The Insider

By John Liang
April 14, 2023 at 3:07 PM

The Defense Department has entered into a $215.6 million agreement with Aerojet Rocketdyne to expand and modernize facilities in three states where the company builds rocket propulsion systems, according to a statement issued today.

The Pentagon's Office of Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization undertook the agreement, and the Aerojet factories are located in Camden, AR, Huntsville, AL and Orange County, VA, the statement reads.

"These systems propel DOD missiles and missile defense interceptors, along with space-launch vehicles and national security satellites used in civil and commercial applications," the Pentagon said. The money will be used to "modernize manufacturing processes at the company's facilities, consolidate production lines, purchase equipment, build systems to process data and increase production and delivery speed for Javelins, Stingers and the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS)."

The effort was funded by the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, according to DOD.

The U.S. has provided Javelins, Stingers, and GMLRS rockets to the Ukrainian government, and modernizing Aerojet Rocketdyne's facilities will benefit DOD as it replenishes its ammunition supplies, the department said.

"The Office of Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization is moving forward with appropriate urgency to support strategic industrial sectors crucial to protecting national security," Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said in the statement. "This critical investment will modernize rocket propellant and motor production in the United States, in addition to creating technical and skilled labor jobs at multiple domestic facilities."

By John Liang
April 14, 2023 at 2:04 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has more details on the Government Accountability Office's dismissal of Sikorsky's protest of a multibillion-dollar helicopter contract, plus the Pentagon's latest legislative proposals package and more.

The Government Accountability Office released more details on the reasoning for its dismissal of Sikorsky's protest of a multibillion-dollar helicopter replacement contract:

GAO: Army found engineering design and development of Sikorsky FLRAA bid 'unacceptable'

A newly released Government Accountability Office ruling denying a bid protest by Sikorsky of the Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft states the government found the engineering design and development "unacceptable," due to a lack of detail in the proposal.

Document: GAO decision on Sikorsky's FLRAA protest

The Defense Department released its third legislative proposal package this week. Here's our coverage so far:

DOD seeks greater rapid prototyping authority from Congress

The Pentagon, citing the need to maintain technology overmatch with China, wants to empower military service secretaries to initiate their own weapons development programs without wading through the traditional budget and acquisition oversight process, according to a new legislative proposal sent to Congress.

Legislative proposal details renewed divestment hopes for F-22, A-10

The Air Force is yet again seeking to divest A-10 and F-22 aircraft it says are unsuitable for future fights, despite past congressional opposition, according to a recent bundle of legislative proposals from the Defense Department.

Document: DOD's third FY-24 legislative proposal package

The Space Development Agency's NExT program will demonstrate warfighter utility of emerging mission partner payloads prior to potential incorporation in future tranches:

Ball Aerospace, Microsoft and Loft Federal team up for SDA's NExT program

Ball Aerospace announced its collaboration with Loft Federal and Microsoft on Tuesday to work on the Space Development Agency's experimental testbed program, called NExT, that will carry 10 satellites with experimental payloads into orbit.

Senior Defense Department leaders offered their strategic visions for advancing critical technologies this week:

Navy research chief emphasizes accelerating warfighting capabilities

The Navy seeks to bring more urgency to moving innovative technologies in the lab to warfighting capabilities in the field, Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Lorin Selby said Thursday at a National Defense Industrial Association conference.

Prime contractor Northrop Grumman this week announced the Defense Department has approved a recommendation to transition the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) from low- to full-rate production:

DOD approves IBCS full-rate production; clears path for $3 billion, six-year run

The Pentagon's acquisition executive has approved the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) program, the penultimate milestone in the program's bumpy 14-year development that unlocks a planned $3 billion production run through 2028 and paves the way for both fielding to U.S. forces as well as potential foreign sales.

The Pentagon comptroller's office, in a new memo, states DOD’s support to DHS at the border is estimated to cost about $500.4 million in fiscal year 2023, which will be "sourced equally among the military departments":

DOD taxing military services for continued southwest border support to DHS

The Defense Department is directing the military services to each identify $166.8 million in funding that can be reprogrammed to help pay for DOD’s continued support to the Department of Homeland Security at the southwest border, according to a new Pentagon document.

