The Insider

By Tony Bertuca
January 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM

A Washington think tank hosts a discussion this week with the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict.

Tuesday

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion on the future of irregular warfare.

Friday

The Naval War College hosts a virtual event on "Critical Minerals and National Security."

By John Liang
January 3, 2025 at 5:17 PM

Boeing announced today that Dana Deasy has been appointed as the company's new chief information officer and senior vice president for information technology and data analytics.

In his new role, Deasy will oversee all aspects of information technology, information security and data and analytics, according to a company statement. He will report to Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg and serve on the company's executive council.

Deasy most recently served as the Pentagon's CIO and before that, at JPMorganChase, BP and General Motors. His career started in information management at Rockwell's Space Systems Division.

Deasy replaces Susan Doniz, who left the company late last year.

By John Liang
January 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Air Force and Navy air-to-air missile inventories, the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital releasing its Fiscal Year 2025 Investment Strategy and more.

The recently enacted Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act calls on the Air Force and Navy secretaries to evaluate planned deliveries of individual missile types, like the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile and AIM-9 Sidewinder, through FY-29 to determine if the amount is sufficient to meet growing weapons and operational demands:

FY-25 NDAA directs Air Force, Navy to reassess air-to-air missile inventory requirements

The Air Force and Navy secretaries, along with commanders of the combatant commands, must take a deep look at existing inventory requirements for air-to-air missiles and consider whether to adjust acquisition plans, according to the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.

The Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital has released its Fiscal Year 2025 Investment Strategy, which details how OSC will prioritize investments through credit-based financial products for critical technologies, assets and their supply chains:

DOD releases FY-25 investment strategy for strategic capital office

The Defense Department’s Office of Strategic Capital released its second annual investment strategy and opened applications for its inaugural loan program Thursday, according to a DOD announcement.

Document: OSC's FY-25 investment strategy

On Dec. 20, the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office announced plans to exclusively invite BAE Systems Land & Armaments to prepare a prototype proposal for the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System and Hypervelocity Projectile prototypes -- a decision taken after determining no other vendor can support U.S. military schedule requirements:

Army tapping BAE to build prototype airbase defense hypervelocity projectile cannon

The Army has selected BAE Systems to produce a prototype cannon that flips its offensive punch for a defensive role as part of a wider U.S. military project to shield high-value, small-area assets by defeating cruise missile raids with a paradigm-changing capability: hypervelocity projectile gunfire.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have a breakdown of the cyber provisions in the FY-25 National Defense Authorization Act:

FY-25 NDAA includes various cyber programs

The Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law by President Biden on Christmas Eve, directs the Defense Department's chief digital and artificial intelligence officer to establish the DOD hackathon program and features a report due within 180 days from the Director of National Intelligence on "the implications of the ransomware threat to United States national security."

The Pentagon plans to set its sights via the Progress Payment Incentive Pilot (PPIP) on the timing of payments to subcontractors "in order to improve cash flow throughout the supply base," according to a recent notice:

DOD seeking industry input on progress payment pilot program for subcontractors

As the Pentagon looks to implement a pilot program that would increase the customary progress payment rate on approved Defense Department contracts by up to 10%, the agency is putting out a request for information seeking industry comment, according to a Federal Register notice published this week.

By John Liang
January 2, 2025 at 1:15 PM

This first INSIDER Daily Digest of 2025 has news on the cyber provisions in the recently enacted National Defense Authorization Act and more.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have a breakdown of the cyber provisions in the FY-25 National Defense Authorization Act:

FY-25 NDAA includes various cyber programs

The Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law by President Biden on Christmas Eve, directs the Defense Department's chief digital and artificial intelligence officer to establish the DOD hackathon program and features a report due within 180 days from the Director of National Intelligence on "the implications of the ransomware threat to United States national security."

