Silicon Valley Day. As part of its new outreach to the nation’s innovation hub, the Department of Homeland Security is holding an Industry Day Silicon Valley on Dec. 10 in Menlo Park, Calif. The department’s Silicon Valley office is hosting non-traditional businesses, start-ups and investors to discuss three main topics: the homeland security challenges associated with the Internet of Things; the benefits of the SVO Innovation Program to startups; and how to apply for funding. In April, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson announced plans to establish a satellite office in Silicon Valley to strengthen its relationships there.
2016 Election As Cyber Bait. The 2016 presidential race will see more widespread use of online and social media campaigning than ever before, which will spawn cyber attacks via “email lures and misdirects in order to push malware payloads with the intent to compromise,” says the annual 2016 Security Predictions report by Raytheon/Websense. “Expect lures made to look like political party or candidate email, advocating an online petition or survey about specific election issues, linking to a supposed news story or relaying information about voter registration or debates.”
…Cyber Security Insurance. The report sees a growing role for cyber insurance driving companies to more secure cyber postures. It says that different industries and company cultures pose different risks for insurers and that even in sectors with identical companies some firms “may have a culture that tends to visit more ‘risky’ websites, thereby increasing users’ exposure.” The report continues “We believe cyber insurance policies will begin to take these variations into account, offering more customized policy rates for those defenders who can demonstrate a better cyber history.”
…New Brand. Raytheon/Websense is announcing on Jan. 14 a new brand that “honors” the heritage of Raytheon and Websense with a “new name and new identity which tells the world who we are and what we stand for.” Raytheon earlier this year acquired Websense, diving into the commercial cyber security market at a time other large defense companies, including Boeing and General Dynamics, back out of this sector of the cyber security arena. With the deal, Raytheon created a new business segment, Raytheon/Websense.
GD Boosts Stock Buyback Program. General Dynamics adds another 10 million shares to its stock repurchase program after buying most of its stock under previous share buyback authorizations. In February, and again in June, General Dynamics added 10 million shares, respectively, to its stock repurchase program and, through the end of September, had repurchased 19.3 million shares.
Vote On Visa Bill. The House the week of December 7 is voting on legislation aimed at strengthening the United States Visa Waiver Program with the 38 participating countries by giving the Department of Homeland Security the authority to suspend a country’s participation if it fails to share critical intelligence with the U.S. government. The bill, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Protection Act of 2015 (H.R. 158), sponsored by Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.), also “includes additional provisions that prohibit those who have traveled from Syria and Iraq from using the program, terminates a country for failing to screen against INTERPOL’s criminal and terrorism databases and allows the secretary of Homeland Security to suspend high-risk countries until the threat has passed.” The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. without a visa for up to 90 days if they meet certain requirements.
First F-35 Delivery Outside U.S. The F-35 program marks a milestone on December 3 by delivering its first aircraft outside the United States. The program delivers the first Italian F-35A, known as AL-1, to the Italian armed forces at the F-35 Final Assembly and Checkout Facility (FACO) in Cameri. Italy becomes the sixth nation to receive a F-35, joining Australia, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, and the United States. The F-35s assembled and delivered at the Italian FACO will transition to Italy’s Aeronautica Militare (Air Force) and Marina Militare (Navy). AL-1 first rolls out of the production facility in March with first flight on September 7, one month ahead of schedule, according to the F-35 Joint Program Office. Lockheed Martin develops the F-35 along with subcontractors BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman.
JASSM Contract. The Air Force on December 3 awards Lockheed Martin a $302 million fixed-price incentive firm target modification to a previously awarded contract (FA8682-16-C-0005) for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) program, according to a Defense Department statement. Lockheed Martin is providing JASSM production, system upgrades, integration, sustainment, management and logistical support. DoD expects work to complete by June 29, 2019. This contract involves foreign military sales (FMS) to Poland and Finland.
MUOS Acceptance. The Navy on November 30 accepts the fourth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite, according to prime contractor Lockheed Martin. MUOS-4 is relocating in the spring to its on-orbit operational slot in preparation for operational acceptance. MUOS-5, an on-orbit spare, will be launched in 2016. MUOS is a network of orbiting satellites and relay ground stations that Lockheed Martin says is revolutionizing secure communications for mobile military forces. Once fully operational, it will provide 16 times the capacity of the legacy ultra high frequency (UHF) communications satellite system.
TSES Reconfigurable Trainer. Textron Systems Electronic Systems (TSES) debuts its next-generation Reconfigurable Trainer at a pair of industry conferences the week of November 30. The new Reconfigurable Trainer, which offers a multi-domain simulation environment encompassing land, air, maritime and space, offers the ability to create entities and threat simulations in as few as two screen touches. Highly specialized simulations can be developed and run with greater speed, precision and ease of use than ever before. The Reconfigurable Trainer contains over 200 internal equipment models that are developed for various applications, including crew simulators, virtual maintenance trainers, communications equipment trainers and others. TSES is a division of Textron Inc.
Virgin’s ‘Cosmic Girl.‘ Virgin Galatic introduces its newest addition to its fleet of vehicles as part of a technical update on its LauncherOne small satellite launch service. The 747-400 commercial jet aircraft, previously operated by Virgin Atlantic under the nickname ‘Cosmic Girl,’ provides a dedicated launch platform for the LauncherOne orbital vehicle. Virgin Galactic announced in September that it doubled LauncherOne’s performance to 200 kg into the standard sun-synchronous orbit for a price below $10 million in response to customer demand. The price tag includes an option to purchase further increases in performance to the same orbit and for launches that reach other altitudes or inclinations. The launch system is capable of launching over 400 kg of payload to other orbits.
