The Insider

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Virginia-class submarine program, a Marine Corps air defense system, Navy readiness issues and more.

In a letter to defense appropriators, 120 House lawmakers state U.S. undersea supremacy must be preserved to deter an increasingly emboldened China and Russia:

Courtney rallies 120 bipartisan lawmakers to push appropriators to restore submarine cut

Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, today released a letter to defense appropriators with 120 signatures from lawmakers seeking the restoration of funding for a Virginia-class submarine in fiscal year 2025.

The Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, is "going to [Initial Operational Test and Evaluation] here in the next couple of months, and then that looks like fielding early next fiscal year," a senior Marine Corps official said during the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington this week:

MADIS and L-MADIS air defense systems advance toward FY-25 fielding decisions

Two of the Marine Corps' developing mobile air defense systems are advancing toward fielding decisions, expected before the end of fiscal year 2025, according to Steve Bowdren, program executive officer for land systems.

The House Armed Services readiness subcommittee held a hearing this week on Navy readiness:

Lawmakers question Navy officials, again, on readiness issues

The Navy's and Marine Corps' sealift capacity is not where it needs to be, lawmakers told service officials Tuesday at a House Armed Services readiness subcommittee hearing, which largely revolved around availability delays, recapitalization plans and potential solutions to construction backlogs.

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi said during a National Defense Industrial Association webinar that four RDER programs were first approved last year:

Pentagon tech chief announces four RDER projects headed into production

Pentagon technology chief Heidi Shyu announced that four Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve projects are headed into production.

The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee would prefer the congressionally mandated defense spending limit was higher:

Rogers set to mark defense bill to spending cap as lawmakers question DOD modernization plans

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) today said he intends to honor the defense spending cap mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act when he leads the panel in its mark-up of the annual defense authorization bill, though he stressed that he thinks the $895 billion limit is far too low.

The Boeing- and Leonardo-made Grey Wolf helicopter is set to replace the UH-1N Iroquois in its mission to patrol U.S. Global Strike Command nuclear silos:

Grey Wolf helo program cost growth triggers Nunn-McCurdy breach

Costs for the MH-139 Grey Wolf grew enough to trigger a critical Nunn-McCurdy breach, the Air Force notified Congress last week, because of a reduction in the number of helicopters the service plans to buy.

The Space Development Agency this week announced a potential $414 million contract to build eight satellites for launch in 2027 “to accelerate fire-control capability for global detection, warning and precision tracking of advanced missile threats” including maneuvering hypersonic weapons:

Boeing nabs FOO Fighter to build new space-based, missile tracking fire-control 'efforts'

The Defense Department has tapped Boeing's Millennium Space Systems to build eight satellites for the FOO Fighter program -- a project whose exact capability remains classified but is tied to the efforts to rapidly develop a low-earth orbit Resilient Missile Warning and Missile Tracking capability against the most advanced threats.

A new missile facility in Camden, AR will begin producing SkyHunter interceptors in late 2025 or early 2026 for a developing Marine Corps air defense system, according to Ground Based Air Defense Program Manager Col. Andrew Konicki.

In February, RTX Technologies and Israeli company Rafael broke ground on the facility, which will eventually produce Tamir interceptors for the Israeli Iron Dome and SkyHunter missiles for the Marine Corps’ developing Medium Range Intercept Capability.

“We're tracking right now that the facility is going to be up online within calendar year 2025, so, the latter end of 2025 and then they'll start producing things there towards the tail end of 2025 and into calendar year 2026,” Konicki told Inside Defense today during the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington.

The Marine Corps has been working with industry to establish a domestic source of MRIC interceptors. SkyHunter is “essentially the same thing” as the Tamir missile, Konicki said, sharing about 95-99% commonality.

MRIC is a system “derivative” of Iron Dome that is being “Americanized” for use by the Marine Corps in detecting, tracking and shooting down cruise missile threats, he continued.

The Marine Corps’ FY-25 budget request includes $111 million for the program to support the purchase of 12 launchers and 242 missiles as it transitions from rapid prototyping to rapid fielding.

The service plans to begin fielding an initial MRIC battery in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 following a quick reaction assessment scheduled for September, Konicki confirmed.

The Marine Corps is prioritizing the rapid development of counter-drone technologies with a new "fusion center" established within the past few months at Quantico, VA, service officials said today during the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington.