Document: House, Senate FY-25 defense policy conference bill

The Pentagon plans to set its sights via the Progress Payment Incentive Pilot (PPIP) on the timing of payments to subcontractors "in order to improve cash flow throughout the supply base," according to a recent notice:

DOD seeking industry input on progress payment pilot program for subcontractors

As the Pentagon looks to implement a pilot program that would increase the customary progress payment rate on approved Defense Department contracts by up to 10%, the agency is putting out a request for information seeking industry comment, according to a Federal Register notice published this week.

TITAN is the Army's next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ground station designed to harness artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities:

TITAN prototyping phase will include more variants for more vehicles

The original plan was to build two versions of the Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN): five advanced and five basic, and each would look exactly the same, respectively. But after discussions over the past year, and the arrival of its first advanced prototype Dec. 18, the Army is slightly shifting course.

The Navy intends to procure 1,345 Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST) missiles in total at a projected acquisition cost of about $4.45 billion, according to a modernized Selected Acquisition Report:

Navy to buy over 1,000 anti-ship Maritime Strike Tomahawks, wants missiles ASAP despite development issues

The Navy has unveiled plans to procure over 1,000 of a developing anti-ship Tomahawk missile variant in the coming years, with the service looking to begin fielding this long-range, precision-strike capability as soon as possible to counter Chinese warships.

Document: DOD modernized SAR on the Navy's Tactical Tomahawk missile program

Micro high-altitude balloons offer a speed that isn’t feasible for fielding new satellite technology:

Air Force awards up to $99 million for high-altitude balloon technology

In a bid to provide warfighters with rapidly responsive communications or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the Air Force awarded up to $99 million to a company making micro high-altitude balloons.

By Vanessa Montalbano
January 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM

The Air Force last week approved the sale of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones to Canada to support the country's remotely piloted aircraft systems program, according to a Dec. 27 Pentagon contract announcement.

The nearly $108 million firm, fixed-price and undefinitized contract includes hardware and related components to build the platform, which is mostly used for extended intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in harsh Arctic conditions.

Canada in December 2023 signed a contract with GA-ASI to purchase 11 MQ-9Bs to help bolster the country’s operations through the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the Five Eyes alliance and NATO, the company said in a news release at the time.

The first SkyGuardian planned for Canada will be delivered in 2028, however the platform is already part of the U.K. Royal Air Force fleet and Japan’s Coast Guard. The U.S. Navy has also used MQ-9Bs in exercises such as Northern Edge, Group Sail and Integrated Battle Problem, GA-ASI said.

The U.S. Air Force’s Special Operations Command and Belgium additionally have contracts with GA-ASI for SkyGuardians.

About $13 million in foreign military sales funding was obligated at the time of the award via the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

By Shelley K. Mesch
January 2, 2025 at 11:44 AM

The Air Force and Navy awarded Raytheon a combined $282 million for the next Small Diameter Bomb Increment II lot, the Defense Department announced last month.

The Air Force used $220 million in fiscal year 2025 missile procurement funds, and the Navy used $62 million in FY-25 weapon procurement funds for the lot 11 bombs, which are also called StormBreakers and GBU-53/B, according to the Dec. 19 notice.

Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX, is expected to complete work on the lot by March 19, 2029.

SDB II is fielded on the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and the Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagles but is undergoing tests for use on F-35 Joint Strike Fighter variants.

By Dan Schere
January 2, 2025 at 10:34 AM

The U.S. Army has awarded Raytheon a $946 million contract to supply Romania with additional Patriot air and missile defense systems, according to the company.

The contract was awarded on Dec. 23, according to a Pentagon notice. It has an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2029.

The contract, which is the third Patriot order for Romania, includes fire units consisting of radars, control stations and missiles, according to a Raytheon statement provided to Inside Defense Thursday.

Raytheon has partnered with local Romanian defense companies as part of a “Patriot global supply chain network,” according to the company.

Pete Bata, senior vice president of Global Patriot at Raytheon, said in a statement the company “is committed to providing Romania with advanced integrated air and missile defense capabilities to protect its citizens and critical infrastructure.”

