Issue 231. Newsletter 02.21.2025 - Acquisition Research Program

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Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

February 21, 2025 — Issue 231

Join Us for NPS's 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit, May 7-8, 2025 in Monterey, CA!

The program was posted, and registration is open for NPS’s 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit on May 7-8, 2025, in Monterey, CA. This free, unclassified DoD-sponsored event will feature leading experts discussing critical topics in defense acquisition and innovation, including technology transitions, agile processes, industrial base strengthening, and continuous innovation.

This Week's Top Stories

The Defense Innovation Unit staged a drone demonstration in November at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California to update its Blue UAS List. (DIU)

Pentagon expands list of commercial drones certified for military use
Courtney Albon, Defense News

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has expanded its Blue UAS List, adding 37 commercial drone systems and components certified for military use, pending final approvals. This move aims to provide warfighters with quicker access to needed capabilities, addressing concerns about security and supply chain standards in a rapidly growing market dominated by Chinese technology.

NPS Develops AI Solution to Automate Drone Defense with High Energy Lasers
Dan Linehan, Naval Postgraduate School

NPS researchers are using AI to automate drone defense with high energy lasers (HEL), improving the speed and accuracy of targeting to counter the increasing threat of inexpensive uncrewed autonomous systems (UAS).

By automating the tracking system of laser weapon systems (LWS), the operator can oversee the system instead of manually controlling it, greatly enhancing decision advantage.

Student Contributions: Officer-students have contributed research that has led to the award of 15 Master's and two doctoral degrees.

The future of military logistics is predictive
Charles Hamilton, Defense One

Traditional reactive logistics models are dangerously outdated, as demonstrated by Russia's sustainment failures in the Ukraine war.

Data-driven logistics: Ukraine, with Western support, has demonstrated the power of data-driven logistics, using predictive analytics to forecast needs and maintain weapons systems.
Precision sustainment: At the tactical level, "precision sustainment" is critical, ensuring unit commanders have the right equipment and supplies at the right time and place. Predictive logistics can optimize what gets moved, where, and when, predicting when vehicle components will likely fail and enabling proactive replacement.
Strategic advantage: Predictive logistics is essential for managing vast distances in modern conflict, especially in areas like the Indo-Pacific theater, enabling smarter decisions about production, storage, and distribution.

The Secret War Within the Pentagon
Michael Klare, Foreign Policy in Focus

A shifting landscape within the military-industrial complex (MIC) reveals a clash between established defense giants and innovative Silicon Valley startups, potentially reshaping defense contracts, political dynamics, and military modernization. The rise of companies like Anduril, fueled by Silicon Valley's ethos and venture capital, challenges the traditional dominance of major contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

Anduril's Rise: Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, Anduril aims to integrate AI into novel weapons systems and has secured significant Pentagon contracts, beating out traditional defense contractors.
Key figures: Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, are backing companies like Anduril and SpaceX, and advocating for Pentagon reform to favor innovative technologies.
Replicator initiative: The "Replicator" initiative, launched by the Department of Defense, seeks to expedite the delivery of advanced weaponry by awarding contracts directly to startups.
Old guard response: Multibillion-dollar weapons companies are not likely to concede ground easily, setting the stage for a fierce competition that could divide political and defense circles.

House unveils budget plan with $100B boost for defense
Valerie Insinna, Breaking Defense

House Republicans have released a budget resolution that would allocate an additional $100 billion for defense spending. The House aims to pass a single bill that includes raising the debt limit and tax and government spending cuts, while the Senate is pursuing a two-bill strategy.

Leaders of House Armed Services Committee ask military services to list potential funding cuts
Svetlana Shkolnikova, Stars and Stripes

The leaders of the House Armed Services Committee are requesting that each military service identify programs and weapons that have become obsolete for potential budget cuts.

Budget focus: The request is intended to allow the Committee to redirect resources to higher priority items that support the National Defense Strategy and achieve real deterrence.
Past resistance: Lawmakers have previously resisted the Pentagon's efforts to retire outdated weapon systems, vehicles, and ships, and have added expenses the services did not request.

