Breaking Defense's Monday Morning Briefing

A News Roundup for the Week Ahead __________________________________________________________________________

A News Roundup for the Week Ahead How Northrop Grumman is Defining Possible in Space. Presented by Northrop Grumman We've been working in space for over 60 years. And we're still at it, today. From the first satellite to the latest launch vehicle, Defining Possible is what we do. And when the JWST launches, we'll define the future, too. Learn more. 2019 Space Economy Solid; Pandemic A Double-Edged Sword By Theresa Hitchens; Thursday, July 2, 2020 9:31 PM SIA is hopeful that the COVID-19 pandemic will have only limited effects on the satellite industry, since it has been "generally deemed essential by governments."   HASC Passes NDAA 56-0: 'Yet Hope Remains, While The Company Is True' By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.; Thursday, July 2, 2020 4:43 PM Despite COVID-19 and a veto threat from President Trump, the HASC approved the $732 billion defense bill by a unanimous vote.   Cyber Strike By Foreign Force Caused Iran Explosion: Israeli Experts By Arie Egozi; Thursday, July 2, 2020 2:32 PM Iranian officials confirmed damage to a building built near the Natanz nuclear power plant today, saying an "accident" occurred. Israel has denied any connection to the huge explosion in the secret facility.   Congress Pumps The Brakes On Navy, Demands Answers From OSD By Paul McLeary; Thursday, July 2, 2020 11:46 AM Lawmakers "are frustrated by the Navy's last decade of cost overruns on new programs, programs being late, and technology being the thing that holds them up," Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute says.   Air Force Boosts High-Speed Contract Pool For ABMS By Theresa Hitchens; Wednesday, July 1, 2020 5:10 PM "Agile operations require agile technology. Agile technology requires agile acquisition. Agile acquisition requires agile contracting," says Air Force Chief Architect Preston Dunlap.   AFMC Tests New Software To Speed F-16 Upgrades By Theresa Hitchens; Wednesday, July 1, 2020 3:24 PM "I've been a huge proponent for colorless money," says AFMC head Gen. Arnold Bunch.   HASC Wants To Stop Year-End Spending Sprees By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.; Wednesday, July 1, 2020 2:55 PM To end annual panic spending to use up the budget, HASC wants to let DoD keep 50% of unspent Operations & Maintenance funds – if the appropriators allow it. A floor flight looms.   SASC Pushes Cyber Overhaul In New NDAA By Kelsey Atherton; Wednesday, July 1, 2020 1:21 PM "This pandemic only strengthens the argument for preparing for what we call a cyber pandemic, which we might well face," Sen. King says. "This is the longest wind up for a punch in the history of the world. We better be ready."   Bath Iron Works Strike Grinds On & COVID Hits The Picket Line By Paul McLeary; Tuesday, June 30, 2020 5:29 PM There are no talks scheduled between striking union workers and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, but leaders have started exchanging letters.   Upgradeable Birds: AF Taps Hypergiant For 'Reconfigurable' Satellites By Theresa Hitchens; Tuesday, June 30, 2020 5:08 PM By deploying smallsats in LEO, operators and users can continually test, demonstrate, and create new procedures for offensive and defensive counter space while inserting new and emerging technology into mission architectures," Hypergiant CEO Ben Lamm says.   WH's Handling Of Russian Bounty Intel 'Unacceptable': Rep. Smith By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.; Tuesday, June 30, 2020 2:22 PM The HASC chairman sees the handling of intelligence over Russian threats in Afghanistan and the proposed withdrawal of troops from Germany as symptoms of pervasive problems in the Trump Administration.   China Threatens In Paracels; Three US Carrier Groups Sail The Philippine Sea By Paul McLeary; Monday, June 29, 2020 4:34 PM Three American carrier strike groups are moving in the Philippine Sea while China shuts down sea traffic in the South China Sea   Air Force Eyes European ABMS Demo In Spring By Theresa Hitchens; Monday, June 29, 2020 3:12 PM Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, head of Air Forces Europe, said allies must be included in JADC2 development: "You can't just bring them in in execution and go: 'Hey we built the plan, so, sorry, just do what we told you."   New Iranian Missile Could Strike Central Europe: Analysis By Ralph Savelsberg; Monday, June 29, 2020 12:09 PM On the 22nd of April, Iran surprised the world by successfully launching the Noor satellite, using a previously unknown Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) which they call Qased. The US Space Force confirmed that Noor reached orbit, together with a second object, assessed as the spent upper stage. A detailed analysis of the Qased, based on…   SASC Wants Alternative GPS By 2023 By Theresa Hitchens; Monday, June 29, 2020 11:29 AM "I think this shows that the committee is taking the jamming and spoofing threats to GPS seriously, and it is prompting DoD to focus its efforts on countering these threats," Todd Harrison, director of the Defense Aerospace Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says.   Breaking Defense 611 Broadway • New York, New York • 10012 unsubscribe