General Archives - Defense Daily

Lockheed Martin Reveals Rapid Fielding Center As Step Between Prototype And Full Production

Rich Abott — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:53:26 +0000

Lockheed Martin [LMT] on Wednesday announced the start of a new intermediate center that can produce prototype-like products in early phases of development but at higher production rates and reliability […]

Amentum Banks on Nuclear, Defense Growth

Wayne Barber — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:18:08 +0000

Earnings rose at Amentum [AMTM] during the past quarter, which the company attributed in part to the White House and Congress prioritizing nuclear power and national defense. Net earnings for the […]

GAO Focuses on Mitigating NNSA Explosives Supply Chain Risk

Wayne Barber — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:36:07 +0000

The Government Accountability Office last week said the National Nuclear Security Administration could do more to develop a resiliency strategy to mitigate risks to its explosives supply chain, manufacturing and […]

Santa Fe Commissioners Leery of LANL Expansion into Northern New Mexico

Wayne Barber — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:33:29 +0000

In response to a recent environmental report, Santa Fe County commissioners reportedly plan to raise concerns about impacts of a potential expansion of the Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National […]

BWXT Earnings Buoyed By Weapons Complex Wins, Nuclear Power

Wayne Barber — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 18:38:19 +0000

Earnings rose at BWX Technologies [BWXT] in the fourth quarter, and 2024 as a whole, which the company chalked up partly to Department of Energy contracts and rising interest in […]

Former House Veterans’ Affairs Top Dem Tim Walz Tapped As Harris’ Running Mate

Matthew Beinart — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 21:46:17 +0000

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was once the top Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has been picked as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate for the Democratic presidential […]

L3Harris, Kratos Successfully Hot-Fire Large Solid Rocket Motor

Cal Biesecker — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:52:01 +0000

L3Harris Technologies [LHX] on Monday said it successfully hot-fire tested the Zeus 2 large solid rocket motor (SRM) that it developed commercially with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions [KTOS] in […]

Ninth Circuit to Hear Wrongful Discharge Claim by Sandia Scientist

Defense Daily Staff — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:47:18 +0000

A Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel will hear arguments Wednesday in San Francisco in an employment discrimination case filed by Robert Hwang against the Department of Energy’s prime […]

GAO Finds More Delays And Costs For F-35’s Block 4 Modernization

Kelsey Reichmann — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:26:32 +0000

The Department of Defense (DoD) needs an updated modernization schedule and improved data on software development before the F-35 fighter can transition from development to full production, leaving the program […]

Biden Announces Picks For Key National Security, Foreign Policy Roles

Matthew Beinart — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 22:24:13 +0000

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named his picks for key national security and foreign policy roles in his cabinet, including several former Obama administration officials. Biden will nominate Antony Blinken […]

Most DoD Aircraft Do Not Meet Mission Capable Goals, GAO Finds

Kelsey Reichmann — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 19:54:04 +0000

Military aircraft spanning all branches failed to meet mission capable rates according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that analyzed 46 types of aircraft from fiscal […]

Radiation-Detecting Helo to Sweep Charlottee Ahead of GOP Convention

Dan Leone — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:21:51 +0000

The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration said Monday it will dispatch a radiation-sniffing helicopter to the skies of Charlotte, N.C., ahead of the 2020 Republican National Convention scheduled […]

Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Firebird In Unmanned Operations

Cal Biesecker — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 21:07:11 +0000

Northrop Grumman [NOC] recently demonstrated its optionally-piloted Firebird multi-mission aircraft in series of unmanned evaluations that included one flight lasting longer than a day and operations with a ground-based sense […]

Defense Watch: SASC Noms, FCAS, New F-35 Gun

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 20:19:03 +0000

Retirement. Air Combat Commander Commander Gen. James “Mike” Holmes expects to retire at the end of August, the commander said June 22 during a Mitchell Institute webinar. Earlier in June, […]

Defense Watch: Space Force, Blackjack, Personnel Moves In DoD, DHS, and Industry

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:45:39 +0000

Space Force. More than 8,500 active-duty airmen within 13 eligible career fields volunteered to become the first members to transfer into the new Space Force. Approximately 6,000 members will be […]

Defense Watch: AFWERX, Forward on FFG(X), Paycheck Protection

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 21:17:43 +0000

New AFWERX Virtual Event. AFWERX will host a digital JADC2 prototyping demonstration event between June 15-22, the Air Force said Friday. The event follows a series of service-led meetings and […]

Defense Watch: COVID Impact on Defense Work, Leidos Payment, Hill Schedule

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 29 May 2020 19:35:07 +0000

The Future of Work. In a post-COVID world, Northrop Grumman Chief Kathy Warden said to expect some changes in how the company operates, which will include cost reductions. During the […]

