Opportunities
Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS). (Northrop Grumman image)
SDA Issues Draft RFI for Tranche 3 Tracking Layer
Miles Jamison, ExecutiveGov
The Space Development Agency (SDA) has issued a draft request for information (RFI) for the Tranche 3 Tracking Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), which is intended to enhance missile defense capabilities by providing global, continuous tracking of missile threats.
The T3 Tracking Layer will include at least 54 space vehicles (SVs) equipped with infrared sensors, deployed in six orbital planes and will be compatible with all PWSA SVs, including Transport Layer SVs, and connected through a common ground system.
View the RFI
Missile Defense Agency asks industry for American ‘Iron Dome’ concepts
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is seeking industry proposals for an "Iron Dome for America" missile defense system. The agency is looking for technologies that can be deployed in phases starting in 2026, encompassing various capabilities, including space-based sensors, interceptors, and non-kinetic options
View the RFI
USAF Seeks Provider of Cryptographic Units for Satcom System
Derrick Henry, ExecutiveGov
The U.S. Air Force is seeking contractors to develop cryptographic units for secure tactical satellite communication systems as part of the SHIELD program, aiming to provide warfighters with protected satcom in contested environments. The effort is focused on prototyping and integrating these units by 2028, with a need for experienced vendors who can deliver cost-effectively.
View the RFI
Acquisition
Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine is the only engine available for F-35s of every stripe. Pratt offered an engine core upgrade that can meet the near-term needs of the F-35's Block 4 upgrades. Karsten Moran/Pratt & Whitney
Pentagon Hands Out $7 Billion for NGAP; RTX Sees ‘Tailwind’ for Military Propulsion
John Tirpak, Air & Space Forces Magazine
The Pentagon has awarded matching $3.5 billion contracts to GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney to develop prototypes for the Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) engine, intended for future combat aircraft, though the program's future is uncertain. These contracts aim to advance technology and reduce risks while also modernizing the propulsion industrial base.
New Pentagon Report: F-35 Test Progress Slow, Readiness Below Par
John Tirpak, Air & Space Forces Magazine
A Pentagon report from the Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation reveals the F-35 fighter jet program is lagging behind schedule in testing the F-35's Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) software and hardware, impacting overall mission readiness.
Despite delivering over 100 TR-3 equipped jets, developmental testing is significantly delayed, pushing operational testing to 2026.
While Lockheed Martin claims progress and the Joint Program Office emphasizes efforts to address readiness issues, the report highlights persistent problems with reliability, maintainability, and cyber vulnerabilities, underscoring the ongoing challenges in achieving the F-35's intended capabilities.
Full report
USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) breaks away from the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) shortly before sunset after taking on fuel. US Navy Photo
Navy, Marines Want More Energy Storage to Supply Power Hungry Warships, Bases
Gidget Fuentes, USNI News
The increasing power demands of modern warships and the growing energy consumption of bases with expanding data centers are straining existing power grids.
The article highlights several initiatives, including a $14.2 million contract for a modular energy storage system prototype and investments in microgrids and long-duration energy storage projects at various bases, to address these issues and ensure operational resilience in the face of potential power disruptions
Innovation
How Life Aboard A Navy Aircraft Carrier Changed When High-Speed Internet Arrived
Geoff Ziezulewicz, The War Zone
The USS Abraham Lincoln has pioneered the use of high-speed internet at sea, demonstrating significant tactical and morale benefits, and this initiative is set to expand across the fleet. The program, known as Sailor Edge Afloat and Ashore (SEA2), uses commercial providers like Starlink and OneWeb to provide robust connectivity.
- Data Boost: The Lincoln experienced a massive increase in data transfer, averaging four to eight terabytes a day, 50 times greater than the fleet's current capabilities.
- Mission Files: The ship was able to download F-35 mission data file updates in record time, enhancing the aircraft’s survivability and lethality.
- Fleet-Wide: The SEA2 program is now slated to become a funded Navy program, known as Flank Speed Wireless, and will be scaled to other ships.
