The Insider

The INSIDER daily Digest -- June 2, 2023
By John Liang
June 2, 2023 at 2:08 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on fixed-price defense contracts, the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, the Pentagon's management of controlled unclassified information and more.

The days of defense companies bidding on fixed-price contracts seem to be numbered:

L3Harris CEO: Industry turning away from fixed-price development contracts

L3Harris Technologies, and likely other defense contractors, won't continue bidding for fixed-price contracts, CEO Chris Kubasik said Thursday.

The Missile Defense Agency this week announced a sole-source, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract award to Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ -- the second of three planned sole-source GMD sustainment contracts:

MDA awards penultimate contract in project to break up legacy GMD sustainment

The Defense Department has awarded Raytheon Technologies a new deal as part of the project to break up the former Ground-based Midcourse Defense system continuing sustainment and development contract -- executing a potential $621 million, five-year package to keep modern and operational exoatmospheric kill vehicles in the deployed homeland defense interceptor fleet.

A new Defense Department inspector general's report determines "the extent to which the DOD developed guidance, conducted training, and oversaw the implementation of the DOD Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Program":

DOD watchdog finds oversight lacking on 'controlled unclassified' info restrictions

The Defense Department inspector general has found the Pentagon does not "effectively oversee" officials who mark government documents as "controlled unclassified information," potentially restricting transparency without an appropriate rationale.

Document: DOD IG report on CUI program implementation

The compromise federal debt ceiling bill, passed by the Senate late last night and on its way to the White House for the president's signature, would fund total defense at $886 billion, with a 1% increase in FY-25:

GOP senators want 'emergency defense supplemental' to follow latest spending deal

Several GOP senators, including Sen. Susan Collins (ME), the ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said today they want a commitment from the White House and Senate Democrats to support an "emergency defense supplemental" following the passage of a deal that would raise the federal debt ceiling and lock in defense spending at levels they deem inadequate.

In case you missed it, we took a deep dive into how Boeing is upgrading the Air Force's grizzled B-52 bomber fleet:

Boeing leads two programs overhauling Air Force's oldest operational bomber

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- In a cavernous manufacturing bay here, Boeing engineers can climb inside and around a B-52 Stratofortress bomber the Air Force loaned to the company from the boneyard.

Senate passes debt and spending deal to avert default
By Tony Bertuca
June 1, 2023 at 11:10 PM

The Senate has voted 63-36 to pass a bill that would raise the debt limit and cap discretionary spending levels for two fiscal years, though senior lawmakers from both parties say there is bipartisan support for supplemental funding that could boost defense and non-defense budgets.

Senate passage of the bill now sends the measure to President Biden’s desk where it will be signed into law to avert default. The measure also funds total defense for fiscal year 2024 at $886 billion, with a 1% increase in 2025.

Senior Republicans, noting that the defense budget is not set to keep pace with inflation, said today they wanted a commitment from Senate Democrats that they would pass an emergency supplemental for Ukraine aid and other national security priorities.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on the Senate floor before the vote that there is nothing in the bill that would "limit the Senate's ability to appropriate emergency supplemental funds to ensure our military capabilities are sufficient to deter China, Russia and our other adversaries."

He also noted the bill does not preclude supplemental spending on other “national issues” like disaster funding and counter-fentanyl activities.

"The Senate is not about to ignore our national needs, nor abandon our friends and allies who face urgent threats from America's most dangerous adversaries," Schumer said.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) said the bill, though it saves the government from potentially catastrophic debt default, cuts too deeply in several defense and non-defense areas. Murray said she is open to lessening “damage.”

“That can include working with the administration and my colleagues to consider a supplemental,” she said. “But that conversation has to consider more than just defense and Ukraine -- because there are so many important priorities like border security, disaster relief and other non-defense items that we should not let be shortchanged.”

Prior to final passage, the Senate voted down several amendments including one from Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) that would have increased the defense spending caps in the deal by $73 billion and paid for it by cutting funds previously allocated to the Internal Revenue Service.

