DefenseNews

Army may swap AI bill of materials for simpler ‘baseball cards’

The U.S. Army is revising its artificial intelligence bill of materials effort following meetings with defense contractors. The service last year floated the idea of an AI BOM, which would be similar to existing software bills, or comprehensive lists of components and dependencies that comprise programs and digital goods. Such practices of transparency are championed by the Cybersecurity and…
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DefenseNews

To expand the US Navy’s fleet, we must contract

There is no substitute for fleet capacity. But generating it depends on healthy partnerships between the government and industry. After decades of corporate consolidation, the pendulum now swings toward consensus that the U.S. defense-industrial base must once again expand. Recent efforts by the Defense Department and Congress reflect this new course and a desire to attract new companies that have…
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DefenseNews

Lockheed chosen to build new homeland missile defense interceptor

Nearly a year prior to a deadline for two competing teams to reach a critical design review phase in the development of a Next-Generation Interceptor for homeland defense, the Missile Defense Agency chose Lockheed Martin to move forward rather than carry both teams through the next phase of technology development. Lockheed and its Aerojet Rocketdyne partner completed the preliminary design review…
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DefenseNews

Get the US Navy’s frigate program back on schedule

The recent review of shipbuilding progress is an important step in correcting the current cost overruns and schedule slippage. However, the U.S. Navy secretary’s rather timid response of only directing the FFG design team to gather at the shipyard was far too timid. Many…
DefenseNews

MDA awards Lockheed $4.1B contract to upgrade battle command system

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $4.1 billion to continue to field, maintain and upgrade its battle command system, according to an April 11 contract announcement from the Defense Department. The contract period runs May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2029, with an option to extend it to April 30, 2034. “This contract will accelerate innovation and…
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