The Insider

By Tony Bertuca
August 24, 2023 at 4:39 PM

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.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said today that “several” Ukrainian pilots and “dozens” of aircraft maintainers will be arriving at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, for English language training in September and will then move to Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, AZ, to train on F-16 jets.

Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have all pledged to donate F-16s to Ukraine.

"The Department of Defense is announcing today that the United States will soon begin training Ukrainians to fly and maintain F-16 fighter aircraft in support of the international effort to develop and strengthen Ukraine's long-term defenses,” Ryder said.

By Nickolai Sukharev
August 24, 2023 at 3:55 PM

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

BAE Systems received a $113 million contract for M7A4 Bradley Fire Support Team Vehicles with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2025. Oshkosh received a $40 million contract for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with an estimated completion date of Aug. 29, 2025, that includes the Navy, Marines and Air Force.

The M7A4 Bradley Fire Support Team Vehicle is a variant of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle that carries sensor and sighting systems designed to relay targeting information to support artillery fire.

Entering service in 1981, other variants of the Bradley include the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, M3 Cavalry Vehicle and an engineer vehicle.

The Army is slated to replace the Bradley with the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle, previously called the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle.

Designed to replace a portion of humvees, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle has greater armor protection in combat environments and can be transported by airplanes and helicopters. The JLTV has a four-seat combat tactical variant and a two-seat combat support variant.

Last month, a Senate appropriations report warned the Army was not building enough tactical vehicles to meet future needs.

By Thomas Duffy
August 24, 2023 at 1:52 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest begins with the Army acknowledging it has to pull in private industry to meet its modernization goals, a top House Republican wants to revisit the SPACECOM basing decision, a Pentagon innovator says commercial technology is getting a boost from the war in Ukraine, and the Army is launching a software pilot program.

The Army acknowledges it has to pull in private industry to meet its modernization goals:

Army Futures Command’s No. 2 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 the deputy chief of Army’s Futures Command.

A top House Republican wants to look at the SPACECOM basing decision:

GAO to review SPACECOM basing process per Rogers’ request

The Government Accountability Office today said it intends to honor the request of House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and review the basing decision process that determined U.S. Space Command should remain in Colorado instead of moving to his home state of Alabama as former President Trump previously announced.

The war in Ukraine may strengthen DOD’s acceptance of commercial technology:

DIU chief seeks to ‘scale’ commercial tech adoption as Congress considers greenlighting $1B portfolio

Doug Beck, the former Apple executive who in April became director of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit, said today that the war in Ukraine is helping the Washington defense establishment reach a “tipping point” when it comes to adopting commercial technology.

The Army is looking to sharpen its buying process regarding software:

Army will conduct pilot programs for software materiel release

In an attempt to increase efficiency in the software acquisition process, the Army said it plans to conduct materiel release pilots on select “software-intensive programs."

By Thomas Duffy
August 23, 2023 at 2:12 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest starts off with a look at a new early warning radar project, the latest on an Air Force hypersonic project, a new foreign military sale to Taiwan, and the threat of a government shutdown.

Looks like the Pentagon may be a year behind in building a new early warning radar:

DOD eyes 2028 completion for new OTHR in construction solicitation, a one-year delay

The Defense Department is seeking feedback on plans to fabricate a pair of Over the Horizon Radar Systems in remote areas of Alaska, publishing a solicitation that sheds new light on government plans for the sensor project -- including construction completion by 2028, a year later than the original targeted fielding date.

Though the program may be ending, the Air Force had a successful flight of a hypersonic weapon:

Air Force says it conducted ARRW prototype test

The Air Force announced it conducted an Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon hypersonic missile test on Aug. 19 but did not provide any details.

Taiwan will be getting new F-16 IRST systems:

U.S. approves $500M F-16 search and track system FMS for Taiwan

The State Department has approved a potential $500 million foreign military sale to Taiwan for F-16 Infrared Search and Track systems, according to a notice from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

And in case you missed it, some House Republicans are threatening to shut down the government:

House Freedom Caucus ramps up GOP hostage-taking with latest shutdown threat

The House Freedom Caucus threatened today to not support legislation that would avoid a government shutdown unless they get their way in several areas including the elimination of “woke policies in the Pentagon.”

