Tag: pentagon
182 articles
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns Amid Strained Pentagon Ties
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down from his role after serving for less than two years, sparking a new chapter for the Department of the Army. His departure comes amid reports of strained ties with the Pentagon and a conversation with President Trump about the Army's future.
Congress Urged to Act as Munitions Shortage Widens
The Pentagon's alarmingly long procurement lead times have sounded the alarm: 31 months for crucial PAC-3 interceptors, 34 months for THAAD interceptors, and a staggering 40 months for Tomahawk missiles. If Congress delays appropriations, these timelines will stretch even further, leaving our defenses vulnerable for years to come.
Pentagon Revises F-35 Lifecycle Costs Downward to $1.93 Trillion
The Pentagon just revised its estimate of the F-35's lifecycle costs down to $1.93 trillion, a significant drop from the previously reported $2 trillion price tag. This updated figure includes all development, procurement, operating, and sustainment costs over the jet's expected service life.
Congress Wrestles with $1.5 Trillion Defense Budget
The Pentagon is seeking a historic $1.5 trillion defense budget, but faces an uphill battle on Capitol Hill as Congress juggles multiple complex bills. A solid budget resolution is crucial, with Sen. Jack Reed saying it would put lawmakers in a much better position to move forward.
Pentagon Pushes for LaNeve Confirmation Amid Senate Hesitation
The Pentagon is ramping up efforts to confirm General Christopher LaNeve as the Army's Chief of Staff, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praising LaNeve as exactly the leader the US Army needs. The department is working closely with Senate partners to find the perfect moment to submit LaNeve's nomination.
Pentagon Memo Reshapes Contractor Data Disclosure Rules
A new Pentagon memo is shaking up data disclosure rules for contractors, forcing them to rethink their approach at a time when AI innovation is taking center stage. This game-changing update intersects with emerging tech developments, sparking key questions for contractors, reporters, and military technologists.
Pentagon Axes Civilian Protection Program, Faces Backlash
The Pentagon has axed its Civilian Protection Program, sparking widespread backlash, after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deemed its rules of engagement too restrictive. The move comes despite a 2025 poll of top commanders, who largely favored preserving the program in some form.
Pentagon Preps Directed Energy Prototypes for Live Fire Test
Get ready for a game-changer in counter-drone missions: the Pentagon is gearing up for a live-fire test of directed energy prototypes in December, with top performers potentially scoring immediate purchase orders.
Pentagon Targets Contractors' Pricing Data with New Transparency Push
The Pentagon is pushing for full transparency in contractors' pricing data, aiming to prevent profit margins from getting out of control and ensure fair contract negotiations. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg has directed senior leaders to reset expectations for supplier cost and pricing information across all tiers of the supply chain.
Pentagon Resists Congressional Scrutiny on Golden Dome Missile Shield Costs
The Pentagon is stonewalling Congressional efforts to get a handle on the hefty price tag of the Golden Dome missile shield, with the Congressional Budget Office admitting they've been shut out from crucial briefings. It's a secrecy move that's fueling a growing public spat over the program's potentially eye-watering $1.2 trillion cost.
Pentagon Contract Fiasco Exposes Failures in Arms Production
A $533 million experiment turned into an unmitigated disaster, with a former official bluntly describing it as an absolute catastrophe - and it's no wonder, given that not a single usable 155 mm artillery shell was produced. Chaos reigned at the General Dynamics facility in Mesquite, Texas, where robots malfunctioned, caught fire, and smashed into equipment, bringing production to a grinding halt.
Pentagon Awards Palantir $244M in No-Bid Contracts
The Pentagon has just awarded Palantir $244M in no-bid contracts, further solidifying the company's role in boosting efficiency within the defense industrial base with its software. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg has directed DOD departments to explore even more ways to utilize Palantir's products through 2028.