Now CCAs Can Do Things ‘We Didn’t Think Were Possible’
Air & Space Forces Magazine
The Air Force is expanding its use of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), or drones, with recent developments allowing a single manned fighter to control a larger number of drones with less complex autonomy than previously thought. The CCA program is intended to provide "mass," allowing the Air Force to increase its combat air forces, which have declined in number, and present a more complex targeting challenge to adversaries.
- Bigger Ratios: Testing and simulations have revealed that a single manned fighter can control a greater number of drones than previously estimated. It was initially thought that the ratio would be small, but the ratio may now be as high as eight drones per fighter.
- Simple Autonomy: The drones will not require complex AI and algorithms. Instead, "simple autonomy" with "a little bit of AI sprinkled in" will suffice to decrease pilot workload.
Industry
Mika Baumeister, Unsplash
A Proactive, Network-Based Approach to Defense Supply Chain Capacity
Ted Harshberger, RAND
The Department of Defense (DoD) is increasingly focused on supply chain monitoring and analysis, especially in the wake of the global pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This report recommends an approach that aims to proactively identify and address potential issues by viewing the supply chain as a network of relationships and flows.
Defense Business Board Report: Supply Chain Illumination in the DoD Supply Chain Illumination in the Department of Defense: Leveraging Private-Sector Best Practices to Enhance DoD Supply Chain Visibility and Decision Making
Business Transformation Advisory Subcommittee, Defense Business Board
This Defense Business Board report examines the defense supply chain's transparency and visibility, defining "supply chain illumination" as a process to identify and mitigate risks. The report highlights private sector best practices, such as data governance and digital Bills of Materials (BOMs), and recommends six key areas for improvement within the Department of Defense (DoD).
It’s the Chain That Broke It: The Strategic Supply Chains Underpinning National Security
Gregory M. Tomlin, Joint Force Quarterly
This article argues that vulnerabilities in strategic supply chains pose a significant threat to national security. The author advocates for the Department of Defense to prioritize "strategic supply chains" as a core doctrinal concept, emphasizing continuous risk assessment and proactive measures like multisourcing and contingency planning throughout the acquisition process.
Full Article
An F-35 Lightning II flies over Edwards Air Force Base, California, May 10, 2023. Photo by Darrin Russell/Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Looks to Deliver Up to 190 F-35s in 2025, Loses $1.9 Billion on Secret Programs
John Tirpak, Air & Space Forces Magazine
Lockheed Martin expects to significantly increase F-35 deliveries to 170 to 190 in 2025, while also taking a $1.9 billion financial hit on two secret programs. The company expects to produce 156 new F-35s in 2025, with the remaining deliveries coming from stored aircraft.
The DIB Delivers with Key Insights
Pete Modigliani and Matt MacGregor, Defense Tech and Acquisition
This commentary assesses the potential impact and feasibility of the key recommendations made in the Defense Industrial Board's recent reports (which we shared here a couple weeks ago) on "Scaling Non-Traditional Defense Innovation" and "A Pathway to Scaling Unmanned Weapons Systems."
Full reports:
A Pathway to Scaling Unmanned Weapons Systems
Scaling Nontraditional Defense Innovation
Defense Policy & Strategy
Senior Airman Perry Aston/DVIDS
DIU and CDAO: Deploying AI for Strategic Impact
Douglas A. Beck and Dr. Radha I. Plumb, Defense Innovation Unit
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) are partnering to rapidly deploy AI capabilities within the Department of Defense (DoD), focusing on commercial technologies and responsible implementation. This collaboration seeks to leverage industry innovation and scale AI solutions across the DoD to enhance warfighting capabilities and ensure a strategic advantage.
Navy ramping up production of autonomous GARC vessels
Jon Harper, DefenseScoop
The Navy is rapidly increasing production of Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARCs) to counter China in the Pacific, aiming for a production rate of 32 systems per month, with the goal of integrating these robotic platforms into the fleet.
