Breaking Defense's Monday Morning Briefing

A News Roundup for the Week Ahead _________________________________________________________________________

A News Roundup for the Week Ahead SNC Deploys Cutting-Edge Security Tech For Maritime Regions Presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation Harnessing decades of experience to customize and integrate advanced aviation, sensor, detection, tracking and surveillance capabilities worldwide. Learn more. What If The Bigger Shipbuilding Budget Just Doesn't Come? By Justin Katz; Monday, August 2, 2021 6:00 AM "The Navy's going to have a huge problem," Mark Cancian, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said of the service's likely budget squeeze.   Exposing The Data Makes JADC2 Possible By Barry Rosenberg; Friday, July 30, 2021 4:55 PM [Sponsored] Aligning current and emerging technologies for Joint All-Domain Command and Control is the enabler that will let warfighters acquire data and quickly act on it by applying effects where they need them, when they need to, and on the timeline they need them.   State Department Clears Israeli King Stallions, Javelins for Thailand By Aaron Mehta; Friday, July 30, 2021 4:43 PM The announcement of the potential sale come as the Israeli government is sending signals to Washington that any renewed deal with Iran should come with more arms for Israel, including items not normally sold to allies.   NSA Releases Security Guidance For DoD, Contractors On Public Networks By Brad D. Williams; Friday, July 30, 2021 4:14 PM "The risk is not merely theoretical; these malicious techniques are publicly known and in use," NSA notes.   EXCLUSIVE: NRO Space 'Civil Reserve' Includes Shutter Control Option By Theresa Hitchens; Friday, July 30, 2021 11:54 AM "Frankly, this is an area where the United States can't control what happens anymore," said Secure World's Brian Weeden.   To Transform Tech, DoD Must Stop Being An 'Innovation Tourist:' Report By Brad D. Williams; Thursday, July 29, 2021 4:10 PM The current approach "is more akin to innovation tourism—with the DoD sampling the local fare of the United States' various tech hubs—than a bona fide strategy for bringing emerging technologies into the department," the report notes.   What Are The Best Ways To Shield Taiwan From A Hungry China? By Colin Clark; Thursday, July 29, 2021 3:19 PM The trick will be to avoid "a situation in which China believes that it has no alternative but to act," says RAND's Michael Mazzar.   Beyond ABMS: Air Force Pushes Experimental Tech For AI, IT, Data By Theresa Hitchens; Thursday, July 29, 2021 3:03 PM The expanded experimentation campaign is also building new "business approaches" — some of which will require Pentagon-level blessing — to speed software-based capabilities to the field, DAF Chief Architect Preston Dunlap said.   Qatar's Massive Increase In Military Power Comes With Political, Logistical Headaches By Riad Kahwaji; Thursday, July 29, 2021 9:03 AM As Qatar awaits permission from Paris to base Rafales and Mirages in Turkey, it grapples with the challenge of finding manpower and training them to use dozens of planes it has purchased.   Book Excerpt: Pruning The Acquisition Kudzu By Aaron Mehta; Thursday, July 29, 2021 5:55 AM "We are at an inflection point in national security when 'business as usual' and the status quo will allow China, our primary threat, to continue to advance militarily, technologically, economically, and diplomatically," writes Arnold Punaro.   Space Force Vice Argues Value Of Embattled Analysis Center By Theresa Hitchens; Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:52 PM SWAC is not duplicating the functions of the joint DoD-IC Space Security and Defense Program, argues Gen. DT Thompson.   Lawmakers Throw Wrench Into Air Force ISR Divestment Plan By Theresa Hitchens; Wednesday, July 28, 2021 2:50 PM House authorizers threw shade at the service for not heeding long-standing warnings of the potential for a gap in tactical aircraft availability.   Focus On The Enablers For Long Range Precision Fires By Aaron Mehta; Wednesday, July 28, 2021 10:15 AM "The US often seeks solutions for firepower primarily in the arena of new long-range weaponry. Yet, experience shows that emphasis on weapons technology alone is a serious mistake," says Mike Nagata.   Biden Issues National Security Memorandum On Critical Infrastructure By Brad D. Williams; Wednesday, July 28, 2021 9:00 AM "I think it's more than likely we're going to end up, if we end up in a war – a real shooting war with a major power – it's going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence, and it's increasing exponentially," President Biden said.   