Digital Design. During the confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, the nominee for defense secretary, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) asked him how he would get the Pentagon to “move forward faster” on technology development. “Competition. Senator, it’s important, critically important,” Hegseth said. “We have to have the [industrial base] capability for the missiles and the munitions, but also to rapidly field emerging technologies that we need on the battlefield right now. So, as we learn things, say, in the war in Ukraine, those technologies: as we look at threats we’re going to face, find ways to rapidly field those using off the shelf technologies or standard designs, modular designs.” Hegseth further reiterated his view on the importance of utilizing digital designs in development. “The Pentagon often builds entire systems without first using a digital design, which means you build prototypes and then scrap them and start over again. No private sector business could survive doing business that way. So, there’s a lot of innovation, and I’m going to hire a lot of smart people—already have—to help with that.”
Shipbuilding. Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) also asked Hegseth about how we would get after the likely “decades-long pursuit” to “fix the Navy.” Hegseth responded that Trump has “said definitively” that shipbuilding will be one of his “absolute top priorities.” Hegseth added that the Navy needs to make “historic investments” to get after shipbuilding issues and support “rapid fielding” of new ships. “A lot of it does go into pulling things up into the secretary of defense’s office to shine a spotlight on it, to make sure the bureaucracy doesn’t strangle important initiatives that need to happen. We need to reinvigorate our defense industrial base in this country, to include our shipbuilding capacity,” Hegseth said. “The workforce problems that our shipyards are facing are significant.” Hegseth also said unmanned underwater vehicles can help fill gaps in the fleet and “amplify the impact of our Navy.”
Illegal Labor. The Justice Department last week said Bollinger Shipyards has agreed to pay just over $1 million to settle allegations that the shipbuilder violated the False Claims Act by “knowingly” billing the Coast Guard for labor performed by workers ineligible to work in the U.S. Bollinger, which is based in Louisiana, builds the Coast Guard’s Fast Response Cutters. The government alleges that between 2015 and 2020 the company failed to confirm that its employees were eligible to work in the U.S. and as a result several employees that did not meet eligibility requirements to work on the FRC contract.
Green F-35s. Lockheed Martin said that it recently approved the use of synthetic aviation fuels (SATFs) for the company’s F-35 fighter. “The new fuel sources will improve readiness by reducing reliance on the extended supply chain,” the company said. “The approval allows F-35s to operate with synthetic blends at currently approved limits of up to 50 percent, depending on the type of raw materials and production pathway, combined with conventional jet fuel.” The SATFs may come from fossil fuels and renewable/sustainable sources, including waste oils and agricultural residues, Lockheed Martin said.
PWSA Ideas Wanted. The Space Development Agency last week solicited proposals for new architecture concepts, technologies, and capabilities that will allow “leap-ahead improvements” for future iterations of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) to create new capabilities and address emerging warfighter needs. Through a new Broad Agency Announcement, the agency seeks responses in four focus areas, including efficient beyond line-of-sight data transport and warfighter communications, advanced/alternate position, navigation and timing, advanced target custody, warning, tracking and defeat, and global battle management. Through the performance period of the BAA, SDA may issue calls for proposals for specific topics to be addressed.
More Tech Hubs. The Department of Commerce last week awarded $210 million in implementation grants to support six new technology hubs aimed at strengthening U.S. economic competitiveness and national security, and creating jobs in innovative industries. The awardees include $48 million for the Washington, Idaho-based American Aerospace Material Manufacturing Tech Hub, and the Univ. of Vermont-based Vermont Gallium Nitride Tech Hub that received $23 million to focus on GaN-based semiconductors. There is now 31 Tech Hubs designated by President Joe Biden dating back to October 2023.
GPS Jamming Detection. Slingshot Aerospace last week said it received a $1.9 million contract from Space Systems Command to leverage the company’s Agatha artificial intelligence model to increase automation to detect and alert for GPS jamming and spoofing threats, and differentiate between unintentional or anomalous interference and nefarious acts. The PNT-SENTINEL contract was awarded as a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 2 by SpaceWERX and follows a previous $1.9 million Phase 1 award to the company to develop the jamming detection capability. The first contract provided the foundation for PNT-SENTINEL, which the Space Force is using “to detect GPS jamming and ground-based interference sources as they relate to ongoing conflicts, potential future conflicts, and counterterrorism efforts,” Slingshot said.