He added: “Romania’s continued investment in Patriot is a testament to the nation’s dedication to ensuring collective security, deterrence, and stability across Europe.”

By John Liang
December 31, 2024 at 1:37 PM

This final INSIDER Daily Digest of 2024 has news on Pentagon progress payments to subcontractors, the Army's next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ground station, the Navy purchasing Maritime Strike Tomahawk missiles and more.

The Defense Department plans to set its sights via the Progress Payment Incentive Pilot (PPIP) on the timing of payments to subcontractors "in order to improve cash flow throughout the supply base," according to a recent notice:

DOD seeking industry input on progress payment pilot program for subcontractors

As the Pentagon looks to implement a pilot program that would increase the customary progress payment rate on approved Defense Department contracts by up to 10%, the agency is putting out a request for information seeking industry comment, according to a Federal Register notice.

TITAN is the Army's next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ground station designed to harness artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. The system birthed Project Linchpin, the AI/ML pipeline that will work not just with TITAN but with pilot programs Army-wide:

TITAN prototyping phase will include more variants for more vehicles

The original plan was to build two versions of the Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN): five advanced and five basic, and each would look exactly the same, respectively. But after discussions over the past year, and the arrival of its first advanced prototype Dec. 18, the Army is slightly shifting course.

The Navy intends to procure 1,345 Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST) missiles in total at a projected acquisition cost of about $4.45 billion, according to a modernized Selected Acquisition Report:

Navy to buy over 1,000 anti-ship Maritime Strike Tomahawks, wants missiles ASAP despite development issues

The Navy has unveiled plans to procure over 1,000 of a developing anti-ship Tomahawk missile variant in the coming years, with the service looking to begin fielding this long-range, precision-strike capability as soon as possible to counter Chinese warships.

Document: DOD modernized SAR on the Navy's Tactical Tomahawk missile program

While similar capabilities could be space-based, micro high-altitude balloons offer a speed that isn’t feasible for fielding new satellite technology:

Air Force awards up to $99 million for high-altitude balloon technology

In a bid to provide warfighters with rapidly responsive communications or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the Air Force awarded up to $99 million to a company making micro high-altitude balloons.

The total procurement cost of the Navy's Advanced Arresting Gear program has risen markedly:

Navy revises AAG baseline, total procurement cost rises by over $500M

The Navy has approved a new acquisition program baseline for its Advanced Arresting Gear program, following a significant Nunn-McCurdy cost breach and overruns due to necessary program updates.

By John Liang
December 30, 2024 at 12:45 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has all the news we published during the Christmas break.

We start off with news on TITAN, the Army's next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ground station designed to harness artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities:

TITAN prototyping phase will include more variants for more vehicles

The original plan was to build two versions of the Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN): five advanced and five basic, and each would look exactly the same, respectively. But after discussions over the past year, and the arrival of its first advanced prototype Dec. 18, the Army is slightly shifting course.

The Navy intends to procure 1,345 of these Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST) missiles in total at a projected acquisition cost of about $4.45 billion:

Navy to buy over 1,000 anti-ship Maritime Strike Tomahawks, wants missiles ASAP despite development issues

The Navy has unveiled plans to procure over 1,000 of a developing anti-ship Tomahawk missile variant in the coming years, with the service looking to begin fielding this long-range, precision-strike capability as soon as possible to counter Chinese warships.

Document: DOD modernized SAR on the Navy's Tactical Tomahawk missile program

Under a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III contract, Colorado-based Urban Sky was awarded just $1,500 last month, but the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract could total up to $99 million through the end of the decade:

Air Force awards up to $99 million for high-altitude balloon technology

In a bid to provide warfighters with rapidly responsive communications or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the Air Force awarded up to $99 million to a company making micro high-altitude balloons.

