The Insider

Navy seeking submissions for Silent Swarm 2026 experimentation event
By Abby Shepherd
September 22, 2025 at 1:48 PM

The Navy is seeking submissions for participation in the 2026 Silent Swarm experiment -- a series of events focusing on early development Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations capabilities that can be utilized on attritable, multidomain unmanned systems, according to a recent posting.

The two-week Silent Swarm event will take place next July and will focus on the effects of distributed electromagnetic attack, deception and concealment, alternative position, navigation and timing, resilient communications and electromagnetic warfare support with geolocation, the government notice states.

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division -- in support of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering -- is looking for technology that is scalable and adaptive; modular, coordinated, coherent and reactive; highly portable; capable of multidomain operability and integration; and capable of remote or autonomous operation.

Ideally, technologies in the Technology Readiness Level two to five range are desired, the notice adds.

“Silent Swarm provides an experimentation venue and environment for rapid technology exploration and innovation, provides an opportunity for teaming and direct feedback from technical and operational [subject matter experts],” the notice states.

NSWC Crane plans to host a virtual industry day on Oct. 14 “to provide a forum for industry and government stakeholders to better understand the Silent Swarm goals, requirements and the process for submitting proposals,” according to the posting. Submissions are due no later than Oct. 31.

Additionally, those selected to participate will be expected to attend planning workshops, including a virtual workshop scheduled for Dec. 2-4.

BlackSea Technologies enters MASC competition with new USV family
By Nick Wilson
September 22, 2025 at 12:41 PM

Autonomous vessel maker BlackSea Technologies will compete for the Navy’s Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) program with a new family of modular, multimission unmanned surface vessels, the company announced this week.

BlackSea is proposing a 66-foot aluminum catamaran design “purpose built” for MASC, the Navy’s new USV initiative born from a merger of the preexisting large and medium USV requirements and envisioned as a versatile capability to be prototyped as soon as fiscal year 2026.

The Navy published a solicitation in July seeking three separate MASC variants -- a base model, a high-capacity MASC and a single-payload MASC -- with varying requirements centered on payload capacity.

BlackSea is currently building Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft for the Navy and other U.S. government customers, with an established production line producing one GARC per day, the notice states.

The company’s new MASC USV design shares 75% commonality with the GARC, the announcement continues, saying BlackSea is equipped to build and deliver an initial MASC prototype within six months.

The vessel is designed for seven mission profiles: anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, electronic warfare, logistics, infrastructure monitoring, strike and mine warfare.

According to the company announcement, the USV has 900 square feet of open deck space and 67,200 pounds of payload capacity. It has a range of 3,000 nautical miles at 10 knots, an “extended self-deploying range” of 10,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 25 knots, the announcement continues.

BlackSea joins a short but growing list of USV makers that have declared their explicit intent to compete for MASC contracts. Earlier this month, defense technology company Eureka Naval Craft announced plans to submit its AIRCAT Bengal-MC USV as a candidate for at least one of the three MASC variants.

Pratt & Whitney unveils new line of engines fit for CCAs, munitions 
By Vanessa Montalbano
September 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM

Engine-maker Pratt & Whitney is developing a new family of engines intended to power munitions and the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft, spanning a thrust class of 500 to 1,800 pounds, the company announced today.

“This new family of engines prioritizes development speed and affordability,” Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney’s military engines business, told reporters during a briefing last week. The company has not yet decided on a name designation for the new combat drone and munition engine series, she added.

Since the engine class will be scalable from 500 to 1,800 pounds it will help foster a common architecture among the systems which reduces production timelines and “will help us be able to really take lessons learned from one to another, but also to have it available for several different applications,” Albertelli said.

Additionally, this particular type of engine could lend itself to a variety of uses for the CCA program, she said, based on conversations with Air Force, Navy and international customers.

“Is it something that they want to return and come back? Is it something that is actually, you know, deploying effects, or is it something that's out there and, you know, creating collecting information, creating sense, sensory scrambles, etcetera, is it something that's not going to return?” Albertelli said. “So, we really have studied this and worked with the customer to be able to provide to them whichever way they go.”

Citing classification, she would not name which, if any, partnerships are already established for this engine type.

The new CCA engine series will use additive manufacturing to help tamp down costs and keep the engine readily available, Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX, said in its news release.

Initial testing for the engine family is set to begin later this year, Albertelli said, with a second series of tests expected to run in early 2026 to further validate key design features.

