Spotlight On Defense

The Air Force is expected to make its decision on the preferred location for U.S. Space Command headquarters in early 2021. 

The Air Force and Army could begin major experiments on their systems beginning as early as March 2021 to allow aircrafts, sensors and other weapons systems across services to share data instantaneously, according to a report by the Air Force Times. 

According to the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer “asserted navigational rights and freedoms near Vietnam in the vicinity of the Con Dao Island in the South China Sea” on Thursday. 

When fielded, the ERCA cannon should be able to fire and take out targets from a position out of the range of enemy systems.

After months of negotiations, Congress has passed a massive spending package Monday evening, which includes $900 billion in COVID-19 relief and $1.4 trillion to avoid a government shutdown. The bill includes roughly $696 billion in funding for the Pentagon for fiscal year 2021, according to a summary of appropriations. 

As part of the transaction's approval, Aerojet Rocketdyne's shareholders will receive a special pre-closing dividend of $5 per share in common stock and convertible senior notes in March 2021, which, unless revoked, is expected to reduce the transaction's purchase price to $51 per share. 

General Motors has started the build-out of the North Carolina facility that will manufacture its Infantry Squad Vehicle for the U.S. Army starting in 2021.

"Like any pilot, Artuμ (even the real R2-D2) has strengths and weaknesses," Air Force acquisition executive Will Roper tweeted Wednesday. "Understanding them to prep both humans and AI for a new era of algorithmic warfare is our next imperative step. We either become sci-fi or become history."

The Army currently leads as the branch with the highest total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 34,089, followed by the Navy at 19,773, the Air Force at 17,682, and the Marines at 11,380. 

The Female Body Armor Modernization Act would direct the Pentagon to coordinate their efforts with other government agencies to equip women with body armor and other personal protective equipment in order to reduce injuries related to ill-fitting gear.

According to a report by Defense News, sources from Congress, industry and the defense community have consistently identified two individuals as likely deputy secretary contender: Frank Kendall III, a former undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, and Kathleen Hicks, a former Obama-era undersecretary of defense for policy and the current leader of Biden's Department of Defense review team.

Lockheed Martin has won a 10-year, $900 billion contract involving a variety of services in support of F-16 aircraft, the defense contractor announced Friday.

“These incoming members bring extensive defense and national security affairs experience to this advisory committee from their time in Congress, the State Department, our armed forces and beyond," Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller said in a statement. "I’m confident the Department of Defense will benefit greatly from their time and service to the board.”