The Insider

By Sara Friedman
November 26, 2024 at 3:33 PM

Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) has introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution that would roll back a final rulemaking to establish the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, as part of an effort by the GOP lawmaker to put Congress in a position to weigh in on major regulatory initiatives.

The resolution, introduced on Nov. 15, addresses a DOD final rule published Oct. 15 in the Federal Register. Under the CRA, DOD must provide 60 days for the rulemaking to go into effect to give lawmakers the opportunity to review it.

The Government Accountability Office sent an assessment on Oct. 30 to House and Senate Armed Services leaders which concluded that DOD had completed the necessary “procedural steps” to put the final rulemaking into place.

The CMMC final rule amends Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations to establish the program. A second rulemaking to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement recently went through a public comment period as a notice of proposed rulemaking and is in the adjudication stage at DOD.

Palmer’s resolution has raised concerns among stakeholders who have invested in growing the CMMC ecosystem including the Managed Service Provider Collective, which is advocating on Capitol Hill for continued investments in the CMMC program.

The MSP Collective argues that the use of an MSP can help companies reach compliance with CMMC quicker and more cost effectively than trying to meet all of the CMMC requirements on their own. The collective is also working to encourage lawmakers to create tax incentives that will help small businesses reach compliance.

Finalizing the first CMMC rule was a major accomplishment for DOD and signaled to industry three years after the program went through an internal review that CMMC will start showing up in DOD contracts next year.

Defense primes have indicated since the rulemaking was published that a CMMC certification will be included in the competitive selection process for subcontractors when primes are bidding on major contracts with CMMC requirements.

A spokesperson for Palmer told Inside Cybersecurity that Palmer is “not stating a policy stance” on the CMMC rulemaking and “just making sure Congress votes on it.” Palmer has introduced over 30 CRAs that address various rulemakings and plans to introduce more this year, according to the spokesperson.

Palmer is “looking at the large impact ones, rules that are impacting the American people,” the Palmer staffer said, “instead of agencies passing [major rules] without Congress voting.”

As the lone representative on the CMMC resolution, it is unlikely to get much support from other lawmakers before the end of the current legislative session.

At a 2023 hearing, Senate Armed Services cyber subcommittee Chairman Joe Manchin (I-WV) called the CMMC program and the National Security Agency’s Cybersecurity Collaboration Center “crucial guidelines and resources for our private industry partners.”

MSP Collective director Stuart Itkin emphasized to Inside Cybersecurity that his group doesn’t want Palmer’s resolution to be seen as a reason for “companies in the defense industrial base to believe the program is in jeopardy and relax their requirements to satisfy other obligations” under CMMC.

The NIST 800-171 standard has been a requirement for DOD contractors who hold controlled unclassified information since 2017. CMMC adds in a third-party assessment and DOD has strongly encouraged companies to make investments now before the rulemaking process is complete to ensure that they can compete for contracts.

By John Liang
November 26, 2024 at 1:22 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Pentagon's classified Replicator drone program, the Space Development Agency's Tranche 3 Transport Layer satellite effort, the Army's HADES spy plane and more.

We start off with speculation on how the incoming Trump administration will handle the classified Replicator drone program:

Analysts wrestle with Replicator tea leaves as Trump returns to Oval

The Defense Department has released new information in recent weeks about its classified Replicator drone program, leading Washington analysts to question what kind of future the initiative might have in the incoming Trump administration.

News on the Space Development Agency's Tranche 3 Transport Layer satellite program:

SDA preparing for three variants of Tranche 3 Transport Layer

The Space Development Agency is planning for three variants for the Tranche 3 Transport Layer to accommodate different communications types with its constellation of satellites, director Derek Tournear said last week while also providing updates on other efforts.

The Global 6500 is a fixed-wing platform that will help the Army strengthen its deep sensing capabilities, according to Bombardier:

Bombardier delivers first aircraft for Army's HADES spy plane program

Bombardier Defense has delivered the first prototype Global 6500 aircraft for the Army's High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES), the company announced.

A new Defense Department directive "establishes the responsibilities and functions, relationships and authorities of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer (CDAO) pursuant to the authority vested in the Secretary of Defense by Section 113 of Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.)":

CDAO releases charter on AI policy and strategy

The Defense Department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office released a long-awaited chartering directive Monday -- which, combined with an upcoming instruction, will form an implementation plan for the AI Adoption Strategy and DOD’s AI policy.

