The Insider

Former MDA head named to CSIS missile defense project
By Linda Hersey
August 31, 2023 at 4:09 PM

Retired Vice Adm. Jon Hill, the former Missile Defense Agency director, has joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies as a senior adviser with the international security program's missile defense project, CSIS announced Thursday.

Hill, whose Navy career spanned more than 30 years, also will serve as a member of the missile defense project’s advisory board.

Hill was the 11th MDA director, heading the agency from May 2019 to July 2023.

As MDA director, he executed the agency’s mission to “develop, deliver and sustain global layered capabilities” for defending deployed forces, the U.S. and allies and partners from missile attacks, according to CSIS.

As a Navy leader, he served as program executive officer for integrated warfare systems from 2014-2016; director of cruiser and destroyer combat systems, 2013-2014; and major program manager, Aegis combat systems, 2010-2013.

Hill currently is vice president and chief engineer for training and logistics solutions at Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems.

“The coming years will be a pivotal time for missile defense, and it is a privilege to be part of an organization shaping the conversation on the future of national security,” he said in a prepared statement about his role as senior advisor at CSIS.

The CSIS missile defense project conducts research and analysis and holds events on missile defense policy, budgets, legislation and programs.

The project runs a “Missile Threat” website, which offers a look at policy, news and strategy on missile defense.

Army awards RTX $277M Excalibur replenishment contract
By Dan Schere
August 31, 2023 at 3:53 PM

The Army has awarded RTX, formerly Raytheon Technologies, a $276.5 million contract modification for the procurement of Excalibur 155mm projectiles.

The award meets an Army requirement for replenishing U.S. projectile stockpiles due to aid given to Ukraine by Presidential Drawdown Authority, according to an RTX statement.

“Through this contract, Raytheon will continue to support U.S. and allied customers with delivery of this critical capability,” the company said in the statement.

The Excalibur 155mm projectile provides precision indirect fires, increases lethality and reduces collateral damage, according to the Army. It also contains a jam-resistant internal GPS receiver.

The contract, announced by the Pentagon Aug. 30, has an estimated completion date of April 29, 2024. Work will be performed in the United States and Sweden, according to the notice.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Aug. 31, 2023
By John Liang
August 31, 2023 at 1:27 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept, the Conventional Prompt Strike weapon system being integrated onto the first Zumwalt-class destroyer and more.

Todd Serres, the Air Force's associate chief of command and control and integrated air and missile defense, spoke about the service's Agile Combat Employment concept this week:

Air base defense for Agile Combat Employment will need large upfront investment, official says

Fully implementing the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept in the Indo-Pacific will require large upfront investments to better defend proliferated bases, an Air Force official said this week at the Mitchell Institute.

The Navy's lead Zumwalt-class destroyer will be the first of the service's surface ships equipped with the Lockheed Martin-made Conventional Prompt Strike -- a hypersonic boost-glide weapon system for long-range missile flight:

HII awarded $155 million for DDG-1000 modernization and CPS integration

HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $154.8 million contract modification for the modernization of the Navy's lead Zumwalt-class destroyer, beginning the integration of the hypersonic Conventional Prompt Strike weapon system onto the ship, according to a Tuesday contract announcement.

Thirteen Tranche 0 satellites are scheduled for launch today:

SDA set for second of three Tranche 0 launches

The Space Development Agency on Thursday will launch the second round of Tranche 0 satellites for its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, though another launch will be needed for the final few satellites.

In a request for information issued this week, the Army Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems announces its intent to "collect data and information on existing" soft kill and active protection systems:

Army looking for existing 'soft kill' EW vehicle protection system

The Army is seeking information from industrial manufacturers to develop a soft kill, electronic warfare system to protect tactical vehicles from incoming projectiles, according to a public announcement.

Defense Department acquisition chief Bill LaPlante said this week that "scale" is the most important aspect of the Replicator program and one the Pentagon has long chased concerning emerging technologies:

Pentagon officials 'cagey' but still talking up Replicator as the next 'big bet'

The Pentagon this week revealed what some drone manufacturers hope is a game-changing moment with the announcement of the new "Replicator" program and top defense officials, though reluctant to provide details, say the decision to award contracts in the next 18 to 24 months for thousands of small, autonomous weapon systems signals a major milestone in the mission to counter China's massive military.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold AUKUS hearing with Defense, State department officials
By Nick Wilson
August 31, 2023 at 12:50 PM

Defense and State department officials will appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee next week to testify on the AUKUS security partnership, according to an announcement on the committee's website.

