Acquisition
Midjourney
It’s Time to Build the Digital Century Series
Ben McNally, War on the Rocks
The U.S. Air Force is facing a critical juncture in its fighter acquisition strategy as it risks falling behind China in fielding a sixth-generation fighter jet due to slow decision-making and a debate over the future role of crewed aircraft. The author argues for the urgent resurrection of the Digital Century Series acquisition strategy, emphasizing its potential to rapidly develop and field new aircraft, incentivize industry, and maintain American air superiority in an increasingly unpredictable world.
- 1950s inspiration: The Digital Century Series approach is inspired by a period in the 1950s when the Air Force fielded six different tactical aircraft in a three-year period.
- Rapid, iterative acquisition: The Digital Century Series strategy is a process-centric approach focused on quickly developing and fielding new aircraft in smaller batches with frequent design iterations, moving away from long-term, product-focused programs.
- Incentivizing innovation: The strategy aims to incentivize industry to build new aircraft more frequently by competing designs and shortening service lifespans, fostering a more dynamic and responsive industrial base.
Advancing DoD Operations With Software Acquisition Reform
Defense Innovation Unit
The recent Pentagon announcement mandating the default use of the Software Acquisitions Pathway (SWP) and Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO) and Other Transactions (OT) authorities is important step in speeding DOD's ability to get innovative technology to the hands of warfighters.
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has been using a proven Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process to successfully develop and field new technologies, and the unit is eager to help scale this process across DOD.
- Problem-Driven Approach: DIU projects start with a problem statement from a mission partner that commercial industry can solve.
- Rapid Prototyping: DIU utilizes its CSO process and OT authority to award prototype agreements, aiming for a 60-90 day timeframe, with a current average around 120 days.
- Easy Follow-On: Following a successful prototype, any DoD entity can directly enter into non-competitive production contracts.
- OT Benefits Over FAR: Using DIU’s OT-based CSO offers advantages like negotiable terms, no government accounting standards, no FAR Part 33 protest applicability, and streamlined follow-on production.
How to deliver more secure capabilities to the warfighter, faster
Daisy Thornton, Federal News Network
This article discusses the critical need to rethink how the Department of Defense delivers secure technological capabilities to warfighters, emphasizing speed and cybersecurity from the outset.
- Cybersecurity First: The impulse to balance innovation and cybersecurity is incorrect; they must be pursued together. Cybersecurity must be a primary consideration from the initial stages of innovation.
- Integrated Teams: All stakeholders, including operators, acquirers, resource sponsors, and industry partners, need to collaborate from the beginning.
- Operator Focus: Capabilities should be designed with the end-users (operators and maintainers) in mind, ensuring ease of understanding, use, and repair.
Collaborative Combat Drones Designed From Ground Up To Do Logistics Differently
Joseph Trevithick, The War Zone
The U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) are being developed with a new emphasis on streamlined logistics and maintenance through the use of commercial components and designs tailored for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations, aiming for greater operational flexibility and reduced support burdens.
- Revolutionary Logistics: CCAs are designed with fundamentally different maintenance, logistics, and sustainment concepts, prioritizing commercial parts and ACE principles. Designs incorporate features like condition-based maintenance and easily replaceable units to reduce the maintenance burden in the field.
- Simplified Ground Support: CCAs aim to minimize the need for specialized ground support equipment, with designs like all-electric start and C-130 transportability in mind. Increased autonomous capabilities will reduce the required deployed footprint and support personnel.
Innovation
iStock illustration
Israeli Startups Investigate Mind-Machine Interfaces for Defense Applications
Stew Magnuson, National Defense
Israeli startups actively exploring mind-machine interfaces for defense applications.
- Non-invasive thought control: The focus is on developing non-surgical technologies, like skin patches, that could allow soldiers to control drones and other equipment using only their thoughts.
- Dual-use potential: Researchers are also investigating neurotechnology for applications such as treating PTSD, enhancing training, and even monitoring and managing soldiers' mental states in real-time.
No sailors in sight: DARPA launches warship designed ‘from the ground up’ to be truly unmanned
Justin Katz, Breaking Defense
DARPA has launched Defiant (USX-1), a novel 180-foot warship meticulously engineered from its inception to operate entirely without human personnel.
- Autonomous Operations: The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program aims to create a ship capable of long-duration autonomous operation at sea.
