Friday, October 24, 2025
Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Martin has been nominated to become the service's vice chief of staff, according to a post on Congress.gov.
If approved by the Senate, Martin would succeed Gen. James McConville, who late last month was nominated as the service's next chief of staff.
Martin currently serves as director of the Army Staff in Washington.
Air Force Gen. John Hyten, head of U.S. Strategic Command, has been nominated to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson.
Wilson made the statement during a speech at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions said this week it will serve as the founding member of the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center, unveiled during a classified session at this week's Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO.
"To facilitate the Space ISAC's origination and organization as the founding member, Kratos has coordinated the organizational planning and federal government charter, funded the Space ISAC startup costs, and developed the operational plan for the Space ISAC," the company said. "Kratos will continue to provide leadership within the Space ISAC and will recruit other industry-focused companies and organizations to build a robust Space ISAC membership."
The Space ISAC will be housed within the National Cybersecurity Center in Colorado Springs, Kratos added.
"Its mission will be to facilitate collaboration across the global space industry to enhance our ability to prepare for and respond to vulnerabilities, incidents, and threats; to disseminate timely and actionable information among member firms; and to serve as the primary communications channel for the sector with respect to this information," the company said. "The NCC will begin to offer the Space ISAC training on secure GPS as early as May 2019."
The Air Force today announced it has awarded LinQuest a $9.2 million contract to support the creation of a new U.S. Space Command.
Work will be conducted at Peterson Air Force Base and Schriever Air Force Base, both in Colorado. According to the Defense Department contract announcement, the effort is expected to be completed by April 2020.
The Pentagon announced in August it would establish SPACECOM as a unified combatant command. The White House has since nominated Air Force Space Command chief Gen. John Raymond to lead the organization and has begun the basing process to identify a headquarters location.
The Marine Corps recently unveiled its annual aviation plan, signed by Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder.
The report lays out Rudder's eight priorities meant to keep the service in compliance with the National Defense Strategy.
"The naval aviation enterprise of which we are a part keeps the nation ready, in any clime and in any place, to address threats as they arise. To do that, ships at sea employ expeditionary, amphibious and carrier-based forces ready to execute missions as tasked," Rudder writes in the report.
The service's aviation priorities include air defense, lethality, long-range precision fires and creating stronger partnerships.
"Preparing for pacing threats, those presented by strategic competitors, means that we are also prepared for the lesser-included missions our MAGTFs -- Marine Expeditionary Forces, Brigades and Units -- might be called upon to execute," Rudder adds in his introduction.
The Marine Corps' other priorities listed in the plan include command and control within a degraded environment, improving affordability across the Defense Department, information warfare and protected mobility.
Rudder, who has served as the deputy commandant for aviation since July 2017, will testify Wednesday in front of the Senate Armed Services seapower subcommittee about naval aviation.
This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on DOD life-cycle and sustainment costs, the Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, The ANTX West exercise and more.
Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord recently sent a memo about life-cycle and sustainment costs. Inside Defense has details:
Lord makes sustainment cost a key consideration for rapid fielding
Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord wants life-cycle and sustainment costs to be key considerations for any middle-tier acquisition program seeking the use of rapid fielding authority, according to a recent memo from her office.
MD Helicopters has lost a protest for an other transaction agreement to develop Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft competitive prototypes:
GAO rejects MD Helicopters' protest of FARA loss
The Government Accountability Office has rejected a protest from MD Helicopters of Army Futures Command's decision regarding development of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft.
Document: GAO decision on Army helicopter protest
The 21st Century Combined Arms Advanced Naval Technology Exercise, or ANTX West 2019, will be concluding this week:
Navy, Marine Corps assessing more than 80 emerging technologies in ANTX West 2019
The Navy and Marine Corps are assessing more than 80 emerging technologies along with new concepts of operation in a 10-day exercise across numerous locations that aims to vet potential combat capabilities as part of the services' effort to expedite fielding of new weapons and ways to fight, according to the services.
The Navy has a new "Offensive Missile Strategy":
Navy expands cruise missile strategy, finishes NGLAW AOA
The Navy has expanded its cruise missile strategy to include "all non-nuclear offensive strike missiles" at around the same time it has completed an analysis of alternatives that will inform the service's next generation of strike capabilities.
The Marine Corps' new heavy-lift helicopter program will be getting more money:
Congress approves $79 million reprogramming for delayed CH-53K
Congressional defense committees have approved $79 million in reprogramming funds for the Marine Corps' new heavy-lift helicopter, which is facing schedule delays due to technical problems.
