Transforming Industry and Workforce

Now Is the Time to Deliver at Speed and Scale.

Pete Modigliani and Matt MacGregor

Jan 10, 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of Defense Tech and Acquisition. 2026 is getting started with a bang!

SAE Military Deputies highlight how this time is different for acq reform.
New EO critical of defense primes along with $1.5T proposed for FY27.
Congress, the DoW, and Industry advocate increasing manufacturing capacity.
Marine Corps selects Kratos and Northrop for new CCA
Air Force adds NGC to CCA Inc 1 and opens WWII bases.
Space Force plans heavy launch year and standardizes interfaces.
Golden Dome needs to protect World Cup and builds test interceptors.
China advances lithography prototype and improves logistics.

Why This Time Will be Different for Defense Acquisition

Gen Dale White, VADM Seiko Okano, LTG Robert Collins, and MGen Stephen Purdy

For the first time in the 55 years of modern acquisition history, we’re not asking our acquisition workforce to minimize risk and avoid blame. We’re asking them to own the fight.
Let’s be clear about what “accountability” has meant in defense acquisition for the past half-century: blame without authority.
Program managers inherited detailed requirements etched in stone by the JCIDS, received funding months late due to continuing resolutions, and faced a dozen different stakeholders with veto power over any decision.
When changing world threats, shifting funding priorities, and supply chain challenges caused delays and cost overruns, we held PMs “accountable” for outcomes they never truly controlled.
The key to unlocking the full potential of our acquisition workforce lies in aligning responsibility with genuine authority.
We must empower our program managers and acquisition professionals with the tools, enablers, and decision-making latitude they need to succeed.
The new PAEs aren’t just accountable for outcomes: they’re empowered to achieve them.
For decades we prioritized perfect requirements over timely capability, leading occasionally to exquisite systems delivered too late to matter. 80% solutions... leveraging COTS... deploying early in operational environments.
Something remarkable happens when you create high-accountability, high-authority positions: the right people compete for them. Because exceptional individuals want to own outcomes that matter.
To the acquisition professionals out there: this is our moment.

Our Take: This is OUTSTANDING leadership by the SAE MilDeps.

Exec Order: Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting

The widely rumored executive order on defense primes was finally published and it will have major ramifications in the defense industry.

While the U.S. produces the best military equipment in the world, we do not make enough of it quickly enough to meet the needs of our military and our partners.
It is imperative that our defense contractors be held to the highest standards intended to ensure the advancement of core national interests.
Many large contractors — while underperforming on existing contracts — pursue newer, more lucrative contracts, stock buy-backs, and excessive dividends to shareholders at the cost of production capacity, innovation, and on-time delivery.
Effective immediately, they are not permitted to pay dividends or buy back stock, until such time as they are able to produce a superior product, on time and budget.
It is the policy of the U.S. Government to accelerate defense procurement and revitalize the defense industrial base to maintain peace through strength.
Major defense contractors will no longer conduct stock buy-backs or issue dividends at the expense of accelerated procurement and increased production capacity.
SECWAR shall identify any defense contractors that engaged in any stock buy-back or corporate distribution while:
- underperforming on their contracts
- not investing their own capital into necessary production capacity
- not sufficiently prioritizing U.S. Government contracts
- having insufficient production speed
When the contractor’s remediation plan is insufficient, the SECDEF may initiate immediate actions to secure remedies that will expedite production, prioritize the U.S. military, and return the contractor to sufficient performance, investment, prioritization, and production, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Within 60 days, DoW shall ensure that any future contract with any new or existing defense contractor, including any renewal, contains a provision prohibiting both any stock buy-back and corporate distributions.
Future contracts shall stipulate that executive incentive compensation for contractors will not be tied to short-term financial metrics, such as free cash flow or earnings per share driven by stock buy-backs and instead will be linked to on-time delivery, increased production, and facilitation required to rapidly expand our U.S. stockpiles and capabilities.
SECWAR in consultation with State and Commerce shall consider whether it is appropriate to deny advocacy for underperforming contractors to compete in FMS or DCS.

Prior to the Executive Order, the President posted that Raytheon has been the least responsive to DoW needs, the slowest increase in their volume and most aggressive in their spending on shareholders rather than the needs of the U.S. military.

Either Raytheon steps up and starts investing more in plants and equipment or they will no longer be doing business with the DoW. If they want USG business, under no circumstances will they be allowed to do any stock buybacks.

Trump Proposes $1.5T Defense Budget for FY27

After long and difficult negotiations with Senators, Congressmen, Secretaries and other Political Representatives, our miliary budget for FY27 should be $1.5 Trillion.

This will allow us to build the “Dream Military” that will keep us safe and secure.
Because of tariffs and the tremendous income that they bring, we are able to easily hit the $1.5T number while at the same time, producing an unparalleled military force and having the ability to pay down debt and a substantial dividend to middle income Americans.

Our Take: Building upon Secretary Pete Hegseth's Arsenal of Freedom speech in November, the EO calls for producing at speed and scale. It criticizes the primes who focus investments on stock buybacks and dividends while shortchanging investments in R&D and production of new weapon systems. On its own, it would be a major shockwave to the primes, but it was paired with the call for a $1.5T defense budget in FY27, providing a carrot and stick dynamic.

The collective events drove some stock market fluctuations with an initial decline for the primes, followed by an increase of 4-9% and stabilization. Many of the next tier defense companies saw a ~7% increase this week with Kratos seeing a 28% increase.

This is about realigning incentives so profits reward performance that strengthen national security. A robust defense industrial base thrives when DoW, Congress, and contractors share clear objectives of stable demand, predictable funding, and rewards those who are best at delivering mission-critical solutions at speed and scale. Ultimately, this is about equipping our operational commands with overwhelming advantage to deter conflict and win if called upon.

A New Way of Warfare Requires More Than New Tech

Gen (ret) Nick Carter

All militaries are naturally keen to learn lessons from the war in Ukraine, but we should be careful not to focus too much on technology. All wars have their own characteristics influenced by numerous factors, including technology, but also doctrine, tactics and the military culture of the protagonists. The Russo-Ukrainian War is no different, and unless we place it properly in context, there is a risk our countries’ military forces will leap to the wrong conclusions.

Ukraine’s battlefield technologies — especially drones — do not yet constitute a new way of warfare. Instead, they function mainly as substitutions for missing capabilities and have produced stalemate rather than decisive maneuver.
Lasting change in NATO militaries will come only if these technologies are integrated with existing platforms and, even more importantly, employed through doctrine and concepts that truly realize their potential to deliver advantage.
NATO militaries should also take account of other considerations such as operational analysis, research and development, S&T, experimentation, trials, fielding, and training to assess not only how technological developments open up new possibilities for fighting effectively, but also how they may challenge some of our assumptions about the way we will be able to fight.
It seems obvious that future warfare will involve drones, for they have become the biggest killer on the Ukraine battlefield, and their wider potential as cheap but narrowly effective strike weapons has been widely recognized.
They aren’t yet leading to a decisive outcome, let alone a new way of warfare. So far, they have yielded only stalemate and the type of brutal war of attrition.
Technological advances and the use of off-the-shelf components have made drones of many kinds far more affordable and capable of delivering cost-effective precision strikes at scale.
These software-defined systems may have significant latent capability that is not yet being utilized, not least the potential for flexible, unpredictable, yet coordinated fires that might be realized through swarming.
Ukraine is compensating for capability shortfalls, particularly with artillery and infantry. Its drone-centric approach has produced stalemate, not a breakthrough.
Establishing change involves a systematic process of R&D, operational analysis, experimentation, trials, fielding, and realistic training, and it mirrors how past revolutions like combined arms maneuver and AirLand Battle were created.
Integration is the real source of advantage. Drones, AI, and software-defined munitions should be combined with tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, airpower, and effective command and control networks.
The real potential of new systems will only become obvious once they are integrated with legacy capabilities into a coherent force with appropriate operational concepts.

How to Unleash Problem-Solvers in the Pentagon

Peter Newell

Twenty years ago, the DoD invented a Warfighter Acquisition System designed to deliver solutions to battlefield problems at the speed they need. It was called the Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF). The organization’s primary role was to quickly provide emerging technologies and solutions to soldiers, often within 90 days, outside the normal, lengthy acquisition process. Despite its success, Army leadership abandoned REF in 2020 for a return to the status quo.

The acquisition system—the machine built to equip our forces—was killing us. It was obsessed with “Big A” acquisition: the multi-billion dollar programs of record that took decades to field. It was risk-averse, process-heavy, and blind to the urgency of the now.
We didn’t have time for the JCIDS. We didn’t have time for a three-year analysis of alternatives. We had days, maybe weeks, to save lives.
REF introduced the 10-liner. —a 10-line form that stripped away the bureaucratic fluff. Problem. Justification. Concept of Operation. That was it.
We found that when you lead with the problem, American ingenuity responds.
The FY26 NDAA is a direct assault on the requirements-first culture that has paralyzed our modernization.
Specifically, the establishment of Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) changes the game. By creating leaders responsible for a portfolio of capabilities rather than isolated programs, we are finally creating an architecture that can support a portfolio of problems.
In the old system, if you were the program manager for a tank, your job was to build the best tank possible, even if the enemy stopped using tanks. You had no authority to pivot.
In the new PAE system, a leader managing a Maneuver Portfolio has the authority to review the battlefield, identify a new drone threat, and reallocate resources from heavy armor to kinetic countermeasures in real time. They are managed by outcomes, not by adherence to a stale requirements document.
Recommend the following actions
- Institutionalize Problem Curation
- Kill the Requirement as the Entry Ticket
- Embrace the 10-liner Standard
- Train for Curiosity, Not Compliance
- Kill Slow Moving Projects
The 2026 NDAA has given us the cover fire we needed. The law now says we must prioritize speed. We must define operational problems. We must empower portfolio managers to take risks.