The new center will absorb the existing Rapid Capabilities Office and will look to aid promising technologies in bridging the “valley of death,” or transition from early research and development efforts into production and fielding.

“The fusion center and the fusion framework is larger than just the RCO. So, you bring in elements of the programs of record and the acquisition systems and sustainment elements,” said Brig. Gen. David Walsh, commanding general of Marine Corps Systems Command. “It's the RCO plus a lot of additional stakeholders around that, that'll enable that full, enduring capability.”

The new center’s initial focus will be developing air defense systems that can protect Marine forces from increasingly prevalent unmanned aircraft systems, Walsh said.

While the Marine Corps is rapidly advancing land-based air defense systems like its Medium Range Intercept Capability to defend ground forces from UAS, the Navy’s ongoing engagement in the Red Sea has demonstrated the need to protect surface ships from drones.

Today, Steve Bowdren, the Marine Corps’ program executive officer for land systems, said the two service branches are considering the application of Marine Corps ground-based platforms for use in shipboard defense, though he provided few details on the specific systems that might be used.

“There is collaboration between our program offices, specifically between [Ground Based Air Defense] and with the appropriate portions of PEO [Integrated Warfare Systems]. We are looking at what they're looking at from a shipboard perspective, and then seeing how that can be applied,” he told Inside Defense on the sidelines of the event.

While Bowdren declined to name specific systems, Kevin Murray, the chief technology officer for Headquarters Marine Corps, said the service is already using the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, for ship defense within its Marine Expeditionary Units.

“We’re already putting MADIS systems on the MEU because they’re organic to the battalions. We’re using that for our own self-preservation in partnership with the Navy,” he said.

Earlier this month, Navy officials revealed a rapid capability effort to mount two adjunct, kinetic, counter-UAS weapon systems on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer The Sullivans (DDG-68) for testing in an upcoming June demonstration. While the officials did not name the weapon systems, they indicated they are commercially available capabilities designed for land-based operations.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) will serve as the new chairman of the House Armed Services cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee, according to an announcement yesterday from House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL).

The subcommittee chairmanship has been left open since Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) resigned from the House effective April 19, a move Gallagher announced in March.

Before this appointment, Bacon served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Agricultural Committee.

“As chairman of the Quality of Life Panel, Rep. Bacon has been a tireless advocate for our servicemembers and military families. Rep. Bacon is a proven leader for national defense, and I am proud to announce that he will serve as chairman of the subcommittee on cyber, information technologies and innovation,” Rogers said in a statement.

“Staying ahead of our adversaries in the digital space is vital. I know Rep. Bacon will bring valuable knowledge and expertise to the subcommittee and I look forward to continuing our work together to strengthen our military,” he added.

Bacon, who previously served in the Air Force where he specialized in electronic warfare, intelligence and reconnaissance, thanked Rogers for the appointment, noting future priorities for the subcommittee.

“In order to maintain the world’s most capable and lethal military, we must make modernization and innovation a priority,” Bacon said. “As chairman, I will continue to support enhancing our cybersecurity and will work to advance artificial intelligence and emerging technologies that will be vital for our success on the battlefields of the future.”

Gallagher’s departure also left open the chairmanship position on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, although quickly after Gallagher announced his resignation, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) named Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) to fill the position.

Gallagher’s resignation also left Johnson with a one-seat GOP majority in the House.

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on an Army aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system, a multibillion-dollar Air Force contract for an airborne command and control center and more.

We start off with coverage of an Army aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system discussed at last week's AAAA Conference in Denver:

Army anticipates deployment of first HADES system around late 2026

DENVER -- Army officials anticipate that the first High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System will be deployed sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.

The Survivable Airborne Operations Center design is based around a commercial aircraft that will be modified to meet military requirements and will include secure communications and planning capabilities:

Sierra Nevada wins $13B contract for SAOC

The Air Force awarded Sierra Nevada Corp. a $13 billion contract to design and develop the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, a key component of Nuclear Command, Control and Communication modernization, the service announced late last week.

The Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) framework software was delivered to the Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Battle Awareness Center at Buckley Space Force Base, CO:

FORGE framework delivered to OPIR Battlespace Awareness Center

Space Systems Command today delivered the first operational software to set up its framework for the ground systems of space-based missile warning and tracking, the command announced late last week.

