The Insider

By Tony Bertuca
February 14, 2023 at 10:53 AM

Billions of dollars in donated weapons, including armored combat vehicles and long-range artillery, are making their way to Ukraine in time for a possible "spring offensive" against Russian military positions, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Austin, speaking alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley at a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group in Brussels today, said Ukraine is looking to establish “momentum” against newly deployed Russian forces that are taking heavy casualties.

“We expect to see them conduct an offensive sometime in the spring,” he said. “Because of that we, all the partners in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, have been working hard to ensure that they have the armored capability, the fires, the sustainment, to be able to be effective. We believe that there will be a window of opportunity for them to exercise initiative.”

Austin, who noted that spring is “just weeks away,” highlighted the billions of dollars in donated Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Strykers, M113s, CV-190s, Marders and long-range artillery and munitions.

“We have a lot to get done,” he said. “It’s a monumental task to bring all those systems together, get troops trained on those platforms.”

The United States has committed $29.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Milley said the conflict remains a slow and grinding “war of attrition.”

“Russia has lost,” he said, but noted that Moscow still has the edge when it comes to sheer numbers, particularly from conscription.

The group of nations bolstering Ukraine, Milley said, remains “focused on delivering the capabilities committed and efficiently providing the training, the spare parts, the sustainment, logistics necessary for the full deployment” of the weapons being provided.

By Audrey Decker
February 14, 2023 at 9:32 AM

Pentagon research and engineering chief Heidi Shyu has established a Defense Science Board task force to study the weapon system concepts that will allow the U.S. to regain operational dominance and prevail with minimal cost if deterrence fails against an adversary.

Over the last decade, several countries have made investments to raise the cost of U.S. intervention, as in loss of life or loss of important assets, to “unacceptable levels,” according to a Jan. 31 memo that was publicly released on Feb. 13.

“The DSB, working through the Task Force, should identify effective weapon system concepts and operational concepts to rebalance intervention cost and benefit in order to regain the operational dominance that the United States Armed Forces achieved for the past 25 years,” Shyu writes.

Coined “the Task Force on Strategic Options,” the group’s main objective is to learn what will deter conflict, and if deterrence fails, what platforms or strategies will help the U.S. win with the lowest number of causalities, according to the memo.

“Areas of consideration may include advanced undersea assets and operational concepts, new uses of space assets, development of new countermeasures for electronic warfare, employment of cyber weapons and other areas the Task Force deems appropriate,” Shyu writes.

Within 30 days of the appointment of task force members, the study period will begin and not exceed 12 months in total, the memo states.

The task force will report its findings and recommendations back to Shyu.

By John Liang
February 13, 2023 at 2:05 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the ramifications of China flying a balloon over the continental United States, the fighting in Ukraine and more.

The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee this week held a hearing on the incursion of a Chinese balloon that flew over U.S. airspace and was subsequently shot down off the East Coast:

Senators want FY-24 DOD budget proposal on counter-balloon capability

Key lawmakers have directed the Pentagon to prepare a fiscal year 2024 proposal that ensures the U.S. military has a counter-high-altitude surveillance balloon capability in response to the Chinese airship that flew across the United States before being shot down over the Atlantic Ocean.

Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander recently spoke at an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security:

DOD official says effort to bolster Ukrainian air power could come when fighting de-escalates

A senior defense official today said it is the Pentagon's view that the opportunity to boost Ukraine's air power could come once fighting in the country has de-escalated -- possibly through a negotiated settlement with Russia -- despite Kyiv's calls for combat aircraft now.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have coverage of a recent House Armed Services cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee hearing:

Rep. Gallagher identifies joint collaborative environment, 'SICI' legislation as top Solarium priorities

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), chairman of the House Armed Services cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee, is planning to push for legislation to create a joint collaborative environment within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and address "systemically important critical infrastructure," in an effort to get two high-priority recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission into law.

The Army late last week awarded a multibillion-dollar contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program:

Army awards $8B JLTV follow-on production contract to AM General

The Army has awarded a follow-on production contract to AM General for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle worth more than $8 billion, the service announced on Thursday. The incumbent manufacturer of the JLTV, Oshkosh Defense, says it is pursuing a debriefing from the government in the very near future.