The engine family will be available for Pratt & Whitney’s domestic and international customers, Albertelli said.

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
September 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM

The Air and Space Forces Association holds its annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference this week. Congress is out.

Monday

The Air and Space Forces Association holds its annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference which runs through Wednesday.

Wednesday

The Hudson Institute hosts a discussion on nuclear weapons.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion on reforming the Missile Technology Control Regime.

DIU announces assessors for drone vetting initiative
By Abby Shepherd
September 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM

The Defense Innovation Unit today announced the formation of a new group that will evaluate drone platforms as part of the Blue UAS initiative.

The group of third-party assessors includes the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, Dark Wolf Solutions, Edgesource Corp., Legion X, Modern Technology Solutions and SpiderOak.

The announcement arrives as DIU seeks to evolve Blue UAS -- the unit’s effort to rapidly vet and adopt commercial unmanned aerial system technology. In May, former DIU Director Doug Beck told the House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee of an overhaul of Blue UAS, to “rapidly vet a much broader set of UAS platforms and components at speed, and year-round.”

In June, DIU issued the call for outside organizations capable of assessing drone platforms and components for compliance with legislation -- specifically legislation that requires a supply chain separate from Chinese parts and capital.

“The primary focus is to enable the timely and secure evaluation of commercial drone platforms and components for potential inclusion to the Blue List,” according to today’s announcement. “Once a submission has been received through the Blue Portal, the Recognized Assessors will be able to provide a cost estimate and timeline to conduct the assessment, and the submitter can determine which proposal makes sense for their situation."

Specifically, these third-party assessors will conduct NDAA compliance assessments, verify all ownership and interest stakes, review supply chain provenance, produce standardized assessment reports and in most cases will contract directly with companies that seek Blue UAS Cleared List inclusion, according to the announcement.

Senate rejects House CR, teeing up shutdown battle
By Tony Bertuca
September 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM

The Senate has voted 48-44 to reject the stopgap continuing resolution passed by the House earlier today that would fund the federal government through Nov. 21, setting the stage for a possible government shutdown at the end of the month.

The chamber also voted 47-45 to reject a Democrat-authored CR that would have kept the government open through Oct. 31 and included health care credits.

The House passed its CR mostly along party lines, with only one Democrat supporting it.

Prior to the Senate’s vote, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME) said the House’s CR should have bipartisan support.

“Pass this clean CR, which has no poison pills, so that we can prevent disruptions to vital programs on which the American people rely while Congress completes its work on the annual funding bills,” she said. “It should be that simple.”

It is not that simple for Democrats, however, who want Republicans to return to the negotiating table over health care.

“Instead of so much as talking to Democrats about how to stop millions of Americans from losing their health care or seeing their premiums double or worse, Republican leadership has decided to follow Trump’s orders, blow off Democrats, and risk a Republican shutdown,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democratic appropriator in the Senate.

Congress will be on a break until Sept. 29 when returning lawmakers will be faced with a potential government shutdown on Oct. 1 if a CR is not passed.

The INSIDER daily digest -- September 19, 2025
By John Liang
September 19, 2025 at 1:19 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a proposed high-altitude missile detection sensor system, plus Navy shipbuilding funding, the Army deploying a Typhon missile system to Japan and more.

The Missile Defense Agency issued a solicitation this week seeking prototype demonstrations for a High-Altitude Infrared Search and Track program, or HAIRST:

MDA seeks high-altitude infrared sensor to better manage high-volume missile raids

The Missile Defense Agency is seeking industry proposals for a new high-altitude infrared sensor system that can scan wide swaths of the sky for large numbers of incoming missiles and generate high-resolution tracking data.

Document: MDA's HAIRST solicitation

It looks like additional funding for shipyards might still be available:

Navy official: SAWS proposal not dead, cites complications

The Navy's proposal to free up additional funding to boost shipyard wages is not quite dead, an official told reporters Thursday, despite debate earlier this year between lawmakers and the White House Office of Management and Budget over implementing the funding mechanism.

China isn't exactly happy with the U.S. deploying a Typhon missile system to Japan:

3MDTF debuts Typhon in Japan, draws Chinese rebuke

The Army for the first time has deployed its Typhon missile system on Japanese soil, sparking an incensed reply from the Chinese government, which sees the move as a threat to regional stability.