The current estimate for total procurement of the Navy's Advanced Arresting Gear program now sits at approximately $1.3 billion -- higher than the initially projected $778 million in 2016:

Navy revises AAG baseline, total procurement cost rises by over $500M

The Navy has approved a new acquisition program baseline for its Advanced Arresting Gear program, following a significant Nunn-McCurdy cost breach and overruns due to necessary program updates.

Document: DOD modernized SAR on the AAG program

More coverage of the now-signed-into-law National Defense Authorization Act:

New defense policy bill seeks answers on Pentagon autonomy

The fiscal year 2025 defense policy bill seeks answers from the Pentagon on its approach to weapon system autonomy and countering autonomous enemy drones, especially when it comes to supply chain security.

Compromise defense bill wants to see DOD's plans for two-front conflict

The final version of the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill directs the Defense Department to provide lawmakers with a plan and methodology for sizing the military to address simultaneous operations conducted by U.S. competitors like Russia and China.

The Army's I Corps participated in the annual Yama Sakura trilateral exercise in Japan starting on Dec. 7, along with Japanese and Australian forces. This year, the event ran concurrently with a U.S. Army warfighter exercise:

I Corps focuses on EW, distributed C2 during exercises in Japan

During a series of exercises held in Japan earlier this month, the Army's I Corps attempted to simulate capabilities seen during the war in Ukraine, such as electronic warfare, and also set up distributed command-and-control nodes.

A senior Senate Republican is saying the Air Force is in a funding "death spiral":

Senate Republicans want Trump to boost Air Force funding, despite Musk calls for cuts

Incoming Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) is confident President-elect Trump's team will inject what he says are needed dollars into the Air Force's budget to revive the service's dwindling readiness levels.

We also have news on the latest F-35 Joint Strike Fighter contract:

Pentagon, Lockheed ink pricier F-35 deal for next lot

Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon have reached an agreement on F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lot 18 to manufacture the stealth jet's frame and technical functions, the Pentagon announced.

By John Liang
December 30, 2024 at 11:13 AM

The Defense Department today announced an additional $2.47 billion in security assistance for Ukraine.

The aid includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown Authority package with an estimated value of $1.25 billion "to provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: missiles for air defense; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons," according to a DOD statement.

A senior defense official acknowledged earlier this month that the Pentagon might not be able to use all of its then-remaining $5.6 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority to rapidly transfer U.S. weapons to Ukraine before President-elect Trump is sworn in.

Additionally, DOD announced today it would send its remaining $1.2 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding to provide Ukraine with additional air defense, air-to-ground missiles, unmanned aerial systems and other capabilities to fight Russia's invasion. The money from USAI is used to put weapon systems directly under contract with U.S. defense firms, though it may take months or years for the capabilities to arrive on the battlefield.

The weapons included in today's announcement include:

  • Munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS);
  • HAWK air defense munitions;
  • Stinger missiles;
  • Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) munitions;
  • Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
  • 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition;
  • Air-to-ground munitions;
  • High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs);
  • Unmanned Aerials Systems (UAS);
  • Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
  • Tube-launched, Optically guided, Wire-tracked (TOW) missiles;
  • Small arms ammunition and grenades;
  • Demolitions equipment and munitions;
  • Secure communications equipment;
  • Commercial satellite imagery services;
  • Medical equipment;
  • Clothing and individual equipment.
  • Spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support as well as ancillary equipment, services, training and transportation.

This is the Biden administration's 23rd USAI package and 73rd tranche of equipment to be provided from DOD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021, according to the Pentagon.

"The United States continues to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated Capability Coalitions to provide the support Ukraine needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression," DOD said in the announcement.

By Theresa Maher
December 30, 2024 at 10:21 AM

The Defense Policy Board will receive classified briefings "to evaluate key trends, assumptions and uncertainties associated with the future security environment" during a Jan. 7 closed-door meeting, according to a Federal Register notice published today.

After hearing reports from several DOD officials, the board is set to discuss “key trends, challenges and opportunities in the future security environment” and provide recommendations to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the notice said.

