General Says West's Defense Industrial Base Will Outpace Russia's

View Online General Says West’s Defense Industrial Base Will Outpace Russia’s May 11, 2024 | By David Vergun It’s easy for an autocratic regime like Russia to accelerate their defense industrial base at the expense of its economy to continue its war in Ukraine, along with help from Iran and North Korea, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven L. Basham. Basham, deputy commander, U.S. European Command, spoke yesterday at the livestreamed Foundation for Defense of Democracies event, “Transatlantic Security After 75 Years of NATO.” The West’s defense industrial base is also accelerating, he said. “Make no mistake. It’s picking up speed. It will continue to accelerate past the capability of Russia. The time that is being spent by Russia inside Ukraine is also time that we have to get our industrial base to where it needs to be,” Basham said. Spotlight: Support for Ukraine “Russia, a country that used to pride as a defense exporter. they seem to be importing an awful lot of not only equipment, but also technology. And a lot of that technology is actually coming from China. The challenges that Russia faces in their own equipment, they’re actually making up for by developing that relationship with China,” he said. “The defense of our nation starts well outside the borders of the United States,” he said. “All asking for is our continued unwavering, consistent, continuous support. I think that’s actually what they’re getting right now. We’ve just got to stay that course. And I think we need to do a much better job of explaining the American people,” he said. The U.S., its allies and partners are becoming stronger and are standing up to Russia’s aggression, he said, noting Finland and Sweden’s recent accession into NATO. Basham spoke of the importance of defending NATO, saying, “Make no mistake. No matter how this ends in Ukraine, Russia will not stop with Ukraine unless they’re stopped in Ukraine.” Presence matters, he said, referring to U.S. troop deployments to Europe. “You have to be with your allies to be able to integrate. You have to be with your allies to campaign, to exercise. And by the way, it can’t be just episodic,” he said, regarding U.S. commitment to NATO. Spotlight: NATO Basham addressed the challenge from China, noting that like Russia, Beijing is a global threat, including its malign influence in Europe, particularly in the areas of space and cyber.

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Retired Special Warfare Commander Lauds Value of Strong Allied Relationships

View Online Retired Special Warfare Commander Lauds Value of Strong Allied Relationships May 10, 2024 | By Matthew Olay Former leader of U.S. Special Operations Command and retired Navy four-star admiral William H. McRaven discussed the value of developing and maintaining strong relationships within the international special warfare community during a fireside chat Thursday at the Special Operations Forces 2024 convention in Tampa, Florida. During a one-hour interview led by veteran television investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge that covered a wide range of topics, McRaven consistently underscored the importance of having trust-based partnerships to facilitate communications among SOF organizations across the globe. “It’s personal relationships … it’s always about personal relationships,” McRaven said, when asked about the key factors that make up a successful SOF organization. “We used to talk about the War on Terror as a war about relationships. It was how … we build relationships with our Iraqi partners, with our Afghan partners with our NATO partners and allies from around the world … You’ve got to build that personal relationship because they’ve got to trust you, and you’ve got to trust them.” Spotlight: NATO McRaven emphasized that a strong working relationship between SOF organizations can’t be established without first having trust. “When it comes to building relationships and doing anything else beyond that — sharing intelligence, partnering on tactical missions — you’ve got to start with trust,” he said. McRaven elaborated on the topic by saying that there is very little tolerance for violating such trust. “Trust is not … ‘three strikes and you’re out’; trust is … ‘two strikes and you’re out.’ Because, if you build trust, and you once, the trust factor will hold for a little while,” he said. “But if you undermine your allies and your colleagues a second time, you’re done.” When asked if there are challenges to establishing such trustful relationships in parts of the globe that don’t share those same trust-based values, McRaven pushed back slightly, saying that militaries worldwide share the same values. “I think, across the board, militaries have core values,” he said. “They understand the value of good order and discipline; they understand the value of the mission; they understand the value of doing things the right way; they understand how to make sure that you don’t have collateral damage that really exceeds the nature of the mission.” For an example of SOF personnel from a variety of nations being able to come together and efficiently work as a unit, McRaven mentioned the SOF 2024 capabilities demonstration that took place in the bay just outside of the convention center on Wednesday. The demonstration — which simulated an attack on the Tampa Bay Convention Center by a notional, unnamed enemy — showcased U.S. SOF teams collaborating with SOF personnel from nine other nations. “You can line up on the pier out here by the convention center; and their uniforms are all different, the color of their skin may be different, their religion may be different, their ethnicity may be different,” McRaven said. “But then, here, they’re all kind of the same — and you can spot them coming a mile away. So, I do think relationships are built on trust.” When asked about potential challenges to building strong, international SOF relationships, McRaven said inaction is the primary impediment. “We know how to build the relationships; now we just have to do it,” he said, adding that Socom and the various theater special operations commands around the globe need to consistently be building relationships in support of the combatant commander in the respective regions. As the chat wound down, McRaven said that during times of relative peace when countries aren’t sharing the battlefield together, it’s crucial to be proactive in building relationships. “Because — believe it or not — sooner or later you’re going to find yourself on the battlefield again, in a place you’ve never heard of, at a fight you never thought would happen,” McRaven said. “And if you haven’t built these relationships … then you’re not going to be able to move as quickly and you’re not going to be as successful. “So, take whatever you learn this week, take it home, and then find ways to continue to build the relationship.”