Our Take: Pete is absolutely correct here and has demonstrated this success in the Army’s REF and continues to champion these fundamentals for speed and agility.

How to Maximize American Manufacturing Capacity

Rep Ken Calvert

I was encouraged by Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pledge that the DoW will be pursuing a line of effort to supercharge America’s declining defense industrial base. The industrial base is foundational to address the many national security challenges facing the US — particularly those coming from Beijing.

China is outproducing the US on a massive scale. Meanwhile, our ability to mass produce weapons systems has calcified as we shrunk our defense industrial base post-Cold War.
Restarting a robust defense industrial base with the capacity to surge manufacturing for critical supplies will take time.
Thankfully OSC has begun taking on this challenge through public-private partnership agreements with MP Materials and Vulcan Elements for rare earth materials and magnets.
Our new initiative creates a Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network (CRMN) to establish a certification and qualification process for domestic commercial companies to manufacture components, weapons, and equipment.
It would remove red tape, build a national registry of manufacturing capabilities, and fund select factory equipment to adapt their existing lines for rapid defense production.
The Pentagon should direct the ASW(IBP) to oversee the creation of CRMN and to facilitate processes and resources to immediately improve logjams on certification and qualification processes.
For too long the US has neglected the third, fourth, and lower-tiered suppliers that produce critical components to ensure our military and technological superiority.
By creating CRMN, Congress is handing the Trump administration a valuable tool to link and maximize commercial and defense manufacturing in America.

Our Take: The CRMN is a critical strategic opportunity to strengthen our national security. We must streamline certification and qualification processes to enable more domestic commercial manufacturing capacity for defense production, especially at the lower-tier suppliers. A key early win in 2026 should be qualifying and certifying the first dual-use factory under the CRMN network to demonstrate the proof of concept.

DoW Establishes New Acquisition Model to More than Triple PAC-3 MSE Production in Partnership With Lockheed Martin

The DoW, working in partnership with Lockheed Martin, announced the signing of a landmark framework agreement that establishes a transformative new acquisition model to expand munitions production and procurement—one that delivers long-term demand certainty, incentivizing industrial investment to increase production, cut lead times, drive supply chain management efficiencies, while reducing upfront government facilitization and capacity investments.

This seven-year framework agreement with Lockheed Martin is a direct outcome of the Department's new Acquisition Transformation Strategy.
As the Secretary stated, "We will stabilize demand signals. We will award companies bigger, longer contracts for proven systems so those companies will be confident in investing more to grow the industrial base that supplies our weapons systems more and faster." 
Lockheed Martin will increase annual production of the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor from ~600 to 2,000, aligning industrial capacity to the long-term demand required by U.S. forces, allies and partner nations.
The agreement aligns the interests of Lockheed Martin, the DoW, and taxpayers, with Lockheed Martin supporting investments to scale the required production.
As part of the framework agreement, the DoW will work with key suppliers of PAC-3 MSE to deliver seven-year subcontracts to ensure facilitization investments and the production capacity of components also expand to meet the increased demand for all-up-rounds.

"This framework agreement marks a fundamental shift in how we rapidly expand munitions production and magazine depth, and how we collaborate with our industry partners. Lockheed Martin's willingness to help pioneer this transformative acquisition model is a win-win for the taxpayer, our national security, and the rebuilding of the industrial base needed for the Arsenal of Freedom." Michael Duffey, USW(A&S)

What is Nifty Nugget? NDAA revives 47-year-old military exercise

In 1978, the DoD conducted an exercise to simulate what would happen if it needed to mobilize all U.S. forces globally in the face of an existential conflict. It didn’t go well.

The 21-day exercise, dubbed Nifty Nugget, brought two dozen military commands to bear to support a notional conflict in Europe. Due to major holes in planning, communication and logistics, up to half a million troops were late to the fight, and the conflict resulted in 400,000 U.S. casualties.
The exercise helped prompt the creation of US Transportation Command.
The FY26 NDAA includes a provision calls for a study modeled on Nifty Nugget and focused on Reserve force mobilization to assess the capability of the Armed Forces to respond to a high-intensity contingency in the Indo-Pacific region.
The law requires DoW to assess the military’s ability to rapidly mobilize, deploy, and sustain active and reserve component forces in response to a conflict scenario involving the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, or similar Indo-Pacific flashpoint.
The study also needs to include an evaluation of strategic lift, sustainment and logistics capabilities; analysis of interagency coordination procedures; an evaluation of joint and allied interoperability; and the creation of an inventory of the civilian job and education skills within the military’s Reserve component.

AI

DOD Maps Out Plan for New Enterprise C2 Program Office, C2 Suite

This new program office would essentially fuse multiple DOD elements that have come to fruition since the late 2010s.

The DoW is looking to launch a new Enterprise Command and Control Program Office in a move that would consolidate and refresh its long-standing efforts to provide common operating panes and user-specific AI tools to track and target enemies in real time.
This envisioned hub would combine and expand the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office’s Maven Smart System (MSS) and Edge Data Mesh capabilities into the Enterprise C2 Suite — a new platform and program of record for CJADC2 and Al-enabled warfighting options.
Internal guidance regarding a new EC2 Program Office suggests that its establishment would ensure that the Defense Department has the “authority, resources, and accountability to deliver capability at the speed of relevance.”
USWs I&S and R&E would be directed to deliver a plan for “the expedient transition of MSS authorities, infrastructure, support activities, and responsibilities” from the NGA to the EC2 Program Office.

Our Take: This is a smart move for DoW. There are already enterprise efforts to leverage Maven and Edge Data Mesh in certain services and CCMDs so it only makes sense to standardize those capabilities more broadly to provide common intelligence insights and have the network resiliency that is need for rapid target identification, targeting and fires in a future conflict.

DIU to Fund ‘Unjammable’ Magnetic Navigation Tech

To circumvent ever-more pervasive jamming of GPS satellite signals, DIU is launching a program to mature magnetic navigation (magnav) systems.

Such systems use instruments called magnetometers — essentially highly sensitive magnets — that detect changes in the Earth’s terrestrial magnetic field created by magnetic rocks in the outer crust.
Magnav systems hold “the promise of resilient, unjammable navigation,” particularly over the oceans.\
Magnav also is a passive technology that does not broadcast radio frequency (RF) signals that can be detected and thus attacked by adversaries.
The problem blocking its widespread use is a lack of highly accurate and localized “maps” that match the strength of the planet’s geomagnetic field to specific coordinates.
DIU’s new Geomagnetic Airborne Unmanned Survey System (GAUSS) program is looking to industry for prototypes of “magnetic data collection platforms that address warfighter needs for precision navigation capabilities beyond GPS.
Given the likelihood that no one aircraft can provide all the data needed, DIU expects to fund multiple types of aircraft and magnav systems, providing an example of at least two different types of aircraft: one capable of flying at about 30,000 feet and another scanning the ocean surface at about 2,000 feet.

AI Applied to Tackle Energy Conundrums For Modern Battlefields

The U.S. is determined to be the global leader in artificial intelligence, and just as important as the models themselves is having the computing power to run them. Both government and private sector entities are pursuing AI solutions that would work in the energy-constrained environment of the modern battlefield.

The Trump administration is looking to expand the country’s AI infrastructure. The Energy Department in July 2025 selected four sites to house AI data centers and energy generation projects.
Along with large-scale data centers, the U.S. and particularly its armed forces will need AI systems that don’t require significant energy resources to operate.
If a lot of the work going into U.S. AI systems is centralized in these large data centers, we stand to lose it, because the Chinese could knock out a transformer powering one of these facilities and set critical projects back years.
China has been infiltrating our data systems, our control and acquisition data systems and our critical power for the better part of 15 years, and that’s why this is another vote for a distributed model.
To address the need for AI systems that can operate in power-constrained battlefield environments, the DAR{A recently launched a program to develop energy-aware machine learning tools — Mapping Machine Learning to Physics, or ML2P, program.

“We need to start building field-deployable … edge device systems that could do a lot of the light work of what’s being done now in these huge data centers is that with data centers comes centralization.” Bill Thompson, founder and CEO of Spartan Forge

Cameron Stanley Emerges as Frontrunner to Be Next Pentagon CDAO

Multiple sources suggested the Project Maven alum and AWS executive Cameron Stanley could start in that capacity sometime this month. Stanley would enter the role on the heels of a recent realignment for the CDAO — and at a time when the DoW is investing heavily in AI and transforming the way personnel access and deploy the emerging tech across warfighting and back-office functions.

SOCOM Exploring How AI Can Process Biometrics, Other Data Gathered by Operators

SOCOM said it was looking to further “explore” various data collection capabilities and how AI can potentially analyze information from biometrics, documents, OSINT, and communications exploitation methods per their Tactical X Event 2026 RFI.

Elite U.S. troops use a process called sensitive site exploitation (SSE) to collect information from people or material during an operation. This data then helps the military build intelligence packets for future missions or support criminal prosecutions.
A well-known example of SSE occurred during Operation Neptune Spear, when Navy SEALs recovered documents, drives and electronic equipment from Osama bin Laden’s compound.

NIST Launches Centers for AI in Manufacturing and Critical Infrastructure

NIST has expanded its collaboration with the MITRE Corporation as part of its efforts to ensure U.S. leadership in AI. Through this award, NIST is investing $20M to establish two centers to advance the delivery of AI-based technology solutions to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and cybersecurity for critical infrastructure.

