The Insider

The INSIDER daily digest -- Jan. 21, 2025
By John Liang
January 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Army energetics procurement, Air Force aircraft availability, Navy mine countermeasures and more.

Inside Defense recently held exit interviews with the Army and Air Force acquisition chiefs:

Congress worries about foreign energetics procurement, but OIB is in 'excellent shape,' former acquisition chief argues

Congress is concerned about the Army procuring energetic materials outside the United States, but that's the way it's always been done, argued Doug Bush, the service's previous acquisition chief, before he left office.

'I don't like the trend line': Exiting Air Force acquisition chief warns of depleting aircraft availability

More than a decade after the fiscal year 2013 sequestration, the Air Force's foundational accounts are still recovering from negative impacts to readiness, modernization and operations and maintenance.

The deployment of MCM mission packages on trimaran-hulled, Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships marks the Navy's departure from using MH-53 helicopters and Avenger-class MCM ships for similar missions:

Deployment of mine countermeasures package marks a 'generational change'

Rollout of the mine countermeasures mission package on the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship remains on track for later this fiscal year, according to a Navy official.

A new Defense Department report provides an overview of the implementation of 26 Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution reform initiatives:

DOD implementing budget reforms but seeks more flexibility from Congress

The Defense Department is working to implement internal reforms to its 1960s-era budget planning and execution process, but the Pentagon is still asking Congress for greater spending flexibility that appropriators have thus far declined to provide.

Document: DOD's PPBE implementation plan

A spiking firing rate of M777 lightweight howitzer systems has caused a requirement to produce more cannon tubes:

Lightweight howitzer tube production proves reliable for Army, and in demand

Watervliet Arsenal, NY, has seen more production in the last three months than it has in the last 40 years, and each month was faster than the last, according to the commanding general of Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.

The Small Business Investment Company Critical Technologies Initiative was the result of a partnership between the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital and SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation -- aimed at pairing sources of private capital with federally guaranteed loans meant to boost investment in technology areas deemed high-priority for DOD:

DOD, SBA unveil names of first funds under new critical technology investment initiative

The Defense Department and Small Business Administration on Friday published the names of all but one of 18 licensed and "green light approved" funds forming the first cohort of the Small Business Investment Company Critical Technologies Initiative.

Trump selects former Space Force officer as new Air Force under secretary
By Vanessa Montalbano
January 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM

President Trump on Jan. 17 announced he would nominate former Space Force Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier to be the next Air Force under secretary.

“Matthew will work with the GREAT Secretary of Defense Nominee, Pete Hegseth, to end the devastating ‘woke’ policies that have destroyed our Military, and make our Country STRONG AGAIN,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, his social media site.

If confirmed by the Senate, Lohmeier would become the service’s No. 2 civilian and would serve alongside Troy Meink, Trump’s pick for Air Force secretary.

Lohmeier was relieved of his command duties in 2021 after self-publishing a book and subsequently speaking on a podcast alleging Marxism was spreading across the military. The former commander of 11th Space Warning Squadron also criticized the Pentagon’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs and other initiatives while speaking on the podcast.

Then-Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting removed Lohmeier from his post due to a loss in confidence in his ability to lead, the Space Force said at the time. Now Whiting is the four-star general head of U.S. Space Command, potentially putting the two at odds once again.

Lohmeier graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2006 and began his active-duty career as a T-38 Talon instructor pilot and an F-15C Eagle fighter pilot before shifting his focus to space-based missile warning at the stand up of the Space Force.

DOD swears in key officials
By Tony Bertuca
January 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM

The Pentagon released a list today of officials that have been sworn into senior defense positions.

