Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest features news on the defense contractor services market, a Sikorsky protest of the Air Force's Black Hawk helicopter replacement program, the Army's tactical networks, the missile defense budget and more.
Inside Defense takes a broad look at the defense contractor services market:
As other contractors exit services market, General Dynamics bets big on it
L3 Technologies was one of the first to sell off its services business, spinning off what's now Engility in 2012. Lockheed Martin followed suit in 2016, divesting its information systems and global solutions unit.
Sikorsky disagrees with the Air Force's data and software requirements for the Black Hawk helicopter replacement program:
Sikorsky files pre-award bid protest over data rights in UH-1N replacement program
Sikorsky this week filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office in a disagreement over the Air Force's data and software requirements for the UH-1N replacement program.
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The Army wants money to revamp its tactical network infrastructure:
In FY-19 request, Army seeks to transform tactical network
In its fiscal year 2019 budget request, the Army seeks funding to help it revamp its communications and mission command infrastructure.
Related network news from this week's Inside the Army:
Network CFT pitches modernization plans to industry
Industry representatives last week gained insight into the Army's vision of its future tactical network, which the service laid out in a strategy submitted to Congress earlier this month.
Army delivering electronic warfare systems to units in Europe
Three Army units in Europe are receiving a set of interim electronic warfare capabilities designed to counter near-peer adversaries, with further updates to come next year.
Missile defense budget news:
MDA to select best 'low-power' laser design this year; eyes 'high-power' laser contract in 2023
The Missile Defense Agency this year plans to select the best of three "low-power" lasers being designed by industry for follow-on development, but the agency's budget documents show a laser potentially powerful enough to disable ballistic missiles in their boost phase is not planned to be put on contract until 2023.
MDA advances plan for $1.9 billion buy of Raytheon-built SM-3 Block IB interceptors
The Missile Defense Agency is asking Congress for permission to negotiate a five-year contract for Aegis ballistic missile defense interceptors, a potential $1.9 billion deal with Raytheon for Standard Missile-3 Block IB guided missiles beginning in fiscal year 2019 the agency estimates would cost $306 million less than if procured annually.
Document: MDA's FY-19 budget justification books
The Air Force really wants the RQ-20B Puma unmanned aerial system:
Air Force adds new-start RQ-20B procurement program in FY-19 request
The Air Force is asking Congress to fund a new $13.5 million procurement program for the RQ-20B Puma in its fiscal year 2019 budget request, after the service unsuccessfully tried to reprogram money to purchase the small unmanned aerial vehicles last year.
More unmanned system news:
Navy seeks more funding for MQ-25 as it prepares for 2026 IOC
Citing a 2026 initial operational capability threshold, the Navy is seeking $234 million more than projected for its unmanned tanker program in fiscal year 2019.
Building a new F-35B vertical lift-fan test facility could face delays:
Budget uncertainty may hinder F-35B depot-level maintenance
Budget uncertainty may stall a contract award this spring to construct an F-35B vertical lift-fan test facility at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, to support depot-level maintenance.
Having 355 ships isn't as important as having the capability of 355 ships:
Kelley: Navy should focus on achieving 355-ship capability, not count
The Navy should shift its focus on ship count to the capability various platforms bring to operators, according to a top unmanned systems official.