New Goals Outlined for Navy’s Fleet
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The Navy released a new fleet plan that calls for 355 ships, outlining an increase in the size of its high-end large surface combatant and attack submarine fleets but a modest increase in its amphibious ship fleet, USNI reports. The findings of the latest Force Structure Assessment adds 47 ships to the Navy’s battle force over the 308-ship figure from a 2014 assessment.
The Air Force reports out of an Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association event about the expansion of cybersecurity from an IT function to large platforms and networked weapons, reports Defense Systems.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) defends the F-35 as necessary for the protection of the US and its allies following criticism of the JSF program by President-elect Donald Trump, Bridgeport Daily Voice reports.
Breaking Defense profiles the generals appointed to Trump’s administration and notes their shared common trait; James Mattis, John Kelly, and Mike Flynn are combat veterans attuned to looming threats.
With the thought that Mattis will likely be the next DefSec, the next step is who will make up the rest of his team. Defense News reports on names being circulated through the rumor mill.
It seems each of Trump’s cabinet appointments are being met with some criticism, but Military Times reports, many Trump supporters are excited by the appointees and believe the president-elect is living up to his promises to shake things up in Washington DC.
With just a few weeks remaining before the Trump administration takes office, Defense One examines the global conflicts to watch in the coming year.
Arizona Sen. John McCain says he does not doubt that Russia interfered with the November presidential election, The Washington Post reports. He called for a select Senate committee to investigate the country’s cyber activities during the election. “We need to get to the bottom of this,” McCain said. “There’s no doubt they were interfering. There’s no doubt. The question is now, how much and what damage? And what should the United States of America do?”
On Monday, The Wall Street Journal reports, Chinese officials say its military officials are in touch with the US over the return of an American underwater drone and dismissed Trump’s criticism of China’s seizure of the device. (Paywall)
Defense news reports Italy has taken delivery of two F-35 jets — the first joint strike fighters built outside the US to become operational.
The holidays are approaching, and it’s time to catch up on some military-themed reading. Military Times offers a guide to the year in books and short stories, fiction and non-fiction.
Contracts:
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, California, is being awarded $88,097,058 for modifications (P00002 and P00004) to a previously awarded, cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00030-16-C-0100) for Trident II (D5) missile field processing and deployed system support. This modification funds work previously awarded subject to the availability of funds and exercises contract options. The work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California (33.07 percent); Cape Canaveral, Florida (24.56 percent); Santa Ana, California (8.18 percent); Silverdale, Washington (7.58 percent); Kings Bay, Georgia (7.46 percent); Magna, Utah (5.66 percent); Palo Alto, California (3.68 percent); Orlando, Florida (2.03 percent); Rockford, Illinois (1.04 percent); Santa Fe Springs, California (0.92 percent); Campbell, California (0.62 percent); East Aurora, New York (0.38 percent); Chandler, Arizona (0.37 percent); Tullahoma, Tennessee (0.32 percent); North Billerica, Massachusetts (0.30 percent); Hauppauge, New York (0.21 percent); Herndon, Virginia (0.18 percent); Horsham, Pennsylvania (0.18 percent); Franklin, Pennsylvania (0.18 percent); Oakridge, Tennessee (0.18 percent); Merritt Island, Florida (0.16 percent); Silver Spring, Maryland (0.14 percent); Arlington, Washington (0.13 percent); Santa Rosa, California (0.13 percent); Denver, Colorado (0.13 percent); Melbourne, Florida (0.13 percent); Torrance, California (0.13 percent); Santa Clara, California (0.11 percent); and other various locations (less than 0.10 percent each; 1.84 percent total), and is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2017 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $64,790,255; fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $22,570,803; and United Kingdom funds in the amount of $736,000 are being obligated at time of award, $22,570,803 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a $10,040,277 modification (PBA0233) to contract W91QUZ-06-D-0013 for system development integration support services in support of product director, Army Human Resources System. Work will be performed in Herndon, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 24, 2017. Fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $1,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
