Acquisition strategy for JADC2 ‘glueware’ faces hurdles, including on Capitol Hill

Acquisition strategy for JADC2 ‘glueware’ faces hurdles, including on Capitol Hill
Acquisition strategy for JADC2 ‘glueware’ faces hurdles, including on Capitol Hill

“The services today are working more what I call ‘service all domain command and control’ — and don’t blame me for the acronym, it sounds like SADC2,” said Scott Stapp, CTO of Northrop Grumman Corp.

House Appropriators Carve Out $1.5B For DDG Navy Failed To Fund

House Appropriators Carve Out $1.5B For DDG Navy Failed To Fund
House Appropriators Carve Out $1.5B For DDG Navy Failed To Fund

House lawmakers are irritated by the service’s choice to request a DDG-51 Flight III destroyer on their annual wish list, rather than design a budget that incorporated it.

Senate Appropriators Cut R&D To Buy More Weapons

Senate Appropriators Cut R&D To Buy More Weapons
Senate Appropriators Cut R&D To Buy More Weapons

The Senate Appropriations Committee proposal adds $2.4 billion to procure more weapons ASAP – especially F-35s – and cuts longer-range R&D by $2.1 billion.

Do Not Change O&M Spending Rules, Say Former Appropriators

Do Not Change O&M Spending Rules, Say Former Appropriators
Do Not Change O&M Spending Rules, Say Former Appropriators

Congress appropriates the amount it believes will be required based on the testimony and documents supplied by the Executive Branch to the Appropriations Committees of the House and Senate. If Congress were to loosen the restrictions on the use of funds it would only serve to weaken a system which is already far too short of discipline.

No Wall Funding? House GOP Threaten Trump Veto Of Defense Funding Bill

No Wall Funding? House GOP Threaten Trump Veto Of Defense Funding Bill
No Wall Funding? House GOP Threaten Trump Veto Of Defense Funding Bill

The Democrats controlling the House Appropriations Committee want to ban further diversion of military funding to build a border wall. Republican members warned this — and other items — could derail the entire bill.

Senate Ships vs. House Subs: Conference Clash To Come?

Senate Ships vs. House Subs: Conference Clash To Come?
Senate Ships vs. House Subs: Conference Clash To Come?

House Democrats want to add $2.5 billion to build a second Virginia-class submarine next year. Senate Republicans would rather spend on destroyers and amphibious ships.

House Appropriators Add 12 F-35s, Boost Weapons Spending, But…

House Appropriators Add 12 F-35s, Boost Weapons Spending, But…
House Appropriators Add 12 F-35s, Boost Weapons Spending, But…

“To us, it means that there is going to be much more tension and debate over future modernization programs as flat investment will not enable DoD to recapitalize in a timely and militarily relevant pace,” says defense analyst Byron Callan.

HASC Wants To Stop Year-End Spending Sprees

HASC Wants To Stop Year-End Spending Sprees
HASC Wants To Stop Year-End Spending Sprees

To end annual panic spending to use up the budget, HASC wants to let DoD keep 50% of unspent Operations & Maintenance funds – if the appropriators allow it. A floor flight looms.

Battle For NRO Takes Shape As Space, Air Forces Grapple With Acquisition

Battle For NRO Takes Shape As Space, Air Forces Grapple With Acquisition
Battle For NRO Takes Shape As Space, Air Forces Grapple With Acquisition

DoD officials are extremely aware, almost to the point of paranoia, that even discussing the issue of NRO potentially being subsumed by the Space Force is playing with fire.

Can The Army Convince Congress It’s Learned From FCS?

Can The Army Convince Congress It’s Learned From FCS?
Can The Army Convince Congress It’s Learned From FCS?

The reboot of the Bradley replacement reminded many on the Hill of past procurement disasters like the Future Combat System. Can the Army exorcise the specter of FCS?

Air Force To Kick Off E-4B Replacement Competition In 2021

Air Force To Kick Off E-4B Replacement Competition In 2021
Air Force To Kick Off E-4B Replacement Competition In 2021

The Air Force has set Feb. 12-13 at Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts as the first industry day for the E-4B replacement program.

Pentagon AI Efforts Disorganized: RAND

Pentagon AI Efforts Disorganized: RAND
Pentagon AI Efforts Disorganized: RAND

The RAND report, commissioned by the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, unsurprisingly recommends more power for the JAIC over future service budgets. Right now AI efforts are so diffuse no one’s even sure what’s in the 2020 appropriations bill just passed.

Sec. Army Interview: ‘We Have To Get This Budget Deal’

Sec. Army Interview: ‘We Have To Get This Budget Deal’
Sec. Army Interview: ‘We Have To Get This Budget Deal’

Congressional gridlock could stall over 100 programs just as the Army is starting to turn its ambitious modernization plan into real hardware.

Army Launches 16-Year Plan To Tackle Russia, China

Army Launches 16-Year Plan To Tackle Russia, China
Army Launches 16-Year Plan To Tackle Russia, China

The Army Modernization Strategy aims to counter Russia by 2028 and China by 2035 — but Congress can’t pass a budget for this year.