The Insider

By Jason Sherman
July 9, 2024 at 9:56 AM

The Pentagon is seeking congressional permission to shift $3.3 billion among budget accounts to launch a handful of new-start projects, including additional funding needed for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, Army accounts to buy ship-sinking missiles needed for its Mid-Range Capability program and a new Mobile-Long Range Precision Strike Missile.

On June 28, Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord submitted a pair of omnibus reprogramming requests to Congress to shift funds appropriated in fiscal years 2024 and 2023 to higher-priority programs in FY-23. Inside Defense obtained a copy of the documents; one is for general budget funding realignment; the second is for military intelligence programs.

Read the full story, now available to all.

By Tony Bertuca
July 8, 2024 at 6:14 PM

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) filed the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill today.

The bill supports a total of $923 billion in national defense spending, breaking the cap mandated by the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act by about $25 billion. The bill authorizes $878 billion for the Defense Department and $33 billion for the Energy Department, with about $11.5 billion being out of the legislation’s jurisdiction.

The advancement of the bill, which does not match the FRA-aligned topline sought by the House, will be closely watched on the Senate floor, especially since Reed voted against it during committee deliberations, citing concerns about how it might pressure Senate appropriators to break the FRA.

The bill, among numerous other things, authorizes increased funding to build a second Virginia-class submarine as well as an additional $1.43 billion for a third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, which stands in contrast to House authorizers and appropriators whose bills only fund two ships.

The bill does not change the Pentagon’s request for 68 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, though House authorizers are looking to cut 10 jets and House appropriators seek to procure an additional eight jets.

By Tony Bertuca
July 8, 2024 at 5:30 PM

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, released a statement today saying President Biden should end his candidacy for a second term, though the congressman added that he intends to "back him one hundred percent and without reservation" should Biden continue as the nominee.

Biden should leave the race “as soon as possible to give the new ticket the maximum amount of time to make its case to the American people,” Smith said.

“Any candidate for the highest office in our nation has a strong burden to bear,” he said. “That candidate must be able to clearly, articulately and strongly make his or her case to the American people. It is clear that President Biden is no longer able to meet this burden.”

During an appearance on CNN today, Smith said he believed Vice President Harris would be the best replacement for Biden, noting “there were concerns” about Biden’s abilities to deliver the party’s message prior to a recent debate with former President Trump.

“It hasn’t gotten better since the debate,” Smith said.

Still, Smith said Trump and his brand of “MAGA extremism” are “an existential threat to our nation.”

To that end, if Biden chooses to remain in the race, Smith said he would support him.

“Elections are, after all, a choice,” he said. “The president would still be, by a wide margin, the best candidate in the current field. He has done an outstanding job as president and our country will always owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for the job he has done. But no candidate is owed another term in office based solely on past performance. Every new term must be earned with the clear understanding of what that candidate will be capable of doing in the term to come.”

But Smith made clear in his statement that it “would be a mistake” for Biden to continue his campaign.

“He should step aside now so that we can find a new candidate that will put us in the strongest possible position to beat Donald Trump in November,” Smith said.

Other congressional Democrats have also called on Biden to leave the race, including Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, and Seth Moulton (D-MA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and himself an unsuccessful presidential candidate.

Biden, meanwhile, released a letter to Democratic lawmakers earlier today pledging to stay in the race.

“I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump,” the president said.

During a televised phone call today on MSNBC, Biden called on those challenging his candidacy to accompany him on the campaign trail and see for themselves.

“Come out with me. Watch me. Watch people react,” he said. “You make a judgment.”

Biden said he would not be running if he did not believe he could beat Trump for a second time.

“The bottom line here is that we’re not going anywhere,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

By John Liang
July 8, 2024 at 1:51 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army conducting offensive cyber operations, the Air Force's Installation Infrastructure Action Plan and more.

Maj. Gen. Paul Stanton, commanding general of the Army Cyber Center of Excellence, recently spoke at an event hosted by the Association of the United States Army:

Stanton: Army can launch offensive cyber operations without negative effects

The Army can conduct offensive cyber operations against adversaries professionally and without triggering negative consequences that would intentionally affect other countries, according to a top cyber operations commander.

