The Insider

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
February 27, 2023 at 5:00 AM

Senior defense officials are scheduled to appear before Congress this week and are also slated to speak at several think tank events.

Monday

The Brookings Institution hosts a discussion on arms control following Russia's suspension of its participation in the New START Treaty.

The American Enterprise Institute hosts a discussion with Army Secretary Christine Wormuth on the service's role in the Indo-Pacific region. The event will also feature Gen. Charles Flynn, chief of U.S. Army Pacific.

The Hudson Institute hosts a discussion on U.S. sealift in the Pacific.

GovExec hosts a discussion with senior defense officials on "securing hybrid endpoints."

Tuesday

The House Armed Services Committee holds an oversight hearing on U.S. military support to Ukraine.

The House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee holds a hearing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. servicemembers.

The House Armed Services readiness subcommittee holds a hearing on energy, installations and environment programs.

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee holds an oversight hearing on Ukraine.

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the war in Ukraine.

The new House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party will hold its first hearing at 7 p.m.

Wednesday

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a conversation with Army Secretary Christine Wormuth.

DefenseOne hosts a discussion on combat aircraft.

Thursday

The Hudson Institute hosts a discussion with Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) on the strategic importance of Taiwan.

The Hudson Institute hosts a discussion on building a more resilient Indo-Pacific security architecture.

DefenseOne hosts a discussion on the state of the Army.

Friday

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a conversation with Army acquisition chief Doug Bush.

The Center for a New American Security hosts a discussion with General James Rainey, chief of United States Army Futures Command, and Army acquisition chief Doug Bush.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Feb. 24, 2023
By John Liang
February 24, 2023 at 1:56 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on renewed F-35 engine deliveries, the Army's upcoming budget request, foreign military sales and more.

Engine deliveries for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have resumed:

Grounded F-35s expected to soon return to flight after JPO lifts pause on engine deliveries

An undisclosed number of F-35s that have been grounded since the crash of an F-35B in December are expected to return to flight within weeks, a source with knowledge of the program's status told Inside Defense.

Top Army officials spoke at a Defense Writers Group breakfast this week:

SECARMY: FY-24 budget a 'balancing act,' no funds redirected to increase modernization

The Army's fiscal year 2024 budget request is a "balancing act" that aims to fund the service's modernization goals while also paying for personnel and improvements to housing infrastructure, said the service's top civilian -- and will not include any dramatic funding shifts compared with the FY-23 spending proposal.

Army acquisition chief: Service could improve on 'jointness' when it comes to unmanned aircraft

The Army is in "OK shape" when it comes to its unmanned aircraft, but could improve on taking a more joint approach with other military branches, the service's top acquisition official said Thursday.

The Aerospace Industries Association, National Defense Industrial Association and Professional Services Council have released their recommendations to modernize elements of the U.S. foreign military sales system:

Business groups recommend FMS reforms to DOD 'tiger team' as Biden overhauls arms controls

Amid the release of the Biden administration's revised arms export policy, three leading defense business associations have sent recommendations to a special Pentagon "tiger team" charged with accelerating the U.S. foreign military sales process, especially for Taiwan, which senior military officials -- alarmed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- have said could be invaded by China in the coming years.

Document: Defense industry groups' report on FMS

In December, the Pentagon provided Congress a report required by law that aggregates aviation plans across the military departments and combatant commands and forecasts projected needs for the next 15 years, but didn't publicly release it:

DOD now treating long-term aviation plan -- once public -- as controlled unclassified info

The Defense Department has completed a new, long-term aviation inventory and funding report, and -- in a major break with prior practice -- will no longer make the document public, withholding from scrutiny investment plans for one of the government's largest portfolios that cost more than $50 billion annually to support about 14,000 aircraft.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced last week that it tested Shield AI’s and other DARPA performers’ AI algorithms to control a full-scale F-16 during a demonstration in December:

Shield AI eyes 2025 for AI fighter jet pilots

After demonstrating its artificial intelligence algorithms during an inflight test with an F-16, Shield AI aims to have a version of its self-driving software ready for a fighter jet by 2025.