The list includes:

  • John Byers, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (South and South-East Asia)
  • Colin Carroll, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Defense
  • Austin Dahmer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Strategy)
  • Timothy Dill, Senior Adviser to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
  • Michael DiMino IV, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Middle East)
  • Mark Ditlevson, Senior Adviser, Department of the Navy
  • Michael Duffey, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense
  • Stephen Ferrara, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
  • David Fitzgerald, Chief Strategic Adviser, Department of the Navy
  • Eric Geressy, Senior Adviser to the Secretary of Defense (Strategy)
  • Terence Hagans, Chief of Staff, Department of the Army
  • Mateo Haydar, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
  • Macon Hughes, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs
  • Jules Hurst III, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Readiness)
  • Colby Jenkins, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Irregular Warfare and Counter Terrorism)
  • Joseph Kasper, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense
  • Rafael Leonardo, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Plans and Posture)
  • Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense
  • James Mazol, Senior Adviser to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
  • Sean C. McAndrews, Confidential Assistant to the Secretary of Defense
  • John Noh, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (East Asia)
  • Matt McNitt, Deputy White House Liaison
  • Tami Radabaugh, Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (Strategic Engagement)
  • James Sapp, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (House Affairs)
  • Darin Selnick, Senior Adviser to the Secretary of Defense
  • Katherine Thompson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Global Partnerships)
  • Jonathan Ullyot, Principal Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
  • Alexander Velez-Green, Senior Adviser to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
  • Patrick Weaver, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense
  • Kingsley Wilson, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary
  • Patrick Witt, Chief of Staff, Office of Strategic Capital
  • Charles Young III, Principal Deputy General Counsel (DOD)
NOMARS program demonstrates first automated at-sea USV refueling
By Nick Wilson
January 21, 2025 at 12:41 PM

The Navy completed a first-of-its-kind test last month when an unmanned surface vessel was refueled without the help of any onboard personnel in a demonstration that marks a step forward for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program.

Conducted by DARPA in coordination with the Navy’s unmanned maritime systems program office (PMS-406) and USV Squadron 1 (USVRON-1) using the USVs Ranger and Mariner, the test demonstrated refueling technology designed by contractor Serco for use aboard the future NOMARS USV Defiant.

The NOMARS initiative was launched in 2020 with the goal of developing an unmanned platform capable of operating for up to a year without human intervention or maintenance. Serco was selected to build the first vessel in 2022, and in April, Navy officials said NOMARS would transition to the service in 2025.

During the demonstration, Ranger carried a “receiving station” designed for the future Defiant while Mariner deployed a refueling probe to complete the operation, according to a Dec. 19 DARPA announcement. Personnel were present on both vessels during the test but were not involved in operations on the fuel-receiving side.

“The team demonstrated all parts of the system [concept of operations] while underway, including passing the lead-line to the refueling side, passing and connecting the refueling probe to the USV side and pumping water. This was the first on-water test of the system, and all parts of the operation were successfully demonstrated,” the announcement states.

Current USV refueling techniques require people to board the vessel to handle lines and hoses, the notice continues. The presence of people on the USV imposes restrictions on its design and operations, while the refueling process itself can be dangerous for personnel in rough seas.

The next at-sea refueling test is slated to take place using the Defiant USV during the vessel’s sea trials. The 180-foot-long, 240-metric-ton vessel is nearing the completion of construction and is scheduled to begin a “multimonth at-sea demonstration” in the spring of 2025, the notice states.

DOD awards $5.1M to reclaim rare earth elements from recycled electronic waste
By Theresa Maher
January 21, 2025 at 10:57 AM

The Defense Department awarded $5.1 million to Rare Resource Recycling Inc. (REEcycle) in efforts to support its recovery of four elements critical to neodymium iron boron magnets, which enable a variety of defense applications, DOD announced Friday.

The award, granted through the Defense Production Act’s Title III, also supports the Pentagon’s efforts to build a mine-to-magnet domestic supply chain capacity.

“A resilient mine-to-magnet supply chain will require diverse sources for rare earth elements,” Laura Taylor-Kale, assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy, said in a statement. “REEcycle’s capabilities will help the United States become less dependent on foreign sources by extracting full value from material that would otherwise end up in landfills.”

The project being funded would restart an existing demonstration facility and advance commissioning of a commercial facility “with an estimated annual production of 50 tons of rare earth oxides,” according to the release.

