The Insider

Trump taps Texas state senator for top DOD sustainment job
By Tony Bertuca
October 22, 2025 at 11:58 AM

President Trump has nominated Brian Birdwell, a Texas state senator, to serve as the assistant secretary of defense for sustainment.

Birdwell was congratulated on X by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who highlighted his military service and receipt of a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Legion of Merit awards.

“A survivor of the 9/11 Pentagon attack, he endured 39 surgeries on his road to recovery,” Patrick said. “America is in great hands with my friend in this key position.”

According to his posted biography, Birdwell was serving on the Army staff when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. He suffered burns on more than 60% of his body.

White House withdraws DOD comptroller nominee
By Tony Bertuca
October 22, 2025 at 11:32 AM

The White House has withdrawn the nomination of former GE executive Jeffrey Bornstein, whom President Trump tapped in May to serve as Pentagon comptroller.

The reason for Bornstein’s withdrawal was not immediately clear, and the White House did not respond to a request for comment. An attempt to reach Bornstein for comment was not immediately successful.

Bornstein, currently a managing partner at Generation Capital Partners, previously served as chief financial officer of GE from July 2013 to October 2017. He left GE in 2017 after 28 years with the company.

Meanwhile, the government shutdown has stretched into its 22nd day and withdrawal of Bornstein’s nomination means the Trump administration is without a Senate-confirmed official to manage DOD’s nearly $1 trillion in annual spending.

The current official who is performing the duties of Pentagon comptroller is Jules Hurst, who was previously performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs. He has been acting as DOD comptroller since August.

In April, Hurst was named as the head of a DOD task force focused on eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Hurst previously worked as legislative director and defense advisor to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

Space Force seeking feedback on RG-XX draft RFP
By Shelley K. Mesch
October 22, 2025 at 10:47 AM

The Space Force is seeking feedback on a draft request for proposals for the next generation of “neighborhood watch” satellites for on-orbit space domain awareness.

The service posted the draft yesterday under the title “Andromeda Draft RFP” but clarified the program is part of RG-XX. The program intends to award multiple indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts, according to the notice, with firm, fixed prices.

Eventual contractors will “define, design, and build technologies and space-based systems for the Space Domain Awareness mission area,” the notice states.

The government is looking for feedback on feasibility, clarity, testability and cost drivers of the requirements among other topics in the draft, the notice states.

The RG-XX program is intended to replace the legacy Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP).

Acting space acquisition chief Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy said last month that he expects the official request to be posted by the end of the year so long as funding comes through.

Purdy would not give a number for how many satellites the service intends to buy, only saying he would like “as many as possible . . . as rapidly as possible.”

The publicly viewable version of the draft RFP does not provide many details about capabilities, but Purdy has said that requirements were modified to ensure the program could be viable for commercial entrants. He also stated that space access, mobility and logistics (SAML) capabilities will be baked into the request.

AeroVironment nabs $96M counter-drone missile award
By Jason Sherman
October 22, 2025 at 9:24 AM

The Army has selected AeroVironment for its Next-Generation Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Missile, awarding the company a $95.9 million contract under the Long-Range Kinetic Interceptor (LRKI) program, according to a company announcement.

The LRKI effort, managed by Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center through the Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium, is aimed at accelerating fielding of new kinetic interceptors to defend against small and medium unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

In an Oct. 22 statement, AeroVironment said the contract will fund production and delivery of its missile design to meet the Army’s requirement for a low-cost, high-performance interceptor capable of engaging Group 2 and 3 UAS while retaining residual capability against Group 1 UAS, fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

AeroVironment said its design -- known internally as the Freedom Eagle (FE-1) -- has completed a series of successful developmental tests, including live-fire demonstrations of its dual-thrust solid rocket motor, controlled test vehicle launches and warhead evaluations. The company described these milestones as evidence of the interceptor’s technological maturity and reduced technical risk ahead of fielding.

The NGCM award expands AeroVironment’s role in counter-drone and precision-strike weapons, which also include directed energy, radio frequency and electronic warfare systems, alongside its Switchblade and JUMP 20 loitering munitions portfolio.

Shield AI debuts autonomous X-BAT fighter jet
By Vanessa Montalbano
October 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM

Aerospace and software company Shield AI is entering the multirole fighter jet market with its new X-BAT fully autonomous aircraft, the company announced today.

X-BAT-- a runway-independent platform -- will be powered by Shield AI’s self-driving Hivemind software, which allows the platform to operate in GPS- and communications-denied environments.

Shield AI first implemented its unmanned software on its V-BAT intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones that also have vertical takeoff and landing features. Hivemind fits into the open architecture configuration used by the Air Force and Navy.

