The Insider

Asia Oversight
By Sebastian Sprenger
October 29, 2013 at 7:28 PM

House Armed Services Committee leaders today announced a series of hearings aimed at illuminating military aspects of the Obama administration's pivot to the Asia-Pacific region. Led by Randy Forbes (R-VA), the seapower and projection forces subcommittee chairman, and panel member Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), the series is expected to last through early 2014.

Of the five hearings slated to take place, four will be more or less explicitly about China. Topics are the 2013 annual report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission; the Defense Department's role in the government's orientation toward the Asia-Pacific; responding to China's military space capabilities; maritime disputes in the region; and the People's Liberation Army's “naval and aerospace modernization,” according to a fact sheet handed to reporters at a roll-out event today.

An Oct. 10 hearing about the Pentagon's Air-Sea Battle concept marked the beginning of the hearing series, according to the document.

BMD Breaking Ground
By John Liang
October 29, 2013 at 3:53 PM

U.S. and Romanian officials this week broke ground on an Aegis Ashore missile defense site in Romania.

"Today, we are breaking ground both literally and metaphorically," Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James Miller said Oct. 28 in Deveselu. "The construction that this ceremony will kick off marks the beginning of a new stage in U.S.-Romanian relations and for the NATO Alliance."

Construction of the Aegis Ashore site is part of the Obama administration's proposed European Phased Adaptive Approach meant to stop a potential ballistic missile attack from Iran, with an interceptor site in Romania and an early warning radar site in Poland.

According to Miller's prepared remarks:

When Phase 2 of EPAA is completed here in the 2015 time frame, Europe will be safer, U.S. forces will be better protected, and the NATO Alliance will be stronger. Moreover, our efforts here in Romania serve as a precursor for the Phase 3 site in Poland.

And I look forward to a groundbreaking at the Phase 3 site in the not-so-distant future. Our commitment to EPAA is ironclad and I look forward to seeing the completion of the system in the coming years.

Joint Testing
By John Liang
October 28, 2013 at 8:46 PM

The Pentagon's Joint Test and Evaluation Program is calling on the services and other military agencies to nominate efforts in need of testing, according to a recent memo.

"The Office of the Secretary of Defense-sponsored Joint Test and Evaluation (JT&E) Program is requesting joint test nominations (now a biannual process) for the first cycle of fiscal year 2014," a Sept. 3 memo states, adding: "The JT&E Program Manager requests the Services, Joint Staff, combatant commands (CCMD), and other Department of Defense (DOD) agencies provide candidate nominations to the JT&E Program Office (JPO) for consideration no later than November 29, 2013." Further:

Nominations should contain sufficient detail to convince the Planning Committee and JT&E Program Senior Advisory Council (SAC) members that the proposed joint test will significantly improve joint warfighter operations and capabilities. If a nomination package does not contain the required information or sufficient detail, JPO will return the package to the nominator with specific rationale and guidance. JPO will invite the nominator to submit a revised package for consideration during the ongoing joint test nomination cycle. If the nomination package still does not contain all of the required information, JPO will once again return the package to the nominator with specific rationale and guidance, and invite the nominator to submit a new package for consideration during the next joint test nomination cycle.

A "planning committee" will meet on Jan. 29, 2014, to determine which nominations to forward to the JT&E Program Senior Advisory Council for consideration at its meeting the following month, according to the memo.

Pacific Pivot
By John Liang
October 25, 2013 at 8:40 PM

House lawmakers plan to take a long, hard look at the Obama administration's strategic pivot toward the Asia-Pacific region.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), along with seapower and projection forces subcommittee Chairman Randy Forbes (R-VA), readiness subcommittee Chairman Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Ranking Member Madeline Bordallo (D-GU), and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) will host a media roundtable on Oct. 29 to preview the panel's upcoming oversight work with regard to the Asia-Pacific pivot.

"The members are expected to preview a series of hearings and other committee engagements focused on the administration's 'pivot to the Pacific' policy," according to a committee statement issued this afternoon.

CRS On Ships
By John Liang
October 24, 2013 at 7:44 PM

The Congressional Research Service recently issued a report on the Navy's shipbuilding plans.

