Thursday, April 18, 2024
Thursday, April 18, 2024
This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from this week's AUSA Global Force Symposium, Oshkosh's ongoing protest of a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contract award, the Air Force's T-7 trainer aircraft and a lot more.
Let's start off with the latest on Oshkosh's protest of a multibillion-dollar Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contract award to AM General:
In JLTV protest, Oshkosh alleges problems with AM General's production process, corrosion testing
In protesting the recent award of the follow-on contract of the Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle to AM General, Oshkosh claims that the government ignored problems related to AM General’s production process, corrosion testing and the cost evaluation.
Here's more coverage from this week's AUSA Global Force Symposium:
New-start counter-drone budget proposed for FY-25 to align with Army strategic priorities
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Army leaders drafting the service's fiscal year 2025 budget proposal are considering establishing a dedicated program element for counter-drone technology, a move that if adopted would stake out a consolidated place in long-term spending plans for projects currently dispersed across multiple air defense research and development funding lines.
PAC-3 armed with new software intercepts advanced medium-range ballistic missile target
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The Army last week executed a live-fire test of the Patriot air defense system -- pitting a developmental PAC-3 software upgrade to address more advanced threats -- against a medium-range ballistic missile target at a test site in the Western Pacific.
Army executes prototype cannon-launched, hypervelocity guided projectile, sets record
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The Army achieved record-setting distance when demonstrating a cannon-launched hypervelocity projectile prototype -- a munition capable of maneuvering in flight and striking moving targets -- in an event that points to a future where artillery units will be able to reach targets at ranges that today require missiles at a fraction the cost.
BAE making room to ramp up AMPV production by moving other combat vehicle lines
HUNTSVILLE, VA -- BAE Systems today announced a major realignment of its combat vehicle manufacturing operations -- including repositioning significant industrial capacity -- as part of a long-term plan to increase manufacturing rates and speed delivery of fighting vehicles to the Army and Marine Corps.
The U.S. military's top uniformed officer spoke this week about a potential new combatant command:
Milley highlights plans for new joint futures 'command' or 'entity' for innovation
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said the Defense Department is preparing to stand up a new joint futures "command" or "entity" sometime this summer to focus on military innovation.
News on Army night-vision goggles:
Lawmaker questions Army secretary over night-vision goggle funding
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) questioned Army Secretary Christine Wormuth during a congressional hearing Thursday about the service's lack of funding for one night-vision goggle program, and its faith in another program that has had challenges.
Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter was on Capitol Hill this week:
Hunter says Boeing will proceed with T-7 production at company's 'own risk'
Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told lawmakers on Wednesday that Boeing has notified the service of its intent to begin production of the initial T-7 aircraft without a formal contract and the company will assume all risk if the initial aircraft do not meet service requirements.
Hunter: Air Force not planning ARRW procurement
The Air Force isn't planning to procure more Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon hypersonic missiles, service acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told lawmakers Wednesday.
Hunter: Air Force aiming to field CCAs in late 2020s
The Air Force plans to field its uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft concept by the end of the decade, service acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told lawmakers Wednesday.
The Navy's top civilian official talked about a dispute between the government and Boeing over Super Hornet intellectual property rights:
SECNAV weighs in on Super Hornet IP dispute
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro defended the service's push to acquire intellectual property related to 20 F/A-18 Super Hornets that have yet to be put on contract with Boeing, saying the Navy needs this data package to perform repairs in the field.
The lead boat of the Columbia-class submarine program is facing delays:
Del Toro: Lead Columbia sub is 10% behind schedule
The lead Columbia-class submarine is now 10% behind schedule, trailing its 84-month timeline by roughly 8.4 months, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told lawmakers at today's House Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing.
Lawmakers want the Army to speed up replacing the weapons it's giving to Ukraine:
Some on House Appropriations defense subcommittee want faster Army weapons procurement
Some members of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee during a hearing Tuesday pushed the Army to replenish its weapons stock faster as it continues to send aid to Ukraine.
Last but by no means least, the latest cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:
DOD CIO acknowledges CMMC launch challenges, commits to rollout as program review continues
DOD Chief Information Officer John Sherman assured lawmakers at a Thursday hearing on the rollout of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, acknowledging it has faced delays following an internal review while committing that it will be carried out successfully.