More Bradleys. The Army has definitized a contract modification with BAE Systems worth over $440 million to produce more than 200 additional Bradley A4 infantry fighting vehicles, the company said on Sept. 12. BAE Systems noted the Bradley A4s will be delivered as modernized replacements for some of the vehicles the U.S. has provided to Ukraine to assist in its fight against Russia. “Because of the support for additional production of the modern Bradley A4 variant, this enduring capability continues to make a difference for troops all over the world, ensuring they have the firepower, mobility and survivability they need to achieve their missions,” Dan Furber, director of ground vehicle production for BAE Systems’ Combat Mission Systems business, said in a statement. The U.S. on Sept. 6 approved a new $250 million weapons aid package for Ukraine that included providing Kyiv with additional Bradley vehicles.
Navy Fighter Range. The Navy on Sept. 13 issued a Request For Information for information on “innovative, affordable concepts” that could extend the unfueled range of naval tactical aircraft. This was issued so Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Program Office for F/A-18 and EA-18G (PMA-265) can get some “initial insight” into the existence of useful concepts that could extend platform range, how they could be integrated into the tactical aircraft and considerations on reliability and suitability for aircraft carrier-based flight operations. The Navy said it also wants respondents to include rough order of magnitude estimate of the costs needed to reach Technology Readiness Level 4. The notice listed potential improvements like ways to increase lift, reduce drag, increase fuel available, reduce fuel usage on the deck, increase engine performance or adjustments to subsystem integration and/or architecture or advanced flight controls. The service said this RFI is the first step in an iterative process so more RFIs may be issued later. Responses are due January 10, 2025.
Tester Outlook. The Cook Political Report, a non-partisan political analysis group, said on Sept. 12 its “making a major shift” in its outlook on Montana Senate race from “toss up to lean Republican,” as polls have shown incumbent Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) trailing his Republican opponent Tim Sheehy. “Montana Sen. Jon Tester has been a political unicorn for nearly two decades, but in a presidential year with an even more polarized electorate, he is now the underdog heading into the final stretch of the race,” the Cook Political Report said. Tester is the Senate’s top defense appropriator and his seat is one of several Democrats consider critical to retaining the party’s Senate majority. Sheehy is a former Navy Seal and has secured the endorsement of former President Trump.
B-21s at Whiteman. The U.S. Air Force said on Friday that Secretary Frank Kendall has decided that Whiteman AFB, Mo.–the home of the 509th Bomb Wing B-2 Spirit stealth bombers by Northrop Grumman–will be the second operating base, after Ellsworth AFB, S.D., for the B-2 follow-on, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. Dyess AFB, Texas is to be the third operating base for the bomber.
…Tactical Location. The Whiteman B-21 basing decision “was made after a thorough evaluation process, which included operational analysis, site surveys, and consideration of environmental, economic, and technical factors,” the Air Force said. “The experience that Whiteman AFB has with the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and its strategic location, played into the decision to base the B-21 [at Whiteman].” Whiteman’s Mid-West location provides “easy access to both coasts and the country’s central regions,” the service said. “This location makes it also an ideal base for the B-21, as it allows for quick response times and the ability to reach targets across the globe. Furthermore, Whiteman AFB already has infrastructure and systems in place to support the B-21, including a skilled workforce and modern facilities. This will make the transition to the B-21 smoother and more efficient for the base and its personnel.”
More C-sUAS Range. The Army is exploring kinetic weapons to take out small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) and longer ranges and is seeking sources able to provide the capabilities to do so. Last week, the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center said it is conducting market research for the eXtended Range Counter-sUAS (XRC) science and technology program to develop a missile with greater range than the current Stinger that will be compatible with the Stinger Vehicle Universal Launcher. The target set for the XRC is Groups 2 and 3 sUAS. The Army wants the system to conduct quick response C-sUAS operations for maneuver forces in fixed, mobile, mounted, and dismounted configurations. Fiscal year 2025 is when the service plans to work with industry on component and all-up round technologies leading to a prototype demonstration prior to FY ’30. An industry day is planned for Sept. 18 at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.
Tactical Autonomy. BAE Systems last week said it received a $4 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for Phase 1 of the Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements (AIR) program. The AIR program expands on DARPA’s agency’s Air Combat Evolution effort for manned F-16s, which has been focused on withing-visual-range autonomous capabilities. DARPA says that AIR “will develop dominant tactical autonomy for multi-ship, beyond visual range air combat missions,” and will first be developed and demonstrated on manned F-16s and eventually an unmanned combat aerial vehicle. BAE said it will use machine learning techniques to develop simulation models of existing sensors, electronic warfare systems, and weapons in representative operating environments, and “capture the underlying physics of aerial maneuvers and systems.”