U.S. commits $2B weapons package to Ukraine on anniversary of Russian invasion
By Tony Bertuca
February 24, 2023 at 5:00 AM

The Defense Department announced a $2 billion security assistance package to Ukraine today on the one-year anniversary of the ongoing Russian invasion, including additional unmanned drones, counter-drone systems, precision ammunition and electronic warfare detection equipment.

The package will be provided by working directly with defense contractors under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, rather than immediately transfer weapons from U.S. stocks.

The new package includes:

  • Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems;
  • Additional 155mm artillery rounds;
  • Munitions for laser-guided rocket systems;
  • CyberLux K8 unmanned aerial systems;
  • Switchblade 600 UAS;
  • Altius-600 UAS;
  • Jump 20 UAS;
  • Counter-UAS and electronic warfare detection equipment;
  • Mine clearing equipment;
  • Secure communications support equipment;
  • Funding for training, maintenance and sustainment.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the conflict and highlighting the more than $32 billion in security assistance the United States has committed in the past year.

“The United States has rallied the world to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable,” he said.

Austin said the United States has specifically provided more than 1,600 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, over 8,500 Javelin anti-tank systems, 232 howitzers, 38 HIMARS and more than two million rounds of artillery ammunition.

Additionally, he noted, the United States has pledged to provide one Patriot air-defense battery, eight National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, 109 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, 31 Abrams tanks and 90 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers.

Many of the systems funded through the USAI, however, will not reach Ukraine for many months, possibly a year or two. Austin also did not address Ukraine’s request for combat aircraft though DOD officials have said conversations continue.

The defense secretary noted the work of the 50-nation Ukraine Contact Group, through which U.S. allies have committed more than $20 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including hundreds of tanks, thousands of other armored vehicles, hundreds of artillery systems and air defense capabilities.

Austin has said the weapons that have been flowing into Ukraine via rapid transfers from U.S. stocks are to be in place for a “spring offensive” intended to dislodge Russian forces from their positions in the eastern part of the country.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Feb. 23, 2023
By John Liang
February 23, 2023 at 1:42 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the delivery of U.S. tanks to Ukraine, Marine Corps amphibious ship requirements, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program and more.

The Army's top civilian spoke at a Defense Writers Group breakfast this morning:

Wormuth outlines estimated timing for delivery of tanks in Ukraine

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth on Thursday told reporters that the delivery of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine will not be as short as "a matter of weeks."

Several Marine Corps officials spoke this week at the National Defense Industrial Association's Expeditionary Warfare Conference:

Amphibs in focus as Marine Corps prepares for operations in global littorals

The Marine Corps is doubling down on its need for 31 traditional amphibious ships and a new class of 35 smaller vessels as it prepares for increasing littoral operations in the Pacific.

Oshkosh Corp.'s chief executive this week gave a virtual presentation at the Citi 2023 Global Industrial Tech and Mobility Conference:

Oshkosh CEO on JLTV contract loss: Company is 'not interested in being a low-margin, commodity-type supplier'

Oshkosh President & CEO John Pfeifer said Wednesday of his company losing a recent potential $8 billion Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contract that the company is "not interested in being a low-margin, commodity-type supplier."

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have the latest cyber defense news:

DOD releases cybersecurity reference architecture designed to meet cyber EO requirements

The Pentagon has updated its cybersecurity reference architecture to address mandates from the 2021 cyber executive order with a focus on zero trust and how associated principles can secure Defense Department business operations and national security systems.

Historically funded through congressional adds, the Rapid Innovation Fund was established in the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act to accelerate the fielding of innovative technologies into military systems:

DOD small business chief to restart Rapid Innovation Fund

The Pentagon is planning to bring back the Rapid Innovation Fund -- a pot of money initially created to help small technology companies bridge "the valley of death" that hasn't been funded for several years.

Boeing to cease F/A-18 Super Hornet production in 2025
By Nick Wilson
February 23, 2023 at 1:42 PM

Boeing plans to deliver its final F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to the Navy late in 2025 and conclude production of the legacy fighter line, according to a Thursday company announcement.

Boeing will continue supporting modernization of the Navy’s existing F/A-18 and EA-18G Growler fleet into the mid-2030s and could extend Super Hornet production to 2027 if the aircraft is selected by an “international customer.”

Service life modification efforts for Block II Super Hornets will stretch through the next decade as Boeing upgrades the fighters with Block III capabilities. The company will continue hiring at its St. Louis site over the next five years to support this operation.

