The Insider

Army surveying industry for M270A2 launcher vehicle
By Dominic Minadeo
November 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM

The Army is surveying vendors interested in refurbishing earlier models of its Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) vehicles to turn them into upgraded M270A2s, according to a recently posted notice.

The service is targeting companies that can recapitalize less capable M270A0 and M270A1 variants into M270A2 MLRS launchers over a six-year period, starting in fiscal year 2027 and ending in FY-32.

The Army wants companies that have the resources and planning to successfully scale “under a performance-based service acquisition contract,” the notice says.

The enhancements include an improved armored cab and common fire control system, as well as an upgraded M993A2 carrier vehicle, according to the Army.

Upgrades to MLRS launcher vehicles first kicked off in 2017 when the Army began recapitalizing 160 obsolete M270A0s to the M270A2 versions; following that, the service put out a requirement to refurbish 184 M270A1s to the M270A2, according to FY-26 budget books.

The service has requested $243.5 million for MLRS modifications in FY-26 which would yield 23 upgraded MLRS launcher vehicles, the budget books say. The Army has an end goal of 344 upgraded launchers.

Lockheed Martin has been in charge of overhauling the M270s in a partnership with Red River Army Depot, TX, according to the company. It is also refurbishing M270s for the United Kingdom and Italy.

“The modernization effort includes both cooperative and foreign military sales partners who are actively upgrading their M270 MLRS launcher capabilities to the M270A2 configuration to achieve operational and production synergy alongside the U.S. Army,” the sources sought notice says.

Companies are asked to reply to questions detailing their previous experience, technical expertise and ability to hit the service’s requirements. Questions sent to the Army were not returned at the time of publication.

Replies to the sources sought notice are due Nov. 20.

Navy awards General Dynamics $1.7 billion for two replenishment oilers
By Abby Shepherd
November 11, 2025 at 1:41 PM

The Navy has awarded shipbuilder General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. a $1.7 billion contract for the construction of John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oilers T-AO-215 and T-AO-216, the company announced Monday.

The award is part of a multiship contract for eight ships, TAO-214 through 221, announced in September 2024. This $6.75 billion block-buy contract is expected to save about $491 million compared to single-year contracts, according to Tom Rivers, executive director for amphibious, auxiliary and sealift ships in the Navy’s Program Executive Office for ships.

NASSCO was awarded a contract for the first six ships in the John Lewis-class in 2016, with four ships delivered to the Navy so far. The Navy plans to procure 20 of these ships in total.

"The T-AO program holds significant importance to the men and women of NASSCO and is one we take great pride in -- it’s the longest running Navy production series in NASSCO history," NASSCO President Dave Carver stated. “The timely funding for these two ships will act to stabilize the workforce by sustaining an important backlog and prevent future layoffs. Our entire NASSCO team is honored to continue to support the critical national security mission of the U.S. Navy.”

The INSIDER daily digest -- November 11, 2025
By Thomas Duffy
November 11, 2025 at 12:12 PM

This midweek INSIDER Daily Digest starts with a look at the Army’s plan to purchase one million drones, the Air Force wants to improve its ability to hit targets deep underground, a Defense Department official came out and talked about DOD’s new acquisition plan, and a new counter-air program is in the works.

The Army really wants to improve how it obtains drones:

Flexible procurement models eyed for Army's push to buy 1 million drones

The Army is preparing to tap a mix of flexible procurement authorities in an effort to generate a "predictable demand signal" and fully leverage the capacity of the U.S. industrial base as it pursues an ambitious plan to buy 1 million drones over the next two to three years, according to a service official.

The Air Force wants to up its bunker-busting game:

Air Force looking into new bunker-buster bomb tailkit

The Air Force is looking to develop a new bunker buster bomb tailkit, according to a recent request for information.

A senior DOD official discussed the department’s new acquisition reform plan:

DOD acquisition shake-up prizes speed, raising questions for defense industry

The Defense Department is overhauling its acquisition system to prioritize speed and transform its relationship with defense contractors, particularly the largest ones. But questions over cost, competition and government leverage are likely to shadow the effort as policies roll out in the coming months.

The Air Force has a new plan to defeat airborne missiles:

Air Force looking to develop Counter-Air Missile Program

The Air Force is looking to build a system to defeat airborne missiles, starting with ground-to-air capabilities that could later expand to air-to-air capabilities, according to a recent notice.