By Tony Bertuca
August 23, 2023 at 1:06 PM

The State Department has approved a potential $500 million foreign military sale to Taiwan for F-16 Infrared Search and Track systems, according to a notice from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The proposed sale will improve Taiwan’s “capability to meet current and future threats by contributing to the recipient’s abilities to defend its airspace, provide regional security and increase interoperability with the United States through its F-16 program.”

The Chinese government, which considers Taiwan to be a renegade province, has said it wants its military to be able to implement “reunification” by 2027.

“This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” DSCA said. “The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region.”

Lockheed Martin will be the principal contractor. The total value of the contract will likely be lower at the end of the negotiating process, DSCA notes.

Earlier this month, the White House announced a $345 million military aid package for Taiwan that will rapidly transfer weapons directly from U.S. stocks, though details remain undisclosed.

The possible FMS deal with Taiwan comes amid other F-16 news, namely that the United States and NATO allies have made the final approvals for F-16s donated by Denmark and the Netherlands to begin arriving to train Ukrainian pilots as that nation continues to fight off a Russian invasion.

By Thomas Duffy
August 22, 2023 at 2:18 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest starts off with big news about the defense of Guam, some contracting news, and some Republican members of Congress are threatening a government shutdown.

Army officials are putting together proposals for defending Guam against a Chinese missile attack:

Army readying key recommendations on Defense of Guam for DOD leaders

The Army this month is expected to flesh out proposals for senior Pentagon leaders for all facets of standing up a new 360-degree air and missile defense system on Guam, including an organizational construct, program strategy and proposals for transitioning elements to different military services for operation.

The Navy is moving ahead on two significant contracts for the Joint Strike Fighter program:

Contracts support F-35 joint strike fighters

The Navy announced a pair of contracts worth more than $400 million to Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies to support work on helmet-mounted displays and engine systems for F-35 joint strike fighters.

Several Republican members of Congress are threatening to shut down the government if their legislative demands are not met:

House Freedom Caucus ramps up GOP hostage-taking with latest shutdown threat

The House Freedom Caucus threatened today to not support legislation that would avoid a government shutdown unless they get their way in several areas including the elimination of “woke policies in the Pentagon.”

The Army is making a big investment in National Guard aviation:

Army awards Airbus $27M for National Guard helicopter upgrades

The Army has awarded Airbus a $27.8 million contract for upgrades to the National Guard’s mission equipment package for the security and support battalion. The upgrades will help “deliver critical technology and mission capabilities” in the areas of homeland security, reconnaissance and search and rescue, according to a Monday announcement from Airbus.

By Dan Schere
August 22, 2023 at 11:22 AM

The Army has awarded Airbus a $27.8 million contract for upgrades to the National Guard’s mission equipment package for the security and support battalion. The upgrades will help “deliver critical technology and mission capabilities” in the areas of homeland security, reconnaissance and search and rescue, according to a Monday announcement from Airbus.

The upgrades involve retrofitting up to 50 UH-72A Lakota helicopters for the guard’s security and support battalion that are deployed throughout the United States, according to Airbus. The aircraft will receive capabilities such as an “advanced moving map,” enhanced digital interfaces, new monitors and an airborne mission management system.

The UH-72As typically operate missions that include domestic operations, counterdrug and border security, according to the announcement.

By Thomas Duffy
August 21, 2023 at 2:12 PM

Today’s INSIDER Daily Digest starts off with some F-16 news for Ukraine, the need for cyber protections for the Army, a new Marine Corps unit and a look at reforms for how the Pentagon puts together its budget.

It’s going to be a while before Ukraine is flying F-16 aircraft:

USAFE commander: Ukraine may need four to five years for F-16 proficiency

Ukraine's Air Force may not become proficient with F-16 fighter jets for four or five years, a top U.S. Air Force official said Friday morning, and the aircraft won't be a "silver bullet" for the country to gain air superiority as it fights off Russia's invasion.

The Army needs to tighten it’s cyber protections:

Army general stresses cybersecurity

The Army will need to prioritize security of its networks, according to a general from the Army’s Cyber Command.