- No Human Provisions: Unlike many current unmanned surface vessels (USV), NOMARS has been designed with no provision or expectation for humans on board. This distinguishes it from "optionally manned ships" which still include spaces for human life.
- Significant Advantages: DARPA anticipates significant advantages from this approach, including reduced size and cost. greater hydrodynamic efficiency, and improved survivability.
The Real Threat of Chinese AI: Why the United States Needs to Lead the Open-Source Race
Jared Dunnmon, Foreign Affairs
China's rapid advancements in open-source AI, exemplified by DeepSeek's powerful and low-cost models, present a significant threat to U.S. leadership, necessitating a strategic shift towards supporting and promoting American open-source alternatives and bolstering the domestic AI ecosystem. This competition extends beyond economic potential to influence norms, values, and even the underlying semiconductor industry.
- Openness Advantage: The open-source nature of DeepSeek's models allows for free download, use, modification, and building upon, contributing to their rapid adoption globally compared to proprietary American models.
- U.S. Response Urged: The United States needs a much bigger push to develop and deploy its own open-source LLMs, supported by government incentives, investment, and collaboration across sectors.
- Chip Ecosystem Threat: The widespread adoption of cost-effective Chinese LLMs could incentivize the use of Chinese chips like Huawei's Ascend, potentially eroding Western dominance in chip design and manufacturing.
Defense & Strategy
A soldier flies a Red Cat quadcopter in this artist’s rendering. (Red Cat)
Army to soldiers: Get small drones back in the air, don’t worry about the red tape (as much)
Ashley Roque, Breaking Defense
The US Army is taking steps to encourage greater use of small drones by easing the procedures for handling their loss, aiming to reduce soldier and commander apprehension about the time-consuming investigations that have previously followed such incidents.
- Burdensome Investigations: Losing or breaking a drone currently triggers a full investigation (FLIPL) to determine liability. These investigations can be more expensive than the drone itself, consuming significant administrative time and salaries.
- Acceptable Losses: The Army aims to build "muscle memory" where writing off lost drones in combat missions becomes an accepted practice.
Achieving “peace through strength” in the 2020s
Michael E. O’Hanlon, Brookings Institute
To maintain "peace through strength" in the 2020s amidst rising great-power competition and coordinated adversaries, the United States needs to adapt its defense strategy and budget by focusing on deterring multiple threats simultaneously, strengthening its industrial base, and accelerating technological advancements.
- Industrial Strength: It is essential to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base, stockpile munitions, and improve surge capacity.
- Accelerate Technology: The U.S. must accelerate the acquisition of new technologies, particularly unmanned systems, and improve basing infrastructure.
- Integrated Deterrence: Utilizing economic power alongside military might is crucial for deterring adversaries.
Unpreparedness is a Choice
Shawn P. Creamer, Small Wars Journal
The United States and its allies are currently unprepared for a potential multi-theater general war against a growing coalition of authoritarian powers due to decades of strategic misjudgments and underinvestment. This necessitates an urgent and comprehensive national mobilization effort across government, industry, and its alliance network to re-establish deterrence and ensure the defense of free world interests.
- Logistics Vulnerability: The U.S. faces critical weaknesses in logistics and power projection capabilities, with aging infrastructure and reliance on potentially unavailable commercial support.
- Industrial Insufficiency: The national industrial capacity is brittle and unable to meet the surge demands of a protracted, high-intensity war, as highlighted by supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine.
- Revise Defense Strategy: The National Defense Strategy must account for the prospect of a protracted, global general war, potentially returning to a multi-theater war strategy including the Homeland.
Make America test again: How rapid, iterative testing will advance hypersonic development
A.J. Piplica, Space News
To regain leadership in hypersonic technology and counter adversaries effectively, the United States must urgently shift to a strategy of rapid, iterative development and testing, drawing inspiration from historical aerospace successes and the modern commercial space sector. This approach involves frequent prototyping, real-world testing, and addressing critical limitations in testing infrastructure and regulatory processes to accelerate learning and field viable hypersonic systems.