Document: DOD directive on CDAO

Initial operational test and evaluation of the amphibious air-cushioned landing craft is now expected to conclude in September 2025 with IOC to follow in December 2025:

Ship-to-Shore connector faces fresh technical delays, putting IOC five years behind schedule

The Navy’s next-generation Ship-to-Shore connector capability, which will be critical for landing Marines and other military personal in the event of an Indo-Pacific conflict, is facing fresh delays driven by technical problems that continue to postpone initial operational capability despite the delivery of multiple craft.

By John Liang
November 25, 2024 at 2:26 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Pentagon's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, the Navy’s next-generation Ship-to-Shore connector capability and more.

A new Defense Department directive "establishes the responsibilities and functions, relationships and authorities of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer (CDAO) pursuant to the authority vested in the Secretary of Defense by Section 113 of Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.)":

CDAO releases charter on AI policy and strategy

The Defense Department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office released a long-awaited chartering directive Monday -- which, combined with an upcoming instruction, will form an implementation plan for the AI Adoption Strategy and DOD’s AI policy.

Document: DOD directive on CDAO

Initial operational test and evaluation of the amphibious air-cushioned landing craft is now expected to conclude in September 2025 with IOC to follow in December 2025:

Ship-to-Shore connector faces fresh technical delays, putting IOC five years behind schedule

The Navy’s next-generation Ship-to-Shore connector capability, which will be critical for landing Marines and other military personal in the event of an Indo-Pacific conflict, is facing fresh delays driven by technical problems that continue to postpone initial operational capability despite the delivery of multiple craft.

No longer PNTAX, the All-Domain Persistent Experiment, or APEX, is scheduled for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, according to the Army. The change in name and scope reflects the Army's shift from a PNT focus to one homing in on integrated sensing technologies:

Army’s annual PNT experiment rebrands with new name and broader focus

Army Futures Command is widening the scope of its annual Positioning, Navigation and Timing Assessment Experiment, or PNTAX, to include its newest cross-functional team’s priority: domain sensing.

Commercial businesses will be given an opportunity by the Space Force next year:

Space Force to award commercial contracts next year

The Space Force plans to begin awarding Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve contracts early next year for space domain awareness services, according to a service official.

The former top House Republican weighed in on president-elect Trump's Pentagon pick:

McCarthy talks Trump appointees’ potential impacts on defense

Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was noncommittal when asked how he felt about Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick to head the Pentagon, Wednesday.

By Abby Shepherd
November 25, 2024 at 2:06 PM

American undersea dominance could be undermined by an increase in sharing of technology between Russia and China, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said Saturday.

Russia will likely provide submarine technology to China, with Russia sharing missile technology and submarine technology to North Korea as well, Adm. Samuel Paparo told the audience gathered at the Halifax International Security Forum.

With recent reports of North Korean soldiers engaging in combat alongside Russians in Ukraine, the exchange of technology is not the sole concern amid these expanding partnerships.

“Where one is resource poor, the others fulfill those resources,” Paparo said.

Despite these recent and potential future escalations, there are opportunities to offset conflict through relationship-building with U.S. allies, he added.

“One of the 21st century ways that we're doing this between us, Japan, [South] Korea, is that we are sharing real time intelligence in our command-and-control networks for ballistic missile defense right now as I utter these words, and so there are opportunities to impose costs on the other,” Paparo said.

Sen.-elect Andy Kim (D-NJ) shared his concerns alongside Paparo, as a House Armed Services Committee member and former State Department employee.

“I have real concerns about this moment, globally, right now, in terms of understanding what's happening,” Kim said at the forum. “And as someone who's worked in national security my whole life, the thing I hate the most in life is unpredictability, and there is a tremendous amount of that right now and that worries me.”

By Thomas Duffy
November 22, 2024 at 2:27 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest begins with news on the Space Force issuing some commercial contracts soon, the former Speaker of the House comments on Trump’s national security picks, the top uniformed Army officer is once again talking about flexible funding, and some details on the Space Force’s ‘watch list.’

Commercial businesses will be given an opportunity by the Space Force:

Space Force to award commercial contracts next year

The Space Force plans to begin awarding Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve contracts early next year for space domain awareness services, a service official said today.

The former top House Republican weighed in on president-elect Trump’s Pentagon pick:

McCarthy talks Trump appointees’ potential impacts on defense

Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was noncommittal when asked how he felt about Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick to head the Pentagon, Wednesday. The California congressman said he knows he “couldn’t do the job.”

The Army chief of staff wants more leeway in spending appropriated money:

Army chief says funding flexibility could help when it comes to stockpiling resources

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George suggested yesterday that the service can’t currently stockpile weapons and parts due to a lack of funding flexibility in the budget.