Australia/DAGORs. Australia has awarded Polaris a $14.6 million deal for its DAGOR off-road tactical mobility vehicles, the company said on Sept. 9. Under the deal, Polaris said it will deliver three DAGOR variants to the Australia Defense Force, to include a transport variant for “enhanced tactical mobility and greater standoff,” an expeditionary reconnaissance variant and a cargo variant. “We are proud to provide this capability for Australian personnel. The DAGOR all-terrain vehicle will allow teams to move faster, carry more and significantly reduce combat fatigue by navigating complex terrain otherwise covered on foot,” Michael Cannell, Polaris Australia’s head of government and defense sales and operation manager, said in a statement. “Polaris Australia will also provide in-country sustainment, leveraging the global presence of Polaris as these vehicles deploy globally.”
RENK Group/QinetiQ. Germany’s RENK Group AG, a propulsion solutions supplier, said on Sept. 10 it has signed a strategic partnership with QinetiQ to work on jointly developing “future mobility concepts for military land platforms” that are between five to 60 tons. The partnership will also focus on advanced hybridization concepts and uncrewed ground vehicles, according to RENK Group. “The cooperation with QinetiQ is a decisive step for us to further expand our technology leadership and to increase future growth potential. We are thus well positioned to meet the growing demands of our customers in the area of armored mobility,” Susanne Wiegand, CEO of RENK Group AG, said in a statement.
Tuberville Hold. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has placed a hold on Lt. Gen. Ronald Clark’s nomination to serve as the next commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific. Tuberville has said his concerns are related to the role Clark, who is the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, had during Austin’s hospitalization earlier this year. An Inspector General’s investigation is currently underway into the handling of the hospitalization disclosure. “Lt. Gen. Clark is a highly qualified senior officer [and] a leader. He was nominated for this critical position because of his expertise and his strategic-level experience. When you look at the experience that someone like Lt. Gen. Clark has leading at senior commands throughout the world at all echelons, he’s exactly the kind of leader that we need in our priority theater leading U.S. forces. And so, we would urge the Senate to confirm all of our qualified nominees. As we’ve seen before, these kinds of holds can undermine our military readiness,” Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters on Sept. 10.
Next Silent Swarm. The Navy on Set. 12 issued a notice as a Request for Submission for consideration to participate in the fourth iteration of the Silent Swarm electromagnetic spectrum experimentation series in 2025. In the events, the Navy will experiment with early development Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations capabilities that can be employed on attritable, multi-domain unmanned systems. It seeks to allow rapid development of emerging technology and selected participants will be able to further develop their technologies while operating in an operationally relevant sandbox environment. Responses are due by October 15, with the two-week event planned for July 2025.
Morocco DCS. Oshkosh Defense has received a direct commercial sales (DCS) order to build Heavy Equipment Transporter A1 tractors and 635NL trailers for Morocco, the company announced on Sept. 11. The platforms will be supplied to Optimum Vehicle Logistics and then fielded to the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, with Oshkosh Defense adding that deliveries are expected to begin in the summer of 2025. The value of the DCS order was not disclosed. “We are pleased to work with Optimum Vehicle Logistics, our exclusive distributor in the Kingdom of Morocco, to supply the Kingdom with additional heavy tactical wheeled vehicles in support of its M1 Abrams modernization efforts,” Pat Williams, Oshkosh Defense’s chief programs officer, said in a statement. “This award reinforces our dedication to partnering with our international partners to strengthen their capabilities and improve interoperability.”
…FMTV A2s. The company also said on Sept. 12 it has received a $72.9 million order for delivery of additional Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) A2. The company noted its fourth FMTV A2 order this year, and follows a May 2024 deal worth $108.9 million to deliver vehicles for the U.S. military and international partners. The FMTV A2 demonstrates Oshkosh’s engineering innovation and manufacturing expertise to design vehicles that adapt to dynamic mission demands and surpass performance requirements,” Williams said. Oshkosh Defense noted it has received orders for over 2,600 FMTV A2s to date, with initial fielding set to begin in late 2024.
Navy S&T Board Meets. The Navy’s Science and Technology Board met on Sept. 12 to review recommendations on innovation, ship maintenance, additive manufacturing and electronic warfare, according to Federal Register notice. The meeting started with an open public session for one hour then moved to a closed session the rest of the day on classified topics. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced the creation of the board in September 2023. The board aims to provide the service with independent advice on scientific, technical, manufacturing, acquisition, logistics, medicine and business management functions.
LCS-27 Commissioning. The Navy plans to commission the future USS Nantucket (LCS-27) in Boston, Mass. on Nov. 16. LCS-27 is the 14th total and third to last Freedom-variant littoral combat ship. It was built at Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s shipyard in Marinette, Wisc. Following the commissioning, the ship will sail to its homeport assignment, Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla., where the other Freedom-variant LCSs are based.
DDG-122. The Navy announced the future USS John Basilone (DDG-122) Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will have a commissioning ceremony on Nov. 9 in New York City. The ship is named after a Medal of Honor recipient for service during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. Following commissioning DDG-122 will sail to its assigned homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
Sub Done In Australia. The USS Hawaii (SSN-776) left HMAS Stirling in Australia on Sept. 10 after repairs using the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) were completed in the Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period. The maintenance effort used Australian personnel trained and based on the Land performing some of the work on SSN-776 as Australia prepares to be able to conduct more maintenance on U.S. and U.K, submarines ahead of fielding its own SSNs in the next two decades.