ARP and NPS News

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 13, 2024) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Steven Crisologo, from the Philippines, assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), launches an F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242 from the ship’s flight deck. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amy Cocoro Mullins)

Thinking Together, Winning Together: The USNA Warfighter-Centered Design Challenge
Commander Ken Maroon et. al., Center for International Maritime Security

Students in the Warfighter-Centered Design (WCD) Challenge hosted by the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) have developed four low-cost concepts for augmenting the offensive and defensive capabilities of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs).

NWSI partnership: NPS's Naval Warfare Studies Institute (NWSI) supported the challenge by curating real-life problems from warfighters and connecting participants with technical expertise and resources.
Innovation pipeline: WCD is part of a broader initiative to develop innovation and problem-solving capabilities in junior officers.

NPS Develops AI Solution to Automate Drone Defense with High Energy Lasers
Dan Linehan, Naval Postgraduate School

By automating the tracking system of laser weapon systems (LWS), the operator can oversee the system instead of manually controlling it, greatly enhancing decision advantage.

Student Contributions: Officer-students have contributed research that has led to the award of 15 Master's and two doctoral degrees.

Who Is Paul Kapur, Trump's pick for Assistant Secy of State for South Asia?
Prateek Shukla, Business Standard

Paul Kapur, a professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, has been nominated for Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs.

Kapur is a widely respected scholar who has authored several influential books and academic papers on South Asian security. His research focuses on nuclear security, Indo-Pakistani relations, and broader South Asian strategic affairs.

If confirmed by the Senate, Kapur's appointment could signal a shift in US policy towards South Asia, potentially strengthening ties with India while adopting a more critical stance towards Pakistan.

Come Work for Us!

Full time Non-Tenure Track (NTT): Lecturer, Senior Lecturer or Professor of the Practice in Acquisition Sciences/Program Management

Department of Defense Management, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA

The Department of Defense Management (DDM) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) seeks candidates for full-time, non-tenure track teaching positions in defense acquisition management with a duty location of Monterey CA. Responsibilities include teaching graduate courses in program management, advising student theses and projects, conducting defense acquisition-related research, and managing course/curriculum development and administration.

Acquisition

Former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration Frank Calvelli in 2022 developed nine space acquisition tenets that are guiding Space Force reform efforts to speed development of new capabilities. (US Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)

Space Force doubles down on acquisition reform ahead of DoD moves
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense

The Space Force is actively pursuing acquisition reforms to accelerate the development of new capabilities while cutting costs by using fixed-price contracts and closely monitoring contractor performance. These reforms are guided by former space acquisition czar Frank Calvelli’s nine space acquisition tenets, which prioritize speed and a return to acquisition basics.

Risk Assessment: The Space Force is reviewing high-risk programs under cost-plus contracts, considering converting them to fixed-price awards or breaking them into smaller components.
Accountability Measures: The Department of the Air Force and the Space Force are implementing accountability measures to ensure good performance from both contractors and government program managers.
Program Restructuring: Since May 2022, 14 major acquisition programs have had contracts or entire programs restructured or canceled due to skyrocketing performance costs.

The FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): Supply Chains and Acquisition Reform (Part 1)
Emerging Technologies Institute

Moshe Schwartz, acquisitions expert and former director of the Section 809 panel, unpacks the ins and outs of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), how to read it, and what the 2025 NDAA has to say about the industrial base, supply chain, and acquisition reform.

What the Pentagon might learn from Ukraine about fielding new tech
Jon Schmid and Erik E. Mueller, Defense News

Ukraine's successful adoption of commercial technology during the Russo-Ukrainian war offers valuable lessons for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on rapidly fielding new tech and improving acquisition processes.

Drone Acquisition: The DoD might adopt aspects of Ukraine's drone acquisition approach, focusing on cheaper commercial drones that can be quickly modified for specific missions to collect intelligence or execute strikes.
Policy Changes: Proposed policies to leverage U.S. commercial innovation include enforcing the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, establishing a new agency focused on rapid technology development, and increasing the reprogramming cap.
Procurement Authority: Ukraine has expedited fielding by delegating procurement authority to the platoon level and establishing a high-tech military industry cluster in Kyiv.

