Show, don’t tell: Navy changes strategy to sell unmanned systems to skeptical Congress. (Breaking Defense) “Public discussions between the Navy and Congress over unmanned technology in recent years have been circular: The service asks for funding to develop new technology, hesitant lawmakers balk at pouring millions into unproven tech, then the Navy re-ups its requests the next year, insistent the investment remains necessary… “What we’re hearing now is a different strategy from the Navy that is focused, not so much on programs of record, but instead focusing on the various enabling technologies to build these programs. I think that is a direct result of feedback from Congress,” [AUSVI’s Robbins] continued…. “Still, the Navy has laid out ambitious standards for new unmanned platforms. When the service sets requirements for a large unmanned surface vessel that is able to remain underway for 60 days without human intervention, for example,” [Rep. Whittman] said, “I am prone to be skeptical of their ability to meet that aim today.””
Lawmakers recommend $800 million budget increase for defense labs and test infrastructure. (Defense News) “[It] targets key technology development and testing infrastructure like space, hypersonic weapons, directed energy, electromagnetic spectrum and targeting, adding $422.7 million across multiple defense-wide and Navy research and development projects… The bill also proposes $375.4 million to make DoD’s ranges more representative of a fifth-generation threat environment, funding projects at the Nevada Test and Training Range, Point Mugu Sea Range, China Lake and the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex… The proposed funding increase is significantly lower than the $1.1 billion recommended by Senate appropriators in an earlier bill… Heidi Shyu pegged the total shortfall at closer to $5 billion.”
Boris Johnson launches new UK shipbuilding strategy with billions in funding. (gCaptain) “… laying out plans for a £4 billion ($5.2B USD) government investment which includes money for shipyard infastructure and green ship design… [It] will also deliver a pipeline of more than 150 new naval and civil vessels for the UK Government and Devolved Administrations over the next 30 years [and] could boost orders to UK yards from £60m to more than £400m per annum, an increase of more than 660%. The shipbuilding industry currently supports 42,600 jobs across the UK and contributed £2.8 billion to the UK economy in 2020.”
Hypersonic aircraft startup Hermeus raises $100 million to finish prototype, build out fleet. (CNBC) “Hermeus’ fundraising was led by venture capitalist Sam Altman, and joined by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and In-Q-Tel, both new investors. The round included existing investors Khosla Ventures, Canaan Partners, Bling Capital, and Revolution’s Rise of the Rest… Hermeus said the new funds will be dedicated to completing development of its first Quarterhorse jet, build three flight-capable Quarterhorse jets, and begin flight testing. Then, the company plans to move to development of its next aircraft, called Darkhorse… Hermeus last year said that it aimed to begin Quarterhorse flight testing in late 2022, but on Thursday said it is now on track to fly in 2023.”
New opportunities for Pentagon’s Rapid Experimentation Program. (National Defense Magazine) “Last year, the Pentagon chose 32 projects for experimentation out of thousands of proposals for its new Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve… Previously, officials said there were 200 proposals for the program, but [R&E dep. director for experimentation] Lovett clarified that there were only about 200 “decent” proposals and thousands of submissions in total… Meanwhile, Lovett said he is exploring opportunities for experimentation with coalition forces. In the first round of RDER experiments, three technologies are being developed jointly with international partners, he said.”
Pentagon tech officer: Russian invasion shows importance of contested logistics. (Breaking Defense) “The Pentagon will soon begin the planning stages of the second “sprint” of a new joint experimentation initiative on track to take place in fiscal 2024, the Defense Department’s chief technology officer recently said, focusing in part on “contested logistics.” … “In order to plan for the FY24 [experiment], you really need to start now, right?” … Shyu also said she wants a “transition pot money” to make it easier for small businesses to participate in RDER and help ramp up their capabilities into production quicker.”
Report to Congress on Chinese Naval Modernization. (USNI News) “DOD states that “the PLAN is the largest navy in the world with a battle force of approximately 355 platforms, including major surface combatants, submarines, aircraft carriers, ocean-going amphibious ships, mine warfare ships, and fleet auxiliaries. This figure does not include 85 patrol combatants and craft that carry anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs). The PLAN’s overall battle force is expected to grow to 420 ships by 2025 and 460 ships by 2030. Much of this growth will be in major surface combatants.” DIA states that “the PLAN is rapidly retiring older, single- mission warships in favor of larger, multimission ships equipped with advanced antiship, antiair, and antisubmarine weapons and sensors and C2 [command and control] facilities.””