Air Force looking into new bunker-buster bomb tailkit
By Shelley K. Mesch
November 11, 2025 at 11:06 AM

The Air Force is looking to develop a new bunker buster bomb tailkit, according to a recent request for information.

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is conducting market research to assess technologies for a Large Caliber Penetrator requirement, the notice states. The focus of the information request is to identify potential vendors to mature tailkit designs, development and flight testing.

AFLCMC is requesting white papers that address tailkit guidance, navigation and control; integration; test; and cost and schedule. Respondents can include information for all categories or focus on the tailkit or test parts of the development process.

Responses are due by Dec. 15.

The service in September awarded Applied Research Associates a contract to design and build a prototype for the Next Generation Penetrator bomb.

The service most recently used a bunker buster -- the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator -- in the strikes against Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities in June.

The service is asking for $70.4 million in fiscal year 2026 to modify the MOP's smart fuse and other research, development, test and evaluation efforts for the bomb.

Air Force looking to develop Counter-Air Missile Program
By Shelley K. Mesch
November 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM

The Air Force is looking to build a system to defeat airborne missiles, starting with ground-to-air capabilities that could later expand to air-to-air capabilities, according to a recent notice.

The Counter-Air Missile Program aims to develop and demonstrate “an affordable, open system, modular, and highly producible ground-launched capability,” the request for white papers states. “Ground-launch efforts will serve as a risk reduction effort expediting missile design maturation and evaluation for future affordable air-to-air missile capabilities.”

The program is starting with money from the $150 billion reconciliation package passed over the summer, as the government has “identified a need” for such capabilities as a future part of the Affordable Mass Munitions portfolio.

The CAMP prototype should use systems with high technology readiness levels to be able to complete a first flight test within nine months to demonstrate vehicle ground-launch, range and speed, according to the post.

The Air Force is prioritizing “affordability and producibility” over exquisite capabilities and wants deliveries of 1,000 to 3,500 all-up rounds per year for less than $500,000 each in full-rate production.

The air-to-air system will be part of CAMP’s phase 2, but the Air Force is currently requesting white papers relating to the phase 1 ground-to-air system. Submissions are due Dec. 2.

The INSIDER daily digest -- November 10, 2025
By John Liang
November 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a major defense acquisition reform initiative announced late last week, plus an Army next-generation network prototype system and more.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth late last week announced a major acquisition reform initiative:

Hegseth warns defense companies to get on board with major acquisition transformation

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in an address at the National War College that directed an ambitious overhaul of the Pentagon's infamously bureaucratic acquisition system, told senior executives from the world's largest defense companies that they will "fade away" if they do not move faster, deliver at greater scale and "assume risk."

Document: DOD's acquisition transformation strategy

Document: DOD memo on joint requirements reform

Document: DOD memo on arms transfer and security cooperation enterprise

The Ivy Sting event series is designed to progressively add elements and test out the Army’s Next Generation Command and Control prototype:

Ivy Sting series grows NGC2 complexity

As the 4th Infantry Division gears its next-generation network prototype toward validation testing at Project Convergence Capstone 6 next summer, it's quickly turning up the complexity through the Army's Ivy Sting event series, senior leaders told reporters last week.

The new Theater Information Advantage Detachment (TIAD), based at Ft. Shafter, HI, folds civil affairs, cyber, electronic warfare, information operations, intelligence, psychological operations and public affairs into a single 65-soldier team:

Army looks to dominate Pacific information space with first-of-its kind detachment

The Army today turned on its first-ever detachment dedicated to shaping the narrative in the Indo-Pacific region.

The latest cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

National Defense ISAC publishes guide on using virtual desktops to support reaching compliance with CMMC requirements

The National Defense Information Sharing and Analysis Center has released a guide to help contractors meet requirements for the Pentagon’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program by using virtual desktop infrastructure.

Former cyber officials highlight evolving challenges at CISA, ongoing policy discussions in new essay collection

A project focused on security and tech policy has released a six-volume essay collection reviewing the current state of play at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and its future, with sections from former CISA officials Jeff Greene and David Mussington and other cyber luminaries.

DIU seeking adaptive manufacturing prototypes to scale domestic space supply chain
By Theresa Maher
November 10, 2025 at 11:24 AM

The Defense Innovation Unit is looking for responsive manufacturing technology prototypes that can churn out dual-use space systems on demand at commercial scale, citing an existing domestic space supply chain likely incapable of meeting wartime demand.

That technology should use adaptive production methods including but not limited to AI, 3D printing, software-defined manufacturing, automated molding, computer numerical control and design for manufacturing to yield hundreds of systems per month or thousands per year, DIU said in a commercial solutions opening published last week.