Industry
A row of Guided Bomb Unit 32s lie on a munitions assembly conveyer at Langley Air Force Base, Va., March 5, 2013. The productions section of the Munitions Flight is responsible for providing munitions to the flight line. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kayla Newman/Released)
Exploit America’s commercial strengths to mobilize weapons production
Dan Patt, Breaking Defense
A new report from the Hudson Institute argues that to address depleted munitions inventories and ensure the ability to deter conflict, the Department of Defense should leverage America's commercial power by prioritizing scalable and adaptable weapon designs, embracing contract manufacturing, and capitalizing on the nation's digital strengths. This strategic shift away from traditional, bespoke systems towards modular designs and commercial production methods is essential for rapidly producing and updating the necessary munitions in a cost-effective manner.
Full Report: Ending Self-Imposed Scarcity: Exploiting America’s Commercial Strengths to Mobilize Weapons Production
China bans more US defense firms
Leilani Chavez, Defense News
China has expanded its list of banned US defense firms, citing national sovereignty and security concerns, further escalating trade tensions between the two nations. This action by China includes halting economic activities, blocking imports, and prohibiting new investments for the listed companies.
When It Comes to Submarines, Australia Is Going to Be Left High and Dry
Peter Briggs, War on the Rocks
Australia's AUKUS submarine plan faces significant risks of failure due to US production shortfalls and UK program delays, potentially leaving Australia without a viable submarine capability. The author argues that a more practical and cost-effective solution lies in the mature French Suffren-class submarine. This alternative offers a more certain path to maintaining Australia's undersea defense capabilities while still allowing for cooperation within the broader AUKUS framework.
Australian Submarine Agency Strategy Document: Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy
CSR Report: AUKUS and Indo-Pacific Security
Congress & Government
The attack submarine USS Hampton enters Dry Dock 1 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine, March 8, 2025. Branden Bourque, Navy
The State of U.S. Shipbuilding Hearing Testimony
U.S. Naval Institute Staff, USNI News
The Senate Armed Service Committee heard testimony this week on the Navy's fiscal year 2025 shipbuilding plan. The Navy's fiscal year 2025 shipbuilding plan aims to significantly expand the fleet to achieve a 381-ship goal with more distributed firepower, at a substantial cost, while acknowledging a near-term decrease in fleet size and the persistent challenge of maintenance delays.
Research
Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
Military Supply Chain Logistics and Dynamic Capabilities: A Literature Review and Synthesis
David Loska, et al., Transportation Journal
Military supply chain logistics (MSCL) has historically driven innovation in supply chain management, developing unique dynamic capabilities to navigate volatile and uncertain environments, offering valuable lessons for the broader business logistics landscape. This literature review synthesizes the evolution of MSCL with dynamic capabilities theory, highlighting its distinctive attributes and the potential for cross-sector learning.
National shipbuilding strategies in Australia, Britain, and Canada
Elinor C. Sloan, International Journal
Canada, Australia, and Britain have each implemented national naval shipbuilding strategies driven by the need to replace aging fleets and establish sovereign capabilities, yet they face common challenges of delays, cost increases, and the complexities of warship construction. The article compares their strategic and tactical approaches, highlighting the trade-offs between domestic building, value for money, continuous production, and bespoke requirements.
Exploring Successful U.S. Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research Program Outcomes and Corresponding Public Sector Commercialization Success Factors
Sarah Maria Rovito, George Washington University
This study examines factors contributing to successful commercialization of technologies developed through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), as evidenced by the achievement of Department of the Navy Phase III awards or receipt of an SBIR Success designation. By analyzing a large dataset of SBIR awards using statistical and machine learning methods, the research identifies key predictors of commercial success, such as award amount, company size, and prior SBIR investment.
Military Readiness: Implementing GAO's Recommendations Can Help DOD Address Persistent Challenges Across Air, Sea, Ground, and Space Domains
Government Accountability Office
Military readiness across air, sea, ground, and space domains has degraded over the last two decades. The Department of Defense (DOD) needs to implement over 100 outstanding recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to address persistent challenges while balancing current operational demands with modernization efforts.
Resources
Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node's (TITAN) most significant contribution to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) is its modular open system architecture and data management. Here, systems mounted on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) will contribute to TITAN's intelligence gathering capabilities. Courtesy Photo, Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors
DOD Unveils MOSA Implementation Guidebook
Jane Edwards, ExecutiveGov
The Department of Defense (DOD) has published a guidebook to promote the adoption of a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) across the defense acquisition lifecycle, providing best practices for planning, implementation, and evaluation, as well as recommendations for requests for proposals.