A senior official in the Pentagon's chief digital and artificial intelligence office talked this week about a study the office is conducting on responsible AI tools and producing toolkits that include data and model cards:

Pentagon's digital and AI outfit focusing on rolling out 'toolkits' in near term

The Defense Department's chief digital and artificial intelligence office is working to "operationalize" the guidance surrounding AI usage and deliver tools for the department to realize its AI efforts, according to a top CDAO official.

By Tony Bertuca
February 13, 2023 at 5:00 AM

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several public events this week in Washington.

Monday

The Brookings Institution hosts a discussion with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown.

The Center for a New American Security hosts a discussion with the commander of U.S. Air Forces Central on the role of the service in the Middle East.

Tuesday

The Atlantic Council hosts a discussion on what Ukraine needs to win its fight against Russia.

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on global security challenges.

Thursday

The Heritage Foundations hosts a discussion with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) on China and Ukraine.

By Tony Bertuca
February 10, 2023 at 4:18 PM

The United States has shot down an unmanned, airborne “object” flying at 40,000 feet off the coast of Alaska after it was detected by the military because President Biden deemed it a threat to civilian aircraft, according to the Pentagon.

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the Pentagon does not know at this time where the object came from, but characterized it as being about the size of a small car and far smaller than the Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon that the United States shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday.

Ryder said Northern Aerospace Defense Command detected the balloon late Thursday and Biden gave the order to take it down Friday afternoon because it “posed a reasonable threat to civilian air traffic.”

The object was traveling at 40,000 feet, Ryder said, while the high-altitude surveillance balloon was traveling at 60,000 to 65,000 feet.

The object was brought down by an AIM-9X “Sidewinder” missile fired by an F-22 fighter flying out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The recovery effort involves HC-130, HH-60 and CH-47 aircraft.

Lawmakers criticized the Pentagon and White House this week for not acting sooner to shoot down the balloon.

John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the U.S. pilots observing the object in flight said it did not appear to have “maneuverable capability” and was “virtually at the whim of the wind.”

"This thing did not appear to be self-maneuvering so therefore at the mercy of prevailing winds, it was much less predictable,” he said. “The president just wasn't willing to take that risk.”

Debris from the downed object landed off northeastern Alaska on frozen waters, which Kirby said could make it easier to recover.

Kirby said the White House has not “ruled anything in or out” in terms of the object’s origin or its purpose.

By John Liang
February 10, 2023 at 1:59 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program, artificial intelligence, special operations forces and more.

We start off with the awarding of a multibillion-dollar Army contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program:

Army awards $8B JLTV follow-on production contract to AM General

The Army has awarded a follow-on production contract to AM General for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle worth more than $8 billion, the service announced on Thursday. The incumbent manufacturer of the JLTV, Oshkosh Defense, says it is pursuing a debriefing from the government in the very near future.

A senior official in the Pentagon's chief digital and artificial intelligence office talked this week about a study the office is conducting on responsible AI tools and producing toolkits that include data and model cards:

Pentagon's digital and AI outfit focusing on rolling out 'toolkits' in near term

The Defense Department's chief digital and artificial intelligence office is working to "operationalize" the guidance surrounding AI usage and deliver tools for the department to realize its AI efforts, according to a top CDAO official.

The House Armed Services intelligence and special operations subcommittee held a hearing this week on "The Role of Special Operations Forces in Great Power Competition":

House Armed Services panel hears testimony on special ops in 'great power competition'

Special operations forces should take on a more targeted and supportive role in an evolving era of great power competition, two analysts told House lawmakers on Wednesday.

Document: House hearing on SOF

Additionally, the House Armed Services cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee held a hearing on "The Future of War: Is the Pentagon Prepared to Deter and Defeat America’s Adversaries?":

Gallagher floats idea for 'thunderdome' approach to OTAs

Amidst concerns over the Defense Department's ability to scale commercial innovation, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), a new subcommittee chairman, said lawmakers should consider enacting policy to keep the military services accountable while using other transaction authority contracting vehicles.

Document: House hearing on the future of war

Keep an eye out in the coming months for a full-rate production decision for the HH-60W Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter:

HH-60W FRP decision imminent, Air Force says

A full-rate production decision for the HH-60W Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter is expected within the next two months, an Air Force spokeswoman confirmed to Inside Defense.

Senior HII executives presented their company's quarterly earnings this week:

HII forecasts stability in delivery schedules, maintains focus on hiring

Shipbuilder and defense technology company HII recorded a consistent fourth quarter performance, meeting all of its shipbuilding milestones and forecasting growing stability in its future delivery schedules, company officials said today during the company's quarterly earnings call.

