Senate Confirms DoD Nominations. The Senate confirmed several Defense Department nominees during voice votes Oct. 11. They include: Army Gen. Robert Abrams for U.S. Forces-Korea commander; Vice Adm. Craig Faller for U.S. Southern Command commander; Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis, 2nd Fleet commander; ret. Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment; and ret. Air Force Maj. Gen. James Stewart for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. The Senate also confirmed James Morhard to be NASA’s deputy administrator, serving under Jim Bridenstine.
Air Force Space Wargames Commence. The Air Force Space Command’s 12 annual Schriever Wargame launched Oct. 11 at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.Set in the year 2028, the scenario will explore critical space issues and focus on integration tactics for multiple agencies within the domain. It will include a session focused toward the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. About 350 experts spanning 27 U.S. commands and agencies, as well as seven international partners will participate in the wargame. Allied partners include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
New GD Spox. Jeff Davis, the veteran Navy public affairs officer whose last gig was as a top spokesman for Defense Secretary Mattis, has landed as the vice president of communications at General Dynamics. He replaces Lucy Ryan, who left GD last month to become vice president for enterprise wide communications at Northrop Grumman.
New LCS Names. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer last week announced two future Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) names: the next Freedom-variant ship will be the USS Beloit (LCS-29) while the next Independence-variant ship will be the USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32). LCS-29 is named after Beloit, Wis., and will be built by Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine at the latter’s shipyard in Marinette, Wis. LCS-32 will be built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.
DDG-116. The future Arleigh Burke-class USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) left General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works (BIW) in Maine this week and headed down the Kennebec River toward the Gulf of Maine and open ocean. It is scheduled to be commissioned on Dec. 1 in Boston, Mass. before later sailing to its homeport in Mayport, Fla. BIW delivered DDG-116 to the Navy in June.
NATO Carrier. The commander of Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy and commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe disclosed the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and its strike group will participate in the upcoming Trident Juncture NATO exercise. Adm. James Foggo said these forces will add 6,000 personnel for upward of 50,000 personnel participating in the exercise that tests NATO repelling an invasion of Norway. Lt. Gen. Rune Jakobsen, Commander of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, added Trident Juncture will involve over 10,000 Norwegian forces directly and indirectly. Foggo previously said the exercise is geared at dissuading Russia from taking provocative actions and Jakobsen noted the core exercise area is more than 1,000 km (621 miles) from the Russian border and air operations may take place only up to 500 km (311 miles) from the border.
New OIG Research. The Defense Department Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently announced two new research efforts on Navy programs. On Oct. 9 the OIG said it is starting research to gather information, analyze data, make inquiries, and conduct general research for possible evaluation of projects related to the Raytheon-built Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IA and Block IB. It will specifically focus on ground and flight tests for the SM-3 . On Oct. 10, the OIG also announced it is starting research for potential evaluation projects related to shock qualification of the Virginia-class attack submarine program.
More sUAS? The Coast Guard this year initiated the deployment of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) aboard its fleet of National Security Cutters (NSCs) and so far “we are making great progress,” according to Rear Adm. Michael Haycock, the Coast Guard’s top acquisition official. The service evaluated sUAS operations aboard one of its NSCs for three years and it “has contributed to countless drug interdictions in theater,” he told a Senate panel last week. “I think something that we may want to think about for follow on is do we deploy it on the Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), do we deploy it on Fast Response Cutters (FRCs),” he said. The Coast Guard plans to buy 11, maybe 12, NSCs, 25 OPCs and 58 FRCs. The service this year awarded Boeing’s Insitu business unit a contract to operate sUAS aboard the NSCs.
CUAS Plans. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said that her department had begun to craft an implementation plan for the use of drone mitigation technologies in anticipation of a counter-unmanned aircraft system (CUAS) bill that Congress approved earlier this month and was also signed into law. She told the Senate Homeland Security Committee that, “At this time, we do not believe we need any additional authority,” but added that when it comes to research, development, testing and evaluating counter-drone systems in “civilian environments, it might be in that case that we need to come back and talk in greater detail about how we can apply those.” Nielsen said she is willing to provide more details to interested senators about DHS’ CUAS plans. The legislation authorizes DHS and the Justice Department to use CUAS technologies in the U.S. It also allows DHS to test these technologies.