Document: DOD memo on omnibus reprogramming for border support

By John Liang
April 13, 2023 at 2:39 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's effort to cut legacy aircraft programs, Navy unmanned surface vessels and more.

Inside Defense recently interviewed the head of Air Combat Command:

ACC chief calls for cutting legacy platforms and investing in EMS to counter China

The close-air support capabilities of the aging A-10 fleet don't mean much if the jets get shot down before reaching front lines, Air Combat Command chief Gen. Mark Kelly said, which is why he thinks the service's budget should be focused on fifth- and sixth-generation capabilities.

The Navy's top uniformed official expects a capability development document for unmanned surface vessels to be delivered in 2023 but didn't disclose a specific date:

CNO: Navy is defining 'specific requirements' for LUSVs

The Navy's capability development document that outlines requirements for developing large, unmanned surface vessels is underway and will be ready sometime this year, according to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday.

Pentagon Comptroller Michael McCord has requested permission to shift $29.6 million to provide additional resources to the Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) Inc. 1 program and a paint booth project at Watervliet Arsenal, NY:

Following test delays, Army shifting Long Range Hypersonic Weapon funding to M-SHORAD

The Army is seeking permission to shift to higher-priority projects nearly $30 million in funds originally appropriated for the Defense Department's marquee hypersonic weapons program, a move the Pentagon says will not affect fielding plans but is also a sign the planned test schedule remains fluid.

The Defense Department will purchase a constellation of up to 72 T2TL-Beta space vehicles that are further divided into six orbital planes of 12 SVs, which will be awarded to multiple vendors subject to available funding, according to a recent notice:

SDA issues solicitation notice for Tranche 2 Transport Layer satellites

The Space Development Agency has issued a request for proposals for a Tranche 2 satellite for its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, the agency announced on Monday.

Last but by no means least, the latest Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

AIA urges companies to stick to current DOD cyber standard as work on CMMC rule continues

The Aerospace Industries Association is urging its members to achieve the current cyber requirements in defense contracts regarding National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 and accompanying documentation as uncertainty continues over when the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program will launch.

By Shelley K. Mesch
April 13, 2023 at 10:08 AM

The Air Force is seeking what it's calling Next Generation Countermeasures for its current and future reentry vehicles for the LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear missile system, according to an online posting from the service.

The request for information itself is classified as secret, but the post says key attributes could include “enhancements in accuracy, lethality, survivability etc.”

An acquisition and contract strategy has not yet been defined, according to the post, and neither has the number of potential contracts.

The request comes just weeks after the release of the service’s fiscal year 2024 budget, which included $15.5 million to begin early acquisition activities for the Next Generation Reentry Vehicle.

The NGRV would be fielded after the Mk21A reentry vehicle that is already in development for which the service requested $459.9 million in FY-24.

By Tony Bertuca
April 12, 2023 at 4:46 PM

A think-tank commission composed of former high-level Pentagon officials has released a report intended to provide the Defense Department and Congress with actionable reforms meant to accelerate the adoption of innovative commercial technologies to compete with China.

The Atlantic Council commission, co-chaired by former Defense Secretary Mark Esper and former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, wants to “accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technology from the leading edge of the commercial and defense sectors,” according to an interim report released today.

Other commission members include former Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord and former DOD policy chief Michèle Flournoy.

“In our time serving in the Defense Department, we have found that the United States does not have an innovation problem, but rather an innovation adoption problem,” according to the commission’s interim report.

Though the United States leads the world in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and directed energy, DOD “struggles to identify, adopt, integrate and field these technologies into military applications,” according to the report.

Among the top recommendations is that DOD expand the powers of the Defense Innovation Unit, which was recently elevated to directly report to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

By John Liang
April 12, 2023 at 2:22 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army lifting its stop-work order on the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program, coverage of high-energy lasers and more.

Work on the multibillion-dollar Black Hawk helicopter replacement effort can now continue:

Army lifts stop-work order on FLRAA following GAO ruling

The Army has lifted a stop-work order on the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, the eventual replacement for the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, following the Government Accountability Office's ruling last week denying a bid protest that temporarily halted the program's progress.

The Army wants to lengthen the range of its high-energy lasers:

Army eyes new FY-24 project to extend reach of cruise-missile killing, high-energy laser

The Army is looking to launch a new-start project in fiscal year 2024 to extend the killing range of high-energy lasers to destroy enemy cruise missiles at greater distances, seeking $8 million in applied research funding for advanced beam-control component developments for counter-cruise missiles.

