‘Unclear’ reporting guidance, ‘inaccurate’ data hamper Mid-Tier Acquisition oversight: GAO
The watchdog report in particular hones in on concerns about a lack of transparency in service and Pentagon component MTA programs.
Oversight or overkill? DoD faces new congressional order to detail Mid-Tier Acquisitions
While lawmakers worry over lack of oversight, MITRE's Pete Modigliani tells Breaking Defense, "The Middle Tier of Acquisition pathway is one of DoD’s most valuable tools to rapidly deliver capabilities ... to deter China’s threat."
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Modernized Gray Eagle® ER & STOL: The MALE gold standard
In an age defined by rapid technological evolution and operational complexity, GA-ASI’s Modernized Gray Eagle® ER and Gray Eagle® STOL remain the gold standard.
Pentagon tightening rules for non-traditional contracts in wake of internal audit
An audit by the DoD Inspector General found that while federal law "allows for one of 4 conditions for a prototype OT award," Pentagon rules contain "no requirement to validate that the contractor met those conditions," an OIG spokesperson told Breaking Defense.
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."
Space Force Eyes Commercial P-LEO SATCOM
"If the Space Systems Command is going to acquire other commercial services in the same fashion that CSCO has been acquiring commercial SATCOM, then that will not serve the warfighter well," said Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch, senior vice president for government strategy and policy at Inmarsat.
RCO To Manage ABMS Buys; Tankers First To Sport New Data Links
"When you can launch an austere airbase in a space capsule, that's frickin' awesome," says AF acquisition head Will Roper about the idea of suborbital transport spacecraft.
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AI in the loop: Transforming military training and system design through smarter simulation
CAE and General Atomics use AI to enhance warfighter readiness, refine aerospace platforms, and learn from simulations.
Army Wants Industry Input For Reliable Exoskeleton (Not Iron Man, Yet!)
SOCOM couldn't build a bulletproof Iron Man. But Army experiments with more modest lower-body exoskeletons have shown real-world potential to help overburdened foot troops.
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Raytheon: Robotized Factory Speeds Up Army LTAMDS Radar
The company is using extensive automation and a new generation of high-efficiency gallium nitride materials to accelerate development of the Lower-Tier Air & Missile Defense Sensor, LTAMDS.
OSD, Air Force Grapple To Fix Space Acquisition Structure
"There are some places that will have some interesting dialogue," says Shawn Barnes, the Air Force's point person on working out future space acquisition authorities under the Space Force.
Space Force Wants $5B For Anti-Jam Satcoms
PTS is not a satellite per se, rather it is envisioned as a payload that could be carried by US military, commercial or even allied satellites.
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Data overload threatens decisionmakers as autonomy expands
Reducing cognitive overload on warfighters while improving “time to trust” for autonomous systems is a matter of design.
Army Reboots OMFV, 2026 Deadline Dropped
After rejecting prototype vehicles built at industry’s expense, the Army is starting over with a competition for low-cost ‘digital prototypes.’ When will they physically build something? TBD.
Failing Fast: Army Reboots Bradley Replacement, OMFV
With only one company qualifying, is the Army’s decision to cancel the competition and start over a major defeat, or it is a necessary and timely course correction?
AFRL Issues New Tech Challenge, Uses Bespoke Contracts
AFRL's new Air Force Explore challenge intends to make four to seven awards, each in the $1 million to $2 million range.
GAO Needs to Step Up Its Game On Annual Weapons Study
GAO’s own data show that the supposed cost growth at the heart of the analysis does not exist at all. The patient reader will find that the real reason for this “cost growth” is increased purchase quantities. In plain terms, the Pentagon bought more weapons.