This new agreement with MITRE will focus on enhancing the ability of U.S. companies to make high-value products more efficiently, meet market demands domestically and internationally, and catalyze discovery and commercialization of new technologies and devices.

Autonomy/Drones

Now You Can Train for the Next Drone War on Simulated Ukrainian Front Lines

A newly-released, public version of the drone simulator used to train thousands of Ukrainian military pilots offers a terrifyingly accurate glimpse into modern warfare.

Drones are central to how modern wars will be fought. From reconnaissance and targeting to direct strikes, low-cost, fast-moving drones with powerful payloads are causing massive destruction and racking up kills against traditional armed forces.
Mastery of drone warfare is allowing a smaller country like Ukraine to hold its own on the front lines against a superpower, performing devastating strikes that keep the Russian Army on its back foot.
Over the past two years, Ukrainian forces have relied heavily on high-fidelity drone simulators to train operators before they ever touch a real aircraft.
According to Simtech Solutions, the developers of one of the main Ukrainian training tools, their platform alone has been used to get over 5,000 military pilots flight ready, capable and certified to perform even the most advanced and critical missions.
Pilots who trained with their simulator have successfully struck over 100,000 real-world targets.
That platform has now been released in a public-facing version called Ukrainian Fight Drone Simulator, which is available on the Steam platform.
What really stood out to me during my time on the simulated frontline was how much Ukrainian Fight Drone Simulator emphasizes military elements beyond just flying drones.
You actually have to plan your missions, taking into account things like time of day, lines of sight, potential exposure to enemy defenses and whether or not the enemy is operating electronic warfare in the area.
I had to learn how to manage things like battery power too, because going around an area with dense anti-air defenses to get at juicy targets sitting behind them might be a great idea, but only if your heavily laden drone has enough juice to make the run and still give you a least a few minutes of time over your target.

America’s Drone Dilemma

Chris Miller

Shortly before Christmas the FCC gave an unexpected gift to America’s drone industry. By adding all foreign-made drones and key components to its “Covered List” of equipment that poses an unacceptable national security risk, the commission de facto banned China’s DJI, the industry leader in drones. This opens the market to US drone companies. It may also mark a shift towards greater use of import restrictions in Washington’s tech competition.

The FCC is now taking centre stage in the tech war. It has authority to ban imports of any communications equipment that it believes facilitates espionage or threatens critical infrastructure.
Many US companies still rely on China for key components like batteries and motors. In 2024, China cut off battery sales to US drone companies, forcing makers like Skydio to ration battery sales.
Congress is now considering legislation to bolster the commerce department’s powers. Senior Republican legislators recently called on commerce secretary Howard Lutnick to use this authority against imports of Chinese equipment in sectors including data centres, robotics and the energy grid.

DARPA Call on Industry to Design a Powerful Heavy-Lift Drone

DARPA wants to close the enduring trade off between payload and weight with logistical drones.

DARPA initiated a $6.5M competition to design and develop a heavy-lift drone
Tenders will provide a vertical lift capability, solving the enduring payload-to-weight ratio problem
Each UAS must weigh no more than 55 pounds and be able to carry exactly double its own total weight across a five-nautical mile course.

Hegseth Launches Multistate Tour in Support of Defense Industrial Base

Dubbed the "Arsenal of Freedom Tour," the monthlong campaign aims to promote one of the War Department's top priorities of rebuilding the military by engaging with the DIB at various stops throughout the country.

"On this tour, we'll be traveling from the shipyards of the coast to the factories of the heartland to see the work being done by the military and our partners in American manufacturing, to usher in a new golden age of peace through strength — a revival of our industrial base — all-American, made by the best Americans.
We're deploying cutting-edge technologies at a speed that's not been seen in generations, and we're making historic, multigenerational investments in the capabilities that we will need to dominate the future fight at a level of urgency that must match the urgency of the moment." Pete Hegseth

A Networked Leapfrog Strategy to Recapture Technology Leadership

Michael Mazarr

It is now widely agreed that the contest for leadership in frontier scientific and technological progress is one of the foremost elements of the U.S.-China rivalry.

China's leadership appears to believe that S&T offer the primary engines of development and innovation that will realize its goals of national rejuvenation and is investing massively across many areas.
After years of taking a largely hands-off approach to this contest, at least from a government standpoint, the U.S. now appreciates the significance of the contest for leadership in S&T as foundational to the economic and national security aspects of the rivalry and has begun responding to the Chinese effort with investments, policies, and export controls of its own.
To regain competitive advantage the U.S. requires a bold strategy of large-scale, high-risk experiments targeting transformative technological breakthroughs.
Rather than competing head-on with China's incremental innovations, the strategy advocates for leapfrogging current-generation technologies to create entirely new paradigms in such areas as semiconductors, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and health care diagnostics.
It emphasizes multilateral collaboration with other leading industrial democracies to pool resources, talent, and influence, fostering a shared ecosystem of innovation.

SOCOM Wants New Tech to Keep its Militarized Commercial Vehicles Hidden From Data-Hungry Adversaries

Advancements in commercial vehicle tech generate vast amounts of data and emit unique signatures, meaning adversaries could use these emissions to track vehicle movements, interfere with operations or compromise sensitive data while commandos are using these platforms.

SOCOM is looking for new technology to help their non-standard commercial vehicle fleet — often modified civilian trucks — keep a low profile during missions as advances in sensors and telematics open the door for enemy exploitation.
See FOSOV: Vehicle Telematics and Sensor Technologies Special Notice

DIU 2025 Highlights

Hypersonics Testing Accelerated. The HyCAT program completed a successful Prometheus Run mission launch, demonstrating a rapid flight validation approach for advanced hypersonic tech through collaboration with MDA.
Energy Dominance. In partnership with the Army, launched a first-of-its-kind project to advance micro-nuclear reactors on Army installations.
First in 5G. Leads to the Department’s first commercial private 5G network at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, boosting “smart warehouse” efficiency with robotics & real-time tracking.
From Lab to Orbit in Months. Launched its first strategic-grade quantum inertial sensor into orbit aboard the X-37B—a partnership with DIU & Air Force RCO to push the boundaries of space-based sensing.
Clear Comms. Enabled the Coast Guard to successfully integrate tactical/non-tactical radios across their small boat fleet, leveraging the project’s success memo to award their first-ever production OTA.
USVs at Speed & Scale. From prototype to $392M in contracts in under a year, Navy, through DIU’s ‘Production-Ready, Inexpensive, Maritime Expeditionary’ project, is accelerating uncrewed vessel tech and rapidly fielding Saronic’s Corsair USV.
More Drone Options, Faster. The Blue UAS List added 39+ certified systems + 165 components – and added 4 competitively selected FPV drones with kinetic capability in 2025, years ahead of schedule.
Real-Time Information Effects. Production contract hits $62M for deployment of new tools that operationalize commercial and publicly available info, including foreign-language content, to deliver real-time analyses in critical areas of responsibility.
MLOps Tools Delivered. Project AMMO transitioned production-ready MLOps tools to improve Automatic Target Recognition for Navy mine countermeasure USVs, leading a commercial team (Domino Data Lab with Arize AI, Fiddler AI, and Weights & Biases) with $16M in APFIT & DIU funding – expanding tools and use-cases.
Building a unified C2 ecosystem. Army and DIU collaborated to rapidly field next-gen c-UAS fire control solutions as part of the Integrated Battle Command System Maneuver program.
New Era for U.S. Space Launch. On January 16th, Blue Origin’s New Glenn-1 successfully reached orbit, marking a major accomplishment for a new U.S. launch vehicle—launching the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload for DIU, successfully testing core systems for future national security missions.

Our Take: Kudos to the DIU team for continuing to lead the partnerships across the DoW and industry to rapidly harness the latest commercial tech for national security.

USW(R&E) Strengthens Measures to Protect DoW Funded Research

Emil Michael announced new actions to protect DoW-funded research from malign foreign influence, intellectual property theft, and other forms of exploitation that threaten the security and economic interests of the U.S.

USW(R&E) memo on Fundamental Research Security Initiatives and Implementation reflects the Department’s commitment to strong research security and close alignment with congressional oversight efforts.

Key actions include:

Prohibiting fundamental research assistance award funding to companies listed under Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act, which identifies Chinese military companies operating in the United States
Establishing a department-wide Fundamental Research Risk Review Repository to improve information collection and sharing across all DoW components
Identifying and developing automated vetting and continuous monitoring capabilities where practicable to help detect and mitigate foreign influence risks

Other Defense Tech News:

Overhauling Acquisition, Production and Procurement processes to Rebuild the Industrial Base

In a Q&A with Dr. Jerry McGinn, CSIS Center for the Industrial Base Director

We have the most dynamic and strong industrial base in the world. That being said, we have a fair bit of brittleness in our industrial base and the ability to surge capacity and production. We struggle to bring in new entrants; we have traditionally struggled with that.
The government has been buying systems from a prime contractor, and then most of the time set it up where the intellectual property was controlled by the prime contractor and got locked into what they call vendor lock concerns.
There’s been a strong focus over the last better part of a decade to be more upfront about negotiating intellectual property rights with the government to try and build in more modularity, what they call MOSA.
The new acquisition model all comes down to implementation. If the government sets demand signals that allow for more competition, recurring competition throughout the life cycle of the program, companies are going to respond. They’re going to find ways to be competitive throughout the life cycle of a program.
On the component level, they’re also trying to build in more ability to do multi-sourcing. If you have common interfaces, it allows the contractors to keep their black boxes, but allows the government to maintain operational control so they change out vendors over the course of a program.
That’s what MOSA is all about and that’s going to create opportunities for all kinds of companies, for new entrants, for small companies, for mediums.

