The INSIDER daily digest -- June 29, 2022

By John Liang / June 29, 2022 at 2:14 PM

Today's INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the new, multibillion-dollar Mobile Protected Firepower program contract won by General Dynamics, the Missile Defense Agency's Next Generation Interceptor effort and more.

General Dynamics this week won a multibillion-dollar Mobile Protected Firepower program contract:

General Dynamics wins Army's $6B Mobile Protected Firepower program

General Dynamics Land Systems has beaten BAE Systems in the competition to produce the Army's new light tank, and it has received an order for the first 26 vehicles, according to an announcement today from the service.

Northrop Grumman has begun building a nozzle throat for the Next Generation Interceptor, which allows for the propellant to expel gases in a specified direction, optimizing thrust and control of the rocket motor:

Northrop pivots from NGI blueprint to 'long-pole-in-the-tent' component manufacturing

Northrop Grumman has begun manufacturing a critical component of its Next Generation Interceptor, weaving composite threads to create a newly designed rocket throat nozzle to demonstrate the efficacy of its proposal in a competition against Lockheed Martin to build a new intercontinental ballistic missile killer.

The Space Force's Space Warfighting Analysis Center currently has just six civilian and 15 military staff with a $37 million budget, making the center relatively smaller than peer organizations:

After 'bumpy' start, SWAC seeks to spearhead force designs with new congressional backing

With four major projects in the books and several others in the works, it could be easy to think the Space Force's recently created Space Warfighting Analysis Center has a massive budget and staff to match.

The Air Force is partnering with historically black colleges to work on tactical autonomy:

Air Force to create UARC for tactical autonomy in partnership with HBCUs

The Air Force will stand up its first University Affiliated Research Center focused on tactical autonomy, which will be awarded to a historically black college or university, the service announced Monday.

A five-year $2.3 billion contract includes options for the buyers to procure an additional 135 Black Hawks on top of the deal's base, bringing the total potential value of the contract up to $4.4 billion:

Army, Sikorsky announce $2.3B Black Hawk procurement deal

Sikorsky will provide the Army, other government agencies and foreign militaries with at least 120 Black Hawk helicopters through 2027 thanks to a multibillion-dollar procurement deal that has options to nearly double in size.

News from Poland and the Aegis Ashore site based there:

Aegis Ashore Poland activates radar, combat system; MDA eyes EPAA Phase 3 in early 2023

The U.S. project to establish a second Aegis Ashore site in Europe -- beleaguered by construction problems that have delayed by five years plans to declare the system operational -- achieved an important benchmark this month when the Navy activated the radar and weapon system even as work to complete the physical structure in Poland continues.

Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter recently said "consideration" discussions are underway for the contract for the VC-25B, where Boeing faces monetary consequences for its failure to meet delivery deadlines:

Hunter: Air Force has 'struggled' to reach agreement with Boeing on contracts

The Air Force is currently negotiating with Boeing to resolve critical issues on major contracts that could entail further financial penalties for the company, according to the service's top acquisition official.

215308