We now know how much the Army spent for a second test of Northrop Grumman's Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System:
Army discloses $354M bill for IBCS remedial work, test
The Army's second operational test of Northrop Grumman's Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System, or IBCS, came with a price tag of $354 million, according to a report the service just made public on a decision made a year and a half ago.
Document: Army J&A on IBCS testing extension
The week ahead is packed with congressional hearings, including one featuring acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan, who is expected to discuss the Pentagon's Space Force proposal.
Tuesday
The Senate Budget Committee holds a hearing with acting Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist on the Pentagon's fiscal year 2020 budget request.
The House Appropriations defense subcommittee holds a hearing on the Army budget.
The House Appropriations military construction, Veterans Affairs and related agencies subcommittee holds a hearing on military construction and family housing.
The House Armed Services intelligence and emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee holds a budget hearing on U.S. Special Operations Command.
The House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee holds a hearing on atomic energy defense, nonproliferation, safety and environmental management.
The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the Navy budget.
The Senate Armed Services airland subcommittee holds a hearing on Air Force modernization.
Wednesday
The House Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the Navy budget.
The Senate Armed Services seapower subcommittee holds a hearing on Marine Corps ground modernization and aviation programs.
The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee holds a budget hearing on National Guard and Reserve forces.
Thursday
The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the Pentagon's Space Force proposal, featuring acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan and other senior officials.
The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments hosts an event on the Air Force and its future in great power competition.
Friday
The Air Force Association hosts a discussion with Will Roper, the service's acquisition chief.
This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program, the Joint Strike Fighter and more.
The Army's request for information for the Black Hawk replacement helicopter effort is out:
Army releases RFI for FLRAA amid concerns with development strategy
The Army has released a request for information for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, a multiservice effort to replace the Black Hawk helicopter as soon as 2030.
Document: Army RFI for FLRAA
Donald Heckman, DOD's principal deputy chief information officer for cybersecurity, said the update to NIST Special Publication 800-171 is close to being finalized:
DOD expects cyber protections for 'critical programs' to be published in 60 days
The Defense Department is anticipating enhanced cybersecurity requirements for contractors working on critical technologies will be published by the National Institute for Standards and Technology in approximately 60 days, according to a DOD official.
Vice Adm. Mat Winter told reporters this week the F-35 program is slated to achieve 80 percent mission-capable benchmark because of modifications made to older aircraft and the ability to obtain spare parts:
F-35 on track to achieve 80 percent mission-capable rates by end of year
The Joint Strike Fighter is on track to meet its 80 percent mission-capable rate requirement by the end of 2019, according to the F-35 program executive officer.
More JSF news:
F-35 PEO: Turkey's exit from program could delay 50 to 75 aircraft over two years
If Turkey were removed from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter supply chain, the program office expects there would be a slowdown of parts to the three production lines within three months' time, resulting in between 50 and 75 aircraft being delivered late over a two-year period.
MDA's fiscal year 2020 budget request sets a new fielding date of FY-26 for the Pacific Radar:
MDA delays Pacific Radar, third in trio of new sensors, by two years
The Missile Defense Agency has pushed back plans for a new Pacific Radar by two years -- delaying all key milestones for a new sensor needed to plug holes in the U.S. military's ability to track projected future North Korean long-range rockets during the midcourse of flight -- while also trimming planned five-year spending on the project from $1 billion to $764 million.
Harris said today it has agreed to sell its night vision business to Elbit Systems of America for $350 million in cash.
"The transaction is conditioned on completion of Harris' previously announced proposed merger with L3 Technologies . . . as well as customary closing conditions including receipt of regulatory approvals," the company said.
Earlier this year, Harris indicated it was "moving proactively" and considering selling the business as part of the regulatory process related to its merger with L3.
The company said it will use the sale's proceeds to "pre-fund the L3 Harris pension and return cash to shareholders."
The Air Force is planning to employ a previously used "vanguard" approach for experimentation and innovation of next-generation air dominance capabilities.
Testifying at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said, "One of the things that we are going to do is go back to using vanguard programs, where we use the authorities you've given us to prototype, to experiment and to rapidly innovate."
Wilson was responding to a question from Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), who asked how the Air Force would manage pursuing sixth-generation air dominance capabilities as well as Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider heavy bombers.
"The F-22 is now closing in on 40 years in age. So you're going to have to be looking at that [next-generation] air dominance system," he said. "How do you fit in maintaining and moving forward with the required numbers of B-21s that you're going to need, and still allow for us to maintain the air dominance necessary with that next new platform or system?"
Wilson admitted there are challenges associated with major programs and said the new air dominance capabilities would use a different way of identifying and fielding new technologies.