The FAR Overhaul Is Here... And It Demands Precise Execution

Patrick Hughes

Presidential Executive Order 1475, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement, introduced several initiatives that are transforming how the Federal Government acquires commodities and services. The most consequential is the revolutionary overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

While much of the public discussion has focused on what is changing in the FAR, the more profound shift lies in how agencies and contractors must now operate.
From Compliance as a Gate to Compliance as an Enabler. Compliance cannot be bolted on at the end. It must be embedded directly into day-to-day workflows, guided by contract intelligence, and enforced consistently across the entire lifecycle.
Complexity Hasn’t Disappeared, It Has Shifted. This shift rewards organizations that can manage complexity in real time, understanding clause applicability, documenting decisions, managing funding constraints, ensuring compliant flow-downs, and adapting quickly to regulatory or policy changes without losing control.
Innovation Now Lives or Dies in the Workflow. Innovation will increasingly depend on whether agencies and contractors can orchestrate compliant, transparent workflows across acquisition planning, solicitation, award, modification, and closeout.
A New Competitive Divide. On one side are organizations investing in modern, connected workflows that operationalize policy, automate compliance, and provide real-time visibility across the contract lifecycle. On the other are those relying on legacy processes, institutional heroics, and after-the-fact remediation.

Pentagon Looks to use AI, Automation for Zero Trust Assessments

The DoW is soliciting ideas for how AI and ML capabilities can assist in the zero-trust assessment process as the deadline to reach target-level compliance approaches.

The DOD’s Zero Trust Portfolio Management Office is interested in leveraging automation, AI and ML to accelerate and scale [zero trust] assessments across the entire department — specifically for purple team assessments.
The technologies will help the Pentagon mitigate its limited capacity to validate initial compliance and conduct continuous assessments
See the Zero Trust AI RFI

Army Announces Winners of XTechOverwatch

After nearly two weeks of live experimentation, Soldier engagement, and intense competition at the Army Autonomous and Unmanned Systems Summit in Bryan, TX—xTechOverwatch named 20 winners!

These innovators delivered autonomous overwatch solutions built for real-world Army missions. From advanced sensing and navigation to multi-domain coordination, their technologies stood out for mission relevance, scalability, and operational impact.

Each winner received an additional $20K cash prize and the opportunity to submit a Direct to Phase II Army SBIR|STTR proposal worth up to $2M.

Integrating Drones in the Force: The Army Way and the Right Way

Donald Vandergriff

The recent activation of Fox Company, 1-10 Attack Battalion, under the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division represents yet another top-down attempt by the U.S. Army to adapt to the realities of modern warfare—specifically, the dominance of UAS and launched effects in contemporary conflicts.

This first-of-its-kind tactical UAS and launched effects company aims to achieve drone dominance by integrating reconnaissance drones with the firepower of Apache attack helicopters to hunt and engage enemies in the division’s deep areas.
While the intent to incorporate offensive drone capabilities is commendable, the approach echoes the same flawed patterns that have plagued Army modernization efforts for decades.
The 10th Mountain Division, as a light infantry formation, lacks the organic vehicles necessary to transport and sustain the volume of drones required for meaningful operations.
Placing this new company under the Combat Aviation Brigade—once again subordinating drone operations to aviation—is a misguided decision.
The Army’s decision to bolt on a specialized drone company under aviation, rather than embedding drone expertise across all units, ignores these risks and perpetuates stovepiped thinking.
In contrast, 3rd Generation Warfare (3GW)—maneuver warfare—prioritizes speed, initiative at lower levels, mission-type orders, and rapid adaptation to exploit enemy weaknesses.
True mastery of 4GW, however—where irregular forces, hybrid threats, information operations, and low-cost precision weapons like ubiquitous drones blur lines between front and rear—requires evolving beyond even 3GW to a culture that fully embraces decentralization, bottom-up innovation, and resilience in complex, ambiguous environments.
Allocate modest budgets directly to units for drone procurement, testing, and modification.
Only through such decentralization can the force develop the doctrinal flexibility, tactical proficiency, and cultural mindset needed to prevail in 4GW, where drones are but one element in a web of decentralized, multi-domain threats.

Army Unveils a Sneak Peek of the Abrams Tank Prototype, M1E3

The Army announced the completion of an Abrams tank prototype, known as the M1E3.

This milestone proves the Army’s ability to rapidly apply lessons learned and deliver enabling technologies to Soldiers faster than ever before.
The Army highlighted the prototype’s advanced software integration, enhanced mobility and unmatched lethality, as core features.

“The Abrams Tank can no longer grow its capabilities without adding weight, and we need to reduce its logistical footprint. The war in Ukraine has highlighted a critical need for integrated protections for Soldiers, built from within instead of adding on.” MG Glenn Dean, PEO GCS in 2023.

Marine Corps picks Northrop Grumman, Kratos team to build CCA drones

Northrop Grumman and Kratos have received a $231.5M deal to deliver the Marine Corps' first loyal wingman drone under the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) program.

The contract funds the effort’s development with an initial period of performance of 24 months.
As the sole prime contractor, Northrop will integrate its advanced mission kits and Prism open architecture autonomy software onto Kratos’ XQ-58 Valkyrie.
The mission kits comprise sensors and software-defined technologies developed for UAS, and can also enable both kinetic and non-kinetic effects to make the platform a combat-ready asset.
The MUX TACAIR program is one of several CCA drones currently being developed. The Air Force and Navy have active programs of record underway, while the Army announced in late 2025 that it is considering launching a competition for its own loyal wingman program.
The Marine Corps requested $58M in FY26 to continue R&D for MUX TACAIR.
Like other CCA programs, the Marine Corps intends to rapidly develop and field the MUX TACAIR drones in batches known as increments. The award to Northrop and Kratos will cover increment 1, and new capabilities and systems will be integrated into subsequent groupings.

NIWC Atlantic’s New Rapid Capabilities Office Aims to Deliver Tech at Wartime Speed

The Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic launched this new hub shortly after Navy leaders created an enterprise-wide RCO last year. They seek to advance and deliver information warfare capabilities purpose-built for the Navy to help solve sailors’ real-world operational deficiencies by matching them with modern commercial technology options.

The NIWC Atlantic RCO is meant to serve as a strategic arm to quickly respond to emerging operational needs, warfighting capability gaps, and support changes within.
The office is currently working to enhance and integrate equipment and software that spans the initial priority areas of battlespace C2, decision advantage, connectivity, robotics and autonomous systems, and non-kinetic effects.
The overarching functions of the new NIWC Atlantic RCO are to accelerate capability delivery; serve as a catalyst for command transformation; empower technical experts for strategic impact; interface with DOD and Navy innovation stakeholders; and advise on rapid capability matters.
Mirroring the Navy-wide RCO, NIWC Atlantic’s office will utilize a full spectrum of contracting methods — with an early emphasis on agile pathways such as other transaction agreements, commercial solutions openings, and prize challenges.
NIWC Atlantic RCO has an open, general interest CSO.

“We are laser-focused on speeding advanced capabilities to the warfighter. We are committed to growing and sustaining our support for this critical mission — amplifying and extending the DON RCO’s efforts to prioritize timely capability over perfection in order to deliver real solutions that make us more powerful at wartime speed” April Miller, NIWC Atlantic RCO Director

AI, Digital Twins Seen as Solution to Shipyard Backlogs

The DoW and Navy are prioritizing rebuilding the nation’s struggling shipbuilding sector, and industry leaders think AI and digital twins could help with ship maintenance.

The U.S. shipbuilding industry has been plagued with problems for years, from workforce shortages and infrastructure and supply chain issues to backed-up maintenance depots and budget overruns.
While U.S. shipbuilding has floundered, China has established itself as a dominant figure in the global industry, accounting for 53.3 percent of shipbuilding worldwide, while the U.S. makes up 0.1%.
The dream is to have an AI-enabled digital twin — a virtual replica of a physical system updated in real time to reflect its real counterpart — that can tell operators and even predict exactly what the ship needs.
AI can immediately play a significant role in scheduling and timing, such as getting crucial parts to shipyards to speed up repair times, but also in evaluating what the cost over time looks like.
But AI is only as good as its data. Quality data is crucial to successfully integrating AI and automation into shipyard maintenance.
Digital twins can be used to evaluate ships and directly tell the operators exactly what’s wrong with them and then transmit that information back to shore and to the supply chain.
Advanced digital twinning technology exists in industry, but integrating it into the DoW’s complex spectrum of existing capabilities poses challenges.
It’s important to implement modern capabilities like AI and digital twins into maintenance for the younger workforce; they actually want to work with robots and automated technologies.

