Congress Watch… With all defense legislation through Congress except for the Senate’s appropriations bill, which stalled last week after Democrats voted against a motion to proceed, all eyes are waiting for SASC Chairman John McCain (R.-Ariz) and Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), his counterpart in the House, to devise a final authorization bill. McCain says it could be done as early as the beginning of July.
…Nuclear Enterprise Takes Center Stage. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work and Adm. James Winnefeld, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are slated to testify on the Hill this Thursday on nuclear deterrence. Air Force and Navy officials responsible for the nuclear enterprise will offer their testimony to the HASC later that afternoon.
Clarification Wanted. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the respective chairman of the Senate and House Homeland Security Committees, write the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Communications Commission about conflicting guidance the two federal entities have given regarding cyber security best practices protecting wireless networks. The chairmen say that DHS has issued guidance about the importance of wireless intrusion detection systems and wireless intrusion prevention systems while the FCC has suggested it would be a violation of federal law if a wireless local area network operator used these systems to block a network access point to be used to launch a cyber attack. Johnson says the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau “is out of control” and that the agency’s “so-called ‘guidance’ threatens the security of consumer data and is inconsistent with best practices outline by other, more experienced agencies.”
Coast Guard Reauthorization. Republican and Democrat leaders on the Senate Commerce Committee introduce the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 (S. 1611), giving the service authorities for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. One section of the bill authorizes the Coast Guard to spread the cost over multiple fiscal years of a potential future acquisition of a polar ice breaker, thus limiting its impact on the service’s overall acquisition budget. It says incremental funding mechanisms have been used by the Navy when it acquires ships. The bill would also maintain the current authorization level of the service at $8.7 billion for the next two years. The House in May passed a companion version of the bill.
Face Recognition Test. Customs and Border Protection complete the initial phase of testing of a facial recognition system at Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia. The system was developed by Unisys under an existing contract with the agency and involved about 5,000 travelers with United States ePassports entering the country to evaluate the feasibility of using the biometric technology to help CBP officers in identifying imposters. The testing lasted about two-and-a-half months and ran until the end of May. CBP says it is still evaluating the results. Unisys says the agency is considering expanding the deployment to more airports pending budget approval.
SM-6 Over The Horizon. The U.S. Navy successfully test fires a Raytheon Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) at a medium-range supersonic target from the USS Desert Ship (LLS-1), engaging an ‘over-the-horizon’ threat as part of the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA). NIFC-CA is designed to link naval ships and airborne sensors into a single network. In this test the shooting ship used information from off-board sensors to support engaging the target.
TALON Laser-Guided Rocket Test. Raytheon and the U.S. Army successfully complete a recent test of the TALON Laser Guided Rocket system. Twenty-five rockets were fired from AH-64 Apache D and E model helicopters. TALON requires no lifecycle maintenance, does not contain the complexity of a roll bearing joint, and can be purchased as a guidance kit or an all up round,” Darryl, Kreitman, Raytheon’s TALON Laser Guided Rocket program director, said in a statement. The system can also be fired without hardware modifications to the launch platform or with proprietary launchers, decreasing the cost further, Raytheon said.
SDB II Award. The Air Force awards Raytheon a $31 million fixed-price incentive firm contract to exercise an option to a previously awarded contract for the Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II). The company is set to provide low-rate initial production for 144 Lot 1 munitions, 156 Lot 1 single weapons containers, eight weapon load crew trainers and conventional munitions maintenance trainers, four Lot 1 practical explosive ordinance disposal system trainers, and data. The work will be performed in Tuscon, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2017.
BACN Award. The Air Force awards Northrop Grumman an undefinitized modification with a not-to-exceed value of over $145 million to a previously awarded contract. The company is set to provide Battlefield Airborne Communication Node Joint Urgent Operational Need (BACN JUON) payload operations and support. It will be performed in the Central Command theater of operations and San Diego. Their modification is expected to the complete by June 30, 2016. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance funds of almost $49 million were obligated at the time of award.
F-22 Flying Hours Award. Lockheed Martin is awarded a $69 million unpriced change order modification to a previously awarded contract for increased F-22 flying hours in 2015. The task will be conducted in Fort Worth, Texas and is set to be completed by Dec. 31, 2015. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance funds in the full award amount were obligated at the time of award.
Huntsville Studies Dream Chaser Landing. A coalition of Huntsville, Ala., community organizations announces plans at the 2015 Paris Air Show to begin preliminary studies to assess the feasibility of landing the Sierra Nevada Corp.’s Dream Chaser spacecraft at Huntsville International Airport. The Dream Chaser would be the only reusable, lifting-body spacecraft with a commercial runway landing capability. It can land on any runway that can accommodate a Boeing 737 or Airbus 330 aircraft. Preliminary studies will assess environmental factors, impacts to commercial air traffic, and compatibility with the existing runway. The first studies will be performed by Teledyne Brown Engineering with support from RS&H Aerospace and Morell Engineering.
CRS Cyber Sharing. A June 12 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report compares several bills intended to improve cybersecurity information sharing among private industry and with federal agencies. It largely focuses on the Protecting Cyber Networks Act (H.R. 1560), the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 2015 (H.R. 1731), and the Cybersecurity information Sharing Act of 2015 (S. 754). The differences center on roles provided to federal agencies, processes for nonfederal entities to share information with the government, processes for protecting privacy, uses for shared information, and reporting requirements. The report also examined the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (H.R. 234); a White House legislative proposal; and the Cyber Threat Sharing Act of 2015 (S.456), which is similar to the White House proposal.