The Pentagon recently issued a list of "large lot procurement" programs that are slated for multiyear contracts:

DOD outlines 'large lot procurement' plans for key missile systems

The Defense Department has released new details about its plans to use "large lot procurement" to buy several missile systems that are slated for multiyear contracts and have been deemed critical to potentially aiding Taiwan in a possible conflict with China, according to budget documents submitted to Congress.

Savings, benefits projected for FY-24 plan to bulk-buy naval strike missiles

The Defense Department's first-of-its-kind plan to bulk-buy 516 Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) in fiscal year 2024 under a five-year contract would save $153.6 million and bring greater stability to the industrial base, according to the DOD comptroller's office.

Pentagon comptroller: Multiyear authorities would save nearly $80M for PAC-3 MSE, $67M for GMLRS

Newly released Pentagon documents show that requests by the Army to implement multiyear procurement authorities for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement and the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket system would save $80 million and nearly $67 million respectively.

Document: DOD's multiyear procurement of missile programs

By John Liang
April 11, 2023 at 2:16 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Pentagon moving to implement several multiyear procurement contracts for a variety of missile systems, plus the Air Force's efforts to replace the venerable C-5 cargo aircraft and more.

The Pentagon recently issued a list of "large lot procurement" programs that are slated for multiyear contracts, including the Guided MLRS Rocket, PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement, Navy Strike Missile, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles for the Navy and Air Force as well as the RIM-174 Standard Missile-6:

DOD outlines 'large lot procurement' plans for key missile systems

The Defense Department has released new details about its plans to use "large lot procurement" to buy several missile systems that are slated for multiyear contracts and have been deemed critical to potentially aiding Taiwan in a possible conflict with China, according to budget documents submitted to Congress.

Document: DOD's multiyear procurement of missile programs

In its FY-24 budget request, the Air Force says it will use the funding to support an initial study of capabilities it terms Next Generation Airlift:

Air Force expects to begin C-5 replacement studies in 2024

The Air Force will begin to study options in fiscal year 2024 for replacing the C-5 aircraft, which has been in service for more than 50 years. The service is requesting a minimal budget to get several studies underway.

The Missile Defense Agency is completing work on a homeland cruise missile defense system:

MDA begins homeland cruise missile defense project, plans August live-flight event

The Missile Defense Agency has demonstrated the first of a planned three-part project to prove technical linkages that could be relevant to a future domestic cruise missile defense system as part of an effort slated to culminate this summer with a live-flight test.

The Defense Department this week released the findings of its Defense Contract Finance Study, "an effort to comprehensively assess the effect that DOD contract financing and profit policies have on the defense industry":

DOD readies contractor financing changes following new study

The Pentagon is preparing to move out on policy recommendations governing how defense contractors are paid, including revising progress payment rates for large companies that were made more generous at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a long-awaited financing study released this week.

Document: DOD's defense contract finance study

Last but certainly not least, a look at Coast Guard funding for polar icebreakers:

Polar security fleet funding request underscores U.S. Arctic interests

With concern growing about upholding U.S. interests in Arctic waters, the Coast Guard is seeking $170 million in fiscal year 2024 to continue developing its tiny polar security cutter fleet. The cutters monitor sea traffic in a thawing Arctic, among other duties.

By John Liang
April 10, 2023 at 1:47 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Navy's Standard Missile-6 system, the Army's MQ-1 Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft program and more.

The Navy is seeking to increase production of the Standard Missile-6 system:

DOD dials up SM-6 max annual production capacity target to 300 guided missiles by 2028

The Navy's fiscal year 2024 budget seeks funding to raise annual production capacity of the Standard Missile-6 to 300 by 2028, a 50% increase above the goal to reach 200 per year by 2026 as demand for the weapon -- which packs both offensive and defensive punch -- grows.

For each budget request starting in fiscal year 2021, the Army stopped including any funding for procurement of MQ-1 Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft, only to have Congress later add funding:

Army not requesting additional MQ-1 Gray Eagles for FY-24

The Army has once again refrained from requesting funding for additional procurement of MQ-1 Grey Eagle unmanned aircraft systems in its budget submission to Congress.