“The only way the U.S. can bolster its struggling shipbuilding industry and keep pace with China is to increase the use of AI and digital twins to speed up maintenance and reduce backlogs.” Lucian Niemeyer, CEO of Building Cyber Security.
“Instead of building big, monolithic systems from the ground up, the Navy should leverage technology that will integrate with all of the systems seamlessly that you already have, as opposed to, traditionally, let’s build a whole new system that does it better. And that’s a great idea, but it really hasn’t come to fruition. And the one thing that’s always going to happen every year is it’s going to get more complicated.” Jacques Jarman, chief growth officer at edgeTI

Uncrewed Ships Coming to an Ocean Near You

It’s later this century, and two warring nations’ navies approach one another across a battlefield known as the Pacific Ocean. Out front, on both sides, are fleets of 60’ to 180’ USVs. Each of the state-of-the-art USVs carries swarms of flying drones and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) that will be launched when the fighting begins. The nearest human is many miles away.
Meanwhile, a 1,000' containership is hundreds of miles across the Atlantic Ocean heading to multiple ports in Europe, carrying goods for hundreds of merchants. The nearest human in control of the ship is in Boston.
The Marauder is Saronic's first vessel of its size designed from the keel up to be fully autonomous. It offers a payload capacity of 40 metric tons and can travel up to 3,500 nautical miles or loiter for over 30 days.
A second Marauder vessel is already in production, with Saronic reporting a 25% gain in production efficiency based on lessons learned from the first.
A third Marauder vessel, planned to begin construction in January 2026, is expected to incorporate an evolved 180’ design intended to increase operational reach, payload capacity, and mission flexibility.
Navy awarded Saronic a $392M production contract for its Corsair autonomous maritime vessels, with nearly $200 million obligated at the time of the award.
Blue Water Autonomy, announced it had entered into a production agreement with Conrad Shipyard, Morgan City, La. Conrad will assemble Blue Water's first class of autonomous ships.
Blue Water's platform is intended to be produced, updated, and maintained with speed and flexibility in mind.

“It’s not a question of if, but when,” Rylan Hamilton, CEO, Blue Water Autonomy
“The real future here is commercial maritime interests.” Doug Lambert, COO, Saronic

No Time to Specialize

LT Chris Rielage

SWO specialization was a good idea for the last generation of officers, but time is now too short. Implementing it in 2026, with the possibility of great power war looming, would be self-destructive.

SWO specialization is no longer a good idea. 2027 – less than a year away – is the benchmark the fleet has set for readiness for a war with China. We are being told to prepare for high-end combat operations – soon.
We have no room to work through the major disruption that dividing the SWO community into specialties would bring. Instead, the surface Navy should drive the existing officer career path to be more tactical anywhere it can.
Instead, the surface community reworked its educational model, creating two large shiphandling schools for all new SWOs and smaller simulator facilities scattered across each fleet concentration area.
Instead of specializing the SWO community, the surface navy should emulate the successful reforms of 2017 – with an eye towards tactics instead of shiphandling.
The surface navy’s most senior leaders, though, should not be the only ones driving reforms. Commanders at all levels should creatively insert more emphasis on tactics throughout the SWO community anywhere their authority allows them.
In 2026, the only path forward is to roll up our sleeves at every level and drive the existing framework of the SWO community to be more ready for war.

The Future of Sovereignty in the Deep Sea

LCDR James Halsell

The global commons are under threat from revisionist powers such as China that seek to redefine international norms to suit their own ambitions. Nowhere is the threat growing faster than in the deep seabed. With the global demand for critical minerals vital to modern technologies, the deep seabed has emerged as a domain of significant strategic consequence.

China is positioning itself to dominate this key domain by exploiting legal ambiguities, backing industrial endeavors, modernizing defense capabilities, and exerting influence on the rule-making process itself at the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
It is laying the groundwork for expanded maritime influence by collecting deep seabed mining permits in resource-rich areas of the world’s oceans.
Without decisive action, the U.S. risks ceding control of a strategic domain critical to future economic and security interests.
China’s tactics in the South China Sea provide a template for how it might assert control over deep-sea regions. By constructing artificial islands, deploying a maritime militia, and lodging ambiguous legal claims under UNCLOS, it already has demonstrated a willingness to challenge established maritime norms.
Expanding these strategies to resource-rich areas such as the MMZ would allow China to assert de facto sovereignty over vast stretches of the Pacific.
Technological innovation also has transformed the strategic calculus of maritime sovereignty. China’s growing fleet of unmanned systems, space-based surveillance assets, and undersea monitoring systems enhances its capacity to monitor distant regions such as the MMZ.
To counter China’s growing influence over deep-sea resources, the U.S. should strengthen its engagement with international maritime governance.
Failure to ratify UNCLOS leaves the United States at a strategic disadvantage, ceding influence over critical maritime issues to rival powers.

See also: CSIS’s paper Protecting Subsea Cables: Detect to Deter, Sue to Secure

Marines Start Integrating FPV Drones into Training for New Infantry Officers

The Marine Corps recently integrated drone familiarization into its foundational school for new infantry officers.

The Infantry Officer Course (IOC) — based out of Quantico, Virginia — puts new infantry leaders through 15 weeks of training on crew-served weapons, patrols, reconnaissance and other job-specific skills to prepare them for being a platoon commander.
In December, new infantry lieutenants used FPV attack drones as part of a culminating exercise for the course at Twentynine Palms, CA.
Marines have worked through significant issues, including through the creation of a small UAS manual. And the use of unmanned systems in IOC also comes as the Corps is dramatically expanding its FPV drone training.
Part of that includes building a generation of infantry officers that are — for now – at least familiar with how to employ them at their units.

Navy Selects Northrop Grumman for Second Stage Solid Rocket Motor Program

Northrop Grumman was awarded a $94.3M contract by the Navy to develop and qualify a new 21-inch diameter second-stage solid rocket motor (SSRM) for the Navy’s extended-range missile programs to deter and defeat fast-moving air, surface and hypersonic threats.

The SSRM is a low-risk, rapidly developed design that enables the Navy to quickly and cost-effectively field an extended-range hypersonic defense capability.
The high-performance 21” diameter rocket motor is engineered to significantly extend range and speed across various missions, including air warfare, surface warfare, land strike, and ballistic missile defense.
The Navy has expressed interest for potential deployment of Northrop Grumman’s extended range propulsion technology across various platforms.
Continued design and low-rate initial production of 60 units for testing and delivery will take place at Northrop Grumman’s Propulsion Innovation Center.

Air Force and Space Force Put Acquisition on Wartime Footing, Implementing SECWAR’s ‘Warfighting Acquisition System’

This generational overhaul places the entire acquisition enterprise on a wartime footing, transforming it from a compliance-based process to a dynamic, warfighter-focused model that prioritizes the speed of delivery for credible, combat-effective capabilities.

For the 1st tranche of PAE, these are the assigned portfolios:
- Air Force: (1) Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (C3BM); (2) Fighters and Advanced Aircraft; (3) Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3); (4) Propulsion; and (5) Weapons.
- Space Force: (1) Space Access and (2) Space Based Sensing and Targeting.
This transformation empowers leaders by transitioning from Program Executive Officers (PEOs) to Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs), streamlining decision-making and aligning accountability with mission outcomes.

“This transformation is a generational opportunity for the Department of the Air Force. It enables us to holistically reform our enterprise—from requirements, to acquisition, to test—in order to support the rapid and efficient development of our warfighting capabilities in order to get the operators what they need when they need it.” Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink
“By redesignating our PEOs as PAEs, we are pushing authority and accountability to the mission level. We are telling our leaders, ‘You own this mission set.” William Bailey, SAF/AQ
“Acquisition is now a warfighting function. We cannot be locked into decade-long development cycles. Our ‘commercial first’ approach allows us to harness the incredible innovation happening in the private sector, getting cutting-edge technology into the hands of our Guardians at the speed of a startup, not a bureaucracy. This is how we maintain our edge.” MajGen Purdy, SAF/SQ

Our Take: It’s exciting that the Air Force and Space Force have taken this step forward. As we expected, PEOs are being converted to PAEs in this first tranche. It’s possible there are some surprises ahead in the future tranches. In last week’s article, it seemed there was some debate at AFLCMC about the extent of authorities granted to PAEs. We don’t yet have a sense of how different that will be from the PEOs.

Related Articles:

Air Force Adds Third Contender for Initial Robot-Wingman Buy; Picks 9 for Next Phase

Left in the cold after the Air Force picked Anduril and General Atomics to develop prototype robot wingmen, Northrop Grumman responded with a secret, self-financed effort to get back in the game.

Air Force officials announced that Northrop’s Project Talon could compete for Increment 1 production contracts.
The Air Force also announced on Monday that nine unnamed companies would receive money to develop a second iteration of CCAs.
Northrop’s Project Talon CCA, whose first flight is planned for next year, also received an Air Force designator: YFQ-48A.
The Air Force has said that it intends to buy “more than 100” Increment 1 CCAs and have an operational CCA capability by 2030.
For CCA Increment 2, following concept refinement, the Air Force will proceed with prototyping, with plans for a future competitive award leading to production awards - all dependent on vendor performance during testing.

“We are encouraged by Northrop Grumman’s continued investment in developing advanced semi-autonomous capabilities. Their approach aligns with our strategy to foster competition, drive industry innovation, and deliver cutting-edge technology at speed and scale.” Brig. Gen. Jason Voorheis, PEO for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft

Our Take: While we applaud for continuing to advance their design and investing to mature their approach without a government contract, the decision to add them to the Increment 1 production mix is highly perplexing for a few reasons.

By NG’s own schedule, first flight is at least 9 months out. The production decision for Increment 1 is due to happen this year, so this means they could hypothetically be selected for production without having flown. This was a major milestone that had to be hit for Anduril and General Atomics.
Boeing’s MQ-28 was not advanced into Increment 1 despite it seeming to hit the cost points and having already demonstrated an integrated air-to-air autonomous weapon engagement with the Australian Air Force.
The Air Force is likely to only buy 100-150 Increment 1 CCAs as indicated by its push to move on to the next increment. This is likely not a large enough order to award to more than 1 vendor.

We are likely missing some pieces that will make this all clear but for now we are befuddled. Its potentially either a ploy to keep the pressure on the current contenders or it was a political decision driven by the need to reward IR&D investment.

Inside US Plans to Reopen WWII Air Bases for War with China

Across sleepy and remote islands in the Pacific, U.S. military engineers are working around the clock to revive strategically important airstrips that American troops first built under fire over 70 years ago during World War II.