The INSIDER daily digest -- June 1, 2023
By John Liang
June 1, 2023 at 2:42 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on upgrades to the Air Force's grizzled B-52 bomber fleet, the Space Force's list of its highest- and lowest-performing programs, the Pentagon's quantum technology development efforts and more.

We start off with a deep dive into how Boeing is upgrading the Air Force's venerable B-52 bomber fleet:

Boeing leads two programs overhauling Air Force's oldest operational bomber

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- In a cavernous manufacturing bay here, Boeing engineers can climb inside and around a B-52 Stratofortress bomber the Air Force loaned to the company from the boneyard.

The Space Force recently released a congressionally mandated list of the service's five highest- and five lowest-performing programs:

Air Force report lists best- and worst-performing space programs

When congressional authorizers soon begin the task of marking up the Air Force's fiscal year 2024 budget request, they will be relying in part on a recent report detailing the highest- and lowest-performing space acquisition programs.

Document: Space Force's section 806 report

The Office of the Secretary of Defense is proposing $75 million in FY-24 advanced technology development funding to launch the Quantum Transition Acceleration program -- and forecasted a need of $100 million annually for the effort through FY-28:

DOD sees quantum tech 'approaching a tipping point,' proposes $475M acceleration plan

The Defense Department is proposing to launch a $475 million, five-year project in fiscal year 2024 to begin transitioning quantum technologies for military application to press the U.S. technological advantage against all competitors across a wide range of capabilities including precision strike, space, cyber and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

A new Defense Science Board report released this week "explored the means by which nations impose their political will, particularly outside the traditional threat or use of military force":

Defense Science Board sees 'new dimensions of conflict' with China and Russia

Future conflicts with China and Russia involve areas of emergent risk -- in cyberspace, under the sea and throughout global supply chains -- where the United States must take a "more proactive posture," according to a new Defense Science Board report shared with senior Pentagon leaders.

Document: DSB study on new dimensions of conflict

A new Government Accountability Office report finds that more actions are needed to explain the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program's cost growth and support its engine modernization decision:

DOD, GAO don't fully agree on management of F-35 upgrades

The Defense Department and Government Accountability Office don't fully agree on how to manage and report on F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine and thermal management modernization efforts, according to a report released Tuesday.

Document: GAO report on the F-35 program

SDA issues notice for Tranch 2 satellite payloads
By Apurva Minchekar
June 1, 2023 at 2:08 PM

The Space Development Agency has issued a draft request for information for payloads to be carried on a new group of satellites that are expected to launch in 2027.

The agency is seeking industry feedback on grouping payloads into Tranche 2 Development and Experimentation System space vehicle variants. According to the notice, the agency is expecting to launch approximately 20 SVs configured in several variants.

SDA is looking to collaborate with contractors with expertise in technical and manufacturing readiness of payloads required for the satellite constellation and will release a solicitation notice after June 15.

The agency is also planning to invest in specialized payloads for the demonstration of the T2DES system that includes Protected Tactical Waveform, Directional Line of Sight, Link-16 MIDS Modernization 2 and Translator Satellites, the agency noted in the notice.

During an April 5 Mitchell Institute Forum event, SDA Director Derek Tournear said the T2 transport layer would include three sets of launches -- Beta, Alpha and Gamma, in that order. An RFP for the Gamma Satellite is likely to be released late this year or early next year, he added.

SDA is expecting to award the T2DES contract in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, the notice reads.

On April 2, the Defense Department announced SDA plans to demonstrate low-latency data connectivity beyond line-of-sight targeting, missile warning and missile tracking, on-orbit fusion and multi-phenomenology ground-based sensor fusion.

T2DES is part of SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture that will demonstrate the potential warfighter utility and proliferation for future tranches. According to the notice, Tranche 1 Transport Layer will launch in September 2024 with at least 126 SVs, each hosting various datalinks and waveforms.

House passes debt and spending deal
By Tony Bertuca
May 31, 2023 at 10:31 PM

The House voted 314-117 to pass a spending agreement that would fund national defense at $886 billion in fiscal year 2024 and avert default on the national debt.

The bill was supported by 149 Republicans and 165 Democrats.