James Mazol testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week on his nomination to be deputy defense under secretary for research and engineering:

DOD tech deputy nominee wants private capital to expand industrial base

Private capital markets should be tapped to support the development and scaling of technologies critical to national security, the nominee to be the Pentagon's deputy technology chief told lawmakers this week.

Document: Senate hearing on DOD IG, CIO, R&E, SOLIC nominations

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity interviewed the head of the Pentagon's Cyber Accreditation Body this week:

CMMC accreditation body expects to update assessment process guide in December

A new acquisition final rule for the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program is accelerating the work of the independent accreditation body responsible for meeting the demand for assessments and providing guidance to assessors, according to Cyber AB CEO Matthew Travis.

House passes CR as Senate looks to reject
By Tony Bertuca
September 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM

The House voted 217-212 to pass the GOP's stopgap continuing resolution that aims to fund the federal government through Nov. 21 and avoid a shutdown at the end of this month. The measure, however, is likely to be rejected by the Senate later today.

The House bill passed mostly along party lines. The only Democrat to back the CR was Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) and the only two Republicans to vote against it were Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN).

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said “keeping the lights on is not a partisan issue.”

“This clean, short-term funding extension reflects that,” he said in a statement. “By acting in good faith to prevent the chaos of a shutdown, we are preserving stability for families and communities, protecting the real progress already made on appropriations and strengthening our position to complete the [fiscal year 2026] process responsibly.”

The CR contains funding carve-outs for the E-7 Wedgetail and Virginia-class submarine.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said the GOP is forging ahead with a partisan process that cuts out the minority party, risking a government shutdown.

“It was a consensus that it should have been a bipartisan negotiation. That consensus was abrogated,” she said in a statement. “They would rather shut down the government than sit down and talk about lowering costs for millions of Americans, preventing people from getting kicked off their health care, and stopping President Trump and Budget Director Russ Vought from stealing from our communities and from our constituents.”

The House’s CR needs Democratic support to pass in the Senate, where many Democrats have criticized the measure.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has offered his own competing CR that would fund the government through Oct. 31 that includes health care tax credits.

Both the Democratic plan and the House-passed CR are likely to fail in the Senate, setting the stage for a showdown at the end of the month when lawmakers return from next week’s break.

DIU names five winners from inaugural Project G.I. prize challenge
By Theresa Maher
September 18, 2025 at 4:46 PM

The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit has tapped five companies to develop first-person-view drones and components under its inaugural Project G.I. prize challenge, aiming to equip small military teams with new kinetic capabilities in contested environments.

Marine Corps evaluators “selected FPV platforms from Auterion, ModalAI, Neros and Nokturnal -- as well as one component from Kraken Kinetics -- to move from the FPV tactical kinetic effects Phase of Project G.I.,” DIU said.

From here, the solutions will undergo a cybersecurity review and a verification process to deem them compliant with legislation requiring a supply chain decoupled from both Chinese parts and capital. From there, they’ll be added to DIU’s Blue UAS List and Blue UAS Framework -- lists of drones and components pre-approved for military use.

That, DIU said, will “double the amount of FPV’s available for purchase and use in the Department of War from two to four, provide capabilities like fiber optics not currently available, and deliver improved software capabilities.”

They’ll also go through a series of three 60-day sprints over the next six months to develop additional capabilities and improvements based on feedback from a designated Marine unit, the Pentagon innovation agency said.

“Testing will occur in representative electronic warfare environments, in a variety of geographic locations, and will integrate companies with end users directly to remove bureaucracy from the feedback process,” DIU added.

The announcement comes just over three months after DIU first launched Project G.I. -- its prize challenge aimed at identifying “ready now” uncrewed systems supporting enhanced mission effectiveness for small military cells in contested operational environments.

The INSIDER daily digest -- September 18, 2025
By John Liang
September 18, 2025 at 2:23 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's future budget, plus using private capital to bolster national security and the latest coverage of the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George spoke to reporters during a roundtable at the Pentagon this week:

Army's major program kills to subside in FY-27

Next year's Army budget request won't be as big a bloodbath for major programs as it was this year, according to senior service leaders.

James Mazol testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee this morning on his nomination to be deputy defense under secretary for research and engineering:

DOD tech deputy nominee wants private capital to expand industrial base

Private capital markets should be tapped to support the development and scaling of technologies critical to national security, the nominee to be the Pentagon's deputy technology chief told lawmakers today.

