News

By: Todd South The agency that invented stealth technology, the internet, and the M16 has its sights focused on enhancing how the infantry squad works on the battlefield with robots, and advanced targeting and sensing gear. The Squad X program saw its first week-long series of tests at Twentynine Palms, California, this past year. At that event, Marine squads used air and ground vehicles to detect physical, electromagnetic and cyber threats, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The agency's program manager for their Tactical Technology Office, Army Lt. Col. Phil Root said that the first experiment in the program demonstrated “the ability for the squad to communicate and collaborate, even while ‘dancing on the edge of connectivity.'” Squad X Core Technologies program, or SXCT, is an ongoing effort to develop novel technologies that would “extend squad awareness and engagement capabilities without imposing physical and cognitive burdens,” according to a DARPA press release. They aim to speed the development of new, lightweight, integrated systems that provide infantry squads awareness, adaptability and flexibility in complex environments. That effort is to enable dismounted soldiers and Marines to more intuitively understand and control their complex mission environments, according to Root. Those efforts fit within wider work being done by the Close Combat Lethality Task Force, a group set up this past year to enhance close combat capabilities for infantry, special operations, scouts and some engineers. Root is also the program manager for Squad X Core Technologies. He laid out four key technical areas that the program is exploring: Precision Engagement: Precisely engage threats while maintaining compatibility with infantry weapon systems and without imposing weight or operational burdens that would negatively affect mission effectiveness. Capabilities of interest include distributed, non-line-of-sight targeting and guided munitions. Non-Kinetic Engagement: Disrupt enemy command and control, communications and use of drones. Capabilities of interest include disaggregated electronic surveillance and coordinated effects from distributed platforms. Squad Sensing: Detect potential threats at a squad-relevant operational pace. Capabilities of interest include multi-source data fusion and autonomous threat detection. Squad Autonomy: Increase squad members' real-time knowledge of their own and teammates' locations in GPS-denied environments using embedded unmanned air and ground systems. Capabilities of interest include robust collaboration between humans and unmanned systems. Some of those areas were previously explored in 2015 with DARPA's squad technology integration efforts. The tools used to detect threats in the experiments were newer, lighter, versions of previous capabilities. But the release did not provide detailed examples of the gear that Marines tested. “Each run, they learned a bit more on the systems and how they could support the operation,” said Root. “By the end, they were using the unmanned ground and aerial systems to maximize the squad's combat power and allow a squad to complete a mission that normally would take a platoon to execute.” The August event at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center was one of a number of experiments in communications, cyber, EW, loitering munitions and targeting that was conducted over the past year. Both Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, and CACI's BIT Systems are working for ways to enhance infantry capabilities using manned-unmanned teaming, according to the release. Marines testing Lockheed Martin's Augmented Spectral Situational Awareness, and Unaided Localization for Transformative Squads, known as the ASSAULTS system, used autonomous robots with sensor systems to detect enemy locations, allowing the Marines to target the enemy with a precision 40mm grenade before the enemy could detect their movement, according to the release. Small units using CACI's BITS Electronic Attack Module were able to detect, locate, and attack specific threats in the radio frequency and cyber domains. This is all part of larger efforts to put more detection and fires at lower echelons in both the Army and Marine Corps. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/12/30/darpa-program-blending-robots-in-the-squad-to-find-and-destroy-threats

https://www.defensenews.com/outlook/

By: Mark Pomerleau The Air Force is beginning to build specialized cyber teams across the service whose primary mission is to defend local installations and critical mission tasks from cyberattacks. These teams will ensure that a particular wing or smaller organization can complete their mission from a cyber perspective, Maj. Gen. Robert Skinner, commander of 24th Air Force/Air Forces Cyber, told Fifth Domain in a November interview. For example, Skinner said if a wing has an F-16 unit that's responsible for offensive counter air or defensive counter air support, mission defense teams will understand those weapon system and everything that goes into making those air sorties successful as a way to defend that mission from a cyber standpoint. As an example, an eight-man team at the 2nd Weather Group within the 557th Weather Wing monitors the network and recently discovered several “bogus” account requests. The commander, Col. Patrick Williams, said the team was able to figure out that many of the requests were either bots or foreign requests that “had no business being on that network.” By working with the Network Operations and Security Center to eliminate that activity, the number of requests dropped by 80 percent, a huge win, Williams said. He added this was done with just a nascent mission defense team given that the teams are just being filled out across the major commands now. Skinner said each major command is at a different point in activating the teams. In addition, Air Force leaders said the service hopes to achieve efficiencies within its entire IT and cyber defense enterprise. The officials pointed to the Air Force's “enterprise IT as a service” pilot, which examines what efficiencies can be gained by having commercial companies conduct the IT services as opposed to having airmen maintain the IT infrastructure. One benefit of such a move could be that it frees up personnel to spend more time on cyber defense. “Our core strategic theme is moving from IT focused delivery into mission defense teams,” Bill Marion, deputy CIO of the Air Force, said during a keynote presentation in early December. Skinner said the service will likely be able to “re-mission” workers from their IT positions and assign them to these more active defensive roles such as mission defense teams. These mission defense teams are different from cyber protection teams that the Air Force, and other services, provide to U.S. Cyber Command. “In my eyes the [mission defense team] is a [cyber protection team] lite,” Skinner said. "We're very proud of our cyber protection team training and I think that the more of that I can get with our mission defense teams, the more successful they'll be and then our cyber protection teams can be really focused on the high end, the big threats that we'll run into in a peer competition and peer adversaries.” https://www.fifthdomain.com/dod/air-force/2018/12/27/air-force-begins-to-roll-out-special-cyber-defense-teams

