Tag Archives: Ellen Lord

UPDATED: DoD, Navy Trying to Keep Defense Industrial Base – and Workers – Healthy During COVID Pandemic

UPDATED: DoD, Navy Trying to Keep Defense Industrial Base – and Workers – Healthy During COVID Pandemic

Attack boat Vermont (SSN-792) float-off on March 29, 2019. General Dynamics Electric Boats Photo

This post has been updated to include information from a press briefing by Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, as well as additional information from industry.

THE PENTAGON – The Navy and the Pentagon are trying to help the defense industrial base stay viable and productive during the coronavirus outbreak while also ensuring workers are kept safe and healthy. Read More

Lockheed Martin, F-35 Joint Program Office Sign Multi-Lot Production Deal

Lockheed Martin, F-35 Joint Program Office Sign Multi-Lot Production Deal

Marines assigned to the ‘Flying Leathernecks’ of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 122 perform maintenance on an F-35B Lightning II on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on Oct. 3, 2019. US Navy Photo

Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office inked a long-awaited $34-billion deal to build the next three batches of 478 stealthy fighters.

Read More

F-35 Program Facing Delays in Full-Rate Production, As DoD Struggles to Integrate Into Simulators

F-35 Program Facing Delays in Full-Rate Production, As DoD Struggles to Integrate Into Simulators

A formation of four U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), are secured on the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on Oct. 5, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is performing well in the real world, but challenges incorporating it into a Defense Department simulation system will delay DoD from being able to move into full-rate production, the Pentagon’s top weapons-buyer told reporters today. Read More

Pentagon Allowing Subsystems to Leverage Rapid Prototyping Authorities, Different Cyber Standards

Pentagon Allowing Subsystems to Leverage Rapid Prototyping Authorities, Different Cyber Standards

Vehicles are staged to be reviewed by an assessment team during Advanced Naval Technology Exercise 2019 at Camp Lejeune, N.C. July 11, 2019. ANTX East 2019 is an event designed to test new technology with academic, industry and Navy participants. US Marine Corps photo.

THE PENTAGON – As the Defense Department continues its push to speed up and simplify acquisition, it’s doing so in part by allowing select subsystems within larger programs to be exempt from more stringent rules on acquisition and cybersecurity. Read More

Pentagon's Investor-Industry Matchmaking Program Will Focus on Small UAS in First Event

Pentagon’s Investor-Industry Matchmaking Program Will Focus on Small UAS in First Event

U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa deputy director of communication Master Sgt. Chad E. McMeen uses a commercial-grade Quadcopter to capture aerial video footage of the USNS William R. Button on the pier in Rota, Spain, during the preparation phase of Trident Juncture 2015. US Army photo

THE PENTAGON – The Defense Department’s effort to connect sources of capital with small companies that need investment will begin with a focus on those that design and manufacture small unmanned aerial systems, the Pentagon’s acquisition chief told reporters today. Read More

Lockheed Martin Confident Other Customers Will Buy Turkey's F-35s

Lockheed Martin Confident Other Customers Will Buy Turkey’s F-35s

An F-35A Lightning II fighter jet takes off during Astral Knight 2019 on June 6, 2019, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. US Air Force Photo

Lockheed Martin is confident new customers will step forward to buy the F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters intended for Turkey, company executives said during a Tuesday conference call with analysts. Read More

Turkey Formally Dropped From F-35 Program; DoD Estimates $500M to Retool Supply Chain

Turkey Formally Dropped From F-35 Program; DoD Estimates $500M to Retool Supply Chain

F-35A Lightning II aircraft receive aerial refuelings from a Travis KC-10 Extender July 13, 2016 on the flight from England to the United States. US Air Force photo.

THE PENTAGON – Turkey is being excised from the F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter program, and the U.S. will pay an estimated $500 to 600 million to retool the program in the aftermath, the Defense Department’s acquisition chief told reporters on Wednesday. Read More

F-35 Program Leadership Changes as Turkey's Future in Program Uncertain

F-35 Program Leadership Changes as Turkey’s Future in Program Uncertain

A Member of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team prepares to launch Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 pilot, during the Bagotville International Air Show in Quebec, Canada on June 22, 2019. US Air Force Photo

THE PENTAGON – The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program’s civilian and military management are in the midst of a changeover just as government officials from the U.S. and partner countries are considering ejecting Turkey from involvement in the aircraft’s manufacture and deployment. Read More

Pentagon Seeking Potential Replacements for Turkish F-35 Parts

Pentagon Seeking Potential Replacements for Turkish F-35 Parts

An Air Force F-35A in Australia on March 30, 2019. US Air Force

THE PENTAGON — The Defense Department is seeking alternate suppliers for parts of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter currently provided by Turkish companies, as Turkey’s pursuit of a Russian air defense system threatens its continued participation in the jet program. Read More

New Pentagon Initiatives Address Cybersecurity Challenges, Industrial Base Fragility

New Pentagon Initiatives Address Cybersecurity Challenges, Industrial Base Fragility

The Honorable Ellen M. Lord, under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, meets with U.S. Army Special Operations Command personnel during the 2018 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in downtown Tampa, Fla., May 23, 2018. US Air Force photo.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Pentagon’s acquisition community is going after two major sources of risk within the industrial base: the cybersecurity of companies that do business with the Defense Department, and fragility within certain critical suppliers. Read More