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Today in DOD: May 12, 2024

Today in DOD: May 12, 2024 Open Press Events Secretary of Defense The secretary has no public or media events on his schedule. Read More > Deputy Secretary of Defense The deputy secretary has no public or media events on her schedule. Read More > Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman has no public or media events on his schedule. Read More > Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The vice chairman has no public or media events on his schedule. Read More > View All Postings Contacts Additions and corrections for Today in DOD are invited and should be directed to the press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131 or +1 (703) 697-5132. For additional media information click here. Public Inquiries Contact us for more information, if you have questions or for technical support. Media Questions News media representatives with questions for the Department of Defense may reach our press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131. Duty Officer A public affairs duty officer is available 24 hours a day through +1 (703) 697-5131.

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Today in DOD: May 13, 2024

Today in DOD: May 13, 2024 Open Press Events Secretary of Defense The secretary hosts an enhanced honor cordon and meeting welcoming Canadian Minister of National Defense William Blair to the Pentagon at 11 a.m. EDT on the steps of the River Entrance. All… Read More > Deputy Secretary of Defense The deputy secretary has no public or media events on her schedule. Read More > Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman has no public or media events on his schedule. Read More > Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The vice chairman has no public or media events on his schedule. Read More > Additional Open Press Events Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy A. George, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith,… Read More > View All Postings Contacts Additions and corrections for Today in DOD are invited and should be directed to the press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131 or +1 (703) 697-5132. For additional media information click here. Public Inquiries Contact us for more information, if you have questions or for technical support. Media Questions News media representatives with questions for the Department of Defense may reach our press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131. Duty Officer A public affairs duty officer is available 24 hours a day through +1 (703) 697-5131.

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Contracts For May 10, 2024

View Online FOR RELEASE AT 5 PM ET Contracts For May 10, 2024 ARMY Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $332,126,764 modification (P00006) to contract W31P4Q-23-D-0003 for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 20, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Eccalon LLC,* Hanover, Maryland, was awarded a $22,751,128 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for data encryption. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Hanover, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2025. Fiscal 2010 procurement, defense-wide funds in the amount of $22,751,128 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911NF-24-C-0055). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., McLean, Virginia, was awarded a $20,222,085 modification (P00056) to contract W911S0-18-C-0004 for contractor support for exercises, training and logistics. Work will be performed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 14, 2024. Fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance, Army funds were obligated at the time of the award. Army Field Directorate Office, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is the contracting activity. Camas Creek Services LLC,* Rexburg, Idaho, was awarded a $9,000,000 modification (P00002) to contract W911SA-22-D-2000 for sustainment, modernization, and improvement projects. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 10, 2025. 419th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, is the contracting activity. NAVY VideoRay LLC, Pottstown, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $92,684,651 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response (MESR) Production. This contract provides for hardware, software, repairs, training, technical assist visits, and ancillary components for the continuous production, sustainment, and development of the MK20 Defender Remotely Operated Vehicle platform produced by VideoRay. This production contract will support the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Underwater Response Vehicle program, and the MESR program of record. Work will be performed in Pottstown, Pennsylvania (99%); and at various locations throughout the U.S. and overseas (1%). The contract will have a five-year ordering period. Work is expected to be complete by May 2029. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition citing authority 10 U.S. Code 4022(f). Zero-dollar amount is obligated at the time of award. Funding obligations will be at delivery order level. Contracting activity is Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California (N66001-24-D-0027). Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded a $12,420,301 firm-fixed-price order (N0042124F0002) to a previously awarded contract (N004212G0005). This order provides investigative studies on the feasibility of integrating the Crypto Modernization 2 study and plan for the RT-1939A(C), RT-1990A(C), and RT-2036(C) radios utilized by the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Coast Guard, other Department of Defense agencies and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed in September 2025. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $12,420,301 will be obligated at time of award, of which none will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. T3W Business Solutions Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded an $8,647,078 modification to previously awarded Firm fixed price contract (M67400-20-F-0187) for Technical and Administrative support services. Work will be performed at Okinawa, Japan, with an expected completion date of June 29, 2025. Fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance funds Marine Corps funds in the amount of $8,674,078 are being obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Installation Pacific Regional Contracting Office, Okinawa, Japan, is the contracting activity. WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Falls Church, Virginia, is awarded a firm-fixed price, firm-fixed-price-level-of-effort, and time-and-materials hybrid contract (HQ0034-24-C-0042) valued at $45,472,928. The purpose of the contract is to provide case analysis and investigative support services to assist in military commission cases in all aspects of pre-trial investigations, trials, and court activities. Fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,993,367 are being obligated at time of award. The total if all options are exercised is $45,472,928.00. The work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia; and McClean, Virginia. The estimated contract completion date is May 10, 2029. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. HDR Architecture, Inc., Arlington, Virginia, is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (HQ003424D0004) valued at $30,000,000 to perform architectural and engineering services in support of design and construction activities related to government planning, programming, and project execution. No funds are being obligated at time of award. The total if all options are exercised is $33,000,000. The work will be performed at the Pentagon Reservation, Arlington, Virginia; Washington Headquarters Services, Alexandria, Virginia; and Raven Rock Mountain Complex. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Redondo Beach, California, was awarded a $12,753,984 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) research project. Work will be performed in Redondo Beach, California (81.7%); Madison, Wisconsin (8.8%); and Orlando, Florida (9.5%), with an expected completion date of May 2026. Fiscal 2023 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $4,137,607; and fiscal 2024 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,022,383, are being obligated at time of award. This contract was a limited competitive acquisition with three offers received. DARPA, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-24-C-0367). *Small Business