The CSO calls for companies across several roles to apply:

  • Defense contractors with experience successfully executing Defense Department contracts for system-level production units.
  • Companies with experience in scaling design-to-production output, such as smart factories and agile supply chains.
  • Entities that have developed “disruptive technologies” or manufacturing capabilities -- like robotics or AI algorithms -- supporting economies of scale.

DIU said it will form teams among the companies down-selected to best meet its goal to create a resilient, responsive domestic space supply chain capable of on-demand production at scale.

Submissions are due by Nov. 21, the CSO states.

Companies must have an established production capability to meet the hundreds-per-month or thousands-per-year production rates, collaborate digitally through all prototype phases and be able to source components rapidly.

Ideal solutions should be designed for autonomous operation, cost-effective at scale and commercially viable independent of the DIU solicitation’s use case.

Companies awarded with a prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement from the solicitation may also receive a direct award for a follow-on production contract. That follow-on could be larger than the OT agreement and may be subject to use by multiple DOD components, DIU said.

The INSIDER daily digest -- November 7, 2025
By John Liang
November 7, 2025 at 1:31 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Army manned and unmanned rotorcraft drive systems, lawmakers working on the defense policy bill, the work of the Pentagon cost assessment and program evaluation office and more.

In a broad agency announcement issued this week, the Technology Development Directorate within Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Aviation and Missile Center announces it is interested in the "development and demonstration of rotorcraft engine and drive system technologies" as part of the Supplemental Power, Efficient Engines and Drives (SPEED) program":

Army BAA calls for R&D into manned and unmanned rotorcraft drive systems

The Army has issued a broad agency announcement for research and development into manned and unmanned drive systems within rotorcraft engines, such as corrosion-resistant gearbox housings, lubrication systems as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning for "drive system prognostics."

Document: Army BAA for R&D into manned and unmanned rotorcraft drive systems

The House Armed Services Committee's top Democrat spoke this week at an Atlantic Council panel:

Smith signals movement on defense bill, highlights focus on acquisition reform

The annual defense authorization bill is moving forward, with House and Senate staff working to reconcile their respective legislation since late August, according to House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA).

Michael Payne was on Capitol Hill this week testifying on his nomination to be director of cost assessment and program evaluation:

GOP senators press nominee on cost assessment shop's 'biases' as amphib debate continues

Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee today called on President Trump's nominee for director of the Pentagon's cost assessment and program evaluation office to scale back some of CAPE's activities, asserting that it has become focused on advocacy over analysis.

Document: Senate hearing on Payne, Velez-Green, Todd, Dill nominations

The latest cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

National Defense ISAC publishes guide on using virtual desktops to support reaching compliance with CMMC requirements

The National Defense Information Sharing and Analysis Center has released a guide to help contractors meet requirements for the Pentagon’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program by using virtual desktop infrastructure.

Former cyber officials highlight evolving challenges at CISA, ongoing policy discussions in new essay collection

A project focused on security and tech policy has released a six-volume essay collection reviewing the current state of play at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and its future, with sections from former CISA officials Jeff Greene and David Mussington and other cyber luminaries.

Pentagon revising cyber mission force generation
By Theresa Maher
November 7, 2025 at 11:17 AM

The Defense Department last night unveiled a new model for how the military builds specialized cyber forces, focusing on a more targeted approach.

When the Pentagon built its initial 133-team cyber mission force in 2018, each military service’s cyber component took a set number of personnel to form teams that would go through standardized training, preparing them to serve as part of U.S. Cyber Command’s “action arm.”

The department said that approach isn’t setting CMF up for success, though.

“While appropriate for other warfighting domains, these traditional models have not met the unique requirements necessary to fight and win in the cyber domain,” DOD said.

A 2019 Government Accountability Office report found that to be the case, as well. GAO concluded Pentagon leaders prioritized building up CMF at the cost of sufficient training and readiness.

The new model -- driven by seven core attributes and three supporting department components -- would integrate CYBERCOM with the military departments to build the cyber force it needs.

“This model fundamentally changes the department’s approach to generating cyber forces, enabling increased lethality in our cyber forces and establishing a warrior ethos built on domain mastery, specialized skills and mission agility,” said Katie Sutton, assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy.

Sutton also said the new model would be well-positioned to help the department achieve its near and long-term goals in the cyber domain.