Defense Watch: COVID-19 Travel, Space Force Updates, Ligado Pushback

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 22 May 2020 20:39:58 +0000

COVID-19 Travel Restrictions. Pentagon leadership is currently evaluating whether sufficient COVID-19 prevention measures are in place to roll back the current travel restriction date from June 30, Undersecretary of Defense […]

Defense Watch: DHS CFO, Drone Security, Blackjack Launch F-22 Crash

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 15 May 2020 19:52:47 +0000

New DHS CFO. The Senate last week by a vote of 62-31 confirmed Troy Edgar to be the new chief financial officer for the Department of Homeland Security, making him […]

Defense Watch: Lighter Amphibs, Rocket Lab Update, FMS Fees

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 08 May 2020 19:54:42 +0000

Can’t Turn on a Dime. If the Marine Corps shifts to lighter, more mobile forces and assets that would require lighter amphibious warships that would be acquired by the Navy, […]

Defense Watch: COVID Delays, DDG-1002, SASC Hearings, OPC

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 01 May 2020 20:16:37 +0000

Future Delays. The Navy’s top acquisition official said it will take several more weeks to see the full extent of the COVID-19 pandemic disruption on shipyard work. When asked by […]

Defense Watch: L-3, Lockheed Martin Supply Chain Help, Boeing Personnel Changes

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 18:21:45 +0000

More Supply Chain Help. L3Harris Technologies is making more than $100 million in accelerated payments to its small suppliers in 45 states to help sustain the defense industrial base amid […]

Defense Watch: Geurts on Budget, FFG (X), Boeing Site Back up, Russian Space Test

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 19:20:36 +0000

Navy Budget Impact. The Navy’s top acquisition official said the COVID-19 pandemic has not had a major impact on the FY 2022 budget process yet, but it depends on the […]

Defense Watch: No More Paper Hearings, Markup Update, Arsenal Plane

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:02:32 +0000

No More Paper Hearings. SASC has already decided to postpone future “paper hearings” as DoD officials focus on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee said Thursday. In an effort to […]

Defense Watch: Space Symposium Moves To Halloween, First Production SkyGuardian, KC-46 Upgrade

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:29:50 +0000

Spooky Space Symposium? The annual Space Symposium has been rescheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, the foundation said Thursday. The conference was […]

Defense Watch: COMSATCOM Plan, Ejection Seat Contract, Air Force One Recap

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 21:28:48 +0000

COMSATCOM Plan. The Space Force will have additional details regarding its plan to acquire commercial satellite communications as a service this summer, Clare Grayson, the head of the service’s COMSATCOM […]

Defense Watch: Spectrum Sharing, Open Skies, U.K. 5G

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 20:46:27 +0000

Spectrum Sharing. DoD must figure out how to share spectrum with the commercial sector if the U.S. is to be a leader in 5G network development, Griffin also said at […]

Defense Watch: Bomber Numbers, USV Assessment, Light Attack

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 19:59:14 +0000

Bomber Numbers. In light of the nation’s focus on high-end threats and near-peer adversaries following release of the 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS), the Air Force is taking a new […]

Defense Watch: Coast Guard Counter Drone, New USCG Cyber Strategy, LSP Contracts

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 20:58:29 +0000

Counter Drone Expertise. The Coast Guard’s Maritime Force Protection unit provides counter unmanned aircraft system protection for the Navy’s nuclear submarine forces in the U.S., according to Coast Guard Commandant […]

Defense Watch: GAO Protest, Air Force Leadership Moves

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 20:34:54 +0000

GAO Protest. Pratt & Whitney filed a GAO protest Feb. 7 against the Air Force, which announced Jan. 28 it plans to award a sole-source IDIQ contract to GE Aviation […]

Defense Watch: Personnel Moves, SDA Funding, F-35 Spares, G/ATOR

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 20:33:36 +0000

UTC News. United Technologies has appointed Kelly Ortberg, who runs the company’s Collins Aerospace unit, as a special adviser to the Office of the CEO to help support integration planning […]

Defense Watch: FRC Boost, PSC on Track, ALIS, New AFRL

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 20:41:07 +0000

FRC Contract Boost. The Coast Guard plans to raise the contract ceiling with Bollinger Shipyards for its Fast Response Cutters by from 26 to 32 to accommodate demand for the […]

Defense Watch: AMRAAM Contract, KC-46s To Travis, New Counterterrorism Bill

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 20:14:21 +0000

AMRAAM. The Air Force awarded Raytheon a $768 million contract to produce AMRAAM missiles and associated spares, hardware and training systems for 22 FMS customers. Work for the Lot 33 […]

