Space Force Budget. A proposed $13 billion budget to stand up the Space Force over the next five years is at the higher level of how much such a move is expected to cost, CSIS defense budget analyst Todd Harrison told reporters Thursday. “This is the broadest possible definition of how you can scope a Space Force,” he said, countering assertions from Air Force leaders earlier that this week that the cited number — revealed in a leaked memo earlier last week — is a conservative estimate. Harrison added that based on the memo’s details, it appears $13 billion would include the cost for standing up both the unified combatant command dedicated to space — a move that does not require legislative approval and that the Pentagon and Air Force have confirmed is in the works — as well as creating a new, sixth military branch dedicated to space, which does require congressional approval. It includes funding for a new building worth $1 billion, as well as manpower costs for nearly 8,000 additional personnel, although their roles are not defined. “I would say this is an example of malicious compliance,” Harrison added.
Reaper Completes First Automated Landing. The Air Force in August completed the first-ever automated landing of an MQ-9 Block 5 RPA, followed by the first auto-takeoff two days later. The tests are part of the UAS’ new automatic takeoff and landing capability (ATLC) developed by GA-ASI to enhance mission capability and increase autonomy, flexibility and safety of the Reaper. The ATLC development program remains on track to be fielded in fall 2019, a company spokesperson said at AFA’s annual Air, Space and Cyber conference last week.
SMC Leader: Get Smart On Rapid Acquisition. SMC Commander Air Force Lt. Gen. John Thompson wants to see more initiative from program managers and engineers looking to work on rapid acquisition efforts. “Folks, you have to do the homework, don’t wait to be trained,” he said during a panel at AFA’s annual conference last week. “Far too often, I am hearing people give me the, ‘Hey, spoon feed me. Tell me how to do agile development; tell me how to do OTAs.’” Thompson said he supported new training initiatives within government acquisition education enterprises, but needed program offices to learn in their own time as well. “The pace of change in our acquisition enterprise is such that if you wait to be trained, you will get run over,” he added.
New HASC Seapower Chairman Named. Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) was picked last week to serve as chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the remainder of the 115th Congress. Mast asked committee chairman Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) for the chairmanship, according to a press release. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) served as the subcommittee chair until he was removed from all committee responsibilities following his indictment for misuse of campaign funds and for filing false campaign reports and wire frauds.
Wanna Comms Job? The head communications job is open right now for three of the top defense contractors. Northrop Grumman’s Lisa Davis left in August after about 18 months as the head of corporate communications. Lucy Ryan had her last day at General Dynamics on Sept. 14 after over a decade with the company and Phil Musser is departing the pattern at Boeing in November after just over one year there.
SpaceX Weapons. While answering questions at the Air Force Association’s annual symposium in National Harbor, Md., SpaceX President and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell said the company might launch military weapons under certain conditions. Shotwell said she had never been asked before if SpaceX would launch military weapons but said, “If it’s for the defense of this country, yes, I think we would.”
LCS-22. The Navy plans to christen the latest Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Kansas City (LCS-22), during a ceremony in Mobile, Ala., on Sept. 22. The principal speaker will be Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.). The Independence-variant LCS is built by Austal USA in Mobile.
LCS Mission Modules. The FY 2019 defense appropriations bill funds three LCSs, two over the request, but also slashes the various mission modules. The Navy requested $124 million for the mine countermeasure (MCM) mission module, but the conference report only appropriated $99 million, largely under the explanation of “early to need.” Likewise, the Navy requested $57 million for the anti-submarine warfare modules and was given nothing because they were not needed, according to the bill. Surface warfare modules were requested at $26 million but the Navy only got $12 million because that was all that was needed, according to the bill.
Sub Payloads. The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $22.5 million modification for engineering and technical design efforts to support research and development concept formulation for current and future submarine platforms. Specifically, this work procured advanced submarine research and development to conduct work for land-based or at-sea tests and demonstrations of the Vertical Launch Payloads (VLPs) concept formulation. VLPs can be used n the upcoming Virginia Payload module (VPM) coming to new Virginia-class submarines. The VPMs are 4 payload tubes in a new hull section that plans to increase the submarine’s strike capacity by 230 percent and help replace the retiring four SSGN cruise missile submarines.
Senate CDM Bill. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced a bill last week in the Senate to codify the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Diagnostics Mitigation (CDM) program. The bill was originally introduced by Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) and passed the House in August. The CDM program, run by DHS’ National Protection and Programs Directorate, aims to help federal agencies better monitor their networks by providing the latest industry cyber threat detection capabilities.