3D Industry Day. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, and the Pike District Partnership hosted the first 3D Scanning Industry Day Event (SIDE) on Aug. 22 in Rockville, Md. This was the first in a series of events facilitated by the Navy’s Capital Tech Bridge that seeks to improve ties between the Navy and businesses and organizations within Montgomery County and the larger Washington, D.C. region. The Navy said that for this event, engineers at Carderock expressed a need for more options in 3D scanning technology, so SIDE provided a platform for leaders and stakeholders to exchange ideas about this technology. About 50 companies from the region and across the country attended the event.
NIXIE Industry Day. The Navy on Sept. 12 issued a notice that Naval Undersea Warfare Division Newport will host an industry day on Oct. 22 to provide technical information and also solicit feedback on requirements for the AN/SLQ-25E “NIXIE” torpedo countermeasures system. The Navy noted information shared during the event may be used to develop NIXIE technical and acquisition documents, but no solicitations are being issued yet. The notice said the Navy tentatively plans to conduct a competitive solicitation with an award planned for June 2026. Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems previously was chosen by the Navy in 2020 to be the NIXIE producer.
Maxar Again. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) said on Sept. 13 it plans to award Maxar Intelligence a sole-source Commercial GEOINT Access Portal (CGAP) contract. CGAP is to update NGA’s Global-Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (G-EGD) system, which has been the agency’s primary delivery means of unclassified satellite imagery to the federal government and allies. NGA did not disclose the potential value of the CGAP award.
“Next NGA West.” Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that he hosted a roundtable of geospatial technology leaders on Aug. 13 in St. Louis to help make the city the U.S.’ geospatial technology hub. “St. Louis already has the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency [NGA], which is building a new campus [Next NGA West] and working to revitalize a St. Louis neighborhood, private investment through the Taylor Geospatial Institute, and other private and public geospatial assets,” according to Schmitt. Representatives at the roundtable included those from NGA, Boeing, BAE Systems/GXP, Leidos, ESRI, and Scale AI, among others, Schmitt’s office said.
FirstSource III Awardees. The Department of Homeland Security last week selected its first FirstSource III Information Technology Value Added Reseller under Functional Category 3. DHS selected three companies in the 8(a) category, seven in the HUBZone, five Service Disabled Veteran Owned small businesses, and four in the Women Owned Small Business category. Overall, FirstSource III is valued at $10 billion. DHS said more information on the FirstSource Software awards will be provided in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025.
Startup News. Hermeus has selected Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Fla., as its hypersonic engine and flight test facility. The Atlanta-based company calls the new site High Enthalpy Air-Breathing Test Facility, or HEAT, and said it will be its initial base for high-Mach flight test capabilities beginning in 2026. The company will conduct high-supersonic and low-hypersonic flight modeling, test engines and propulsion subsystems at HEAT, with the first sea-level static engine tests starting this year. “The United States is lacking in the capability to rapidly and economically test air-breathing hypersonic engines,” AJ Piplica, co-founder and CEO of Hermeus, said in statement. He added that the wait list for these facilities is “years-long” but HEAT will enable less costly and more responsive testing services. Hermeus is developing the Chimera engine, which transitions from traditional turbojet mode to scramjet. The company is also developing a family of hypersonic aircraft.
…Big 2F Funding Raise. Second Front Systems (2F), which helps the government more quickly adopt commercial software solutions, has raised $70 million in a Series C funding round to expand its capabilities and enhance its work with existing and new customers. “Our team has proven that we can help remove barriers between commercial software companies and the U.S. government and its allies, to ensure that dollars go further and better capabilities get to mission owners faster,” Tyler Sweatt, 2F’s CEO, said in a statement. The Series C raise was led by Salesforce Ventures, with participation from new investor Battery Ventures, and existing investors NEA, Moore Strategic Ventures, and Artis Ventures.
…Darkhive Raise. Darkhive, which is developing open architecture unmanned aircraft systems, last week disclosed a $21 million Series A investment the San Antonio, Texas-based company, which will use the funds to develop its product portfolio, put more resources behind existing Defense Department contracts, and expand business development. In addition to small UAS, Darkhive offers a DevSecOps platform to enable the deployment of Defense Department accredited software to uncrewed systems, and a digital voice assistant for mobile device operation. The funding round was led by Ten Eleven Ventures with participation by Crosslink Capital, RTX’s Venture arm, and Stellar Ventures.
…Slingshot Boosted. Slingshot Aerospace, which is providing solutions for missions such as space domain awareness, satellite operations, space traffic coordination, and others, last week received a $30 million commitment from Trinity Capital. The debt facility will be used to continue to scale operations and fund key growth initiatives to meet market demand.
