“We are on track from a programmatic standpoint — cost, schedule performance — but we're always gonna be late to need,” said Col. Andrew Konicki, the program manager for Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD). "The threat is ever changing and ever evolving."
“What’s the future in your space?” Gregg Skinner, program manager for Navy and Marine Corps small tactical uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), asked a mixed audience of military and industry. “Group 5 capability, in a Group 2 [drone], at a Group 1 price.”
"When you see that visible signature, it's a reminder to all hands that it's all hands on deck time to get the amphibs ready," said Gen. Eric Smith, the Marine Corps commandant.
The ship's problems, and subsequent sidelining, are gaining more attention on Capitol Hill where multiple lawmakers grilled top Navy brass about the vessel this week.
Checking out some of the notable items on display at this year's Modern Day Marine conference.
The 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Company, which normally rides 6-wheeled LAVs, will work with the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab to test an Australian boat designed for high-speed, high-tech scouting and special ops.
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro defended the service's plans to pause amphib shipbuilding during last year's budget cycle, despite fierce congressional backlash.
Adoption of the MQ-9 platform is just getting started; one of the most important new chapters for this platform will be the one written by the U.S. Marine Corps.
“No matter what theater we talk about – PACOM, Europe – everything needs to be smaller, lighter [and] very modular, so…we can throw it in the back of a pickup truck,” said Col. Devin Licklider, program manager for MAGTF Command & Control.
Marine Corps officials said the new office will act as a bridge over the Pentagon's infamous "valley of death" and will first focus on counter-drone systems.
Two of the vendors for the Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) System Development Contract are providing vertical take-off/launch (VTOL) solutions, while the third is going for a fixed-wing solution.
The two companies will likely have stiff competition in a tech space that has proven vital for the wars both in Ukraine and Israel.