Defense Watch: More ISR, MQ-25 Value, MDA Summit

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 21:25:35 +0000

Unmanned Vs. Russia. The commander of Naval Forces Europe-Africa and NATO Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Adm. James Foggo, said unmanned aircraft can help U.S. and allied NATO forces maintain […]

Defense Watch: Lone GBSD Bid, Space Fence, Columbia Margin

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:49:57 +0000

GBSD Bids: Northrop Grumman Only. Northrop Grumman is the only company to bid on the potentially $25 billion contract to build and deploy the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD). The […]

Defense Watch: 2021 Budget, Laser Experiments, Rocket Lab Launch

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 21:07:04 +0000

2021 Budget. The Defense Department continues to anticipate it will receive less funding in the fiscal year 2021 budget than it requested or received in the last two years, Undersecretary […]

Defense Watch

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 20:46:55 +0000

Trump Signs CR. President Trump signed off on extending the continuing resolution through Dec. 20 on Thursday night, after the Senate passed it earlier that day and the House passed […]

Defense Watch: USSTRATCOM, Starliner Test, JSF Hearing

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 20:23:32 +0000

USSTRATCOM. Air Force Gen. John Hyten will officially turn over command of U.S. Strategic Command to Vice Adm. Charles Richard Nov. 18, per a Wednesday release. The change of command […]

Defense Watch: New BAE Spox, STRATCOM Confirmed, HASC Member Departs, Sen Warren on OCO, Ford Finishes PSA

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 19:25:25 +0000

New BAE Spox. Caitlin Hayden was named communications leader at BAE Systems, Inc., the company said on Tuesday. She replaces Kristie Cunningham, who left the company in August. Hayden most recently […]

Defense Watch: New AF Secretary, GBSD Defense, Digital Soldier Award

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 19:28:51 +0000

Barrett Officially SECAF. Barbara Barrett was sworn in Oct. 18 as the 25th Secretary of the Air Force and the fourth woman to hold the title. The Senate overwhelmingly approved […]

Defense Watch: McCarthy Onboard, Defiant Test, Lowey Retiring, Raytheon-UTC Gets Shareholder Nod

Vivienne Machi — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 20:58:25 +0000

McCarthy In. Defense Secretary Mark Esper officially swore in Ryan McCarthy as the new secretary of the Army Oct. 10. McCarthy previously served as Undersecretary of the Army and had […]

Defense Watch: Space Cargo Transportation? Kaspersky Lessons, UAS Challenge

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 20:09:17 +0000

2020 House Race. Former Green Beret and DoD official Andrew Knaggs said Monday that he would run as a Republican to depose Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) in the 2020 elections. […]

Defense Watch: Counter UAS, Lockheed Capital Deployment, AF Explore

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 19:50:56 +0000

Counter UAS. Customs and Border Protection awarded Citadel Defense a $1.2 million contract for six of the California-based company’s Titan counter-drone systems for border security applications along the U.S. boundary […]

Defense Watch: Flying Cars, Guard F-35s, Next-Gen Tanker, Space Command

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 19:42:22 +0000

Flying Cars in the Air Force? The Pentagon is looking at the feasibility of using commercially made flying cars to perform logistics missions. The Air Force’s top acquisition executive Will […]

Defense Watch: Esper/JEDI, Aid To Ukraine, Navy Learning

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 20:38:38 +0000

Esper/JEDI. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is not close to a decision on his review of the potential $10 billion JEDI cloud program, a top Pentagon spokesperson told reporters on […]

Defense Watch: T-X Update, Top BAE Spox Departs, SASC Takes Up Noms

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 21:20:59 +0000

T-X. The Air Force’s forthcoming T-X trainer aircraft has completed 100 test flights as of Sept. 5, the manufacturer Boeing said Thursday. The Air Force awarded Boeing and Saab a […]

Defense Watch: Return of Night Court, DIU Networks, RKV

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 18:46:59 +0000

DoD ‘Night Court.’ Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told reporters on Wednesday he wants to initiate a “defense-wide review process” to find funds across the department that can be shifted […]

Defense Watch: GPS III Launch, Two Dem Candidates Drop, C-130 Standdown Complete

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 20:36:15 +0000

GPS III Launch. The second GPS III satellite successfully launched Thursday morning aboard ULA’s Delta IV rocket. Air Force and Lockheed Martin engineers declared they had full control of the […]

Defense Watch: Novakovic To CSIS Board of Trustees, Port Cyber Security RFP, C-130s Back

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 19:23:24 +0000

Appointments. Phebe Novakovic, the chairman and CEO of General Dynamics, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a bipartisan research think […]

Defense Watch

Defense Daily Staff — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 20:36:56 +0000

Air Force Launch. The Air Force said Wednesday that Pearl White, an Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) demonstration program, is scheduled to launch beginning Aug. 16 on a rideshare aboard […]