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The Navy has awarded $10 billion to seven companies to deliver logistics support, supplies and services for geographic combatant commands, coalition partners and U.S. federal agencies, according to a Pentagon announcement.

The contract’s base period will run from October 2025 to December 2029, with a five-year option period that could extend work to December 2034. The total value could reach $20 billion if this option is exercised.

Work will include “reception, staging, onward-movement, and integration support; sustainment; theater distribution; and stability operations and Defense Support of Civil Authorities support,” the notice states. Locations for the work “cannot be currently provided,” it adds.

Announced on the final day of fiscal year 2025, the award is part of Naval Supply Systems Command’s “Worldwide Expeditionary Multiple Award Contract (WEXMAC)” initiative.

The program was launched in 2021 to provide fast and flexible contracting support to expeditionary forces by pre-selecting a group of companies and eliminating the need for repetitive ad-hoc contract requests.

Earlier this month, the Navy announced another WEXMAC award to 59 different contractors worth a cumulative $20 billion.

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on what the upcoming National Defense Strategy might focus on, plus a long-delayed quantum science program and more.

We start off with a deep dive into what the upcoming National Defense Strategy might focus on:

Impending National Defense Strategy release raises questions about China, Taiwan and the 'Davidson window'

As the U.S. approaches the looming 2027 deadline when some predict China may be capable of invading Taiwan, military leaders and lawmakers appear united in countering this potential threat -- with the White House proposing a roughly $1 trillion defense budget.

A new, multibillion-dollar F-35 Joint Strike Fighter contract was issued this week:

Lockheed awarded contract for F-35 Lots 18 and 19

Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon have inked a more-than-$12.5 billion contract for F-35 Lots 18 and 19, according to a Defense Department announcement.

A recent Defense Department inspector general's "management advisory" report "identifies concerns found during the DOD Office of Inspector General's 'Evaluation of the DOD's Development and Implementation of Quantum Technologies' (Project No. D2025-DEV0SI-0100.001)":

Pentagon plans to start long-delayed quantum science program by year's end

The Defense Department will finally take steps to formally stand up the congressionally mandated DOD Quantum Information Science Program and expects to publish initial guidance directives by the end of 2025.

Document: DOD IG 'management advisory' on quantum tech report

The Navy aims to establish a "consortium or consortia" and execute "multibillion-dollar-projects" under Other Transaction Agreements to accelerate investments in areas including infrastructure modernization and workforce and supplier development:

Navy wants private-sector consortium to manage industrial base investments

The Navy is interested in partnering with companies and other private-sector players to establish one or more affiliated groups that will manage maritime industrial base investments and development projects, according to a new request for information.

More coverage from last week's AFA conference:

SSC taking first look into alternative space launch sites

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Space Systems Command is starting to look into alternative space launch sites as the Space Force's two locations become more crowded with launch needs, according to a top service official.

Space Force to hire deputy acquisition chief before filling Senate-confirmed role

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- The Space Force plans to hire a deputy acquisition chief before filling the Senate-confirmed head of acquisitions, a senior service official told reporters.

Read our full AFA coverage.

The Navy has awarded L3Harris Technologies and Collins Aerospace separate contracts, each worth up to $940 million, to produce and sustain Multifunctional Information Distribution System radios, according to a Pentagon contract announcement.

The L3Harris award combines Navy and Air Force purchases of the “Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) weapon data link small-form-factor weapons attritable radio multimode family 2 radio,” the notice states.

The Collins Aerospace order covers the same equipment but is exclusively for the Air Force. The ordering period for both contracts runs through September 2030.

In June, L3Harris received another award worth nearly $1 billion for production, retrofits, development and sustainment of MIDS joint tactical radio system terminals. In 2022, the company acquired contractor Viasat’s Link 16 tactical data links business for almost $2 billion.

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Pentagon's contingency planning in advance of a potential government shutdown this week, plus several major weapons procurement contracts awarded in the waning days of the current fiscal year and more.

The Defense Department has released a document that "provides guidance for identifying those missions and functions of the Department of War (DOW) that may continue to be carried out in the absence of available appropriations":

Pentagon announces 'highest priorities' in event of shutdown

The Defense Department's "highest priorities" in the event of a government shutdown this week are operations to secure the U.S. southern border, Middle East operations, Golden Dome for America, depot maintenance, shipbuilding and critical munitions, according to a new Pentagon document.

Document: DOD's contingency plan guidance for government shutdown

A new procurement contract is expected to yield $1.5 billion in cost savings from 2025 to 2029 and marks the first use of multiyear procurement for the CH-53K -- a critical Marine Corps platform replacing the legacy CH-53E Super Stallion as the Pentagon's only rotary-wing, heavy-lift aircraft:

Sikorsky secures $10.9B multiyear deal for CH-53K production

Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky has received a five-year multiyear procurement contract worth as much as $10.9 billion for up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the Marine Corps.

