Friday, April 19, 2024
Friday, April 19, 2024
This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on unmanned systems, the B-2 bomber, the Navy's strike fighter aircraft fleet and more.
We start off with some unmanned systems news:
Roper: Air Force to establish MQ-9 replacement effort in FY-22 budget
The Air Force has begun studying options to replace the MQ-9 Reaper and aims to identify a way forward in the fiscal year 2022 budget proposal, a senior official said yesterday.
Marine Corps wants MUX family of systems, land-based UAS
The Marine Corps is moving toward a family of systems strategy for its Marine Air Ground Task Force Unmanned Expeditionary program that would include a land-based unmanned aerial system.
Air Force acquisition chief Will Roper told lawmakers during a House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee hearing yesterday that the service is considering two ideas for replacing the canceled B-2 Defensive Management System Modernization program:
Air Force may repurpose failed B-2 DMS-M work for other programs
The Air Force is working with Northrop Grumman to determine whether technology developed as part of the canceled B-2 Defensive Management System Modernization program can be used for other Air Force applications.
Navy acquisition chief Hondo Geurts also testified at the same hearing:
Navy strike fighter shortfall will remain until 2029
The Navy does not expect to eliminate its shortfall of strike fighter aircraft until 2029 and a senior service official conceded today to lawmakers the gap could widen as a result of attrition before then.
Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist was also on Capitol Hill this week at a different committee:
Norquist sees potential disruptions to Columbia-class subs, IVAS if CR comes to pass
Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist said today major Pentagon "new-start" programs, including the Navy's Columbia-class submarine and the Army's new soldier night vision system, would be delayed should Congress pass a stopgap continuing resolution Oct. 1, rather than a regular budget for fiscal year 2021.
A new report released today recommends whole-of-government reforms to implement a new "layered cyber deterrence" strategy:
New report recommends action on DOD weapon system cybersecurity, defense industrial base
The Cyberspace Solarium Commission is recommending Congress direct the Defense Department to continuously evaluate the cybersecurity of its weapon systems, require defense contractors to participate in threat information sharing programs and re-assess the size of its Cyber Mission Force.
U.S. European Command is seeking additional money from Congress:
U.S. European Command identifies $312M in unfunded priorities
U.S. European Command has sent Congress a $312 million unfunded priorities list, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.
Document: EUCOM's FY-21 unfunded priorities list
Inside Defense interviewed Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, commander of the service's 96th Test Wing, at the recent Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando:
Air Force racing to finish HH-60W Jolly Green developmental testing by October
ORLANDO, FL -- The Air Force is striving to complete developmental testing for its new search-and-rescue helicopter, the HH-60W Jolly Green, by its original deadline of October -- even though the service won't be able to fully test all the aircraft's systems by then.