The Insider

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has more details on the weapons contracts awarded to supply Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion, the Marine Corps looking at a U.S. facility to produce an Israeli interceptor missile and more.

An information graphic released by the office of the Pentagon's acquisition chief this week details $9.7 billion in Ukraine weapons replacement obligations:

DOD releases new details on replenishment contracts for weapons sent to Ukraine

The Defense Department has released a new compendium of information on $9.7 billion in contracts to replenish U.S. weapons that have been transferred to Ukraine.

R2S -- a partnership between RTX and Rafael -- initially announced plans for U.S.-based Tamir production in August 2020, indicating a site location would be finalized by year’s end. Today, R2S still has not announced a production facility location:

Marine Corps eyes Arkansas site for domestic Tamir interceptor production

Marine Corps representatives visited a location in Camden, AR, and met with U.S. defense contractor RTX and Israeli company Rafael to "discuss the possibility" of domestically producing the Tamir interceptor missile, according to a Tuesday service announcement.

In a July 27 memo, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu designated Navy Rear Adm. Douglas Williams to head the Missile Defense Agency while Air Force Maj. Gen. Heath Collins' appointment to lead MDA is held up over Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-AL) objection to DOD's women's health policy:

Tuberville blockade forces DOD to appoint newly promoted one-star to run MDA

The Pentagon's top technology development official has designated a one-star admiral to head the Missile Defense Agency until the nomination for a new director to fill the three-star billet -- one of many senior officer promotions being blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) -- is confirmed by the Senate.

Document: Shyu memo on new acting MDA director

The Army's decision to move the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle program into full-rate production comes in spite of concerns about the production rate for the vehicles noted by Congress last week:

AMPV moving to full-rate production

The Army has decided to transition the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle program into full-rate production, according to service acquisition chief Doug Bush -- a major milestone for the program that will eventually replace the M113 armored personnel carrier.

Last but by no means least, the latest cyber defense news from out colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

Defense ISAC sees challenge in contractor compliance with NIST proposed tailoring parameters for CUI

The use of "organization-defined parameters" in the National Institute of Standards and Technology's proposed update to its foundational controlled unclassified information publication could lead to a decline in the number of contractors in the defense industrial base, according to the leading info-sharing group for the defense sector.

The Defense Business Board will meet in closed session on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a Pentagon notice.

The meetings will include classified briefings from:

• Space Force modernization and Joint Force integration from Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. David Thompson;
• Assessing innovation through the defense authorization bill from Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks;
• DOD current affairs from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin;
• Artificial intelligence/machine learning "scaffolding" from Joe Larson, deputy director of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office for Algorithmic Warfare;
• The Globally Integrated Wargame and recommendations from Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, director for Joint Force development;
• Joint Force Capabilities Integration from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday;
• The state of the National Guard from National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson.
• A classified update on the DBB Improving IT User Experience Study from DOD Chief Information Officer John Sherman;
• The U.S. economic outlook and recent NATO Summit from White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients; and
• National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

The Army has awarded a $93.9 million contract to Teledyne to procure additional small unmanned aerial vehicles over the next five years, according to a company announcement.

Teledyne will provide the Army with 8,000 Black Hornet reconnaissance small UAVs to augment squad and small unit surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

“The Black Hornet 3 gives warfighters up-to-the-minute situational understanding before and while they conduct missions,” JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of Teledyne FLIR Defense, said in a press release. “These technologies are reshaping the modern battlefield.”

Weighing an ounce, the Black Hornet can fly up to 25 minutes, transmit live video and still images back to the operator in a contested environment with a low audio and visual signature within a 1.2-mile range.

Resembling a helicopter, the UAV is designed to allow soldiers to conduct reconnaissance missions in place of soldiers and minimize potential exposure.

A soldier can operate the UAV with a handheld controller and display unit, which functions as the main hub for soldiers to interact with the system, according to the Army’s Acquisition Support Center.

The project culminated the Army’s Soldier Borne Sensor program in which the service sought a small UAV for reconnaissance roles.

The service previously procured more than 4,000 Black Hornet 3 systems between fiscal years 2019-2023, according to Jason Amadi, an Army spokesperson.

The service did not solicit other bidders and the current deal is an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract with enough room for foreign military sales, Amadi added. The contract also includes the controller, spare parts and training.

Norway and the United Kingdom have donated 1,000 Black Hornets to Ukraine, who have utilized the UAV for reconnaissance roles during the ongoing Russian invasion. Teledyne has delivered more than 20,000 Black Hornets to military and security forces in over 40 countries.

The Army also operates the Skydio RQ-28A, a portable quadcopter that weighs less than five pounds, according to Amadi.

An industry day will launch Aug. 31 in Washington for vendors to learn about the Navy's plans to build medium landing ships (LSMs).

The goal of the industry day is to discuss LSM requirements with industry members and gather market research, according to a notice published Monday.

Participants are invited to connect with program managers, engineers and directors from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) headquarters.

There will be briefings on technical, sustainment and cybersecurity requirements, among other issues, as well as a Q&A session.

No more than two participants per company will be allowed to attend. Respondents have until close of business Aug. 24 to pre-register. An agenda will be provided after registration.

The industry day aligns with the Navy’s plans to acquire its first LSM in fiscal year 2025, at a projected cost of $187.9 million.

For FY-24, the Navy is asking for $14.7 million in R&D funds for the program.

Incoming Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith has emphasized the role of LSMs for operations in the Pacific.

In May, NAVSEA issued a request for proposals seeking to learn more about vendors with interest in detailed design and construction (DD&C) of LSMs.

Eligibility was limited to U.S. shipyards and/or U.S. engineering firms.