By Nick Wilson
February 10, 2023 at 12:39 PM

The Marine Corps will host an industry day showcasing a Marine Littoral Regiment training exercise and signaling training modernization needs to industry, according to a service announcement.

The event will center on Project Tripoli -- a Marine Corps initiative to couple live and virtual training by 2025 -- and reveal efforts to build combat readiness in a period where technologies like expeditionary long-range precision fires, loitering munitions, organic precision fires, unmanned systems and electronic warfare capabilities are becoming increasingly prolific.

“Project Tripoli will serve as the cornerstone of how the Marine Corps builds combat readiness during this critical time of transformation,” the release states, adding the initiative addresses “all aspects of the people, processes and systems required to develop, implement and sustain a" Live, Virtual and Constructive-Training Environment.

The service is prioritizing training capability modernization as one of its top three investments in support of Force Design 2030, the release continues. The primary objective of this investment is improving combat readiness throughout the service in addition to experimenting with emerging technologies.

“Project Tripoli and the LVC-TE it creates will provide the means to conduct fully integrated training at all echelons, in all-domains, connected across disparate locations. In its fully mature state, the LVC-TE will create the system interoperability we need to fully integrate with joint and international LVC capabilities,” the release continues.

The announcement explains that the service wants industry to observe a Marine Littoral Regiment training exercise to prepare to respond to a series of future solicitations expected over the next two years, once requirements are finalized. The industry day will take place on Feb. 16.

The Marine Corps has signaled its intent to establish at least three MLRs, designed to act as stand-in forces in the Pacific making the service more agile, lethal and versatile in preparation for a potential conflict with China.

In January, the Defense Department announced the Okinawa-based 12th Marine Regiment will be reorganized into the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment by 2025. Last February, the Marine Corps created its first MLR when it established the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment in Hawaii.

By Dan Schere
February 10, 2023 at 11:43 AM

The Army intends to procure a Joint Fires Expeditionary Classroom system for the Philippines and provide new equipment training, according to a government notice posted Thursday.

The notice comes a week after the United States announced an agreement with the Philippines that will give the U.S. military access to four additional sites.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Feb. 2 that they planned to “accelerate the full implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement” by designating four additional locations in the country in which U.S. forces would be allowed to be present.

Under the EDCA, U.S. forces may rotate troops into five bases: Cesar Basa Air Base, Ft. Magsaysay Military Reservation, Lumbia Airfield, Antonio Bautista Air Base and Mactan- Benito Ebuen Air Base. The four additional agreed-on locations were not disclosed last week.

Austin said on Feb. 2 that helping modernize Philippine military capabilities will be particularly important as China “continues to advance its illegitimate claims in the West Philippine Sea,” and for addressing “destabilizing activities” in the waters surrounding the country.

He added that “we remain committed to strengthening our mutual capacities to resist armed attack.”

The contract notice posted Thursday states the Army intends to award a firm-fixed-price contract for the commercial off-the-shelf version of JFEC, hardware, warranty and new equipment training for the Philippines.

JFEC, made by Fidelity Technologies Corp., gives forward-deployed units with a Joint Fires training system that has the same capabilities as a “fully immersive dome system,” according to the company. It is designed to protect against extreme temperatures.

According to the Army, the new equipment training will include five days of in-person instruction for six students, which will be conducted in English.

Fidelity is the intended contractor, according to the notice, and the contract is expected to be awarded in the third quarter of fiscal year 2023. The response date for the notice is Feb. 24.

By Michael Marrow
February 10, 2023 at 10:35 AM

Officials at U.S. Transportation Command will host industry day presentations on March 1-3 to gain insight into capabilities that can use rockets to move cargo across the globe.

The Feb. 7 TRANSCOM industry day notice states officials are interested in learning more about the “wide spectrum of emerging commercial space systems” that can rapidly deliver cargo to far-flung areas, building off current efforts to advance rocket-powered cargo initiatives.

TRANSCOM has been studying the topic for years through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with several commercial space companies. First signed with SpaceX in 2020, the CRADAs were also launched with five other partners: XArc, Blue Origin, Sierra Space Corporation, Virgin Orbit and Rocket Lab.

The notice states TRANSCOM does not have the capacity to issue any more CRADAs, adding that companies with an active agreement do not need to respond.