The Oct. 18 report -- prepared by CRS naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke and published by Secrecy News -- discusses "issues for Congress in reviewing the Navy's proposed FY2014 shipbuilding budget, its proposed FY2014-FY2018 five-year shipbuilding plan, and its FY2014 30-year (FY2014-FY2043) shipbuilding plan." Specifically:

Proposed issues for Congress in reviewing the Navy’s proposed FY2014 shipbuilding budget, its proposed FY2014-FY2018 five-year shipbuilding plan, and its FY2014 30-year (FY2014-FY2043) shipbuilding plan include the following:

* the impact on Navy shipbuilding programs of the March 1, 2013, sequester on FY2013 funding and unobligated prior-year funding;

* the potential impact on Navy shipbuilding programs of a possible sequester later this year or early next year on FY2014 funding and unobligated prior-year funding;

* the potential impact on the size of the Navy of reducing DOD spending (through sequestration or regular appropriations activity) in FY2013-FY2021 to levels at or near the lower caps established in the Budget Control Act of 2011;

* the future size and structure of the Navy in light of strategic and budgetary changes;

* the sufficiency of the 30-year shipbuilding plan for achieving the Navy's goal for a 306-ship fleet; and

* the affordability of the 30-year shipbuilding plan.

O'Rourke also testified this week before the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee on the Navy's 30-year shipbuilding plan.

"Major points of discussion about the 30-year plan, particularly the affordability challenge it poses, are now so well established, and repeated so often, that discussion of the plan is now at some risk of becoming stale and unproductive," O'Rourke said in his prepared testimony. "Accordingly, the remainder of this statement is intended to offer some potential new perspectives on the plan, so as to refresh the discussion and make it potentially more valuable to Congress as its carries out its oversight of Navy shipbuilding programs and the Navy's budget in general."

Space Fence Delay
By Courtney Albon
October 23, 2013 at 8:59 PM

The decision to delay a Pentagon-level acquisition decision for Space Fence will cost the Air Force about $70 million, according to the service's acquisition executive.

In prepared testimony presented this afternoon to the House Armed Services Committee, Bill LaPlante said holding off on an acquisition decision on Space Fence because of spending cuts, has added tens of millions of dollars to the program's cost. The delay stalls a contract award that LaPlante says could have been issued in June to no sooner than next spring -- if at all -- and pushes the space situational awareness system's initial operational capability from 2017 to 2018.

The upgraded Space Fence is poised to provide the service with a much more precise space object tracking capability and is to replace a decades-old system that the service shut down in September. LaPlante said investment in systems like Space Fence is crucial.

"Modernization is not optional; it is required to execute core missions against future high-end threats," LaPlante said. "In short, we cannot afford to mortgage the future of our Air Force and the defense of our nation."

Cyber Center
By Ellen Mitchell
October 22, 2013 at 2:54 PM

The Army's top cyber official said yesterday that the service will have to partner with industry to solve many of its cybersecurity problems.

Lt. General Edward Cardon told reporters at the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting that Army cybersecurity efforts cannot take seven to 10 years like standard acquisition programs. He advocated more partnerships with industry to better prepare the service for new threats.

"We didn't build with cybersecurity in mind before and I think there's growing realization that those problems are not going to be solved by the U.S. government," Cardon said. "It's got to be involved with partnership with industry that takes security more into account."

An Army cyber field manual is "in the works," he noted, and Army Secretary John McHugh is "very close" to making a decision on the establishment of an Army cyber center of excellence. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno approved the center -- where all service cyber personnel would receive training -- in July. The center would likely be based at Fort Gordon, GA.

Cardon also said the three-week government shutdown has hurt the Army's cybersecurity efforts because the service was forced to halt some training."Cyber is highly characterized by competence," he said. "The challenge with cyber is it's uncertain . . . we need every drop and readiness we can out of every dollar. Every day you have to think that you're a little bit vulnerable. If you don't think that you're vulnerable, you're probably not going to have a good day."

Cybersecurity has become a hot button issue for the U.S. government in the past year, with several reports of rampant computer espionage and theft of commercial and government data coming to light. In May, a confidential Defense Science Board report revealed that more than two dozen U.S. weapon systems had been compromised by Chinese hackers.

Lawmakers and military leaders alike are working to combat the problem. In June, the House Armed Services Committee passed its version of the fiscal year 2014 defense authorization bill, which contained language on cyber operations, including a requirement that the Defense Department "conduct a mission analysis for cyber operations and examine the proper balance of cyber capabilities across national security organizations as well as a report on coordination of cyber and electronic warfare activities."