The Pentagon must pay for competition. (Defense News) Mackenzie Eaglen: “Another time, however, it was Congress that rejected competition in deciding to not pay for an alternative engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in fiscal 2010. Members accepted this short-term “out” to President Barack Obama’s massive defense cuts, even though it would mean only one type of engine available for a plane that will constitute 90% of all U.S. fighter jets in 2035… Fast forward a decade, and the Joint Strike Fighter fleet has been repeatedly grounded for engine troubles. These fleetwide standdowns could have been easily avoided had the modest investment been made to continue the F136 program, which at the time of cancelation was already 70% complete — a sunk cost and wasted taxpayer money.”
Pentagon restricted known info about F-35 in controversial controlled tester report. (Breaking Defense) “For instance, information about the number of deficiencies — a feature of previous DOT&E reports — is marked as controlled. This paragraph contains no information about nature of the deficiencies that could be used by adversaries to get a leg up on the F-35. It also cut references to cybersecurity vulnerabilities, a perennial problem for the software-heavy F-35 that has been mentioned in previous reports…. Most of the information about the readiness of the US F-35 fleet has been cut from the public version of the report, including data about aircraft availability and reliability that had been released in previous reports.”
Spending bill would add five ships, 12 super hornets to Navy acquisition plans. (Defense News) “Included in the omnibus spending bill is $130 million for submarine supplier development… It adds $1.66 billion to buy a second DDG in FY22 and $120 million in advance procurement funding for a ship in FY23… The bill would also slow down the Navy’s pursuit of a guided-missile frigate, taking all $69.1 million in advance procurement funding from the Navy’s budget proposal… Additionally, the omnibus bill adds $250 million in advance procurement funding for a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, LPD-32… The bill adds $577 million to buy an expeditionary sea base; $590 million for two expeditionary fast transport ships, one of which would be in a medical ship configuration; $775 million for an additional John Lewis-class fleet oiler, plus another $20 million in “affordability initiatives” for the oiler program; and $235 million to buy three additional Ship to Shore Connectors… the new omnibus spending bill includes $900 million for a dozen Super Hornets…$250 million for two additional CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopters for the Marines as well as $320 million for four additional MV-22 Ospreys for the Marines… The Navy would get $323 million for two additional MQ-4 Triton UAVs.”
Construction of Aegis ashore in Poland nearing completion. (Defense News) “MDA has had one operational Aegis Ashore site in Deveslu, Romania, since 2016 and intended to rapidly follow suit with the second site in Poland in 2018. The agency predicted after reassessing the situation that it would not have the site up and running any earlier than 2022… The delays have resulted in increased costs to the system. In fiscal year 2021, MDA indicated it would need an extra $96 million in funding to maintain the Aegis weapon system at the site.”
Chinese and Saudi firms create joint venture to make military drones in the kingdom. (Defense News) “The joint venture, named Aerial Solutions, will see CETC establish a research and development center and create a team that would manufacture different types of UAV systems. These are to include communications, flight-control, camera, radar and wireless-detection systems… The new venture will also focus on developing electric-powered vertical-takeoff-and-landing drones, anti-drone solutions, analytics, helicopter products and radar systems… ACES said on Twitter that the move is in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to grow local industry.”
Engineer who took part in E-3 Sentry development explains why the AWACS tail is coated with dielectric paint and why long-range missiles are the only real threat to the aircraft. (Aviation Geek Club) “‘The real problem was long range missiles. AWACS was radiating loudly on so many frequencies that a spit ball thrown into the air would likely be drawn to it by the static charge. Only a missile with a guidance system made in China might miss. Survivability was under 3 minutes unless the countermeasures were successful, which many times they are…. but many times, are not.’
BAE systems buys military simulations firm for $200 million. (C4ISRNET) “Bohemia Interactive Simulations works with 60 different militaries around the world and 300 integrators serving those militaries… “We are the most high fidelity version of the metaverse — if you like — the virtual world which the military wants to be able to operate in,” said Alexion. “The concept of a soldier kneeling, going prone, rolling over, hiding behind a bush, hiding behind a wall — all of those things are represented properly. Bullets actually fly. The trajectory of every bullet, of every round, is actually modeled. It’s the highest fidelity that you can get.”… BAE Systems said it expects the global market for military training and simulation to eventually surpass $11 billion annually.
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