After the last Super Hornet is delivered, Boeing will turn its attention to developing future manned and unmanned military aircraft and ramping up production of systems including the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned refueling aircraft, T-7A Red Hawk digital training system and the Air Force’s F-15EX Eagle II fighters.

The company will upgrade its infrastructure to support these new focus areas, with plans to build three new facilities in St. Louis, the announcement states.

“We are planning for our future, and building fighter aircraft is in our DNA,” said Boeing Air Dominance vice president and St. Louis site leader Steve Nordlund in a statement included in the release. “As we invest in and develop the next era of capability, we are applying the same innovation and expertise that made the F/A-18 a workhorse for the U.S. Navy and air forces around the world for nearly 40 years.”

The INSIDER daily digest -- Feb. 22, 2023
By John Liang
February 22, 2023 at 1:58 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Pentagon's Rapid Innovation Fund, a bunch of upcoming Air Force Scientific Advisory Board studies and more.

Historically funded through congressional adds, the Rapid Innovation Fund was established in the FY-11 National Defense Authorization Act to accelerate the fielding of innovative technologies into military systems:

DOD small business chief to restart Rapid Innovation Fund

The Pentagon is planning to bring back the Rapid Innovation Fund -- a pot of money initially created to help small technology companies bridge "the valley of death" that hasn't been funded for several years.

A slew of upcoming Air Force Scientific Advisory Board studies aim to deliver comprehensive assessments of topics that encompass top priorities for the Air Force, like developing the Advanced Battle Management System, and are largely driven by scenarios relevant in a conflict with China:

AFSAB launches broad reviews of top Air Force capabilities

The Air Force Science Advisory Board is examining four key, next-generation concepts central to ongoing modernization efforts with the goal of publishing reports on each by the end of the calendar year, according to an AFSAB notice.

Document: AFSAB terms of reference for target indication, mobility concepts, operational testing, resiliency studies

The Army's full-rate production review of the service's Integrated Air and Missile Defense program is due out next month:

Army readies IBCS for full-rate production review next month

The Defense Department next month will conduct a full-rate production review of the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) program, a final milestone in the program's 14-year development that aims to unlock a planned $2.2 billion production run through 2027 and pave the way for both fielding to U.S. forces as well as potential foreign customer sales.

The Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute are co-hosting a defense budget meeting this week:

Washington insiders invited to huddle on Pentagon budget 'reprioritization' -- just don't call it a 'cut'

A group of influential Washington analysts is inviting Pentagon and Capitol Hill insiders to convene at the right-leaning Heritage Foundation next week to discuss ways to "reprioritize" the nation's $858 billion defense budget ahead of what promises to be a bruising congressional debate likely to again pit defense hawks against deficit hawks.

The Space Force has released requests for proposals for the third phase of its National Security Space Launch effort:

Space Force releases draft RFPs for NSSL Phase 3

The Space Force is using a new, "dual-lane" approach to open up competition for future National Security Space Launches, according to a draft request for proposals posted by the service Feb. 16.

Lockheed and Juniper partner on 5G routing technology for DOD
By Audrey Decker
February 22, 2023 at 10:34 AM

Touting the demonstration as an industry first, Lockheed Martin and Juniper Networks successfully tested routing technology that prioritizes the flow of critical information from contested environments to military commanders.

The “mission-aware” routing technology delivers the most important information to commanders first and withstands connectivity challenges in remote areas or jamming from adversaries, Lockheed announced today.

Since 5G is seen as a critical enabler of the Pentagon’s Joint All Domain Command and Control effort, there’s been a rise in industry collaborations and investment in 5G technologies.

“By combining our secure 5G.MIL technologies with Juniper’s industry-leading [software-defined wide-area network] solution and routing capabilities, Lockheed Martin is delivering resilient, intelligent communications that keep our customers ahead of evolving threats,” Dan Rice, vice president of 5G.MIL programs at Lockheed said in a statement.

In the demonstration, the companies connected Lockheed’s Dynamic Data Link Manager and Juniper’s Session Smart Routing to create a hybrid SD-WAN solution. Since it’s software-defined, SD-WAN creates a more resilient communications architecture if battle managers are faced with denied or degraded network conditions.

