Rep. Ken Calvert: A hedge strategy for US military superiority

Rep. Ken Calvert: A hedge strategy for US military superiority
Rep. Ken Calvert: A hedge strategy for US military superiority

In an exclusive op-ed, Rep. Ken Calvert, the Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, lays out how he hopes to improve the military’s technological capabilities.

House appropriators’ $826B Pentagon spending bill sets up fights with authorizers

House appropriators’ $826B Pentagon spending bill sets up fights with authorizers
House appropriators’ $826B Pentagon spending bill sets up fights with authorizers

The DoD topline is a 3.6% increase over last year and roughly $285 million more than the White House sought.

Lawmakers rev up support for Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 in letter to appropriators

Lawmakers rev up support for Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 in letter to appropriators
Lawmakers rev up support for Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 in letter to appropriators

The full-throated support by Armed Services Committee lawmakers could foreshadow Force Design 2030’s future when its biggest proponent leaves the Marine Corps.

Speed vs. oversight: Middle Tier Acquisition draws lawmakers’ concern

Speed vs. oversight: Middle Tier Acquisition draws lawmakers’ concern
Speed vs. oversight: Middle Tier Acquisition draws lawmakers’ concern

When it comes to MTAs, Eric Lofgren, a defense acquisition specialist at George Mason University, told Breaking Defense that “GAO and OSD seem to be struggling with how to baseline and conduct oversight of these programs.”

House appropriators advance commercial space tracking with funding bump

House appropriators advance commercial space tracking with funding bump
House appropriators advance commercial space tracking with funding bump

The $87 million in funding for the Commerce office is a step in the direction of implementing the long-stalled plan to transfer authority for tracking non-military spacecraft to a civil agency.

After mix-up, Army says 12 programs may be hit by year-long CR

After mix-up, Army says 12 programs may be hit by year-long CR
After mix-up, Army says 12 programs may be hit by year-long CR

After Breaking Defense noted a discrepancy in lists provided by the Army, the service revised the number of programs that would be impacted by a year-long continuing resolution.

Lawmakers petition for $50M defense spending for tactically responsive space launch

Lawmakers petition for $50M defense spending for tactically responsive space launch
Lawmakers petition for $50M defense spending for tactically responsive space launch

The Senate version of the 2022 defense appropriations bill also includes $50 million, a House aide explained, but the House version only includes $5 million.

Missile contract with NATO allies at risk over House spending cuts: Navy

Missile contract with NATO allies at risk over House spending cuts: Navy
Missile contract with NATO allies at risk over House spending cuts: Navy

A House bill cuts about $118 million earmarked for the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile, a Raytheon-made anti-ship weapon being developed by the US and 10 NATO allies, plus Australia.

SASC Frets DoD Missile Warning Satellite Efforts May Be Flailing

SASC Frets DoD Missile Warning Satellite Efforts May Be Flailing
SASC Frets DoD Missile Warning Satellite Efforts May Be Flailing

The first Next-Gen OPIR satellites, designed to replace the current SBIRS missile warning constellation beginning in 2025, are likely to be delayed, says GAO in a new report.

Kendall To Announce Space Acquisition Shake Up

Kendall To Announce Space Acquisition Shake Up
Kendall To Announce Space Acquisition Shake Up

Shawn Barnes, who has been serving as the de facto head of Air Force Space Acquisition and Integration (SAF/SP), has been transferred to the role of the director of Air Force Financial Management Legislative Liaison.

SASC Adds $25 Billion To NDAA In Bipartisan Vote

SASC Adds $25 Billion To NDAA In Bipartisan Vote
SASC Adds $25 Billion To NDAA In Bipartisan Vote

One of Washington’s savviest budget experts says this move on the National Defense Authorization Act  by the SASC means “$25 billion in additional spending above the President’s request is very likely now the ceiling for negotiations going forward,” Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute says.

SCO, Navy Eye More Unmanned Overlord Demonstrations

SCO, Navy Eye More Unmanned Overlord Demonstrations
SCO, Navy Eye More Unmanned Overlord Demonstrations

Overlord is the Pentagon’s somewhat secretive USV development program to inform the technology and capabilities that will one day be aboard most unmanned Navy ships and subs.

HAC Excoriates DoD Failure To Reform Space Acquisition

HAC Excoriates DoD Failure To Reform Space Acquisition
HAC Excoriates DoD Failure To Reform Space Acquisition

Space Force Plans for a new Space Systems Command “consist primarily of renaming the Space and Missile Systems Center” and do not “resolve the fundamental issues of overlap and duplication in roles,” the HAC report says.

Appropriators Increase Air Force Aircraft Procurement, Cut Missiles And Ammo

Appropriators Increase Air Force Aircraft Procurement, Cut Missiles And Ammo
Appropriators Increase Air Force Aircraft Procurement, Cut Missiles And Ammo

The HAC report rebukes the Air Force for a lack of transparency in shifting spending on prototyping of hypersonic missiles.