Awarded by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, the agreement covers the continuance of operational and sustainment services for the Pentagon and the National Capital Region’s digital connectivity.

Work for the network, used by over 55,000 users, will be accompanied by the optimization of related IT environments to enhance the “speed, security, and reliability” of the infrastructure.

Associated tasks will be performed for a one-year base period and two six-month options.

“Enhancing the Pentagon’s network infrastructure will further advance technological superiority for our warfighters,” GDIT Defense Senior Vice President Brian Sheridan stated.

“We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with [Defense Information Systems Agency] and reimagining new ways to provide a modern, secure and reliable network.”

GDIT’s Latest DoD Projects

GDIT’s renewal contract followed the firm’s acquisition of a cyber firm based in Florida to improve its ongoing support for the US Special Operations Command and international allies.

In May 2024, the company received a $185-million award to provide digital security services for the US Air Force’s civil engineering division in Texas.

This followed another $922-million project two months earlier to apply a widescale update for the US Central Command’s IT infrastructure.

Alongside technical support, GDIT has also partnered with the Department of Defense to assist in training courses for over 200,000 combatants under the US Army’s III Armored Corps.

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The PDA enables Washington to rapidly transfer equipment from its current stockpiles to allied forces in crisis situations. The White House authorized its implementation in mid-2023 to deliver $345 million worth of supplies to the island nation.

In a comprehensive report about the PDA equipment provided to Taiwan, the OIG claimed the Pentagon failed to effectively implement accountability and quality controls.

For example, it reported that 340 out of 504 pallets of cargo bound for Taipei sustained water damage after being stored for just over three months at an inadequately protected aerial port.

Upon arrival in Taiwan, 120 of the damaged pallets were found to contain wet and moldy body armor, rendering them nearly unusable.

According to the OIG, the problem was due to the failure to request a special airlift mission, which would have expedited the transfer and mitigated the damage.

The DoD provided unserviceable and poorly packaged equipment and munitions to Taiwan. More than 340 pallets of items sustained water damage while they remained at the aerial port of embarkation for 3 months pending a flight to Taiwan. Read our report now: https://t.co/pbWEVzN3Oj pic.twitter.com/bSTfQLsI5D

— DoD Office of Inspector General (@DoD_IG) September 12, 2024

Additional Costs Incurred

In addition to the body armor, Taiwan said it received 2.7 million rounds of ammunition from the US in 2023, but some of them had expired.

It also complained about non-compliance with shipping standards because of the incorrect packaging.

According to the OIG, the problems led to significant additional costs, with the island nation spending $618,000 on labor and materials to address the moldy equipment and another $113,000 to replace the damaged body armor.

“The delivery of non‑mission-capable items inhibits the DoD’s ability to achieve established security cooperation goals and may lead to loss of partner confidence in the United States,” the OIG report noted.

Recommendations

To address the issues, the OIG recommended updating the guidelines for PDA equipment deliveries, including implementing stricter quality and quantity checks before the items leave the US.

It also wants the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that operating procedures related to the PDA are effectively executed.

“The intent of these recommendations is for the DSCA to provide military services with PD-related responsibilities and the timelines for conducting activities to supply PD items to the ports of embarkation and deliver the items to ports of debarkation,” the report stated.

The post US Sent ‘Unserviceable’ Equipment, Ammo to Taiwan: Inspector General appeared first on The Defense Post.

For the initiative, the firm will create a Reactivating Nerve Agent Treatment System (RNATS) to “enhance the current standard of care” for troops and increase their survivability in chemical warfare.

Battelle’s Ohio-based subsidiary CMC Pharmaceuticals will lead the technology’s laboratory production, Good Manufacturing Practice testing, and Contract Manufacturing Organization oversight.

The resulting treatment from the 6.5-year effort is planned to receive Food and Drug Administration approval once completed.

The RNATS Solution

The reactivators incorporated into the RNATS will disrupt the effects of toxic agents by “setting on” the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, which is an integral part of the human body’s naturally-occurring neurotransmitters.

These neurotransmitters relay signals between neurons, glands, muscle cells, and the brain.

