Thursday, April 25, 2024
Thursday, April 25, 2024
This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest looks at Raytheon's chances of getting further work on the Navy's Next Generation Jammer program, lawmakers' responses to the Pentagon's most recent "omnibus" reprogramming request plus defense contractor earnings reports and much more.
Looks like Raytheon won't get a chance to continue working on the Navy's Next Generation Jammer program:
GAO rejects Raytheon's protest, denying company a lock in Next Generation Jammer program
Government lawyers have sustained the Navy's decision to boot Raytheon from the Next Generation Jammer Increment 2 technology demonstration program, denying the prime contractor for the NGJ Increment 1 program a lock on the service's electronic attack business and giving Northrop Grumman and L3 a leg up in the multibillion-dollar competition.
We also have news on the congressional response to DOD's "omnibus" reprogramming request submitted in July:
Congress backs nearly $4B in Pentagon funding transfers, including new-start programs
Defense lawmakers have approved the lion's share of the Pentagon's request to shift billions of dollars in existing funds toward new and emerging priorities, according to a recently filed congressional response to a July "omnibus" reprogramming document.
Congress approves $49M realignment for Bradley replacement prototypes
House lawmakers have denied half of the Army's request to transfer funds to purchase Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle prototypes.
Congress rejects Navy HELIOS, PE investigation effort reprogramming requests
Defense lawmakers rejected several Navy reprogramming requests that would have funded a consulting group for surface warfare reforms, supported developing a high-energy laser and financed an effort related to investigating physiological episodes occurring within the F/A-18 and E/A-18 fleets.
It's earnings week, so up on today's docket is Boeing, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman:
Boeing makes case for investments in key programs; argues wins will pay off for decades
Boeing executives today defended the company's efforts to win recent programs, just one day after the chief executive of Lockheed Martin hinted the prices they bid might result in losses.
General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman report sales improvements
Buoyed by acquisitions, both General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman said they saw sales and profit boosts during their most recent quarter.
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Some unmanned systems news:
Air Force considers rapidly prototyping MQ-9, RQ-4 sense-and-avoid software
An effort to outfit the Air Force's large remotely piloted aircraft with autonomous sense-and-avoid software will rely on agile development and could use rapid-acquisition authorities offered by Congress.
The Pentagon's No. 2 civilian official spoke to reporters this week on the heels of a National Space Council meeting:
Shanahan: Full integration of NRO in Space Force unlikely, at least to start
Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters Tuesday he does not expect the intelligence community will be integrated with the proposed Space Force until later in the organization's evolution, noting there is disagreement within the Pentagon on how quickly the new military department should grow.
Lt. Gen. Warren Berry, the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for logistics, engineering and force protection, spoke this week at a National Defense Transportation Association conference:
Air Force exploring rapid-deployment options in European, Pacific theaters
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Air Force staff in two theaters are preparing scenarios for how they could rapidly deploy and use temporary bases in case of war with Russia or China, according to a service official.
The Army intends to use the rapid prototyping authority known as Section 804 to award contracts for multichannel radios:
Army using section 804 to procure new air-to-ground radios
The Army is seeking industry input on developing multichannel radios that would meet the service's air-to-ground communications requirements for aviation platforms.