Coast Guard Award. The Coast Guard has awarded Teledyne FLIR Defense a potential five-year, $74.2 million to provide more than 125 Electro-Optic Sensor System-Modernized (ESS-M) systems for use on its MH-60 and MH-65 helicopter fleet. The ESS-M platform feature a full high-definition sensor suite and updated user interfaces, providing operators with daylight, low light, and infrared imagery, with an emphasis on search and rescue, living marine resources, and law enforcement. Teledyne FLIR Defense has been providing and supporting legacy ESS systems for Coast Guard medium and short-range recovery aircraft since 2005. Deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Booz Investment in Quantum. Booze Allen Hamilton last week said its venture capital arm made a strategic investment in the quantum computing firm SEEQC, a deal the company says will accelerate its ability to develop and deploy the technology in support of its government customers. Booz Allen said SEEQC, a startup, is “breaking down barriers such as latency, energy, accuracy, and cost—all areas that have prevented quantum computing hardware from being scaled to the sizes necessary to solve mission-relevant problems.”
Stoked. The startup rocket company Stoke Space has raised $260 million in a new Series C funding round that will be used to complete construction at Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., which has been provided by the Space Fore for dedicated use by Stoke’s Nova launch vehicle. Stoke will also use the investment to finalize development of Nova, which the company says will be the “world’s first 100 percent reusable medium-lift rocket.” The funding round includes Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Glade Brook Capital Partners, Industrious Ventures, Leitmotif, Point72 Ventures, and others. So far, Stoke has raised $480 million in seed funding.
Next Falcon Peak. North American Air Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command this July and August plan to hold the field capability experiment FALCON PEAK 2025.2 to assess kinetic low collateral defeat counter-small drone systems to detect, track, identify and defeat Group 1 and 2 unmanned aircraft systems. The experimentation will be held at Peterson Space Force Base-Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, and Fort Carson’s Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in Colorado. The command’s issued a request for information last week seeking participants to demonstrate their technologies for FALCON PEAK, which will use unmanned platforms “capable of addressing cross-domain and previously unseen threat profiles, including low-emission and no-emission (dark) UAS.”
People News. K2 Space, a startup developing a high-powered, low-cost satellite bus platform, has hired former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb as its Head of Strategy. He will guide the California-based company’s strategic initiative and technology development. K2 says its satellite bus will have the capability of an exquisite platform at the cost and speed of small satellites. BigBear.ai last week appointed its president, Kevin McAleenan, as CEO and member of the board. He succeeds Mandy Long who is serving as a company adviser. McAleenan served as acting secretary of homeland security in the first Trump administration.
Zambia FMS. The State Department said on Jan. 13 it has approved a potential $100 million foreign military sale with Zambia for Bell 412 Enhanced Performance Exportable Medium-Lift Transport Helicopters. Along with the Bell medium-lift helicopters, the FMS case also includes radio communication and navigation systems, weather radar and transponder capabilities, qualification and transition training for pilots and maintainers, in-country Contractor Field Service Representatives support, test equipment, spare, repair, and consumable parts and technical and logistics support services. “The proposed sale will improve Zambia’s capability to conduct peacekeeping and regional security, disaster response, and humanitarian aid missions over long distances and in non-standard weather conditions,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement.
Japan FMS. The State Department then said on Jan. 15 it has also approved a potential FMS case with Japan for the sale of up to 16 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles-Extended Range. Along with the Lockheed Martin-built JASSM-ERs, Japan would receive training missiles, anti-jam GPS receivers, munitions support equipment, spare parts and integration and test equipment. “The proposed sale will improve Japan’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing stand-off capability via advanced, long-range strike systems for employment on Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter aircraft, including but not limited to the F-15J and F-35A/B,” the DSCA said in a statement.
MFCS Award. Leonardo DRS announced on Jan. 14 it has received a contract worth more $99 million to deliver the Army’s next-generation Mortar Fire Control Systems (MFCS). The company said the MFCS “allows mortar crews to send and receive digital calls for fire messages, determine the pointing and position of the weapon, and calculate ballistic solutions.” “The MFCS modernizes the U.S. Army’s current mortar fire control capability, linking mortar fires with the digital battlefield. MFCS combines a highly accurate weapon pointing device, an inertial navigation/position system, and a digital communications capability embedded in a rugged fire control computer to create a highly responsive and accurate fire control system,” Leonardo DRS said in a statement.
Helicopter Autonomy. Skyryse said on Jan. 14 it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Army to work on autonomy solutions that would help enable optionally-piloted capabilities to the service’s fleet of Black Hawks and potentially other helicopters. The CRADA is specifically focused on exploring opportunities with Skyryse’s SkyOS operating system, which is said is designed to “reduce time to train for pilots, increase interoperability between aircraft and deliver optionally-piloted capability.” “By combining the Army’s operational expertise with Skyryse’s leadership in rotorcraft flight controls and automation, we have a unique opportunity to make flying simple and safe enough that any serviceperson can fly any aircraft,” Mark Groden, CEO of Skyryse, said in a statement. The Army and DARPA have been working with Sikorsky over the last few years to integrate its MATRIX autonomy software to test optionally-piloted flight on Black Hawk helicopters.
