SDA’s data relay, missile tracking networks to be operational by end of 2025: Tournear

SDA’s data relay, missile tracking networks to be operational by end of 2025: Tournear
SDA’s data relay, missile tracking networks to be operational by end of 2025: Tournear

“By the end of next year, we’ll have 126 Link 16 satellites that are operational on orbit,” said SDA Director Derek Tournear.

Radha Plumb named new Pentagon CDAO as Martell exits in April

Radha Plumb named new Pentagon CDAO as Martell exits in April
Radha Plumb named new Pentagon CDAO as Martell exits in April

Plumb, the current deputy under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, has held high-powered jobs from Google to the National Security Council.

SDA requests nearly $4.3B for FY25, slight drop from last year

SDA requests nearly $4.3B for FY25, slight drop from last year
SDA requests nearly $4.3B for FY25, slight drop from last year

SDA is asking for $357 million for FY25 launch services, down from the nearly $530 million in FY24. Those funds would pay to manifest four planned launches of the Tranche 2 Transport Layer satellites in 2027.

Space Force vice chief says failure on continuing resolution could cost service up to $3.9B

Space Force vice chief says failure on continuing resolution could cost service up to $3.9B
Space Force vice chief says failure on continuing resolution could cost service up to $3.9B

Gen. Michael Guetlein said that the service is “looking at losing about seven” of the 10 launches it planned under the National Security Space Launch program in FY24 if the CR is prolonged.

How GIDE grows: AI battle network experiments are expanding to Army, allies and industry

How GIDE grows: AI battle network experiments are expanding to Army, allies and industry
How GIDE grows: AI battle network experiments are expanding to Army, allies and industry

2023’s Global Information Dominance Experiments were a race to field a “minimum viable” version of CJADC2. The 2024 GIDEs will open up to more input from the services, the Five Eyes allies, and a wide range of contractors.

First version of all-service battle network is ‘real and ready now’: Hicks

First version of all-service battle network is ‘real and ready now’: Hicks
First version of all-service battle network is ‘real and ready now’: Hicks

“The Minimum Viable Capability for CJADC2 [Combined Joint All Domain Command & Control] is real and ready now,” said Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks. “It’s low latency and extremely reliable.” But budget gridlock blocks deployment.

‘Fight tonight’ vs ‘Getting it right’: CDAO’s Martell wants to build AI to last

‘Fight tonight’ vs ‘Getting it right’: CDAO’s Martell wants to build AI to last
‘Fight tonight’ vs ‘Getting it right’: CDAO’s Martell wants to build AI to last

The US military can quickly kludge together custom solutions for urgent problems, said Pentagon AI chief Craig Martell. But it needs a more systematic approach to turn those quick hacks into stable, enduring AIs that can actually talk to each other.

Marines Corps’ Project Dynamis envisioned as CJADC2 ‘integrator’ for joint force

Marines Corps’ Project Dynamis envisioned as CJADC2 ‘integrator’ for joint force
Marines Corps’ Project Dynamis envisioned as CJADC2 ‘integrator’ for joint force

The Marine Corps knows it can’t “solve JADC2 for everybody,” in part because the service doesn’t have the money or the amount of people to do so, according to an official.

SDA, MDA missile tracking demonstration payloads blast off

SDA, MDA missile tracking demonstration payloads blast off
SDA, MDA missile tracking demonstration payloads blast off

The agencies said in their joint announcement that the “launch of the two prototype systems will be followed by two years of on-orbit testing.”

JWCC 1 year in: Military branches test the waters as DoD envisions cloud service 2.0

JWCC 1 year in: Military branches test the waters as DoD envisions cloud service 2.0
JWCC 1 year in: Military branches test the waters as DoD envisions cloud service 2.0

The service branches aren’t mandated to use the up-to $9 billion services, but the Army and Navy are getting into the game with some secret-level and wargaming-related programs, according to service documents provided to Breaking Defense.

Budget disputes put Pentagon’s early JADC2 goals in jeopardy: Official

Budget disputes put Pentagon’s early JADC2 goals in jeopardy: Official
Budget disputes put Pentagon’s early JADC2 goals in jeopardy: Official

The Pentagon achieved a minimum viable capability for its Joint All Domain Command and Control effort through the recent Global Information Dominance Experiment, Deputy CDAO Margaret Palmieri said.

SDA’s latest Tracking Layer contract includes 6 ‘fire control’ sats

SDA’s latest Tracking Layer contract includes 6 ‘fire control’ sats
SDA’s latest Tracking Layer contract includes 6 ‘fire control’ sats

An SDA official explained that the six “preliminary fire control” satellites in Tracking Layer Tranche 2 will carry a mix of wide-field-of-view and medium-field-of-view infrared cameras.

Army sending additional ‘data stewards’ to commands, defining data roles

Army sending additional ‘data stewards’ to commands, defining data roles
Army sending additional ‘data stewards’ to commands, defining data roles

The Army first put out guidance two years ago on the idea of creating “data stewards” for its commands who would act as “kind of our spokesman for our supply side,” and will start codifying it in fiscal 2024, David Markowitz told Breaking Defense.

High-tech trench warfare: 5 hard-won lessons-learned for the US from Ukraine

High-tech trench warfare: 5 hard-won lessons-learned for the US from Ukraine
High-tech trench warfare: 5 hard-won lessons-learned for the US from Ukraine

From expendable drones, to ad hoc battle networks, to hacker “armies” of volunteers, the war in Ukraine has shown the big-spending US military new ways to fight in the Information Age.