The Insider

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Sentinel ICBM program suffering a cost breach, defense officials visiting the Microelectronics Commons Hubs across the country and more.

The Sentinel ICBM program acquisition unit cost has climbed from $118 million in 2020 dollars to about $162 million:

Sentinel ICBMs to cost $162M each, more than 35% above baseline

Costs for the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program grew at least 37% above the 2020 baseline, triggering a critical Nunn-McCurdy law breach, according to the Air Force.

The Microelectronics Commons was created to advance microelectronics production through regional innovation hubs, announcing their hubs in September 2023 and tasking them with conducting all related projects and proposals to bind industry, commercial and government technologies together:

Microelectronics Commons representatives to conduct Hub site visits

Representatives from the Defense Department, the Naval Surface Warfare Center and the National Security Technology Accelerator will conduct site visits from Jan. 22 to Feb. 9 to the various Microelectronics Commons Hubs located across the nation.

House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) wrote to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro this week, expressing concern about the lack of a clear plan for storing and distributing fuel for U.S. forces operating across the Indo-Pacific:

Fuel storage solution in Indo-Pacific imperative, Gallagher says

A “viable, long-term” solution to fuel bases, ships and aircraft across the Western Pacific is imperative, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) said in a letter to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Wednesday.

Document: Gallagher letter to Navy on Indo-Pacific fuel storage

Navy Comptroller Russell Rumbaugh spoke about the effects of the current continuing resolution during a virtual industry event this week:

Navy will be forced to make costly adjustments if spending legislation isn't passed soon, comptroller warns

If Congress doesn't pass fiscal year 2024 spending legislation soon, the Navy will have to "start taking actions" to adjust for funding misalignments that could amount to almost $30 billion if the current continuing resolution stretches to a full year, the service's comptroller warned this week.

The Pentagon's No. 2 civilian signed a classified memo last month that overwrites decades-old policy on classification for space-related efforts:

Hicks addresses space 'overclassification' problem in memo

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks recently signed a memo removing some classification barriers, which one top official said could help address classification roadblocks that are hindering collaboration on space throughout the department.

The Defense Business Board will hold open and closed meetings on Feb. 6 and Feb. 7 to receive briefings from senior Pentagon officials on a variety of topics.

The DBB, which aims to supply advice to DOD on reaching National Defense goals from an independent perspective, had the meeting notice published in the Federal Register.

The board will kick off its meetings with a closed session on Feb. 6 starting at 9:15 a.m. in which Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks will lead a classified discussion about DOD’s budget.

“The discussion will cover the DOD priorities and considerations that helped to shape its request as part of the President's budget request for fiscal year 2025,” the notice said.

During this closed meeting, the board will also receive a classified discussion from Michael McCord, Pentagon comptroller, about DOD’s audit and incremental progress.

After a lunch break, the board will meet for its only open session from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. where Stan Soloway, chair of the business transformation subcommittee, will present the board’s study about creating a digital ecosystem, according to the notice. Then, the subcommittee will brief the board on its findings, observations and suggestions obtained from the study, focusing on harnessing data to help with simulation and advanced computing decision-making and risk analysis to leverage digital ecosystems.

A closed session will happen afterwards where Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black, senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will lead a classified discussion about the state of the workforce, focusing on recruiting, training and retention issues and solutions.

“Discussion will focus on identifying obstacles such as changing workforce expectations, skill gaps to address future needs per the National Security Strategy and exploring innovative solutions to foster a resilient and high-performing workforce,” the notice said.

After, the board will have a classified discussion with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on DOD current affairs, which is expected to center on today’s global security environment and the how its implications affect business operations now and in the future.

Then Lt. Gen. Douglass Sims II, Army operations director, will provide a classified discussion on current operations relating to crisis action planning and adaptive decision making in dynamic environments.

The final closed session on Feb. 6 will kick off with remarks from Board Chair Deborah James and Hicks. Stefanie Tompkins, director for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, will follow with a classified update on major DARPA updates that support the National Security Strategy.