A trilateral force of the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force is now converging with a single goal in mind: re-establish a presence on the airfields once used to deliver decisive combat power for the United States during the last great power war.
The Air Force‘s long-established central air corridor moves fighter aircraft into the West Pacific via large hubs in Hawaii, Guam and Japan’s Okinawa island.
In wartime, access to those hubs may no longer be guaranteed.
China’s long-range strike capability has grown at an unprecedented pace, threatening to overwhelm Guam and Okinawa’s limited missile defense systems and putting Hawaii at risk of strikes from China’s mainland.
Increasing the number of hubs and spokes in the Indo-Pacific multiplies the Chinese military’s targets, requiring more decision making in where and when to strike and how many munitions to expend.
It also allows U.S. forces to absorb missile strikes with more confidence by giving engineering crews time to repair damaged airfields while fighters and tankers rotate to another point to continue combat operations.

The most prominent addition to the Pacific corridors is the revitalization of Tinian Island in the Marianas…with its North Field runway.
At its height in World War II, North Field was home to over 230 B-29 Superfortress bombers across four active runways, operating as the largest airfield in the world at the time.
The airfield is expected to come back online by 2027, when U.S. officials say the potential for Chinese military action against Taiwan is highest.
Meanwhile, the Marine Corps has its sights set on a joint training facility that will span the northern end of Tinian by the 2030s, incorporating 13 helicopter landing zones, two live-fire ranges, radar towers and an expeditionary base camp.

Pentagon, Industry Looking to Put Troubled Sentinel Program Back on Track

The Sentinel program — the Air Force’s effort to replace the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile — has been marked by delays and cost overruns.

While Sentinel has a critical role to play in nuclear deterrence, ensuring existing systems are operational in the interim is equally important, especially in light of the program’s significant cost and schedule challenges.
Delays could mean the Air Force needs to keep operating Minuteman III until 2050, which would present a myriad of sustainment and maintenance challenges, especially regarding the availability of particular components and parts
While there is no simple fix, some believe the Air Force should restructure the program by recompeting the non-missile facets to different contractors.
When a solid propellant missile ages, its core starts to develop cracks and can fail when fired - a situation that is not known until after launch.
Digital engineering approaches are being utilized to design and analyze Sentinel’s ground infrastructure which will require hundreds of infrastructure projects, including 500 hardened facilities spread across 30,000 square miles and five states.
Mike Duffey, undersecretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, plans to leverage the Business Operators for National Defense initiative, which brings industry executives to the Pentagon to advise on industrial production optimization as part of the solution team for Sentinel.

Our Take: This is a complicated effort that is not likely to improve with just using external advisors and a modified acquisition strategy. This is an issue that has more to do with construction complexity, labor shortages and the logistics associated with working across such a vast space.

Given the situation, we still believe our recommendations from earlier in the year stand: Cancel Sentinel (and SLCM-N) and free up $150B that can be used for other higher priorities that will actually be used in a conflict with a peer power. If ICBMs are a must, build mobile launchers and external shelters (much easier to construct) as a back-up contingency and proceed with a portion of the new ICBM production.

F-15EX Production Rebounds, Deliveries Continue

The Air Force has resumed F-15EX Eagle II deliveries to the Portland Air National Guard Base, overcoming recent production delays.

A strike at Boeing’s St. Louis facility halted the F-15EX production line from August 4 to Nov. 17, 2025, causing significant disruptions to the delivery schedule, impacting the modernization of the U.S. Air Force’s fighter fleet.
The F-15EX Eagle II is a critical component in the Air Force’s plan to modernize its fighter fleet, designed to replace aging F-15C/D models.

Lockheed Boasts Record 191 F-35 Deliveries in 2025

Lockheed Martin says it delivered 191 F-35 stealth fighters in 2025, a record for the program facilitated by a backlog of jets held in storage.

The delivery total far surpassed the 110 copies of the tri-variant stealth fighter handed over in 2024.
Lockheed says it can now produce 156 jets annually.
President Trump has also taken an interest in the F-35, and in December said that discussions to expand the fighter’s production capacity would soon be underway.
The Air Force in a recent report highlighted a need to max out production of the fighter to 100 aircraft annually to achieve an “acceptable military risk.”

Our Take: Despite the disturbing sustainment trends, the Air Force has few options for 5th generation aircraft and should maximize production. The F-35 has superior performance (will be incredible if Block 4 can ever deliver) and the Air Force needs greater force generation capability for any significant fight in the Pacific.

Air Force Says AI Tools Outperform Human Planners in ‘Battle Management’ Experiment

It’s not Skynet, yet, but in an Air Force experiment artificial intelligence tools managed to out-perform human professionals in a key piece of planning military operations, service officials recently revealed.

In the latest “DASH” experiment this past fall, the Air Force pitted AI tools from half a dozen companies against military personnel from the US, Canada and UK and asked each to solve hypothetical “battle management” problems.
When the Air Force evaluated the resulting Courses of Action (COAs), it found that at least one of the AI algorithms not only generated more COAs in less time than the humans, but it actually made fewer errors than the humans did as well.

“These machine-generated recommendations were up to 90 percent faster than traditional methods, with the best in machine-class solutions showing 97 percent viability and tactical validity.” Col. John Ohlund, director of the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System Cross-Functional Team (ABMS CFT)

Air Force Signs $2 Billion Deal to Re-Engine Two B-52s for Testing

The Air Force inked a $2 billion deal with Boeing to install new engines on two B-52 bombers and begin testing of the new eight-engine configuration.

Boeing is the prime integrator for USAF’s B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program in which new Rolls-Royce F130 engines will be installed in place of the legacy TF33 engines that date back to the 1960s.
The task order progresses the B-52 CERP program by completing system integration activities after Critical Design Review and modifying and testing two B-52 aircraft with new engines and associated subsystems.
The Pentagon did not specify when the first jets will be ready for testing, saying only that the task order is expected to be complete by May 31, 2033 - around the time the Air Force anticipates achieving initial operational capability.

Our Take: This program has been a huge disappointment. Originally a middle tier of acquisition effort that was intended to digitally design the aircraft modifications and employ commercial engines that would enable rapid fielding, now it’s turning into a slog of a program. These modifications should be delivering now and engines installed on fleet aircraft (not test units). We can only hope that the modifications done to the engine (for the F130-200 variant specific to the B-52) does not make it so different from the commercial Rolls-Royce BR725 that it can’t benefit from the same supply chains to the extent that was initially envisioned.

What to Know About the RQ-170 Drone, Venezuela, and Stealthy ISR

When Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine described the 150 aircraft used in Operation Absolute Resolve. he referenced many by name, including the F-35 and F-22 fighters and B-1 bomber. Not specified, however, were “remotely piloted drones.

However, the RQ-170 Sentinel was spotted and photographed returning to Puerto Rico after the mission which was likely used to conduct stealthy intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
The Air Force’s best-known ISR asset, the MQ-9 Reaper, would have lacked the stealth needed to evade Venezuela’s relatively advanced air defenses, which include Russian S300 integrated air defense systems.

Air Force Restores Duty Identifier Patches

Gen Allvin had controversially ended the use of duty identifier patches in the hops of creating Multi-Mission Airman but the patches are back. For those in the acquisition fields, here are the designators they use:

CON = Contracting
EN = Engineering
FM = Financial Management / Comptroller
PM = Senior Material Leader - Upper Echelon

Interestingly, it seems like the PM patch may be reserved for select acquisition officials at the senior O-6 level. If that is the case, then it would have been good to add one for the rest of the acquisition workforce. Maybe ACQ?

Space Warfare in 2026: A Pivotal Year for US Readiness

As the U.S. Space Force enters 2026 amid escalating threats from China and Russia, the service faces a pivotal year as it transitions to full-spectrum warfighting.

The annual China report notes China’s operational satellite fleet exceeded 1,060 by mid-2025, with hundreds dedicated to ISR functions.
The April 2025 release of “Space Warfighting: A Framework for Planners” codifies the service’s shift from primarily supportive roles to treating space as a contested warfighting domain.
SDA is moving forward with its Tranche 3 tracking layer, a $3.5B investment awarded in late 2025 for 72 new satellites planned for launch beginning in 2029.
Kinetic midcourse awards for Space Based Interceptors are expected in Feb 2026.
The service will also finalize requirements for the Space Warfighter Operational Readiness Domain, a distributed digital training environment that builds on existing Space Flag exercises.
Four on-orbit servicing demonstrations are planned for 2026 to test satellite refueling, repair, inspection and maneuvering.
The Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve will transition from pilot phase to full-scale operations in 2026, targeting 20 contracts by year-end,

Our Take: We do believe that 2026 is going to be an incredibly impactful year for the Space Force. There is so much progress underway and many core challenges have an action plan to address them. Stay posted.

The U.S. Will Seize Space Leadership – or China Will Take It

Kurt “Spuds” Vogel

America faces a choice in space: lead or follow. There’s no middle ground anymore.

China is methodically executing a plan to dominate the moon and cislunar space.
The question isn’t whether someone will control humanity’s next economic frontier — it’s whether that someone will be us or them.
And if we want it to be us, we need to consider our cultural blind spots.
The old divisions between civil and military space programs made sense during the post-Cold War era. Today, they’re strategic liabilities we can’t afford.
Today, everything the U.S. does in space has national security implications.
Solution: Embrace joint programs, don’t run from them. Both civ & mil communities must work together more seamlessly on common challenges.
The U.S. needs to recognize that space infrastructure, technological advancement and economic development are inherently dual-use.
This applies across nearly all capabilities and systems: sensors, power, propulsion, communications, navigation, data, logistics, transportation, construction and assembly, resource utilization and launch.
China spent roughly $19B on space in 2024. America spent far more — but China is gaining ground through focused execution and long-term planning insulated from political disruption. While we debate and delay, they build and launch.