The Army's fiscal year 2025 budget request dramatically slashes plans for the Stryker Upgrade program between FY-25 and FY-28 compared to plans the service forecasted in the FY-24 spending blueprint, cutting total spending by 43% and total vehicles upgraded by 62%:

Stryker Upgrade program now a billpayer in new Army POM; annual procurement slashed from 184 to 11

The Army's Stryker Upgrade program -- a project that as recently as last year enjoyed a $1.2 billion annual budget to up-gun and expand improvements across the armored wheeled vehicle -- is now a billpayer, with service leaders siphoning $1.3 billion from future plans to finance other projects.

The Marine Corps is requesting $111 million for the Medium Range Intercept Capability -- a system that combines the Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, the Common Aviation Command and Control System and parts of the Israeli Iron Dome to shoot down airborne threats including cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft:

Marine Corps looks to begin rapidly fielding MRIC air defense system in FY-25

The Marine Corps plans to raise procurement spending on its portfolio of air defense systems in fiscal year 2025 as it looks to begin rapidly fielding the initial battery of a mid-range interceptor system before the end of the upcoming fiscal year.

Governors from nearly every U.S. state and territory sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin today opposing the Defense Department's proposal to absorb Air National Guard space operations into the Space Force.

The letter -- signed by 53 governors, or all except Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) -- says the proposal “disregards gubernatorial authorities regarding the National Guard and undermines over 100 years of precedent as well as national security and military readiness.”

About 700 guardsmen would be transferred into the Space Force under the DOD proposal, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has said, to complete the remainder of their enlistments, should they choose to switch services. No guardsmen would be required to make the transfer.

The proposal “poses a threat to the careers of state-based service members who will be forced to choose between state service or continuing in their current field at a time when there are already significant recruitment challenges,” the governors’ letter states. “An action like this will violate the trust of the brave women and men who have volunteered to serve our states and our nation.”

Across Alaska, California, Colorado, Ohio, New York, Hawaii and Florida, 14 units would be assigned new federal missions or be deactivated.

National Guard leaders have publicly opposed the proposal, saying it guts the Guard and states of space capabilities.

Kendall and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman have said the proposal streamlines the command of space operations.

Several lawmakers have pushed for the creation of a Space National Guard, but Saltzman said at a Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing earlier this month that the Space Force cannot afford to fund another structure while keeping “administrative bureaucracy” levels down.

The Defense Department, tapping new funds provided by a supplemental spending bill recently signed into law by President Biden, today announced a $6 billion long-term military aid package for Ukraine, which follows closely behind a $1 billion immediate transfer of U.S. weapons.

The package, provided through the previously empty Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, includes:

• Additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems;
• Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS);
• New equipment to “integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars” with Ukrainian air defense systems;
• Counter-drone systems and equipment;
• Munitions for laser-guided rocket systems;
• Multimission radars;
• Counter-artillery radars;
• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
• 155mm and 152mm artillery rounds;
• Precision aerial munitions;
• Switchblade and Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS);
• Tactical vehicles to tow weapons and equipment;
• Demolition munitions;
• Components to support Ukrainian production of UAS and other capabilities;
• Small arms and additional small arms ammunition; and
• Other items and support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.

“We're going to do everything we can to get that security assistance to the Ukrainians as quickly as possible,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said today during a Pentagon press conference.

Prior to today’s announcement, the last tranche of USAI funding was announced in November, at which point the fund was exhausted and in need of congressional replenishment. Additional funding was not granted until last week when Congress, after months of partisan arguing, agreed to a massive supplemental spending deal that would aid Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the U.S. defense industrial base.

The USAI package, unlike the $1 billion immediate transfer of DOD weapons to Ukraine via Presidential Drawdown Authority, is used to put specific weapons systems on contact with the U.S. defense industrial base, something Austin said will benefit national security in the long run.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown said both aid packages will help “shape the future” because the additional munitions capabilities will mean that the Ukrainians “don't necessarily have to ration they way they have because the Ukrainians know things are coming out of this package.”

The aid package released today commemorates the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of more than 50 nations that has pledged continued support for Ukraine. Austin, who hosted a virtual meeting with the group today, said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also part of the call.

“This coalition is still standing strong,” Austin said.