The deal, which would provide the amount of defense spending President Biden has requested for FY-24 with a 1% increase in FY-25, now advances to the Senate where it is likely to pass. The Treasury Department, meanwhile, has said the debt limit must be raised by June 5 to avoid defaulting on the nation’s debt.

Many congressional Republicans supported the bill, despite having criticized Biden’s defense request for being too small and amounting to a cut once inflation is factored. Biden’s FY-24 request is a 3.3% increase above what Congress enacted for defense FY-23 but less 1% real growth when accounting for inflation.

House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) praised the bill’s passage in a statement.

“This agreement paves the way for appropriations bills to be signed into law for the next two fiscal years -- with funding prioritized for our military and our veterans,” she said. “At the same time, this agreement reduces and reallocates lower-priority spending.”

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), who chairs the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, said in a statement he believes defense spending can be better prioritized under the caps set by the new agreement.

“The Fiscal Responsibility Act reflects that by rejecting Democratic demands for parity between defense and non-defense funding,” he said. “As chairman of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, I intend to work with my colleagues to focus on near-term threats and long-term modernization within the agreed-upon caps. I believe we can meet those goals by cutting funding for misguided Defense Department priorities that aren’t related to national security, optimizing the workforce, and creating incentives for disruption to create competition and lower costs.”

In a press conference after the vote, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) touted the bill’s massive spending cuts, which the Congressional Budget Office has said could amount to $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years.

“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” he said.

Biden said in a statement that the bill is a “bipartisan compromise.”

“Neither side got everything it wanted,” he said. “That’s the responsibility of governing.”

DIU seeks 'commercial solutions' to gird data-driven warfighting by UxVs
By Linda Hersey
May 31, 2023 at 7:09 PM

The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking "commercial solutions" to enable uncrewed and autonomous platforms supporting the Navy to operate in environments with intermittent, contested or denied access to communications that are "common in military operations."

According to a request for a Common Operational Database, DIU states the ability of unmanned vehicles (UxVs) to deliver domain awareness hinges on connected communications that facilitate mobile, autonomous sensing capacity for data exchange.

The request further states DOD “seeks proven commercial solutions for creating and distributing an edge world model amongst a group of UxVs.”

Responses are due by 11:59 p.m., June 14.

One or more agreements will be awarded to companies to “provide components of an edge world modeling stack to support myriad operations that could be performed by UxV groups,” according to the notice.

DIU notes that “currently available UxVs often require substantial bandwidth to operate effectively and are unable to efficiently exchange information” with each other and with crewed platforms for more effective coordination.

“This inability to move data to, from, and between UxVs limits DOD’s ability to operationalize data-driven battlefield advantage,” according to DIU.

UxVs need to perform the following tasks, among others, in environments that are “disconnected, denied, intermittent or with limited bandwidth”:

  • Sense the environment (sub-surface, surface, air) using onboard sensors.
  • Create an operational picture of the environment.
  • Share information about the environment.
  • Receive information from other UxVs for an “edge world model.”
  • Use peer-to-peer communications in large groups that may not have a central communications node.

“With a network of unmanned and autonomous platforms to augment its existing forces, the U.S. Navy can maintain Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) more efficiently and effectively,” according to the request.

DOD to host innovation event on tech 'surprise'
By Tony Bertuca
May 31, 2023 at 3:06 PM

The Defense Department will be holding a "technological innovation discovery event" later this summer intended to identify potential prototype opportunities for "anticipating technological surprise," according to a new public notice.

The invitation-only event, known as TIDE 2023, is scheduled to take place Aug. 30 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA, and will feature a structure similar to that of a technology trade show.

“TIDE 2023 focuses on discovering prototype technologies that, at maturity, help maintain U.S. technical superiority while preventing the adversary from gaining advantages through technological surprise,” according to a May 31 request for information.

Developers are encouraged to submit “novel prototypes or modifications to their existing commercial technologies that enable previously unexplored applications and impact,” the RFI states.

Specifically, TIDE 2023 is interested in emerging capabilities that could produce “surprising impacts during future conflicts.”