- Fleet Integration: The new USVRON 3 (Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3) squadron at Naval Base San Diego is overseeing the integration, scaling, experimentation, and employment of GARCs.
- Expert Personnel: The Navy has created a new robotics warfare specialist rating to handle the operation and maintenance of robotic and autonomous systems.
The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and the Threat Systems Management Office operate a swarm of 40 drones to test the rotational units capabilities during the battle of Razish, National Training Center on May 8th, 2019. (U.S. Army Photo by Pv2 James Newsome)
Military services need to ‘sync up’ Replicator software, Navy official says
Carley Welch, Breaking Defense
The military is facing challenges in coordinating the software used in autonomous systems, and efforts are underway to create a more unified approach to software development and deployment. A key initiative is the Replicator program, which aims to deploy thousands of autonomous systems.
- Multi-Domain Operation: The Replicator initiative is intended to be a multi-domain operation, requiring better coordination across the services.
- Mission Elements: Software for automatic target recognition, mission-level autonomy, algorithms, and different behaviors needs to be governed by something like a government reference architecture.
Fixing the DOD’s Audit Problem
Kristyn E. Jones, Center for Strategic & International Studies
This commentary analyzes the Department of Defense's (DOD) persistent failure to pass a financial statement audit. Jones argues that the DOD's immense size, complex operations, and outdated policies contribute significantly to this problem. The author proposes solutions focusing on streamlining bureaucratic processes, investing in auditable business systems, and fostering strong leadership commitment to audit readiness across all levels of the DOD.
- Systemic Issues: The DOD's business systems are not fully auditable, lacking reliable internal controls and complete transaction data, which are needed for auditors to sample transactions effectively.
- Policy Overhaul: Outdated policies add complexity and don't provide value. For example, determining the book value of the Pentagon installation or the depreciated value of the Air Force's B-52s is necessary to pass an audit, but these valuations are irrelevant to daily operations or investment decisions.
- Data Reliability: Passing an audit will result in effective, secure processes with complete and accurate data, which is crucial for daily decision-making and protection against cybersecurity threats.
Research
Navy Surface Ships: Maintenance Funds and Actions Needed to Address Ongoing Challenges
Government Accountability Office
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the Navy has received more funding than requested for maintenance of its surface ships, but continues to struggle with persistent maintenance challenges. The Navy received about $1 billion more than it requested for maintenance during fiscal years 2020-2023, obligating almost all of that funding, but still faces long-standing challenges.
Addressing risk and intellectual property rights in the FLRAA supply chain
Barry Rosenberg, Breaking Defense
The Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program is introducing a tiltrotor aircraft to the Army's fleet, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the defense industrial base. The program emphasizes supply chain resilience and intellectual property considerations while aiming for advanced capabilities and long-term sustainment.
Full Report
Events
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...
U.S. Marines with the Silent Drill Platoon pose for a photo after the culmination of Silent Drill Selection, a six-week long course to determine the newest members of the Silent Drill Platoon on Jan. 10, 2025, Washington, D.C. The six-week long course consists of drill and cadences specific to Marine Barracks Washington, rifle spinning techniques, and much more. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)
Silent Drill Platoon: Past, Present, and Future
Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle, Marines
The U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon combines 77 years of precision excellence with forward-looking innovation as they prepare for a historic 2025 parade season coinciding with the Marine Corps' 250th birthday.
- Elite Selection: 24 infantry Marines are hand-picked from the Infantry Marine Course to join this prestigious unit, facing six weeks of intense physical training and drill practice to earn their distinctive "black shirts."
- Legacy Lives: Since 1948, the platoon has maintained uncompromising standards of discipline and precision, drawing worldwide audiences to witness their flawless performances.
- Modern Impact: The platoon showcased their skills at the November 2024 Chicago Bears vs. Patriots NFL game, participating in the league's Salute to Service program. Performances are a major attraction, with people traveling from around the world to witness the Marines' exceptional drill.
|