Pentagon's Space-Based Interceptor Contest Advances with All 12 Contractors Passing Milestone
The Pentagon's space-based interceptor contest is heating up, with all 12 contractors acing the first milestone in the competition, paving the way for the next round of development contracts. According to Gen. Michael Guetlein, the contenders have successfully passed Gate 1, completing design and component-level testing.
Pentagon Presses Defense Boards for Briefings
The Pentagon is shaking things up by asking defense company boards to come in for in-person briefings, a highly unusual move that's got industry insiders talking. Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg's request has raised eyebrows, as top executives typically handle these conversations, not entire boards.
Pentagon Expands Cloud Contract Vehicle Beyond Big Four Hyperscalers
Get ready for the next iteration of the Pentagon's main cloud-computing contract, with a solicitation release date set for August 24, as the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) expands its Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability (JWCC) vehicle beyond the big four hyperscalers. The new JWCC Unified Cloud Marketplace will introduce a three-tier structure, opening up new opportunities for cloud providers.
US Navy Expands 'Doomsday Plane' Fleet with New E-130Js
The US Navy is set to nearly double its "Doomsday Plane" fleet with the acquisition of 31 new E-130J Phoenix II aircraft, designed to carry the critical Take Charge And Move Out (TACAMO) mission. This massive expansion will significantly enhance the Navy's airborne command and control capabilities.
Pentagon Expands Nuclear Options in Posture Review
The Pentagon is launching a classified review of its nuclear posture, aimed at providing more options for the White House, with Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby stressing that no changes have been made so far. This reexamination of employment guidance is tied to the responsibilities of the commander of STRATCOM and the authorities of the defense secretary.
Pentagon Urged to Accelerate Defense Acquisition Reforms
The future of warfare is no longer a distant threat, but a present reality that's rapidly evolving - driven by game-changing dynamics like affordable unmanned aerial systems, electromagnetic spectrum warfare, and nations' ability to scale at breakneck speeds. Sam Mehta urges the Pentagon to accelerate defense acquisition reforms to keep pace with conflicts that are already redefining how wars are fought.
Pentagon Unveils AI-Powered Counterdrone Marketplace for Foreign Military Sales
The Pentagon has just launched an innovative AI-powered marketplace to help foreign military forces quickly and easily purchase cutting-edge counterdrone technology, with more partner nations and vendors set to join the platform soon. This game-changing platform, built by Kaizen Laboratories with a $15 million award, is poised to revolutionize the way counter-unmanned aircraft systems are acquired and deployed.
Pentagon Taps Northrop to Boost PAC-3, THAAD Motor Production
The Pentagon has awarded Northrop Grumman a whopping $3 billion deal to ramp up production of critical rocket motors for its Patriot PAC-3 and THAAD defense systems, a move that will help build a more robust defense industrial base. This seven-year agreement is a major boost to the US military's ability to produce essential components for its missile defense systems.
Senate CR Rebuffs Pentagon Funding Requests
The White House had urged Congress to include a crucial funding exception, warning that without it, the Pentagon would be unable to start preparing for a vital ship construction project. But Senate appropriators surprisingly rejected the plea in their latest continuing resolution.
Pentagon Moves to Ease Industry Burden on Critical Mineral Restrictions
The Pentagon is giving industries a break, offering a phased approach to ease restrictions on critical minerals sourced from China and other prohibited countries, with a deadline to adapt by early 2027. They're also pledging to collaborate with companies to ensure a smooth transition.
Pentagon Tightens Rules on Critical Mineral Waivers
The Pentagon is tightening its rules on critical mineral waivers, following President Trump's executive order aimed at securing America's defense supply chains and prioritizing domestic acquisition of critical materials. This move closes a loophole that previously allowed the Pentagon to bypass restrictions on buying strategic materials from certain countries.
Pentagon Bolsters Rocket Motor Production with L3Harris Deal
L3Harris has secured a game-changing deal with the Pentagon to supercharge rocket motor production, enabling the creation of critical missile defense systems at unprecedented speeds. This long-term agreement will help ramp up production of vital components for the PAC-3 and THAAD missile defenses.