The Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System -- a project that has consumed $2.7 billion and more than a decade just to commence limited user testing -- won strong public backing from Army leaders this week, a turnaround from two years ago when the program was allegedly at risk of being dramatically curtailed or even terminated over schedule delays and cost.
Daily News
August 21, 2020
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM -- While the Army prepares for delivery later this year of the first battery of the Israeli-made Iron Dome air defense system, the service is still considering whether it will be able to integrate the system with its Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System.
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Three companies began work this month on prototyping capabilities for a new wargaming facility scheduled to come online in fiscal year 2023 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, according to an officer overseeing the effort.
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August 20, 2020
The Army today said it intercepted cruise and ballistic missile targets during an assessment of the Integrated Battle Management System, raising service leaders' expectations that problems which plagued a similar test in 2016 are resolved.
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A government watchdog has found unplanned work and workforce problems are the two key factors causing the Navy to fall behind on aircraft carrier and submarine maintenance availabilities.
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Defense Department acquisition chief Ellen Lord today defended the Pentagon's request that Congress provide about $11 billion in emergency supplemental funding to mitigate the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on defense contractors and weapons programs.
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The vice commander of Space Force headquarters said today he expects in the next few weeks to reach an agreement with the Office of the Secretary of Defense about which Army and Navy space programs should transition to the new service, beginning in fiscal year 2021.
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The Defense Department's chief information officer is requiring the military services to program funds in their upcoming budget submissions to support new "DevSecOps" software development efforts, according to a new software report recently delivered to Congress.
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The Pentagon announced today the availability of new, U.S.-manufactured, small unmanned aircraft systems for a variety of government uses after the Defense Department and other federal agencies phased out their use of popular Chinese-made drones and components due to security concerns.
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August 19, 2020
If the U.S. military can ever master technology capable of a boost-phase intercept -- the ability to shoot down enemy intercontinental ballistic missiles immediately after launch -- it will likely be employed in a retaliatory strike because thwarting an initial salvo would come very close to an offensive operation, according to a senior Defense Department official.
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The Pentagon says that a waiver allowing some "low risk" Defense Department contractors to continue using Chinese telecommunications and security equipment could be extended past Sept. 30, as the items covered under the exemption represent nearly three-quarters of all DOD transactions.
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SpaceX has confirmed in a new court filing that it intends to maintain its lawsuit against the Air Force's 2018 Launch Services Agreement award, despite winning a contract earlier this month to launch 40% of Phase 2 national security spacelift missions.
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August 18, 2020
The Air Force Research Laboratory had to abort a July 29 flight test of Kratos' XQ-58A Valkyrie after an "anomaly" with the rocket-assisted take-off system -- the drone's second mishap in 10 months.
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The Missile Defense Agency last week took receipt of industry proposals for a Next Generation Interceptor and has begun source selection, a process expected to yield two winners and potentially a faster development and deployment schedule for the new guided missiles slated to protest the nation against North Korean -- and potentially Iranian -- intercontinental ballistic missile threats in the 2030s.
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The HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter program is working through technical deficiencies found during developmental testing, implementing more industry-standard software practices and planning to solicit proposals for a capability upgrades contract this coming fall.
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U.S. Special Operations Command purchased and fielded $815 million worth of military gear "without verifying that the equipment meets user needs," according to a Defense Department inspector general report on an audit spanning two years.
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August 17, 2020
The Pentagon has waived a requirement until the end of the fiscal year for "low risk, high volume items" contracts to comply with a government-wide ban on contractors using equipment made by Chinese vendors like Huawei and ZTE.
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Perspecta is in talks with the Justice Department to stop Leidos from continuing work on its Next Generation Enterprise Network contract while a lawsuit is pending in federal court, according to recently unsealed court documents.
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August 13, 2020
The Air Force's B-21 bomber development saw some supply chain disruption this summer when a major subcontractor, Spirit AeroSystems, announced production delays due to COVID-19, but program manager Randall Walden said today the team has adapted to the challenge and is "on the right path, to date."
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The director of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office said today his organization is slated to remain independent from the new Space Force Space Systems Command, at least in terms of budgeting and acquisition.
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