Three four-star US Army generals this week weighed in with their opinions about finding the right balance between conventional and high-tech munitions – but the answers aren’t easy.
By Ashley RoqueMilitary innovation and savings: Go commercial
DoD uses FAR Part 12 acquisitions to save hundreds of millions of dollars in “of a type” systems like civil landing systems with applicability to military aircraft.
“We structured both the GMLRS contract, and the PAC-3 contract to be able to convert them from one-year contracts [into] multi years. We didn’t want to delay awarding the PAC-3, for example,” said Doug Bush.
By Ashley Roque
DoD officials and outside experts have been wringing their hands for the past year over the state of the US supply chain for solid rocket motor technology, as stocks of munitions and missile systems reliant on SRMs — such as the Army’s Javelin shoulder-mounted anti-tank weapon, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), and Stinger missiles — have been depleted by sales to Kiev.
By Theresa Hitchens
“This is a broad and in a way campaign-like approach to strengthening our own supply chain and enabling multiple sources, really for even beyond our company for our industry, which I think is important,” Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet said of his firm’s endeavor to field a new solid rocket motor supplier.
By Michael Marrow
“Where we’re headed is co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment with our partners,” said Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Bill LaPlante.
By Ashley Roque Australian defense minister Richard Marles hailed the deal as a “significant step forward” toward what he called “seamless” intelligence sharing.
By Colin Clark
The Office of Management and Budget has notified Congress this week with its FY24 budget request amendments.
By Ashley Roque
Modernizing military simulation with open systems architecture
Best-of-breed common models and architecture enable virtual training and testing with the same data in a cyber-resilient posture.
With the war in Ukraine raging, missile and other munition production seems like a sure bet. But the Pentagon knows industry is wary of getting burned should attitudes change and is trying to offer novel reassurances.
By Ashley Roque
“We think that over time through close consultations with the Ukrainians, at both the professional and the political level, we’ll come to a good understanding about how many of these HIMARS we end up giving,” Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security advisor, told CNAS.
By Theresa Hitchens
The 2021 budget request also makes major reductions in the tracked M2 Bradley and the wheeled Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, as well as counter-IED programs.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
Senior Pentagon and service officials observed the last day of the ground-breaking ABMS exercise and the Air Force engaged Northern Command to create and manage the scenario.
By Theresa Hitchens
The Army is modernizing three artillery systems: 155 cannon, the cheapest option, for the close fight against the enemy’s frontline forces; guided rockets for the deep fight against enemy reinforcements and supply lines; and missiles, the most expensive munitions, for very deep or even strategic strikes against targets in the enemy rear and homeland.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
PENTAGON: The Army’s 2019 budget is all about old-school firepower. It’s a plan unmistakably driven by the Russian threat. Artillery, the king of battle, and armored vehicles dominate the service’s request: Joseph Stalin would approve. Meanwhile, helicopters — until this year the service’s top procurement expense — slip to second place. What’s more, the Army…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