The board will meet again the next day on Feb. 7 for another closed session, which will include a classified briefing from Richard Verma, deputy secretary of state for management and resources, on State Department business operations and management in support of current efforts.

“This discussion will focus on differences between DOD, DOS and business operations management, and DOD and DOS unity of effort to achieve combined effects both militarily and diplomatically,” the notice said.

Written comments from the public or interested organizations are allowed regarding the agenda or the Board’s mission. Comments must be received by Feb. 2 for Board consideration.

Leading members of the House Armed Services Committee are calling for the continued procurement of two Virginia-class submarines per year in a letter to President Biden Wednesday.

The letter -- signed by House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-AL), Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), seapower and projection forces subcommittee Chair Trent Kelly (R-MS) and Ranking Member Joe Courtney (D-CT) -- referenced AUKUS and the Navy’s fiscal year 2024 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan, that outlined the Virginia-class goal.

“The AUKUS partnership relies on our nation to sustain a consistent build rate for attack submarines required to fulfill our obligation to successfully transfer, via sale, Virginia-class submarines to Australia while meeting our own force structure requirements,” the letter states. “It is imperative to maintain a steady two-per-year procurement rate to assure our partners in our ability to meet commitments and address concerns about our nation’s undersea capabilities.”

Increased submarine production in the U.S. in 2023 is “promising,” the letter adds, and notes Navy and congressional investments in the supply chain and workforce.

“That commitment has driven suppliers to make critical capital investments and expand capacity based on a predictable forecast in expected work,” the letter said. “It has also driven metal trades workers, designers, and engineers to choose shipbuilding as promising careers in record numbers.”

The FY-25 budget, expected in the coming months, will outline future steps regarding Virginia-class production.

“Any deviation from the planned cadence of the construction and procurement of two submarines per year will reverberate both at home and abroad, with allies and competitors alike,” the letter adds.

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the effect of the continuing resolution on the Navy's budget, the classification of space-related efforts, the Air Force's top research areas and more.

Navy Comptroller Russell Rumbaugh spoke about the effects of the current continuing resolution during a virtual industry event this week:

Navy will be forced to make costly adjustments if spending legislation isn't passed soon, comptroller warns

If Congress doesn't pass fiscal year 2024 spending legislation soon, the Navy will have to "start taking actions" to adjust for funding misalignments that could amount to almost $30 billion if the current continuing resolution stretches to a full year, the service's comptroller warned Wednesday.

The Pentagon's No. 2 civilian signed a classified memo at the end of last year that overwrites decades-old policy on classification for space-related efforts:

Hicks addresses space 'overclassification' problem in memo

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks recently signed a memo removing some classification barriers, which one top official said could help address classification roadblocks that are hindering collaboration on space throughout the department.

In its 2024 Air Dominance broad agency announcement released this month, the Air Force Research Laboratory is asking for input into whether any companies are qualified to engineer or design several breakthrough technologies, from artificial intelligence to advanced missile propulsion devices:

Air Force reveals top research areas for this year

The Air Force is looking for industry partners to conduct research on 13 priority areas, mainly within the scope of munitions, according to a recently published market survey.

Document: AFRL's 2024 air dominance BAA

Northrop Grumman announced this week it would team up with Mitsubishi Electric Corp. for a joint missile defense effort, led by Masahiko Arai, group senior vice president of defense & space systems at Mitsubishi Electric Corp., and Northrop Grumman's Ian Reynolds, vice president of the C4 missile defense business unit in Huntsville, AL:

Northrop teams with Mitsubishi Electric in what appears to be first move toward IBCS Japan

A pair of U.S. and Japanese defense contractors announced a new teaming agreement to "collaborate" on integrated and missile defense capabilities for Japan's ground-based systems, in a move that could be a first step toward exporting to a Pacific ally the U.S. Army's new "game changing" Integrated Battle Command System.