The RNATS technology will be sealed in a vial and be made available for the US military and its allies, the companies noted.

“Our expertise and vast breadth of knowledge in drug product development and manufacturing is a crucial component of this important program,” CMC Pharmaceuticals President Mike Radomsky stated.

“We are excited to begin work with Battelle and the DOD on this program and are honored that our team will help deliver an improved therapeutic to our troops against the threat of nerve agents.”

Expanding CBRN Medical Countermeasures

The Pentagon first revealed the RNATS strategy during a medical countermeasure convention in November 2023.

The event discussed and demonstrated various approaches that could potentially secure the servicemen’s health across the spectrum of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) warfare.

The post Battelle to Develop Anti-Nerve Agent for Pentagon appeared first on The Defense Post.

A medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) version of the UH-60M, the chopper comes with a necessary mission equipment package to support the seamless transport of wounded troops from the battlefield.

It also boasts robust GE engines and state-of-the-art digital avionics for enhanced situational awareness, survivability, and overall performance.

According to a Pentagon announcement, Sikorsky will do the work for the contract at its facility in Connecticut. It is expected to be complete by June 2027.

The company did not disclose the exact number of HH-60Ms under order.

Expanded MEDEVAC Fleet

The contract is part of the US Army’s plan to procure up to 419 HH-60M helicopters through 2026 to expand its MEDEVAC fleet.

By 2012, Sikorsky had reportedly delivered a total of 100 units to the army, while entering into multi-year agreements to supply more.

The HH-60M Black Hawks can be reconfigured to support other missions, including personnel and cargo transport, aerial reconnaissance, and search and rescue.

They are also fitted with forward-looking infrared radar to provide increased visibility for executing missions under adverse weather conditions.

The helicopters are capable of flying at a speed of 140 kilometers (87 miles) per hour with a range of 275 nautical miles (509 kilometers).

Once delivered, the HH-60Ms are expected to bolster the US Army’s ability to conduct emergency response missions “even in the harshest of environments.”

The post Sikorsky Wins $52M US Army Contract for HH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters appeared first on The Defense Post.

In a memorandum released Friday, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said the department will improve the tracking of all service members’ cognitive health by regularly conducting assessments.

This is meant to spot potential effects on soldiers of repeated blast exposures from early career onward.

At present, the military only provides baseline cognitive testing to soldiers ahead of their official deployment. This often results in failure to spot potential brain injuries from training or combat missions.

“Experiences by [soldiers] in training and operational environments demonstrate possible adverse effects on brain health and cognitive performance (e.g., headache, decreased reaction time, attention difficulty, memory loss),” Hicks wrote.

“Brain health effects from [blast] exposures are not yet fully understood, but adverse health and cognitive performance impacts have been reported.”

The long-term cognitive testing for active-duty troops will begin in 2025.

Standoff Distance

In addition to regular cognitive assessments, the new policy will ensure that protective equipment is provided to anyone firing certain weapons.

There will also be specific safe distances for instructors to follow depending on the weapons being used during training.

For example, instructors should stand 16 feet (4.9 meters) farther from a soldier firing an M3 anti-armor and anti-personnel weapon.

They are also obliged to be at least 7 feet (2.1 meters) away from personnel training with an M107 sniper rifle.

When firing indirect fire systems or mortars, soldiers should assume a posture as close to the ground as possible to avoid blast effects.

Long Called For

The new blast policy comes amid growing pressure from American lawmakers for increased troop protection from blasts.

Earlier this year, a panel of experts told the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on personnel that even low-level blast exposure can cause symptoms similar to traumatic brain injury.

The policy was released nine months after a US Army reservist went on a shooting rampage in Maine and killed 18 people.

An autopsy report revealed that the suspect likely suffered from a traumatic brain injury as he was a longtime instructor at a hand grenade training range.

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This is according to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), which conducted a comprehensive study amid the military’s failure to field its first operational hypersonic weapons despite spending billions of dollars.

Though the defense department provides “some information” to lawmakers, the watchdog said it has not been “comprehensively reporting” to Congress its progress on managing risks.

It further stressed that communicating comprehensive information would enable lawmakers to better understand what is happening and provide necessary oversight.

