Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on uncrewed aircraft systems being developed by both the Defense Innovation Unit and Marine Corps along with the Pentagon seeking accessible government data and more.
The Blue UAS program, which began in 2020 in response to legislation in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act prohibiting Defense Department procurement of foreign-made UAS, aims to accelerate and scale the prototyping phase of reliable commercial UAS technology:
DIU updates Blue UAS program, adding new systems
After receiving user feedback, the Defense Innovation Unit has updated its Blue Uncrewed Aerial System program, including adding approved capabilities to its "Blue List," increasing the program's framework options and reducing update approval time through consistent software monitoring.
Open DAGIR, which stands for Open Data and Application Government Owned Interoperable Repositories, is meant to be a multivendor ecosystem that purchases the infrastructure needed so the government can own its data, procures enterprise licenses for mature applications and creates a competitive environment for future software development, according to the Defense Department:
CDAO announces new 'Open DAGIR' approach to government and industry data collaboration
The Chief Digital Artificial Intelligence Office today announced its intent to embark on a new approach to accessible government data and a smoother acquisition process for digital capabilities through enterprise-level contracts and licenses called Open DAGIR.
In fiscal year 2023, contractors Kaman and Leidos secured rapid prototyping contracts to develop solutions for the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle-Expeditionary Logistics program, solutions which are scheduled to be test-flown in July:
Marine Corps prepares for July flight test of mid-sized logistics drones
The Marine Corps is preparing for an initial "fly-off" test that will evaluate two drone prototypes competing for a future program of record that will field a medium-size uncrewed aircraft system to deliver supplies to forward-deployed forces.
A House lawmaker is planning to introduce an amendment to the fiscal year 2025 defense policy bill that would require the placement of Apache helicopters at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, MI, if the bill is passed by both the House and Senate:
Michigan congressman wants Apache helicopters for Selfridge Air National Guard Base
Without a clear commitment from the Air Force to replace retiring A-10 Thunderbolt IIs at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, MI, with another fighter mission, a Michigan congressman is now asking the Army to deliver AH-64E Apache helicopters to the installation, according to documents shared exclusively with Inside Defense.
Document: Lawmaker's letter on basing Apaches at Selfridge
The chief executive of HII spoke this week about how his company is working to bolster its labor force:
HII CEO talks bolstering workforce, fighting back against delays
Labor is shipbuilder HII’s “biggest risk,” CEO Chris Kastner said Wednesday, and the company is implementing several programs and incentives to mitigate this -- amid a decline in the company’s workforce following the COVID-19 pandemic.