The Marine Corps should have a new unit up and running in a few months:

Marine Corps' 3rd MLR on track to achieve IOC by October

The Marine Corps' 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment is on track to achieve initial operational capability by the end of fiscal year 2023, drawing on a series of large-scale training exercises to refine and advance its capabilities and capacity, a Marine Corps spokesman told Inside Defense.

A new commissions has come up with a few ideas for reforming Pentagon budgeting:

Budget reform commission chiefs say Congress needs more timely info from DOD

Senior leaders on the independent congressional commission aiming to reform the Defense Department's budget and planning system say Pentagon officials need more flexibility from lawmakers if the notoriously slow process is to become agile enough to capture technological innovation needed to compete with China, but they stress DOD must do more to build trust with Capitol Hill.

By Apurva Minchekar
August 21, 2023 at 2:00 PM

The Space Development Agency awarded $1.5 billion to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to build 72 Tranche 2 Transport Layer- Beta variant satellites scheduled to launch in September 2026, according to an announcement by SDA today.

“We are now solidly in the procurement phase for Tranche 2 of the [Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture] to support a 2026 delivery,” SDA Director Derek Tournear said.

“The Beta variant of the Tranche 2 Transport Layer vehicles are similar to Tranche 1 Transport Layer vehicles while also integrating advanced tactical communication technology demonstrated by the Tranche 1 Development and Experimentation System,” he said.

The agency awarded $816 million to Lockheed Martin, while Northrop received $733 million to build 36 data transport satellites each.

Lockheed is also scheduled to launch 10 Tranche 0 Transport Layer satellites in 2023 and 42 Tranche 1 satellites which are scheduled to launch in 2024, are in production and on track, according to Lockheed’s announcement.

Additionally, Northrop said that the company is progressing to launch its first Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites in the fourth quarter of 2024.

A part of SDA’s PWSA, T2TL will be responsible “to provide global communication access and deliver persistent global encrypted connectivity to support missions like beyond line of sight targeting and missile warning and missile tracking of advance missile threats,” the agency said.

By Tony Bertuca
August 21, 2023 at 5:00 AM

Defense officials are slated to speak at conferences around the country this week.

Tuesday

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s in-person Electronic Resurgence Summit begins in Seattle, WA.

The Fed Supernova conference begins in Austin, TX.

Wednesday

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion on the Pentagon’s newly released biodefense posture review.

By John Liang
August 18, 2023 at 3:12 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Ukraine getting proficient in flying F-16s, Army cybersecurity, Marine Littoral Regiments and more.

U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa Commander Gen. James Hecker spoke to reporters during a Defense Writers Group event this morning:

USAFE commander: Ukraine may need four to five years for F-16 proficiency

Ukraine's Air Force may not become proficient with F-16 fighter jets for four or five years, a top U.S. Air Force official said Friday morning, and the aircraft won't be a "silver bullet" for the country to gain air superiority as it fights off Russia's invasion.

Army Lt. Gen. Maria Barrett spoke about cybersecurity at this week's annual TechNet conference:

Army general stresses cybersecurity

The Army will need to prioritize security of its networks, according to a general from the Army’s Cyber Command.

Marine Littoral Regiments are an important piece of the Marine Corps' Force Design 2030 initiative, designed as stand-in forces operating in the littorals with heightened mobility, sustainability and lethality:

Marine Corps' 3rd MLR on track to achieve IOC by October

The Marine Corps' 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment is on track to achieve initial operational capability by the end of fiscal year 2023, drawing on a series of large-scale training exercises to refine and advance its capabilities and capacity, a Marine Corps spokesman told Inside Defense.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have the latest on the National Institute of Standards and Technology's work on handling controlled unclassified information:

NIST plans to reduce number of tailoring parameters in foundational CUI publication

The National Institute of Standards and Technology will reduce the number of "organizational-defined parameters" in the next draft update to its foundational guide on the handling of controlled unclassified information on nonfederal systems, in response to stakeholder feedback.