Operations and Acquisition: The Space Force Has It Right

Charles Galbreath

Recent reports suggest there is a divide between operations and acquisition in the U.S. Space Force, potentially undermining future combat capabilities. The reality, however, is quite the opposite.

The Space Force is advancing the integration of operations and acquisition specialties far beyond those of any other service.
Half of Space Force officers are acquisition specialists, more than other service.
And two-thirds of USSF leadership positions are occupied by officers with acquisition experience. No other service comes close.
- Army: 4%
- Air Force: 10%
- Navy: 15%
The unique nature of space systems, where up to 70% of life cycle costs are expended before launch and almost every mission function is underpinned by advanced technology, drive home the importance of acquisition expertise.
The Space Force is applying the proven practice of giving acquisition professionals a foundation of operational experience. The Space Force’s new Officer Training Course establishes a common baseline for all officers.
Another initiative is tightly coupling operations and acquisition using new integrated mission deltas that consolidate responsibilities for operations and sustainment in one organization, pairing core operators and acquirers.
IMDs and the newly established systems deltas are intended to align acquisition and operations within mission areas, deepening expertise in core areas.
The first two Vice Chiefs were also highly experienced acquisition professionals.
The future Chief of Space Operations could very be filled by a career acquisition officer with Lt. Gen. Dennis Bythewood in the running.
There are challenges that remain, however.
- RIFs reduced the Space Force civilian workforce by 14% but at Space Systems Command it was closer to 30% (and 40% for critical contracting personnel).
- The recent lapse of SBIR/STTR authorities is halting important advances.
Mandating arbitrary quotas for senior positions or making other knee-jerk changes in direction won’t help Space Force acquisition. Restoring lost civilian acquisition professionals and critical contracting authorities will.
It’s time for Congress and DoW to give the Space Force the hiring and contracting authorities it needs to accelerate advancement even more.

Our Take: We agree on taking any knee-jerk measures that don’t adjust with the culture. While personalities are likely part of the challenge, it’s important to give some of these new approaches (IMDs, System Deltas) a chance and see if the next wave of leadership can advance some of the current sticking points.

SpaceX to launch next SDA missile tracking satellites

SpaceX will launch 36 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites between the first quarter of FY27 and the second quarter of FY28.

The first task order covers 18 satellites built by L3Harris plus eight FOO Fighter birds built by Millennium Space Systems.
The second task order covers 18 satellites built by Lockheed Martin
The total value of the launch awards is $739M.

L3Harris to Sell Majority Stake in Space Propulsion Unit to AE Industrial

L3Harris Technologies said Jan. 5 it will sell a majority stake in its space propulsion business to private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, marking the first major restructuring of its space portfolio since acquiring Aerojet Rocketdyne in 2023.

AE Industrial agreed to acquire a 60% interest in L3Harris’ Space Propulsion and Power Systems business, a stake valued at $845 million. L3Harris will retain a 40% ownership stake in the business.
The Space Propulsion and Power Systems unit develops advanced rocket engines, in-space propulsion systems and space power technologies.
The deal excludes the RS-25 rocket engine (for NASA’s Artemis) program.
L3Harris said the transaction reflects a strategic refocus toward core national defense priorities, particularly missile production and other defense systems.

NRO Strikes Balance Between High-End, Low-End Satellites

While the National Reconnaissance Office is renowned for deploying spy satellites that can allegedly read the label sticking out of the back of someone’s shirt, it has spent the last two years launching more — but less capable — sensors into orbit.

The decision to deploy smaller, less capable spy satellites in larger numbers under the proliferated architecture program was a tradeoff to boost global coverage.

“We need to ensure that we’re not only available during times of competition like now, but also into crisis and conflict. So, we’re investing significantly — I mean, billions of dollars — into the resilience of our systems and our architectures around the world.” Maj. Gen. Christopher Povak, NRO Deputy Director

SpaceX, China Drive New Record for Orbital Launches in 2025

Orbital launch activity set another annual record in 2025, although future growth may depend on factors different from those that fueled the recent surge.

There were 324 orbital launch attempts worldwide in 2025.
The total represents a 25% increase from the previous record of 259 orbital launch attempts in 2024, which itself marked a 17% increase from the 221 launches recorded in 2023.
Growth in global launch activity over the past several years has been driven primarily by SpaceX and Chinese launch providers.
- Overall, the United States conducted 193 orbital launch attempts in 2025.
- SpaceX flew 165 Falcon 9 missions (more than the rest of the world combined)
- China conducted 92 orbital launches across two dozen launch vehicle families.
Chinese launch activity is expected to grow further in 2026 as additional new vehicles make their debut and others increase flight rates, particularly to support deployment of the Guowang and Qianfan satellite constellations.

Space Force Moves to Standardize Satellites with ‘Handle 2.0’ Contract

Falcon ExoDynamics, a California-based defense contractor, has been tapped by the Space Force to turn a modular satellite interface known as Handle from a research prototype into a commercially supported standard for military space missions.

Handle 2.0 is an upgraded version of a modular, open-system electronics interface that serves as a common connection point between satellite buses and payloads.
The effort supports the military’s push to shorten satellite development and deployment timelines under the Tactically Responsive Space, or TacRS, initiative.
TacRS missions are intended to demonstrate the ability to launch and operate spacecraft on short notice in response to emerging threats in orbit.
The Handle architecture centers on a standardized power-and-data interface that allows sensors or other payloads to be swapped late in the build process.

“The Space Safari team’s work on Handle is crucial to enable the implementation of smart systems engineering practices that allow for faster, easier integration of complex subsystems.” Col. Bryon McClain, PEO for Space Combat Power.

Other Space Force News:

Parsons Expands Role on DARPA Blackjack With $30M SDA Contract Novation

New Target Vehicle for Missile Defense Tests Makes First Flight

The Pentagon is making progress developing a new target round for testing the effectiveness of U.S. missile defenses as Northrop Grumman announced the first flight of a redesigned vehicle this month.

The company said the test was successful and “met all performance goals for the missile defense test event.”
Back in 2011, MDA awarded Northrop a contract to provide ballistic missile targets for testing defenses like the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system and the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system.
Northrop repurposed Trident C4 solid rocket motors from submarine-launched ballistic missiles to power their ICBM targets and has delivered 27 test vehicles.
The successful first flight provides a boost to develop Golden Dome, as a key component of the architecture will be the Next-Generation Interceptor.
The new target vehicle will support future Next-Generation Interceptor testing.

Golden Dome’s First Goal? Protecting the 2026 World Cup.

In six months, the world’s eyes will turn to North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With sixteen host cities across three nations, the scale is unprecedented in American history. Unfortunately, the threat is equally unprecedented.

These events will be extremely vulnerable to small UAS from state actors probing Western defenses, transnational terrorist networks, or radicalized individuals.
A multi-city attack could happen with no more technical sophistication than a 3D-printed drop mechanism and duct tape.
Commercial drones capable of carrying improvised explosives are available online with two-day shipping, possibly (and recursively) delivered by drone.
To make sure the World Cup is safe, the US needs to empower existing offices to rapidly create an integrated air defense information sharing system that is as off-the-shelf as possible — in effect, the first true test of Golden Dome.
There is a critical gap, but it’s not because of a lack of resources. The US and its partners have plenty of radars, drone jammers, man-portable anti-aircraft missiles, shotguns, net guns, lasers, trained raptors, and other material solutions.
And there are plenty of offices focused on this: Joint Interagency Task Force 401 was established in August 2025 to coordinate CUAS across federal and state governments for homeland defense.
What we lack is an integrated and robust CUAS air defense network across the contiguous U.S. and allied territory.
What does not exist is a system that provides situational awareness to all defenders simultaneously and enables a coordinated response.
Defending the World Cup demands an architecture that provides Space and Missile Defense Command and the FAA with real-time awareness across sixteen host cities while delegating engagement authority to commanders on the ground.
The easiest solution is to empower JTF 401 with a NORAD-lite authority that can pass down early warnings, share information, and in an attack, coordinate response — not just to US forces, but to Mexican and Canadian forces as well.
This would require the Pentagon to shift the mission focus for 401 and allow it to stand up an operational headquarters alongside its existing acquisitional element.
The Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) already demonstrates the core concept, although designed for combatant commands, not homeland defense.

Our Take: This is a worthy proposal that should certainly be considered. There are many commercial technologies that can be brought to bear. Given his elevation and authorities, Gen Guetlein should serve as the acquisition lead to support in concert with JTF-401.

China’s Broken Balance Sheet: Why I Think China Will Invade Taiwan Before 2030

Three main forces have pushed China’s financial system toward today’s opaque, off-balance-sheet structure.

There is a deep mismatch between Beijing’s national ambitions and the incentives of local governments.
1. Xi’s supply-side reforms have imposed stricter leverage caps and tighter borrowing constraints on local governments and state-owned enterprises.
2. Local leaders are still judged on headline growth, but their ability to fund it through clean, on-balance-sheet methods is increasingly constrained, which pushes more financing into off-balance sheet shadow structures.
China’s response to the 2008 financial crisis was an unfunded mega stimulus.
1. After the crisis, Beijing responded with an enormous stimulus of ¥4.0T, of which the central government committed only ¥1.2T.
2. This left local governments and SOEs responsible for ¥2.8T.
3. Local governments, however, cannot levy property taxes or issue bonds. To meet Beijing’s demands they will have to become more indebted and use improvised financial tactics that are likely to be highly risky.
China’s growth model has been a self-exhausting land-and-infrastructure flywheel.
1. Local governments are responsible for 85% of public spending yet lack stable tax tools - and as a consequence turned land into their main fiscal asset.
2. They collateralize land to build infrastructure, then sell the land to developers, then use the proceeds to service the initial debt.
3. This model only works as long as developers can afford ever higher land prices and households are willing to buy ever more expensive apartments.
4. Once developers hit their debt limits and households balk at the prices, the flywheel seizes up.