X-BAT is the “next natural step” in the company’s intention to use its AI-enabled autonomy to “close the kill chain,” Shield AI wrote in a news release.

“Unlike legacy crewed aircraft, X-BAT frees human aviators for missions that demand critical human judgment -- an essential advantage in today’s fast-moving and unpredictable conflict zones,” Shield AI said.

X-BAT has modular payload bays which can support ISR, electronic warfare and precision strike, Armor Harris, Shield AI’s senior vice president of aircraft engineering, told Inside Defense.

“Because it is AI-powered by our combat-proven Hivemind, it can fly solo, or act as a drone wingman, collaborating and maneuvering with crewed fighters,” Harris said.

In 2023, the San Diego-based company announced a goal of building a version of its Hivemind software that could control fighter aircraft by 2025.

Shield AI is not planning to pitch X-BAT for the first increment of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, Harris said, because the team does not expect to conduct initial vertical takeoff and landing demonstrations until fall 2026 at the soonest. All-up flight testing and operational validations could occur in 2028, he added.

“X-BAT delivers capabilities beyond the first Increment 1 CCAs, including electronic warfare, greater payload capacity and extended range. We view Increment 1 CCAs as important and capable systems, designed to meet the initial set of program requirements,” Harris said. “X-BAT, by contrast, was built to give combatant commanders geographically distributed long-range fires and effects.”

The Air Force has apparently down-selected a classified group of five software firms to contribute mission autonomy for the earliest CCA jet -- envisioned as missile trucks to accompany manned fighters in battle. Shield AI’s Hivemind will provide the autonomy that will eventually fly the YFQ-44A CCA prototype under development by Anduril Industries, according to reporting from Aviation Week.

RTX will likewise supply the autonomy software suite for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ YFQ-42A loyal drone wingman prototype, the Aviation Week report said.

The Air Force would not confirm which firms were awarded a CCA increment one mission autonomy contract. Shield AI and RTX declined to comment and deferred questions to the Air Force.

“Subcontractors of the CCA program are protected by enhanced security measures,” a service spokesperson told Inside Defense in September.

X-BAT is “designed for rapid deployment and operations in austere environments,” with a range of about 2,000 nautical miles with a full mission payload, the company wrote in its news release.

The multirole, attritable fighter can take off from ships, remote islands or austere locations, according to Shield AI, making it a candidate for use in the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment concept, which encourages dispersed operations across the Indo-Pacific.

Up to three X-BATs can fit into the deck space of one legacy fighter or helicopter, Shield AI said, adding to the amount of combat capability one sortie could produce in a contested environment.

“This removes reliance on traditionally vulnerable infrastructure and ensures forces can respond swiftly, even in the most challenging conditions,” the company said. “X-BAT delivers high-end capability for a fraction of the cost of traditional fighter jets. Its affordability and small footprint allows forces to enable larger and more resilient fleets, absorb losses without crippling operations, and adopt more flexible strategies -- reshaping how future conflicts are fought and sustained.”

Trump taps new Army vice chief
By Dominic Minadeo
October 21, 2025 at 1:53 PM

President Trump has tapped the highest-ranking commissioned officer in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office for the role of Army vice chief of staff, squeezing out Gen. James Mingus, who has held the role for just under two years.

The nomination for Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, first reported by Breaking Defense, was received by the Senate on Monday, according to a congressional notice. It marks an exciting year for LaNeve, who has already jumped from South Korea to the halls of the Pentagon and will now await pending confirmation to the Army’s second in command.

Hegseth tapped LaNeve in March to serve as his senior military assistant, a role that put LaNeve as the military point person for Hegseth, which involves interacting with the joint staff, combatant commands and other agencies “for policy matters and related subjects,” according to an Army release.

Before that LaNeve commanded the Eighth Army in South Korea and served as chief of staff for Combined Forces Command, positions he held for just one year before giving up command in April to work for Hegseth -- a “shorter term” than previous commanding generals who held the same role, the Army release said.

Gen. Mingus was nominated by President Biden in July 2023 and confirmed the same December. A spokesperson for Mingus said the general wouldn't comment "on pending nominations."

The INSIDER daily digest -- October 21, 2025
By Thomas Duffy
October 21, 2025 at 12:03 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest begins with a look at the U.S.-Australia plan to boost that nation’s fleet of submarines, a deal between the two countries for critical minerals, news from the U.S. Space Force and the Army’s accelerated push to get a new tank delivered.

According to the president, things are moving for Australia’s buy of U.S. subs:

Trump says AUKUS sub sales are on track

President Trump today voiced support for the AUKUS security partnership and suggested the United States could be moving to expedite delivery of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.

