The Insider

Space Systems Command awarded a $188 million follow-on production contract to Sev1Tech to expand the meshONE-Terrestrial network, the command announced today.

Under the contract, meshONE-T services will become available in more than 85 locations, according to SSC, with around-the-clock managed transport services and enterprise-wide upgrades.

Designed as a scalable, resilient and cybersecure Wide Area Network, meshONE-T supports the Space Force and the Defense Department’s broader Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control effort by connecting data producers and users and providing diversified communication paths.

Sec1Tech won the first award for a meshONE-T prototype for $46.5 million through the Space Enterprise Consortium in September 2021.

General Dynamics Information Technology announced today that it has bought artificial intelligence and machine learning company Iron EagleX for an undisclosed amount.

Iron EagleX provides AI/ML, cyber, software development and cloud services for special operations forces and the intelligence community.

"The acquisition expands GDIT's portfolio of differentiated technology capabilities and further strengthens its ability to support defense and intelligence missions across all warfighting domains," a GDIT statement reads. "It is also a key part of the company's technology investment strategy launched last year, which includes investments in technologies such as AI, cyber, software development and quantum."

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on House Republicans' proposed stopgap continuing resolution, Defense Department cybersecurity efforts and more.

House Republicans' proposed continuing resolution hasn't made the Pentagon's top civilian a fan:

Austin comes out swinging against GOP's proposed six-month CR

The House GOP's proposal to pass a six-month stopgap continuing resolution would have "devastating" impacts on military readiness and modernization, including the Pentagon's new Replicator drone program, according to a new letter Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has sent to congressional leaders.

Document: Austin letters to lawmakers on CR

Document: House GOP lawmakers' FY-25 CR

Austin also spoke at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, last week:

Austin: U.S. working to co-develop substitute S-300 and R-27 missiles with Ukraine

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced today that the United States, with help from several European companies, is working with the Ukrainian weapons industry to "design and build" substitute munitions for the Soviet-era S-300 surface-to-air missile system and the R-27 air-to-air missile.

More coverage from last week's Billington Cybersecurity Conference:

New Pentagon cyber policy official seeks to elevate CYBERCOM's priorities

The dual role of assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy and principal cyber adviser to the defense secretary allows the person in it to act as liaison and streamlining agent, according to Michael Sulmeyer, the first Pentagon official to hold the position.

General Dynamics, with its partner Iridium, will continue its ground management and integration, operations and sustainment work for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture through fiscal year 2029:

General Dynamics awarded $492 million to continue ground management for SDA

The Space Development Agency has awarded General Dynamics a $491.6 million contract to continue its ground management and integration work for the agency's constellation of tracking and data transport satellites.

The Army has undertaken a number of initiatives to increase 155mm munitions production capacity such as opening a new modular metal parts production facility in Mesquite, TX earlier this year:

Bush says engineering challenges have caused minor delays with 155mm round production

Army acquisition chief Doug Bush says the Army is still on track to meet its objective of producing 100,000 155mm rounds per month by late fiscal year 2025, but various engineering challenges in the production process have led to delays that can sometimes last a few weeks.

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events around Washington this week.

Monday

The Atlantic Council hosts a discussion on climate change and its impact on national defense and global security.

Tuesday

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce holds its Global Aerospace Summit in Washington. The event runs through Wednesday.

The FedTalks 2024 Summit is held in Washington.

Thursday

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a nomination hearing for Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Nordhaus to be general and chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey to be admiral and commander of U.S. Southern Command.

The Stimson Center hosts a discussion with Army Secretary Christine Wormuth.

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro violated U.S. law when he made statements supporting President Biden’s reelection bid during a public appearance earlier this year, according to a Thursday Office of Special Counsel report.

While answering questions after a January speech in London, Del Toro made multiple statements endorsing Biden’s candidacy and opposing former President Trump. These comments, which occurred prior to Biden’s exit from the race, violate the Hatch Act, according to an OSC report submitted to the White House.

The 1939 law prevents federal employees from engaging in political activity while acting in an official capacity and forbids them from using their official authority to influence the results of an election.

“When speaking in his official capacity on a taxpayer-funded trip, Secretary Del Toro encouraged electoral support for one candidate over another in the upcoming presidential election. By doing so, he crossed a legal line and violated the Hatch Act,” Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger said in the report. “This is especially troubling because Secretary Del Toro has himself acknowledged that military work and partisan politics should not be mixed.”

