“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.
By Theresa HitchensHouse 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.
By Justin KatzThe 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.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. and Theresa HitchensThe 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.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.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.
By Paul McLeary“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.
By Colin ClarkTo 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.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.The Air Force has set Feb. 12-13 at Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts as the first industry day for the E-4B replacement program.
By Theresa HitchensThe 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.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Congressional gridlock could stall over 100 programs just as the Army is starting to turn its ambitious modernization plan into real hardware.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.The Army Modernization Strategy aims to counter Russia by 2028 and China by 2035 — but Congress can’t pass a budget for this year.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
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.
By Steve Cortese and Charlie Houy