NAVY Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a not-to-exceed $434,389,104 for undefinitized modification P00001 to a previously awarded, fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-18-C-1068). This modification provides for the procurement of AIM-9X Lot 18 production requirements to include 766 AIM-9X Block II all up round tactical missiles for the Navy (138); Air Force (197); and the governments of Israel (11); Norway (20); Qatar (40); South Korea (60); and the United Arab Emirates (300), as well as 160 AIM-9X Block II+ all up round missiles for the Navy (12); Air Force (75); and the governments of Australia (49); Israel (7); and the Netherlands (17). In addition, this award provides for the procurement of 170 Block II Captive Air Training Missiles for the Navy (40), Air Force (64), and the governments of Israel (6), Qatar (20), and the United Arab Emirates (40); 12 Special Air Training Missiles for the Navy (4) and the government of Australia (8); 309 all up round containers for the Navy (53), Air Force (94), and the governments of Australia (21), the United Arab Emirates (91), South Korea (17), Norway (5), Israel (7), the Netherlands (5), and Qatar (16); eight Spare Advanced Optical Target Detectors for the governments of Australia (4), the United Arab Emirates (2), and Qatar (2); 50 Spare Guidance Units (Live Battery) for the governments of the United Arab Emirates (26), South Korea (4) and Qatar (20); 35 Spare Captive Air Training Missile Guidance Units for the governments of the United Arab Emirates (15) and Qatar (20); 50 Guidance Unit Containers for the governments of the United Arab Emirates (26), South Korea (4), and Qatar (20); six Spare Advanced Optical Target Detector Containers for the governments of Australia (4) and the United Arab Emirates (2); and one Spare Block II Propulsion Steering Section for the government of Australia (1). Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (31 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (10 percent); Keyser, West Virginia (9 percent); Santa Clarita, California (8 percent); Hillsboro, Oregon (5 percent); Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (5 percent); Goleta, California (4 percent); Cheshire, Connecticut (4 percent); Heilbronn, Germany (3 percent); Simsbury, Connecticut (2 percent); Jose, California (2 percent); Valencia, California (2 percent), Anaheim, California (2 percent); Cajon, California (2 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (1 percent); Anniston, Alabama (1 percent); San Diego, California (1 percent); Chatsworth, California (1 percent); Amesbury, Massachusetts (1 percent); Claremont, California (1 percent); Sumner, Washington (1 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2021. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 missile procurement (Air Force); fiscal 2017 and 2018 weapons procurement (Navy); fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $321,622,863will be obligated at time of award, $8,527,158 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($121,460,276, 28 percent); Navy ($68,351,757, 16 percent); the governments of the United Arab Emirates ($140,486,747, 32 percent); Australia ($26,632,099, 6 percent); Qatar ($26,187,923, 6 percent); South Korea ($25,791,386, 6 percent); Israel ($9,197,285, 2 percent); Norway ($8,295,593, 2 percent); and the Netherlands ($7,986,038, 2 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded $366,623,144 for modification P00014 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-17-C-0015). This modification provides for the production and delivery of three CMV-22B variation in quantity aircraft for the Navy and two MV-22B variation in quantity aircraft for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30 percent); Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (15 percent); Amarillo, Texas (13 percent); Red Oak, Texas (3 percent); East Aurora, New York (3 percent); Park City, Utah (2 percent); McKinney, Texas (1 percent); Endicott, New York (1 percent); various locations within the continental U.S. (27 percent); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2023. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $366,623,144 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded a $230,144,942 cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-firm contract. This contract provides for testing support for the F-35 Lightning II Propulsion System Block 4 Flight Test Program for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and the non-U.S. Department of Defense (non-U.S. DoD) participants. Support to be provided includes technical engineering, flight test support, special tooling and test equipment, flight test spare and repair parts. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland (35 percent); and Edwards Air Force Base, California (33 percent); and in East Hartford, Connecticut (32 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $20,000,000 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). This contract combines purchase for the Navy ($45,760,870; 20 percent); Marine Corps ($45,760,870; 20 percent); Air Force ($91,521,740; 40 percent); and the non-U.S. DoD participants ($47,101,463; 20 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0007). Lockheed Martin Corp., doing business as Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Orlando, Florida, is awarded $109,021,915 for modification P00002 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable contract (N68335-18-C-0681). This modification exercises Option Period One to procure 41 electronic Consolidated Automated Support Systems (eCASS). This contract also provides for eCASS related equipment, kits and test sets in support of various Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Departments, Fleet Readiness Centers, Aircraft Carriers and L- Class Ships. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (27 percent); Hunt Valley, Maryland (24 percent); San Diego, California (14 percent); North Reading, Massachusetts (14 percent); Irvine, California (6 percent); Austin, Texas (3 percent); Everett, Washington (2 percent); Bohemia, New York (2 percent); Minneapolis, Minnesota (2 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $109,021,915 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is awarded an $81,311,942 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to exercise an option under previously-awarded contract N00024-17-C-5405 for design agent engineering and technical support services for the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), SeaRAM, and Land-based Phalanx Weapon System. Phalanx CIWS is a fast-reaction terminal defense against low- and high-flying, high-speed maneuvering anti-ship missile threats that have penetrated all other defenses. CIWS is an integral element of the Fleet Defense In-Depth concept and the Ship Self-Defense Program. Operating either autonomously or integrated with a combat system, it is an automatic terminal defense weapon system designed to detect, track, engage and destroy anti-ship missile threats penetrating outer defense envelopes. The design agent engineering and technical support services are required for maintainability, reliability and improvements. This contract involves foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Canada, United Kingdom, South Korea, Portugal and Greece under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (68 percent); El Segundo, California (18 percent); Louisville, Kentucky (5 percent); Camarillo, California (2 percent); Minneapolis, Minnesota (2 percent); Dallas, Texas (1 percent); Bohemia, New York (1 percent); Melbourne, Florida (1 percent); and various locations below one percent (2 percent). Work is expected to be completed by January 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Army) funding in the amount of $13,798,000; fiscal 2017 weapons procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,126,000; fiscal 2018 weapons procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,500,000; fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,252,295; fiscal 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $187,355; and foreign military sales funding in the amount of $37,500 will be obligated at time of award, and funds in the amount of $15,924,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a not-to-exceed $75,000,000 for undefinitized, fixed-price-incentive-firm-target modification P00002 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-18-C-1046). This modification provides for non-recurring engineering in support of the incorporation of the initial Block III capability for the production of F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (62 percent); El Segundo, California (33 percent); Mesa, Arizona (3 percent) and Ft. Walton Beach, Florida (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $35,000,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. General Electric Co., Lynn, Massachusetts, is awarded $70,752,076 for modification P00016 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-17-C-0047) for the procurement of 16 F414-GE-400 install engines for the F/A-18 aircraft for the Navy. Work will be performed in Lynn, Massachusetts (59 percent); Hookset, New Hampshire (18 percent); Rutland, Vermont (12 percent); and Madisonville, Kentucky (11 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2020. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount $70,752,0768 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a not-to-exceed $55,000,000 undefinitized fixed-price-incentive-firm contract for the procurement of up to six Infrared Search and Track Block II low-rate initial production III units for the F/A-18E/F series aircraft. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (73 percent); and St. Louis, Missouri (27 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $17,350,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0019). Doyon Project Services LLC,* Federal Way, Washington, is awarded $36,171,741 for firm-fixed-price task order N4425519F4055 under a multiple award construction contract (N44255-17-D-4036) for the construction of five standard Type-D earth covered magazines at Naval Magazine Indian Island, Washington. The Type-D magazines will be constructed as cast in-place concrete structures with earth berm covers on grade. The project also includes the construction of a pre-engineered metal building to be used for inert storage with a two-stall forklift charging station for forklifts that will support the magazines. Other aspects of the project include fiber optic information systems, electronic security system, site preparation, paving, site improvements, electrical utilities, fire protection system, environmental mitigation, and demolition of existing buildings and roads. Work will be performed in Indian Island, Washington, and is expected to be completed by April 2021. Fiscal 2018 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $35,835,336; and fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $336,405 are obligated on this award, of which $336,405 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity. Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded $23,201,950for delivery order N0001919F0031 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-17-G-0002). This delivery order provides for MV-22 flight test sustainment; MV-22 flight test sustainment back-home support for analysis of flight tests; and flight test support for five MV-22 aircraft for the Navy, Air Force and the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in December 2019. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy and Air Force); research, development, test and evaluation (Navy and Air Force); and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $23,201,950 will be obligated at time of award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($18,136,470; 78 percent); Air Force ($2,879,339; 12 percent); and the government of Japan ($2,186,141; 10 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., Honolulu, Hawaii, is awarded a $15,419,280 firm-fixed-price contract to construct improvements to the landing areas within Marine Corps Base Hawaii properties that MV-22 Osprey aircraft will utilize for training maneuvers. The work to be performed provides for the converting of existing landing helicopterassault pad into a landing helicopter dock pad, construction of a newlanding platform dock pad, and construction of four new concrete landing pads. Work will be performed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by August 2020. Fiscal 2018 militaryconstruction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $15,419,280 areobligated on this award; of which $3,766,478 will expire at the end of thecurrent fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via theFederal Business Opportunities website, with five proposals received.The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base PearlHarbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-19-C-1321). Grunley Construction Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded $14,676,000 under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N40080-18-C-0033) to exercise the first and third option for the design and construction of an operational archives and research facility at the Washington Navy Yard. The construction work performed provides for the construction of the complete replacement and upgrade of the fire alarm and suppression systems; interior power and light distribution; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and humidity controls; and installation of the tele-communications and security systems in Buildings 46 and 67. The work provides for the construction of a high capacity modular storage systems and commissioning of applicable systems of Building 169. The work also includes the construction of a sensitive compartmented information facility in Building 46. After award of these options, the total cumulative contract value will be $40,653,000. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia, and is expected to be completed by March 2022. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $14,676,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded a $400,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for B-1 and B-52 bomber engineering services. This contract provides for recurring and non-recurring engineering services to B-1 and B-52 aircraft. Work will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Edwards Air Force Base, California; Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Work is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $35,232,481 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8107-19-D-0001). Raytheon Co. - Integrated Defense System, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $15,150,728 modification (P00029) to previously awarded contract FA8730-15-C-0002 for the Qatar Air and Missile Defense Operation Center. This modification provides for the procurement of the Qatar Alternate ADOC Prime Mission Equipment and software, and bring the total cumulative face value of the contract to $269,800,480. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2020. This modification involves 100 percent foreign military sales to Qatar. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded an $11,256,951 modification (FA8681-14-D-0028-001709) to contract FA8681-14-D-0028-0017 for high rate compact telemetry units (HCTMs) and long laser wire harnesses. This modification provides for the exercise of options for an additional quantity of 269 encrypted HCTMs, 30 unencrypted HCTMs, and 50 long laser wire harnesses being produced under the delivery order. Work will be performed in St. Louis and is expected to be completed by November 2020. Fiscal 2017 special defense acquisition funds; fiscal 2011 foreign military sales funds; fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds; and fiscal 2018 other procurement funds are funding the contract. This modification involves foreign military sales to the Kingdom of Bahrain. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $33,578,408. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contract activity. (Awarded Dec. 18, 2018) ARMY Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $205,205,445 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for land-based Phalanx weapon system. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 27, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-D-0015). Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Fullerton, California, was awarded a $51,901,116 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 50 Enhanced Sentinel A3 radars and associated spares. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Fullerton, California, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2018 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $51,901,116 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-C-0018). Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Fullerton, California, was awarded a $28,912,871 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for Sentinel life cycle support. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Fullerton, California, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $4,297,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-C-0044). Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, Tucker, Georgia, was awarded a $25,800,000 firm-fixed-price contract for food service. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2019. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Benning, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W911SF-19-D-0003). Garco Construction Inc., Spokane, Washington, was awarded a $23,481,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape pipeline dormitory at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 20, 2020. Fiscal 2017 military construction funds in the amount of $23,481,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, Washington, is the contracting activity (W912DW-19-C-0002). URS Federal Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland, was awarded an $18,967,634 modification (0003 54) to contract W52P1J-12-G-0028 0003 for maintenance supply and transportation logistics support services for Army Prepositioned Stock 5. Work will be performed in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 2, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $4,443,831 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Calibre Systems Inc., Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded a $17,190,846 firm-fixed-price contract for program management, technical and policy advise, recommendations, and support. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2021. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9124J-19-D-0004). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Erie Engineered Products Inc.,* Lancaster, New York, has been awarded a maximum $47,766,579 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for reusable shipping and storage containers. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New York, with a Dec. 27, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of funding is fiscal 2019 through 2022 non-Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPRPA1-19-D-001W). WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES QualX Corp., Springfield, Virginia, has been awarded a $9,006,681 firm-fixed-price contract. The contract provides information management and information access support services for Washington Headquarters Services. Work performance will take place in Arlington and Springfield, Virginia. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,006,681 are being obligated on this award. The expected completion date is Jan. 16, 2022. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HQ0034-17-C-0022). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY CORRECTION: The Dec. 21, 2018, announcement that The Boeing Co., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a five-year, sole-source, cost-plus-award-fee contract [HQ0147-19-C-0001] with a period of performance of Dec. 15, 2018, through Dec. 14, 2023, and incremental funding in the amount of $54,900,000 was incorrect. The contract period of performance was actually Dec. 21, 2018, through Dec. 21, 2023, and the amount of incremental funding was $40,904,000. Also, for clarification, the five-year contract is for a three-year base period with two one-year option periods. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1722414/

NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $712,482,210 for cost-plus-incentive fee, firm-fixed-price delivery order N0001919F2474 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020) for the development of advanced hardware in support of the F-35 Lightning II Technology Refresh 3 (TR3) System. Efforts include the design of the TR3 System through full flightworthy certification, production readiness review, and fleet release to support low-rate initial production Lot 15 aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy and Marine Corps); and non-U.S. Department of Defense participant (non-U.S. DoD) funding in the amount of $207,144,167 will be obligated at time of award, $13,000,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This delivery order combines purchases for the Marine Corps ($27,046,506; 32 percent); Navy ($24,500,000; 29 percent); and non-U.S. DoD participants ($32,506,142; 39 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $228,818,298 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-2116 for the purchase of additional long lead time material in support of Enterprise (CVN 80). The purpose of this action is to definitize efforts previously announced as an undefinitized contract action and increase the scope of the contract for additional long lead time material. Work is being performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be complete by January 2023. Fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and construction (Navy) funding in the amount of $132,980,000 will be obligated at the time of award and not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Dayton T. Brown Inc.,* Bohemia, New York, is awarded an $82,595,099 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for supplies and services in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Special Missions Integrated Test Facility (AIR-5.4). Supplies and services being procured are in support of the continued development of the Mobile Mission System (MMS) family of system capabilities, MMS variants, procurement of additional MMS units, prototyping and modification for rapid mission specific system reconfiguration, test and operational deployment, maintenance, repair, refurbishment, logistics support and associated material procurements in support of the complete system of systems capabilities between the MMS, the airborne component, the ground component and the required laboratory component. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (91 percent); and Bohemia, New York (9 percent), and work is expected to be completed December 2025. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Nova Group Inc., Napa, California, was awarded a $38,300,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction to update the standby power plant and the electrical distribution system at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Makaha Ridge, Kauai, Hawaii. Work will be performed in Kauai, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by July 2021. Fiscal 2017 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $38,300,000 are obligated on this award, of which $16,360,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-19-C-1320). (Awarded Dec. 26, 2018) C.E.R Inc.,* Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded $15,668,500 for firm-fixed-price task order N4008019F4101 under a previously awarded design-bid-build, small business, multiple award construction contract (N40080-18-D-0016) for the renovation of Building 2007 at Marine Corps Base, Quantico. Building renovations includes selective demolition and repairs of existing building systems and spaces. In addition, this project will convert existing classrooms and bachelor enlisted quarters living spaces into administrative spaces. The project will also provide new electrical, Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, hot and cold water plumbing, fire suppression, floor, roof systems, new non-classified internet protocol router and secret internet protocol router network lines and ports, as well as, demolish existing walls, floors, and ceilings; then construct administrative spaces for Marine Corps Combat Development Command headquarters. In addition to renovations, interior hazmat abatement will be performed; one elevator and new restrooms will be provided in order to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act regulation. Work will be performed in Quantico, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by October 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $15,668,500 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Six proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded a $13,340,913 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for the acquisition of 218 operational test program sets for the Navy (188); Japan (15); and various foreign military sales customers (15), including non-recurring engineering to address potential obsolescence issues. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (90 percent); and St. Louis, Missouri (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2024. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N6833519D0017). Insitu Inc., Bingen, Washington, is awarded $12,167,690 for firm-fixed-price delivery order N0001919F2638 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0014). This delivery order provides for the procurement of spare and sustainment parts that are required to maintain the RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aircraft system in support of the Naval Supply Systems Command. Work will be performed in Bingen, Washington, and is expected to be completed in June 2019. Working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $12,167,690 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Nova Group Inc.-Underground Construction Co. Inc., JV, Napa, California, is awarded an $11,350,806 firm-fixed-price modification under a previously awarded contract (N40192-14-C-1300) for equitable adjustments associated with additional munitions and explosives of concern investigations for the new pipeline and pipeline repairs at various locations off base within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marianas area of responsibility. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $78,285,823. Work will be performed in Piti, Guam, and is expected to be completed by March 2018. Fiscal 2013 military construction (Navy); and fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds in the amount of $11,350,806 are obligated on this award. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marianas, Guam, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is awarded an $11,000,000 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-2106 for the advance planning of the refueling complex overhaul of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). This contract modification provides supplemental material identified as required subsequent to contract award. Work is being performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to complete by July 2019. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $11,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Makai Ocean Engineering Inc.,* Waimanalo, Hawaii, is awarded $9,897,213 for cost-plus-fixed-fee task order N3943019F4018 under a previously awarded multiple award contract (N39430-18-D-2047) for design, procurement, fabrication, testing and integration of components for a lightweight seafloor cable system for use in a technology demonstration at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme. The work to be performed provides for design and procurement of a wet-plant system and deployment system, as well as in-person training for government personnel and operation and maintenance manuals. Tasking includes conducting verification testing of components, sub-systems, and delivery of the complete integrated system. Work will be performed at Waimanalo, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by March 2020. Fiscal 2019 research and development (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $9,897,213 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity. ARMY Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $64,381,000 modification (P00025) to contract W58RGZ-16-C-0008 for performance based logistics. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds in the amount of $64,381,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Georgia Power Co., Atlanta, Georgia, was awarded a $25,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for electrical distribution services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $25,500,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Stewart, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W9124M-19-F-0019). Longbow LLC, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $13,028,575 modification (P00009) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0027 for life cycle support to the fire control radar and unmanned aerial system tactical common data link assembly. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds in the amount of $13,028,575 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Fairfax, Virginia, was awarded a $12,187,345 modification (P00005) to contract W81K04-18-C-0001 for specialty medical training, equipment, maintenance and administration support services. Work will be performed in Camp Parks, California; Fort Gordon, Georgia; and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $12,187,345 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. Dubuque Barge and Fleeting Service Co.,* Dubuque, Iowa, was awarded a $9,959,690 firm-fixed-price contract for Mississippi River basin. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Clinton, Iowa, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 27, 2020. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $9,959,690 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W912EK-19-C-0006). BGI LLC,* Akron, Ohio, was awarded a $7,761,863 modification (P00002) to contract W9133L-18-C-0002 for weapons system simulator training and support. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 2, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,761,863 were obligated at the time of the award. National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE BAE Systems Information and Electronics Systems Integration, Nashua, New Hampshire (FA8604-19-D-4021); The Boeing Co., Defense, Space & Security, St. Louis, Missouri (FA8604-19-D-4022); General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. GS-ASI, Poway, California (FA8604-19-D-4020); Goodrich Corp., UTC Aerospace Systems, ISR Systems, Westford, Massachusetts (FA8604-19-D-4023); Harris Corp., Electronic Systems, Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems, Clifton, New Jersey (FA8604-19-D-4027); Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas (FA8604-19-D-4026); Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Melbourne, Florida (FA8604-19-D-4024); and Raytheon Co., Raytheon, El Segundo, California (FA8604-19-D-40250), have been awarded $22,500,000 ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts for the formation of a collaborative working group of various industry partners to work as a single extended entity to develop, evolve, and update via pre-planned product improvement initiatives, as well as manage and provide configuration control of the Open Mission Systems and Universal Command and Control Interface standards, collectively referred to as the Open Architecture standards. These contracts provide for the development, updating and management of the above standards with the following business goals: promote adaptability, flexibility, and expandability; support a variety of missions and domains; simplify integration; reduce technical risk and overall cost of ownership of weapon system programs; enable affordable technology refresh and capability evolution; enable reuse; enable independent development and deployment of system elements; and accommodate a range of cybersecurity approaches. Work will be primarily performed in Nashua, New Hampshire; St. Louis, Missouri; Poway, California; Westford, Massachusetts; Clifton, New Hampshire; Fort Worth, Texas; and Melbourne, Florida, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2022. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (Contracts awarded Dec. 14-18, 2018). Sonalysts Inc., Waterford, Connecticut, has been awarded an $11,328,749 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for standard Space Trainer sustainment and mission-specific vendor plug-in (MSVP). This modification provides for the continued sustainment for the Space Training Acquisition Office and future development of MSVPs. Work will be performed in Waterford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $678,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $9,741,897 modification (P00093) to previously awarded contract FA7014-11-C-0018 for the Very Important Person Special Air Mission contract. This contract provides for aircraft maintenance and base supply and fuels in support of aircraft assigned to the 11th Wing and 89th Wing at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington, and brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to an estimated $466,547,627. Work will be performed at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington, and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,741,897 are being obligated at the time of award. The 11th Contracting Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1721774/source/GovDelivery/