The INSIDER daily digest -- November 6, 2025
By John Liang
November 6, 2025 at 1:56 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a Senate hearing to consider the nomination of the next head of the Pentagon's cost assessment and program evaluation office, plus the Air Force's Compass Call aircraft program and more.

Michael Payne, the nominee to head the Pentagon's cost assessment and program evaluation office, was on Capitol Hill this morning:

Sullivan asks CAPE nominee to weigh in on amphib force structure

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today asked the Trump administration's nominee for director of cost assessment and program evaluation to examine the Navy and Marine Corps' amphibious warship plans, saying there is daylight between the two services on amphib force structure.

Document: Senate hearing on Payne, Velez-Green, Todd, Dill nominations

The Stimson Center released a new cybersecurity report this week:

Think tank proposes strengthening accountability, international cooperation through cyber deterrence strategy

The United States should expand the range of consequences on threat actors and nation states for cyberattacks and coordinate responses with international allies, according to a recent Stimson Center report.

The Compass Call Mission Crew Simulator has been approved for training and delivered to support interim fielding:

BAE Systems delivers Compass Call mission simulator

BAE Systems has delivered to the Air Force a mission simulator for the EA-37B Compass Call aircraft, the company announced this week.

A Mitchell Institute report released publicly today looks at dynamic space operations:

Mitchell Institute: Dynamic space operations include more than just refueling and maneuver

The Space Force needs to consider a multitude of ideas while pursuing dynamic space operations efforts, including whether or when guardians may conduct missions in space, according to a new Mitchell Institute report.

Senators on both sides of the aisle aren't particularly impressed with the proposed reorganization of the Pentagon's policy shop:

Pentagon's new senior policy leadership shake-up rattles Congress

A new Defense Department reorganization of senior policy leaders and their oversight areas is drawing bipartisan rebukes from senior senators, who say Congress has not been informed of major shifts in officials' responsibilities, including the AUKUS security pact between the U.S., U.K. and Australia.

The INSIDER daily digest -- November 5, 2025
By John Liang
November 5, 2025 at 1:12 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on an upcoming Mitchell Institute report on dynamic space operations, plus senators questioning the Pentagon's proposed plan to reorganize the Defense Department's policy office and more.

A Mitchell Institute report, set to be released publicly Thursday, looks at dynamic space operations:

Mitchell Institute: Dynamic space operations include more than just refueling and maneuver

The Space Force needs to consider a multitude of ideas while pursuing dynamic space operations efforts, including whether or when guardians may conduct missions in space, according to a new Mitchell Institute report.

Senators on both sides of the aisle aren't particularly impressed with the proposed reorganization of the Pentagon's policy shop:

Pentagon's new senior policy leadership shake-up rattles Congress

A new Defense Department reorganization of senior policy leaders and their oversight areas is drawing bipartisan rebukes from senior senators, who say Congress has not been informed of major shifts in officials' responsibilities, including the AUKUS security pact between the U.S., U.K. and Australia.

Document: DOD chart mapping policy shop reorganization

Some shipbuilding news:

Hanwha exec: U.S-Korea sub partnership would open new 'allied industrial pathway'

A new partnership between the United States and South Korea to equip the later nation with its own nuclear-powered submarines is a golden opportunity to bolster joint undersea defense capabilities and forge a new "allied industrial pathway," according to Yea Kyung Han, an executive at South Korean defense conglomerate Hanwha.

The Pentagon is seeking a sweeping overhaul of its acquisition system:

Pentagon memo signals major acquisition overhaul ahead of Hegseth's speech

A new draft Pentagon memo obtained by Inside Defense outlines what could become the most far-reaching overhaul of the Defense Department's acquisition system in decades, shifting the entire enterprise toward one overriding goal: getting new capabilities to the field faster.

Document: DOD draft memo on acquisition reform

Two companies are building components made from rare earth elements:

Rare earth magnet company, critical mineral refinery strike $1.4B deal with Pentagon, Commerce Department

North Carolina-based rare earth magnet maker Vulcan Elements and critical mineral refinery ReElement are teaming up with the federal government on a $1.4 billion partnership to scale the companies' fully domestic rare earth magnet supply chain, Vulcan announced this week.

DOD reveals FY-25 military intelligence budget reduction
By Tony Bertuca
November 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM

The Defense Department said today that its fiscal year 2025 military intelligence program budget appropriated by Congress was $27.8 billion, a reduction from the $29.8 billion DOD received in FY-24.