To deal with evolving threats around the globe, the Air Force is establishing an Installation Infrastructure Action Plan, set for release later this summer or in early fall:

Air Force to rethink its installations in new action plan focused on Indo-Pacific threat

The Air Force's new promise of "Reoptimization for Great Power Competition" -- centered on the belief that the service needs to be better postured to win in a potential fight with China -- is forcing officials to confront "two important realities" concerning the resiliency of their installations, Ravi Chaudhary, assistant Air Force secretary for energy, installations and environment, told Inside Defense.

On July 3, the Defense Department issued its National Defense Industrial Strategy Interim Implementation Report, detailing the progress DOD is making toward implementing the actions laid out in the NDIS:

DOD highlights key investments in new defense industrial base strategy report

The Defense Department recognizes it must "correct for years of underinvestment in the industrial base," Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante wrote in an interim National Defense Industrial Base Strategy implementation report released last week.

Document: DOD's NDIS interim implementation report

Through the Orbital Services Program-4, the Space Force and other Defense Department entities can rapidly acquire launch services, enabling launch typically between 12 and 24 months from the date a task order is announced:

Blue Origin, Stoke Space Technologies join pool of SSC launch providers

Blue Origin and Stoke Space Technologies today joined 10 other businesses in a pool able to compete for speedy space launches run through Space Systems Command.

Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas is known to be a major training installation for the service, with both the 82nd technical training wing and 80th flying training wing residing there:

Air Force preps study to bring T-7A to Sheppard Air Force Base

As the Air Force overhauls swaths of its legacy fleet to make room for modernization, it is now considering Sheppard Air Force Base, TX to house T-7A Red Hawk trainers once its current inventory of T-38C Talons retires by the 2030s, according to an environmental impact statement notice posted today in the Federal Register.

By Nick Wilson
July 8, 2024 at 1:07 PM

The Marine Corps is conducting market research for its developing Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle ahead of an upcoming engineering and manufacturing development competition that will include three ARV mission-role variants, according to a July 3 request for information.

A future request for proposals for the program’s EMD phase will solicit the design and test of a 30mm Autocannon (ARV-30) variant, a Command, Control, Communication and Computers Unmanned Aerial System (ARV-C4UAS) variant and an ARV-Logistics (ARV-LOG) version, the notice states.

The service plans to release a request for proposals in the second quarter of FY-25 and award an EMD contract in the second quarter of FY-26, according to budget documents, which seek $63.7 million in continuing research and development funding for the program in FY-25.

In March, Textron Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems were awarded separate contracts to design and build ARV-30 prototypes. Both contractors have already delivered initial ARV-C4UAS prototypes that participated in government testing during FY-23.

The notice provides instructions to obtain an ARV EMD draft statement of work and other related documents. It asks interested contractors to answer a series of questions on their experience developing combat vehicles and ability to meet ARV program specifications, with responses desired by August 16.

The notice also asks respondents to explain their plan to integrate the ARV-30 gun turret system with the vehicle, indicating the Marine Corps wants to begin taking delivery of ARV-30s within 16 months of the contract award.

“The purpose of publicizing this market survey is to aid in the continued development of a future acquisition strategy, identify the number of interested small businesses and other-than-small businesses, gather information for planning purposes about the capabilities of each industry source as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation 15.201(e), and obtain feedback on the draft P Spec, Statement of Work, Attachments and answers to specific questions,” the notice states.

The ARV will succeed the legacy Light Armored Vehicle and become a primary platform supporting the Marine Corps’ new Mobile Reconnaissance Battalions. The service plans to procure a family of six mission-role variants including organic precision fires, counter-UAS and recovery variants in addition to the ARV-30, ARV-C4UAS and ARV-LOG versions.

By Nickolai Sukharev
July 8, 2024 at 12:07 PM

BAE Systems will build additional self-propelled howitzers for the Army after receiving a $579.3 million contract, the Defense Department announced Wednesday.

The Pennsylvania-based manufacturer will produce the M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzers and M992A3 ammunition carrier vehicles by an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2029, with work being completed in York, PA; Sterling Heights, MI; Aiken, SC; Elgin, OK; and Anniston, AL; according to the July 3 announcement.

"Fiscal [year] 2023 and 2024 weapons and tracked combat vehicle procurement, Army funds in the amount of $265,807,177 were obligated at the time of the award,” the announcement reads.

The M109A7 serves as the Army’s self-propelled 155mm howitzer, designed to provide fire support as well as keep pace with the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the Abrams main battle tank.