With the relaunch of the demonstration plant, REEcycle would use its proprietary methods to recover more than 98% of the rare earth elements essential to neodymium iron boron magnets, according to DOD.

That proprietary process starts with discarded magnets from electronic waste -- including but not limited to hard disk drives, wind turbine motors, electronic vehicle and bike motors, according to REEcycle’s website.

“With our low-cost, low waste recycling process, we are creating a new source of rare earth supply with the same sustainable focus of the technologies they make possible,” REEcycle says.

The commissioning of the commercial plant would then allow REEcycle to position itself as a supplier to “companies engaged in downstream metallization and magnet manufacturing,” according to the release.

“By enabling REEcycle to recover critical materials from electronic waste,” Anthony Di Stasio, director of the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization directorate, said, “this award will support the DOD’s work to expand the supply of rare earths needed for the production of defense articles.”

It’s the latest of six awards made through the Defense Production Act Purchases Office, which total $295.9 million since the start of fiscal year 2025, DOD said.

The announcement comes nearly a week after Deputy Administrator for the Defense Logistics Agency’s Strategic Minerals Office Theresa Leland discussed her team’s efforts to recycle critical materials such as rare earth minerals.

Among those key materials her office has found “fairly accessible to remove from end-of-life products,” Leland said during a panel discussion hosted by the Naval War College, is germanium.

Germanium is a rare mineral possessing a wide array of military applications -- one of many the Chinese Commerce Ministry banned the export of to the United States in a December announcement.

Salesses named acting SECDEF
By Tony Bertuca
January 20, 2025 at 5:18 PM

Robert Salesses has been named acting defense secretary while President Trump awaits the Senate confirmation of nominee Pete Hegseth.

Salesses, a retired Marine Corps officer, is currently deputy director of Washington Headquarters Services. He previously served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for defense continuity and mission assurance among a host of other Pentagon jobs.

Meanwhile, Trump has named Mark Averill acting Army secretary, Terrence Emmert as acting Navy secretary and Gary Ashworth as acting Air Force secretary. All are members of the senior executive service.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Jan. 17, 2025
By John Liang
January 17, 2025 at 3:10 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from the Surface Navy Association's annual symposium and more.

We start off with continuing coverage of this week's SNA symposium:

Navy waits in budget-guidance limbo, poised to reduce or expand plan 'if we need to'

The Navy is poised to recalibrate its near-term budget plan -- either down or up -- as it awaits fiscal guidance from the incoming Trump administration on the sea service's topline, a decision that will determine the fate of a $257.6 billion forecast for the department in 2026 and $275 billion in FY-27.

Smith: Osprey groundings undercut pilot training, readiness

Operational restrictions on the V-22 Osprey following multiple deadly crashes may have a counterproductive effect on fleet safety, according to the Marine Corps' top officer, who said groundings and other flight limitations have prevented pilots from training.

Navy sees need for as many as 80 SPY-6 radars as part of new production plan

The Navy is eyeing as many as 80 SPY-6 sensor sets for the surface warfare fleet as well as foreign navies as part of a potential nine-year buying plan beginning in fiscal year 2027 that will shape a multibillion-dollar, air-and-missile defense contest the government hopes will draw more than the first production lot's single bid.

Fincantieri aims to hire 300 more workers over next two years for frigate production

Fincantieri Marinette Marine wants to hire about 300 additional workers at its Wisconsin facilities over the next two years for production of the Constellation-class frigate program, according to Chief Executive Officer Mark Vandroff.

Maritime industrial base needs 25,000 new trade workers per year for next decade, Navy estimates

The United States shipbuilding industrial base will need to hire approximately 25,000 new skilled trade workers annually for the next 10 years to meet the Navy’s production and sustainment needs, according to estimates from the service's new maritime industrial base program office.

C-UAS demonstrations in past year show promising solution for 'layered defense,' Navy official says

Countering unmanned aircraft systems is part of a "layered defense," and something that could prove useful in operations like those in the Red Sea, a Navy official said Thursday.

Read our full SNA coverage.