Document: Senate hearing on DOD IG, CIO, R&E, SOLIC nominations

The latest CMMC news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

CMMC accreditation body expects to update assessment process guide in December

A new acquisition final rule for the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program is accelerating the work of the independent accreditation body responsible for meeting the demand for assessments and providing guidance to assessors, according to Cyber AB CEO Matthew Travis.

Senator calls for increased investments in AI tools to conduct cyber defense

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), a top voice for cyber on the Senate Armed Services Committee, sees opportunities to accelerate procurement of artificial intelligence cyber tools through the creation of a Defense Department roadmap to incorporate AI technology in its cyberspace operations.

DOD considers costs for small businesses to comply with CMMC AQ requirements in final rule

The Defense Department details costs to "small entities" and the broader CMMC ecosystem as part of an analysis published with a final rule to implement acquisition requirements for the Pentagon's upcoming Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program.

Navy seeking industry help on small to medium-sized UAS for resupply missions
By Abby Shepherd
September 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM

The Navy is seeking potential sources capable of crafting an unmanned aircraft system designed to resupply Marines during expeditionary advanced base operations and distributed maritime operations -- challenging logistical situations where resupply may prove more difficult due to risks to manned aircraft.

The Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-263) is seeking a small to medium-sized Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft solution, one that can achieve Top Level Requirements for the Marine Corps, according to a notice posted Thursday.

The desired solution would be capable of carrying 100 lbs. for 40 nautical mile radius missions, and 150 lbs. for 10 nautical mile missions, the notice states. Additionally, it should be able to reach a minimum speed of 100 knots, be capable of autonomous low-altitude flight and obstacle avoidance, autonomous cargo delivery and return and include onboard diagnostics, AI-assisted route optimization and re-tasking abilities.

Those responding to the request for information are encouraged to state if their company has completed similar work in the past, if they can deliver three prototype systems in fiscal year 2028 and are asked to provide an overview of their company’s approach to necessary tasks and milestones. Responses are due by Oct. 20.

The service currently uses the TRV-150 TRUAS -- designed by Survice Engineering Co. and Malloy Aeronautics -- as a land-based, autonomous logistics capability.

The vehicle can reach speeds of up to 50 knots, while carrying a cargo payload up to 120 lbs. at a combat radius of nine kilometers, according to PMA-263. The office has expressed a desire to expand these kinds of operations, including shore-to-ship, ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore pickup and delivery.

The Navy proposed over $24 million in research funding for unmanned expeditionary systems according to FY-26 research, development, test and evaluation budget justification documents -- funding that will partially go toward initiating market research on the next increment of TRUAS, as well as development of the Marine Aerial Resupply Vehicle.

Viasat developing crypto protections for space-to-ground communications
By Shelley K. Mesch
September 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM

Viasat is developing an end-to-end encryption capability for Space Systems Command to secure data in space-to-ground communications, the company announced today.

Through the multiyear development contract, Viasat will build space-based and ground-based hardware, according to the company. The End Cryptographic Unit will be functional pre-launch and on-orbit to “quickly address various communications and transmission security requirements,” the announcement states.

Viasat will also make a “high speed, multichannel, certified Ground Operating Equipment,” the announcement states, that will be used in testing for future communications payloads and terminals.

“We are committed to supporting future capabilities of integrated space-crypto solutions to ensure that mission critical data and satellite access controls are protected,” said David Schmolke, vice president of mission connections and cybersecurity at Viasat Government. “This contract award further solidifies Viasat’s position as a trusted partner providing highly secure, resilient space-based communications solutions to a broad range of applications.”

Though announced today, the contract was awarded during Viasat’s fiscal year 2024, which ended March 31, 2024. 

The company declined to provide further details on the contract, including the award amount.

Northrop Grumman opening semiconductor plants to other defense companies
By Theresa Maher
September 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM

Defense industry players can now use Northrop Grumman's three semiconductor facilities to design, manufacture, package and test microelectronics within the United States for commercial and defense applications, the company announced today.

The facilities make up Northrop Grumman’s Microelectronics Center -- semiconductor foundries in California and Maryland and an advanced packaging facility in Florida. Interested entities would also have access to an online storefront selling Northrop-produced semiconductor products and components, the company said.

