Defense Business Alert

A new Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program hopes to develop tools to ensure autonomous systems act properly as they evolve with machine learning, and will work with Boeing and Northrop Grumman testbeds to vet those assured autonomy techniques.

The Government Accountability Office this week denied parts of Sikorsky's challenge to how the Air Force handles data rights in the UH-1N Huey replacement program, and dismissed other points because they were raised too early or late in the competition.

A bipartisan group of senators is urging White House trade negotiators to refrain from actions that could grant China increased access to critical U.S. military technologies or undermine enforcement actions against Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE Corp., according to a May 22 letter.

L3 Technologies is moving to focus its research and development and invest in or acquire innovative companies as its seeks to become a "non-traditional sixth prime" under new chief executive Chris Kubasik.

The Army needs to combine greater outreach to industry -- traditional and otherwise -- with less prescriptive requirements to foster innovation and improve acquisition, according to the service secretary.

Mike Petters, the company's chief executive, told investors today he is most concerned about the aircraft carrier supply chain that includes over 5,000 suppliers throughout the country. HII is focused on making sure the supply base has the support it needs to expand its workforce.

Boeing announced today it has agreed to acquire Miami-based aerospace parts distributor KLX for $4.25 billion.

New draft guidance released by the Defense Department last week lays out how contracting officers can use cybersecurity standards in a procurement action, meaning companies who aren't complying with the security controls could soon be deemed too risky for DOD work. 

The official charged with setting defense acquisition policies is pushing Congress to streamline requirements that result in lengthy haggling over cost and pricing data so the Defense Department can drastically reduce the time it takes to buy equipment.