Each howitzer is paired with the M992A3 Carrier Ammunition Tracked vehicle, which stores and transports the ammunition.

Wednesday’s announcement follows an earlier contract from May in which BAE received a $57 million contract to produce the M109A7 and M992A3 at their facility in York, PA.

For fiscal year 2025, the Army plans to procure 20 Paladin systems in for $417 million and 155 systems for $2.7 billion by FY-29, according to service budget documents.

The Army initially intended to replace a portion of the Paladins with the Extended-Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) howitzer, a modified M109 with a longer gun tube in an effort to increase the firing range but cancelled the program in March after prototyping revealed technical issues.

Instead, the Army opted to use the remaining funds from the cancelled ERCA program to assess existing systems and plans to hold howitzer capability demonstrations with industry manufacturers starting next month at the Army Proving Ground in Yuma, AZ.

Speaking at an Association of the United States Army event in May, Lt. Gen. Karl Gingrich, the deputy chief of staff for programs (G-8), said the Army can also increase the firing range by innovating and improving the 155mm round.

By Nick Wilson
July 3, 2024 at 5:58 PM

Erik Raven will step down from his post as Navy under secretary in August, according to a Wednesday announcement from the office of the Navy secretary.

Raven assumed the role of under secretary in April of 2022, becoming the second-highest ranking civilian Navy official and performing the roles chief operating officer and chief management officer for the service.

According to a statement from Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, Raven has been “a driving force for actions that will have long-lasting, positive impacts, not just for the United States but also for our Allies and partners.”

“His efforts contributed significantly to the AUKUS trilateral security partnership, the largest-ever investment in shipbuilding, improving Guam’s infrastructure to support defense in the [U.S. Indo-Pacific Command] region as well as improving the Department of Navy’s business operations, optimizing information management and cyber operations while improving efficiency,” the statement continues.

By Tony Bertuca
July 3, 2024 at 2:45 PM

The Defense Department has announced a new $2.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine, mostly funding a large purchase of air defense interceptors.

The package, first announced by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday, would immediately transfer U.S. weapons valued at $150 million via presidential drawdown authority, while $2.2 billion in aid would be provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

The $2.2 billion USAI action, which contracts with defense companies to provide Ukraine with long-term aid, would pay for a “significant package of air defense interceptors,” according to DOD.

“This funding will be used to purchase interceptors for Patriot and [National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems] for Ukraine,” DOD said.

The Biden administration, as previously announced, plans to accelerate delivery of the interceptors by “re-sequencing” foreign military sales involving other U.S. allies.

“As a result, Ukraine will be provided with the interceptors it urgently needs to protect its people and critical infrastructure against Russia's aerial attacks,” DOD said.

Meanwhile, the $150 million PDA transfer includes:

  • Missiles for HAWK air defense systems;
  • Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
  • 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;
  • 81mm mortar rounds;
  • Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
  • Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
  • Small arms ammunition and grenades;
  • Demolition equipment and munitions;
  • Tactical vehicles to tow equipment;
  • Tactical air navigation systems and aircraft support equipment; and,
  • Spare parts, maintenance, and other equipment.
By John Liang
July 3, 2024 at 1:33 PM

This pre-Independence Day INSIDER Daily Digest has coverage of a pair of omnibus reprogramming requests that involve the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft effort and other programs.

On June 28, Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord submitted a pair of omnibus reprogramming requests to Congress to shift funds appropriated in fiscal years 2024 and 2023 to higher-priority programs in FY-23. Inside Defense obtained a copy of the documents. Here's our coverage so far:

DOD seeks additional funding for CCA -- suffering nearly 40% cost growth -- SM-6, and more

The Pentagon is seeking congressional permission to shift $3.3 billion among budget accounts to launch a handful of new-start projects, including additional funding needed for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, Army accounts to buy ship-sinking missiles needed for its Mid-Range Capability program and a new Mobile-Long Range Precision Strike Missile.

AF delays procurement of Homeland Defense Over-the-Horizon Radar to 'future' budget

The Defense Department has scrapped plans to launch the Homeland Defense Over the Horizon Radar program this fiscal year, postponing the projected start to at least fiscal year 2026, delaying plans to improve long-range sensor coverage of the United States and Canada from aircraft, cruise missiles, maneuvering hypersonic weapons and ships.