RD-180 Acceptance. United Launch Alliance (ULA) accepts delivery of four RD-180 rocket engines on November 24, according to company spokeswoman Jessica Rye. The Russian-developed RD-180 powers the company’s Atlas V rockets, which have launched a majority of U.S. national security rockets over the last decade. ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
Saudi Contract. The Army awards DynCorp International a $61 firm-fixed-price million foreign military sales (FMS) contract with options to Saudi Arabia. The contract provides maintenance support for the Saudi Land Forces Aviation Command aviation program. Bids were solicited over the internet and four were received. Fiscal year 2016 other procurement funds in the full contract amount were obligated at the time of award. Work is to be performed in Saudi Arabia and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2021. The contracting activity is the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
TASC Contract. The U.S. Air Force awards TASC Inc. a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification worth nearly $10 million to exercise an option of previously awarded contract FA7037-11-0-0003. The modification extends services for management, engineering and technical support services required to support the establishment, maintenance and evolution of the 92 Information Operations Squadron Cyber Assessment program. Contract work is to be performed at San Antonio, Texas, with an expected completion date of Nov. 30, 2016. The contracting activity is the 38th Contracting Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
DOD Cyber Report. The Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General publishes a classified report on cybersecurity. The report is called “Cyber Mission Force Teams Need Resources to Perform Missions.” The cyber mission force teams are being created for U.S. Cyber Command.
New Advisor. The Office of the Secretary of Defense appoints Marine Brig. Gen. Eric Smith as the new senior military assistant to Secretary Ashton Carter. Smith most recently served as the commander of Marine Corps Forces, South. He previously served as Carter’s SMA when Carter was deputy secretary of defense, and he has served on an interim basis as the SMA since last month. Carter fired Lt. Gen. Ron Lewis from his position in November over allegations of unspecified misconduct.
Anti-ISIL Allies. The U.K. joins the air campaign against Islamic State (ISIL) militants in Iraq and Syria, moves Carter says will strengthen the 60-plus-nation coalition already in the fight. On the same day the British Parliament voted to join the air campaign, British Panavia Tornados flying from Cyrpus struck ISIL oil facilities in Syria. “The United Kingdom has been a member of the counter-ISIL coalition since it began in September 2014, making significant contributions to air operations, including through airstrikes against ISIL targets in Iraq and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in both Iraq and Syria,” Carter says in a statement. They have also supported the coalition partners on the ground through the advise and assist mission in Iraq and the Syria train and equip program. “I commend Prime Minister David Cameron and Secretary of State for Defense Michael Fallon for the leadership they have shown in the fight against ISIL, as well as the commitment they have shown to our common defense by deciding that the United Kingdom will continue to meet the pledge that all NATO allies made in Wales to invest at least two percent of GDP in defense.”
… And Germany. Carter also praises Germany for its consideration of expanding its contributions to the fight against ISIL. Germany’s Bundestag on December 4 approves committing 1,200 troops and providing additional support to the U.S.-led air campaign. “These actions are further proof of the shared commitment among our nations to defeat and destroy ISIL,” Carter says.
Posh Digs. The watchdog in charge of keeping tabs on U.S. spending to rebuild Afghanistan finds that members of the Defense Department’s Task Force for Business and Stability Operations spent $150 million on private “villas” and private security guards rather than live on military bases in the country that DoD has already paid for. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko (SIGAR) is investigating the allegations. “If TFBSO employees had instead lived at DOD facilities in Afghanistan, where housing, security and food service are routinely provided at little or no extra charge to DOD organizations, it appears that taxpayers would have saved tens of millions of dollars,” SIGAR writes in a letter to DoD. “While it is not possible to determine precisely what the cost would be if TFBSO employees had lived at the U.S. embassy, SIGAR estimates that for 2014 a TFBSO staff of 10 would have paid approximately $1.8 million to live at the embassy.”
… Amenities. One government contractor provided TFBSO employees with queen-size beds, flat screen TVs in each room with 27-inch screens or larger, DVD players, mini fridges and an “investor villa” that had “upgraded furniture” and “western-style hotel accommodations. The contractor tells SIGAR he was required to provide food service that was “at least 3 stars,” with each meal containing at least two entrée choices and three side order choices, as well as three-course meals for “special events.”
Ex-Im Bank. Congress on Dec. 3 passes the Highway Funding Bill, and with it approves the Export-Import Bank’s reauthorization despite conservative Republican opposition. The Senate votes 83 to 16 in favor of the bill, while the House had passed the legislation in early November. Once signed into law by President Barack Obama, Ex-Im will be able to help foreign customers finance purchases of American products—a practice that has netted profits for aerospace companies such as Boeing and General Electric in the past.
…Industry Response. In a written statement issued after the passage of the bill, Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO David Melcher praises the action in Congress, but adds that the bank does not have the required number of directors on its board to approve transactions over $10 million. “One last item remains for the Ex-Im Bank to become fully functional again,” he says. “Filling the other seats requires the cooperation of the U.S. Senate and the White House. We urge President Obama and Senate leadership to nominate and confirm new members to the Ex-Im Board expeditiously.”
LCS Commissioning. On Dec. 5, the Navy commissions the third Independence-class littoral combat ship, the USS Jackson (LCS 6), during a ceremony in in Gulfport, Miss. “As we welcome USS Jackson to the fleet, we are reminded of the importance of the partnership between our Navy and our nation’s shipbuilding industry; a relationship that has brought us to the Jackson‘s commissioning,” said Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who will attend the commissioning. LCS 6 was built by Austal and will be homeported in San Diego, Calif.