“The total was $27.8 billion, includes supplemental funding, and is aligned to support the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” DOD said.

The amount is about $400 million less that what DOD had requested.

As in previous years, details of the budget beyond the topline have been classified.

DARPA awards drone contract to develop bird-like soaring
By Theresa Maher
November 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded autonomy developer PhysicsAI a contract to design, train and test AI-enabled soaring capabilities for drones, the company announced today.

The prime contract was placed under DARPA’s Albatross program -- the agency’s initiative to develop autonomous soaring capabilities to integrate with existing uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms.

The agreement will see PhysicsAI develop advanced AI agents that can harness and identify changing wind conditions, optimize mission planning, and allow UAVs to soar like birds through various environments, the company said.

“Rather than designing AI that replicates human intelligence,” John Pierre, principal at PhysicsAI said, “we are building AI inspired by animal intelligence. Eagles, ravens, condors and albatross are nature’s ultimate soaring pilots, and we’re teaching UAVs to do the same.”

The resulting technology will unlock lower power requirements and allow drones to fly longer and farther, the company said.

The INSIDER daily digest -- November 4, 2025
By John Liang
November 4, 2025 at 2:04 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on major shakeups to the Pentagon's acquisition system and policy shop.

Senators on both sides of the aisle aren't particularly impressed with the proposed reorganization of the Pentagon's policy shop:

Pentagon's new senior policy leadership shake-up rattles Congress

A new Defense Department reorganization of senior policy leaders and their oversight areas is drawing bipartisan rebukes from senior senators, who say Congress has not been informed of major shifts in officials' responsibilities, including the AUKUS security pact between the U.S., U.K. and Australia.

The Pentagon is seeking a sweeping overhaul of its acquisition system:

Pentagon memo signals major acquisition overhaul ahead of Hegseth's speech

A new draft Pentagon memo obtained by Inside Defense outlines what could become the most far-reaching overhaul of the Defense Department's acquisition system in decades, shifting the entire enterprise toward one overriding goal: getting new capabilities to the field faster.

Document: DOD draft memo on acquisition reform

Shipbuilding news:

Hanwha exec: U.S-Korea sub partnership would open new 'allied industrial pathway'

A new partnership between the United States and South Korea to equip the later nation with its own nuclear-powered submarines is a golden opportunity to bolster joint undersea defense capabilities and forge a new "allied industrial pathway," according to Yea Kyung Han, an executive at South Korean defense conglomerate Hanwha.

The Defense Department will receive warrants -- options allowing the federal government rights to purchase a company’s stock for a predetermined price at a later date -- in two companies building rare earth elements:

Rare earth magnet company, critical mineral refinery strike $1.4B deal with Pentagon, Commerce Department

North Carolina-based rare earth magnet maker Vulcan Elements and critical mineral refinery ReElement are teaming up with the federal government on a $1.4 billion partnership to scale the companies' fully domestic rare earth magnet supply chain, Vulcan announced this week.

One of the Air Force's prototype Collaborative Combat Aircraft flew last week for the first time:

Anduril's CCA prototype completes first flight

Anduril Industries' YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft flew for the first time today, the Air Force announced, furthering the service's efforts to field swarms of drone wingmen by the end of the decade.

GA-ASI debuts air-to-ground drone wingman
By Vanessa Montalbano
November 4, 2025 at 12:17 PM

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is adding another unmanned fighter drone to its Gambit series that will be capable of operating in air-to-ground operations, the company announced today.

The new Gambit 6 platform is a derivative of the air-to-air Collaborative Combat Aircraft GA-ASI is developing for the Air Force. All aircraft parts of GA-ASI’s Gambit series share much of the same hardware, or common core, allowing the company to quickly and affordably scale production of mission-specific unmanned jets. Those characteristics include landing gear, baseline avionics and chassis.

Other Gambit variants are designed for such missions as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, multidomain combat, advanced training and stealth reconnaissance.

“The multirole platform is optimized for roles such as electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and deep precision strike, making it a versatile option for evolving defense needs,” GA-ASI wrote regarding Gambit 6 in a news release.

Gambit 6 airframes will be ready for purchase for international partners in 2027, with specific European missionized versions deliverable in 2029, according to the news release.

“These are real threats, and they require real solutions,” GA-ASI President David Alexander said in a statement. “The modular architecture and signature-reducing internal weapons bay of Gambit 6 allow for easy integration of advanced autonomy, sensors, and weapons systems, ensuring the aircraft can adapt to a wide range of operational scenarios."