Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
The final INSIDER Daily Digest of 2017 features news on missile defense, cruise missiles, space, JSTARS, Army vehicles, the KC-46 tanker, the Columbia-class SSBN program, the F-35 and the Small Diameter Bomb II programs.
Should the Missile Defense Agency transfer the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to the Army?
Army reviewing MDA proposal to transfer THAAD responsibility to service
The Army is reviewing a draft proposal from the Missile Defense Agency that calls for transferring responsibility for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system from the agency to the service, a long-planned move first envisioned when MDA was established in 2002 to field an operational Ballistic Missile Defense System.
Weapons developed under the "Gray Wolf" program will broaden the Air Force's portfolio of missiles:
Lockheed, Northrop to prototype modular 'Gray Wolf' cruise missiles
Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman each secured $110 million contracts to prototype and demonstrate a low-cost, subsonic "Gray Wolf" cruise missile for the Air Force Research Laboratory, out of a pool of seven companies.
The Space Enterprise Consortium aims to establish a pool of companies to respond to a range of space technology needs throughout the Defense Department:
Space Enterprise Consortium interest could surpass $100M ceiling
The Air Force's new mechanism to prototype space capabilities may be more popular than anticipated, prompting the service to consider what to do if the program hits its $100 million project ceiling before the end of its initial five-year term.
Over the past few years, the number of days JSTARS jets stay in depot has risen from about 200 to more than 400:
Northrop misses JSTARS availability goals despite contract changes
The Air Force says Northrop Grumman hasn't improved the quality or speed of maintenance on E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System jets despite efforts to nudge the company along, although Northrop argues it is taking steps to better its workflow.
Defense Business Briefing
Want defense business news delivered straight to your inbox?
Inside Defense's free weekly feature, the Defense Business Briefing, offers the latest in defense industry news.
A request for information issued this month will aid an analysis of the Army's Vehicle Protection Suite program:
Army issues RFI for Vehicle Protection Suite program
The Army has begun seeking information on "performance capabilities, technical data, and maturity" of protection technologies for its ground combat and tactical wheeled vehicles.
The Army is expected to issue a full-rate production decision for the Paladin Integrated Management system in FY-18:
Army awards BAE $228 million contract for PIM
The Army has awarded the third and final contract with BAE Systems for low-rate initial production of the Paladin Integrated Management system's M109A7 self-propelled howitzer and M992A3 ammunition carrier vehicles, with the option to purchase full-rate production vehicles beginning in fiscal year 2018.
The FAA's amended-type certification verified that the 767-2C, a modified 767, is safe and reliable to be an airborne refueling tanker:
KC-46 achieves amended-type FAA certification
The Federal Aviation Administration has signed off on one of two key certifications for the Boeing-built KC-46 tanker, the company announced this week.
The Navy's Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program has some challenges:
GAO: Navy 'underrepresented technology risks' in Columbia-class program
The Navy underrepresented technology risks in its largest acquisition program, the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, during a readiness assessment completed two years ago, according to a Dec. 21 Government Accountability Office report.
Document: GAO report on the Columbia-class submarine program
Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan spoke this week about the F-35 program's posture toward production:
DEPSECDEF advocates for 'full-rate production mindset' on F-35
Although the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is not slated to enter full-rate production until the mid-2020s, the Pentagon's deputy secretary of defense wants the program to operate as though it is already producing at full capacity.
The Air Force's Small Diameter Bomb II program has suffered another delay:
Air Force reports delay in Small Diameter Bomb II program, result of F-35 program delays
The Air Force is delaying a key acquisition milestone for Raytheon's $4.5 billion Small Diameter Bomb II program, pushing the target date for initial fielding of the new weapon on both naval variants of the Joint Strike Fighter due to a schedule slip stemming from the F-35 Joint Program Office's effort to formalize the Block 4 package of capabilities for the new stealth fighter.
Happy Holidays and best wishes for a prosperous New Year! The next INSIDER Daily Digest will be posted on Jan. 2, 2018.