Guidebook: Implementing a Modular Open Systems Approach in
Department of Defense Programs
DOD Issues Guidance on Contractors’ Program R&M Estimates
Arthur McMiler, Executive Gov
The Department of Defense has issued a guidebook for contractors to enhance the quality of their reliability and maintainability (R&M) estimates for DOD programs. This guide, the first in a series, incorporates industry feedback and offers best practices for generating more accurate R&M predictions throughout the system lifecycle.
Guidance: Best Practices to Achieve Better Reliability and Maintainability Estimates for DoD Systems
Opportunities
A U.S. Air Force Special Tactics operator with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida, programs a surveillance drone to provide security at Eglin Range, Florida, Dec. 6, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Christopher H. Stolze)
SOCOM searching for reconfigurable ‘drone-in-a-box’ systems that can fly and drive
Jon Harper, Defense Scoop
U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is seeking versatile "Drone in a Box" systems capable of transforming between unmanned aerial vehicles and ground robots to enhance mission adaptability.
Special Notice: Drone in a Box (DIBs) Collaboration Event (CE)
Green Berets Looking For FPV Drones To Help Them Clear Hostile Cave Complexes
Howard Altman, The War Zone
U.S. Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) is seeking to procure FPV drones and associated training for Green Berets to enhance their ability to clear hostile cave complexes, as these drones are deemed safer and more effective than the current reliance on military working dogs and partner forces. This acquisition addresses the growing threat posed by adversaries utilizing underground facilities in regions like the Middle East.
Special Notice: SOCCENT Unmanned Aerial System Procurement
Machine Gun With Longer Reach Sought By U.S. Army
Joseph Trevithick, The War Zone
The U.S. Army seeks a new machine gun that can fire the .338 Norma Magnum cartridge, while maintaining compatibility with the 6.8x51mm ammunition used in M7 rifles and M250 light machine guns.
Sources Sought: Dual Caliber Machine Gun .338N and 6.8mm
Sources Sought: M240 6.8mm Conversion Kit
Events
Manifest: Demo Day
17 March 2025
Washington DC
2025 Undersea Warfare Spring Conference
17-19 March 2025
San Diego, CA
McAleese Defense Programs Conference
18 March 2025
Washington DC
2025 Munitions Executive Summit
18-19 March 2025
Parsippany, NJ
DoD Modernization Exchange 2025
25-26 March 2025
Virtual
AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition
25-27 March 2025
Huntsville, AL
Software-defined warfare: A blueprint for sustaining a competitive military edge
27 March 2025
Washington, DC
TEVCON: Technology, Energy, Vehicle Conference
2-4 April 2025
San Diego, CA
Technology & National Security Conference
4-5 April 2025
Cambridge, MA
Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future
30 April 2025
Washington, DC or Virtual
Sea Air Space
6-9 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland
APEX
23-24 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland
2025 State of the Space Industrial Base Conference and SSIB Workshops
29 April - 2 May 2025
Albuquerque, NM
Creating Synergy for Informed Change - Transitioning Technology
22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
7-8 May 2025
Virtual
2025 ASNE Intelligent Ships Symposium
12-14 May 2025
Philadelphia, PA
DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA
Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL
MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA
I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL
One more thing...
Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Parker | OKINAWA, Japan (Apr. 15, 2021) Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 and Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion maneuver through a course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center.
Seabees 'Can Do' Since '42
Lt.j.g. Drew Verbis, DVIDS
The U.S. Navy Seabees, celebrating their 83rd anniversary in 2025, have a storied history of providing crucial construction, engineering, and humanitarian support globally.
- Pearl Harbor Origin: The Seabees were created in 1942 following the attack on Pearl Harbor, recognizing the need for a militarized construction force.
- WWII Contributions: During World War II, Seabees built over 400 advance bases, numerous airfields, piers, and hospitals across the Atlantic, Alaskan, and Pacific theaters, playing a vital role in the war effort.
- Post-War Service: Since WWII, Seabees have contributed to every major U.S. military conflict, as well as providing extensive humanitarian aid and disaster relief globally.
- "Seabee" Nickname: The name "Seabee" originates from the phonetic pronunciation of C.B. for "Construction Battalions".
- Disney-Designed Emblem: The iconic Seabee logo, featuring a bee with construction tools and a rifle, was designed by Walt Disney in 1943.
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