Acquisition
USS McCain, US Navy
Machine Failing: How Systems Acquisition and Software Development Flaws Contribute to Military Accidents
Jeffrey Ding, Texas National Security Review
Military accidents are often attributed to human error or complex systems, but a closer look at the software development lifecycle reveals that many issues stem from the initial phases of software design, where limited feedback from end-users and rigid development models create accident-prone systems
The top five procurement themes for 2025
Roger Waldron, Federal News Network
The federal procurement landscape in 2025 will be shaped by several key themes, including a focus on supply chain resilience, modernization, and the integration of artificial intelligence, all while navigating cybersecurity challenges and regulatory reforms.
Air Force’s outgoing acquisition chief on NGAS, CCA and his biggest regrets
Michael Marrow, Breaking Defense
Andrew Hunter talks about the Air Force's evolving acquisition strategy and how to adapting to a changing global environment, while also facing budget uncertainties and challenges with fixed-price contracts. The Air Force is looking at an iterative approach to acquisition that emphasizes flexibility and responsiveness.
- Budget Uncertainty: The fiscal year 2026 budget will significantly impact the path forward for NGAS and other programs, with funding decisions ultimately in the hands of the Trump administration
- Risk Environment: The Air Force recognizes that an environment of rising tensions may require different acquisition priorities, with some programs needing to field as soon as possible even if costs are higher.
- Supply Chain: The Air Force is looking to reach deeper into the supply chain to have better insight into costs and technology development.
- Fixed-Price Flaws: Fixed-price contracts have been problematic, especially for development contracts, leading to cost overruns and a loss of control over delivery timelines.
EXCLUSIVE: Calvelli cautions Space Force, SDA to focus on program results, know that ‘industry lies’
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense
Frank Calvelli, the outgoing Air Force space acquisition czar, emphasizes the importance of project management discipline, smaller programs, and realistic assessments in the acquisition process, cautioning against over-reliance on industry promises.
He also stresses the significance of the Space Development Agency's (SDA) approach to rapidly building and deploying small satellites, and hopes the lessons learned during his tenure will be used moving forward.
- Operational Use: Calvelli stresses the importance of ensuring that capabilities are not only built quickly but also used by the operational community, and that the utility of the SDA approach hinges on this.
- NRO Training: Calvelli believes the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is a valuable training ground for project management, emphasizing the importance of experience and time on the job.
Image via StockCake
A Blueprint for Digital Transformation at the Department of Defense
Radha Iyengar Plumb, War on the Rocks
The Department of Defense (DoD) is undergoing a digital transformation to better integrate AI and digital solutions, but faces challenges with hardware-centric procurement processes, proprietary networks, and risk aversion. The Open Data and Applications Government-owned Interoperable Repositories (DAGIR) initiative aims to address these issues by focusing on speed, flexibility, interoperability and replaceability.
- Acquisition Pathways: Open DAGIR provides clear, agile acquisition pathways for vendors to deliver services and deploy applications, fostering a wider ecosystem of digital solutions.
- Tech Marketplace: Open DAGIR seeks to create an AI marketplace environment to allow for standardized digital tools and products, facilitating flexibility and speed.
- Experimentation: Open DAGIR enables an experiment-based approach to scale applications based on real user feedback and demand.
Accelerating Weapons Integration for Fighter and Bomber Aircraft
Lt. Col. Eric Suits, USAF, Defense Acquisition Magazine
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) faces significant challenges in accelerating weapons integration for fighter and bomber aircraft, primarily due to a lengthy certification process, a risk-averse culture, and insufficient investment in testing resources. These issues hinder the ability to rapidly deploy advanced weapons, which is crucial to counter threats from near-peer competitors such as China.
Innovation
Bigger, higher, cheaper: Space startup looks beyond LEO
Audrey Decker, Defense One
K2 Space, a Los Angeles startup, is developing large, powerful, and cost-effective satellites for medium-Earth orbit (MEO), challenging the trend of focusing on smaller satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Their approach aims to provide more capable satellites at a lower cost, leveraging advances in launch technology and in-house manufacturing.
A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron takes off in support of an 18th Wing routine readiness exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan, Jan. 15, 2025. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Sav Ford
‘Same Threats’ Drive Air Force, Marines to Different Visions of Future War. How Will They Work Together?
Chris Gordon, Air & Space Forces Magazine
The U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps are developing different approaches to future warfare, particularly in response to the growing threat from China, but both services are aiming to modernize and improve their capabilities in areas such as range, lethality, and dispersion. The success of both plans depends on effective integration with the Joint Force, Allies, and partners.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket reaches orbit in first test flight
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket successfully completed its first test flight, demonstrating its potential as a competitor to SpaceX while also advancing the development of reusable launch vehicle technology.
- DoD Partnership: Blue Origin's partnership with the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) was integral to the New Glenn test flight.
- SpaceX Rival: The Space Force is encouraged by the success of the New Glenn launch and its potential to break SpaceX’s lock on critical launches.
Defense & Strategy
Ohio officials announced Thursday that Anduril is preparing to build a large-scale weapons plant in central Ohio, as depicted in this rendering. (Anduril Industries via AP)
Anduril to build ‘Arsenal-1′ autonomous weapons plant in central Ohio
Julie Carr Smyth, AP/Defense News
Anduril is building a large-scale autonomous weapons plant in central Ohio, called "Arsenal-1," which is expected to produce military drones and autonomous air vehicles, while also bringing thousands of jobs to the area.
