Thursday, April 25, 2024
Thursday, April 25, 2024
This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest looks as how the Air Force is using "weapons design agents" to develop and buy certain munitions as well as a pending Raytheon contract for airborne FAB-T terminals.
The Air Force is using "weapons design agents" to develop and buy certain munitions:
New approach to munitions development could cut down on long-term, sole-source production awards
The Air Force is changing how it develops and buys certain munitions by using "weapons design agents," an approach that lets the service own technical data and broadly compete production contracts.
It looks like Raytheon will be getting a contract for airborne FAB-T terminals:
Air Force to award Raytheon risk-reduction contract for airborne FAB-T terminals in early 2019
The Air Force appears to be moving forward with a drawn-out effort to develop airborne satellite communication terminals as part of its Family of Advanced Beyond Line of Sight Terminals program, releasing a justification document late last month that details its plan to sole-source the effort to Raytheon.
Document: Air Force FAB-T J&A document
In case you missed it while getting back into the work groove after the holiday break, the Missile Defense Agency has renamed its Missile Defense Tracking System:
MDA rebrands Missile Defense Tracking System the Space Sensor Layer, readies prototype RFP
The Missile Defense Agency has rebranded the Missile Defense Tracking System -- a space-based sensor network envisioned to track enemy long-range ballistic and hypersonic missiles from launch to impact -- the Space Sensor Layer program and plans to brief industry this month on a second round of technology prototyping for the desired orbital capability.
Also ICYMI, Inside the Navy had the scoop this week on the service's decision to pursue a two-ship aircraft carrier buy:
Courtney: Navy to purchase CVN-80, CVN-81 in dual-buy format, saving $4 billion
After several years of planning and discussions, the Defense Department notified Congress today that it would pursue a two-ship buy of the third and fourth Gerald Ford-class aircraft carriers, a move that will save an estimated $4 billion, a congressman overseeing Navy shipbuilding told Inside Defense.
Additionally, here's another look at a story that ran during the break on the budget challenges facing now-acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan:
Spotlight on Shanahan as DOD finalizes budget without Mattis
Just a week ago the Pentagon was scheduled to receive a $50 billion Christmas present from President Trump, but the future of the defense budget has been called into question as he has ordered a speedier-than-expected exit for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and a surprise promotion for Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan.