The Defense Department has approved the two-channel Manpack radio made by General Dynamics C4 Systems for low-rate initial production after validating that previously identified flaws have been fixed, according to an internal Pentagon memo signed by DOD's acquisition chief.800 words

The Pentagon's chief weapons tester asserts that Harris Corp.'s 117G radio "has not been adequately tested" and has directed the Army to conduct "realistic operational testing" at the service's Network Integration Evaluation, according to an internal Defense Department memo obtained by Inside the Army.521 words

The Army has awarded contracts to six companies to study future Joint Multi-Role rotorcraft mission systems technology, according to Army and industry officials.781 words

Reserve proponents are asserting themselves in what could soon become a spat over the size of the Army's active-duty and reserve components, with one former ground service official arguing the active Army can afford shedding an additional 50,000 soldiers beyond the downsizing target of 490,000.904 words

The Army National Guard will be next in line for cutbacks following a decision to reduce the number of active-duty forces by roughly 80,000, according to Army Under Secretary Joseph Westphal.436 words

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee has denied the Army's request to reprogram $28 million in "excess" funds away from the renewed humvee recapitalization effort known as the Medium Expanded Capability Vehicle, according to government documents and sources.712 words

The Pentagon's advanced research arm needs to shift its resources to the future and away from technologies needed for ongoing wars, the agency's new director said last week. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, much like the rest of the Defense Department, has spent the past decade "influenced and driven" by the wars in the Middle East, said director Arati Prabhakar. As a result, some of the agency's focus has been on taking technologies to the field and making sure products are getting into the hands of the warfighters, she said at a National Defense Industrial Association event.100 words

"I did hear you get a little roughed up when you come to these events, although I will say, the last time I was in this room, I was actually surrounded by the Muppets."131 words

The Army has made progress filling a shortage of acquisition professionals, but service officials are still seeking specialists to close out contracts, according to Army Under Secretary Joseph Westphal.290 words

The Army's Rapid Equipping Force is using three-dimensional printing at the tactical edge, equipping its Project Expeditionary Lab with the capability in Afghanistan and eying future applications, according to a service official.750 words

Army officials hope to release a formal solicitation for the M113 replacement program, known as the Armored Multipurpose Vehicle, some time in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013 and have scheduled a second industry day for November, they said last week.548 words

Joint Staff officials have begun collecting information from combatant commanders and the service chiefs that will form the basis for the annual "chairman's risk assessment," a classified report submitted to Congress in February, according to officials.317 words

The Army's plans to modernize the utility and heavy helicopter fleet could be slowed if sequestration cuts were to take effect, according to a "dear colleague" letter circulated by House Appropriations Committee top Democrat Rep. Norm Dicks (WA) last week. 470 words

The Army is limiting the number of representatives from each command who will be allowed to attend the Association of the United States Army's annual conference, set to begin on Oct. 22 in Washington, DC, according to a service spokesman.547 words

The Pentagon should undertake a "unified, but modest" effort to study "biomarkers" and the potential for neurosciences and genomics research to help in understanding violent behavior, according to a panel set up to explore ways to predict violence in the wake of the 2009 massacre at Ft. Hood, TX.764 words

The Pentagon and State Department are proceeding with multimillion-dollar plans to provide counterterrorism assistance to multiple countries through the new Global Security Contingency Fund, but further consultation with Congress will be needed before implementation, according to defense and diplomatic officials.350 words

Raytheon was awarded an additional $60 million as part of a modification to an existing contract to support the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, according to an Oct. 5 Defense Department contract announcement. 416 words

Defense contractors that produce U.S. military night-vision sensors must shed more excess capacity to ensure they remain viable as the Defense Department rapidly cuts purchases of the devices, according to a previously unreported Pentagon assessment prepared for Congress.1182 words

The excellent performance of the Pentagon's new night-vision goggles might ultimately lead the department to expand the program, providing a boost to the industrial base, states a previously unreported Defense Department assessment prepared for Congress.279 words

A new Pentagon report on the U.S. night-vision industrial base acknowledges American contractors' concerns about U.S. export controls limiting foreign military sales, but the assessment shoots down comparisons between U.S. and French systems that companies have cited in their arguments.332 words