The Insider

By Nick Wilson
July 2, 2025 at 12:08 PM

Texas-based non-profit BlueForge Alliance and technology company Palantir today announced a new program, funded through the Navy's recently established Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) program office, intended to accelerate warship production and fleet readiness.

Labeled “Warp Speed for Warships,” the program will utilize Palantir’s “Foundry” enterprise operating system -- software that integrates data and decision-making tools -- to facilitate greater collaboration across the maritime industrial base, the announcement states.

“Powered by Palantir’s proven Warp Speed manufacturing operating system, Warp Speed for Warships is designed to accelerate shipbuilding modernization and readiness by digitally taking the first steps to better connect the network of shipbuilders, suppliers and critical partners responsible for building and sustaining the Navy’s fleet,” the notice continues.

The Navy has already tapped BlueForge to run a variety of initiatives aimed at strengthening the submarine industrial base, including advertising campaigns and the recruiting website buildsubmarines.com. Founded in 2022, the non-profit organization has received over $1 billion in government funding for these efforts to date.

“Our strategic partnership with Palantir is about moving with urgency and precision -- equipping America’s industrial base with the tools it needs to meet unprecedented demand,” said Kiley Wren, BlueForge co-chief executive officer, in a statement included in the release. “With the Warp Speed for Warships program, together with our nation’s shipbuilders and suppliers, we’re helping the Navy deliver the modern digital infrastructure required to scale production, drive resilience and ensure our nation’s shipbuilding enterprise is prepared for what lies ahead.”

The Navy established its MIB program office in September to improve production and sustainment in both the surface and undersea fleets via targeted industrial base investments. In February, the service appointed former program executive officer for strategic submarines Matt Sermon to lead the office.

By Abby Shepherd
July 1, 2025 at 3:58 PM

Following delays and software defects, full-rate production has been approved for the F/A-18 E/F Infrared Search and Track system, according to a Navy spokesperson, with an acquisition decision memorandum scheduled to be signed this summer.

After achieving initial operational capability in November 2024, the IRST Block II program was scheduled to reach a full-rate production decision by January. However, this was pushed back due to delays in flight testing, according to a Government Accountability Office report released June 11.

These operational test delays were attributed to “software defects that caused IRST pods to falsely report overheating,” according to GAO’s annual weapon systems assessment. Now, these software issues have been resolved, the Navy spokesperson told Inside Defense.

Defense Department Director of Operational Test and Evaluation officials told GAO that the defect was easy to resolve and could have been fixed during developmental testing if that program had allocated more time for it, according to the report, which adds that this is the second time IRST had surpassed its baseline schedule in the past three years.

IRST Block II will allow Super Hornet squadrons to detect and track targets from a distance and in certain environments where radar may prove ineffective. Operational testing of the system was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, according to a report released by DOT&E in January.

By John Liang
July 1, 2025 at 2:20 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a recent Marine Corps amphibious warfare exercise on the East Coast, plus coverage of the Pentagon's crackdown on IT management and consulting contracts and more.

We start off with a deep dive into a recent exercise where Marines were able to embark on amphibious warships and practice a full-scale, ship-to-shore landing alongside international allies, working through maneuvers and logistics critical to a real amphibious assault:

Atlantic Alliance 25 gives Marines rare opportunity to practice key ship-to-shore operations

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC -- On a hot morning in late June, U.S. and Dutch landing craft sped toward a hostile shoreline and dropped their bow ramps, sending Joint Light Tactical Vehicles rumbling into the surf and Marines leaping into the shallow seawater and storming up the beach in an amphibious assault.

A recent Defense Department memo follows several May 27 directives from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that terminated several ITC&MS and A&AS contracts and gave the "Department of Government Efficiency" the authority to review most of DOD's unclassified contracts:

Duffey approves DOGE-led crackdown on IT management and consulting contracts

New Pentagon acquisition chief Michael Duffey has issued a memo outlining guidance for implementing the Trump administration's policy requiring justification for awarding many contracts involving information technology consulting and management services, as well as advisory or assistance services.

Document: DOD memo on IT management and consulting contracts

The service's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office is developing a "rapid timeline" for building and testing prototypes of the Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML):

RCCTO to rapidly prototype CAML variants

The Army is speeding along prototype builds for a robotic, maneuverable launcher that can play both offense and defense with cross-domain fires, according to a recently released solicitation for industry proposals.