Hegseth Support. Two key Republican votes are seen as critical to ensuring Hegseth’s confirmation. Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), both considered swing votes, released statements this week confirming their support for Hegseth. “Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense. As I serve on the Armed Services Committee, I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments of auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards, and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks,” Ernst said. Hegseth, an Army veteran and Fox News host, has faced sexual assault allegations and was pressed on the matter during his confirmation hearing, telling the Senate Armed Services Committee it was a “coordinated smear campaign” against him “orchestrated in the media.”
Dem Opposition. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on SASC, released a statement following Hegseth’s confirmation hearing calling him “the least qualified nominee for Secretary of Defense in modern history.” “I went into today’s hearing with deep concerns about Mr. Hegseth’s qualifications to be Secretary of Defense, and my fears were confirmed. He lacks the requisite character, competence, and commitment to do this job,” Reed said. “In addition to his own alarming statements, there are simply too many disturbing reports about Mr. Hegseth to ignore. A variety of sources accuse him of disregarding the laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other troubling issues.” Reed’s statement echoes the likely staunch opposition Hegseth will face from Democrats when his confirmation comes up for a vote.
Raymond on Planet Board. Planet Labs said on Thursday that its stockholders have elected retired U.S. Space Force Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, the first chief of space operations, to the company’s board of directors. “Timely, high-resolution satellite imagery is now more critical than ever to help combat the world’s most pressing issues, from natural disasters to geopolitical conflict,” Raymond said in a Planet Labs’ statement. “From the launch of the newest Pelican-2 satellite just this week to the myriad ways AI integration is enhancing what we can see beyond the human eye, I’m honored to join Planet at such a pivotal time for the business.”
More SecNav Namings. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced a flurry of more new ship naming before the end of his term as the Biden administration draws to a close. During a speech at the annual Surface Navy Association symposium on Jan. 15 he named four more warships: the next Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers as the future USS Ray Mabus (DDG-147), USS Kyle Carpenter (DDG-148), and USS Robert R. Ingram (DDG-149) as well as another future Constellation-class frigate as the future USS Everett Alvarex Jr. (FFG-68). DDG-147 is named after the former Navy Secretary who served in the Obama administration, DDG-148 is for an Afghanistan Medal of Honor recipient Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, DDG-149 is for Vietnam War Medal of Honor Navy corpsman recipient, and FFG_68 is for the first American aviator shot down and detained during the Vietnam War, spending eight years in captivity.
…Oilers Too. On Jan. 16 Del Toro also announced the names of two more T-AO 205 John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oilers: the future USNS Joshua L. Goldberg (T-AO 215) and Thomas D. Parham Jr. (T-AO 216), named after two chaplains. T-AO 215 is named after the first Jewish rabbi to volunteer for naval service in World War II and first to be promoted to O-6 while T-AO 216 is named after the first African American sailor promoted to O-6.
…And First LSM. Separately, on Jan. 16 Del Toro also announced the first medium landing ship will be named the USS McClung (LSM-1). The Navy Secretary said the name honors Marine Corps public affairs officers Megan M.L, McClung, the first woman Marine Corps woman killed in action while serving in Iraq, in December 2006. “The Landing Ship Medium (LSM) will be an asset to the Marine Corps’ amphibious capabilities, designed to greatly enhance operational flexibility and combat readiness. I am honored to name the first ship in this class after Major McClung, a selfless leader and hero who embodied the highest ideals of service, honor, and loyalty to our nation,” Del Toro said in a statement.
CV-67 To Dismantle. The ex-John F. Kennedy (CV-67) aircraft carrier started its last transit from the U.S. Navy’s Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, Penn. to Brownsville, Texas where it is due to be dismantled. The carrier was first commissioned in 1968 and decommissioned in 2007, following 39 years of service.
CVN-69. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) aircraft carrier this month arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) to start a scheduled Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) period following a nine-month deployment. CVN-69 and its group carrier out sustained operations in the 5th Fleet area of operations.
Jack Lucas Update. The USS Jack Lucas (DDG-125), which the Navy took delivery of in June 2023, will complete its post shakedown availability in February following the completion of phase one developmental test and final contract trials last summer, Capt. Seth Miller, program manager for the Navy’s DDG-51 destroyer programs, said last week. The ship, built by HII, is the first Flight III destroyer, which is equipped with the RTX AN/SPY-6(V)(1) air and missile defense radar. The ship is still executing against the test and evaluation master plan and is scheduled to be “deployable by the end of ’27, if not sooner,” Miller said at the annual Surface Navy Association Symposium.