The meeting will kick off with an overview of key objectives from Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory and Madeline Mortelmans, who is performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans and capabilities, according to the notice.

Representatives from the National Intelligence Council’s Strategic Futures Group will brief the board on major structural trends, sources of uncertainty in the international system and plausible future scenarios for which DOD should plan. Following the group’s report, the panel will break to discuss “key medium-to-long-term risks and opportunities facing the DOD,” the notice said.

Representatives from the Defense Intelligence Agency will then brief the board on “major trends in the Indo-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East” before DPB deliberates advice and recommendations on the future security environment to provide Austin, according to the notice.

By Tony Bertuca
December 23, 2024 at 11:35 AM

President-elect Trump has announced several nominees for key defense posts including deputy defense secretary and Pentagon acquisition chief.

For deputy defense secretary Trump has chosen financier Stephen Feinberg, co-founder of Cerberus Capital and former chairman of the presidential intelligence advisory board. Feinberg has not previously worked in the Pentagon.

Trump has also selected Michael Duffey to be under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. Duffey previously served as in the Office of Management and Budget in Trump’s first administration, where he became involved in the administration’s decision to halt $250 million in aid to Ukraine. The aid freeze followed a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which Trump asked him to investigate Joe Biden, who at the time was campaigning for president. Trump was later impeached over the incident.

“Mike will drive change at the Pentagon and, as a staunch proponent of an America First approach to our National Defense, will work to revitalize our Defense Industrial Base, and rebuild our Military,” Trump said in a statement.

The president-elect has also selected Elbridge Colby to serve as under secretary of defense for policy. Colby served in the Pentagon policy shop during Trump’s previous administration.

Additionally, Trump has tapped former Uber executive Emil Michael to serve as under secretary of defense for research and engineering. Michael previously served as special assistant to the defense secretary in Trump’s first administration.

“Emil will ensure that our Military has the most technologically sophisticated weapons in the World, while saving A LOT of money for our Taxpayers,” Trump said.

Keith Bass has been selected to serve as assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and Joe Kasper has also been selected to be chief of staff for the defense secretary.

Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, is slated to have a nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Jan. 14.

By Tony Bertuca
December 20, 2024 at 7:53 PM

(Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information.)

The House and Senate voted to pass a revised -- and slimmed down -- continuing resolution tonight just hours before a scheduled government shutdown, retaining provisions from an earlier bill that would provide $14.6 billion in funding for the Columbia- and Virginia-class submarine programs. Like the previous CR, the bill would extend federal funding until March 14.

The earlier bill proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), which ran more than 1,500 pages, was torpedoed by President-elect Trump with the help of tech mogul Elon Musk, who took to X, the social media outlet he owns, to muster opposition on the grounds that the legislation approved too much new spending and contained too many riders supported by Democrats.

The new bill is 118 pages. Like the previous version, it would allocate $8.8 billion toward the Columbia-class submarine, with $5.9 billion for advance procurement and $2.9 billion for standard procurement work. The amount is nearly $5 billion more than what was sought by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

The legislation also includes $5.7 billion to fund three Virginia-class submarines and to support wage increases for shipyard workers.

The bill also contains, among other provisions, about $100 billion for disaster assistance and $10 billion in farm aid. The bill does not suspend the debt ceiling like Trump wanted.

By John Liang
December 20, 2024 at 2:49 PM

This final INSIDER Daily Digest before the holiday break has news on a pending drone swarm shoot-down attempt, lawmakers' interest in advanced energetics and more.

Keep an eye out for a drone swarm shoot-down experiment in the coming days:

Epirus to showcase 'one-to-many' defense in early 2025 drone swarm demo

Epirus, a defense technology company, will host a live demonstration as soon as this month to showcase its advanced counter-drone capabilities, including a "100-drone shoot down" that aims to display the company's ability to neutralize a swarm of unmanned aerial systems with a single, coordinated strike.

