The Insider

Oshkosh will continue producing the Army's heavy tactical trucks for the next five years at a cost of $1.54 billion, the Defense Department announced Tuesday.

"We are extremely honored that the U.S. Army continues to invest in the proven Oshkosh Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV),” Pat Williams, chief programs officer at Oshkosh Defense, said in a company statement. “Our continued collaboration with the Army ensures that we deliver exceptional, high-performance vehicles with the latest technologies and active safety features.”

Issued as a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract, the Wisconsin-based company will build the Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles by an estimated completion date of Aug. 19, 2029, with the work locations and funding to be determined with each order, the Pentagon announcement reads.

Oshkosh intends to make “cost-effective and targeted upgrades to modernize the fleet, extend vehicle life, and reduce operating costs,” the company statement adds.

Designed to conduct the Army’s large-haul missions, the Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles consists of the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT), Palletized Load System (PLS), Palletized Load System Trailer and the Heavy Equipment Transporter, the latter of which is designed to transport the Abrams main battle tank.

The vehicle’s architecture allows for a “seamless integration of additional features, such as drive-by-wire capability, Condition Based Maintenance (CBM), electrification, export power, fuel efficiency and demand reduction modifications,” according to the company statement.

For fiscal year 2025, the Army intends to spend $98.9 million to procure 195 vehicles within the heavy tactical truck program with the amount decreasing to 99 vehicles for $65.5 million by FY-2029, according to service budget documents.

"The evolution of the FHTV through technical insertions and recapitalization is a testament to our innovation and focus on increased capabilities,” Williams added. “By integrating new technologies into the FHTV fleet, we are not only enhancing operational efficiency but also future proofing our vehicles to meet the evolving needs of the Warfighter.”

Currently, the Army is testing initial prototypes of the Common Tactical Truck (CTT), a potential replacement for the HEMTT and PLS featuring drive-by-wire capabilities, fuel efficiency and predictive maintenance.

The initial prototype testing will inform the program requirements for an expanded competition culminating in a production contract in 2026.

Oshkosh is competing against Navistar, Mack Defense, as well as a joint bid from American Rheinmetall and GM Defense in the CTT program.

Autonomous defense technology company DZYNE Technologies today announced the hiring of retired Navy Vice Adm. Collin Green as head of its Strategic Defense Solutions unit.

Green most recently served as deputy commander of U.S. Special Operations Command and previously as head of Naval Special Warfare Command.

Green's previous experience "will provide DZYNE with unique insights and perspectives as the company continues to develop and deploy its autonomous solutions, which include disruptive technologies in counter-UAS and a variety of autonomous aircraft, ranging from launched effects technologies to long endurance ISR platforms such as the ULTRA," the company said.

The State Department has approved a possible $3.5 billion foreign military sale of AH-64E Apache helicopters to South Korea, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice.

The deal, which DSCA says may require economic offsets, would include up to 36 helicopters and a variety of other related equipment and logistics support.

The primary contractors would be Boeing in Mesa, AZ, and Lockheed Martin in Orlando, FL.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region,” DSCA said.

The agency also announced several other potential FMS contracts, including a possible $305 million deal with the Netherlands for CH-47 and AH-64 helicopter training, a possible $100 million deal with Australia for Javelin missiles, and a possible $70 million deal with Finland for M1156A1 precision guidance kits.

Today’s announcements follow large potential FMS deals that DSCA notified Congress about last week, including a potential $19 billion sale to Israel.

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on an upcoming multicombatant command exercise in the Indo-Pacific, prototype satellites, uncrewed underwater vehicles and more.

The Air Force is taking an idea used during the Cold War and repurposing it for a future conflict in the Indo-Pacific:

Air Force unveils REFORPAC exercise for summer 2025

The Air Force's plan to test its new organizational structure in a large-scale, multicombatant command exercise in the Indo-Pacific next summer now has a name: REFORPAC.

York Space Systems and Terran Orbital subsidiary Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems will each build and operate 10 prototype Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Gamma variant satellites, which are expected to launch by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2027:

SDA awards $424 million to two companies for Tranche 2 Gamma satellites

The Space Development Agency today awarded a total of $424 million to two non-traditional defense contractors for the Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Gamma variant satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency officials spoke last week about Navy uncrewed underwater vehicles:

Unmanned systems and AI large part of Navy's current focus, officials say

The Navy is aiming its focus on successfully fielding unmanned systems -- particularly unmanned underwater vehicles -- officials said Thursday, with another demonstration of the Manta Ray program potentially planned soon.

A new report to Congress "provides a summary of congressional additions to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 President's Budget Request of the Department of Defense":

Congress added $22.7B in unrequested funds to boost DOD's budget in FY-24

Congress provided $22.7 billion in unrequested funding to the Defense Department in fiscal year 2024, with most of the additional cash going toward weapons procurement and development, according to a new report from the Pentagon comptroller.