Scheduled for Sept. 6, the hearing will include Mara Karlin, who is serving as the acting deputy under secretary of defense for policy and the assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities.

Jessica Lewis, the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs and Kin Moy, the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for east Asian and pacific affairs, will also testify before the committee.

The hearing, titled “AUKUS: A Generational Opportunity to Deepen Our Security Partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom,” comes as lawmakers return to Washington from their August recess and resume consideration of annual defense authorization and appropriations bills that include several proposals that will shape the execution of AUKUS.

Legislative provisions moving through Congress include proposals to provide multiyear procurement authority for Block VI Virginia-class submarines, enable the eventual sale of submarines to Australia and grant the U.K. and Australia exemptions from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

A group of GOP lawmakers have also called on the Biden administration to deliver a supplemental spending package to support AUKUS, citing concern for the U.S. submarine industrial base.

In May, both Karlin and Lewis appeared before the House Foreign Relations Committee, with Lewis outlining a new State Department regulatory framework intended to streamline technology transfers under the fledgling security partnership.

IFS buys Falkonry
By John Liang
August 31, 2023 at 12:44 PM

IFS today announced it has agreed to acquire Falkonry, a California-based artificial intelligence software company that provides automated, high-speed data analysis to the manufacturing and defense industries.

"The addition of the Falkonry self-learning anomaly detection solution to existing IFS enterprise simulation and AI-based scheduling and optimization capabilities further evidences the company’s strategy to use AI pervasively to provide end-to-end intelligent insights in EAM (Enterprise Asset Management), across ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), MES (Manufacturing Execution System), PSO (Planning, Scheduling, Optimization), FSM (Field Service Management) and ESM (Enterprise Service Management) technology to increase people and asset productivity," an IFS statement reads.

IFS CEO Darren Roos said Falkonry "is unique in the market because its technology is agnostic and also it does not require data scientists. These are great differentiators for Falkonry that means the solution is both scalable and low-cost to implement -- two fundamental attributes that very much align to our own values.”

While it didn't disclose financial details, IFS said it expects the Falkonry acquisition to complete in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Aug. 30, 2023
By John Liang
August 30, 2023 at 1:37 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has more news on the Pentagon's Replicator program, the Army seeking a soft kill, electronic warfare system to protect tactical vehicles from incoming projectiles and more.

Defense Department acquisition chief Bill LaPlante said this week that "scale" is the most important aspect of the Replicator program and one the Pentagon has long chased concerning emerging technologies:

Pentagon officials 'cagey' but still talking up Replicator as the next 'big bet'

The Pentagon this week revealed what some drone manufacturers hope is a game-changing moment with the announcement of the new "Replicator" program and top defense officials, though reluctant to provide details, say the decision to award contracts in the next 18 to 24 months for thousands of small, autonomous weapon systems signals a major milestone in the mission to counter China's massive military.

In a request for information issued this week, the Army Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems announces its intent to "collect data and information on existing" soft kill and active protection systems:

Army looking for existing 'soft kill' EW vehicle protection system

The Army is seeking information from industrial manufacturers to develop a soft kill, electronic warfare system to protect tactical vehicles from incoming projectiles, according to a public announcement.

A senior Navy official this week underscored the work underway to field promising technologies while keeping a focus on management and sustainment of legacy systems:

Navy emphasizes logistics readiness in a combat environment

The Navy is optimized for a peacetime-efficient force but now needs to be ready to support the warfighter in conflict, Erica Plath, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for sustainment, said at a conference Tuesday on emerging defense technologies.

Some Navy unmanned systems news:

UAS platforms can travel farther, faster and with bigger payloads

Unmanned aerial systems increasingly have longer battery life -- traveling faster and farther with bigger payloads.

The Pentagon's research and engineering chief will meet next month with Australian officials to talk about missile defense:

Shyu to huddle with Australians over missile defense integration, AUKUS tech transfer

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu said today that Australian military officials will be meeting with her in September to discuss possibilities for air and missile defense integration.

