Air Force Sustainment Center Small Business’ Post

🚀 Overhauling Acquisition: The Air Force’s New Approach The Air Force is shaking things up with the Integrated Capabilities Office (ICO) launch. By ending the traditional separation between operators and developers, the ICO aims to streamline the acquisition process and ensure that technology meets the real needs of warfighters. Timothy Grayson, ICO Director, emphasized, “Attributes-based acquisition will end the traditional separation between operators and developers, avoiding a procedural game of telephone where the final product is nothing like it started out as.” With a focus on collaboration and innovative thinking, the ICO is set to redefine how the United States Air Force acquires and deploys technology, paving the way for more effective and agile solutions. https://lnkd.in/eMWtyPgS #AirForce #Innovation #Acquisition #Technology #Defense

#BCEDigest The budget impasse and continuing resolutions required to keep the government operating will limit the U.S. DOD’s ability to acquire new technology and capabilities. And ultimately, it will lower industry confidence in near term funding, which may impact vendors’ investment in developing solutions to meet new and evolving requirements. While some major efforts in sustainment will not be as impacted, the DOD’s Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) effort will be significantly hamstrung by the continuing resolutions. CJADC2-related funding requests had increased to support a myriad of new and disparate lines of effort and without the necessary budget dollars, these lines of effort may lose momentum. CJADC2 is meant to harmonize everything- communications, data collection and exploitation, information sharing, operations, AI-  and it is the foundation of major programmatic efforts like the Collaborative Trusted Wingman Aircraft (CCA), Cloud Based Command and Control (CBC2), and the B-21 systems development. CJADC2 implementation delays caused by the budget impasse will further impede critical modernization and innovation, progress towards interoperability, and U.S. warfighting power. #CJADC2 #CCA #Loyalwingman #collaborative #innovation #defense #defence #commandandcontrol #aerospaceanddefense #unmanned #unmannedsystems #alldomain #defenseindustry Scott Bethel, Craig Belanger, Joe Giandomenico, Anirudh Suneel, Ben Osterholtz, Mark Kipphut, Kristin Robertson, Jerry Spruill, Jeremy Bowling, Jim Walker, Doug Reep, Dennis Carroll, Tony Cothron, Richard Mascolo, PMP, CISSP, Aaron Prupas, Jeff Snyder https://lnkd.in/e_ZRGB4M

In the second quarter, we continued to build momentum by securing significant orders that position us for further growth. The demand related to sustainability and security is stronger than ever. However, it’s crucial to remember that the overall context remains serious. Amidst ongoing conflicts and global turmoil, there’s a growing recognition of the urgent need to shift resource utilization toward sustainability. At KONGSBERG, we’re committed to providing solutions to address these challenges.   In the latest quarter, we achieved robust results. Operating revenues rose, and profitability was on track. The demand for our solutions remains substantial, spanning both civilian and defense customers.   Kongsberg Maritime has solidified its role as a catalyst for more environmentally friendly shipping. Kongsberg Discovery’s cutting-edge subsea technologies are highly sought after by both commercial and defense customers. Through the Yara contract, Kongsberg Digital has expanded into new industries with its digital twin solution. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace signed an important agreement with the United States Air Force (USAF) for the delivery of the Joint Strike Missile (JSM). The USAF is by far the largest customer for the F-35 program and their choice of JSM could be a significant revenue driver for the defense area in the years to come.   In June, we hosted our Capital Markets Day. Our markets are experiencing substantial growth and restructuring, and our market positions have never been stronger. Recognizing the stability in our current company portfolio and the long-term demand outlook, we’ve set an ambitious goal: to triple our current revenue over the next decade. While this objective is ambitious, our commitment to evolution and adaptability makes it a realistic target.   As we navigate this growth phase, our capacity becomes crucial. Over the past few years, we’ve made substantial investments in new hires, facilities, and process development. Notably, in June, we inaugurated Nexus—the new missile factory in Kongsberg. Nexus is poised to elevate missile production by handling large volumes. With a robust order backlog and strong demand for our missile technology, we are confident that Nexus will remain highly active for years to come.   KONGSBERG is well positioned with solutions that contribute to increased safety and a more sustainable society. We have a record-high order backlog, and our market activity has never been higher. This provides a solid foundation for continued growth.   Read more about the results for Q2 2024 by following this link: https://lnkd.in/dGgQUGk3