The access means “Northrop Grumman is helping to expand and strengthen the resilience of America’s semiconductor industry and supply chain,” Verne Boyle, vice president at NGMC said.

That’s important because 98% of advanced packaging needs for microelectronics are sent offshore, according to industry research.

The reliance on foreign entities poses a national security risk to the semiconductor supply chain, Northrop said. It’s a concern the Defense Department itself has pointed to in prior years, according to the Congressional Research Service.

“The Department of Defense has expressed concerns about U.S. dependence on suppliers of semiconductors located outside the United States, especially suppliers in nations that are hostile or may become hostile to U.S. interests, a situation which may create vulnerabilities,” CRS wrote in a 2020 report.

The INSIDER daily digest -- September 17, 2025
By John Liang
September 17, 2025 at 2:47 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Gold Dome missile defense program, a Government Accountability Office report on Pentagon cyber operations and more.

The American Enterprise Institute recently released a cost analysis of the Trump administration's proposed Golden Dome missile defense system:

Griffin: Midcourse intercept is low-hanging fruit in costly space-based missile defense

A new cost study estimates that space-based missile interceptor constellations could run from tens of billions to several trillion dollars, underscoring technical warnings from former Pentagon technology chief Mike Griffin, who has argued that physics and budgets will ultimately determine whether boost, glide or midcourse designs are feasible.

Related:

New cost analysis suggests Trump's Golden Dome vision due for reality check

President Trump's ambitious plan to shield the U.S. from modern missile threats -- a layered homeland defense system against ballistic, hypersonic and advanced cruise missiles dubbed Golden Dome -- may be technically possible to build but the price tag will depend on choices that could run into the trillions.

A new Government Accountability Office report "identified the type and number of [Defense Department] organizations and personnel that conduct cyberspace operations and (2) evaluated the extent to which there is overlap between organizations that provide budgetary, personnel, policy, or training support for cyberspace operations":

DOD eyeing consolidation of contractor-heavy cyber operation groups

The Defense Department will review the 23 cybersecurity service providers authorized to conduct operations for the Pentagon, seeking opportunities for potential consolidation, according to a new government watchdog report.

A new request for information is looking to radically transform the future of undersea warfare, particularly torpedo launching:

Navy seeking industry help on classified undersea warfare programs

The Navy is seeking industry help to develop alternative methods for launching torpedoes from submarines and unmanned vessels under currently classified programs, according to a new request for information.

House Republicans have released a proposed continuing resolution in an attempt to avoid a government shutdown:

Wedgetail and Virginia-class sub see carve-outs in GOP's stopgap funding bill

The E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft and Virginia-class submarine would benefit from special exemptions under the new continuing resolution being proposed by senior Republicans attempting to avert an Oct. 1 government shutdown.

Document: House GOP's FY-26 continuing resolution

Navy testing new launch and recovery technology for small boats, USVs
By Nick Wilson
September 17, 2025 at 2:12 PM

The Navy is testing technology from Israeli company Sealartec designed to autonomously launch and recover small boats, according to a Tuesday announcement from the service describing a June 2025 capability demonstration.

Held June 2 in Norfolk, VA by Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division’s Joint Prototyping and Experimentation Maritime Stiletto Program, the demonstration “showcased a significant improvement over traditional methods of maritime small boat recovery,” the announcement states.

For the demonstration, Sealartec’s technology was integrated into the program office’s Stiletto vessel, which is used to test new capabilities on a “realistic military platform,” the notice adds.

The program office identified Sealartec’s technology as a potential solution for its launch and recovery needs after meeting with the company about a year ago.

"What we are asking the driver to do is just come to the stern of the ship [and] match the speed,” Sealartec CEO Amitai Peleg said in a statement in the release. "We do all the rest. We are controlling the entire process. The capture is autonomous, and the activation of the capture is autonomous.”

The specific vessels launched and recovered from Stiletto during the June demonstration are not identified in the announcement, which describes them only as “small-scale vessels.”

However, Sealartec advertises its launch and recovery technology as a capability designed primarily to work with unmanned surface vessels to facilitate swarming operations.

The capability relies on a proprietary local positioning system capable of operating in GPS-denied environments and is designed for rapid, modular integration on various vessel types, according to the company’s website. The technology is also designed to operate in up to sea state four.

In February, the technology was integrated onto the Devil Ray T38 USV where it autonomously deployed and retrieved two smaller USVs, all produced by USV-maker MARTAC.