“Without comprehensive enterprise-level reporting, Congress will have an incomplete or fragmented perspective on the risks DoD has identified, the actions it is taking to address them, or the costs that these actions entail,” the report noted.

A Troubled Program

The US Army, Navy, and Air Force each have at least one hypersonic weapons program aimed at rivaling similar efforts by China and Russia.

The army’s long-range hypersonic weapon, which is being developed by Lockheed Martin, was originally scheduled for delivery last year but has been pushed to at least late 2024.

Unspecified issues caused the service to abort hypersonic weapon testing for the third time in September 2023.

Meanwhile, the air force is embarking on a five-year prototyping phase for its rapid response weapon, which would be fired from a fighter jet and fly at speeds exceeding Mach 5.

According to the GAO, the army program and the navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic weapon program have a projected combined cost of $40.3 billion.

It warned that these figures could increase further if the Pentagon does not give a full assessment of the difficulties and challenges its hypersonic programs are facing.

The post Pentagon’s Lack of Transparency Risks Hypersonic Weapons Development: GAO appeared first on The Defense Post.

The five-year effort will optimize network connectivity for 30,000 to 160,000 users including 14 Fourth Estate Defense Agencies and Field Activities (DAFAs), which administers enterprise-wide support for the Pentagon.

Throughout the program, the company will improve the DoDNet domain’s security, preserve its scalability, and assist corresponding operations with “resilient and flexible information technology (IT) solutions.”

These tasks incorporate cybersecurity and technical support, systems engineering, and management.

Leidos noted that the deal will also distribute a new Virtual Desktop solution to enable a dependable network anytime, anywhere on any device for DISA.

Once completed, the initiative is expected to support about 370,000 DAFA users and workstations.

Supporting Migration

According to Leidos, the task order is part of the company’s ongoing $11.5-billion single-award contract with DISA to support the modernization of the DoDNet.

The 10-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity agreement encompasses different DAFA teams as they migrate from legacy systems to a more advanced and consolidated DoDNet.

Leidos accepted the contract in February 2022 and has leveraged the firm’s Defense Enclave Services framework since the program’s implementation.

“As one of DISA’s largest IT service providers, Leidos is focused on leveraging our innovation, speed, and agility to deliver an exceptional user experience and establish a strong foundation of operations and maintenance support to expand the DoDNet user community,” Leidos Digital Modernization President Steve Hull stated.

“By delivering the standardized DoDNet, our goal is to enable more efficient service delivery and support across DAFAs to advance the mission of our nation’s warfighters and secure our combat operations around the world.”

Recent Network Contracts

Leidos signed a $180-million contract in October 2023 to provide digital healthcare technology for US servicemen.

This contract replaces the DoD’s aging Military Health System Video Connect, ensuring modernized connectivity across hospitals, clinical experts, and warfighters.

One month earlier, the company received a contract to supply tactical IT hardware solutions for the US Army.

The 10-year effort covers existing unified networks under the Joint All Domain Command and Control strategy and will cost $7.9 billion if all options are exercised.

The post DISA Taps Leidos for Defense Network Operations, Maintenance Services appeared first on The Defense Post.

For the project, the company will design, produce, migrate, and deploy cloud-based solutions for the DMDC’s information technology enterprise. These tasks encompass automated platforms such as artificial intelligence, generative AI, and machine learning systems.

Additional tasks involve the security of these articles to ensure their critical functionality throughout migrations.

Furthermore, the firm will provide full-service cyber and risk management support to alleviate operational and privacy risks.

ICF wrote that the deal is part of a $1.4-billion multiple-award blanket purchase agreement distributed to 10 industry partners.

Each consortium member selected is eligible for 25 task areas, including data analysis, software solution architecture, cloud engineering, systems integration, operations, and sustainment.

Work for the contract will run for one year and includes an additional four-year option.

“DMDC is one of the most critical systems that supports the daily operations of our nation’s military and provides services and benefits to our retired veterans,” ICF Chief Operating Officer James Morgan stated.