Innovation

U.S. Airmen with the 156th Contingency Response Group, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, and the 136th Contingency Response Flight, Texas Air National Guard, off-load a pick-up truck onto a C-130J aircraft during a joint aerial port training at Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Carolina, Puerto Rico, June 27, 2024.

Air Logistics Optimization Prototyped for DoD
Defense Innovation Unit

The Department of Defense (DoD) is prototyping commercial solutions to optimize and automate flight scheduling, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance operational efficiency using partnerships with companies like Amazon Web Services, C3 AI, and Google Public Sector. These efforts aim to modernize logistics through faster, more effective, and cost-efficient tools.

DARPA Gets Word Out on Secure Software for Military
Stew Magnuson, National Defense

DARPA has developed mathematically-based approaches to producing software that cannot be hacked and is now looking to implement these solutions in legacy military systems.

Industry Outreach: DARPA is spreading awareness of its open-source solutions that are affordable and scalable for both new and legacy software.
Costly Patching: Fixing code vulnerabilities after the fact can cost billions, highlighting the need for resilient software programs.
Mathematical Proof: DARPA’s approach involves mathematically-based methods that guarantee code integrity and prevent failures.

‘New’ F-35 Assembled from Two Wrecked Jets Makes Its First Flight
Unshin Harpley, Air & Space Forces Magazine

The Air Force has successfully assembled a functional F-35A fighter jet, tail number -5269, by combining parts from two previously wrecked aircraft, marking a cost-effective and innovative approach to maintaining its fleet.

This "Franken-bird" project showcases interagency collaboration and offers valuable insights for future aircraft reclamation efforts.

Microsoft debuts new superconductor chip designed for quantum computing
Alexandra Kelley, Nextgov

Microsoft has unveiled the Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum chip powered by a Topological Core architecture. It is designed to advance fault-tolerant quantum computing by utilizing unique topological qubits that are resilient to external errors.

This chip represents a significant step towards creating scalable and reliable quantum computers capable of processing large volumes of data.

Defense & Strategy

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivers a keynote address at the Hawaii Military Affairs Council’s Biannual State of the Indo-Pacific event in Honolulu, Jan. 14, 2024. Petty Officer 1st Class John Bellino / U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

China is rehearsing for war, Indo-Pacific commander says
Jennifer Hlad, Defense One

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command leader Adm. Sam Paparo stated that China's military exercises around Taiwan are rehearsals for the forced unification of the island with the mainland, and he expressed concerns about U.S. readiness. He also noted cooperation between China, Russia, and North Korea.

Readiness Concerns: Paparo highlighted challenges to U.S. readiness, including maintenance backlogs, low munition stockpiles, and aging platforms.
Streamlining Acquisition: Paparo emphasized the need to streamline the Pentagon’s acquisition system to match the speed of combat.

Connecting the Force: Building US Military Interoperability for the Modern Battlefield
James Micciche, Small Wars Journal

The U.S. military must prioritize building connections and adaptability to effectively address the complexities of modern warfare against peer competitors in a rapidly changing, post-information age environment.

Interoperability essential: The three dimensions of interoperability—technical, procedural, and human—should frame how the modern U.S. military builds a joint force capable of operating in a post-information age environment.
Adaptability: Interoperability across all three dimensions increases a force's ability to change and adapt to adjust to any situation. Effectiveness requires a strategic culture that fosters institutional flexibility to achieve an accelerated innovation cycle.

Shooting the Archer not the Arrow
Nathan Mintz, Substack

Defense executive Nathan Mintz argues that strategies to counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) should target drone controllers rather than the drones themselves. He advocates for the development of systems that can trace and neutralize drone controllers to effectively counter drone threats. Current counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems predominantly focus on neutralizing or shooting down drones, which Mintz likens to "shooting the arrow, not the archer."

Industry

The Army received the new IVAS 1.2 prototype for a series of tests. (US Army)

Microsoft announces plan to slide $22 billion IVAS contract over to Anduril
Ashley Roque, Breaking Defense

Microsoft is seeking to transfer its IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmentation System) contract to Anduril as the Army contemplates a new competition due to delays and challenges in the program.