By: Mark Pomerleau How can the Defense Intelligence Agency ensure its staff members can effectively communicate in the everyday environments of far-flung places without sending them into potentially risky situations? Agency leaders are hoping the answer to improve foreign language training is just a computer away. In a sources sought notice issued in late December, the agency said virtual, augmented and mixed reality provides a safer means for trainees to be fully immersed in areas where they might one day be sent on assignment but that are too dangerous to visit for training purposes. “The risk of traveling overseas is always a main concern when considering the safety of intelligence officers, especially those who have language skills or specialize in regions of high risk,” the notice reads. “The use of VR for language training would allow these DIA employees to enter a VR scenario in which they, for example, would practice their language skills (e.g., Russian, Chinese, Arabic, etc.) without having to actually travel to these high-risk environments. By using VR as a language training tool, DIA can offer its officers an immersive language experiences while also maintaining their safety.” These scenarios will be relevant to the curricula in multiple languages and could help improve language learning and cultural sensitivity. The potential contractor will initially develop scenarios in Russian with Chinese and Egyptian Arabic as options. Additionally, the contractor must develop an environment that includes interaction in a large apartment, a small grocery store, a café, a small park with vendor kiosks, community markets, realistic historical locations and a 4x4 block section of a city environment. In-country immersions will also have to be incorporated. The user will face situations that include social pressures such as making friends, avoiding embarrassment or offending others, as well as real-world noise, such as background conversations or street sounds, exposure to a variety of accents and slang. The agency's hope is that users will get a better understanding of the stress of the situation and the experience of being bombarded by foreign language at speed. https://www.c4isrnet.com/it-networks/2018/12/27/how-dia-can-recreate-the-stress-of-learning-in-a-foreign-country/

By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — Under the purview of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, reform has become a buzzword inside the Department of Defense, with every office trying to find ways to be more efficient, whether through cost savings or changes to bureaucracy. The department's Acquisition and Sustainment office, headed by Ellen Lord, manages billions of dollars in materiel; and by Lord's own belief, it is ripe for changes that could net the department big savings. On Dec. 17, Lord sat down with reporters and outlined a series of goals for 2019 that she hopes will help transform how the Pentagon buys equipment. Here, then, are six key items to watch for in the coming year. 1. Rework the department's key acquisition rules: The DoD Instruction 5000.02 is a key bedrock that forms the basis of how the defense acquisition system works, guiding acquisition professionals in their day-to-day program execution. And if Lord gets her way, she'll largely rip it up and start over. “In 2019, one of my key objectives is to rewrite 5000.02. We have, right now, this huge, complicated acquisition process that we encourage our acquisition professionals to tailor to their needs,” Lord said. “We are going to invert that approach and take a clean sheet of paper and write the absolute bare minimum to be compliant in 5000.02, and encourage program managers and contracting officers to add to that as they need for specific programs.” Lord envisions taking the massive, unwieldy 5000.02 guidance and getting it down to “a couple page outline of what you need to do,” with “simple” contract language and an easy-to-follow checklist “so that this isn't an onerous process.” “I'm encouraging what I call creative compliance. I want everyone to be compliant, but I want people to be very thoughtful and only use what they need,” she said. “This is literally starting with a clean sheet of paper, looking at the law and the intent, and working to vastly simplify this.” Andrew Hunter, a former Pentagon acquisition official now with the Center for International and Strategic Studies, notes that the instruction is supposed to be rewritten every five years to keep it fresh, and now is probably the right time to start looking into that. But, he added, “a lot of what she says she wants to do are things that sound very similar to my ear to what [Lord's predecessor] Frank Kendall was trying to do in the last rewrite. He tossed stuff out left and right, worked very hard to create the different models, put in extended discussions of different potential models of programs so that it would be obvious to people there's not one single way to do a program.” Hunter is cautious when it comes to a massive shift in the 5000.02 system. “If you literally tell the system, ‘All the rules are repealed, go do everything you want,' the reaction won't be a sudden flood of creativity that astounds you with the amazing talent at the department, even though there is a lot of talent there," he said. “What's more likely to happen is you have total paralysis because everyone is sitting around going: ‘Oh no, the rules are gone. How do we know what we can do? What do we do now?' But over time that might shake out.” If Congress needs to get involved, Lord said, she's prepared to go to Capitol Hill “because I know they are partnering with us and they want to make sure we do things in a simpler, most cost-effective manner.” 2. Intellectual property rules: A long-standing fight between the department and industry is over who should own the intellectual property used by the American military. Before fully taking on 5000.02, Lord hopes to write a departmentwide intellectual property policy. Lord pointed to the “very good job” done by the Army on creating an IP policy and said her goal is to build on that to create a standard across the DoD. “From an industry perspective, we are trying to be consistent across all the services and agencies, so that we don't have different requirements for similar needs,” Lord said. “So intellectual property is a good example. We'd like to have the same kind of contract language that can be tailored to individual needs, but basically have consistent language.” David Berteau, a former Pentagon official who is now the president and CEO of the Professional Services Council, noted it is hard to read the tea leaves for what Lord may be planning based on her public comments. But he pointed out the long-standing challenge for the Pentagon — that nearly 70 percent of all program costs are life-cycle sustainment and maintenance costs — as a sign that something needs to change so the department can avoid major issues in the future. Depending on how new rules are implemented, the use of IP might drive down costs — or, he warned, it might lead to companies unable to compete, forcing the Pentagon to pay more or be less prepared for challenges. Put plainly, Berteau said, “it's complicated.” He hopes Lord will begin interacting with industry on this issue in ways similar to the current “listening tour” on changes to progress payments. 