“The hybrid SD-WAN solution connects disparate tactical nodes and networks to form a decentralized, heterogenous network of networks with secure 5G and military data link connectivity,” the company said.

Lockheed and Juniper expect to expand this experimentation in future demonstrations from the lab to field exercises.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Feb. 21, 2023
By John Liang
February 21, 2023 at 1:27 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense program, an upcoming defense budget meeting co-hosted by the Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute, the Space Force's National Security Space Launch effort and more.

Keep an eye out next month for the Army's full-rate production review of the service's Integrated Air and Missile Defense program:

Army readies IBCS for full-rate production review next month

The Defense Department next month will conduct a full-rate production review of the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) program, a final milestone in the program's 14-year development that aims to unlock a planned $2.2 billion production run through 2027 and pave the way for both fielding to U.S. forces as well as potential foreign customer sales.

The Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute will co-host a defense budget meeting this week:

Washington insiders invited to huddle on Pentagon budget 'reprioritization' -- just don't call it a 'cut'

A group of influential Washington analysts is inviting Pentagon and Capitol Hill insiders to convene at the right-leaning Heritage Foundation week to discuss ways to "reprioritize" the nation's $858 billion defense budget ahead of what promises to be a bruising congressional debate likely to again pit defense hawks against deficit hawks.

The Space Force has released three requests for proposals for the third phase of its National Security Space Launch effort:

Space Force releases draft RFPs for NSSL Phase 3

The Space Force is using a new, "dual-lane" approach to open up competition for future National Security Space Launches, according to a draft request for proposals posted by the service Feb. 16.

The latest cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

Tech group urges Pentagon to utilize FedRAMP program for zero-trust architecture transition

The Information Technology Industry Council wants the Defense Department to leverage the General Services Administration's FedRAMP program to help military services and agencies transition to zero trust with help from cloud service providers.

NIST outlines proposed updates to foundational publication for handling CUI

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is offering a preview into upcoming changes to its foundational guide for organizations handling sensitive federal data.

Lockheed's venture arm bets on counter-drone technology
By Jason Sherman
February 21, 2023 at 10:00 AM

Lockheed Martin's venture capital arm, Hanwha Aerospace and AIM13|Crumpton Venture Partners are collectively investing $17.8 million in Fortem Technologies to help the Utah company scale its counter-drone capabilities, a market forecast to grow to $4.7 billion by 2027.

Fortem announced it closed the new funded round, which also included investments by previous backers DCVC and SIgnia Venture Partners, according to a company announcement.

“The capital will help Fortem scale to meet growing demands across multiple regions and market sectors in airspace and security,” Fortem said in a statement.

In addition to developing counter-uncrewed aircraft systems, Fortem is developing technologies for the advanced air mobility market -- which some call flying cars -- a market size the company believes will grow from $8.9 billion in 2022 to $45 billion by 2030.

“Rapid development and legitimate applications of UAS create an increasingly capable threat when in the hands of bad actors,” Chris Moran, Lockheed Martin Ventures vice president, said in a statement. “Lockheed Martin Ventures’ investment in Fortem Technologies signals our commitment to keeping pace with our customer’s requirements, ensuring the U.S. and its allies stay ahead of ready.”

Fortem’s systems have countered suicide drones, such as the Iranian-built Shahed-136, in Ukraine and helped protect skies over the World Cup games in Qatar, according to the company.

Other prior Fortem investors include Boeing, Toshiba and Mubadala Investment Company.

“We are extremely excited to be working with such respected companies in this funding raise,” Fortem Technologies Chief Executive Officer Jon Gruen said in a statement. “Not only does this investment help us address our rapidly growing market demand, but the level of support and industry experience these companies bring allows us to tap into unparalleled business, technical, and industry knowledge.”

Rogers: Accelerate NGI, buy more interceptors, re-look space-based missile defense
By Jason Sherman
February 20, 2023 at 9:15 PM

A key House lawmaker is calling for wide ranging enhancements to homeland ballistic missile defense after North Korea over the weekend launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on a lofted flight into the sea that experts said demonstrated the potential for Pyongyang to strike anywhere in the United States.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said Congress should “fully fund” homeland missile defense projects in the fiscal year 2024 budget that lawmakers will begin work on after the Pentagon delivers the Biden administration’s proposal next month.

