availability of fiscal [year] 2025 funds,” meaning the Navy will be unable to pay until Congress passes an FY-25 spending package.

By Vanessa Montalbano
September 30, 2024 at 7:12 PM

The Air Force has awarded Boeing up to $6.9 billion to produce and deliver its Small Diameter Bomb Increment I precision munitions for the next decade, according to a contract notice posted today.

The firm fixed-price and indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract includes Lots 20 through 29 with work expected to be complete at the end of 2035. Only the Lot 20 award is guaranteed at this point.

When broken down, $147,207 worth of fiscal year 2022 missile procurement funds are being allotted for this award, followed by $2.4 million from FY-23 and $34.3 million from FY-24.

This contract also includes $396.4 million in foreign military sales to Japan, Bulgaria and Ukraine.

The munition, which was first operationally delivered to the service in 2005, has been mostly used to hit stationary targets at an extended range.

“SDB increases aircraft loadout, decreases the logistical footprint, decreases collateral damage, and improves aircraft sortie generation times,” the service wrote in an explanatory document about the weapon. “Its small size allows increased aircraft loadout to achieve multiple kills per sortie and inherently reduces the probability of collateral damage.”

The contract comes as President Biden last week announced nearly $8 billion in military aid for Ukraine to help defend against Russian strikes. He called on the Pentagon to provide Ukraine with additional missiles.

By Dan Schere
September 30, 2024 at 3:35 PM

The Army awarded a $196.7 million contract to Raytheon last week for the company's Coyote interceptors, according to a Sept. 26 Pentagon notice.

Fiscal year 2024 aircraft procurement dollars were obligated at the time of the award, and the contract has a completion date of Sept. 30, 2027, according to DOD.

The contract announcement comes as the Army continues to emphasize the need to quickly procure unmanned systems and counter-drone technologies at a rapid pace in response to world events in places such as Ukraine and Gaza.

The service issued a sole-source notice last December, stating that it intended to award a contract for the Coyote counter UAS system to support a production requirement starting in FY-25. And in February, Army Under Secretary Gabe Camarillo warned that a yearlong continuing resolution would have impacted the service’s ability to purchase 225 Coyote systems in FY-24. Congress ultimately passed an FY-24 defense spending bill in late March, averting the scenario.

Bill Darne, the director for cUAS and short-range ground-based air defense for Raytheon Land & Air Defense Systems, said in a Sept. 27 statement to Inside Defense that the company continues to see “growing demand for our Raytheon Coyote family of effectors, which offer a low-cost and highly effective solution for defeating unmanned aircraft systems.”

“Coyote can defeat multiple targets, singles and swarms, demonstrating reduced engagement timelines to defeat various threats,” he said.

An Army spokesman did not have any additional information about the contract as of Monday afternoon.

By John Liang
September 30, 2024 at 1:57 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army and Air Force debating funding for air base defense and more.

Air base defense against ballistic and cruise missile as well as drone attacks has historically been an Army mission, but under the current financial outlook, service officials are hesitant to take on the expensive and complex role in its entirety:

Army, Air Force draw lines over air base defense while questions about funding loom

As the Air Force envisions a future in which a network of small bases in austere locations allows airmen to swiftly plug in and out of operations, service officials are calling on the Army to bulk up its portion of air base defense.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies recently held an event with Army acquisition chief Doug Bush and Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of Army Futures Command, that covered the service's experience with unmanned aerial systems, insights gleaned from the Russia-Ukraine war and the Replicator and Launched Effects programs:

CR won't slow down specific Army projects but could become long-term issue

The three-month continuing resolution Congress passed last week might not slow down specific Army projects, Army acquisition czar Doug Bush said at a roundtable Friday, but it does slow down the system as a whole.

HII says through internal reporting, the company found some welders "knowingly circumvented certain welding procedures," though there was no indication of malicious intent in the initial investigation:

HII: No indication of malicious intent behind faulty welds; lawmakers vow to investigate

Shipbuilder HII says there is no indication of malicious intent behind suspected faulty welds on Navy submarines and aircraft carriers at Newport News Shipbuilding, after the Justice Department received notification that they may have been intentionally placed on non-critical components.