Global Cybercrime Center Recommendation. An international network of INTERPOL and national Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT) should be used to develop a global network of cybercrime centers, a new report on global governance from the Commission on Global Security, Justice & Governance says. This should work in tandem with increased internet access to bolster cybersecurity in the “global south” through initiatives like the International Telecommunication Union’s Connect 2020 Agenda and general cyber hygiene, the report says. The global south generally refers to poorer developing countries often but not exclusively in the southern hemisphere. The commission co-chairs are former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Amb. Ibrahim Gambari, who has served in many United Nations and Nigerian peacebuilding and diplomatic posts.
New America Cybersecurity Fellows. New America’s Cybersecurity Initiative announces its first ever group of 16 year-long National Cybersecurity Fellows. The fellowship focuses on a multi-disciplinary approach to cybersecurity that is designed to bring “new voices” while fostering “big ideas” and different perspectives. This first group of fellows will write a policy paper focused on one big idea.
Rice Meets With Chinese General. National Security Adviser Susan Rice meets with General Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, at the White House on June 12, according to a White House release. Amidst discussing several issues, Rice “underscored the importance of strengthening risk reduction measures and narrowing areas of disagreement, including on maritime and cyber issues.” Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with Changlong on June 11.
Raytheon AN/APY-10 Award: The Navy awards Raytheon a $153 million contract to produce 53 AN/APY-10 radar for P-8A Poseidon aircraft used. The AN/APY-10 is a maritime, littoral and overland surveillance radar used for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. The Navy is already under contract to purchase 58 AN/APY-10 radars, of which Raytheon has delivered 36. The new order would procure systems for the U.S. Navy as well as the Royal Australian Air Force.
Navy Ship Delivery. General Dynamics NASSCO delivers the first afloat forward staging base, the USNS Lewis B. Puller (MLP 3 AFSB 1). Based on the company’s Mobile Landing Platform, the AFSB includes modifications such as a 52,000 square-foot flight deck, storage space, magazines, mission planning space and additional berthing. The ship supports missions such as counter-piracy operations, humanitarian aid and disaster relief and air mine countermeasures. It currently can house MH-53 and MH-60 helicopters but can be upgraded in the future to support MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. NASSCO will begin construction of the second AFSB later this year.
HEMTT Contract. The Army on June 18 awards Oshkosh Defense a $780 million fixed-price incentive, multi-year incrementally-funded contract to recapitalize 1,363 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT), 435 palletized load systems (PLS) and 1,022 new palletized load system trailers, according to a Defense Department statement. The deal also includes specialty kits, logistical/test support and other ancillary items. Feb. 18, 2022 is the estimated completion date. One bid was solicited with one received. HEMTT variants include the Patriot tractor, wrecker, and a guided missile transporter.
NASA-AR1 Agreement. Aerojet Rocketdyne and NASA Stennis Space Center sign a space act agreement (SAA) for test services and test stand support of the AR1 multi-element pre-burner and main injector, according to a company statement. This agreement builds upon the current assembly and testing of the company’s RS-68 and RS-25 engines at NASA Stennis, located in Mississippi. Under the agreement, Aerojet Rocketdyne pays NASA Stennis to modify the E-1 complex, cell 1 test stand over a period of six months. The test stand will be configured to conduct AR1 staged combustion testing. Aerojet Rocketdyne is proposing its AR1 be used as the next-generation engine for the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program.
Space Florida-KSC. Space Florida approves the transfer of the historic shuttle landing facility at Kennedy Space Center from NASA to the state’s aerospace and spaceport development authority, according to a Space Florida statement. The shuttle landing facility will be used by the authority as a testing ground for new technology and companies. It will also serve a wide variety of customers such as just-in-time delivery companies, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems and a new generation of space launch vehicles. Space Florida will have the right to run the facility as a commercial launchway under a 30-year management agreement from NASA. The formal handover will take place with a ceremony on June 22.
Air Force PTW. The Air Force anticipates a June request for proposal (RFP) release and a fiscal year 2016 contract award for its protected tactical waveform (PTW) capability, according to a service spokeswoman. Air Force spokeswoman Tina Greer says in an email that the service plans to award multiple contracts via full and open competition with industry. PTW will provide additional capability over current wideband systems. PTW has been tested on Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) and on commercial systems. The Air Force views PTW as a potential foundation for a future protected tactical communications system.
AIM-9X OT&E. The Navy and Raytheon complete operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) live fires of the AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II infrared air-to-air missile, according to a company statement. Testing and evaluation consists of 16 planned shots against a mix of full-scale and sub-scale targets. The government is now finalizing approval, acceptance and delivery of Block II missiles to the military services and foreign allies later this year. The AIM-9X is a Navy-led, joint Navy and Air Force program.
Future Of The Army. The National Commission on the Future of the Army holds its second public hearing in the Washington metro area on June 18. Commission members hear testimony from several parties, including the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), the Enlisted Guard Association of the U.S., the Army Reserve Forces Policy Committee and the Army Budget and Program, Analysis and Evaluation offices. The commission also provides updates on events since the last public meeting including visits to North Carolina and Hawaii. Congress tasks the commission with recommending modifications to the structure of the Army as well as examining the transfer of Army National Guard AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the Army National Guard to the active Army.