3. Better software development: It's become almost cliché that the department needs to do better at developing software, but in this case it's a cliché that experts, including Lord, agree with. The Defense Innovation Board, a group of tech experts from outside the department, is working on a series of studies on software, including one focused on how to drive agile development techniques inside the building. Lord said to expect that report before the end of March, adding: “I think that will be important in terms of capturing a road map forward on how to do this correctly.” 4. Increase use of OTAs: In 2018, Lord's office released a handbook on when and how to use other transaction authorities — legal standards designed to speed acquisition that critics say are underutilized by the department. Lord called it “sort of a warmup” for creating more useful handbooks for the acquisition community, but said that the goal for 2019 is to get people to correctly employ OTAs. “Usually they should be used when you don't have a clear requirement. So, true prototyping when you don't know what you're going to get,” Lord said. “Prototyping early on, probably before you get to the middle-tier acquisition.” 5. Greater use of prototyping: Speaking of which, Lord said the department has about 10 projects underway for rapid prototyping at the mid-tier level, with the goal of growing to about 50 in the next year. The goal is to take the systems into the field, test them out and then grow the next iteration of the capability based on what is learned. “We're taking systems that are commercially available and perhaps need a little modification, or defense systems that need a modicum of modification to make them appropriate for the war fighter,” Lord said. “That's one of the authorities we are very appreciative for, and we will continue to refine the policy. I signed out very broad policy on that this year. We'll write the detailed policy coming up early next year.” 6. Making the Selected Acquisition Reports public again: Until recently, the department publicly released annual Selected Acquisition Reports for each of the major defense programs. Those reports can inform the public of where programs stand and the costs associated. However, under the Trump administration, those reports have been largely classified as “For Official Use Only,” or FOUO, a higher level of security. Critics, including incoming House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., have argued there is no need for those once-public reports to be listed as FOUO. It appears Lord is working to open those back up. “We're going to try to minimize the FOUO on that,” Lord said in response to a question about it. “There are certain information [issues] that we have to protect, but [we] understand the need, the requirement, and I will put our guidance to make everything open to the public to the degree we can.” https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2018/12/27/six-things-on-the-pentagons-2019-acquisition-reform-checklist/

The Kremlin said the Avangard missile successfully hit a designated practice target 6,000 kilometres away from its launch site The Associated Press , Vladimir Isachenkov MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw a test Wednesday of a new hypersonic glide vehicle, declaring that the weapon is impossible to intercept and will ensure Russia's security for decades to come. Speaking to Russia's top military brass after watching the live feed of the launch of the Avangard vehicle from the Defence Ministry's control room, Putin said the successful test was a “great success” and an “excellent New Year's gift to the nation.” The test comes amid bitter tensions in Russia-U.S. relations, which have sunk to their lowest level since the Cold War times over the conflict in Ukraine, the war in Syria and the allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Putin's hopes for repairing ties with Washington under President Donald Trump have fizzled amid investigations into allegations of Trump's campaign ties with Russia, and tensions have escalated as the U.S. administration slapped Russia with new waves of sanctions. The Avangard was among the array of new nuclear weapons that Putin presented in March, saying that Russia had to develop them in response to the development of the U.S. missile defence system that could erode Russia's nuclear deterrent. In Wednesday's test, the weapon was launched from the Dombarovskiy missile base in the southern Ural Mountains. The Kremlin said it successfully hit a designated practice target on the Kura shooting range on Kamchatka, 6,000 kilometres away. “The Avangard is invulnerable to intercept by any existing and prospective missile defence means of the potential adversary,” Putin said after the test, adding that the new weapon will enter service next year with the military's Strategic Missile Forces. When first presenting the Avangard in March, the Russian leader said the new system has an intercontinental range and can fly in the atmosphere at 20 times the speed of sound, bypassing the enemy's missile defence. He emphasized that no other country currently has hypersonic weapons. Putin has said that Avangard is designed using new composite materials to withstand temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Celsius (3,632 degrees Fahrenheit) that come from a flight through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. https://nationalpost.com/news/world/russias-putin-oversees-test-of-hypersonic-weapon

By: Tara Copp President Donald Trump has no plans to nominate a replacement for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis any time soon, and said acting secretary Patrick Shanahan may remain in the post for the foreseeable future. Shanahan currently serves as the deputy secretary of defense at the Pentagon, the No. 2 civilian position there, which has traditionally focused more on the internal workings and business practices of the Defense Department. Trump announced on Sunday via Twitter that Shanahan would immediately replace Mattis after the departing defense chief released a public resignation letter last week citing his differences with the administration's security policies. Instead, Shanahan will immediately take the reins and Shanahan “could be there for a long time” in the acting defense secretary position, Trump said, according to Reuters, during his surprise visit to Iraq Wednesday. Mattis had intended to remain in place for two months to give the administration time to get through the 2020 budget hearings and give the White House time to find a replacement. Shanahan, a career Boeing executive, had been primarily focused on the Pentagon's inner workings, developing a space force and overhauling the building's business practices. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/12/26/trump-no-plans-to-name-mattis-replacement-soon