The Space Force will be in charge of developing the Golden Dome missile defense system:

Space Force, not MDA, tapped to lead SBI development; industry proposals due mid-July

A behind-the-scenes bureaucratic turf war over who should lead the Pentagon's space-based missile defense effort appears to have been settled: the Space Force -- not the Missile Defense Agency -- will spearhead development of interceptors to support the Trump administration's Golden Dome initiative.

The reconciliation bill portion of the Army budget covers integrated air and missile defense, munitions and supply chain, cyber, unaccompanied housing and depot maintenance:

LTAMDS, PrSM among host of Army missile programs banking on reconciliation

The future of roughly a half-dozen Army missile procurement programs rests on the passage of the GOP reconciliation bill before Congress.

By Tony Bertuca
July 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM

The Senate, after a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President Vance, has passed a massive budget reconciliation policy bill that, among numerous other provisions, includes $150 billion for the Defense Department.

The bill now returns to the House, where Republicans must pass it with their slim majority before sending it to President Trump, who has said he wants to sign the bill into law before July 4.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) released a statement lauding the defense portion of the bill, which would make $150 billion available to DOD. The White House is planning to spend $113 billion of the total amount in fiscal year 2026.

“This defense funding represents a critical leap forward for our national security,” Wicker said. “This historic legislation includes funds to jump-start the Golden Dome system to protect the homeland, increase our supply of munitions, rapidly advance unmanned ships and drones, enhance military readiness, reestablish deterrence, and advance shipbuilding to produce a 21st-century naval fleet.”

Defense spending has never been part of reconciliation before and -- for legislative reasons -- is vague in terms of how DOD can spend the funds.

Wicker has made it a priority to get senior Pentagon officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, to testify before the committee that they will “unequivocally” follow congressional intent when it comes to spending on specific programs.

Senate Democrats, meanwhile, uniformly opposed the bill. They were joined by Republican Sens. Susan Collins (ME), Rand Paul (KY) and Thom Tillis (NC).

By John Liang
July 1, 2025 at 10:38 AM

Boeing announced today that it had officially named Steve Parker as president and chief executive officer of its defense, space & security (BDS) business unit, effective immediately.

Parker has served as interim leader of the group since September 2024, according to a company statement.

Parker, who joined Boeing in 1988, was previously chief operating officer of the defense unit. Before that, he led divisions including Bombers & Fighters and Vertical Lift. He also managed Boeing Defence Australia, the company's largest subsidiary outside the U.S.

By Dominic Minadeo
July 1, 2025 at 10:34 AM

The Army will allocate $108 million for a Vehicle Protection System suite that will fold three different capabilities under a new start in fiscal year 2026, according to recently released procurement budget documents.

The suite will include “active, reactive and passive protection capabilities,” to achieve “detection avoidance, threat detection, threat intercept and threat mitigation,” according to a description of the line item. It incorporates three capabilities: modular active protection systems (APS), signature management and top attack protection.

Top attack protection will receive the bulk of the VPS dollars as the Army plans to allocate $91.7 million for the “passive add-on armor,” which is placed over compartments and hatches of ground vehicles to shield crews against threats from above.

The funds will procure enough sets of top attack protection worth four Armored Brigade Combat Teams, according to the Army. The system is intended to cover the entire combat vehicle fleet and eventually other ground vehicles, too.

The suite also includes $15 million for signature management, which involves painting 389 Army combat vehicles to camouflage them from thermal sensors to reduce their detection likelihood.

That leaves just $852,000 in FY-26 for modular APS units with a laser warning receiver, designed to warn crews of any threats to the vehicle aided by lasers.

In FY-22, the Army invested $70.7 million into procuring 138 modular APS units with laser detection, plus 17 “additional spares,” the documents show.

By John Liang
June 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM

Boeing announced today that Jay Malave has been elected as the company's next chief financial officer.

Malave will succeed Brian West, who is moving into a senior adviser to company CEO Kelly Ortberg, effective Aug. 15.