Further coverage of the Government Accountability Office's annual weapon systems report:

Navy's AARGM-ER missile faces schedule delays after testing problems emerge

The Navy's Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range program will not achieve initial operational capability in July as previously expected due to undisclosed challenges that occurred during system testing, according to a program official.

Document: GAO's annual weapon system assessment report

The Marine Corps' top general spoke this week at a Brookings Institution event:

Smith: Classified MQ-9 cloaking pods bring enhanced capability to Marine Corps MLRs

A cloaking pod equipped on the Marine Corps' MQ-9 Reaper drones, making them "mostly undetectable" to enemy radar, is enhancing the surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of the service's new Marine Littoral Regiments, according to Commandant Gen. Eric Smith.

The Defense Innovation Unit's Opportunistic Resilient and Innovative Expeditionary Network Topology effort is looking for unmanned and autonomous platforms that can guarantee the Navy’s Pacific Fleet’s unmanned vehicle connectivity remains unaffected and maintains the "freedom of navigation and access to waterways":

DIU seeks unmanned solutions to solve swarming network challenges at sea

The Defense Innovation Unit has released solicitations seeking industry technology that can connect hundreds -- or even thousands -- of autonomous weapon systems across great distances at sea.

By Shelley K. Mesch
July 3, 2024 at 11:51 AM

The Defense Department will spend $10 billion over the next few years to modernize tactical aircraft based across Japan, DOD announced today.

The Air Force plans to replace 48 F-15C/D fighters with 36 F-15EXs at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa and replace 35 F-16s with 48 F-35As at Misawa Air Base on the northern coast of Honshu.

The joint force will continue to rotate fouth- and fifth-generation fighters at Kadena throughout the transition to F-15EXs.

The Marine Corps will “modify the number” of F-35B fighters at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on the southwestern coast of Honshu, DOD stated.

The goals of the modernization is to “enhance the U.S.-Japan Alliance, bolster regional deterrence and strengthen peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” according to DOD.

The modernization at air bases in Japan comes after the Air Force announced its “Reoptimization for Great Power Competition,” which shifts the focus of service programs to the Indo-Pacific.

By Dan Schere
July 3, 2024 at 10:27 AM

The Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $227 million contract for the Army Tactical Missile System guided missile and launching assembly, the Pentagon announced Tuesday.

The contract is for foreign military sales to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco and Poland.

The contract has an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2028, according to the contract notice.

The United States, in April, secretly sent long-range ATACMS to Ukraine.

By Tony Bertuca
July 2, 2024 at 3:42 PM

The Pentagon's Office of Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) will now be known as the Office of Defense Pricing, Contracting and Acquisition Policy (DPCAP), according to a new departmental memo.

“This new name reflects an expanded organizational portfolio to include both acquisition and contracting responsibilities, and synergies to be realized across these functions,” according to the July 2 memo from John Tenaglia, chief of DPCAP.

The office is also adding a fifth directorate -- acquisition policy and innovation, which will join the four existing directorates for contract policy, contracting e-business, defense acquisition regulations systems and price, cost and finance.

The API directorate, according to the memo, will manage the Defense Department’s adaptive acquisition framework policies, acquisition data analytics, the intellectual property cadre, the Acquisition Innovation Research Center and the Defense Civilian Training Corps.

By John Liang
July 2, 2024 at 1:40 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's Mid-Range Capability weapon system, Air Force refueling tankers and more.

The Army plans to deliver three Mid-Range Capability batteries by fiscal year 2026 under the current rapid prototyping effort:

GAO: Mid-Range Capability has yet to establish a 'sound business case'

The Army's new Mid-Range Capability (MRC) weapon system, a new middle tier acquisition rapid prototyping effort, has yet to establish a "sound business case," according to the Government Accountability Office's Weapon Systems Annual Assessment.

Document: GAO's annual weapon system assessment report

Air Force officials have long said delivering more air refuelers during the gap period between the end of production for current KC-46A Pegasus’ in 2028 and the planned delivery of the Next Generation Air Refueling System in the late 2030s is necessary to maintain air dominance in a potential fight in the Indo-Pacific:

Air Force still quiet on follow-on tanker recapitalization before NGAS

The Air Force is not ready to discuss its plans to replace retiring KC-135 Stratotankers, despite previously stating information that the effort would be released in June.