The Regional Sustainment Framework would utilize regional partnerships to sustain U.S. military equipment without requiring its removal from the operating theater:

Regional Sustainment Framework pilots launched for Indo-Pacific, Europe eyed next

Four pilot programs enabling the maintenance, repair and overhaul of U.S. military equipment are set to be launched in the Indo-Pacific theater, with plans to expand into Europe in the coming year, according to a senior Defense Department official.

President Biden signed a national security memorandum on Jan. 3 that updates classified policy guidance implementation of the MTCR, in part, to support the trilateral AUKUS partnership between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom:

White House loosens missile export rules for U.S. allies

The Biden administration has loosened some regulations of the Missile Technology Control Regime governing the export of missiles to U.S. allies, according to the White House.

The Army has no plans for an electric tank and never has, regardless of what President Trump's nominee to head the Pentagon said this week:

Hybrids may be on the horizon, but the Army never said anything about electric tanks, outgoing acquisition chief says

President-elect Trump's defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth told lawmakers Tuesday that his Army secretary "will not be focused on electric-powered tanks" if he's confirmed.

The Air Force's fleet of airborne refuelers -- which are typically larger, less maneuverable and lack sophisticated connectivity or other defenses despite often operating near combat environments -- are becoming increasingly vulnerable against the kinds of threats posed by China:

Hunter: Air Force on track to use Quick Start authority for tanker modernization

As the Air Force surveys proposals of priority efforts eligible to receive early funding without a congressionally approved budget, outgoing service acquisition boss Andrew Hunter said in an interview yesterday he is "really excited to leverage it in our approach to tanker modernization."

House Armed Services subcommittees announced
By Tony Bertuca
January 17, 2025 at 10:19 AM

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) today announced their subcommittee membership rosters.

Tactical air and land forces subcommittee:

  • Rob Wittman (R-VA), Chairman
  • Mike Turner (R-OH)
  • Sam Graves (R-MO)
  • Carlos Gimenez (R-FL)
  • Brad Finstad (R-MN)
  • Rich McCormick (R-GA)
  • Lance Gooden (R-TX)
  • John McGuire (R-VA)
  • Derek Schmidt (R-KS)
  • Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ)
  • Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Ranking Member
  • Joe Courtney (D-CT)
  • Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
  • Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)
  • Don Davis (D-NC)
  • Eric Sorensen (D-Il)
  • Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)
  • Wesley Bell (D-MO)

Seapower and projection forces subcommittee:

  • Trent Kelly (R-MS), Chairman
  • Rob Wittman (R-VA)
  • Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)
  • Jack Bergman (R-MI)
  • Ronny Jackson (R-TX)
  • Nancy Mace (R-SC)
  • Jen Kiggans (R-VA)
  • James Moylan (R-GU)
  • Lance Gooden (R-TX)
  • Clay Higgins (R-LA)
  • Joe Courtney (D-CT), Ranking Member
  • Don Norcross (D-NJ)
  • Ro Khanna (D-CA)
  • Jared Golden (D-ME)
  • Chris Deluzio (D-PA)
  • Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)
  • George Whitesides (D-CA)
  • Eugene Vindman (D-VA)

Strategic forces subcommittee:

  • Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Chairman
  • Joe Wilson (R-SC)
  • Mike Turner (R-OH)
  • Don Bacon (R-NE)
  • Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)
  • Mark Messmer (R-IN)
  • Jeff Crank (R-CO)
  • Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ)
  • Seth Moulton (D-MA), Ranking Member
  • John Garamendi (D-CA)
  • Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
  • Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)
  • George Whitesides (D-CA)
  • Wesley Bell (D-MO)

Readiness subcommittee:

  • Jack Bergman (R-MI), Chairman
  • Joe Wilson (R-SC)
  • Austin Scott (R-GA)
  • Carlos Gimenez (R-FL)
  • James Moylan (R-GU)
  • Cory Mills (R-FL)
  • Clay Higgins (R-LA)
  • Pat Harrigan (R-NC)
  • Mark Messmer (R-IN)
  • Derek Schmidt (R-KS)
  • John Garamendi (D-CA), Ranking Member
  • Marilyn Strickland (D-WA)
  • Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)
  • Chris Deluzio (D-PA)
  • Jill Tokuda (D-HI)
  • Don Davis (D-NC)
  • Eric Sorensen (D-IL)
  • Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)
  • Derek Tran (D-CA)

Cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee:

  • Don Bacon (R-NE), Chairman
  • Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
  • Pat Fallon (R-TX)
  • Brad Finstad (R-MN)
  • Morgan Luttrell (R-TX)
  • Jen Kiggans (R-VA)
  • Rich McCormick (R-GA)
  • Lance Gooden (R-TX)
  • John McGuire (R-VA)
  • Jeff Crank (R-CO)
  • Ro Khanna (D-CA), Ranking Member
  • Seth Moulton (D-MA)
  • Bill Keating (D-MA)
  • Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
  • Jason Crow (D-CO)
  • Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)
  • Pat Ryan (D-NY)
  • George Whitesides (D-CA)
  • Eugene Vindman (D-VA)

Intelligence and special operations subcommittee:

  • Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Chairman
  • Austin Scott (R-GA)
  • Trent Kelly (R-MS)
  • Nancy Mace (R-SC)
  • Morgan Luttrell (R-TX)
  • Cory Mills (R-FL)
  • Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)
  • Pat Harrigan (R-NC)
  • Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ)
  • Jason Crow (D-CO), Ranking Member
  • Bill Keating (D-MA)
  • Jared Golden (D-ME)
  • Sara Jacobs (D-CA)
  • Pat Ryan (D-NY)
  • Gil Cisneros (D-CA)
  • Derek Tran (D-CA)

Military personnel subcommittee:

  • Pat Fallon (R-TX), Chairman
  • Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
  • Nancy Mace (R-SC)
  • Jen Kiggans (R-VA)
  • Cory Mills (R-FL)
  • Pat Harrigan (R-NC)
  • Derek Schmidt (R-KS)
  • Jeff Crank (R-CO)
  • Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Ranking Member
  • Sara Jacobs (D-CA)
  • Marilyn Strickland (D-WA)
  • Jill Tokuda (D-HI)
  • Gil Cisneros (D-CA)
  • Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)
SDA head put on administrative leave pending investigation
By Vanessa Montalbano
January 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM

Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear has been placed on "investigative administrative leave" pending the results of an investigation, an Air Force spokesperson said today.

Lt Gen. Philip Garrant, the current commander of Space Systems Command, will serve as the acting SDA director, the spokesperson said.

The service didn't immediately provide additional details regarding the cause of the investigation.

Navy takes lessons from cruise lines, Coast Guard and more to reduce maintenance delays
By Abby Shepherd
January 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM

The Navy has employed a new planning strategy to reduce time spent on ship maintenance availabilities across the fleet, a service official said Thursday.

This “world-class planning sprint” includes partnering with cruise lines, airlines, the Coast Guard and other organizations to learn from their best planning practices, and in turn relate them to the Navy to reduce delays throughout the surface fleet, Navy Regional Maintenance Center Commander Rear Adm. Bill Green said at the Surface Navy Association’s conference.

After learning from these organizations, Green said the Navy plans to roll out some pilot elements of a program focused on tackling these delays. Green added it has been about 10 years since the Navy’s contracting strategy for ship maintenance was overhauled, and there are existing proposals to alter aspects of the system.

Discussion of the planning sprint follows the release of “Competitive Edge 2.0” earlier this week by Naval Surface Warfare Commander Vice Adm. Brendan McClane -- a roadmap to get 80% of surface warships combat surge ready by 2027.

McClane aims to have at least 71% of all CNO availabilities on time by September 2025, as well as a reduction in days of maintenance delays to less than 1,714 by that same month.

Earlier this week, McClane said there has been progress in improving readiness, as the service has reduced days of maintenance delay by 62% since 2019, to 2,633 days.

