East Coast Drone Sightings Remain a Mystery

(CBS Saturday Morning screenshot)

Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff.

Frustration and concern are growing over the lack of information on drone sightings over the mid-Atlantic region. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D) weighed in on the uptick of unidentified drone sightings in his home state, saying he is “concerned,” reports the Hill. Booker and other lawmakers are calling for a briefing from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Aviation Administration. “The potential safety and security risks posed by these drones in civilian areas is especially pertinent considering recent drone incursions at sensitive military sites in and outside of the continental United States over the past year,” the lawmakers wrote.

The White House, FBI, and Homeland Security said late last week they had no evidence that the drone sightings reported posed national security or safety threats, despite concerns raised by lawmakers, reports Reuters via MSN. An FBI official told CBS News the agency has received several thousand tips. Local law enforcement are also investigating.

President-elect Donald Trump is calling on government officials to shoot down the aircraft if they are truly unidentifiable, reports The Huffington Post on MSN. Shooting down a drone is a federal crime, reports Delaware News Journal. Property ownership does not include the surrounding airspace. The airspace is essentially public property.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said he saw drones outside of his Davidsonville home Thursday night, reports The Hill. Sightings also have been reported in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and at a US air base in Germany.

Stewart International Airport, 65 miles north of New York City, was shut down for about an hour Saturday due to drone activity in the airspace late on Friday, reports UPI News on MSN.

The US Marine Corps has reactivated Marine Attack Fighter Squadron 251, or VMFA-251, reports Marine Corps Times, as the first East Coast squadron to fly the service’s newest F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter. The squadron has a lineage that traces back to Guadalcanal when it was established during World War II. The unit officially reactivated in a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, on Dec. 5.

The US Navy and Army completed a successful all-up round test of the Common Hypersonic Glide Body, reports Navy Times, potentially paving the way for the services to begin fielding the system. The glide body was developed by the two services. The Army plans to integrate its version of the system, the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, into a mobile ground platform. The Navy will integrate its version into a ship-launched capability.

Defense tech firms Palantir and Anduril announced they are creating an industry consortium to address what they see as hurtles impeding the US Defense Department’s adoption of artificial intelligence, reports C4ISRNET.

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath led the Midshipmen to a 31-13 victory over Army at Northwest Stadium in Landover on Saturday, reports NSC Sports on MSN. Horvath threw for 107 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 204 yards and two TDs.

What was the greatest service academy football lineup in an Army-Navy game? It wasn’t a team that went undefeated or one that produced a Heisman Trophy winner. Military.com says it was the 1912 Army team, even though it finished the season with a 5-3 record.  The 1912 team dressed out no more than 15 players that season. Yet at least eight of those players became highly ranked military officers.

The US military academies reported a drop in sexual assaults in 2024, reports Navy Times. This marks the second straight year that the numbers have dropped, according to new Pentagon data, marking a sharp turnaround from an alarming surge two years ago that triggered sweeping reviews and an overhaul in leadership.

Navy basic training will be cut from 10 weeks to nine weeks, effective next year, in an attempt to better streamline curriculum, reports Navy Times. Boot camp had been held for eight weeks until the service extended the program to 10 weeks in January 2002.

A Volkswagen supervisory board is now considering not closing large plants in Germany, reports Reuters. Last month, the board had discussed stopping production at one of its plants and selling another to tackle the automaker’s cost crisis.

Lawmakers want to allow US troops to fix their own equipment, reports Stars and Strips. Service members could gain the ability to repair and maintain their own equipment under a new bill that seeks to cut Pentagon spending on defense contractors.

Jared Isaacman, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be the next NASA administrator, speaking at the Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference last week said that as the US establishes more of a human presence in space, it will eventually need Space Force guardians stationed in the domain to protect its economic interests, reports C4ISRNET. “I think it is absolutely inevitable,” he said.

The US Space Force currently trains its recruits at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas but wants to set up its own basic training program, reports Military Times. The service wants to a more guardian-focused environment, said Chief of Space Operations GEN Chance Saltzman.

Maryland Matters reports that state revenues will be slightly better than expected in 2025, but not nearly high enough to blunt a multibillion-dollar budget deficit. “I am optimistic about Maryland’s economy, and the resilience of our economy,” Comptroller Brooke Lierman said at the Board of Revenue Estimates meeting where the numbers were presented. “But we are navigating in a sea of uncertainty as we approach the start of a new Trump administration.”

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) has opted not to impose across-the-board hiring freezes despite budget concerns, reports Maryland Matters. State Budget Secretary Helene Grady said managing the need for new staff and a projected $2.7 billion deficit for fiscal 2026 “is a balancing act.” “What I can say at this point is, agencies continue to be authorized to recruit and fill roles,” she said. “We do not have an across-the-board hiring freeze in place. We encourage agencies to be managing within their budgets and when they are seeing areas that are growing beyond budget, we rely on them to manage appropriately and prioritize all their expenses, whether it be additional hires, new contracts to be let, or purchases and procurements, etc.”

Maryland’s six casinos recorded $158,122,302 in gaming revenue for November 2024, reflecting a slight increase of $403,808 (0.3%) compared to November 2023, reports The Southern Maryland Chronicle. In addition to supporting Maryland’s Education Trust Fund, casino revenues contribute to local jurisdictions, Maryland’s horse racing industry, and small, minority- and women-owned businesses. Maryland’s sports wagering market generated $11,798,035 in contributions to the state during November 2024, an all-time high since its launch in December 2021, reports WTOP News.