While answering questions after a Jan. 25, 2024 speech at the Royal United Services Institute in London, Del Toro said, “I'm confident that the American people will step up to the plate come November and support President Biden for a second term as our commander-in-chief, so that we can continue to work together as free democratic countries respect each other around the globe," the report states.

Del Toro later self-reported these remarks to OSC. The watchdog’s report also includes a written response from Del Toro’s lawyer, Michael Bromwich, arguing the Navy secretary’s comments do not constitute a violation of the Hatch Act because they were a “spontaneous and unpremeditated” response to a question and not part of prepared remarks.

However, Dellinger and OSC reject this argument and indicate that although Del Toro self-reported the comments, this should not absolve him. It is unclear what consequences Del Toro will face as a result of the violation.

Asked about the OSC report during a press briefing today, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh emphasized the importance of complying with federal law but made no specific comment on the report’s findings, saying it is still under review at the Defense Department.

The Army is asking industry to provide information about self-propelled howitzer systems that have a high level of maturity and could be in service as early as 2026 absent any government investment, according to a request for information the service issued Aug. 28.

Additionally, the notice states “information regarding fielding to Ukraine may be considered,” although the government is mainly interested in maturation that has been completed outside of the Ukraine war.

This past spring, the Army announced it was ending development of the Extended Range Cannon Artillery Program, however, service leaders have emphasized the extended-range requirement still stands.

The Army is attempting to replace its current M109 Paladin howitzers, which have a range of 40 km. With ERCA, the Army had set a goal of producing a howitzer capable of hitting targets more than 100 km away.

Secretary Christine Wormuth told attendees at the Defense News conference this week that the Army still believes there is a requirement for an artillery system with a range similar to the one pursued during ERCA.

“There are obviously companies that already make systems that don’t have quite the range that ERCA we hoped would give us but comes quite close. So, I think we’re going to be looking at those kinds of offerings,” she said.

The Army will also try to “innovate at the round” to increase the range of the new system, Wormuth added.

The main purpose of the Aug. 28 RFI is to gauge the maturity of howitzer systems from industry. The Army is mainly interested in systems “that have a high maturity and minimize or eliminate development time,” the notice states. Information from responses will be used to assess the “viability of potential future acquisition strategies.”

Responses to the RFI are due Sept. 27.

The Justice Department has announced the disruption of two covert foreign malign influence campaigns backed by the Russian government and targeted at impacting the 2024 election and spreading propaganda in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

DOJ indicted two employees from media outlet Russia Today over a “$10 million scheme to create and distribute content to U.S. audiences with hidden Russian government messaging,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a Wednesday release.

“The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to exploit our country’s free exchange of ideas in order to covertly further its own propaganda efforts, and our investigation into this matter remains ongoing,” Garland said.

A second DOJ operation unveiled on Wednesday seized 32 internet domains, colloquially known as “Doppelganger,” under control of three Russian companies that “covertly spread Russian government propaganda with the aim of reducing international support for Ukraine, bolstering pro-Russian policies and interests, and influencing voters in U.S. and foreign elections, including the U.S. 2024 Presidential Election,” according to a DOJ release on the unsealed affidavit.

FBI Director Christopher Wray weighed in on the influence campaigns at a Wednesday meeting of the DOJ Election Threats Task Force.

On the domain seizure, Wray said, “As of noon today, we’ve seized those sites, rendered them inoperable, and made clear to the world what they are: Russian attempts to interfere in our elections and influence our society.”

The Treasury Department also took action against RT on Wednesday by designating 10 individuals who work for the Russian media company over being controlled or acting on behalf of the Russian government.

Treasury said in a release, “Beginning in early 2024, executives at RT -- Russia’s state-funded news media outlet -- began an even more nefarious effort to covertly recruit unwitting American influencers in support of their malign influence campaign. RT used a front company to disguise its own involvement or the involvement of the Russian government in content meant to influence U.S. audiences.”

“Today’s action underscores the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to hold state-sponsored actors accountable for activities that aim to deteriorate public trust in our institutions. Treasury will not waver in our commitment to safeguarding our democratic principles and the integrity of our election systems,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.

The coordinated efforts by DOJ and Treasury come at a time when the intelligence community and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are on high alert to support state and local election officials in their efforts to prepare for the November elections.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI and CISA in August confirmed efforts by Iran-backed actors to influence the November elections in a joint statement over observed activity impacting political campaigns.