Space Force, IC’s battle over commercial ISR reignites as appropriators add fuel

Space Force, IC’s battle over commercial ISR reignites as appropriators add fuel
Space Force, IC’s battle over commercial ISR reignites as appropriators add fuel

More than a dozen sources tell Breaking Defense that tensions between the NGA and Space Force are rising on commercial ISR, with White House officials watching closely.

Senate appropriators back funds for Taiwan, unfunded requirements, industrial base in $831B bill

Senate appropriators back funds for Taiwan, unfunded requirements, industrial base in $831B bill
Senate appropriators back funds for Taiwan, unfunded requirements, industrial base in $831B bill

A draft version of the bill provides funds for an amphibious ship, but not for a new F-35 engine, both contentious debates in the military and on the Hill.

Lawmakers Throw Wrench Into Air Force ISR Divestment Plan

Lawmakers Throw Wrench Into Air Force ISR Divestment Plan
Lawmakers Throw Wrench Into Air Force ISR Divestment Plan

House authorizers threw shade at the service for not heeding long-standing warnings of the potential for a gap in tactical aircraft availability.

Army Soldier Tech Team Seeks Hill’s Trust After Cuts

Army Soldier Tech Team Seeks Hill’s Trust After Cuts
Army Soldier Tech Team Seeks Hill’s Trust After Cuts

After skeptical staffers slammed the IVAS targeting goggles, the Army generals responsible have been emphasizing their solicitousness towards Congress.

Air Force Woos Congress On Space Acquisition Reform

Air Force Woos Congress On Space Acquisition Reform
Air Force Woos Congress On Space Acquisition Reform

“Given where we are at this point in the administration, it’s unlikely that we would see a nominee” for an independent Space Force acquisition head, said Shawn Barnes, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for space acquisition.

NDAA Adds 14 F-35s, OKs $9.1B; Fully Funds B-21

NDAA Adds 14 F-35s, OKs $9.1B; Fully Funds B-21
NDAA Adds 14 F-35s, OKs $9.1B; Fully Funds B-21

Authorizers want CAPE to assess costs and risks of the “aggressive and uncertain plan” Digital Century Series approach to acquire NGAD aircraft.

Death To OCO: What Would Dem Sweep Mean For War Funding?

Death To OCO: What Would Dem Sweep Mean For War Funding?
Death To OCO: What Would Dem Sweep Mean For War Funding?

Deficit hawks are now nearly extinct and defense hawks are weakened. If the Democrats sweep the next election, eliminating OCO might be the mechanism for a Biden administration to cut defense.

Note To Putin: Trump Unleashes $400M For Ukrainian Military

Note To Putin: Trump Unleashes $400M For Ukrainian Military
Note To Putin: Trump Unleashes $400M For Ukrainian Military

After weeks of uncertainty over the Trump administration’s policy toward Ukraine, senators and State Department officials say the spigot of aid has been turned back on.

Sen. Hoeven: Fully Fund GBSD & Nuke Warhead Modernization

Sen. Hoeven: Fully Fund GBSD & Nuke Warhead Modernization
Sen. Hoeven: Fully Fund GBSD & Nuke Warhead Modernization

You don’t see lots of op-eds from members of the House or Senate appropriations committees. Why? The so-called cardinals — whose influence has slipped with the demise of regular budget order in the two chambers — remain among the most powerful figures on Capitol Hill because they have a greater say than most of their…

CBO: HASC ‘Space Corps’ To Cost $3.6 Billion Through 2024

The HASC ‘Space Corps’ will be much cheaper than the Trump Administration’s plan for a Space Force, says CBO.

Talk To Us First, THEN Congress: Navy Acquisition Officials

Talk To Us First, THEN Congress: Navy Acquisition Officials
Talk To Us First, THEN Congress: Navy Acquisition Officials

“From an industry perspective, calling us, engaging us, talking to us, and synchronizing that alignment can be most helpful. It can also be, frankly, harmful if the appropriators or the authorizers get some stray voltage that doesn’t match up to the story.”

Aircraft Win Big In FY19 Appropriations: Munitions, Space, Marines Hammered

Aircraft Win Big In FY19 Appropriations: Munitions, Space, Marines Hammered
Aircraft Win Big In FY19 Appropriations: Munitions, Space, Marines Hammered

The big news about the $674.4 billion defense appropriation that conferees agreed to yesterday is that, for the first time in nine years, it’s on time. But in a budget this big, even the “small” items are billions of dollars, and there are plenty of devils in them thar details.

Defense Bill Closer, But Risks Remain

Defense Bill Closer, But Risks Remain
Defense Bill Closer, But Risks Remain

Thursday’s overwhelming Senate vote to pass the bill clears a major hurdle in getting the budget passed on time. But Not only do the House and Senate have little time to knock out final appropriations language and vote on it, but President Trump has signaled he wouldn’t be opposed to a government shutdown this fall, which would bring everything to a grinding halt.

Congress Divided On $75M For Army Scout Aircraft: Fly The Deadly Skies

Congress Divided On $75M For Army Scout Aircraft: Fly The Deadly Skies
Congress Divided On $75M For Army Scout Aircraft: Fly The Deadly Skies

WASHINGTON: Senate appropriators want to give the Army $75.4 million to kick-start its new scout aircraft, but key authorizers told us they are skeptical. (House appropriators are so far silent). The crucial questions: Can a manned, low-altitude, lightweight aircraft survive against the Russian threat? And can the Army afford the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA)…