MEADS Radar Test
By John Liang
October 21, 2013 at 7:41 PM

In preparation for a dual-intercept test next month, a Medium Extended Air Defense System Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR) early this summer successfully acquired and tracked a Lance tactical ballistic missile at White Sands Missile Range, NM.

The event was the first attempt by a MEADS radar to track a live TBM, according to a Lockheed Martin statement.

"The pre-test series for the November dual intercept continues," a Lockheed spokeswoman told InsideDefense.com today.

The X-band MFCR detected the Lance missile soon after launch and maintained a "Dedicated Track Mode" until shortly before the target hit the ground. "This test characterized MFCR performance against a TBM-class target, and demonstrated the radar's 360-degree rotating mode capability," according to Lockheed.

"No other transportable air and missile defense radar provides the MEADS combination of 360-degree coverage, superior range and positioning flexibility," MEADS International President Dave Berganini said in the statement. "“We are looking forward to showing the capability that MEADS radars and launchers can add as part of an integrated air and missile defense network."

Next month's test will feature MEADS intercepting a tactical ballistic missile as well as air-breathing targets "attacking at more than 120 degrees to demonstrate capabilities not provided by sectored defenses," according to the statement.

MEADS International Executive Vice President Volker Weidemann said: "In the past few months, MEADS has successfully demonstrated radar cueing, interoperability with networked NATO systems, certification of the Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe system, and acquisition and tracking of a TBM during the system’s first attempt."

Inside the Army reported last month that Lockheed has been pushing behind the scenes for continued review of the Army's missile defense modernization plan in order to ensure that the technology harvested from MEADS is seriously considered for incorporation into the service's future missile defense architecture:

"We are working hard in the background trying to make sure there is the least amount of parochialness," Mike Trotsky, Lockheed's vice president for air and missile defense, told Inside the Army following a Sept. 10 media briefing in Washington. "Because if you are in the Patriot program office or you are in program XYZ, you are going to promote things from your program office."

MEADS was intended to replace the Patriot missile defense system, but the Pentagon said in 2011 that it would not buy the system. Yet, as part of a tri-national agreement between Italy, Germany and the United States, the program was allowed to continue through an $800 million two-year proof-of-concept phase. By completing the phase, the three countries will be allowed to harvest the technology developed under the program, but how each country plans to use the technology in the future is not fully mapped out, no more so than the United States.

While Germany and Italy plan to engage in follow-on programs to continue developing the MEADS system, the United States has said it plans to harvest certain technologies developed through the program and incorporate them into future systems, but details on how and when are vague.

Trotsky said Lockheed is asking for a "non-advocate review" outside of the current Army program offices, conducted by an organization like the RAND Corp. or the Institute for Defense Analyses, in order to get an independent analysis for the government on what is needed to modernize the service's missile defense architecture. "We are asking, 'Will those [within a program office] be taking a look at this and giving you an unbiased view on what the best alternatives are for the money you are going to spend for the next 30 years,'" he said.

CBO On Ships
By Christopher J. Castelli
October 18, 2013 at 8:43 PM

The Congressional Budget Office released a report today on the Navy's fiscal year 2014 shipbuilding plan.

The report includes CBO's first cost estimate for the CVN-79 aircraft carrier. "The Navy estimates that the ship will cost $10.2 billion in 2013 dollars, or $11.3 billion in nominal dollars," CBO states, adding:

In its new Selected Acquisition Report on the CVN-79, the Navy describes its cost estimate as an "aggressive but achievable target." In contrast, CBO estimates that the cost of the ship will be $11.3 billion in 2013 dollars, or about 10 percent more than the Navy’s estimate, and $12.0 billion in nominal dollars.

Sales Resumed
By John Liang
October 17, 2013 at 5:25 PM

Now that the shutdown is over, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency can go back to facilitating sales of U.S. weapon systems to foreign countries.

DSCA today, in fact, issued a slew of foreign military sales announcements totaling more than $12 billion:

DSCA Statement On Proposed Munitions Sale To UAE

On Oct. 15, 2013, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced it had notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to the United Arab Emirates of various munitions and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $4 billion.