"I think if you look back there's probably a legitimate criticism of some of our major defense programs where there are multiple miracles required in a program. That's probably not the way to set yourself up for success," she said.
"And so, rather than looking at a particular platform, our next-generation air dominance will identify the technologies that we need to develop and test and then make decisions along the way on how we will deploy those technologies," Wilson added.
In the late 1970s, Air Force Systems Command created "Vanguard" as a technology management approach that both determined the systems, costs, schedules and plans needed for acquisition and coordinated all research and development in the service.
Raytheon said today it has named Teresa Shea vice president of cyber warfare and mission innovations within its intelligence, information and services business.
Shea will run a newly created business area that integrates Raytheon's DOD cyber warfare initiatives with intelligence agency cyber mission programs, the company said.
She previously was executive vice president of technology at In-Q-Tel, an investment firm that seeks technology relevant to national security agencies. Before that, Shea spent 32 years with the National Security Agency, including as director of signals intelligence.
The Navy expects its analysis of alternatives for a sixth-generation fighter aircraft to wrap up this spring, and a report will follow in the summer, according to the service's top air warfare requirements officer.
"That will inform future choices reflected in future budget cycles in terms of what do we need to do to get after the lethality that we need at a cost we can afford," Rear Adm. Scott Conn (N98) told lawmakers today during a House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee hearing.
The service began the Next Generation Air Dominance AOA in May 2016 to determine what aircraft would follow the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers, which are scheduled to retire in the 2030s.
Concepts under review include a mix of manned and unmanned aircraft with advanced propulsion technologies, varying stealth characteristics, advanced standoff weapons, sensors and networks, Inside Defense previously reported.
This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the proposed Space Force, Navy unmanned vessel requirements, a new Defense Innovation Board report on 5G and more.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), during a recent House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee hearing, aired his concerns about the Trump administration's Space Force legislative proposal:
Rogers: DOD's Space Force proposal has 'glaring problems'
One of the leading congressional proponents of the movement to create a new Space Force told Pentagon leadership today there are major issues with DOD's legislative proposal.
In related space news, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson has been vocal in her opposition to the new Space Development Agency:
Wilson reiterates SDA concerns with lawmakers
As Pentagon leaders move forward with plans to stand up a new Space Development Agency, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson continues to air her concerns with the new organization, telling lawmakers this week she worries the agency will be too detached from the warfighter and could impede ongoing work to develop a proliferated low earth orbit satellite constellation.
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Systems Vice Adm. William Merz recently testified on Capitol Hill as to why unmanned surface vehicles and unmanned undersea vehicles are not part of the Navy’s force-structure assessment:
Navy moving toward unmanned vessel requirements
The Navy is evaluating how unmanned vessels will factor into the fleet and expects to issue a new requirement for autonomous ships, according to a senior service official.
The Defense Innovation Board this week issued a new report on the 5G ecosystem and the challenges the Pentagon faces:
Pentagon advisers recommend U.S. military share spectrum to compete with China in 5G
The Defense Innovation Board is recommending the Defense Department share its electromagnetic spectrum with civil operators so the United States can compete with China in the deployment of 5G technologies, but the Pentagon should also prepare to operate in a "post-Western" wireless ecosystem.
Last but by no means least, here is some missile defense news:
MDA still working to identify full scope of RKV delay
The Missile Defense Agency is working to determine the full extent of the delay to the Redesigned Kill Vehicle program and -- based on technology testing currently underway -- plans to revise the estimated two-year schedule slip by either lengthening the delay or trimming it as soon as this summer, according to a senior Defense Department official.
MDA, Air Force eye $30M for new, classified interceptor project
The Missile Defense Agency and the Air Force are seeking $30 million to launch a classified, joint program over the next three years that could be used to begin a new interceptor program or modify an existing guided missile based on scant details in the Pentagon's new spending request.
The Overseas Contingency Operations account was introduced in 2009 to fund wars abroad, meant to give the Pentagon greater flexibility to pay for unexpected costs.
While this account has long been criticized as a "slush fund," this year marks a startling departure. The Trump administration's OCO request amounts to 150 percent more than sought the year before, and the Pentagon freely admits it's not to cover direct war requirements. Instead, the White House is seeking to use the war account to finance a $34 billion increase to the defense budget.
How did the Pentagon end up here?
Harris and L3 Technologies said that at respective special meetings held today, both companies' stockholders voted to approve their mergers of equals to create L3 Harris Technologies.
The deal is expected to close mid-2019, they said, following regulatory approvals.