We also have news on funding for Coast Guard polar icebreakers:

Polar security fleet funding request underscores U.S. Arctic interests

With concern growing about upholding U.S. interests in Arctic waters, the Coast Guard is seeking $170 million in fiscal year 2024 to continue developing its tiny polar security cutter fleet. The cutters monitor sea traffic in a thawing Arctic, among other duties.

Navy officials talked about directed-energy weapon systems last week:

Navy laser weapon development intensifies

The Navy will field shipboard laser weapons "as rapidly as fiscal and industrial resources will allow," with the transition of critical research and development programs to operations prioritized, the service said.

A new combatant command could be in the offing:

DOD debates possibilities for new Joint Futures Command; Milley lends horsepower

Inside the Pentagon, a small team of experts is preparing to brief Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on options for addressing the future of warfare amid rapid technological change, which could lead to the creation of a new “Joint Futures Command.”

By Nick Wilson
April 10, 2023 at 1:24 PM

The Navy will hold an industry day later this month before opening a contract competition for the design and construction of a new class of submarine tenders intended to support Virginia- and Columbia-class boats.

According to a March announcement, Naval Sea Systems Command will host the industry event on April 18 to provide an overview of the Navy’s draft requirements before launching an open contract competition in the fall for the production of up to two of the new AS(X) vessels.

The Navy’s fiscal year 2024 budget request includes $1.7 billion for the first boat in this new-start program. The budget anticipates the procurement of a second tender in FY-26 for $1.1 billion, resulting in a total of two vessels across the five-year future years defense program.

The tenders will perform intermediate-level repair, resupply, rearming and other support for forward-deployed submarines, according to budget documents. The tenders will also be capable of reloading torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles and performing radiological emergency response.

The service plans to award a contract for the first vessel in May 2024, targeting delivery in June 2031, budget justification books indicate. A contract award for the second vessel is planned for May 2026 with delivery in September 2032.

Last week, Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson indicated the company is working on a tender design under a study contract, Defense News reported. Wilkinson said this design may be based upon the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, which the company produces.

Presently, the Navy has two tenders -- Emory S. Land (AS-39) and Frank Cable (AS-40) -- which are based in Guam and perform maintenance in the Pacific. The new tenders will eventually replace these aging vessels, which have each been in service for more than 40 years.

By John Liang
April 10, 2023 at 5:00 AM

Senior Pentagon officials are scheduled to speak at public events around the Washington area this week.

Tuesday

The Association of the United States Army hosts a discussion with Army Under Secretary Gabe Camarillo.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion with the National Security Agency’s director of cybersecurity.

The Hudson Institute hosts a discussion on assessing U.S. military force structure.

Wednesday

The Atlantic Council hosts discussion on the interim report produced by the think tank’s Defense Innovation Adoption Commission.

Thursday

The National Defense Industrial Associations hosts a conference on the fiscal year 2024 science and technology budget.

By John Liang
April 7, 2023 at 1:50 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the possibility of setting up another combatant command, Sikorsky losing its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft contract protest and more.

A new combatant command could be in the offing:

DOD debates possibilities for new Joint Futures Command; Milley lends horsepower

Inside the Pentagon, a small team of experts is preparing to brief Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on options for addressing the future of warfare amid rapid technological change, which could lead to the creation of a new “Joint Futures Command.”

Sikorsky has lost its protest of a multibillion-dollar, next-generation helicopter contract:

GAO denies Sikorsky's protest of Army's FLRAA decision

The Government Accountability Office has denied Sikorsky's protest of the Army's decision to award the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft to competitor Bell, clearing a hurdle for the multibillion-dollar program to move forward.

Lockheed Martin will increasing the number of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles the company produces:

DOD increasing JASSM and LRASM production quantities

The Defense Department is increasing the production quantities of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles, which will cover JASSM production Lots 22-26 and LRASM Lots 9-12 for quantities up to 5,010 in various configurations and variants, according to a government notice.

Many of the Navy's platforms were not designed with sustainment in mind, according to senior service officials:

Navy faces uphill battle curtailing maintenance delays, service officials say

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Service officials gathered this week at the Navy League's annual Sea-Air-Space conference to chronicle their efforts expediting submarine and surface ship repairs and recapitalizing aging public infrastructure -- presenting a snapshot of measured progress with an uphill battle ahead.

