Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept, the Conventional Prompt Strike weapon system being integrated onto the first Zumwalt-class destroyer and more.
Todd Serres, the Air Force's associate chief of command and control and integrated air and missile defense, spoke about the service's Agile Combat Employment concept this week:
Air base defense for Agile Combat Employment will need large upfront investment, official says
Fully implementing the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept in the Indo-Pacific will require large upfront investments to better defend proliferated bases, an Air Force official said this week at the Mitchell Institute.
The Navy's lead Zumwalt-class destroyer will be the first of the service's surface ships equipped with the Lockheed Martin-made Conventional Prompt Strike -- a hypersonic boost-glide weapon system for long-range missile flight:
HII awarded $155 million for DDG-1000 modernization and CPS integration
HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $154.8 million contract modification for the modernization of the Navy's lead Zumwalt-class destroyer, beginning the integration of the hypersonic Conventional Prompt Strike weapon system onto the ship, according to a Tuesday contract announcement.
Thirteen Tranche 0 satellites are scheduled for launch today:
SDA set for second of three Tranche 0 launches
The Space Development Agency on Thursday will launch the second round of Tranche 0 satellites for its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, though another launch will be needed for the final few satellites.
In a request for information issued this week, the Army Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems announces its intent to "collect data and information on existing" soft kill and active protection systems:
Army looking for existing 'soft kill' EW vehicle protection system
The Army is seeking information from industrial manufacturers to develop a soft kill, electronic warfare system to protect tactical vehicles from incoming projectiles, according to a public announcement.
Defense Department acquisition chief Bill LaPlante said this week that "scale" is the most important aspect of the Replicator program and one the Pentagon has long chased concerning emerging technologies:
Pentagon officials 'cagey' but still talking up Replicator as the next 'big bet'
The Pentagon this week revealed what some drone manufacturers hope is a game-changing moment with the announcement of the new "Replicator" program and top defense officials, though reluctant to provide details, say the decision to award contracts in the next 18 to 24 months for thousands of small, autonomous weapon systems signals a major milestone in the mission to counter China's massive military.