DSCA Statement On Proposed Military Support Sale To Saudi Arabia

On Oct. 15, 2013, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced it had notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia of support services for an estimated cost of $90 million.

DSCA Statement On Proposed Munitions Sale To Saudi Arabia

On Oct. 15, 2013, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced it had notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia of various munitions and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $6.8 billion.

DSCA Statement On Proposed AWACS Upgrade Sale To Japan

On Sept. 26, 2013, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced it had notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to Japan of an E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Mission Computing Upgrade (MCU) and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $950 million.

DSCA Statement On Proposed Sidewinder Missile Sale To Belgium

On Sept. 26, 2013, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced it had notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to Belgium of AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $68 million.

DSCA Statement On Proposed F-5 Avionics Upgrade Sale To Tunisia

On Sept. 19, 2013, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced it had notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to Tunisia of F-5 avionics upgrades and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $60 million.

Gun Rights
By John Liang
October 16, 2013 at 6:48 PM

Fifty senators have written President Obama in opposition to a United Nations small-arms trade treaty he recently signed, citing their concern that the pact could negatively affect U.S. citizens' Second-Amendment rights, among other faults.

"We urge you to notify the treaty depository that the U.S. does not intend to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty, and is therefore not bound by its obligations," the Oct. 15 letter states.

According to a statement from Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), the letter cites six reasons why the Senate will not ratify the treaty:

1. The treaty failed to achieve consensus, and was adopted by majority vote in the U.N. General Assembly. This violates the red line drawn by the Obama Administration;

2. The treaty allows amendments by a three-quarters majority vote, circumventing the power and duty of the U.S. Senate to provide its advice and consent on treaty commitments before they are assumed by the United States;

3. The treaty includes only a weak non-binding reference to the lawful ownership, use of, and trade in firearms, and recognizes none of these activities, much less individual self-defense, as fundamental individual rights. This poses a threat to the Second Amendment;

4. The State Department has acknowledged that the treaty is “ambiguous.” By becoming party to the treaty, the U.S. would therefore be accepting commitments that are inherently unclear;

5. The criteria at the heart of the treaty are vague and easily politicized. They violate the right of the American people, under the Constitution, to freely govern themselves. The language restricts the ability of the United States to conduct its own foreign policy and allows foreign sources of authority to impose judgment or control upon the United States; and

6.The State Department has acknowledged that the treaty includes language that could hinder the United States from fulfilling its strategic, legal and moral commitments to provide arms to key allies such as the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the State of Israel.

Money Matters
By Christopher J. Castelli
October 15, 2013 at 4:16 PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) took to the Senate floor today to rebuff the White House's swift dismissal of a new House GOP plan that insists on some revisions to the Affordable Care Act as a condition for ending the government shutdown and raising the debt limit. "Let's stop the condemnation," said McCain, who said the House and the Senate should pass their respective plans and go to conference in the next 24 hours. McCain called the House GOP's proposal a "good-faith effort."

The White House issued a statement this morning criticizing House Republicans' latest plan. “The president has said repeatedly that members of Congress don’t get to demand ransom for fulfilling their basic responsibilities to pass a budget and pay the nation’s bills," said White House Spokeswoman Amy Brundage. The White House also praised a bipartisan Senate effort to end the shutdown and raise the debt limit.

"Unfortunately, the latest proposal from House Republicans does just that in a partisan attempt to appease a small group of Tea Party Republicans who forced the government shutdown in the first place," Brundage said. "Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have been working in a bipartisan, good-faith effort to end the manufactured crises that have already harmed American families and business owners. With only a couple days remaining until the United States exhausts its borrowing authority, it’s time for the House to do the same.”

McCain also said he agrees with many Americans that Republicans had pursued a "fool's errand" by attempting to defund the healthcare law.

Earlier today at a press conference, a reporter asked House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) whether the "arguably pretty minor" changes to the healthcare law proposed in the latest House GOP plan were they worth a two-week government shutdown.

"Listen, we're working with our members on a way forward, and to make sure that we provide fairness to the American people," Boehner replied. He reiterated his desire to avoid defaulting on the debt. "We are talking with our members on both sides of the aisle to try to find a way to move forward today."

Kill Vehicle Tech
By John Liang
October 15, 2013 at 4:11 PM

The Missile Defense Agency announced last week that it intends to award contracts to Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Raytheon Missile Systems and Boeing to continue working on an initiative to work on kill vehicle technologies for the Ground Based Interceptor.