Malave was most recently CFO of Lockheed Martin and before that CFO at L3Harris Technologies. He spent more than 20 years at United Technologies Corp., including serving as vice president and CFO of Carrier Corp. when it was an operating unit of UTC, and vice president and CFO at UTC Aerospace Systems.

By John Liang
June 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Space Force being put in charge of developing the Golden Dome missile defense system, the portions of the reconciliation bill that cover certain Army programs and more.

The Space Force will be in charge of developing the Golden Dome missile defense system:

Space Force, not MDA, tapped to lead SBI development; industry proposals due mid-July

A behind-the-scenes bureaucratic turf war over who should lead the Pentagon's space-based missile defense effort appears to have been settled: the Space Force -- not the Missile Defense Agency -- will spearhead development of interceptors to support the Trump administration's Golden Dome initiative.

The reconciliation bill portion of the Army budget covers integrated air and missile defense, munitions and supply chain, cyber, unaccompanied housing and depot maintenance, according to a summary of the budget. In the missile procurement portion of the budget, the Army is relying on a little more than $1.5 billion to come from reconciliation:

LTAMDS, PrSM among host of Army missile programs banking on reconciliation

The future of roughly a half-dozen Army missile procurement programs rests on the passage of the GOP reconciliation bill before Congress.

The Army wants to build a new command in Japan -- called Multi-Domain Command Japan -- and another at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA -- Multi-Domain Command Pacific -- as part of the service's transformation initiative:

Army to stand up two multidomain commands in Pacific under ATI directive

The Army is forming two commands in the Indo-Pacific theater to manage three multidomain task forces in the region as part of the service's transformation plan, the commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific announced late last week.

Keep an eye out in the coming months for a possible KC-46 production contract:

Next KC-46 production award could arrive 'within months'

As the current production contract for the KC-46 Pegasus tanker nears completion, the Air Force is now weighing the next steps for the program. A subsequent KC-46 production award decision could come "within months" pending an ongoing analysis, according to service Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

The Pentagon is looking to update its Risk Management Framework:

DOD seeks feedback on revamping adoption of risk management framework

The Defense Department has released a request for information to get feedback on making reforms to the Risk Management Framework, the Pentagon's approach to address cyber risk management across its systems.

Document: DOD RFI for risk management framework revamp

By Tony Bertuca
June 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at public events around Washington this week ahead of the Independence Day holiday. The Republican majority in Congress continues work on their massive reconciliation package -- the "Big, Beautiful Bill" that includes billions for defense.

Tuesday

The Mitchell Institute hosts a discussion on space-based sensing.

Wednesday

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion on strategic land power.

Friday

Independence Day holiday.

By Tony Bertuca
June 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM

The Defense Department is requesting $33.6 billion in classified spending for its military intelligence program, a $5.4 billion increase above what DOD sought for FY-25.

“The department determined that releasing this topline figure does not jeopardize any classified activities within the MIP,” DOD said. “No other MIP budget figures or program details will be released, as they remain classified for national security reasons.”

The Pentagon has not disclosed what Congress appropriated for military intelligence in FY-25, though it has said Congress appropriated $29.8 billion in FY-24.

By John Liang
June 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Pentagon's fiscal year 2026 budget request, the Air Force shifting money from the Sentinel ICBM program to fund modifications to a Qatari 747 jet for use as Air Force One and more.

We start off with coverage of the Pentagon's fiscal year 2026 budget request (and follow Defense Budget Alert for all the latest developments.):

DOD releases budget amid uncertain funding future; more weapons cancelations possible

The Defense Department will not deliver Congress a topline budget projection for fiscal year 2027 or future years, according to a senior defense official who said today that the Pentagon is planning for a similar $1 trillion topline next year unless President Trump changes his mind.

Document: DOD's FY-26 budget overview

Army relying on reconciliation for $1.4B in depot maintenance funds in FY-26

The Army plans to request $1.6 billion for its land forces depot maintenance program in its fiscal year 2026 operations and maintenance account. But nearly 1.5 billion, or about 90%, will depend on the passage of the GOP budget reconciliation bill.

Document: Army's FY-26 budget overview

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink testified before the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee this week:

Dollars from Sentinel program were shifted to fund retrofit of Qatari Air Force One jet

The Air Force pulled funds from the troubled LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program to help pay for modifications to make a luxury jet gifted to the U.S. by Qatar suitable to serve as Air Force One, according to a top service official.

