Breaking Defense's Monday Morning Briefing

A News Roundup for the Week Ahead _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

A News Roundup for the Week Ahead It's Impossible to Tell a Wake from a Wave. Until it's Not. Presented by Northrop Grumman At 50,000 feet, the ocean seems empty. But if you know what to look for, vast intelligence can be found. That's why we built Triton. With powerful sensors, Triton can scan thousands of miles per flight and relay data back to base. Learn more. Modernize The National Guard's State Partnership Program By Bradley Bowman; Monday, August 10, 2020 4:00 AM Low-key deployments by citizen-soldiers have strengthened ties with 89 nations – but some crucial partners are missing.   ULA, SpaceX Nab 5-Year NatSec Launch Contracts By Theresa Hitchens; Friday, August 7, 2020 5:55 PM ULA's immediate award is $337 million for two launches. SpaceX's won $316 million for one launch, Will Roper said.   GPS Anti-Jam M-Code Takes Two Steps Forward By Theresa Hitchens; Friday, August 7, 2020 3:50 PM Once 24 GPS III satellites are on orbit, the encrypted M-Code for military users will be available world wide.   Major Submarine Contractor Drops Navy Missile Tube Biz By Paul McLeary; Friday, August 7, 2020 3:22 PM The disclosure comes as the Pentagon has been looking for ways to backstop key parts of its industrial base as supply chains slowed due to the COVID epidemic.   Pentagon Code Library Will Support Multiple Clouds By Kelsey Atherton; Friday, August 7, 2020 11:34 AM DOD Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy wants people to see the clouds beyond the Jedi contract.   Robots & Puddles: Surprises From Army RCV Test By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.; Friday, August 7, 2020 7:30 AM Experimental Robotic Combat Vehicles are outperforming Army expectations. But soldiers are finding plenty of quirks to fix.   Fast Deployments Deter Better Than Bases: Stimson By barryblechman; Friday, August 7, 2020 7:01 AM The data show the deployment of an amphibious ready group was effective, as was the movement of an aircraft carrier strike group. Deploying ground forces and land-based air forces in significant numbers also were effective attention-getters.   AF Tests F-35, Stealth Fleet For Integrated Electronic Warfare By Theresa Hitchens; Thursday, August 6, 2020 4:14 PM "Many believe that stealth is perishable," says Teal Group's Richard Aboulafia, thus increasing the need for suppression of enemy air defenses. Of course, a key requirement for the F-35 is that it can take out advanced air defenses.   GAO Questions Army's $62B Cost Estimates For Combat Vehicles By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.; Thursday, August 6, 2020 2:59 PM The Army estimated the OMFV troop carrier would cost $46 billion and the MPF light tank would cost $16 billion. The GAO has doubts.   SOLIC Nominee Faces Questions On Khashoggi Killing, Social Media Posts By Paul McLeary; Thursday, August 6, 2020 2:45 PM Sen. Tim Kaine said of the nomination, "Senators deserve answers to my questions about Tier 1's role in training any Saudis implicated in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. I don't feel comfortable moving forward on this nomination until I get answers."   Esper and Trump At Odds — Again; This Time, Beirut Blast By Paul McLeary; Wednesday, August 5, 2020 5:27 PM The SecDef suggested today the US is looking to Romania and the Baltics as new places to station American forces.   AFRL's First WARTECH Summit To Vet Cutting-Edge Tech By Theresa Hitchens; Wednesday, August 5, 2020 4:33 PM "It's gonna hurt a little bit," said new AFRL Commander Brig. Gen. Heather Pringle. "We can't do everything — we don't have the budget to do everything under the sun."   Army Tests New All Domain Kill Chain: From Space To AI By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.; Wednesday, August 5, 2020 3:50 PM Experimental AI software, Prometheus and SHOT, can turn masses of data – from both government and commercial satellites – into precise targets for long-range missiles and cannon. But what do the humans do?   Teheran-Damascus Agreement Prompts Israeli, US Deterrence By Arie Egozi; Wednesday, August 5, 2020 11:10 AM The Iranian Chief of Staff says the agreement's aim is to strengthen Syria's air defense and to reduce Israeli, Turkish and American freedom of action in Syrian airspace.   NRO Taps AI For Future 'Hybrid Architecture' By Theresa Hitchens; Tuesday, August 4, 2020 3:26 PM "Artificial intelligence and machine learning onboard the satellites to help us control the constellations is absolutely critical," says NRO Director Chris Scolese. For ground stations, too.   Breaking Defense 611 Broadway • New York, New York • 10012 unsubscribe