“I am concerned about the transition of HBTSS from the Missile Defense Agency to the Space Development Agency. The apparent shift in strategy to deploy this capability does not reflect the urgency of the hypersonic threats we face,” Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., chairman of the House Armed Service’s strategic forces subcommittee, told Breaking Defense.
By Theresa HitchensROC-X – The solution to organic precision strike capabilities
At AUSA Global Force 2024, IAI will present integrated, AI-driven combat systems – both manned and unmanned – that are opening new opportunities on the battlefield.
According to the Congressional Research Service, due to its modular design and increased throw weight, the Sentinel ICBM could be equipped “with two or three warheads to meet the international security environment.”
By Theresa Hitchens
Expect Congress to voice its displeasure when Navy leadership testify on Capitol Hill.
By Justin Katz
Congressional Research Service report could shape lawmaker questions on hypersonics at next hearing, from funding to command and control issues.
By Theresa Hitchens
GAO notes that efforts to defend against Russian and Chinese hypersonic missiles are much less mature than offensive efforts, with much less funding. Only 12 of 70 projects tracked by GAO related to defenses; DoD requested $207 million in 2021 for hypersonic defense, up from $157 million in 2020.
By Theresa Hitchens
“In some ways, it’s too early to say ‘game changer,’ or ‘nothing.’ And I would say, just to put it starkly, each of those positions is probably likely to be untrue or inaccurate,” CSBA’s Tom Mahnken says.
By Theresa Hitchens
“With a flattening budget topline (at best) and many competing Air Force investment priorities, it’s not at all clear that this program will continue. We might just be left with a museum-ready prototype,” Teal Group’s Richard Aboulafia says.
By Theresa Hitchens
A major overhaul is coming in software for missile warning
Space Systems Command’s FORGE program is the first, major missile-warning software modernization effort in 20 years.
“I’d like to say that we’ve got that resolved, but it’s not nearly resolved,” Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said of space acquisition.
By Theresa Hitchens
Amazon’s new protest to the Pentagon isn’t about getting the Defense Department to change its mind, experts say. It’s really a signal to the judge in the long-running court battle over the JEDI contract.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
“We’re looking across the spectrum at the detect, track, ID, and defeat systems,” Geaney said.
By Theresa Hitchens
The move could save more than $30 billion over 25 years to invest in high-tech weapons — but Congress is sure to explode in outrage.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
UPDATE: Source Says WH Will Fund LCS Add; CRS Naval Expert Comments CAPITOL HILL: In a startling turnabout, the Trump Administration now “supports” adding a $541 million Littoral Combat Ship to yesterday’s 2018 budget request, Navy officials told Congress this afternoon. What, exactly, does that mean? The Navy doesn’t know. Minutes before Navy witnesses were to testify…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
WASHINGTON: Building the Navy’s 355-ship fleet will be even harder than we thought, according to a new study from the Congressional Research Service. Veteran Navy expert Ronald O’Rourke estimates that, even if US shipyards work 50 percent faster than today, we wouldn’t have enough aircraft carriers until roughly 2030 — 14 years from now — and enough…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
WASHINGTON: Should the Navy buy the next generation of Littoral Combat Ships in bulk? A contentious hearing today before House Armed Services subcommittee on oversight largely framed the options as polar opposites. You can either sign a multi-ship deal to drive down the price, at the risk of getting “locked in” to buying a flawed…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