“What has to be done is clear -- we must accelerate our missile defense development to outpace the DPRK threat,” Turner said in a Feb. 20 statement. “This includes speeding up the Next Generation Interceptor, putting more interceptors in the ground, and looking to space-based missile defenses.”

North Korea’s state media said that​ the country had tested its Hwasong-15 on Feb. 18, according to the New York Times.

"Japan’s defense minister, Yasukazu Hamada, told reporters that the North Korean missile had reached an altitude of roughly 3,540 miles. If fired at a normal ICBM trajectory, the missile could have traveled about 8,700 miles, enough to reach anywhere in the entire continental United States, he said,” the Times reported.

Additional Ukraine security aid announced amid Biden's surprise visit
By Tony Bertuca
February 20, 2023 at 11:11 AM

The Defense Department, coinciding with President Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine, has announced a $460 million military aid package that includes additional long-range ammunition and Javelin anti-tank weapons.

The package, funded through presidential “drawdown” authority, includes:

  • Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems;
  • Additional 155mm artillery rounds;
  • Additional 120mm mortar rounds;
  • Four air surveillance radars;
  • Additional Javelin anti-armor systems;
  • Approximately 2,000 anti-armor rockets;
  • Four Bradley Infantry Fire Support Team vehicles;
  • Two tactical vehicles to recover equipment;
  • Claymore anti-personnel munitions;
  • Demolition munitions;
  • Night vision devices;
  • Tactical secure communications systems;
  • Medical supplies;
  • Spare parts and other field equipment.

The Biden administration has provided about $30 billion in security aid to Ukraine since the start of a Russian invasion in February 2022.

“When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us,” Biden said in a statement. “But he was dead wrong.”

Though a vocal minority of Republicans on Capitol Hill want to suspend aid to Ukraine, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) recently returned from a trip to Poland and Romania where he and other lawmakers went to conduct oversight of U.S. aid being sent to Ukraine and said he is “confident” the aid is being tracked and put to good use.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said additional U.S. weapons will continue flowing to Ukraine to prepare for a “spring offensive” to try to dislodge Russian forces.

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
February 20, 2023 at 5:00 AM

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several public events in the Washington area this week.

Monday

President's Day.

Tuesday

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro speaks at the National Press Club.

The Air Force Association hosts a discussion with the Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations.

The National Defense Industrial Association hosts a webinar with the Defense Department's director of small business programs.

Wednesday

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion with Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman.

The National Defense Industrial Association hosts its Expeditionary Warfare Conference. The event runs through Thursday.

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation hosts its Army Service Day conference.

The National Defense University Foundation hosts a discussion with the chief of Space Operations Command.

Thursday

The Association of the United States Army hosts a discussion on Army aviation with senior service officials.

Lockheed awarded $1.1 billion contract for sea-based hypersonic strike
By Nick Wilson
February 17, 2023 at 7:11 PM

The Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.1 billion initial contract to integrate hypersonic strike capability onto Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers, according to a Friday announcement from the company.

The contract, which could be worth as much as $2 billion if all options are exercised, will see the Navy’s Zumwalt-class ships outfitted with Lockheed’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) -- a hypersonic boost-glide weapon system for long range missile flight.

According to a Feb. 17 Defense Department contract announcement, Lockheed will "provide program management, engineering development, systems integration, long lead material and special tooling and equipment in support of missile production."

Lockheed plans to have the system ready for the Navy’s use by the “mid-2020s,” the company's release states. Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics Mission Systems will also act as subcontractors for the project.

Lawmakers have indicated that expediting hypersonic program development is a priority, and Lockheed’s release says the company is accelerating development on an “unprecedented timeline.”

Once complete, the CPS system will be the nation’s first sea-based hypersonic strike capability.

Lockheed is also the prime contractor for the Army’s land-based Long Range Hypersonic Weapon program.

Hypersonic missiles can travel at more than five times the speed of sound and are highly maneuverable and survivable against enemy defenses, according to the release.

“Under this contract, prime contractor Lockheed Martin will provide launcher systems, weapon control, All Up Rounds (AURs), which are the integrated missile components, and platform integration support for this naval platform,” the release adds.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Feb. 17, 2023
By John Liang
February 17, 2023 at 2:52 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the upcoming defense budget request, the Navy's Columbia-class submarine effort, the Army's "Arcane Thunder" exercise, the Air Force's Grey Wolf helicopter program and more.

