Pentagon

The Pentagon is developing a list of tested and approved control system products, as defense officials are increasingly concerned a cyberattack on unsecure critical infrastructure could disrupt military operations.

Raytheon executives are optimistic about concluding negotiations with the Defense Department for multiyear procurement of Standard Missiles worth more than $3.5 billion, bolstered by a recent handshake agreement with the Navy for a five-year block buy of the SM-6 and continuing discussion with the Missile Defense Agency for SM-3 Block IB purchases across a similar term.

The Defense Department’s initial use cases for fifth-generation communications technologies include virtual reality for training and simulation, "smart" bases, supply chain management, and depot automation, according to a top DOD official.

The Pentagon's acquisition executive has cleared the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA program, in co-development since 2006 with Japan, for transition to production -- signaling confidence in the interceptor after early flight-test challenges and setting the stage for the rollout of a major operational enhancement to the Ballistic Missile Defense System.

The head of the Section 809 panel says Congress will peel back the Defense Department’s ability to use other transaction agreements if it doesn’t reign in the "abuse" of such agreements.

This fall will be an inflection point for Defense Department acquisition chief Ellen Lord, who is working to finalize a series of acquisition reform initiatives intended to simplify and accelerate the military’s procurement process.

Three of the largest defense industry associations are raising questions about the Pentagon's new cybersecurity certification, including concerns about the "aggressive" implementation time line and the lack of clarity on how the protections will be applied across different programs and suppliers.

U.S. Transportation Command has begun work on a follow-up to last year's mobility capability requirements study that will have a broader scope than the 2019 analysis and will consider what forces are needed to support the National Defense Strategy.

House Energy and Commerce Committee members last week defended the jurisdiction of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission over 5G issues with security implications, amid what the lawmakers see as expansive Defense Department efforts on fifth-generation network applications and a greater role managing finite spectrum resources.