Last but by no means least, here's the latest Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

Tech group looks to upcoming defense acquisition rulemaking for details on incorporating CMMC requirements into contracts

The Information Technology Industry Council anticipates details on incorporating acquisition requirements for contractors under the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program will come in the next rulemaking for the initiative, which will focus on making changes to the Defense Department's acquisition regulations.

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a joint U.S.-Japanese missile defense project, the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, unmanned surface vessels participating in a number of exercises and more.

Northrop Grumman announced this week it would team up with Mitsubishi Electric Corp. for a joint missile defense effort, led by Masahiko Arai, group senior vice president of defense & space systems at Mitsubishi Electric Corp., and Northrop Grumman's Ian Reynolds, vice president of the C4 missile defense business unit in Huntsville, AL:

Northrop teams with Mitsubishi Electric in what appears to be first move toward IBCS Japan

A pair of U.S. and Japanese defense contractors announced a new teaming agreement to "collaborate" on integrated and missile defense capabilities for Japan's ground-based systems, in a move that could be a first step toward exporting to a Pacific ally the U.S. Army's new "game changing" Integrated Battle Command System.

The latest Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

Tech group looks to upcoming defense acquisition rulemaking for details on incorporating CMMC requirements into contracts

The Information Technology Industry Council anticipates details on incorporating acquisition requirements for contractors under the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program will come in the next rulemaking for the initiative, which will focus on making changes to the Defense Department's acquisition regulations.

Unmanned surface vessels participated in the Navy Large Scale Exercise in August, as well as a Royal Australian Navy autonomous exercise in November:

Navy completes medium/large unmanned vessel exercise

After traveling nearly 50,000 nautical miles, four unmanned surface vessels returned to Naval Base Ventura County on Monday, marking the end to another Navy unmanned capabilities exercise.

A recent test of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System "subjected MADIS to actual battlefield scenarios, where it detected, tracked, identified and defeated unmanned aerial threats" using Stinger missiles and a 30mm cannon:

MADIS air defense system intercepts drone targets in live-fire test of LRIP unit

The Marine Corps has successfully test-fired a low-rate initial production model of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, using MADIS to shoot down multiple drone targets during a December live-fire test held at the Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

A new report issued this week by the Atlantic Council states the United States must face Russia's acute threat and the longer-term threat posed by China as this is the first time in history the U.S. is facing "two revisionist powers armed with nuclear capabilities and detrimental territorial ambitions":

Report urges DOD to adopt emerging technologies more quickly to counter Russia and China

A report released today from the Atlantic Council's Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption contends that the Defense Department needs to efficiently adopt emerging technology to deter China and Russia, citing steps the department should take to face challenges abroad.

The Tranche 2 Tracking Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture will be getting more satellites:

L3Harris, Lockheed and Sierra win $2.6 billion to make SDA Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites

The Space Development Agency announced today it awarded up to $2.6 billion to three vendors to produce 54 total satellites for the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Australian business efforts are now being led by Michael Lempke, former president of HII's Nuclear and Environmental Services business group.

In this new role, Lempke will focus on unmanned systems, C5ISR operations, artificial intelligence and machine learning and nuclear shipbuilding expertise for AUKUS, according to an HII news release Wednesday.

“I look forward to working with the Australian, U.S. and United Kingdom governments, and HII’s Australian business and academic partners to use HII expertise to make AUKUS Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 a success and to strengthen the security alliance between our nations,” Lempke said.

HII also highlighted in its release recent moves to strengthen its Australian ties, including the formation of an AUKUS Workforce Alliance with defense company Babcock Australasia, which will partner with Australian universities to prepare an AUKUS-supportive workforce.

“This is an important next step in our international growth initiative, enhancing coordination between AUKUS Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 efforts, enabling an efficient in-country operating model, and providing a unified business approach in Australia,” HII Mission Technologies President Andy Green said of Lempke’s new role. “2024 will be a pivotal year for the AUKUS program, for the Commonwealth of Australia, and for HII, and I am proud of our team and the commitment we have shown in supporting this important global strategic initiative.”