“We are truly honored to bring our combined expertise in cloud technology and digital modernization, automated technologies, advanced data analytics, cybersecurity and human capital to deliver a solution that helps … ensure our service members and their families receive the care and support they deserve.”

The post Virginia Company to Upgrade Pentagon’s Cloud Capabilities appeared first on The Defense Post.

Revealed by the White House during the 2024 NATO Summit, the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort or ICE Pact seeks a “best-in-class” fleet that will address the “expanding presence” of potential enemies and competitors in the High North.

Although specifics have not yet been released, Bollinger said it will leverage its shipyards to aid the program and play a “critical role” in the capacity and know-how for the ships’ development.

The company has a long record of producing vessels for international military customers. Currently, it is engaged with the US Coast Guard’s Polar Security Cutter program to replace the service’s heavy and medium icebreaker vessels by the 2030s.

“As the premiere builder of American-made polar icebreakers, Bollinger Shipyards is proud to support the United States and our NATO allies with our deep expertise and capacity,” Bollinger Shipyards CEO and President Ben Bordelon said.

“Our goal is to create a world-class American-owned shipyard capable of producing the first fleet of American-made polar icebreakers in over half a century, and we’re honored that responsibility lies with Bollinger.”

The ICE Pact

According to the US, the ICE Pact will bolster each participating nation’s industrial base by supporting jobs across shipyards, marine equipment manufacturers, and associated services.

The program’s initial phase will consist of comprehensive information exchange between the members, workforce integration, and the promotion of icebreaker sales to allied and partner nations.

The government wrote that the program’s first six months will focus on the joint implementation plan to construct the vessels.

“This partnership is about more than the collective production of polar icebreakers and capabilities, including Arctic and polar-capable ships,” the White House said.

“It is about providing the capability for like-minded nations to uphold international rules, norms, and standards to sustain peace and stability in the Arctic…for generations to come.”

Canadian Arctic Submarines

During the latest NATO meeting in DC, Canada also announced a new program to build a dozen conventionally-powered submarines to secure all of its three major coasts.

These systems will receive an “under-ice” design that will enable operability in low-temperature environments such as the Arctic Ocean.

Once inducted, the fleet will replace the Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria-class submarines, introduced in the early 1990s.

The post Bollinger Joins US, Canada, Finland Icebreaker Fleet Initiative appeared first on The Defense Post.

The move supports a $10-billion investment to strengthen the alliance between the US and Japanese armed forces and further maintain security in the Indo-Pacific.

According to the Pentagon, the project includes the replacement of 48 F-15C/D combat aircraft stationed at the Kadena US Air Force Base in Okinawa with 36 F-15EXs.

This shift followed a decision in 2022 to employ “newer, more advanced systems” to “uphold treaty obligations” with the Japanese government.

The agency wrote that the Joint Force will continue its rotational presence at the air base using fourth and fifth-generation fighter jets until the transition concludes.

The US Air Force will also withdraw 36 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the Misawa Air Base and replace them with 48 F-35A Lightning IIs.

Meanwhile, the US Marine Corps will reconfigure its F-35Bs deployed in Iwakuni as part of the enhanced presence.

The service will sustain “an enduring and rotational aircraft presence” as the transition in the city moves forward.

“​The Department’s plan to station the Joint Force’s most advanced tactical aircraft in Japan demonstrates the ironclad US commitment to the defense of Japan and both countries’ shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” the US Department of Defense said in its press release.

Osprey Returns to Flight

In a separate notice, the US Air Force confirmed that it has resumed flight operations for the  CV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft at the Yokota Air Base in Western Tokyo.

This announcement lifts the restriction caused by an incident in late November 2023, in which an Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan and killed eight US airmen.

The air force noted that the decision to pass this order was based on “a meticulous and data-driven approach” and supported by maintenance and procedural mitigation training to ensure the platform’s safe return to flight.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the safety of the men and women who operate our aircraft and the safety of our community both on base and in Japan,” Special Operations Squadron Commander Col. Matthew Davis explained.

“These safety mitigation measures have been taken seriously, and we would not fly this aircraft without full confidence in the measures, the maintenance professionals implementing them, and the skilled professionals who fly it.”

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