Range, Speed, And Reaction Time At Operational Distances Will Define The Next Phase Of Army Aviation By Barry Rosenberg; Wednesday, July 28, 2021 8:30 AM [Sponsored] Bell created the V-280 Valor with agility, speed in excess of 280 knots, and more than 500 nm of range that is needed to quickly take advantage of tactical opportunities in multi-domain operations in theaters across the globe.   House Authorizers Poised To Restore Navy's Destroyer — This Time By Justin Katz; Tuesday, July 27, 2021 3:06 PM A committee aide said the Navy is "playing a dangerous game" when it includes major battle force ships on its unfunded priority list.   Tech Innovation, Spectrum Strategy Among House Markup Priorities By Brad D. Williams; Tuesday, July 27, 2021 3:04 PM The markup comes at a pivotal moment for the US as it intensifies competition — while seeking to avoid conflict — with China, in particular, which senior department officials refer to as the US's "pacing threat."   Air Force Plans Wargames, Tech Experiments To Flesh Out Arctic Strategy By Theresa Hitchens; Tuesday, July 27, 2021 2:48 PM The Air Force is wargaming with allies on how to counter Russia and China in the Arctic, looking to "understand the nature of the competition, as well as the range of capabilities that each of us bring to the problem," said Lt. Gen. Clinton Hinote, the service's lead strategist.   OMFV Awards Mark Broad Shift In Army Acquisition By Colin Clark; Tuesday, July 27, 2021 2:23 PM The Army really needed "to be more inclusive and to allow us to develop capabilities, that would be more scalable for the future." On top of that, the service tried hard, Maj. Gen. Ross Coffman said, "to lower the barriers to entry for foreign and non-traditional vendors."   Allies, No-Strings Vaccines, Human Rights, Open Seas: SecDef In Singapore By Colin Clark; Tuesday, July 27, 2021 12:37 PM "Unfortunately, Beijing's unwillingness to resolve disputes peacefully and respect the rule of law isn't just occurring on the water. We have also seen aggression against India… destabilizing military activity and other forms of coercion against the people of Taiwan… and genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang," Secretary Austin said.   Who's Who in Defense: Jackie Speier, Chair, HASC Personnel Subcommittee By Catherine Macaulay; Tuesday, July 27, 2021 12:25 PM The House Subcommittee on Military Personnel has jurisdiction over DoD policy and programs related to military health care and benefits, education, POW/MIA issues, military justice and morale, welfare and recreation, commissaries, and retirement issues.   Israel Shifts To Standoff Weapons In Syria As Russian Threats Increase By Arie Egozi; Tuesday, July 27, 2021 11:04 AM The change comes as Russia says it has stopped using a deconfliction line with Israel.   Anduril Nabs DIU 'Service' Contract For Counter-Drone AI By Aaron Mehta; Tuesday, July 27, 2021 10:09 AM "An interesting way to think about this is counter unmanned systems is essentially JADC2 in miniature," said Anduril's Matthew Steckman.   Navy Needs To Prep For Unmanned Integration, Says SWO Boss By Justin Katz; Monday, July 26, 2021 4:36 PM "We've got FFG-62. We're going to have another DDG variant at some point and then we've got the unmanned stuff. How do I introduce it to the fleet? What does that look like?" said Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, the service's top surface warfare officer.   New NDIA Spin-Off Focuses On Building Next-Gen Tech Base For DoD By Theresa Hitchens; Monday, July 26, 2021 4:16 PM The institute will concentrate on artificial intelligence; autonomy; biotechnology; cyber; directed energy; command, control and communications; hypersonics; microelectronics; quantum science; space; and '5G to Next G.'   The Joint Warfighting Concept Failed, Until It Focused On Space And Cyber By Theresa Hitchens; Monday, July 26, 2021 2:21 PM The new Joint Warfighting Concept to guide military operations for the next 30 years is "aspirational," and now must be fleshed out as best the Pentagon can with the resources available, says Gen. John Hyten, vice JCS chair.   Surviving The Inflation Anaconda: Congress Must Invest More In Defense By Aaron Mehta; Monday, July 26, 2021 10:22 AM "Without increased congressional funding to account for this rise in prices, defense readiness, as well as the quality of life of American service members are both being dangerously squeezed and diminished, as if in the grip of a giant anaconda."   Breaking Defense 611 Broadway • New York, New York • 10012 unsubscribe