Army official says ever-evolving technology presents challenge for Zero Trust implementation
By Dan Schere
August 30, 2023 at 11:06 AM

Army Deputy Chief Information Officer Maj. Gen. Jan Norris said Tuesday that one of the largest obstacles to implementing the service's Zero Trust strategy will be keeping up with technology that is constantly evolving.

The Defense Department aims to implement its Zero Trust cybersecurity framework by 2027, and the Army’s plan involves achieving Zero Trust levels for the service’s Unified Network, a data-centric Zero Trust architecture, hybrid cloud resource and “unified endpoint and security management” that is cloud-based and internet-accessible.

During a virtual event hosted by GovExec on Tuesday, Norris said the challenge for DOD stems from a need to program requirements out years in advance in order to receive funding.

“When you do that, are you flexible enough with what you've programmed to be able to pivot in a world of ever-evolving technology? And I think that's inherently our challenge,” he said.

“And I can think back over my 30-year career where we've iterated on different technologies, and can you pivot fast enough?" he added. "DOD, traditionally, we're not always that flexible in our bureaucracy, but we have to be for the future.”

Norris said the Army has a goal of achieving 90 target capability areas by 2027, which will be divided up into three phases. From now through the end of 2024, Norris said the service will focus on implementing foundational capabilities such as identity management, endpoint solutions for security and incident response. A second phase, which will last roughly from 2025 to 2027, will involve streamlining identity services with “automated identity management and identity verification,” in addition to building out scalable network resources, he said.

Beyond 2027, Norris said the focus will be on adapting and continuously monitoring for evolving threats.

DOD to transfer $250M in weapons to Ukraine
By Tony Bertuca
August 29, 2023 at 3:05 PM

The Defense Department announced today that a military package worth $250 million would be transferred from U.S. stocks to Ukraine.

The package, which is being funded via Presidential Drawdown Authority, includes:

• AIM-9M missiles for air defense;

• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);

• 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;

• Mine clearing equipment;

• Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;

• Javelin and other anti-armor systems and rockets;

• Hydra-70 Rockets;

• Over three million rounds of small arms ammunition;

• Armored medical treatment vehicles and humvee ambulances;

• Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing; and

• Spare parts, maintenance, and other field equipment.

“This announcement is the Biden administration's forty-fifth tranche of equipment to be provided from DOD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021,” DOD said. “It includes additional air defense and artillery munitions, mine clearing equipment, medical vehicles and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression on the battlefield and protect its people.”

The Pentagon said the package will be funded using previously authorized PDA funds for Ukraine that remained after a revaluation process that concluded in June.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Aug. 29, 2023
By John Liang
August 29, 2023 at 1:34 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on testing rapid prototype weapons, U.S.-Australian missile defense cooperation, development of a Joint Fires Network and more.

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu spoke this morning at a National Defense Industrial Association conference in Washington:

DOD's top tech official ready to make funding case for winning prototypes

Defense Department technology chief Hedi Shyu has been testing rapid prototype weapons for months and is now preparing for a major meeting with the Pentagon's top officials to make the case for funding them and providing them to the military services at scale, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.

Shyu to huddle with Australians over missile defense integration, AUKUS tech transfer

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu said today that Australian military officials will be meeting with her in September to discuss possibilities for air and missile defense integration.

The head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command spoke yesterday at the same NDIA conference:

Joint Fires Network remains a top developmental priority for INDOPACOM

Developing a Joint Fires Network is a top priority for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which is working to deliver a prototype system intended to synchronize data sharing and decision-making across the Indo-Pacific area of operations, according to Navy Adm. John Aquilino.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have news on Canada launching a cyber defense effort similar to the U.S. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program:

Canadian government announces plans to launch cyber certification program aligned with CMMC

The Canadian government is launching a cyber certification program for contractors who want to do business with the country's Department of National Defence that will be aligned with the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program.

U.S. military special operators will now be able to move around in a submersible without getting wet:

Dry combat submersible: No wetsuit required

Costing $70 million per hull, U.S. Special Operations Command has fielded a dry combat submersible (DCS) to "complement" current underwater delivery vehicles for transporting special operations forces.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Aug. 28, 2023
By John Liang
August 28, 2023 at 3:02 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has coverage of a nascent Pentagon initiative to build "attritable" autonomous weapon systems within the next two years, a new dry combat submersible for special operations forces, the Missile Defense Agency exploring expanding its national missile defense mission beyond North Korea and Iran and more.

