The Missile Defense Agency, Defense Security Service, Defense Business Board and DOT&E are among the highlights in this Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest.
The Long Range Discrimination Radar's preliminary design has been approved:
MDA approves preliminary design, 'dual-pol' tech for Long Range Discrimination Radar
The Missile Defense Agency has approved Lockheed Martin's preliminary design for the Long Range Discrimination Radar -- a program central to Pentagon plans to improve homeland defense by bolstering the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program with an unprecedented ability to detect ballistic missile threats by the end of this decade.
The Defense Security Service is changing its focus:
Defense Security Service promises 'intelligence-led' approach
Citing increased threats, the Defense Security Service, the Pentagon agency tasked with overseeing contractor facilities and protecting classified information, is shifting away from "schedule-driven compliance" and refocusing on "an intelligence-led, asset-focused and threat-driven approach to industrial security oversight."
The Defense Business Board is working on a new study:
Work tasks DBB with study on how tech could reduce workforce costs
The Defense Business Board has launched a study examining how technology can help the workforce increase efficiency and reduce related costs. The board will meet Thursday to discuss the effort.
Document: DBB terms of reference for technology and the future workforce study
DOT&E's workforce is shrinking:
DOT&E: Operational test workforce 'steadily declining'
The Pentagon's operational test workforce has been shrinking and is expected to be 42 percent smaller in 2020 than it was in 2010, according to a recent report sent to lawmakers by the Defense Department's top weapons tester.
Document: DOT&E report on the testing workforce
DARPA is interested in machine learning:
DARPA solicits information for new lifelong machine learning program
The Defense Department's advanced research arm is seeking industry input for a program designed to create systems that continually learn new information, much like living organisms, and apply these lessons to new situations.
Some Navy unmanned systems news:
Navy, eyeing MQ-25 competition launch this summer, awards interim contracts to eligible bidders
The Navy has awarded another round of interim contracts to four eligible bidders in the MQ-25 program, a move intended to keep industry teams in place as the government this summer prepares to launch a multibillion-dollar competition to develop and field an unmanned logistics aircraft that promises to extend the combat reach of aircraft carriers.