A senior Space Force official talked about the ‘watch list’:

One company on Space Force ‘watch list’ in effort to hold industry accountable to contracts

The Space Force has one company on its “contractor watch list,” a senior official said today, showing that the service is holding industry accountable for missing performance, cost or schedule promises.

By Dominic Minadeo
November 22, 2024 at 12:41 PM

The Army has inked a $670.5 million contract with Leidos subsidiary Dynetics Inc. to supply the service with a common hypersonic glide body and thermal protection system in just under five years.

The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract was awarded Nov. 21 and lists Oct. 31 2029 as an estimated completion date for the company, which specializes in hypersonics. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL, is the contracting authority.

Work will begin in Huntsville, AL, where Dynetics is based. The Army has already pledged $65.8 million from fiscal year 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds for the project.

There was only one bid for the contract, according to the announcement.

By Thomas Duffy
November 21, 2024 at 1:27 PM

Today’s INSIDER Daily Digest looks at the AI needs of a major warfighting command, news from the Pentagon’s Replicator program, the Army is looking for help with cybersecurity, and some words from the exiting DOD comptroller.

U.S. Strategic Command sorely needs some artificial intelligence programs:

STRATCOM needs AI, commander says

U.S. Strategic Command needs to incorporate AI into its nuclear command, control and communications efforts to maintain dominance, Commander Gen. Anthony Cotton said.

The Pentagon’s Replicator program has signed up some software developers:

DIU reveals new Replicator software contracts

The Defense Innovation Unit today announced contract awards to software developers supporting the Replicator initiative, highlighting their roles in advancing autonomy solutions for all-domain, attritable drones.

The Army is looking for help in protecting its cybersecurity networks:

Army seeks industry help in managing and securing its networks

The Army is surveying industry for help running large cybersecurity networks, according to a request for information released Wednesday.

And in case you missed it:

Outgoing DOD comptroller predicts budget boost, sees risk in Ukraine weapons work when Trump team arrives

Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord, who will be leaving the Defense Department when President-elect Trump is sworn-in in January, said today he believes Congress will increase the fiscal year 2025 defense budget and noted that the Biden administration, had it remained in power, was preparing to seek topline growth in FY-26.

By Dominic Minadeo
November 20, 2024 at 1:58 PM

The Army is surveying industry for help running large cybersecurity networks, according to a request for information released Wednesday.

The command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance center, or C5ISR, put out the request to hear vendors out on how to manage and organize its network operations center and security operations center, “and or a convergence of both,” it says.

“This approach aims to enhance our ability to identify, evaluate, and mitigate cybersecurity threats as they arise at the speed of cyber,” the RFI says.

The NOC, which oversees network performance, and the SOC, which monitors for potential threats, are overlapping more and more in many organizations that manage large networks, the RFI says.

The Army is asking how respondents organize their SOC and NOC and their take on how those two should be managed, as well as for their familiarity with the Army’s management and how the service should go about it. It asks how companies handle signs of breaches in their systems, their plans for scalability and their estimated technology readiness level, according to the RFI.

Parties that can oversee complicated networks are encouraged to reply with white papers under 15 pages long and should address at least one of the bulleted inquiries the RFI laid out.

C5ISR belongs to the combat capabilities development command, or DEVCOM.

By Thomas Duffy
November 20, 2024 at 11:27 AM

This midweek INSIDER Daily Digest takes a look at how U.S. weapons transfers are leaving some bare shelves in INDOPACOM, the Navy is taking another step toward a new nuclear weapon, the Pentagon comptroller expects a bigger defense budget for the next administration, and the Army is beginning the process of acquiring a new radar.

The head of INDOPACOM talked about how weapon shipments to Israel and Ukraine are affecting his command:

Transfer of high-end weapons to allies is eating into stocks needed for INDOPACOM, commander says

The transfers of munitions and missiles to Israel and Ukraine is beginning to deplete the United States' own supply of high-end capabilities that will be needed if conflict breaks out with China, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said today.

The Navy is getting serious about a new sea-launched nuke:

Navy advances SLCM-N development with request for industry help

As the Navy aims to reach a critical milestone for its nuclear-armed sea-launched missile program by fiscal year 2026, the service is reaching out to industry members to help develop and integrate the weapon system as an All Up Round onto Virginia-class submarines, according to a recent notice.

The current DOD comptroller has some views on the incoming administration:

Outgoing DOD comptroller predicts budget boost, sees risk in Ukraine weapons work when Trump team arrives

Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord, who will be leaving the Defense Department when President-elect Trump is sworn-in in January, said today he believes Congress will increase the fiscal year 2025 defense budget and noted that the Biden administration, had it remained in power, was preparing to seek topline growth in FY-26.