The Navy sought to hear from industry sources about estimates for construction schedules and whether vendors already had designs for LSMs that may be modified to meet requirements.

The Navy’s LSM program “envisions procuring a class of 18 to 35 amphibious ships” that would support the Marine Corps as it implements expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO), according to a Congressional Research Service report published in May.

EABO is a concept for deploying naval expeditionary forces from temporary locations within a contested maritime area environment.

President Biden has decided to keep U.S. Space Command headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, reversing an earlier Air Force decision made under President Trump that would have based it in Huntsville, AL, according to officials from the Pentagon and Capitol Hill.

The Associated Press first reported the news, which Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed for Inside Defense.

The decision is sure to ignite the passions of Alabama lawmakers, including House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL), who has been holding up Pentagon budgetary reprogrammings over the issue, and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who is blocking hundreds of Pentagon nominees over his opposition to the department’s travel and leave policies for servicemembers seeking abortion services.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Defense Department’s chief spokesman, released a statement after the news broke saying the decision was made after “a thorough and deliberate evaluation process.”

“From the start, DOD and the Department of the Air Force have worked diligently to ensure the basing decision resulted from an objective and deliberate process informed by data and analysis, in compliance with federal law and DOD policy,” he said.

Keeping SPACECOM headquarters in Colorado Springs, Ryder said, “ultimately ensures peak readiness in the space domain for our nation during a critical period.”

“It will also enable the command to most effectively plan, execute and integrate military spacepower into multi-domain global operations in order to deter aggression and defend national interests,” he said.

Rogers released a statement pledging to investigate why the decision to locate the headquarters in his home state had been reversed.

“This fight is far from over,” he said. “The Biden administration’s shameful delay to finalize the permanent basing decision for U.S. Space Command warranted the opening of a Congressional investigation. I will continue this investigation to see if they intentionally misled the Armed Services Committee on their deliberate taxpayer-funded manipulation of the selection process. I will continue to hold the Biden administration accountable for their egregious political meddling in our national security.”

Rogers said previous investigations by the Defense Department inspector general and the Government Accountability Office found that Trump’s naming of Huntsville for the headquarters during his final days in office was lawful.

The IG, however, did recommend the Air Force create standard guidance for future basing decisions to make the process more transparent, while GAO found “significant shortfalls in the transparency and credibility” of the service’s search process and also recommended the creation of standard guidance to support basing decisions.

Trump himself also cast doubt on the process when he claimed in an August 2021 radio interview that he “singlehandedly” chose Alabama for political reasons.

Rogers, meanwhile, said Biden is choosing Colorado over Alabama because of “far-left politics, not national security.”

He has asked the Pentagon to preserve all documentation concerning the selection process.

Another Republican, however, released a statement praising the decision to keep SPACECOM in his home state.

“I commend the Biden Administration for prioritizing national security above political interests and keeping USSPACECOM in its rightful home at Peterson Air Force Base,” Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) said in a statement.

“This decision aligns with the best military advice of countless senior military leaders who all agree that Peterson Space Force Base is the most viable option for USSPACECOM to reach full operational capability the fastest and is the best permanent home for its long-term operations,” he said. “Colorado Springs has always been the legitimate home of U.S. Space Command’s headquarters, and I am delighted that today’s decision validates this fact.”

SPACECOM is anticipated to bring in 1,400 troops and their families, along with civilian employees and contractors -- nearly 65% of which are currently in Colorado.

The command is on track to reach full operational capability later this year.

Leidos and Microsoft announced today they have entered into a "strategic collaboration agreement" to work on government artificial intelligence efforts.

"A near-term priority for co-development is in the area of generative AI solutions to support organizational efficiency, enhanced productivity and cross domain applications," a Leidos statement reads.

Steve Hull, Leidos executive vice president for enterprise and cyber solutions, said: "This agreement will help enable co-innovation utilizing the latest cloud and AI technologies."

Leidos recently completed a successful migration of 20 critical support applications from an on-premise data center to Microsoft’s Azure Government cloud environment in support of the Navy. This migration was part of Leidos’ ongoing support of the Navy’s Next Generation Enterprise Network Service Management, Integration and Transport (SMIT) program, enabling the service to monitor, maintain and secure the Navy and Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) "with increased efficiency and collaboration without compromising security," according to the Leidos statement.

"Our collaboration with Leidos will help accelerate adoption of cloud-driven solutions to improve our customers’ operations," said Angela Heise, corporate vice president of Microsoft's worldwide public sector business unit. “Leidos’ expertise in national security operations coupled with Microsoft’s advanced cloud, cyber, and AI technologies will enable our two organizations to develop innovative solutions to address a wide range of complex challenges faced by public sector organizations around the world.”

L3Harris Technologies announced today it has completed the acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne.

“With national security at the forefront, we’re combining our resources and expertise with Aerojet Rocketdyne’s propulsion and energetics capabilities to ensure that Department of Defense and civil space customers can address critical mission needs globally,” L3Harris Chairman and CEO Christopher Kubasik said in the announcement.

According to media reports, the deal was closed at $4.7 billion, forming L3Harris' fourth business segment.

The acquisition diversifies L3Harris' portfolio, adding a considerable long-cycle backlog and broad expertise to enable missile defense systems, hypersonic and advanced rocket engine opportunities, the company said.

L3Harris also announced Ross Niebergall as the new president of the Aerojet Rocketdyne segment, who said: “We will expand on the strong Aerojet Rocketdyne heritage to enhance production and deliver on [customer’s] expectations.”

L3Harris said it will update its financial guidance in October for five months and then in January 2024, which will remain consistent with the rest of the portfolio that will be disclosed in the third-quarter earnings call, company Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Michelle Turner said during the second-quarter earnings call yesterday.