Acquisition
Dr. Troy Meink, Secretary of the Air Force, at AFA’s Warfare Symposium 2026 on Feb. 23. Photo by Jud McCrehin, Air & Space Forces Association
Meink Lays Out New Vision for Acquisition
Greg Hadley, Air & Space Forces
Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink plans to appoint twenty-seven Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs), in order to consolidate authority over the entire lifecycle of a program.
- Enhanced Financial Flexibility: To ensure agility, the Air Force has delegated 85 percent of contracting authority to the PAE's chief of contracts, allowing them to rapidly shift funds and adapt to emerging needs.
- End-to-End Responsibility: PAEs will remain involved through the sustainment phase, ensuring that long-term maintainability is a primary design consideration during early development to avoid past failures.
- Proven Success Models: This vision synthesizes successful strategies from the Rapid Capabilities Office, the Space Development Agency, and the National Reconnaissance Office into a unified departmental construct.
Chief gives Congressional testimony in defense of SBA 8(a) program
D. Sean Rowley, Cherokee Phoenix
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to defend the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) program against attacks from the Trump administration, characterizing it as a vital tool for tribal self-determination. He argued that the program is not a race-based initiative but a reflection of the sovereign legal relationship between tribal nations and the federal government.
- Economic Lifeline Threatened: Hoskin warned that recent administrative "assaults" on the 8(a) program, including a 50% reduction in SBA manpower and the termination of over 1,000 companies, threaten decades of economic progress in Indian Country.
- Essential Service Funding: Over the last 10 years, Cherokee Nation businesses have reinvested $364 million into critical community needs, including the largest tribally operated health system in the U.S., housing infrastructure, and language immersion programs.
- Proven Operational Excellence: Refuting characterizations of tribal firms as "fraud magnets" or "pass-throughs," Hoskin noted that Cherokee Federal, the contracting arm of Cherokee Nation Businesses, self-performs nearly 80% of its work. It serves more than 60 federal agencies and employs 4,400 people across all 50 states and in 20 countries.
- Legal Sovereignty: Congressional leaders emphasized that the Native 8(a) program is rooted in Congress’s constitutional authority and federal treaty obligations, rather than diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates.
Related: Alaska Native Corporations push back as Pentagon targets 8(a) program
Innovation
The U.S. Army is testing artificial intelligence-enabled prototypes to reduce the time required to complete acquisition requirement packages from weeks to hours. Graphic by Cecilia Tueros via DVIDS
Army AI prototypes speed up acquisition, enable faster capability delivery
Erika Christ, U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Enterprise Software and Services (CPE ES2)
The U.S. Army is piloting artificial intelligence prototypes designed to drastically accelerate the acquisition process by reducing the time required to complete complex requirements packages.
- Overcoming Manual Hurdles: ARP development is the "single biggest muscle movement" in procurement, involving hundreds of pages that often contain duplicative or conflicting information that leads to protests and delays.
- Rapid Processing Speed: New AI-enabled tools can generate Acquisition Requirement Packages (ARPs) in hours or even minutes, a massive improvement over the weeks traditionally required for manual preparation.
- Seamless Systems Integration: The ultimate goal is to integrate these tools with the Army Contract Writing System, allowing ARP documents to automatically populate solicitations and the contract file of record.
- Human-Centric Design: Leadership emphasizes that these tools are not intended to remove humans from the loop but rather to enhance efficiency without sacrificing the quality of the final acquisition.
Defense & Strategy
While the American focus at Farnborough is largely on the Air Force, the Navy still showed up with a Boeing-made P-8 subhunter aircraft. (Aaron Mehta/Breaking Defense)
Forthcoming US arm sales changes leave unanswered questions
Ashley Roque, Breaking Defense
President Trump’s recent "America First Arms Transfer Strategy" executive order outlines a new vision for foreign arms sales that prioritizes U.S. industrial capacity and domestic economic interests. However, these "America First" reforms have introduced significant uncertainty for international partners, leading some nations to question the reliability of the United States as a provider.
- Industrial Power Focus: The executive order shifts the primary focus of arms transfers toward reinforcing American production capacity and building supply chain resilience through foreign capital.
- Mandated Process Reviews: A 120-day review period has been established to create clearer implementation guidance and reduce the administrative bottlenecks currently hindering global sales.
- Prioritized Sales Catalog: The U.S. plans to develop a list of specific platforms and systems for allies to purchase. It is not yet clear whether this will focus on broad capabilities, specific platforms, or certain subsystems.