Cyber Acquisition. Cyber security solutions provider Imperva Inc. said it has entered into a deal to be acquired by the private equity firm Thomas Bravo, LLC, in a cash transaction valued at around $2.1 billion. “As a leading company that protects data and applications, regardless of whether they live in the cloud, on-premise or in a hybrid environment, Imperva is ahead of the curve from the rest of the cyber security industry, and we’re thrilled with this exciting partnership,” said Seth Boro, managing partner at Thomas Bravo. The deal is expected to close either late in the fourth quarter of 2018 or early in 2019. Imperva’s board and financial adviser, Qatalyst Partners, have 45 days to continue to solicit alternative acquisition proposals.
Federal Endpoint Security. Most of the federal government’s cyber security efforts are focused on risks and vulnerabilities to core infrastructure but largely left out are the endpoint devices that connect to these systems and networks, according to a new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The new report, Extending Federal Cybersecurity to the Endpoint, says many devices “have both limited security features and known vulnerabilities that can be exploited to steal data and serve as an entry point for more sophisticated attacks on the network.” Some of the report’s findings include that the government must move to a more flexible, user-centric architecture for security, the creation of incentives for including security as a factor in the security of devices, and providing federal contracting officers with more help from security, IT and privacy professionals in the evaluation of risks when procuring devices.
Lockheed ER GMLRS. Lockheed Martin is planning the first live fire tests for the extended range version of its Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System in fall 2019. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson told reporters at last week’s AUSA conference that qualification tests for ER GMLRS will take place in summer 2020, with production expected to being in 2021. The updated version of GMLRS would extend the rocket’s range out to 150 kilometers, doubling its current 75 km. range. The new rocket increases the size the motor while still allowing for a payload of 6 weapons per pod, while remaining compliant with both HIMARS and M270 launchers.
JLTV Active Protection. Oshkosh has showcased the ability to integrate a light version of the Iron First active protection system, built by Israel’s IMI Systems, on its Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, but the Army said there are no current plans to make the system a definite requirement. Col. Shane Fullmer, project manager for JLTVs, told reporters at this week’s AUSA conference the Army does not currently have plans to test out APS on the wheeled vehicles, but said there could be future interest in a light, affordable system. “Currently the JLTV is meeting all of its protection requirements. We’re doing very well in that area. And there isn’t an active protection system requirement right now, but we’re just trying to explore it,” Fullmer said. “We still have some work to do with the requirements community to ensure that we’re getting what the Army needs or wants. But to have it be light and affordable I think are really our keys.” The Army is currently testing APS options for Bradleys, Strykers and Abrams tanks.
Futures Command/Russia. The leader of the Army’s new modernization-focused Futures Command said senior leadership has shaped its capability priorities, specifically with regards to artillery range, based on lessons learned from recent Russian warfare advances. Gen. John “Mike” Murray told reporters at this week’s AUSA conference that Futures Command is adjusting requirements to regain capability overmatch. “The Russians have made significant advances, not only in terms of their capabilities, but in terms of their organizational structure. We had lost some range. I think if you look at the Russian army today in terms of counting the number of artillery pieces they probably have a slight advantage in terms of quantities. Quality, I would still argue we’ve got the edge.” Murray said the Army conducted a study on next-generation Russian warfare following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.That was kind of the wake up call in terms of the capabilities the Russian had been developing probably since about the time of Desert Storm. And what the Russians, and in many ways the Chinese as well, have done is they’ve been able to outrange most of our systems. They’re establishing standoff capabilities,” Murray said.
Army Ammo Office. The Army’s Program Executive Office for Ammunition will officially become the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition effective Nov. 1. Brig. Gen. Alfred Abramson, the lead official for the Army’s ammunition office, said the change will reflect a growing role to support armaments requirements for the Long Range Precision Fires’ modernization effort. “JPEO for Armaments and Ammunitions plays a critical role in the development and fielding of those capabilities, in terms of getting after those new target sets and getting after Long Range Precision Fires,” Abramson told attendees at this week’s AUSA conference. Abramson said his office has seen a $2.5 billion spike in spending for the FY ’17 to FY ’22 timeframe to handle a growing portfolio, and will also take on an extra $1.5 billion over the same period to upgrade ammunition plants.
Space Force Meeting. Vice President Mike Pence tweeted Oct. 12 that the National Space Council will meet on Oct. 23 to discuss progress and next steps to implement the Trump administration’s vision for a new Space Force.