Document: DOD report on congressional increases to FY-24 budget

The latest industry responses to the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program are out:

PSC calls for Pentagon to focus on making CMMC program 'executable' as rulemaking process continues

The Professional Services Council wants the Defense Department to focus on making its upcoming Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program "executable" for government contractors and the Pentagon, according to PSC president and CEO David Berteau, as the major initiative reaches a new milestone with the publication of a second rulemaking focused on acquisition.

In case you missed it, Inside Defense visited Austal USA's shipyard in Mobile, AL earlier this month. Here's our story, now available to all:

Austal poised to expand submarine module work as legacy programs sunset

MOBILE, AL -- As production of the Navy's Littoral Combat Ships and Expeditionary Fast Transports nears completion, Austal USA is entering a transition period that sees the historically aluminum-focused shipbuilder beginning production of multiple steel vessels and positioning itself to become an essential piece of the submarine industrial base.

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a just-released Pentagon report to Congress on how much unrequested money lawmakers added to the defense budget, plus the latest on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program and more.

A just-released report to Congress "provides a summary of congressional additions to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 President's Budget Request of the Department of Defense":

Congress added $22.7B in unrequested funds to boost DOD's budget in FY-24

Congress provided $22.7 billion in unrequested funding to the Defense Department in fiscal year 2024, with most of the additional cash going toward weapons procurement and development, according to a new report from the Pentagon comptroller.

Document: DOD report on congressional increases to FY-24 budget

The latest industry responses to the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program are out:

PSC calls for Pentagon to focus on making CMMC program 'executable' as rulemaking process continues

The Professional Services Council wants the Defense Department to focus on making its upcoming Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program "executable" for government contractors and the Pentagon, according to PSC president and CEO David Berteau, as the major initiative reaches a new milestone with the publication of a second rulemaking focused on acquisition.

The Army will now send a delegation to the facilities of interested howitzer manufacturers to observe the capabilities of existing cannon systems:

Army changes approach to howitzer capability demonstrations, will travel to vendor facilities

Interested howitzer manufacturers will now host Army representatives to demonstrate the capability of their existing systems, a change from previously scheduled consolidated demonstrations hosted by the service in an effort to acquire a new self-propelled cannon.

Some F-35 Joint Strike Fighter news:

Pentagon may consider a performance-based contract for some aspects of F-35 sustainment but not all

The F-35 Joint Program Office will not pursue a performance-based logistics contract with Lockheed Martin next year, but "the [Defense] Department will continue to assess and seek to award the best contracting strategy for F-35 sustainment, to include PBL type arrangements where advantageous," according to a defense official.

The F-35 won't be the only fighter to pair with the next-generation Collaborative Combat Aircraft:

Air Force official: CCAs to team with 'all fighters,' 'joint assets' and 'international partners'

The Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft will not only pair with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Next Generation Air Dominance platform, but also the F-15EX Eagle II, F-22 Raptor and platforms from other services or allies, according to a top Air Force official.

The State Department is scheduled to issue an "interim final rule" this week amending International Traffic and Arms Regulations (ITAR) to allow export licensing exemptions for defense trade between and among the United States, Australia and the U.K.:

U.S. announces new defense trade exemptions for Australia and U.K.

The United States has announced new export licensing exemptions for Australia and the U.K. meant to allow the AUKUS partners to substantially increase their flow of weapons sales and transfer some classified military technologies.

Archer Aviation has delivered its first Midnight mobility platform to the Air Force for evaluation as part of the company's up to $142 million contract with AFWERX agility prime, according to a notice issued today.

"Archer's Midnight aircraft has the potential to significantly enhance our operational capabilities," Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and the Air Force’s chief commercialization officer, said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing our work with our industry partners as we explore the ways that this advanced aircraft can contribute to the mission."

The aircraft displays a mix of capabilities the service has deemed critical for success in a potential fight in the Indo-Pacific, including electric vertical takeoff and landing, large payload, low noise output and an electrically powered engine.

The delivery of the zero-emission aircraft comes after the Defense Department last month granted Archer military airworthiness to begin flight testing on the Midnight to eventually validate the platform for specific mission concepts.

Air Force pilots and the Archer team have so far collaborated on various simulated operations out of Archer’s flight test facility in Salinas, CA, including medical evacuation, cargo and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, according to the company.

"This delivery represents a pivotal moment not only for Archer but for the future of military aviation," Adam Goldstein, Archer’s CEO, said in a statement. "Together, our goal is to prove Midnight’s potential and ensure the United States continues to lead the way with the world’s most advanced technology.”

The company may deliver as many as six Midnights to the Air Force, per the contract approved last August. The platforms can also be leveraged by other services if their interest is piqued, but the Air Force has said Midnight is “expected to provide a much safer and quieter alternative to helicopters while being more cost-effective for the U.S. military to transport, operate and maintain in the field.”