DoD Report Defines Contractor Motivation
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DoD’s second annual report on acquisition performance emphasizes competition and delved into what motivates defense contractors. The Washington Post extracted four highlights: Companies respond better to profit incentives than a promised fixed margin at the end. Fixed-price contracts are not a “one size fits all” solution to budget problems. Contracts with at least two bidders performed better in cost, price, and schedule. The program manager is pivotal to quality contract execution, but often leave before project completion.
Armed US drones flying over Baghdad provide protection for 180 US military advisers, reports CNN. Previously, US officials said all unmanned reconnaissance flights over Iraq were unarmed. Using drones for any offensive strike against insurgent Islamic fighters requires presidential approval.
The world is suffering from a shortage of properly skilled cyber security professionals, according to C4ISR & Networks. Both government and private industry are raising the alarm. A Cisco security report found hacker threats at “startling levels” and estimated a worldwide shortage of nearly 1 million skilled security professionals.
CNN reports the president’s staff returned last week a VA health care report finding significant and chronic systemic failure and recommending a system-wide overhaul. President Obama appointed former Proctor & Gamble CEO Bob McDonald to take on the VA challenge, reports Reuters.
An Army radar surveillance blimp will have Baltimore and DC in sight, reports Defense News. The 10,000 foot deployment from Aberdeen Proving Ground will monitor air, sea and ground traffic in the National Capital Region. The system is scheduled for a three-year homeland security assessment and has already demonstrated an ability to simultaneously locate and track multiple moving targets on land, in the air and at sea.
US and NATO aircraft have been intercepting Russian long-range aircraft more frequently, according to Defense News. The encounters typically take place near Alaska and along the western coast of Canada and the continental US. In Europe, they usually occur over the Baltic and North seas. Russia has been upgrading their decades-old planes making them more effective and lethal.
The Navy has three new apps with routines to build strength and endurance, reports the Navy Times. The Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System program apps are available in the iTunes App Store and are called the Strength, Endurance and Sandbag series. Versions for Android phones are expected to be available in July.
Boeing’s Bombardier Challenger 604 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) testbed has recently completed missions systems and sensor installation in preparation for ground and flight trials, according to IHS Jane’s 360. The MSA is considered a ‘lite’ version Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime multi-mission aircraft because it utilizes the same mission systems but is configured for missions that don’t require a top-end anti-submarine or anti-surface warfare capability.