Rocket cargo capabilities are also being studied through the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Vanguard effort to field futuristic technologies. AFRL has struck several agreements with companies including SpaceX -- which was awarded a $102 million contract in January 2022 -- to study different aspects of moving cargo with rockets. The industry day notice states companies participating in these efforts similarly do not need to respond.

Companies interested in attending the industry day are asked to prepare details on topics like timelines for commercial availability, estimates of future launch costs and infrastructure needed to execute operations.

The notice states no information above Controlled Unclassified Information may be discussed and that vendors who want to participate in the industry day must respond by Feb. 22. The 12 slots for presentations will be available first-come, first-served, the notice adds.

By John Liang
February 9, 2023 at 1:44 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the protest status of the Army's Future Long Range-Assault Aircraft contract award, the House Armed Services Committee holding a hearing on the defense industrial base and more.

An additional protest has been filed against the Army's next-generation helicopter contract award:

New 'supplemental' protest filed by Sikorsky in FLRAA bid case

Sikorsky filed a new "supplemental" protest earlier this week for the Future Long Range-Assault Aircraft award.

The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the defense industrial base this week. Here's our coverage:

House lawmakers drill down on defense industrial base challenges

The House Armed Services Committee met today with the leaders of three key business associations about the challenges facing the U.S. defense industrial base concerning the increased demand for weapon systems needed to equip Ukraine and possibly Taiwan, along with replenishing U.S. stocks.

Industry asks lawmakers for stability in shipbuilding plan

The Navy's shipbuilding plans provide a "moving target" that is undercutting industry efforts to make necessary investments in personnel and facilities, and is resulting in slow production and maintenance, according to a spokesman for shipbuilders and their suppliers.

Accelerating hypersonic projects top priority for key House panel in FY-24 budget

Accelerating U.S. military hypersonic weapon projects -- both offensive and defensive -- will be the top priority of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee while marking up the fiscal year 2024 policy bill, according to the panel's new chairman.

AIA urges House authorizers to lower costs for DOD cyber certification program compliance

The Aerospace Industries Association raised concerns with the House Armed Services Committee over the cost of compliance with the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program at a Wednesday hearing focused on strengthening the defense industrial base.

Army Gen. James Rainey spoke during an event hosted by the Association of the United States Army this week:

Army Futures Command leader says making 'heavy stuff' lighter without giving up lethality will be key in Ukraine

The head of Army Futures Command says nearly one year into Ukraine’s war with Russia, he thinks there is a need for the Army to increase lethality, but modernize by making lighter materials.

U.S. and Danish defense officials have signed an agreement:

DOD signs new supply chain agreement with Denmark

The Defense Department has signed a "security of supply arrangement" with Denmark, the Pentagon announced.

By Tony Bertuca
February 9, 2023 at 1:38 PM

The Senate Armed Services Committee voted again today to advance the nominations of key Pentagon acquisition nominees who have been in limbo for months due to partisan blocking.

The committee voted to favorably report to the full Senate the nominations of Radha Plumb to be deputy under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment and Laura Taylor-Kale to be assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy.

Plumb was first nominated in June 2022, while Taylor-Kale was tapped in May 2022. Both nominations had to be resubmitted by the White House because Congress failed to confirm them last year.

The administration has resubmitted seven Pentagon nominations in total.

By John Liang
February 8, 2023 at 1:45 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from lawmakers who attended last night's State of the Union address, the Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail program, middle-tier acquisition authorities as well as the possibility of arming Navy warships with Army guided-missile interceptors.

Inside Defense was on Capitol Hill during the president's State of the Union speech last night:

Lawmakers emphasize replenishment of weapons supply, investment in Indo Pacific in upcoming FY-24 budget

With about a month to go before President Biden submits his fiscal year 2024 budget proposal, some lawmakers are emphasizing modernization, investment in the Indo-Pacific region and the need to bulk up on industrial capacity.

The Air Force is expecting a contract award during this fiscal year for the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft program:

Air Force stands up E-7 Wedgetail program office

The Air Force stood up its program office for the E-7 Wedgetail platform, which will replace the decaying E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System, spokeswoman Maj. Alli Stormer confirmed to Inside Defense.