The White House Office of Management and Budget is still expected to submit the president's main budget volume on March 9 but that it will be followed -- possibly on March 13 -- by more detailed programmatic information and justification materials submitted to Congress:

DOD budget to be released March 9 without detailed program information

The White House is planning to send Congress a defense budget request on March 9, but government officials say it won't contain many key programmatic details that will be released later.

Speaking Wednesday at the Nuclear Deterrence Summit, Navy Rear Adm. Scott Pappano discussed a Government Accountability Office report indicating a lack of schedule risk analysis by the service in its long-term planning and oversight of the Columbia submarine program:

Pappano: Navy must focus on timely Columbia fielding despite schedule oversight concerns

While the Navy looks to improve its schedule risk oversight of Columbia-class submarine production, it's too late for the type of long-term risk analysis that government auditors have recommended, and the service must maintain focus on fielding the submarines on time by any means necessary, according to a top official who oversees the program.

Keep an eye out later this summer for an Army exercise called "Arcane Thunder":

Army's inaugural Arcane Thunder exercise will bring together cyberspace, EW, intel for preparedness in European theater

The Army's inaugural Arcane Thunder exercise scheduled for this summer in Germany, Poland and Romania will integrate elements of intelligence, information, cyberspace and electronic warfare.

Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, disclosed the U.S. role in a new radar program -- which Canada is leading -- during testimony before Congress on the Chinese spy balloon that crossed the United States earlier this month:

New 'Crossbow' radar network adds classified capability to aging North Warning System

The U.S. and Canadian governments are augmenting the aging North Warning System with a new radar network armed with classified collection capabilities called "Crossbow," which is intended to improve the ability to detect approaching airborne threats while the two nations work to develop and build a new Over the Horizon Radar system.

The Air Force's Grey Wolf helicopter program is nearing a low-rate initial production decision:

Following 'satisfactory' test campaign, MH-139A readies for production

Results from the MH-139A Grey Wolf's developmental testing have given the Air Force confidence to push ahead with a milestone C review for the helicopter program this month, a service spokeswoman confirmed to Inside Defense.

A senior Lockheed Martin executive spoke at an investors conference this week:

Lockheed Martin could see loss on production contract for classified program, CFO says

Lockheed Martin could see a loss on one of its contracts for a classified program in its Missiles and Fire Control section as the effort goes into production, Chief Financial Officer Jay Malave said Thursday at the Cowen Aerospace/Defense and Industrial Conference.

Last but by no means least, some cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

Tech group urges Pentagon to utilize FedRAMP program for zero-trust architecture transition

The Information Technology Industry Council wants the Defense Department to leverage the General Services Administration's FedRAMP program to help military services and agencies transition to zero trust with help from cloud service providers.

NIST outlines proposed updates to foundational publication for handling CUI

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is offering a preview into upcoming changes to its foundational guide for organizations handling sensitive federal data.

Sentinel completes wind tunnel tests
By Shelley K. Mesch
February 17, 2023 at 12:23 PM

Northrop Grumman's LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile has completed a series of wind tunnel tests, the company announced Thursday.

The tests used scaled models of the vehicle in subsonic and hypersonic speed wind tunnels, according to a news release from Northrop. The program underwent seven test campaigns, which used various atmospheric, load and speed conditions and simulated firing, stage separation and flight maneuvers, the company said.

Northrop says the success of the tests -- which began last year -- “validates” its digital engineering methods.

“This wind tunnel campaign is an opportunity to put our digitally engineered designs to the test, under conditions that mimic a missile launch,” Sarah Willoughby, vice president and program manager for Sentinel, said in the release. “Predictions from the modeling correlated with the testing results, giving us confidence in our model-based engineering approach.”

Sentinel is in development to replace the Minuteman III ICBM, which was fielded during the Cold War, to modernize the land-based leg of the nuclear triad. The air- and sea-based legs are also undergoing modernization efforts with the B-21 Raider bomber and Columbia-class submarine, respectively.

Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager of Northrop’s Strategic Deterrent Systems Division, said in September that Sentinel’s first flight test is expected in 2024.