Document: Air Force's FY-26 posture statement

The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing this week on a variety of nominations, including Brent Ingraham to be Army acquisition chief:

Army acquisition chief nominee pledges for more 'agile, flexible and adaptable' requirements

Brent Ingraham, the Trump administration's nominee to be the next assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, believes the service's requirements process must be more "agile, flexible and adaptable," in line with recent rhetoric from top service leaders about the need to get away from long-term programs of record.

Document: Senate hearing on Cao, Dodd, Ingraham, Hurst, Gillis nominations

David Payne, Replicator-2 director and program manager for strategic initiatives at the Defense Innovation Unit, spoke during a panel at this week's Defense One Tech Summit:

DIU wants Replicator-2 low collateral defeat solutions in hands of warfighters by next summer

The Defense Innovation Unit is looking to start test and evaluation on low collateral defeat counter-drone solutions this fall and “get things out into the warfighter’s hands next summer” in line with the Replicator-2 initiative, an agency official leading the effort told attendees during a conference panel.

Last but by no means least, we have some cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

DOD seeks feedback on revamping adoption of risk management framework

The Defense Department has released a request for information to get feedback on making reforms to the Risk Management Framework, the Pentagon's approach to address cyber risk management across its systems.

Document: DOD RFI for risk management framework revamp

By John Liang
June 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the E-7 Wedgetail program being canceled, Air Force fighter aircraft purchases and more.

(NOTE: The Pentagon and military services have begun releasing their fiscal year 2026 budget requests. Follow Defense Budget Alert for all the latest developments.)

A senior military official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity today said the E-7 Wedgetail program is being canceled because of cost growth and "significant delays" while the Pentagon seeks to address the Boeing-made aircraft's mission with space-based assets:

DOD cancels E-7 Wedgetail to fund space push

Senior defense officials today said the Pentagon is canceling the Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail program, setting the stage for a possible battle with the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

The notion that the Air Force needs to obtain at least 72 new fighters yearly to meet global mission requirements and uphold air dominance was determined by the Biden administration -- but even then it was a tough goal to meet:

Air Force stated goal of purchasing 72 fighters annually is 'not currently achievable'

The Air Force is only requesting to buy 45 fighter aircraft in fiscal year 2026, a sizable drop from its previously stated goal of purchasing at least 72 each year to modernize the fleet.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) spoke this week about his concerns for air base security:

Iranian missile attacks deepen air base defense concerns

Iran's retaliatory strikes on Monday against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar have broadened leaders' fears that U.S. air bases are no longer sanctuaries.

The Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office is seeking man-portable interceptor aircraft that would be used for countering group 1 through 3 drones, which are those weighing less than 1,320 pounds:

Army to develop man-portable interceptor aircraft for hard-kill CUAS

The Army intends to develop man-portable interceptor aircraft that will be used to enhance the service's next generation of standoff, hard-kill, counter unmanned aircraft systems capabilities, according to a request for information posted this week.

The defense portion of the "Big Beautiful Bill" has been updated:

Lawmakers release updated defense reconciliation bill with funding changes

House and Senate lawmakers have released an updated version of the defense portion of the GOP's massive budget reconciliation bill, changing funding amounts in several key areas, including cuts to the military's support for border security operations.

Document: House, Senate lawmakers' updated reconciliation bill

By Dominic Minadeo
June 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM

The commander of United States Army Europe and Africa today made clear he has no reason to believe the service will tweak its European force posture as the United States homes in on a Chinese pacing threat.

“Nobody has said anything to me about it,” Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of USAREUR-AF, told attendees this morning at an Association of the United States Army event.

“I’ve met with all the senior leaders,” he added.

Steve Warren, acting deputy chief of public affairs for the Army, told reporters at the Pentagon today that he backed what the four-star general had said.

Donahue had been replying to a Dutch military associate, who asked what European commanders should focus on as the United States shifts focus toward the Indo-Pacific: Should they support the United States in the Pacific theater, or concentrate on Europe?

“I just don’t think there’s going to be a change, OK?” Donahue said. “Now, we have a deterrence problem in Europe, and everybody’s got to step up and do their part, and that’s the 3.5, 1.5 etcetera, for the 5% there.”