Strategic partnership: Microsoft and Anduril are entering a strategic partnership to advance IVAS, with Microsoft Azure as the preferred cloud.
Past issues: The IVAS program faced issues including soldier discomfort, system reliability, and design flaws, leading to multiple versions and testing.
Anduril advantage: Taking over the contract could give Anduril an edge in the IVAS Next competition y providing access to government funding and additional time working with Army leaders.

RFI

Production of High-Performance Magnets Returns To U.S.
Laura Heckmann, National Defense

MP Materials' new facility in Texas marks a significant step towards restoring a fully integrated domestic rare earth supply chain in the United States, reducing reliance on China and mitigating risks to the defense industry. The facility focuses on producing neodymium-praseodymium metal and magnets, essential for various defense systems.

China's Control: China controls over 90 percent of the world's capacity for metallization and high-performance magnet manufacturing, creating a dependency for the U.S.
Integrated Facility: The Texas facility is designed to be fully integrated, converting rare earth oxides into metal and magnets, reducing dependence on external raw materials and mitigating points of failure in the supply chain.

Congress & Government

In this 2022 photo, soldiers from the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) host a hackathon event in Odenton, Md., to generate interest and teach teens about OSINT, password cracking, and coding. U.S. Army / Steven Stover

Congress wants the Army to start collecting more open-source intelligence
Meghann Myers, Defense One

The 2025 NDAA contains a provision that suggests the Army may standardize its procurement of open-source intelligence (OSINT) collection software.

Behind Industry: Excluding special operations, the systems used for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating OSINT are significantly behind industry capabilities.
Broader Intelligence: The internet has created an overwhelming amount of publicly available information that is useful to military. OSINT is a key tool that, along with classified information, human intelligence, and signals intelligence, can be its own form of collection.

Research

An UH-60 Blackhawk flies multiple passes at different altitudes over the runway during a series of 5G avionics tests March 2, 2022, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. A 5G mobile test station was used during the testing as part of demonstration to implement 5G technologies without compromising the safety of military and civilian aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cynthia Griggs)

Harnessing 5G-Era Innovations
Timothy M. Bonds et. al., RAND

This report explores how 5G technologies can provide innovative military capabilities to defend allies against potential adversaries, especially in the critical window before reinforcements arrive. The study emphasizes the importance of prompt and effective strategies, such as using time difference of arrival (TDOA) techniques to locate and target air defense radars, and recommends field experiments to validate these concepts.

Industry Partnerships for Crises
Defense Business Board

This report from the Defense Business Board (DBB) report emphasizes the importance of strengthening partnerships between the Department of Defense (DoD) and private industry to ensure a reliable and rapid "expand-on-demand" capacity during crises. The report identifies key findings and recommendations to improve these partnerships, addressing challenges such as demand inconsistency, adversarial relationships, and regulatory barriers.

The Autonomous Arsenal in Defense of Taiwan: Technology, Law, and Policy of the Replicator Initiative
Eric Rosenbach, Ethan Lee, and Bethany Russell, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

This report examines the role of autonomous weapon systems in the defense of Taiwan, focusing on Replicator Initiative, which seeks to counter China's growing military capabilities. The report assesses the challenges and opportunities presented by autonomous weapon systems in deterring Chinese aggression and ensuring regional stability.

Full Report

Opportunities

White Sands, N.M. (February 09, 2020) -- Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic engineers travelled to New Mexico to validated M-code on Joint Light Tactical Vehicle test platforms like the ones pictured here, resulting in the Marine Corps obtaining U.S. Space Force certification for next-generation GPS technology. (U.S. Navy photo by Joe Bullinger/Released)

Marine Corps looking for vendors to demo tech for mounted assured resilient navigation

Sensing grid should be ‘top priority’ for US Iron Dome: NORTHCOM head
RFI
RFI

Request for Information for Office of Naval Research Composites Manufacturing Technology Center (CMTC) Center of Excellence (COE)