Friday, May 10, 2024
Friday, May 10, 2024
DOD reprogramming requests, Air Force news and more highlight this Friday INSIDER Daily Digest.
Inside Defense obtained a slew of reprogramming requests that have not yet been made public. Here's our coverage so far:
DOD wants $50M transfer to develop commercial-based, synthetic aperture radar satellite
The Defense Department is asking Congress to approve a $50 million transfer to a program that would develop a commercially based, micro-synthetic aperture radar satellite prototype aimed at using "deep learning analytics" to improve the speed and exploitation of raw satellite imagery, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.
Document: DOD commercial-based, SAR satellite reprogramming request
DOD seeks funds for classified ballistic missile defense efforts in the Pacific
The Defense Department, with an eye toward military provocations from North Korea, is seeking approval from Congress to authorize a transfer of $70 million to support classified ballistic missile defense programs for U.S. forces in the Pacific, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.
Document: DOD's RKV reprogramming request
DOD seeks $5M for classified program in account aimed at countering mobile nukes
The Pentagon's gambit to bolster missile defense spending in the final weeks of the fiscal year with a September reprogramming request seeks $5 million for a classified project that appears to be linked to an effort aiming to harness artificial intelligence to hunt and destroy nuclear-tipped mobile missiles.
Document: DOD reprogramming request for 'missile defeat enhancements'
The Missile Defense Agency's No. 2 official spoke at an industry event this week:
MDA deputy calls for faster testing of new technologies
The Missile Defense Agency needs to test faster and try out new, less-mature technologies as the Defense Department attempts to keep pace with North Korea's developing ballistic missile and nuclear programs, according to MDA's No. 2 official.
A slew of Air Force news:
Air Force Block 5 Reaper fleet still facing overheating problems
Block 5 MQ-9s, the latest addition to the Reaper fleet, are performing well in combat but some have overheated while landing, according to the 432nd Air Wing commander.
AMC developing plan for fleet-wide predictive maintenance
Air Mobility Command has initiated three pilot programs that it hopes will put the command on a path toward better understanding the condition of its aircraft and predicting when parts will fail.
ACC's next-gen ISR study looks at upgrading, replacing Reapers
Air Force Air Combat Command plans to wrap up its study of next-generation intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike capabilities in November, which could open the door to an analysis of alternatives in 2018, according to a service spokeswoman.
Air Force prepares for nuclear war in new ICBM training exercise
A new large-scale training exercise for the intercontinental ballistic missile force is offering insight into how prepared crews are for daily life on alert and in emergencies.
21st Space Wing commander eyes continued NSDC experimentation
The commander of the 21st Space Wing said recently he's encouraged by the work the National Space Defense Center is doing to help set doctrine and improve space warfighting concepts and expects that as the center shifts its focus to operations, it will continue to provide opportunities for experimentation.
Air Force still evaluating whether to hire commercial WGS operators
The Air Force is still working to determine whether and how to integrate commercial operators to perform some of its Wideband Global Satellite Communications mission, according to the commander of the 50th space wing.
Air Force may shorten AOA time lines
The Air Force is looking to shorten the length of its analysis of alternatives process, after a recent "scrub" of the service's acquisition processes highlighted opportunities to better utilize existing authorities to develop and field capabilities faster.
The Navy this week awarded a pair of unmanned systems contracts:
Navy awards two contracts for XLUUV
The Navy on Thursday awarded contracts worth $42 million and $43 million respectively to a Boeing-Huntington Ingalls team and Lockheed Martin for the next stage of the Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle program.