- Manufacturing Stability Risks: Experts warn that frequent changes to the priority list could disrupt specialized manufacturing lines, making it difficult for industry to maintain the necessary scale and speed.
- Foreign Policy Tension: The priority list raises the question of what will happen when economic interests conflict with national security needs.
- Allied De-risking: In response to perceived U.S. volatility and threats to sovereignty, Canada has moved to diversify its partnerships with the UK and EU and reduce its reliance on American defense contractors.
Related: Several trends are shifting defense tech toward Europe
Related: Canada bets on 'Build at Home' defence strategy to reclaim sovereignty — and revive readiness
Australia invests $2.75 billion in AUKUS submarine yard
Mike Yeo, Breaking Defense
Australia has announced a $2.75 billion investment into a dedicated nuclear-powered submarine construction yard at Osborne, South Australia, to support its commitments under the AUKUS security pact.
- A Southern Hemisphere First: Upon completion, this site will be the only shipyard in the Southern Hemisphere capable of building nuclear-powered submarines, marking a significant shift in regional military industrial power.
- Long-Term Acquisition Timeline: The AUKUS agreement involves a transition period where Australia acquires up to five American Virginia-class submarines in the 2030s before beginning domestic production of SSN-AUKUS boats in the 2040s.
Industry
A 2011 file photo of the Pentagon, the headquarters of the Department of Defense. STAFF/AFP via Getty Images
Hegseth threatens to blacklist Anthropic over 'woke AI' concerns
Bobby Allyn, NPR
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has threatened to blacklist the AI firm Anthropic and cancel its $200 million contract after the company refused to waive safety standards that prohibit its technology from being used for domestic surveillance and autonomous warfare.
- Severe Penalties Threatened: Repercussions for non-compliance include the potential cancellation of Anthropic’s $200 million Department of Defense contract and a "supply chain risk" designation, which would effectively blacklist the firm from future federal work.
- Compelled Military Cooperation: To bypass the company's refusal, the Pentagon plans to invoke the Defense Production Act, a 1950s-era law used during national emergencies, to force Anthropic to provide its tools for military use against its will.
- Strategic Capability Risks: Anthropic’s AI was widely considered by defense leaders as the most advanced and secure model; it the first AI model cleared for use on classified military networks.
Related: Hegseth to meet with Anthropic CEO as safe AI principles collide with military contracting
Related: Pentagon Clears Grok AI for Classified Military Networks
U.S. Navy Issues Request for Proposal for Vessel Construction Manager to Accelerate Medium Landing Ship Acquisition
Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communication
To accelerate the delivery of its new 35-ship fleet, the U.S. Navy has issued a Request for Proposal for a Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) to oversee the acquisition of the Medium Landing Ship (LSM).
- Streamlined Acquisition Model: The Navy is implementing the VCM strategy to improve cost discipline and accelerate delivery by moving away from traditional, personnel-heavy oversight.
- Proven Baseline Design: To minimize schedule uncertainties, the program will utilize a "build-to-print" design based on Damen Naval’s LST 100, a mature, non-developmental baseline.
- Parallel Production Power: The VCM will manage construction across multiple shipyards simultaneously—initially including Bollinger Shipyards and Fincantieri Marinette Marine—to ensure a sustained maritime advantage.
- Direct Performance Control: As the prime contract holder, the VCM will manage its own subcontracts with shipyards, providing a buffer that reduces cost risks and places the manager in direct control of performance.
RFP: Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) Solicitation # N00024-26-R-2421
Military power begins with industrial strength
Vice Adm. Lou Crenshaw (Ret.), Defense Scoop
True military readiness depends on a robust, domestic defense industrial base rather than just the procurement of advanced platforms. To counter structural weaknesses and foreign dependencies, the United States must prioritize supply chain resilience, regulatory reform, and workforce development as part of its national security strategy.
- Industrial Power Foundation: Ships and aircraft are only as reliable as the industrial base supporting them, meaning sustainment capacity and production surges determine actual combat power.
- Foreign Dependency Danger: A lack of "supply chain illumination" hides the fact that critical inputs like rare earths and specialty alloys remain concentrated in a small number of foreign hands.