Lawmakers want to speed up the process of developing chemicals and formulations used in explosives and propellants:

Congressional authorizers leaning into energetics funding with future budget line-item requirement

The fiscal year 2025 defense authorization conference bill charges the defense secretary to establish a line item to fund the Defense Department's Joint Energetics Transition Office in future budget justification submissions.

Earlier this year, Navy officials confirmed a return to full mission capability for the V-22 fleet would not occur until mid-2025:

NAVAIR directs inspection of gearboxes before each Osprey flight

Naval Air Systems Command has directed the inspection of each V-22 Osprey’s Proprotor Gearbox -- the critical part of machinery linked to a series of crashes in recent years -- to verify its current flight hours before each aircraft’s next flight, according to a Navy statement today.

The Air Force's top civilian official spoke this week at a Mitchell Institute event:

Kendall: Air Force can't afford to pay for the Space Force

The Pentagon needs to fund the Space Force separately from the Air Force to ensure both receive a sufficient budget, according to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) released a report this week to change the way the Defense Department does business by getting better weapons to troops faster and maximizing taxpayer dollars as well as related legislation:

Wicker reveals new DOD acquisition reform bill as he preps for key defense chair

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee next year, unveiled new legislation today aimed at reforming the Pentagon's notoriously slow weapons procurement and budgeting processes.

Document: Wicker's 'FORGE Act' and report on 'Restoring Freedom’s Forge: American Innovation Unleashed'

Happy Holidays!

Inside Defense would like to wish our readers a safe and healthy Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year. The next INSIDER Daily Digest will be issued Dec. 30.

By Nick Wilson
December 20, 2024 at 11:38 AM

The Navy has completed a congressionally directed testing milestone in its development of unmanned surface vessels, successfully demonstrating 720 hours -- 30 days -- of continuous USV engine operation with no human intervention on six different engine systems, the service announced yesterday.

This testing, mandated by the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, requires the Navy to complete the 720-hour power demonstration on USV engine systems before they are eligible for use on large USVs. To pass, the engine equipment must run for the full 30-day duration with no human intervention, including corrective or preventative maintenance.

The demonstration is part of a larger USV testing effort meant to ensure engine systems are capable of autonomous operations for extended periods, the Navy announcement states.

The Navy and a series of industry partners completed the 720-hour test on six separate engine systems over the past year, clearing each of them for use in future large USV development.

The sixth and final test, which ran from June 19 to Sept. 5, evaluated the MTU 8V4000M24S engine model. The demonstration was run at Daimler Trucks North America Aftermarket Solutions in Tooele, UT and was conducted by Precise Power Systems on behalf of Austal USA, with Navy oversight.

“This milestone marks a pivotal advancement in our naval strategy, as it enhances our capabilities in unmanned operations," said Rear. Adm. Kevin Smith, the head of the Navy’s unmanned and small combatants program office, in a statement included in the announcement.

"Successfully demonstrating a power system that can sustain autonomous operations for 30 days without maintenance not only bolsters our readiness but also sets the stage for a truly integrated manned-unmanned fleet, ensuring we remain at the forefront of maritime innovation,” Smith’s statement continues.

In December 2023, the 1550 kw Caterpillar 3512C model engine became the first to reach the milestone in a demonstration run by Bollinger and Carter Machinery on behalf of Caterpillar in Chesapeake, VA, according to the Navy announcement.

The Caterpillar 2300 kW rated 3516 main propulsion diesel, lube oil and fuel system was also successful in a demonstration run by Fincantieri Marinette Marine and Carter Machinery on behalf of Caterpillar.

The Southwest Research Institute and Gibbs & Cox on behalf of Cummins completed the demonstration with the QSK95 diesel engine paired with an ABB AMG 0560M04 LAE generator.

HII and the Coast Guard validated the MTU 20V 4000 M93L main propulsion diesel engine configuration on behalf of MTU, while L3Harris validated the QSK60 diesel engine and QSM11 marine diesel generator set for Cummins.