A new Government Accountability Office report finds that "certain MTA programs that we reviewed don't fully incorporate four key principles of product development, such as dropping less urgent requirements to stay on schedule. Following these principles could help programs develop and deliver weapon systems more quickly":

GAO finds several barriers to oversight of DOD's accelerated acquisition pathways

Amidst lawmakers' push to add further guardrails to accelerated middle-tier acquisition authorities, analysis from a government watchdog found multiple roadblocks that prevent the Defense Department from implementing its approach to rapidly prototyping and fielding new weapons.

Document: GAO report on middle-tier acquisitions

Lockheed Martin, maker of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement and the Mark-41 Vertical Launch System, is independently funding a project to integrate the Army guided missile with the Navy's Aegis combat system:

DOD exploring potential to arm Navy warships with Army guided-missile interceptors

The Defense Department is exploring the possibility of packing Navy ships with Army missiles after a hardware demonstration last year in Hawaii proved the feasibility of integrating the most advanced Patriot interceptor, the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement, with the Aegis weapon system.

Gen. Anthony Cotton, the head of STRATCOM, has told lawmakers that, as of October 2022, the "number of land-based fixed and mobile ICBM launchers in China exceeds the ICBM launchers in the United States":

Chinese nuclear ICBM launchers now outnumber U.S. totals

The chief of U.S. Strategic Command has informed Congress that China has now surpassed the United States in its number of intercontinental ballistic missile launchers, though America still has the edge regarding the total number of ICBMs and nuclear warheads, according to a memo sent to senior lawmakers.

Document: STRATCOM chief's letter to Congress on Chinese ICBMs

By Tony Bertuca
February 7, 2023 at 4:59 PM

The Chinese government declined Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's request to speak by phone with his military counterpart in China, according to the Pentagon.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon chief spokesman, said Austin requested on Saturday to speak with Chinese Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe immediately following the U.S. action to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina.

“Unfortunately, the [People’s Republic of China] has declined our request,” Ryder said, adding that the U.S. commitment to “open lines of communication will continue.”

“We believe in the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and the PRC in order to responsibly manage the relationship,” Ryder said. “Lines between our militaries are particularly important in moments like this.”

China has said the balloon was a “civilian airship” that was blown off-course and castigated the United States for shooting it down.

The incident, which caused Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to cancel a planned diplomatic trip to China, has led to renewed tension between the countries and calls for action on Capitol Hill.

Meanwhile, Beijing has said the debris from the downed surveillance balloon “belongs to China” and should be returned.

By Tony Bertuca
February 7, 2023 at 4:47 PM

The Senate Armed Services Committee today finalized its subcommittee rosters, including the chairs and ranking members.

Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) released a joint statement pledging the lawmakers will work together in “providing for the common defense.”

“Among the committee’s 25 members and seven subcommittees, we share a proud tradition of working together to provide our servicemembers, their families and defense civilians with the resources they need to defend our nation,” the senators said. “We are pleased to welcome several new subcommittee Chairs and Ranking Members, and we look forward to a highly productive session.”

The airland subcommittee will be chaired by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), while Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) will serve as ranking member. The subcommittee will include: Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Gary Peters (D-MI), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Rick Scott (R-FL) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).

The cybersecurity subcommittee will be chaired by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), while Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) will serve as ranking member. The subcommittee includes: Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ted Budd (R-NC) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO).

The emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee will be chaired by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), while Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) will serve as ranking member. The subcommittee will include: Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Ted Budd (R-NC) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO).

The personnel subcommittee will be chaired by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), while Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) will serve as ranking member. The subcommittee will include: Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Ted Budd (R-NC).

The readiness and management support subcommittee will be chaired by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), while Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) will serve as ranking member. The subcommittee will include: Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).

The seapower subcommittee will be chaired by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), while Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) will serve as ranking member. The subcommittee will include: Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO).

The strategic forces subcommittee will be chaired by Sen. Angus King (I-ME), while Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) will serve as ranking member. The subcommittee will include: Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

By Tony Bertuca
February 7, 2023 at 3:41 PM

The State Department has approved a possible $10 billion foreign military sale of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to Poland, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice.

The potential sale would cover 18 HIMARS systems and their associated equipment and munitions. The system has proved decisive against the Russian military in Ukraine and has been included in several U.S. military aid packages to Kyiv.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” DSCA said.

“The proposed sale will improve Poland’s military goals of updating capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies. Poland intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats. Poland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”

Lockheed Martin would be the principal contractor.

“There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale,” DSCA said.