“This includes the use of existing commercial technologies that may yield unanticipated military utility through technical modifications or unique applications,” the RFI states. “Technological surprise may result from producing an impactful or novel capability, an additive technology that enables a capability to function at a previously unseen scale or speed, or a disruptive countermeasure that neutralizes existing military technologies or capabilities.”

Interested parties must submit their applications for the TIDE 2023 event by June 16.

Meanwhile, the Defense Science Board recently sent senior Pentagon leaders a report on the “new dimensions of conflict” that urges DOD to be more “proactive” in terms of coping with and creating surprise.

HII announces Newport News Shipbuilding promotions
By John Liang
May 31, 2023 at 2:47 PM

HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division today announced the promotion of three executives to fill the roles of upcoming retirements.

Rob Check will become vice president of in-service aircraft carrier programs, succeeding Todd West.

Thomasina Wright will take on the role of vice president of fleet support programs, succeeding Gary Fuller.

West and Fuller announced plans to retire soon.

Les Smith will take over as vice president of Enterprise (CVN-80) and Doris Miller (CVN-81) aircraft carrier programs.

Check most recently served as program director for the Virginia-class submarine program.

Wright most recently served as program director for the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis (CVN-74) refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH).

Ron Murray, the vice president of quality, is also planning to retire, according to the company.

Several additional senior leadership team changes were announced when structuring the succession for Murray, HII said. Julia Jones, vice president of manufacturing, will succeed Murray as vice president of quality. Brian Fields, vice president of Enterprise (CVN-80) and Doris Miller (CVN-81) aircraft carrier programs, will take over as vice president of manufacturing.

Smith most recently served as program director for Enterprise and Doris Miller.

The promotions will take effect July 1, according to HII.

DOD announces $300M package for Ukraine
By Tony Bertuca
May 31, 2023 at 2:10 PM

The Defense Department today announced it will transfer a package of U.S. weapons to Ukraine valued at up to $300 million.

“It includes key capabilities to support Ukraine’s air defenders as they bravely protect Ukraine’s soldiers, civilians, and critical infrastructure amid Russia’s continuing air strikes killing civilians across Ukraine,” DOD said. “This security assistance package also contains artillery, anti-armor capabilities and ammunition, including tens of millions of rounds of small arms ammunition, valued at up to $300 million to help Ukraine continue to defend its sovereign territory.”

The action marks the 39th presidential “drawdown” of U.S. equipment for Ukraine since August 2021.

The package includes:

• Additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems;

• AIM-7 missiles for air defense;

• Avenger air defense systems;

• Stinger anti-aircraft systems;

• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);

• 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;

• 105mm tank ammunition;

• Precision aerial munitions;

• Zuni aircraft rockets;

• Munitions for unmanned aerial systems;

• AT-4 anti-armor systems;

• Over 30 million rounds of small arms ammunition;

• Mine clearing equipment and systems;

• Demolition munitions for obstacle clearing;

• Night vision devices;

• Spare parts, generators, and other field equipment

In total, the United States has committed more than $38.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, including more than $37.6 billion since the beginning of Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022, according to DOD.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon continues to review a significant accounting error that led it to overvalue the drawdown aid it has provided to Ukraine by at least $3 billion.

DOD announces major military nominations
By Tony Bertuca
May 31, 2023 at 1:56 PM

The Defense Department has announced President Biden has made several major military nominations, featuring some well-publicized names and some that have not yet been reported.

According to the Pentagon:

  • Air Force Lt. Gen. Gregory Guillot has been nominated to be chief of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command. Guillot is currently serving as the deputy commander at U.S. Central Command.
  • Air Force Maj. Gen. Heath Collins has been nominated to be director of the Missile Defense Agency. Collins is currently serving as the program executive officer for MDA’s Ground-Based Weapons Systems.
  • Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse has been nominated to be director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Kruse is currently serving as the director’s adviser for military affairs.
  • Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh has been nominated to be director of the National Security Agency and chief of U.S. Cyber Command. Haugh is currently serving as deputy commander of CYBERCOM.
  • Air Force Lt. Gen. Donna Shipton has been nominated to be chief of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Shipton is currently serving as military deputy in the Air Force acquisition chief's office.
  • Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Koscheski has been nominated to be deputy commander of Air Combat Command. Koscheski is currently serving as commander of the 15th Air Force.