"These three companies have been the prime contractors for the [concept definition and program planning] contracts," an Oct. 10 Federal Business Opportunities notice states. "The contract modification will increase the scope of the CDPP contract to include technology and concepts for kill vehicles (KVs) and component or subsystem technology applicability to the Ground Based Interceptor (GBI)."

Based on responses to a request for information, the agency "determined this expertise cannot be obtained by any other contractor. The anticipated period of performance for this contract action is approximately November 2013 through April 2014," according to the notice.

The announcement does not include a dollar amount.

Relieved of Duty
By Gabe Starosta
October 11, 2013 at 4:04 PM

Maj. Gen. Michael Carey, the commander of 20th Air Force, is being fired due to a "loss of trust and confidence" in his command, according to the Air Force. The Associated Press first reported the decision this morning. Carey oversees the three wings that operate the Air Force's Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles in Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota.

According to the AP, the decision to relieve Carey of his 20th Air Force duties was made by Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, the outgoing chief of Air Force Global Strike Command. The organization Carey led is one of the two numbered Air Forces that report to Global Strike Command.

The Air Force's missile wings have come under criticism several times in the last year, most notably in the spring, when more than a dozen airmen were stripped of their ICBM operations duties at Minot Air Force Base, ND, after a poor inspection.

"20th AF continues to execute its mission of around-the-clock nuclear deterrence in a safe, secure and effective manner," Kowalski said in an Air Force statement. "It's unfortunate that I've had to relieve an officer who's had an otherwise distinctive career spanning 35 years of commendable service."

Air Force Global Strike Command's vice chief, Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein, has been named the interim 20th AF commander. According to the statement, Carey's dismissal is based on information from an inspector general report related to Carey's behavior during a temporary assignment; the firing is unrelated to the operational readiness of any 20th Air Force unit and does not involve sexual misconduct.

Carey's has commanded 20th Air Force since the summer of 2012. He previously served in a pair of Joint Staff positions dealing with global nuclear operations and nuclear command and control, and he commanded the ICBM wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, WY, from 2005 to 2007.

Ash Carter Out
By Christopher J. Castelli
October 10, 2013 at 7:41 PM

The Pentagon has announced Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will step down on Dec. 4. Below is a statement by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel:

Earlier today, I met with Ash Carter and reluctantly accepted his decision to step down as Deputy Secretary of Defense on December 4th, after more than four and a half years of continuous service to the Department of Defense.

Ash has been an extraordinarily loyal and effective Deputy Secretary, both for me and Secretary Panetta. In his previous capacity as Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, he provided outstanding support to Secretary Gates and - most importantly - to our men and women fighting downrange. He possesses an unparalleled knowledge of every facet of America's defense enterprise, having worked directly and indirectly for eleven Secretaries of Defense over the course of his storied career.

I will always be grateful that Ash was willing to stay on and serve as my Deputy Secretary. I have continually relied upon Ash to help solve the toughest challenges facing the Department of Defense. I particularly appreciate his work spearheading the Strategic Choices and Management Review, which put the Department in a far stronger position to manage through unprecedented budget uncertainty. He is a brilliant strategist and an excellent manager who helped enhance the Department's buying power, but Ash's most recent tour of the Department will be especially remembered for his tremendous efforts to provide more agile and effective support for our warfighters and their families. His compassion, love, and determination to overcome any and all bureaucratic obstacles earned him their abiding respect and appreciation.

I am confident that the Department, and the country, will continue to benefit from Ash Carter's service in the months and years ahead. I am thankful that Ash will continue to be at my side for the next two months, helping the Department of Defense manage through a very disruptive and difficult time, and ensuring a smooth transition within the office of the Deputy Secretary. The Department will miss him - I will miss him.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little issued a follow-up statement on Carter's upcoming departure:

"The decision to depart the Pentagon later this year was Deputy Secretary Carter's and his alone. He'll be missed by the Secretary. They've had a strong and effective working relationship and friendship that will continue for the next two months and beyond. There's a lot of work to do between now and December 4.

"At the senior Pentagon leadership staff meeting where the announcement was made, Deputy Secretary Carter received a standing ovation from Secretary Hagel and the rest of the leadership team."