The Pentagon's No. 2 civilian gave a major speech this morning on autonomous weapon systems:

DOD reveals new initiative to rapidly mass-produce autonomous weapon systems

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks today unveiled a new Pentagon program called "Replicator" that aims to produce and field thousands of "attritable" autonomous weapon systems within the next 18 to 24 months in a bid to counter China's surging military ambitions with a next-generation arsenal that is "small, smart, cheap and many."

U.S. Special Operations Command's new dry combat submersible achieved initial operational capability this summer, but defense officials are disclosing little about its capabilities:

Dry combat submersible: No wetsuit required

Costing $70 million per hull, U.S. Special Operations Command has fielded a dry combat submersible (DCS) to "complement" current underwater delivery vehicles for transporting special operations forces.

Laura DeSimone, the Missile Defense Agency's executive director, said the Pentagon's policy shop has tasked the agency to consider options for defending against a wider set of nations beyond Iran and North Korea:

MDA tasked to explore missile defense policy shift, brace for 'regional' strikes by Russia, China

The Pentagon is considering expanding current national missile defense policy -- which is focused on threats from North Korea and, should Tehran obtain a long-range nuclear capability, Iran -- to also counter "regional" aggressors, including Russia or China, according to a senior Defense Department official.

The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit has partnered with the Space Safari Program Office of Space Systems Command on tactically responsive space systems:

DOD seeking solutions for tactically responsive space systems

The Defense Department is looking for commercial solutions to develop and demonstrate on-orbit tactically responsive space systems, according to a notice posted yesterday.

An Army official recently discussed the future of robotics in the service:

Army Futures Command official says robots will reduce demand for soldiers

Robots must play a key role in warfare, particularly when it comes to sustainment and creating a “demand reduction” for soldiers, an official with Army Futures Command said Wednesday.

More Army Futures Command news:

Army Futures Command official seeks industry involvement in modernization

The Army will need to work closely with private industry to realize its many modernization goals, especially those requiring emerging technologies, according to a three-star from Army Futures Command.

DSB, DPB, AFSAB to hold closed meetings
By John Liang
August 28, 2023 at 12:03 PM

The Defense Science Board, Defense Policy Board and Air Force Scientific Advisory Board will each hold closed meetings during the week of Sept. 11, according to Federal Register notices.

The DSB will meet to discuss its summer study on "Climate Change and Global Security," according to a Federal Register notice published this morning.

During the meeting, the board will get "a classified overview of the 2023 Summer Study on Climate Change & Global Security to date from Dr. Eric Evans, the DSB Chair. Next, the DSB members will meet as a group in a plenary session to review the generated study briefing materials and engage in classified discussion(s) regarding anticipating the global stresses and possible conflict due to climate change. Following break, the DSB members will meet in smaller breakout groups to review the study briefing materials and engage in classified discussion regarding anticipating the global stresses and possible conflict due to climate change."

The DPB will receive "classified briefings regarding the People's Republic of China (PRC) and issues related to regional security; interagency perspectives; capability and posture issues for U.S. forces, resourcing issues, and U.S. industrial base considerations," according to a separate notice published this morning.

Speakers expected to brief the DPB include:

  • Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner;
  • Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord;
  • Susanna Blume, director of the Pentagon's cost assessment and program evaluation office;
  • U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino;
  • Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante; and
  • Director for Joint Force Development Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson.

For the AFSAB, the purpose of that meeting "is to provide dedicated time for members to begin collaboration on research and formally commence the Department of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board's FY-24 Secretary of the Air Force directed studies," according to an Aug. 25 Federal Register notice.

The AFSAB will consider four studies, although the notice doesn't say what they are about.

AeroVironment to buy Tomahawk Robotics
By John Liang
August 28, 2023 at 11:15 AM

AeroVironment announced today it plans to acquire Tomahawk Robotics, a maker of artificial intelligence-enabled robotic control systems, for $120 million in a mix of cash and stock.

"The acquisition will enable deeper integration of both companies' technology, leading to enhanced interoperability and interconnectivity of unmanned systems through a singular platform with similar control features," an AeroVironment statement reads. "This will ultimately enable warfighters to operate various connected robotic solutions in the battlefield and share information between multiple domains with one common controller."