The Army wants industry to think about a new precision radar:

Army asking for white papers as it moves toward prototyping multifunction precision radar

The Army aims to field up to four multifunction precision radar prototypes “integrated onto a government furnished property wheeled-vehicle platform” by late fiscal year 2027, according to a new request for white papers issued Monday.

By Tony Bertuca
November 20, 2024 at 10:20 AM

The Defense Department announced today that President Biden has ordered a $275 million weapons package be sent to Ukraine, including munitions for rocket systems and artillery and anti-tank weapons.

The package comes as the administration is scrambling to obligate approximately $7 billion in security assistance for Ukraine before President Biden leaves office in January and President-elect Trump is sworn in. Trump has shown little enthusiasm for continuing U.S. aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, leading to concerns among some lawmakers that support could cease once a new administration takes power.

The Biden administration has also reportedly allowed Ukraine to begin using long-range U.S. weapons to strike Russian territory and has reversed a policy on Ukrainian’s use of American-made antipersonnel mines.

Meanwhile, the newest aid package, funded via Presidential Drawdown Authority, includes:

  • Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
  • 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition;
  • 60mm and 81mm mortar rounds;
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems;
  • Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles;
  • Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
  • Small arms and ammunition;
  • Demolitions equipment and munitions;
  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment; and
  • Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said yesterday the administration is working as quickly as possible to move the remaining aid funds, despite having little time left in office.

“Every single day, this building, you know, is working on ensuring that Ukraine has what it needs to be successful on the battlefield in the short and long term,” she said. “You've heard it from here and you've heard it from the White House that we are committed to using that full authority that Congress has allotted to us. The only way we can do that also is to make sure that our shelves are fully back-filled and stocked. So, as our shelves continue to get stocked with equipment and capabilities that are needed, we draw down from those and send those to Ukraine. The president has committed to ensuring that every dollar that Congress is allocated will be spent.”

By Thomas Duffy
November 19, 2024 at 1:27 PM

Today’s INSIDER Daily Digest starts with a look at the Navy searching for shipbuilders to work on its latest frigate, an AUKUS hypersonic agreement, a $4 billion defense industry acquisition, the Army is looking to punch up its vehicle electronic warfare, and more.

The Navy needs someone to design and build its newest frigate ship:

Navy seeking shipbuilders for frigate design and construction work with new RFI

The Navy has posted a new request for information seeking shipbuilders capable of design and construction work for the Constellation-class frigate program, which continues to face significant schedule delays driven by labor and subcontractor management problems.

The United States will share hypersonic testing with the U.K and Australia:

U.S. signs onto AUKUS agreement to share hypersonic testing facilities, technical information

The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced the signing of an agreement that will allow the countries to share hypersonic vehicle testing facilities, as well as technical information related to the development, testing and evaluation of hypersonic technology.

A major industry buy was announced this week:

AeroVironment to acquire BlueHalo in agreement worth more than $4B

Defense contractor AeroVironment is set to acquire startup BlueHalo in an agreement with an “enterprise value of approximately $4.1 billion,” the companies announced Tuesday.

The Army plans to beef up its vehicle electronic warfare:

Army looks to industry for better ground combat vehicle processing hardware

The Army put out a request for information Monday that asks for hardware solutions for a ground combat vehicle computing device that balances centralized and edge computing.

The Air Force received its first Stand-In Attack Weapon:

Northrop delivers first Stand-in Attack Weapon test missile

Northrop Grumman delivered the first test missile of the Stand-in Attack Weapon to the Air Force, the company announced today.

By Dan Schere
November 19, 2024 at 12:12 PM

The Army aims to field up to four multifunction precision radar prototypes “integrated onto a government furnished property wheeled-vehicle platform” by late fiscal year 2027, according to a new request for white papers issued Monday.

The MFPR is part of the Army’s planned Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) effort -- a new-start for FY-25 that is intended to beef up the joint force’s air and missile defense infrastructure for fixed and semi-fixed sites. It is meant to defend against cruise missiles, unmanned aircraft systems, fixed-wing aircraft, rotary wing aircraft and “other advanced air and missile threats,” according to the Army.

MDACS would consist of the radar, multidomain artillery cannon, multifunction precision radar, multidomain battle manager, hypervelocity projectiles and ammo handler vehicle.