In June, the Army and Navy apparently resolved engineering problems that for two years bedeviled efforts to rapidly field the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon by launching -- from a stand -- a two-stage missile from Hawaii across the Pacific Ocean more than 2,000 miles to a test range in the Marshall Islands:

Long-range hypersonic weapon 'perfect' in key flight test of missile over Pacific

The U.S. military conducted a successful test flight of a hypersonic missile -- a significant milestone in the Defense Department's 16-year project to develop a conventionally armed, ultra-fast glide body designed for precision strike -- giving Pentagon leaders renewed confidence in a new weapon system slated for fielding in 2025 by the Army and Navy.

The Navy has said arming P-8 Poseidon aircraft with Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles is crucial to protecting ships from evolving threats in a potential future fight in the Indo-Pacific:

Tests to fit LRASM on P-8 aircraft to conclude this summer

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Navy's P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will soon be outfitted to carry up to four Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles under its wings, with integration testing poised to wrap up later this summer.

The Pentagon is inching closer to formally launching the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program:

Final rule to implement CMMC program heads into OMB interagency review process

The Defense Department has submitted the first final rule to implement its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program to the White House Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, marking a significant milestone in getting the necessary regulatory steps in order to officially launch the Pentagon initiative.

By Tony Bertuca
July 2, 2024 at 1:04 PM

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin today announced a new $2.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine that includes additional artillery, air defense interceptors and an "accelerated" delivery timeline by the "re-sequencing" of some weapon sales to other U.S. allies.

“Ukraine is not alone, and the United States will never waver in our support,” he said during a meeting at the Pentagon with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Austin said the new $2.3 billion package, which is being provided under presidential drawdown authority, will include “more air defense inceptors, anti-tank weapons and other critical munitions from U.S. inventories.”

The Pentagon, meanwhile, has not yet announced what will be specifically provided by the $2.3 billion aid package.

Additionally, Austin said the United States has worked with other U.S. allies to redirect foreign military sales so aid can be rushed to Ukraine.

The White House announced the “re-sequencing” of FMS in June.

The aid announcements come a week before a NATO summit in Washington where, Austin said, the United States and its allies will “take steps to build a bridge to NATO membership for Ukraine.”

Umerov thanked Austin and the United States for its support.

“With that support, we have stopped Russia, stopped the aggression towards our people, towards our values, national interests,” he said. “And we look forward to discussing with you how we could continue our partnership and be, in the future, a member of NATO. Hopefully soon, Ukraine will receive its invitation. But at the moment, we will discuss the issues, how to increase our capabilities and plans.”

By John Liang
July 1, 2024 at 1:30 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on P-8 Poseidon aircraft being armed with Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles, the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program and more.

The Navy has said enabling P-8 Poseidon aircraft with Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles is crucial to protecting ships from evolving threats in a potential future fight in the Indo-Pacific:

Tests to fit LRASM on P-8 aircraft to conclude this summer

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Navy's P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will soon be outfitted to carry up to four Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles under its wings, with integration testing poised to wrap up later this summer.

The Pentagon is inching closer to formally launching the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program:

Final rule to implement CMMC program heads into OMB interagency review process

The Defense Department has submitted the first final rule to implement its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program to the White House Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, marking a significant milestone in getting the necessary regulatory steps to officially launch the Pentagon initiative.

On June 28, the Army’s program executive office for missiles and space announced a contract with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, a deal that exercises authorization from Congress for a block buy using funds between fiscal years 2024 and 2026:

Army awards Lockheed $2.2B of potential $4.5B PAC-3 MSE purchase of 870 interceptors

The Army today announced it awarded Lockheed Martin a potential $4.5 billion contract for the latest-generation, hit-to-kill Patriot interceptors -- establishing options to buy 25% more Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Enhancement Segment interceptors under a three-year, multiyear procurement package than previously disclosed.

The Army is testing some new helicopter engines:

Army accepts two T901 engines for testing on Black Hawks

The Army has accepted two T901 engines that will be integrated and tested under the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), manufacturer GE Aerospace announced Thursday. The two engines will be flight tested on the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

An upcoming meeting of national armaments directors in the Indo-Pacific will be focused on four lines of effort: innovation, production, sustainment and supply chains:

DOD to host Indo-Pacific armaments forum to strengthen industrial partnerships

The Defense Department intends to host a meeting of national armaments directors in the Indo-Pacific in September, following a similar format of meetings held with European allies to promote the co-production of weapon systems and the bolstering of critical supply chains, according to a senior Pentagon official.