Originally called the Mobile Protected Firepower System, the M10 Booker's IOT&E testing, which began in July, will wrap up in February:

M10 Booker operational testing halfway done

The Army is about midway through the initial operational testing and evaluation phase for the M10 Booker, which is designed to provide combat power to the service's Infantry Brigade Combat Teams.

Textron's RIPSAW M3 robotic combat vehicle is made to keep soldiers out of danger and take on missions such as reconnaissance and surveillance across all sorts of terrain:

Textron teams up with Kodiak Robotics on self-driving system for RIPSAW M3

Textron Systems has added a self-driving system from Kodiak Robotics to its RIPSAW M3 robotic combat vehicle, the company has announced.

By Theresa Maher
September 30, 2024 at 12:36 PM

The Pentagon is inviting industry investors and business advisors to Thunderstorm 24-4 -- the latest in its experimental event series -- which will feature technologies meant to enable military operations in contested or remote environments, according to a Friday announcement.

The Thunderstorm event series, coordinated via the innovation and modernization office within the office of the under secretary of defense for research and engineering, serves as a sandbox for industry, academia and government organizations to test emerging technologies and receive “immediate feedback to accelerate maturation of innovative capabilities,” according to the Defense Department.

The notice comes just over three months after a request for information on “innovative solutions for expeditionary operations” from OUSD(R&E)’s innovation and modernization office.

The June RFI sought solutions that would “emphasize low size, weight and power (SWaP) approaches to reduce the burden on small and mobile forces” in contested and remote environments.

Thunderstorm 24-4, titled, “Expeditionary Operations,” will take place Nov. 7-8, near Fredericksburg, VA. The invitation-only event will see the innovation and modernization office partner with the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, according to the notice.

By John Liang
September 27, 2024 at 2:18 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on unmanned systems, the Marine Corps operating under a continuing resolution and more.

Textron's RIPSAW M3 robotic combat vehicle is made to keep soldiers out of danger and take on missions such as reconnaissance and surveillance across all sorts of terrain:

Textron teams up with Kodiak Robotics on self-driving system for RIPSAW M3

Textron Systems has added a self-driving system from Kodiak Robotics to its RIPSAW M3 robotic combat vehicle, the company announced last Tuesday.

The Marine Corps has approximately $1 billion in new program starts that it will be unable to begin under a continuing resolution, according to a service spokesman:

Marine Corps: Three-month CR 'manageable' but not ideal

Now that Congress has passed a three-month continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 20, the threat posed by the earlier six-month CR proposal is temporarily averted, yet defense officials still have a sense of urgency for Congress to pass a fiscal year 2025 budget.

Anduril and General Atomics were selected in April for continued funding to develop their CCA airframe designs, beating out industry bigwigs Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Boeing in the contest:

CCA prototypes take center stage as Air Force reveals new details about first increment

The Air Force Research Laboratory last week debuted two mock-ups of the first increment of Collaborative Combat Aircraft, built by Anduril Industries and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, providing a rare glimpse into how the service is narrowing its expectations for the autonomous platforms that will eventually accompany advanced fighters in battle.

The Air Force is inviting industry to develop command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and battle management fielded systems:

Air Force bringing industry into C3BM/ABMS experiments

The Air Force is bringing industry into command, control, communications and battle management experiments to help current or potential contractors understand the warfighter's operational needs.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official, introduced legislation in May that would give the Commerce Department the power to "limit or ban the introduction of [connected] vehicles from U.S. markets if they pose a threat to national security":

Congress pushing bills that would give Commerce and Defense departments power to quash threat electric vehicles pose

The Commerce Department proposed a rule Monday that would ban importing or selling certain electric cars in the United States with ties to the Chinese Communist Party and Russia.