“That’s significant and impressive, but we still have lots of work to do to drive it down to zero by 2027, especially with amphibious warship maintenance availabilities,” McClane said. “Since 2018, of the 25 amphibious ready groups and Marine Expeditionary Units deployed, 38% were delayed due to amphib maintenance availabilities not finishing on time. Those availability delays resulted in the loss of 400 operational days at sea.”

Trump taps NRO official Troy Meink as next Air Force secretary
By Vanessa Montalbano
January 16, 2025 at 3:45 PM

President-elect Trump today announced his intention to nominate Troy Meink, who currently serves as the principal deputy director for the National Reconnaissance Office, to be the next Air Force secretary.

“Troy will work with our incredible Secretary of Defense Nominee, Pete Hegseth, to ensure that our Nation’s Air Force is the most effective and deadly force in the World, as we secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” Trump said in a statement.

Meink served as a KC-135 Stratotanker Tanker navigator, and later as a test engineer for missile defense systems, according to his NRO biography.

His current tenure at the spy agency began in 2020, following a position as deputy under secretary of the Air Force for space in the Obama administration.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Jan. 16, 2025
By John Liang
January 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's T-7 trainer jet program, a top Republican lawmaker's push to get defense spending above 4% of gross domestic product, Marine Corps mobility and more.

Under a new approach, the Air Force would purchase four new production-representative T-7 training jet test vehicles from Boeing -- to be delivered in fiscal year 2026 -- using FY-25 research, development, test and evaluation dollars to expand testing capacity:

Boeing could earn up to $250 million to revamp T-7 as milestone C is delayed further

The Air Force is again shifting its development and procurement plans for the T-7A Red Hawk training jet by pushing a critical milestone back one year and offering a ceiling of $250 million to address long-standing delivery delays and a need for updated capabilities, outgoing service acquisition head Andrew Hunter told Inside Defense.

The House Armed Services Committee's top Republican said this week that the panel will exercise oversight on "key defense programs to determine if they actually provide the capabilities we need":

Rogers predicts 'significant savings' at DOD, wants defense spending above 4% of GDP

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) said today he will work to cut underperforming Pentagon programs, while pushing to get defense spending above 4% of gross domestic product, or around $1 trillion.

Mobility is the Marine Corps' top uniformed official's "No. 1 priority":

With poor amphib condition and a delayed LSM award, mobility is the top concern for Marine Corps commandant

Mobility is a top concern for Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, who today underscored poor material condition among amphibious warships, further procurement delays for the Landing Ship Medium and Congress' routine use of stopgap spending patches as key challenges undercutting the service's readiness.

Some transition advice from the outgoing national security adviser:

Sullivan urges incoming Trump team to keep pushing defense production

Outgoing White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said this week he is encouraging officials from the incoming Trump administration to continue the Biden team's efforts to bolster the U.S. defense industrial base, specifically production of munitions and submarines.

A new Defense Innovation Board report identifies "requirements for fielding UxS at scale":

DIB urges Pentagon to start taking action when it comes to fielding UxS at scale

The Defense Innovation Board's recommendations for how the Defense Department could field unmanned weapon systems at scale center around one common theme -- the Pentagon needs to get out of its own way.

Document: DIB report on unmanned weapon systems

More coverage from this week's Surface Navy Association conference:

Progress in readiness, unmanned technology necessary to meet existential threat of Russia and China, Fleet Forces commander says

As China and Russia strengthen their naval relationship and increase joint patrols, training and port visits in the Pacific, the existing model for force generation -- the Optimized Fleet Response Plan -- is no longer optimal amid the existential threat posed by these two countries, U.S. Fleet Forces Commander Adm. Daryl Caudle said Wednesday.

Read our full SNA coverage.

Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems this week announced delivery of a AN/SPY-7(V)1 was made through the Mitsubishi Corp. under a direct commercial sale following acceptance testing:

Lockheed delivers first SPY-7 for Japan's new Aegis missile-defense ship

Lockheed Martin has delivered to Japan the first of four radar arrays for the Aegis System Equipped Vessel, a bespoke ship that will carry the missile defense sensors as part of Tokyo's project to bolster defense of the nation against North Korean ballistic missile attack.