Some of the nominations include promotions to higher military rank.

Meanwhile, DOD’s announcement noted the nominations of Air Force Gen. Charles Brown to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith to be commandant of the Marine Corps. Brown is currently Air Force chief of staff, while Smith is serving as assistant Marine Corps commandant.

The announcements come as Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) continues his blanket hold on more than 200 military nominations and promotions over his opposition to Pentagon leave and travel reimbursement policies for servicemembers seeking abortion services.

The INSIDER daily digest -- May 31, 2023
By John Liang
May 31, 2023 at 1:12 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a Defense Science Board report on the "new dimensions of conflict," a Government Accountability Office report on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and more.

A new Defense Science Board report released this week "explored the means by which nations impose their political will, particularly outside the traditional threat or use of military force":

Defense Science Board sees 'new dimensions of conflict' with China and Russia

Future conflicts with China and Russia involve areas of emergent risk -- in cyberspace, under the sea and throughout global supply chains -- where the United States must take a "more proactive posture," according to a new Defense Science Board report shared with senior Pentagon leaders.

Document: DSB study on new dimensions of conflict

A new Government Accountability Office report finds that more actions are needed to explain the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program's cost growth and support its engine modernization decision:

DOD, GAO don't fully agree on management of F-35 upgrades

The Defense Department and Government Accountability Office don't fully agree on how to manage and report on F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine and thermal management modernization efforts, according to a report released Tuesday.

Document: GAO report on the F-35 program

The Government Accountability Office's latest report on missile defense references recommendations made by the Institute for Defense Analyses:

IDA recommends changes to help MDA's abysmal annual flight test plan and execution record

The Defense Department is taking steps to improve the Missile Defense System flight test program -- a $1 billion annual project that aims to demonstrate new capabilities, identify limitations, provide combatant commanders confidence in these tools as well as deter North Korea and Iran -- which has suffered a decade of failures.

More from that GAO report:

GAO pulls the curtain back, reveals new details about DOD's plans for Guam Defense System

Congressional auditors have provided a first-ever public accounting of key systems that will be part of a new Defense of Guam capability -- details the Pentagon has kept under wraps since providing lawmakers a September 2021 classified report on the matter -- revealing previously unreported elements of the planned 360-degree air and missile defense system.

Document: GAO report on missile defense deliveries and testing

This past weekend saw agreement on a possible bipartisan debt limit deal:

Defense toplines emerge from debt deal talks

Lawmakers reached a bipartisan deal over the weekend that would raise the debt limit and fund total defense spending in fiscal year 2024 at President Biden's request of $886 billion, with a 1% increase in FY-25, potentially ending a political standoff that could have brought the nation to the brink of economic catastrophe, but also throwing a wrench into future Pentagon spending plans.

Northrop to begin subsystem testing of space radar after design review
By Apurva Minchekar
May 31, 2023 at 12:22 PM

Northrop Grumman will start testing subsystems on a new space radar after having approved the major system design, the company announced May 30.

Having completed a Deep Advanced Radar Capability critical design review, the company will now focus on factory acceptance testing, which will verify the readiness of the system’s components and reduce program risks associated with supply chain and technical performance, Northrop spokeswoman Stephanie Flyger said.

The company plans to conduct testing over the next year as system components are manufactured and testing approaches will vary by subsystem elements, according to Flyger.

“Each testing is designed to verify subsystem performance against requirements,” she said.

The tests will be conducted by the suppliers, with oversight by Northrop and government officials.

Deep Advanced Radar Capability will monitor the rapidly evolving geosynchronous orbital environment in all weather 24/7, providing the military with enhanced space domain awareness, according to the announcement.

“DARC will be the first to provide an all-weather, at all times capability in support of the space domain awareness mission that’s critical to national and global security,” Northrop Vice President of Integrated National Systems Pablo Pezzimenti said.

In addition, the program will also serve as an additional sensor for the military’s surveillance network to monitor deep space objects and provide full global coverage.