Appearing in London alongside U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and British Defense Secretary John Healey framed a prospective new, bilateral treaty as an extension of AUKUS that will focus specifically on the relationship between Australia and the U.K. as they develop the future SSN-AUKUS submarine:

Australia, U.K. to begin negotiating bilateral treaty for SSN-AUKUS development

Australia and the United Kingdom will soon begin negotiations to establish a new bilateral defense treaty to "bind our AUKUS collaborations into law," defense officials said today, while also announcing the addition of Sting Ray torpedoes to Australian, U.K. and United States P-8 aircraft fleets.

By Theresa Maher
September 27, 2024 at 11:47 AM

The Defense Science Board will hold a closed-door meeting next Thursday where the panel will "meet with DOD Leadership" to discuss classified findings and recommendations from several studies and DSB task forces, according to the Federal Register.

Chief among those topics discussed at the 8 a.m. ET closed meeting will be the classified findings and recommendations from the 2024 Summer Study on Advanced Capabilities for Potential Future Conflict.

The Oct. 3 briefing comes just over a month after the most recent meeting on the 2024 summer study, which has been shrouded in secrecy since its inception.

The board’s Permanent Subcommittee on Strategic Operations’ Commercial Provision of Navigation Signals for Operational Use study and the National Security Challenges for 2025 will also provide remarks on their findings and recommendations during the meeting. DSB task forces on emerging biotechnologies and national security, and the 21st century industrial base for national defense will also present attendees with their findings and recommendations.

By John Liang
September 26, 2024 at 2:42 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on U.S. military aid to Ukraine, plus the Missile Defense Agency awarding a Glide Phase Interceptor contract to Northrop Grumman and more.

We start off with the Biden administration seeking to ensure that any remaining funds earmarked for Ukraine weapons transfers actually take place, regardless of the lack of a full, congressionally approved, fiscal year 2025 budget:

Biden directs $8B in military aid to Ukraine, including Joint Standoff Weapon, Patriot system

President Biden announced nearly $8 billion in military aid for Ukraine today, including the Joint Standoff Weapon capable of long-range strikes against Russia and an additional Patriot missile system.

Related: DOD commits to moving remaining Ukraine aid funds before Biden leaves office

RTX won't be building the Missile Defense Agency's Glide Phase Interceptor:

Northrop beats RTX in GPI contest, new missile defense industrial order takes shape

The Missile Defense Agency has selected Northrop Grumman to develop the Glide Phase Interceptor, knocking RTX from the contest to provide a new ship-based missile optimized to defeat long-range hypersonic threats and giving shape to a new order in the U.S. missile defense industrial base.

The SHIPS for America Act seeks to revitalize the U.S. Merchant Marine and consists of four primary lines of effort, including establishing national leadership and consistent support for the maritime industry as well as expanding and strengthening maritime workforce development to boost mariner and shipyard worker recruitment, training and retention:

Kelly, Waltz preview new legislation to boost incentives for maritime industrial base

A new bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation will seek to address incentives for shipbuilders, innovation in shipbuilding and the alignment of maritime regulation and will likely be introduced following the upcoming election, two lawmakers announced Wednesday.

The Army has been very focused on the "autonomy behaviors" of the Launched Effects technology under development:

Army planning Launched Effects requirement update for end of FY-25

The Army is targeting the end of fiscal year 2025 for the next requirement update to its Launched Effects program, following its Experimental Demonstration Gateway Event (EDGE) this month at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ.

Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall regarding their concerns about reliance on Chinese suppliers for certain critical technologies:

Wittman, Stefanik call on Air Force to quit relying on Chinese suppliers

The Air Force relied on about 130 China-based suppliers for critical technologies in fiscal year 2023, a 68.8% increase from the year prior, according to a recent report by Govini that has led key GOP lawmakers to call for change, citing national security concerns.

A pair of companies has been tasked with building eight Small Multipurpose Equipment Transports, an unmanned robotic vehicle designed for lugging Army payloads that also will act as a mobile power generator:

New Army contracts aim to double payload for robot equipment carriers

The Army has awarded two contracts for a second phase in robotic mule prototypes -- one to American Rheinmetall Vehicles and another to HDT Expeditionary Systems, the service announced Tuesday.