- Strategic Tech Hub: Ohio's workforce and emerging "silicon corridor" make it a prime location for this project, which will join battery and microchip factories currently under construction.
SNA News: Navy Weighing the Balance of Manned, Unmanned Systems
Laura Heckman, National Defense
The Navy is working to find the right balance between manned and unmanned systems, using lessons from recent conflicts to inform their strategy, while also recognizing the need for a conventionally manned fleet. The focus is on rapidly prototyping, testing, and employing robotic autonomous systems, while also understanding their limitations and the need for a layered defense against them.
Navy Says It Won’t Repeat Cruiser Upgrade Blunder With Destroyer Modernization 2.0 Effort
Geoff Ziezulewicz, The War Zone
The U.S. Navy is modernizing its Arleigh Burke-class destroyers with advanced electronic warfare, radar, and combat systems, learning from past mistakes with the Ticonderoga-class cruiser modernization program to ensure a more effective and timely upgrade process.
Industry
Emily Ashcom and Benjamin Tyree interview Vice Adm. Dion English, Director for Logistics, Joint Staff, J-4, at the Pentagon on Nov. 5, 2024. Source: Photo by Sgt. Kamren Chotalal, USA
Interview With Navy Vice Admiral Dion English, Director for Logistics, Joint Staff, J-4
Emily Ashcom and Benjamin Tyree, Defense Acquisition Magazine
Vice Admiral Dion English, Director for Logistics, Joint Staff, J-4, highlights the need for agile, resilient, and responsive supply chains, leveraging commercial technologies, and building strong relationships with partners to ensure U.S. military readiness and lethality. The interview emphasizes adapting to the evolving threat landscape, integrating advanced technologies, and reforming acquisition processes.
What Jake Sullivan wants the Trump administration to know about the defense industrial base
Brandi Vincent, Defense Scoop
Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s National Security Advisor, has briefed the incoming Trump administration on key lessons learned regarding the defense industrial base (DIB), emphasizing the need for rapid integration of AI and a sustained scale-up of production to meet both current and future defense needs.
Demand Signal Sullivan emphasizes the importance of a clear and consistent demand signal from the top to drive the defense industrial base.
Research
Defense Innovation Board Releases Two Studies on Scaling Innovation in Nontraditional Industry and Drone Manufacturing
Department of Defense
The Defense Innovation Board (DIB) recently released two studies focused on scaling innovation in the defense sector, particularly highlighting the need to partner with nontraditional companies and rapidly scale the manufacturing of unmanned weapons systems. The DIB emphasized the importance of eliminating bureaucracy and adopting more efficient processes to ensure U.S. technological leadership and to deter conflicts.
Full Reports:
A Pathway to Scaling Unmanned Weapons Systems
Scaling Nontraditional Defense Innovation
The final piece of the underwater hull of the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is lowered into place at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia on September 28, 2018. (US Navy photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries by John Whalen)
Shoring Up the Foundation: Affordable Approaches to Improve US and Allied Shipbuilding and Ship Repair
Michael Roberts & Bryan Clark, Hudson Institute
The U.S. maritime industrial base is facing significant challenges, with a decline in its capacity to support national security needs and counter China's shipbuilding dominance. This report recommends policy changes and investments to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and enhance collaboration with allied nations.
Full Report
COMMENTARY: Vulnerabilities to U.S. Clothing, Textile Defense Industrial Base
Kimberly Glas, National Defense
The U.S. textile and apparel industry, a key contributor to national defense, faces critical vulnerabilities due to reliance on foreign imports and a decline in domestic production, as highlighted in a recent government report. Urgent action is needed to strengthen the domestic supply chain and ensure military readiness.
Full Report
New Report: To Fix Deterrence, Rethink Goldwater-Nichols and Boost the Budget
John Tirpak, Air & Space Forces Magazine
A new report from the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies argues that the U.S. military's ability to deter adversaries has been weakened by unintended consequences of the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act and insufficient defense spending. The report recommends a "whole of government" approach to national security, similar to the 1950 NSC-68 policy paper, as well as increased defense spending to meet modern threats.
Full Report
Events
WEST 2025 AFCEA
28-30 January 2025
San Diego, CA
DOGE: Implications and Opportunities for Government Contracting
5 February 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Free Webinar
NCMA Nexus
9-12 February 2025
Long Beach, CA
Mapping the U.S. DOD Acquisition Ecosystem
11 February 2025
Washington DC or Virtual
39th Annual National Logistics Forum
11-13 February 2025
Orlando, FL
2025 DAU Acquisition Update
Leading with Purpose: Accelerating Capability to the Field
19 - 20 February 2025
Online
Creative Disruptors in the Desert
21-22 February, 2025
Indian Wells, CA
2025 Munitions Executive Summit
18-19 March, 2025
Parsippany, NJ
22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
Creating Synergy for Informed Change - Transitioning Technology
7-8 May 2025
Monterey, CA
2025 ASNE Intelligent Ships Symposium
12-14 May 2025
Philadelphia, PA
DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA
One more thing...
Journalist and author Don Roberts shares a poetic verse to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
Don Roberts Shares Poetic Verse to Inspire NNSY Workforce in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Kristi R Britt, USNI News
Don Roberts, an award-winning journalist and author, shared a poetic verse at Norfolk Naval Shipyard's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. He shared his verse, "Be so good at whatever you do – that when you’re gone, we miss you," to inspire the NNSY workforce.
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