The percentages are a reference to President Trump’s goal of arm-twisting allies into spending 5% of their Gross Domestic Product on defense, which he announced in remarks at the World Economic Forum in January.

And just hours ago, NATO members, meeting today in The Hague, Netherlands, agreed to spend the 5% of GDP on defense, although The New York Times notes tricky language in the communiqué, which says “allies” have agreed, not “all allies.”

The 3.5% refers to spending funds on “core military requirements,” while the 1.5% is shoveled into “defense-related expenditures,” like boosting infrastructure and the industrial base, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

Donahue said the percentage of the Army’s fighting force in Europe during World War II sounds similar to what it would likely be today, so “we don’t need to generate drama when there’s no drama, right?”

“Just look at the facts, do what’s right and get to ground deterrence,” he said, adding later: “And be really freaking good at fighting, and you’ll be OK.”

Donahue said that’s he is “violently consistent” in telling every land force commander that.

“By the way, you know, the U.S. military will always, always lead in Europe, in particular the Army, OK,” he said. “That’s just a fact. And I probably shouldn’t have said that last part, so don’t quote me on that.”

“I get a little excited, as you can tell, about that,” he said.

By John Liang
June 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on an updated defense reconciliation bill, plus lawmakers seeking more details on the Army's major transformation initiative and more.

The defense portion of the "Big Beautiful Bill" has been updated:

Lawmakers release updated defense reconciliation bill with funding changes

House and Senate lawmakers have released an updated version of the defense portion of the GOP's massive budget reconciliation bill, changing funding amounts in several key areas, including cuts to the military's support for border security operations.

Document: House, Senate lawmakers' updated reconciliation bill

Senior Army officials have begun providing details about the service's proposed transformation initiative:

Congress pressing Army for answers on potential OIB downsizing

While details of the Army's sweeping plan to transform are scant, top officials as of late have slowly peeled back the curtain on a broad blueprint to speed and scale the industrial base using private partnerships -- likely at the expense of some depots and arsenals, deemed too slow and outdated to revive its crippled capacity.

The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee this week discussed the SPEED Act, "which fundamentally reforms defense acquisition and streamlines how the Department of Defense equips our warfighters":

Rogers, Smith push SPEED Act to attract Silicon Valley to DOD procurement

A bipartisan House bill to overhaul the Pentagon's requirements process is the first step toward building a Defense Department that can engage with Silicon Valley and accelerate the delivery of new technologies to warfighters, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) said at a Hudson Institute event this week.

Document: SPEED Act

Senior Navy officials testified this week before the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee:

Navy considering overseas ship production

The Navy is considering building warships overseas in foreign shipyards, Navy Secretary John Phelan told lawmakers today during a Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing on the service's budget.

Document: Navy, Marine Corps FY-26 posture statements

The Long Range Discrimination Radar this week successfully acquired, tracked and reported missile target data:

Long Range Discrimination Radar finally tracks ICBM target in do-over of 2023 event

The Missile Defense Agency finally completed a successful flight test of the Long Range Discrimination Radar, a milestone more than two years in the making for a homeland missile defense sensor that had yet to demonstrate its core mission capabilities in flight.

By Dominic Minadeo
June 25, 2025 at 10:50 AM

The Army is investing another $222 million into its Heavy Dumpy Truck as its original contract with contractor Mack Defense is set to wrap up this year, according to a Tuesday announcement.

The HDT, known as the M917A3, is part of the Army’s heavy tactical vehicles portfolio and is based off the commercially available Mack Granite dump truck built by Mack Trucks.

Mack Defense, the Allentown, PA-based defense subsidiary of the company, recently announced it built its 500th model of the 27-ton truck for the service, which also notes that the Army at the time had so far ordered 549 HDTs.

The service initially went into business with Mack Defense in 2018 by entering a $296 million, seven-year, firm-fixed price contract for no more than 683 HDTs.

Inside Defense reported in January that the Army had ordered 103 HDTs under the original contract, which will roll off Mack Defense’s $6.5 million production line that it stood up in 2021.

This latest contract, posted yesterday, will extend work on the HDT until December 2031.