Bottom-line: With the current administration efforts to close its deficit through tariffs, industrial policy, reshoring, and macroeconomic tightening, China will be pushed into a structural bind.

It cannot raise consumption without undermining growth
It cannot slow investment without triggering recession
It cannot continue raising investment without hitting its debt limit.

All of this combined and Taiwan’s microelectronics prowess that could alleviate some of these burdens through productivity increases and the potential morale boost for the Party from a success invasion - could be the push it needs.

China Just Pulled Its Own Manhattan Project and No One Saw It Coming

News reports reveal that last month China completed an operational EUV lithography prototype in a high-security Shenzhen facility.

They did not use reverse engineering techniques from captured ASML machines.
There was not a breakthrough in domestic optics manufacturing.
Rather, they recruited the humans who knew how to build them.
Take former ASML scientist Lin Nan, who headed EUV light source technology in the Netherlands from 2015–2021. He just filed eight EUV patents in eighteen months — under a new identity, at the Shanghai Institute of Optics.
The new machine fills an entire factory floor, but it works.
It generates EUV light at 3.42% conversion efficiency.
It hasn’t produced functional chips yet — that’s targeted for 2028–2030. But it will.
Every expert consensus said 2035–2040. They were looking at hardware when they should have been watching airports.

Automation Army: China’s Firm Hits US Stage With 3 Humanoids, 1 Robot Dog Model

Chinese robot manufacturer AGIBOT announced its entry into the US humanoid market, unveiling its ready-to-use embodied robots at CES 2026.

The portfolio consists of three humanoid robots and a quadruped robot that can be deployed to assist humans and work in real-life scenarios and challenges.
The launched humanoids were mass-produced earlier, and the company says it has shipped 5,000 robot orders to date.
The AGIBOT X2 Series consists of compact, half-sized humanoid robots designed to interact naturally with people, walk with human-like movement, and perform complex, expressive actions for entertainment, research, and education.
AGIBOT G2 Series comprises industrial-grade humanoids that combine interactive intelligence with precise, force-controlled manipulation, enabling rapid deployment in industrial settings.
Each robot is built on a balanced integration of motion intelligence, interaction intelligence, and task intelligence, enabling natural movement, meaningful communication, and reliable task execution.

Inside China’s Nascent, AI-Powered Military Logistics System

The modern PLA is taking lessons to heart with a series of efforts to build a smart logistics system of the future, one that can supply its troops under fire in the next war.

The effort incorporates technologies from a multi-domain sensing web to an AI-enabled predictive planning tool that matches resources to cargo drones and tracked UGV mules.
The PLA is already testing each in plateau, border, and coastal exercises.
The first layer senses demand. The PLA is moving from a system of periodic unit reports to continuous visibility of equipment and stocks.
- This includes automated monitoring of vehicles and power sets, smart depots that track items in real time, and unique item IDs that let logisticians see what is where and in what condition.
- They are developing upgraded facilities that barcode each item and use automated storage to speed issue and receipt.
The second layer is AI scheduling and optimization. Once a demand is sensed, the next step is faster matching of needs to storage and transport.
- The PLA is developing real-time acquisition of data, rapid transmission, efficient processing, and intelligent decision-making inside the logistics command system.
- There is a centralized platform that aggregates requests in real time and distributes supplies through a coordinated plan, enabling dynamic dispatch, priority rules, and efficient use of scarce trucks, aircraft, and warehouse space.
- The PLA is also wiring civilian companies into what looks like a future shared smart store.
The third and final layer in the chain is autonomous last-mile delivery.
- The PLA has practiced unmanned resupply at altitude and in coastal units, using cargo drones to move rations and parts when terrain or weather makes roads unreliable.
- It has also showed a tracked unmanned ground vehicle known as the “Mule-200” to haul ammunition and other loads alongside dismounted troops.
- These platforms extend reach, lower exposure on predictable routes, and create new ways to push sustainment into hard ground.

The Term Sheet is a Masterclass in Asymmetric Warfare

Matthew Bernard

The $7.4B Korea Zinc Company deal in Tennessee to build a large-scale critical minerals smelter isn’t just an infrastructure project - it’s the debut of the “Government-as-Shareholder” model.

The Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital just secured a 34.5% upside in a global industrial giant for exactly $0.01 per share.
The Check: $7.4B capital stack ($4.7B loans + $1.9B equity via JV).
The Upside: Warrants for the US Govt at a nominal penny price.
The Risk: Zero. The Korean parent company guarantees the debt.
If the Tennessee plant fails, Seoul pays the bill. If it wins, the DoD prints money.
This is the debut of “Pax Silica”: an 8-nation alliance designed to hard-decouple from China’s mineral dominance.
We are moving from free markets to “Allied State Capitalism.”
If you are allocating capital in defense tech or infrastructure, the OSC is no longer just a regulator.
They are either your biggest competitor or your most aggressive LP.

Our Take: Read Matthew’s full piece. This could presage a new approach for funding infrastructure that struggles to justify itself to U.S. investors alone.

U.S. Geological Survey’s Critical Minerals List

USGS released its latest list. For reference, a critical mineral is any mineral, element, substance, or material designated as critical by the USGS because it is essential to the economic and national security of the United States, has a vulnerable supply chain, and serves an essential function in manufacturing a product.

The 2025 CML identifies 60 critical minerals, which differs from the previous lost that did not have copper, lead, potash, rhenium, silicon, and silver.
So the latest list has the following: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barite, beryllium, bismuth, boron, cerium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, erbium, europium, fluorspar, gadolinium, gallium, germanium, graphite, hafnium, holmium, indium, iridium, lanthanum, lead, lithium, lutetium, magnesium, manganese, metallurgical coal, neodymium, nickel, niobium, palladium, phosphate, platinum, potash, praseodymium, rhenium, rhodium, rubidium, ruthenium, samarium, scandium, silicon, silver, tantalum, tellurium, terbium, thulium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium.

Podcasts, Books, and Videos

AI, Space Based Interceptors, and Bleeding Edge or Warfare w/Emil Michael, American Optimist
The SBIR Is A Failure w/Mike MacKay, Last Week in DC
Rethinking How We Fight w/Christian Brose, School of War
Taiwan, China, and Future of Drone Wars w/Ellen Chang, Part II, Drone Wars
NSS, CCA Developments, & Defense Predictions for ’26, Mitchell Institute
Important Development in AI Weapons w/Palmer Luckey, Joe Lonsdale
Winning the Space War w/ Dan Smoot, Crossing the Valley

Upcoming Events and Webinars

Pacific Forum, Honolulu Defense Forum, Jan 11-13, Honolulu, HI
SciTech, AIAA, Jan 12-16, Orlando, FL
Surface Warfare Symposium, Jan 13-15, Crystal City, VA
Army IT Day 2026, AFCEA NOVA, Jan 15, McLean, VA
Capital Hill Defense Outlook Summit, DLF, Jan 20, Washington DC
Space Industry Days, AFCEA, Jan 22-23, Los Angeles, CA
APEX Defense, Jan 27-28, Washington DC
SPACECOM, Jan 28-30, Orlando, FL
Defense R&D Summit, Potomac Officers Club, Jan 29, McLean, VA
Venture in the Capital 2026, Jan 30, Washington DC
Military Additive Manufacturing Summit, Feb 3-5, Tampa, FL
Defense and Intelligence Space Conference 2026, Feb 9-11, Reston, VA
WEST 2026, Feb 10-12, San Diego, CA
Special Operations Symposium, NDIA, Feb 17-18, Washington DC
Joint Fires Summit, DSI, Feb 18-19, Huntsville, AL
Tech Summit, AFCEA, Feb 19, Reston, VA
Creative Disruptors in the Desert , CDF, Feb 20-21, La Quinta, CA
- Feat. Pete and Matt

Tactical Wheeled Vehicles Conference, NDIA, Feb 23-25, Pittsburgh, PA
See our Events Page for all the other events over the next year. Dozens added!

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Neural Foundry

This is absolutley the shift the acquisition workforce has been needing for decades. The part about "blame without authority" really hits home - I've seen too many PMs get crucified for program delays they had zero actual control over, wether it was funding hiccups or requirements creep from stakeholders with veto power. What's interesting tho is that this high-authority model only works if the PAEs actually get insulated from political whiplash between administrations, otherwise we're just setting up the next generation of scapegoats with fancier titles.

Jack Shanahan

A $1.5T defense budget is absurd, for all sorts of reasons. For one, it's a number completely untethered from either reality or a strategy that details a credible connection between ends, ways, and means. It's pulled out of thin air. Two, the Department would start a bunch of projects that would have to be shut down in a couple of years because they no longer have the money to sustain them (it's an absolute pipe dream to think that subsequent defense budgets would remain that high). Third, if you thought our national deficit and debt were massive problems before....Finally, and at least for me most important of all, I'm hard-pressed to think of a faster way to stop dead in its tracks the Department's sense of urgency to reform and innovate for the fights of the future than to give it even more money--completely avoiding the tough prioritization calls and smart spending decisions that have to be made right now.

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