JetZero has nabbed a contract for the Air Force's blended-wing body prototype aircraft:

Air Force awards $235M to JetZero to build blended-wing body prototype

The Air Force has awarded a $235 million contract to JetZero to build the next phase of a blended-wing body prototype aircraft by 2027, according to an announcement yesterday.

An upcoming assessment of the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System will measure "system performance to ensure engineering efforts are on schedule and meeting design objectives":

Newest version of IVAS will undergo user assessment this month

The latest variant of the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System is set to undergo a user assessment this month, which is the beginning of a series of assessments for the night vision system.

By Linda Hersey
August 18, 2023 at 2:29 PM

(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include additional information on Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s nomination.)

Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti pledged to continue Navy operations "undisrupted and unabated," in remarks after taking over the service's top uniformed post.

Franchetti, serving as vice chief of naval operations, took over Monday as acting CNO. She becomes the first woman to lead the Navy.

Although President Biden stated his intent to nominate Franchetti on July 21 to lead the Navy, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) effectively froze her Senate confirmation, along with two other military leaders, over an unrelated dispute about abortion policy. The Senate Armed Services Committee received Franchetti's official nomination on July 26.

Franchetti now assumes the top job because of her position as second in command under the CNO. According to Title 10 of U.S. Code, the vice chief of naval operations takes over CNO duties until a successor is formally appointed.

Title 10 of U.S. Code 8035 states: “When there is a vacancy in the office of Chief of Naval Operations or during the absence or disability of the Chief of Naval Operations, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations shall perform the duties of the Chief of Naval Operations until a successor is appointed.”

Franchetti assumed the acting CNO post Monday when Adm. Michael Gilday formally ended his four-year term as 32nd CNO during a relinquishment-of-office ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy.

In her first message to the fleet, Franchetti promised to act with “urgency” to ensure sailors keep their “warfighting edge.”

Franchetti also said: “The work of our Navy continues undisrupted and unabated. We continue to operate our ships, submarines, and aircraft at the point of friction with our competitors, and at the point of friendship with our allies and partners. Our Navy is deployed around the world and around the clock, providing options to our Nation's decision makers in competition, crisis, and conflict.”

Acting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Acting Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith also await Senate confirmation.

By Charlie Mitchell
August 18, 2023 at 11:55 AM

Security firm Mandiant sees growing use of artificial intelligence tools by cyber threat actors in areas like disinformation and slower adoption in "intrusion campaigns," but cautions that generative AI is poised to accelerate uses in both areas.

“Based on our own observations and open-source accounts, adoption of AI in intrusion operations remains limited and primarily related to social engineering,” according to the report, “Threat Actors Are Interested in Generative AI, but Use Remains Limited,” released Thursday.

“In contrast,” Mandiant says, “information operations actors of diverse motivations and capabilities have increasingly leveraged AI-generated content, particularly imagery and video, in their campaigns, likely due at least in part to the readily apparent applications of such fabrications in disinformation. Additionally, the release of multiple generative AI tools in the last year has led to a renewed interest in the impact of these capabilities.”

The report says, “We anticipate that generative AI tools will accelerate threat actor incorporation of AI into information operations and intrusion activity.”

John Hultquist, chief analyst at Mandiant Intelligence and Google Cloud, commented, “While we expect the adversary to make use of generative AI, and there are already adversaries doing so, adoption is still limited and primarily focused on social engineering. There’s no doubt that criminals and state actors will find value in this technology, but many estimates of how this tool will be used are speculative and not grounded in observation.”

Mandiant is a Google subsidiary.

According to Mandiant, “Generative AI will enable information operations actors with limited resources and capabilities to produce higher quality content at scale. … Hyper-realistic AI-generated content may have a stronger persuasive effect on target audiences than content previously fabricated without the benefit of AI technology.”

The report provides a detailed look at AI-generated images, video and text, and explains the evolving uses of AI in social engineering and areas like voice impersonation.

Mandiant also “anticipates that threat actors will increase their use of [large language models] to support malware development. LLMs can help threat actors write new malware and improve existing malware, regardless of an attacker's technical proficiency or language fluency.”

But it notes, “LLMs possess shortcomings in their malware generation that may require human intervention for correction, [although] the ability of these tools to significantly assist in malware creation can still augment proficient malware developers, and enable those who might lack technical sophistication.”