White House nominates Smith to be next Marine Corps commandant
By Nick Wilson
May 31, 2023 at 11:10 AM

The White House has nominated Gen. Eric Smith, presently the assistant Marine Corps commandant, to take the reigns as the service's next top officer, according to a Tuesday notice from the Senate.

If confirmed, Smith would take over as the next Marine Corps Commandant, replacing Gen. David Berger who is set to retire this summer.

As the service’s assistant commandant, Smith has played a leading role in supporting Force Design 2030, the effort pioneered by Berger to modernize the Marine Corps and prepare the service for a future conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

Smith has spearheaded recruitment and retention efforts, advocated for the service’s need for 31 amphibious warships, and publicly defended decisions to divest from platforms like tanks in order to transform the service into a leaner, distributed and more mobile force.

Before beginning his tenure as assistant commandant in 2021, Smith led Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Corps Forces Southern Command, 1st Marine Division and III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Although Smith’s nomination has yet to be announced by the Marine Corps or White House, the congressional notice states the nomination has been received by the Senate and has been referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

There, Smith will join over 200 other military nominations and promotions that have stalled in the Senate due to opposition by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who is holding up Defense Department nominations over opposition to the Pentagon’s leave and travel reimbursement policies for servicemembers seeking abortion services.

The INSIDER daily Digest -- May 30, 2023
By John Liang
May 30, 2023 at 1:45 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has a new look at what the fiscal year 2024 defense budget topline will be, plus more coverage of the Government Accountability Office's annual missile defense report along with U.S., British and Australian military cooperation and more.

The Memorial Day weekend saw agreement on a possible bipartisan debt limit deal:

Defense toplines emerge from debt deal talks

Lawmakers reached a bipartisan deal over the weekend that would raise the debt limit and fund total defense spending in fiscal year 2024 at President Biden's request of $886 billion, with a 1% increase in FY-25, potentially ending a political standoff that could have brought the nation to the brink of economic catastrophe, but also throwing a wrench into future Pentagon spending plans.

The Government Accountability Office, in its annual report on the Missile Defense Agency, provides the most complete explanation of components the U.S. military is working to integrate to bolster defense of the U.S. Western Pacific territory against advanced Chinese air and missile threats:

GAO pulls the curtain back, reveals new details about DOD's plans for Guam Defense System

Congressional auditors have provided a first-ever public accounting of key systems that will be part of a new Defense of Guam capability -- details the Pentagon has kept under wraps since providing lawmakers a September 2021 classified report on the matter -- revealing previously unreported elements of the planned 360-degree air and missile defense system.

Document: GAO report on missile defense deliveries and testing

A recent demonstration is the first time jointly developed Australian, U.K. and U.S. artificial intelligence capabilities have been deployed on coalition autonomous systems for an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission:

AUKUS nations demonstrate AI swarming in 'advanced capabilities trial'

The Pentagon says the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia successfully demonstrated the use of artificial intelligence and autonomous swarming technologies in an "advanced capabilities trial" held in the U.K. last month.

In related AUKUS news, Jessica Lewis, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, testified at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing last week:

State Department charts AUKUS roadmap with new mechanism to streamline defense trade

The State Department supplied House lawmakers with a plan for enabling AUKUS this week, endorsing legislative changes and unveiling a new "trade authorization mechanism" intended to streamline defense trade between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

Document: House hearing on U.S. arms exports and AUKUS

A new draft request for proposals is focused on engineering and manufacturing development efforts within the E-XX TACAMO program:

EXX-TACAMO weapon system has tentative contract date

A contract for the Navy's future aircraft system that allows the president to communicate with ballistic missile submarines during times of crisis will be awarded in September 2024, according to a draft request for proposals.

Document: Navy draft RFP for EXX-TACAMO

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
May 30, 2023 at 5:00 AM

Several Washington think tanks are holding events this week featuring current and former defense officials. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is traveling this week to Japan, Singapore, India and France.

Monday

Memorial Day.

Tuesday

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion with the director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization.

The Center for a New American Security hosts a discussion with the director of the Air National Guard.

The Atlantic Council hosts a discussion on "prevailing in an age of danger."