A deal worth up to $8 billion for critical minerals was announced this week:

U.S., Australia sign critical minerals agreement worth up to $8B

The United States and Australia signed a landmark Critical Minerals Framework today that includes more than $3 billion in immediate investments in critical mineral projects, with up to $8 billion in total financing possible through additional U.S. Export-Import Bank support, signaling a major step in securing supply-chain and defense resources.

The Space Force revealed plans for the next group of GPS receivers:

Space Force planning prototypes for next GPS receivers

The Space Force is speeding up its plans for the next-generation, low-power Maritime and Aviation Receiver Card program, according to Space Systems Command, as industry input suggested the program’s schedule could be accelerated.

The Army plans to have new tanks operational near the end of 2026:

Army 'commercialization' push accelerates M1E3 tank delivery by 7 years

The Army's fast-track development of its next evolution of the Abrams tank, the M1E3, will deliver a preprototype by the end of this year and a platoon of operational vehicles by late 2026, one of the service's most aggressive modernization drives in decades -- and a striking embrace of foreign-born technology at the heart of the new tank's powertrain.

Northrop CEO: Shutdown not affecting company -- yet
By Shelley K. Mesch
October 21, 2025 at 11:41 AM

Northrop Grumman’s finances haven’t been affected by the government shutdown, CEO Kathy Warden said today, but that may change if a funding package isn’t passed within a few weeks.

“It is unclear how long it might persist, but we are hopeful it will be resolved in the near term,” Warden said during the company’s third quarter earnings call today. “Assuming it is, we do not anticipate any significant impact on our financial results.”

If Congress can’t pass a fiscal year 2026 budget or a continuing resolution by mid-November, she said, some contracts and funding may be delayed and affect Northrop.

“We don’t anticipate that at this time,” Warden said. “But it’s certainly something we’re watching.”

The shutdown has also slowed negotiations on ramping up B-21 Raider production, Warden said. The reconciliation funding package passed over the summer included $4.5 billion for the new bomber, but she said it’s “too early” to say how the deal will pan out.

“[Discussions] have been held up a bit because of the government shutdown and the availability of resources to continue those discussions,” she said. “We expect those to resume and still expect that in the coming months we would have more clarity on what that acceleration might look like.”

Air Force’s Kessel Run seeking industry feedback on 200 software-related requirements
By Shelley K. Mesch
October 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM

The Air Force’s software factory, Kessel Run, is seeking industry input on about 200 requirements relating to end user services, infrastructure and application platforms, according to a notice posted last week.

Kessel Run -- part of the Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management Integrated Program Executive Office -- listed dozens of requirements statements under the three categories that cover efforts including service enterprise tools, IT service management systems, hybrid networking connectivity, cybersecurity, integration with other programs and resiliency.

“[I]t is the intent of KR to solicit responses from responsible sources to this Request for Information (RFI) to collaboratively review and refine the attached requirements, ensuring they are clear, comprehensive, and fully actionable,” the notice states.

The organization wants to ensure the requirements are clear and complete, it states, and can support a “robust application platform and IT services organization.”

Kessel Run is not, at this time, looking for feedback on implementing the requirements.

Interested businesses have until Oct. 31 to respond. Along with highlighting areas of concern within the requirements or statements that could use more clarity, businesses can note the requirement blocks that they can deliver on along with examples of relevant capabilities they have delivered in the past three years.

The INSIDER daily digest -- October 20, 2025
By Thomas Duffy
October 20, 2025 at 12:45 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest starts with a look at the Army’s plans for artificial intelligence, how the government shutdown is affecting one defense-related agency, some missile defense news, and cybersecurity news.

The Army is making some adjustments to its AI plans:

Project Linchpin undergoing revamp, name change to match NGC2 advances

The Army's pipeline for artificial intelligence and machine learning integration will be revised going forward, a senior leader announced this week, which involves a new name and consolidation under the service's next-generation network.

Looks like more than 1,000 employees at one government agency are about to be furloughed:

NNSA will furlough 1,400 workers as shutdown grinds on, Congress says

The National Nuclear Security Administration has told Congress the ongoing government shutdown is forcing the agency to furlough 1,400 workers as its funding for salaries and expenses is nearly exhausted.

Raytheon is making a big investment in one of its missile defense radar programs:

Raytheon breaks ground on LTAMDS expansion to ramp production

Raytheon has broken ground on a $53 million expansion of its Andover, MA radar production campus, a move company executives say will allow it to ramp up output of the Army's new Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor after a year of throttled production.