By Nick Wilson
August 18, 2023 at 10:52 AM

The Navy is initiating a contract competition for the design and construction of a new class of submarine tenders intended to support Virginia-class, Columbia-class and future-generation vessels, according to a recent solicitation notice.

The notice, which indicates the Navy’s intent to procure two of the new AS(X) tenders, follows an April industry day that provided prospective builders with draft requirements for the vessels. The solicitation excludes detailed information on program requirements, citing Controlled Unclassified Information status.

“AS(X) will conduct steady state and wartime sustained, forward-based tending, resupply and I-level repair operations on deployed submarines while at anchor or moored at a pier,” the notice states.

“In steady state, the AS(X) provides pier-side support in a forward deployed submarine homeport, providing sustained repair, supply, weapons handling/rearming, and tending operations for home ported or visiting submarines and ships, and fly-away emergent voyage repair services for other deployed submarines and ships,” it continues.

The Navy’s fiscal year 2024 budget request includes $1.7 billion for the first tender in this new-start program and anticipates the procurement of a second vessel in FY-26 for $1.1 billion, resulting in a total of two vessels across the five-year future years defense program.

The service plans to award a contract for the first vessel in May 2024, targeting delivery in June 2031, budget justification books indicate. A contract award for the second vessel is planned for May 2026 with delivery in September 2032.

Lawmakers have supported this plan with their FY-24 defense authorization and appropriations legislation, which awaits further action and final passage when Congress reconvenes in September.

Although the House Armed Services Committee initially excluded the submarine tender from its defense policy bill, the committee later approved an amendment adding FY-24 advance procurement authority for AS(X) to the legislation.

Presently, the Navy has two active tenders -- Emory S. Land (AS-39) and Frank Cable (AS-40) -- which are based in Guam and perform maintenance in the Pacific. The new AS(X) tenders will eventually replace these aging vessels, which have each been in service for more than 40 years.

By John Liang
August 17, 2023 at 2:53 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System, the rollout of an interim report from the Planning, Programming, Budget and Execution Reform Commission, the Marine Corps' proposed lightweight organic precision fires technology effort and more.

An upcoming assessment of the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System will measure "system performance to ensure engineering efforts are on schedule and meeting design objectives":

Newest version of IVAS will undergo user assessment this month

The latest variant of the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System is set to undergo a user assessment this month, which is the beginning of a series of assessments for the night vision system.

Former DOD Comptroller Bob Hale, chair of the Planning, Programming, Budget and Execution Reform Commission, and vice chair and former DOD acquisition chief Ellen Lord, spoke publicly this week during the rollout of an interim report that outlines several recommendations the panel is considering:

Budget reform commission chiefs say Congress needs more timely info from DOD

Senior leaders on the independent congressional commission aiming to reform the Defense Department's budget and planning system say Pentagon officials need more flexibility from lawmakers if the notoriously slow process is to become agile enough to capture technological innovation needed to compete with China, but they stress DOD must do more to build trust with Capitol Hill.

Document: PPBE reform commission's interim report

The Marine Corps plans to release a formal solicitation in September for Organic Precision Fires-Light -- a new system intended to provide infantry rifle squads with a man-packable "organic, loitering, precision strike capability to engage the enemy beyond the line of sight":

Marine Corps eyes lightweight organic precision fires technology

The Marine Corps is preparing to solicit industry for a commercially available, lightweight, organic precision-fires system, according to a recent presolicitation notice, marking the latest step in the service's effort to accelerate the development and fielding of OPF capabilities.

JetZero has nabbed a contract for the Air Force's blended-wing body prototype aircraft:

Air Force awards $235M to JetZero to build blended-wing body prototype

The Air Force has awarded a $235 million contract to JetZero to build the next phase of a blended-wing body prototype aircraft by 2027, according to an announcement yesterday.

The Navy and Marine Corps are fielding 3D printing systems on ships at sea:

Naval forces turn to 3D printing for production at 'the point of need'

The Marine Corps is fielding 3D printing systems across the fleet, while the Navy has been testing additive manufacturing (AM) capabilities aboard ships and submarines at sea.