The Missile Defense Agency recently disclosed a contract modification to extend Guam missile defense work for up to four months at Lockheed's division in Moorestown, NJ, and on Guam through April 2026:

Pentagon awards new Aegis Guam work, setting stage to tie in joint fires in FY-26

The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin $44.2 million to continue adapting the Aegis missile defense system for Guam, funding work on software development, integration testing and other upgrades aimed at countering advanced ballistic and hypersonic threats.

The Space Force wants RG-XX, the next-generation replacement of the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP), to be delivered faster and with a relatively low cost:

GSSAP replacement RFP coming soon, Space Force official says

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- The Space Force may soon request proposals for its next set of "neighborhood watch" satellites for on-orbit space domain awareness, a top official told reporters this week, opening the way for commercial entrants.

The Army will need special licenses to access technical and manufacturing data as well as computer software to allow its own maintainers and third-party contractors to repair the Common Tactical Truck at the depot level:

Army wants technical data rights to mend CTT at depots and in the field

The Army is marching forward on its plan to fold right-to-repair provisions into new contracts after releasing an update to industry that sheds more light on what the future requirement will look like for its Common Tactical Truck program.

Congress returns this week to address a possible government shutdown scheduled for Wednesday.

Tuesday

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called hundreds of senior officers from around the globe to meet with him in Quantico, VA.

Wednesday

The federal government will shut down at midnight barring the passage of a stopgap continuing resolution.

The Defense Department awarded $33.5 million to two companies to expand the industrial base for solid-rocket motors, according to an announcement today.

Americarb received $12.6 million and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) received $20.9 million through the Defense Production Act Title III in an effort to boost the munitions industrial base, supply chain resilience and domestic production.

"To meet the evolving threats of tomorrow, we must expand our capacity to produce the critical subcomponents that underpin our munitions systems," said Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey. "By advancing resiliency in the solid rocket motor supply chain, we're not only strengthening our defense industrial base but also helping to ensure a reliable and scalable supply of the materials and components crucial to our national security."

Americarb will use the funds to “develop a solution for converting woven rayon fabric into carbonized rayon phenolic,” which is used to insulate rocket nozzles in SRMs, according to the announcement.

GD-OTS will “increase SRM nozzle production capacity and capability, becoming a new supplier for composite rocket nozzles and insulators,” the announcement states.

Four other businesses have received similar awards, bringing the total money spent through the effort to $87.3 million.

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on how the Trump administration plans to handle the looming government shutdown, plus continuing coverage of the AFA Air, Space and Cyber conference and more.

As lawmakers remain gridlocked over spending and potential cuts to healthcare, it's unclear how the Defense Department would be impacted by a potential shutdown or the "reduction in force" guidance laid out in a new OMB memo distributed across the federal government:

DOD receives shutdown guidance; White House sees 'opportunity' for federal layoffs

The White House Office of Management and Budget has sent the Defense Department and other federal agencies guidance for a possible government shutdown on Oct. 1, threatening the mass layoff of federal employees.

Some shipbuilding news:

Trump's shipbuilding office is active within OMB after relocation and leadership change

The Trump administration's shipbuilding office is up and running within the White House Office of Management and Budget after a leadership change this summer and is now working to promote investments and implement policies to boost domestic production capacity for commercial and military vessels, according to the administration.

Continuing coverage of this year's AFA Air, Space and Cyber conference:

L3Harris 'locked and loaded' for SBI competition and broader Golden Dome project

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- L3Harris Technologies' leaders say the company is ready to deliver a space-based interceptor, arguing that propulsion, sensing and connectivity technologies developed across its portfolio can be rapidly integrated into an offering for the Pentagon's new competition, a centerpiece of the Golden Dome for America project.

Air Force to award CCA increment two concept refinement contracts in early FY-26

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- The Air Force will narrow a large pool of vendors to develop airframe design analysis for the second increment of Collaborative Combat Aircraft within the next few months, top program officials said today.

Anduril bets on surface-launched version of autonomous cruise missile

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Anduril Industries, responding to government demand signals to expand the U.S. munitions industrial base, has unveiled a new variant of its Barracuda family of software-defined, low-cost and mass-producible cruise missiles -- a surface-launched version of the Barracuda-500.

Space Force Victus Haze delayed due to launch contractor anomaly

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- The Space Force's next tactically responsive space demonstration has been delayed due to the launch service provider's anomaly early this year that failed to place a satellite in orbit, according to the head of Space Systems Command.

The Army finally has its new under secretary:

Obadal steps into Army under secretary role, sheds Anduril stocks

The Army has quietly sworn in former Anduril Industries executive Michael Obadal to the service's No. 2 civilian role a month after he promised to give up all equity in his old company.