The Space Force's Rapid Capabilities Office has a new component:

Space Force stands up rapid resilient command and control office

The Space Force stood up a Combined Program Office in February for its Rapid Resilient Command And Control effort, according to a request for information on the program posted last week.

The Air Force is looking into adding money to programs funded under Middle Tier Acquisition authorities:

Air Force assessing funding shortfalls for MTA programs

The Air Force is assessing options to address funding shortfalls for Middle Tier Acquisition programs, according to service budget documents.

A Pentagon legislative proposal submitted to Congress would decrease the number of Navy carrier wings required to nine until additional carriers can support a 10th air wing:

Navy seeks to clip carrier wing mandate to nine

The Navy once again is asking Congress to remove the Title 10 requirement for standing up a 10th carrier air wing (CVW) by Oct. 1, 2025.

By John Liang
April 6, 2023 at 2:00 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from the Sea-Air-Space Symposium, Oshkosh Defense's protest of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contract award, plus space and cybersecurity coverage.

Let's start off with more coverage of this year's Sea-Air-Space Symposium:

Shipping leaders link merchant fleet to defense supply chain

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- U.S. commercial shipping leaders, meeting Wednesday on the closing day of the Sea-Air-Space conference, voiced concern about ensuring strategic sealift capabilities to counter possible military aggression.

Ukraine war influencing Arctic security concerns

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Russia's increased reliance on China since its invasion of Ukraine is heating up Arctic security concerns for the United States and its allies, according to a defense expert speaking at the Sea-Air-Space conference.

Read our full Sea-Air-Space Symposium coverage.

We also have an interview with the head of Oshkosh Defense on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle protest:

Oshkosh exec: Company would suffer 'significant loss' if it had matched competitor's JLTV bid

The head of Oshkosh Defense says the company would have suffered a "significant loss" if it had bid the same amount as its competitor AM General, which recently won the Army's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle follow-on production contract.

Plus some space news:

SDA to release first of its Tranche 2 solicitations next week

The Space Development Agency will issue a request for proposals next week on its first set of Tranche 2 satellites for its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, according to SDA Director Derek Tournear.

Saltzman: Rapid data transfer and decision support will be key to Space BMC3

Data transfer with decision-support software is a top priority for the Space Force as it builds out a space battle management command, control and communications network, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said Wednesday.

Space Force to recruit Guardians using digital management process

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman today highlighted the U.S. Space Force's initiative to recruit Guardians using modern talent management processes.

As well as cybersecurity coverage:

CYBERCOM uses new budget authorities to lay claim to $6B in DOD spending plan

The Defense Department is utilizing new budget authorities granted to U.S. Cyber Command in fiscal year 2024 -- giving the organization service-like acquisition powers for the first time -- to carve out $6 billion in planned research and development as well as procurement projects in the Pentagon's new five-year spending blueprint.

DOD plans to issue rule expanding incident reporting program to entire defense industrial base

Stacy Bostjanick, chief of defense industrial base cybersecurity, says industry should expect to see a rulemaking in June that will expand the Pentagon's incident reporting program for companies who currently have a defense contract to the wider defense industrial base that handles controlled unclassified information.

INSA describes potential industry role in support of offensive cyber ops

The Intelligence and National Security Alliance is proposing steps to improve the private sector's ability to assist in offensive cyber operations, including through creation of a cyber national guard and reserve force, but cautioning against encouraging companies to "hack back" against cyber attackers.

By John Liang
April 5, 2023 at 2:12 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has continuing coverage of this year's Sea-Air-Space Symposium, as well as the Army's proposed unified data reference architecture and the Missile Defense Agency's hypersonic defense system development effort.

We start off again with coverage from this year's Sea-Air-Space Symposium:

CNO: Columbia lags accelerated 78-month delivery timeline, not 84-month schedule

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday today provided clarification on the delivery schedule for the Columbia-class submarine program, saying the lead boat is approximately 10% behind the Navy's accelerated 78-month delivery schedule, lagging by roughly 7.6 months.

ONR doubles down on key tech investments

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- The Office of Naval Research is doubling down on key technology investments, seeking to inform a strategy that can contend with new global threats and environmental challenges in a rapidly changing world.