Tomahawk Robotics will become part of the small uncrewed aerial systems business unit within AeroVironment's Unmanned Systems segment.

"We intend to retain all of their workforce and existing facilities in Florida," said AeroVironment's CEO and Chairman Wahid Nawabi. “We will support all existing Tomahawk Robotics customers and their products will remain platform agnostic to the market and within the industry. We also plan to introduce Tomahawk Robotics solutions to AeroVironment's growing network of more than 55 allied nations.”

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
August 28, 2023 at 5:00 AM

Senior defense officials are slated to speak around the Washington area this week.

Monday

The National Defense Industrial Association hosts its Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference. The event runs through Wednesday.

Tuesday

GovExec hosts an Army cybersecurity conference.

Wednesday

The Brookings Institution hosts a panel discussion on U.S. defense spending and how much is enough.

Thursday

Nextgov/FCW hosts its Data and Analytics Summit.

The INSIDER daily digest -- August 25, 2023
By Thomas Duffy
August 25, 2023 at 12:43 PM

We start off this end of week INSIDER Daily Digest with a look at robots in the Army, the Navy has issued a huge transport helicopter contract, the Pentagon says Ukrainian pilots will be trained in the U.S., and the Army is bolstering its tactical vehicle fleet.

An Army official recently discussed the future of robotics in the service:

Army Futures Command official says robots will reduce demand for soldiers

Robots must play a key role in warfare, particularly when it comes to sustainment and creating a “demand reduction” for soldiers, an official with Army Futures Command said Wednesday.

The Navy’s newest helicopter program is moving into full-rate production:

Sikorsky receives $2.7B contract extension for CH-53K full-rate production

The Navy has awarded Sikorsky a $2.7 billion block-buy contract modification for the production of 35 additional CH-53K helicopters, according to a Thursday announcement, marking the program’s largest order to date as it moves into full-rate production.

A Pentagon spokesman provided details on the training of Ukrainian pilots:

Ukrainian pilots to train on F-16s in U.S.

Ukrainian pilots are coming to the United States next month to begin training to fly F-16 aircraft, according to the Pentagon’s chief spokesman.

The Army has awarded contracts worth over $150 million for new vehicles:

Army announces additional contracts for tactical vehicles

The Army announced two contracts this week for additional tactical vehicles, according to Defense Department announcements.

Sikorsky receives $2.7B contract extension for CH-53K full-rate production
By Nick Wilson
August 25, 2023 at 11:21 AM

The Navy has awarded Sikorsky a $2.7 billion block-buy contract modification for the production of 35 additional CH-53K helicopters, according to a Thursday announcement, marking the program’s largest order to date as it moves into full-rate production.

A separate announcement from Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, indicates the order includes 27 aircraft for the Marine Corps and eight for the Israeli Air Force. Sikorsky will begin delivering the helicopters in 2026, the release adds.

The award extends an existing Marine Corps contract -- spanning the first six lots of low-rate initial production aircraft -- to Lot 7 and Lot 8 full-rate production aircraft. Lot 7 will include 12 helicopters while Lot 8 will include 15, the announcement states.

The CH-53K, which is replacing the legacy CH-53E Super Stallion as the Marine Corps’ primary heavy-lift helicopter, was cleared to enter full-rate production earlier in fiscal year 2023. Boasting triple the external load carrying capacity of the legacy system, the CH-53K is expected to play an important role transporting personnel, equipment and vehicles to support distributed operations.

The Marine Corps is preparing for an initial CH-53K deployment in 2025 while Sikorsky looks to ramp up production quantities to a rate of two aircraft per month. In April, a Sikorsky spokesman said the company was finishing construction of its final batch of seven LRIP helicopters.

The Navy plans to buy 21 aircraft per year from FY-25 through FY-28 and procure a total of 196 over the course of the program, budget documents indicate.

“This contract significantly advances Sikorsky and the U.S. Navy on the path toward a multi-year agreement and the 200 aircraft Marine Corps Program of Record,” the Sikorsky announcement states, adding the company is procuring long-lead materials to support increased production and utilizing “digital tools” to improve construction efficiency.

“This contract award for 35 CH-53K helicopters stabilizes Sikorsky’s nationwide supply base, creates additional production efficiencies, and provides the U.S. Marine Corps with transformative 21st century technologies,” Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo said in a statement included in the release.