Conference news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

CMMC stakeholder community convenes for annual conference without DOD leaders in attendance

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- An annual conference for the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program struck a positive note among stakeholders who are preparing for a Nov. 10 start to requirements showing up in defense contracts, while raising some eyebrows over potential impacts from the ongoing government shutdown.

Lockheed Martin awarded contract for IRST Block II
By Abby Shepherd
October 20, 2025 at 12:44 PM

The Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $233 million contract for the delivery of Infrared Search and Track Block II systems, the company announced today.

The IRST21 Block II systems are a next-generation version of the IRST capability and can deliver longer range detection and fast target data, according to the company.

“IRST21 Block II delivers a game-changing leap in passive warfighting capabilities across multiple platforms,” Cristin Stengel, IRST21 program director for Lockheed Martin, said in a statement. “By significantly enhancing the range and accuracy to enable weapon employment in challenging environments, this system ensures pilots remain ahead of evolving adversaries and mission-ready at all times.”

IRST Block II aids F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet squadrons with detection and tracking of targets in certain environments where radar may prove ineffective.

The announcement follows a full-rate production decision for IRST Block II this past summer, and initial operational capability in November 2024. A full-rate production decision was originally scheduled to occur by January 2025, but was pushed back due to delays in flight testing, according to a Government Accountability Office report.

These delays were driven by software defects, causing IRST pods to falsely report overheating, according to GAO. These software issues are now resolved, a Navy spokesperson told Inside Defense in July.

Anduril acquires U.S.-based cooled IR camera manufacturer AIRS
By Theresa Maher
October 20, 2025 at 12:09 PM

Defense contractor Anduril Industries has acquired American Infrared Solutions (AIRS), a U.S.-based manufacturer of high-performance cooled infrared cameras and components, Anduril announced today.

AIRS has provided key component technologies to Anduril for the company’s solutions across all military domains for several years, but the acquisition will make Anduril “a merchant supplier of cooled infrared cameras and components,” the company said.

“AIRS has been a trusted supplier to Anduril for several years on some of the company’s longest running and most frequently used technologies,” AIRS said.

Details of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Anduril says AIRS will continue to serve its existing customer base from its New Hampshire facilities.

“Like Anduril, AIRS excels at addressing complex challenges where the demands are greatest and the potential impact is significant,” the California-based company said.

The acquisition will also see AIRS’ hardware further integrated into Anduril’s sensing systems, which AIRS says will expand what its technologies can offer customers.

The AIRS products will join existing Anduril imaging product families like Iris -- airborne autonomous imaging and targeting sensors leveraging imaging technologies -- and Wisp, the company’s AI-enabled full-motion, wide area imaging system that supports continuous situational awareness and threat detection.

“With AIRS on our team in its deepened capacity,” Anduril said, “American warfighters equipped with Anduril mission systems will be protected from threats -- thanks to standard-setting technology integrated into an organization that is supercharging weapons system manufacturing.”

The news comes just a week after Anduril unveiled its latest offering -- a super soldier helmet called EagleEye. The company currently has four variants of EagleEye, including one Anduril built for the Army’s Soldier Borne Mission Command program.

FREE TO READ: Air Force canceling new requirements command but keeping underpinning principles
By Vanessa Montalbano
October 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM

The Air Force will no longer stand up the Integrated Capabilities Command -- one of the hallmark institutional changes of last year's "Reoptimization for Great Power Competition," the service announced Wednesday.

The decision, made by Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, puts an end to uncertainty that has reigned for months over whether the service would stick with the Biden-era effort to establish a new major command dedicated to writing requirements to align with key enterprise-level mission threads.

Read the full story, now available to all.

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
October 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM

A defense innovation conference is being held in the Washington area this week. The federal government, however, remains partially shut down.

Wednesday

Axios hosts its Future Defense Summit.

Navy awards General Atomics Aeronautical Systems CCA design contract
By Abby Shepherd
October 17, 2025 at 1:38 PM

The Navy has awarded a contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the design of a collaborative combat aircraft, according to a company announcement today.

The announcement follows reporting from Breaking Defense last month, which found that General Atomics, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Anduril had all been awarded contracts for this design effort.

The design work tasked to GA-ASI will be focused on a “modular approach to platform selection, capable of being rapidly reconfigured and upgraded to meet changing mission requirements,” according to the announcement.

“We’re honored by the vote of confidence from the U.S. Navy and we’re eager to put what we’ve built to work for the future fleet,” GA-ASI President David Alexander said in a statement. “No one has more experience than we do with unmanned combat aircraft and we’re leveraging that to help the Navy get this capability onto the flight deck fast.”

The Navy’s CCA will aim to coordinate manned and uncrewed vehicles, as well as support fourth, fifth and sixth-generation aircraft, like the future F/A-XX fighter.