Transportation and defense sectors are grappling with unprecedented challenges. Whether ensuring the security of mission-critical military vehicles or maintaining the operational readiness of commercial fleets, the ability to access and analyze serial bus data in real time is essential. However, the complexity of onboard networks—often a mix of different protocols and legacy systems—has made this a daunting task. For teams struggling with these challenges, the Shift5 Bus Interface Card (BIC) delivers new capabilities unlike what’s found on the market today. Read more about Shift5's BIC on our blog: https://ow.ly/sfnr50TBHLC #observability #onboardOT #BIC #news

Failure, I mean truncation is an option I realize the allure of the sunk cost fallacy, but at a certain point the DOD needs to cut its losses with the F-35 and do something different. More money to CCA is a good option. A decade long development of the NGAD in the same way the F-35 was built is maybe a less good option. If anything is clear over the last few months, it is that America needs someone other than Lockheed or Boeing to build fighter-type aircraft. And the way to get there is to build fewer complex objectives and less one-winner-takes-all approach into an acquisition program, so that others have an opportunity to compete. https://lnkd.in/gQ7w_tbX

A national defense agency needed to enhance the mission-capable readiness of its air fleet while reducing sustainment costs. WorldLink provided an advanced analytics solution to manage and govern the performance of OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). #IoTData #DataOptimization

The defense industry continues to deal with rising demand: here’s four operational trigger points where digital solutions are providing a helping hand. From AI-powered troubleshooting and project management tools, to combining workflow engines with manufacturing execution systems, and ensuring regulatory compliance—my IFS colleague Rob Mather covers them all in this article for Military Embedded Systems. Another great piece Rob! https://ifs.link/z1cjf9 #DefenseManufacturing #AerospaceandDefense

How to maintain #MissionReadiness for highly mobile #defense assets Matt Medley, MBA, PMP, Global Industry Director, #Aerospace & #Defense at IFS, speaks to BAE Systems Digital Intelligence about the rise of "anywhere operations" and the importance of ensuring #military leaders have access to the right #data at the right time. Read the article here ⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eCF3HCke

PartsBase isn’t just a marketplace—it’s your all-in-one platform to help businesses in aviation expand their opportunities. Our newly enhanced Government Data tool is designed to centralize everything that Government and Defense contract bidders need to find and win those lucrative contracts. With features like the DLA No Bid List, you can gain access to contracts that the U.S. Government hasn’t yet received bids on. Why not explore what government contracting can offer? With PartsBase, you’ve got the data and the tools to make it happen. Get a FREE Demo today and see for yourself! https://lnkd.in/e5dVkAfk #PartsBase #GovernmentData #Aerospace #Defense #Aviation

The Pentagon's decision to reduce the flying hours of the F-35 jet due to high maintenance and operating costs is certainly concerning. As highlighted in a recent report, there are various factors contributing to the F-35's readiness issues, including a heavy reliance on contractors and a lack of spare parts and support equipment. It is encouraging to see efforts being made to reduce sustainment costs for the F-35 program, with a 34% decrease in the cost per tail per year and a significant drop in the cost per flying hour. However, there is still more work to be done to ensure that the F-35 fleet remains mission-ready and cost-effective. The Pentagon's exploration of a performance-based logistics contract with Lockheed Martin could be a step in the right direction to improve program performance and reduce costs. However, the recent pause in negotiations with Lockheed does raise concerns about the future sustainability of the F-35 program. As we look towards the extended service life of the F-35 until 2088, it is crucial that the government and industry work together to address the sustainment challenges facing the program. Failure to implement key recommendations made by the GAO over the years could further hinder the F-35's readiness and effectiveness. It is essential that we prioritize the long-term sustainability of the F-35 program to maintain mission readiness and enhance deterrence capabilities. As we navigate these challenges, let's continue to push for transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the F-35 sustainment efforts. 🚀 #F35 #Pentagon #Lockheed #MilitaryTechnology #DefenseBudget #Sustainability #MissionReadiness #DeterrenceCapabilities #militarybudget #military #allies #pentagon #militaryaviation #congress #f18