The INSIDER daily digest -- Jan. 27, 2020

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on future Pentagon autonomous system development, a counter-hypersonic technology development project, the Virginia-class attack submarine program and more.

The Defense Department is seeking feedback from industry on advanced autonomous systems under the auspices of a new project, "Fire Support Next":

Pentagon eyes next generation of autonomous weapon systems

Pentagon officials will meet with industry this spring to discuss a wide range of autonomous system developments in the coming years, according to a public notice which sheds more light on how Defense Department officials envision pairing machines and humans on the battlefield.

Document: DOD notice on 'fire support next'

Late last week, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded Northrop Grumman Systems' Redondo Beach, CA, business unit a $13 million cost-plus-fee contract for the "Glide Breaker" program:

Northrop wins new 'Glide Breaker' counter-hypersonic tech development project

The Defense Department has tapped Northrop Grumman to lead Glide Breaker -- an advanced technology development program that aims to develop components that one day could enable a lightweight interceptor to defeat hypersonic boost-glide weapons at very long range.

The most recent contract order for Virginia-class attack submarines will cost more than originally projected:

Navy tallies nearly $34 billion tab, including GFE, for Block V Virginia-class buy

The newest Virginia-class submarine order is estimated to cost nearly $10 billion more than the $22.2 billion contract announced last month, thanks to the price tag of major subsystems the government must separately procure and deliver to the shipbuilder for inclusion in the new boats.

When Defense Department acquisition chief Ellen Lord previewed the new Adaptive Acquisition Framework in October, she called it "the most transformational acquisition policy change we've seen in decades":

Pentagon releases new guidelines to accelerate acquisition

The Pentagon has released its new Adaptive Acquisition Framework, which defense officials say will dramatically accelerate a notoriously slow and cumbersome system.

Document: DOD's adaptive acquisition framework

The Government Accountability Office last month denied Raytheon's protest of a Ship Self Defense System contract award. GAO only recently released its full decision:

GAO: Navy found Raytheon's technical edge in SSDS bid not worth higher price

In evaluating the Ship Self-Defense System, the Navy found Raytheon's technical edge was not worth its much higher price, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

Document: GAO decision on Raytheon's SSDS protest