The Army had included $67 million for research, development, test and evaluation in its FY-25 budget request for MDACS, according to justification documents. However, because of the continuing resolution the Pentagon is operating under that runs through Dec. 20, no new-start programs can be funded.

MDACS has also come under scrutiny from Senate appropriators, who did not include the $67 million for the effort in their version of the FY-25 defense spending bill, citing a flawed acquisition strategy.

The Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) stated in Monday’s notice that it intends to award one or more other transaction agreements for prototype and is limiting the field to American companies that can process and store secret information and hardware.

RCCTO will be holding an industry day Dec. 10-11 at Redstone Arsenal, AL for vendors interested in the MFPR prototyping effort.

White papers are due Jan. 8.

By Abby Shepherd
November 19, 2024 at 11:14 AM

The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced the signing of an agreement that will allow the countries to share hypersonic vehicle testing facilities, as well as technical information related to the development, testing and evaluation of hypersonic technology.

The agreement falls under the second pillar of AUKUS, focused on developing and fielding emerging weapons to protect Indo-Pacific allies against potential conflict from China.

In the announcement made Monday, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu said the project -- known as the Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation Project Arrangement -- will increase the Defense Department’s and its allies’ abilities to “develop and deliver offensive and defensive hypersonic technologies” by robustly testing and experimenting.

Enabling technologies key to achieving breakthroughs in hypersonic weapon systems include high temperature materials, advanced propulsion systems and guidance and control, Shyu said in her statement.

Any existing national efforts in hypersonic technology will be folded into the project -- including up to six trilateral flight test campaigns that will occur by 2028, funded by $252 million, according to the announcement.

“The U.S. DOD is committed to working closely with the Australian Department of Defence and the U.K. [Ministry of Defence] to further the pursuit of common and consistent objectives for affordable and responsive flight testing of hypersonic technologies and concepts," Shyu added.

By Theresa Maher
November 19, 2024 at 9:51 AM

Defense contractor AeroVironment is set to acquire startup BlueHalo in an agreement with an “enterprise value of approximately $4.1 billion,” the companies announced Tuesday.

AeroVironment produces the Switchblade-600 loitering munition, the only system identified under the classified Replicator drone program’s first tranche.

BlueHalo produces technologies enabling a layered approach to countering uncrewed aerial systems -- including radio frequency-based detection and defeat, directed-energy lasers and modular missile capabilities.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by AeroVironment and BlueHalo’s boards of directors or managers and is expected to close in the first half of calendar year 2025, according to the release.

The agreement will create “a more diversified global leader in all-domain defense technologies,” the companies said in the announcement.

The deal will also see AeroVironment Chairman, President and CEO Wahid Nawabi serve as the chair, president and CEO of the combined company. BlueHalo CEO Jonathan Moneymaker will serve as a strategic advisor to Nawabi, according to the release.

“By uniting with AV, we are building an organization equipped to meet emerging defense priorities and deliver purpose-driven, state-of-the-art solutions with unmatched speed. Together, we remain committed to protecting those who defend us while driving the next generation of transformational advancements in defense technology,” Moneymaker said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

By Dominic Minadeo
November 18, 2024 at 4:09 PM

The Army put out a request for information Monday that asks for hardware solutions for a ground combat vehicle computing device that balances centralized and edge computing.

Edge computing gives soldiers access to data and software on the battlefield even when large data centers aren’t available, as well as cloud services when network access is down.

“The Army intends for this hardware solution to be in a U.S. Army Ground Combat vehicle where space is constrained, the operating environment is harsh, cooling options are limited, and reliability must be extremely high,” the RFI says.

The computing device is called the High Performance Computing for Ground Vehicle Edge Processing. Industry ideas are requested by Army Contracting Command at Detroit Arsenal, MI, along with Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center, or DEVCOM GVSC.

Responses are due Dec. 17. They should address basic information about the vendor’s business, comply with a list of hardware requirements that detail size, volume and resistance to conditions like high temperature and fluid contamination, meet a target power threshold of 150 watts and have a random access memory that rarely fails (the hardware must have 99.8% operational availability), according to the request.

Replies must also address a technical questionnaire, which asks for proposed solutions based on the requirements and tasks vendors to show their work, like providing data to prove the hardware meets the RAM requirement.

The Army wants to find a capability with a technology readiness level of three, which means it has a “proof of concept” and research and development has begun. The service wants to take that level three prototype and build it into a level five or six in the next two years, the details of which involve significantly improving the technology so that it can be tested in simulated environments.

Technology readiness levels in the RFI range from one to nine: one being when research begins and could involve basic paper studies, while level nine is when an actual system is successfully finishing missions.