Contracts:

SimVentions Inc., Fredericksburg, Virginia, is awarded a $32,163,740 cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for development and support of innovative tool suites and deliverance of significant technologies for the acquisition, engineering, logistics, and warfighting communities. This contract does not include options. Work will be performed in Dahlgren, Virginia, and work is expected to be completed by December 2032. Fiscal 2025 working capital fund (Navy) funds in the amount of $500 will be obligated at time of award, of which $500 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is not competitively procured in accordance with 10 US Code 3204(e)(7), 15 US Code 638(r)(4), and the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Program Policy Directive, dated May 3, 2023. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N0017825D4300).

KT Consulting Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, has been awarded a $12,534,132 modification (P00017) to a previously awarded contract (FA4890-23-F-0005) for F-15E, F-16, and F-22A contract aircrew training and courseware development. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $36,793,522 from $24,259,390. Work will be performed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Shaw AFB, South Carolina; and Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2025. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,488,154 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Langley AFB, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

Atkinson Aeronautics and Technology Inc., Fredericksburg, Virginia, is awarded a $34,438,602 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide program management services, to include administrative and operational support for the F-35 Joint Program Office in support of the Joint Strike Fighter Program for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, international partners, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Arlington Virginia (90%); Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio (9%); and Fort Worth, Texas (1%), and is expected to be completed in June 2027. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competed as a service-disabled veteran owned small business set-aside and six offers were received. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001925D0015).

Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems Inc., Braintree, Massachusetts, is awarded a $83,779,202 firm-fixed-price contract for production of AN/SPS-73(V) Next Generation Surface Search Radar systems. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $420,508,738. Work will be performed in Braintree, Massachusetts (73%); Wake Forest, North Carolina (17%); and Chantilly, Virginia (10%), and is expected to be completed by August 2027. If all options are exercised, work will continue through September 2031. Fiscal 2024 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $57,778,760 (69%); fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,444,690 (17%); fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,666,814 (10%); and fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,888,938 (4%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 US Code 3204(a)(5) (a statute expressly authorizes or requires that the procurement be made through a specified source). Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity (N00024-25-C-4127).

Emcube, Inc., Arlington, Virginia, is being awarded a $79,639,141 hybrid cost-plus-fixed-fee term and firm-fixed-price completion contract, N0003025C6009, for the Trident II D5 Strategic Weapon System and Dreadnought programs. Tasks to be performed include systems engineering and training support, orientation and culture awareness training, security engineering, independent system safety and surety support, Trident training, leadership training for strategic systems programs and field activities, ship submersible ballistic missile nuclear system support and Life Extension II, ship submersible guided nuclear support, acquisition support, and sea launched cruise missile – nuclear system engineering support. This contract also benefits a Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Arlington, VA (60%); Washington, DC (20%); Kings Bay, Georgia (5%); Silverdale, Washington (5%); the United Kingdom (4%); Denver, Colorado (3%); Cape Canaveral, Florida (2%); and Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1%). Work is expected to be completed on Jan. 31, 2030, if all optional line items are exercised. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,000,000; fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $167,873; fiscal 2025 weapons procurement, Navy funds in the amount of $200,052; and fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance, Navy funds in the amount of $2,851,000, will be obligated upon award, of which $3,851,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded as a sole source acquisition with the authority of 10 US Code 3204(a)(1) and was previously synopsized on the System for Award management (SAM.gov) online portal. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $73,102,951 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-23-C-5325 to exercise options for MK 41 Vertical Launching System modules and ancillary equipment. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (31%); Indianapolis, Indiana (27%); Saginaw, Michigan (7%); Farmingdale, New York (6%); St. Peters, Missouri (3%); San Jose, California (2%); Radford, Virginia (1%); and various other locations (23%), and is expected to be completed by December 2026. Fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $64,918,773 (88%); fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,180,779 (11%); and fiscal 2024 defense-wide procurement funds in the amount of $3,399 (1%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $23,304,231 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost contract modification to previously awarded contract N00024-24-C-6101 to exercise options for engineering design development and supporting travel for sonar systems. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2025. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $231,609 (43%); fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $115,000 (22%); fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) in the amount of $110,000 (21%); and fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $75,495 (14%), will be obligated at time of award and $75,495 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.

Flatwater Professional Services Co., Winnebago, Nebraska, is awarded an $18,173,455 firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide new furniture design and configuration services to include functional and technical support in support of converting current workspaces into a more productive and collaborative environment promoting a better workflow consistent with best practices, technology, and the evolving missions of the Joint Strike Fighter Program. Work will be performed in Arlington Virginia (90%); Miamisburg Ohio (8%); and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (2%), and is expected to be completed in December 2029. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competed pursuant to the Small Business Administration under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001925D0014).

Systems Planning and Analysis Inc., Alexandria, Virginia, is being awarded a $7,556,155.98 modification, P00036, to a previously awarded and announced contract, N00030-21-C-6019, to exercise fiscal 2025 options to provide support services for the Trident II Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile Strategic Weapons System. Tasks to be performed include technical services, program support, assessments, and special studies and systems engineering. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Virginia (86%); and at the Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) Headquarters, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC (14%). Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2025. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,033,511; and fiscal 2025 weapons procurement, Navy funds in the amount of $2,564,271, will be obligated on this award. Remaining amounts will be incrementally funded, subject to the availability of funds. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded as a sole source acquisition with the authority of 10 US Code 3204(a)(1). SSP, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.