Less than six months after Anduril publicly declared its intentions to develop a facility that would occupy upwards of five million square feet and be "designed to produce tens of thousands of autonomous military systems annually," that facility has now been named:

Anduril to build new 'hyperscale' manufacturing facility in Columbus

Startup defense contractor Anduril announced Thursday that it is set to build its first "hyperscale manufacturing facility," Arsenal-1, in Columbus, OH.

Multiyear contracts 'current intent' for destroyers, program manager says
By Abby Shepherd
January 16, 2025 at 12:04 PM

The Navy intends to use multiyear contracts for future Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, as was done in past negotiations with the most recent contract in 2023, which awarded three Flight III destroyers to General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works and six to HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding.

This contract will last up until 2027, after which a new contract will be awarded, Arleigh Burke-class Program Manager Capt. Seth Miller said Wednesday at the Surface Navy Association’s conference.

The Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG-126), the first Flight III at Bath Iron Works is almost 70% complete, Miller said. The keel has been laid and the ship will launch later this year, he added.

Meanwhile, the Patrick Gallagher (DDG-127) -- the last Flight IIA to be built -- is almost 90% complete and is ramping up for trials next year, Miller said. Ingalls Shipbuilding is also making good progress according to Miller, with the Ted Stevens (DDG-128) about 86% done.

“The Navy's very much focused on getting those ships out, recognizing their overall importance,” Miller said. “We got 25 ships on contract right now, so lots of work to do here for the foreseeable future and continuing with the Flight III.”

The Flight III program could see delivery delays of six-to-25 months for the 13 vessels that follow the lead ship Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125), the Government Accountability Office warned in a report released last June. This report followed an April shipbuilding review from the Navy, which did not highlight program issues for Flight III.

The GAO report also noted cost growth in the program, with the program office requesting an additional $290 million for fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

In December, House and Senate authorizers agreed to put forth incremental funding worth $700 million to construct a new destroyer.

House defense appropriations rosters announced
By Tony Bertuca
January 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM

House Republicans and Democrats today announced the members of the defense appropriations subcommittee, which will be chaired by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA).

The GOP subcommittee members are:

  • Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY)
  • Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR)
  • Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
  • Rep. John Carter (R-TX)
  • Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
  • Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH)
  • Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX) -- Vice Chair
  • Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)
  • Rep. David Valadao (R-CA)

Meanwhile, the subcommittee’s ranking member will be Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN). Other members include:

  • Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
  • Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX)
  • Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA)
  • Rep. Ed Case (D-HI)
  • Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV)
  • Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY)
  • Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) -- Ex Officio
Navy plans to test USV with GPS-denied capability in Red Sea
By Abby Shepherd
January 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM

After lessons learned within GPS-denied spaces, the Navy's task group on unmanned operations -- formed last January out of Central Command's Task Force 59 -- plans to launch an unmanned surface vessel with GPS-denied capability.

These GPS disruptions occurred primarily in the Gulf of Aqaba, something the task group initially saw as a challenge, task group Commander Lt. Luis Echeverria said Wednesday at the Surface Navy Association’s conference.

“Initially we saw that as a challenge, but now we see that as a win and we capitalize on that,” Echeverria said. “We ran a series of tests with GPS-denied capability, and later on this spring we will be launching for the first time a USV with GPS-denied capability out of the Gulf of Aqaba and into the northern Red Sea.”

Last fall, the Navy issued a call for potential Assured-Positioning, Navigation and Timing technologies to be integrated on unmanned surface vessels -- technology that can step in for GPS during an operation if jamming or other disruptions are present.

These technologies will be on display during a Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program Capability Discovery Event set to take place off the shores of Virginia in March, according to the government notice.

“Interference is becoming increasingly threatening as jamming, spoofing, cyber and direct attacks continue to evolve,” the notice stated.

Task Force 59’s efforts follow other Navy moves to advance unmanned technology research and experimentation, like the establishment of USVRON One in 2022 and USVRON Three in 2024. While the initial unit focuses more on medium and large USV experimentation, USVRON Three oversees small uncrewed vessels known as Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft.