Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense program, the Air Force's decision to base some of its C-130J aircraft in Georgia and much more.
The planned milestone C review for the Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense program was delayed earlier this year as the result of the coronavirus outbreak and comes as the program works to recover from a disastrous 2016 limited-user testing event:
IAMD misses November milestone, but Army says program remains on schedule
The Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense program -- a $7.9 billion effort vital to service plans to detect, track and defeat modern air threats -- suffered a minor setback this week, missing a planned Nov. 20 milestone review that aimed to transition it from more than a decade of development to initial production.
An Air Force decision to base C-130J aircraft in Georgia has raised eyebrows on Capitol Hill:
Smith accuses Air Force of politicizing C-130J basing decision
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee is calling the Air Force's decision this week to reveal four preferred alternative Air National Guard C-130J bases -- including one in Georgia -- a politically motivated move that muddies the service's strategic basing process.
More Air Force news:
Roper: Retiring aging aircraft would mean 'immediate improvement' to Air Force readiness rates
The head of Air Force acquisition said today he expects the service would see "immediate improvement" in its readiness rates if it were authorized to retire older aircraft as proposed in its fiscal year 2021 budget request.
USAF moves to deploy ABMS technologies, designates RCO as acquisition lead
Air Force acquisition executive Will Roper signed a memo today that transitions the experimental Advanced Battle Management System program to a "demonstration-deployment phase" and designates the service's Rapid Capabilities Office as the "integrating" program executive office to buy and field new technologies.
Air Force to integrate some interim KC-46 RVS upgrades
The Air Force has completed its evaluation of Boeing's interim KC-46 remote vision system upgrade pitch and plans to integrate "a few capabilities" as it works toward replacing the existing system, service acquisition executive Will Roper told reporters today.
The transition to the Biden administration is moving forward:
Biden's defense team ready to land at Pentagon
Though President-elect Biden has yet to announce his nominee for defense secretary, members of his transition team are scheduled to arrive at the Pentagon on Monday to prepare for his upcoming administration.
PAE chief says Biden administration could bolster company's State Department work
The chief executive of PAE says President-elect Biden's promise to reengage internationally could lead to growth in the company's State Department work.
(For more coverage of the transition from the Trump to Biden administrations, click here.)
Gen. David Thompson, the vice chief of space operations, said during the recent Schriever Space Futures Forum that the Space Force is in the last phase of design work for the new Space Warfighting Analysis Center:
Space Force in final design phase for new Space Warfighting Analysis Center
The Space Force is finalizing the organizational details of a new Space Warfighting Analysis Center, which will play a key role in developing advanced tactics and proposing new force design elements for the service.
The Army's top civilian has signed a new modernization memo:
Army secretary signs directive to align policies, organizations to reflect modernization approach
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy in a newly signed directive is requiring the service's major organizations within its modernization enterprise to align policies and processes to reflect Army Futures Command's approach toward modernization.
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael Groen, head of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, spoke to reporters at the Pentagon this week:
JAIC director: AI 'not a black box a contractor is going to deliver to you'
The Joint Artificial Intelligence Center's new director is imploring Defense Department components to understand AI and it uses, rather than just spend money on it, including through the creation of a new "missions directorate" to work with DOD organizations on how they can use AI and machine learning.
Last but not least, some cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:
DOD prepares to release assessment guide for cyber certification program
The Defense Department is planning to release its assessment guide for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program next week, outlining the details for how companies will be evaluated for maturity levels one through three.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The next INSIDER Daily Digest will be posted on Monday, Nov. 30.