Government Reports
A member of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team prepares to launch Air Force Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 pilot, during the Bagotville International Air Show in Quebec, Canada, June 22, 2019. (Air Force by Staff Sgt. Jensen Stidham)
Audit of the DoD’s Oversight of Contractor Performance for the F‑35 Joint Strike Fighter Sustainment Contracts
Office of the Inspector General
Military Installations: DOD Should Improve Natural Disaster Cost Tracking and Planning for Resilience Improvements
Government Accountability Office
Personnel Vetting: Leadership Attention Needed to Prioritize System Development and Achieve Reforms
Government Accountability Office
Research
Navy Ensign Christa Robison, a student naval aviator assigned to Training Air Wing 4, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, stands in front of a T-6B Texan II aircraft. The T-6B is the primary training aircraft for naval aviators. (Photo by Navy Ensign Benjamin Nickerson)
Evaluating the Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence into Naval Flight Education
William Clark, Alexandra Mueller, & Charmaine Posis, Naval Postgraduate School
This study aims to identify the positive and negative implications of incorporating AI into naval flight education, with a focus on the first phase of flight training, Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation (NIFE). This study uses library research as the primary method of research. The result analysis of this research identifies limitations of the current NIFE curriculum, explains the potential benefits of AI-based tools, discusses challenges that need to be addressed before adopting this technology, and makes suggestions for areas of future research on this topic.
Enhancing Competition in NAVSEA Procurement: Strategies for Addressing Sole-Source Contracting Challenges
Celestino Dulnuan Jr., Marlowe Gonzales, & Oluwatobi Kazeem, Naval Postgraduate School
This research addresses the growing reliance on sole source contracting within NAVSEA’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair (SUPSHIP) units, particularly in Groton, CT, and Newport News, VA. Using a mixed-methods design grounded in Resource Dependency Theory, the study combines quantitative spend analysis of fiscal years 2020–2023 with qualitative assessments of procurement practices and policy limitations. Findings reveal that over 40% of contract awards were sole source, often due to technical data restrictions, limited supplier bases, and structural procurement barriers. The research recommends strategies to enhance competition, in support of NAVSEA’s goals of increasing procurement efficiency and resilience while aligning with DoD mandates for competition and industrial base modernization.
The defence economics of artificial intelligence & machine learning: classification and applications
Tim Williams & Geraint Evans
This research seeks to help generate a deeper understanding of the defence economics calculus surrounding the military application of prominent AI technologies, including natural language processing (NLP), computer vision (CV), and robotics. The paper discusses these areas of AI development in the context of a limited set of human abilities and how AI impacts the economics of warfighting capabilities and national defence. We emphasise integration constraints – data, architectures, compute, and algorithms – and the role of civilian R&D in military adoption. Conclusions highlight that AI cannot replace human judgement or accountability, but in augmentating human capabilities, AI changes established principles of defence economics, cost structures, and capability cycles.
Events
2026 Pacific Operational Science & Technology (POST) Conference
NDIA & US Indo-Pacific Command
9-12 March 2026
Honolulu, HI
Generative And Agentic Artificial Intelligence Workshop
US Marine Corps
9-12 March 2026
Quantico, VA
2026 Defense Software & Data Summit
Govini
10 March 2026
Washington, D.C.
Tectonic Defense Summit
11-12 March 2026
Austin, TX
Naval IT Day 2026
AFCEA NOVA
12 March 2026
Chantilly, VA
2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit
Potomac Officers Club
19 March 2026
Reston, VA
Sea-Air-Space
Navy League of the United States
19-22 April 2026
National Harbor, Maryland
2026 Air and Space Summit
Potomac Officers Club
30 July 2026
One more thing...
King Neptune's Royal court aboard the USS Augusta (CA-31). King Neptune's Royal court (L-R): Chaplain, Baby, Queen, King Neptune, Princess and Davy Jones. Credit: USNI Photo Collections
Shellbacks & Pollywogs: Neptune in the Navy
USNI
Dating back to the 18th century, the Neptune Party, or "Line-Crossing Ceremony," is a naval tradition that celebrates a sailor’s first crossing of the equator.
- Mythological Mascot: King Neptune, the Greek god of the sea, serves as the central figure, representing the "awesome might" of the ocean and appearing on ship figureheads, unit patches, and naval paraphernalia.
- Crossing the Line: The main event occurs when a vessel crosses the Equator, serving as a formal initiation rite that commemorates a sailor's first entry into the domain of the "King of the Sea".
- Shellbacks vs. Pollywogs: Sailors are divided into two distinct groups: "Shellbacks," who have already crossed the ecuator, and "Pollywogs," who must endure rituals to graduate and become "Sons of Neptune".
- Theatrical Royal Court: Ceremonies feature a colorful cast of costumed characters, including the Royal Queen, Davy Jones, the Royal Doctor, the Royal Barber, and the Royal Baby.
- Evolution of Initiation: While early history involved dangerous and severe hazing, modern rituals have evolved into humorous trials such as crawling on greased decks, visiting the "Royal Dentist," or kissing the Royal Baby’s belly.
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