Meier: 'I need carriers to come out on time'

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Navy Rear Adm. John Meier, speaking at the Sea-Air-Space conference Tuesday, called the capacity for shipyards to meet construction and delivery dates a "national imperative."

Pentagon seeking trustworthy, reliable AI

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Senior defense officials say they are prioritizing trustworthiness and reliability as they search for new artificial intelligence capabilities.

Navy to expand unmanned operations to 4th Fleet

​NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- The Navy plans to expand unmanned operations to the 4th Fleet, drawing on experimentation efforts that it has pioneered with Task Force 59 in the 5th Fleet.

Integrated warfighting moving away from 'metal-on-metal solutions'

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- A modernized approach to integrated fighting is transforming strategies and the mindset for future maritime combat operations, according to a panel of Navy and Marine Corps leaders speaking Tuesday at the Sea- Air-Space conference.

BAE looks to expand vehicle offerings with ARV competition

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- BAE Systems is looking to the Marine Corps' next-generation Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle as an opportunity to expand its product line, competing for an ARV contract with a modified version of its amphibious combat vehicle.

Read our full Sea-Air-Space Symposium coverage.

Unified data reference architecture is a decentralized, data-mesh-based architecture the Army has been developing, Jennifer Swanson, the service's deputy assistant secretary for data engineering and software, told reporters this week:

Army standing up 'innovation exchange' lab

The Army is standing up an "innovation exchange" lab at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, to test the implementation of the service's planned unified data reference architecture framework.

The Missile Defense Agency's FY-24 budget request details for the first time a development schedule for the GPI program, which aims to develop a new guided-missile interceptor to thwart an ultra-fast maneuvering glide vehicle in the “glide” phase, or midcourse, of flight:

DOD sets 2034 fielding target for Hypersonic Defense system; 17-year development path

The Pentagon plans to field a hypersonic defense system in fiscal year 2034, a target date that falls 17 years after Congress directed the Missile Defense Agency to begin work on the project and a schedule that doesn't appear to reflect the accelerated plans associated with nearly $300 million in additional funding lawmakers gave to the Defense Department's FY-23 budget for the Glide Phase Interceptor.

By Dan Schere
April 5, 2023 at 12:27 PM

The Army has awarded GM Defense the full-rate production contract for the Infantry Squad Vehicle, the company announced on Wednesday.

The ISV is the Army’s newest light tactical vehicle and is modeled after the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 pickup truck architecture, according to the service. It can carry a nine-soldier infantry squad, can be sling-loaded from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and can fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, according to the service.

The Army awarded the ISV contract to GM Defense in June 2020 with a total award value of $214.3 million to procure 649 ISVs, and an eventual acquisition objective of 2,065 vehicles, Inside Defense reported at the time.

According to the Army, the Program Executive Office for Combat Support & Combat Service Support gave the green light on March 30 to transition the program to full rate production, with the acquisition objective now 2,593 ISVs.

The Army said in a statement that the decision “represents a major Army acquisition programmatic milestone in ‘motorizing’ Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, Security Force Assistance Brigades, as well as Army Ranger units.”

GM Defense President Steve duMont said in a statement Wednesday that the company has delivered more than 300 ISVs to the Army, with many having already been fielded to the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.

By John Liang
April 5, 2023 at 12:05 PM

Satellite communications company iDirect Government announced today that Tim Winter has been named interim president by the iDirect Government Proxy Board, replacing John Ratigan as president as of April 3.

Previously vice president of global accounts and global government and defense at ST Engineering iDirect, the parent company of iDirect Government, Winter managed its strategic global account engagements and captured pursuits for international defense opportunities. Prior to joining ST Engineering iDirect, Winter managed businesses across the defense industry at L-3 Communications and Northrop Grumman.

Before his work in the defense industry, Winter was a naval aviator, flying P-3 Orion aircraft and the BAMS-D unmanned aerial vehicle through 2022. He retired from the Navy with the rank of commander in 2022.

Ratigan served as president of iDirect Government for 20 years, managing the Defense Department business "and was instrumental in the company’s growth, bringing advanced satellite communications used for voice, video, Internet, imagery and data to military, homeland security, first responders and other government users," according to a company statement.