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Today in DOD: May 11, 2024

Today in DOD: May 11, 2024 Open Press Events Secretary of Defense The secretary has no public or media events on his schedule. Read More > Deputy Secretary of Defense The deputy secretary has no public or media events on her schedule. Read More > Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman has no public or media events on his schedule. Read More > Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The vice chairman has no public or media events on his schedule. Read More > View All Postings Contacts Additions and corrections for Today in DOD are invited and should be directed to the press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131 or +1 (703) 697-5132. For additional media information click here. Public Inquiries Contact us for more information, if you have questions or for technical support. Media Questions News media representatives with questions for the Department of Defense may reach our press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131. Duty Officer A public affairs duty officer is available 24 hours a day through +1 (703) 697-5131.

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Austin Calls on South Carolina State Grads to Lead, Serve

View Online Austin Calls on South Carolina State Grads to Lead, Serve May 10, 2024 | By Joseph Clark Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today called on South Carolina State University’s Class of 2024 to give back to their communities and to the nation. Austin compelled the graduates to use their unique talents to chart their own paths of service, underscoring the vital role young leaders will play in shaping the future for all Americans. “Class of 2024, we need your service to the nation,” he said, “So find ways to make change, to contribute, and to be a part of something bigger than yourself.” That service, Austin said, can take on a variety of forms — whether in uniform or as a civilian. “You’ll find your own path,” he said. “But in times like these, civic engagement is not optional.” Since taking office, Austin has sustained a campaign to draw the nation’s top talent toward public service. Austin’s visit to South Carolina State University, a historically Black university, further reflects his commitment to ensure that the nation’s public workforce reflects the nation it serves. In his address to the school’s graduates, Austin drew from his personal experience of growing up in the segregated south with teachers, family and mentors who encouraged him. He used this example to illustrate the necessity of drawing on the full talents of all Americans. “You never know what we lose when we leave someone out,” he said. “We don’t have one American to spare. We don’t have one citizen to squander. And that means that we need to keep working together to knock down barriers, to level the playing field, and to let everybody compete to win.” Austin credited teachers and mentors who inspired encouraged him as he charted his path forward, first to West Point and to eventually becoming the first Black secretary of defense. Education, he said, is what will give the next generation “the power to make change, even when it’s hard, and to help America live up to its full promise.” Graduates from historically Black colleges and universities have long led the way in breaking through barriers. The nation’s 107 HBCUs have helped produce 40% of America’s Black engineers, 50% percent of Black lawyers, 70% of Black doctors and dentists and 80% of Black judges. And throughout South Carolina State’s 128-year history, graduates have left a long legacy of public service. The school’s Army ROTC program has also produced more than 2,000 military officers since being established. Austin spoke with a group of newly commissioned officers and cadets from South Carolina State’s ROTC on the eve of his commencement address. “This is a great program,” he said. “And it has produced some tremendous leaders, many of whom I served with.” He said the newly minted officers should have no doubt about whether they have what it takes to lead soldiers and carry the torch in defense of the nation. You are the future of our military. … It won’t get easier as the days go by. It will only get more challenging. Because of that, we need leaders who are skilled leaders, who are courageous leaders, who are dedicated and professional. You get that from places like this.” Austin offered similar encouragement to the broader graduating class during his commencement address. “You’ve already proven that you’re going to perform,” he said. “Class of 2024, you were tested and you overcame. And you made it here today.” That perseverance, he said, will be critical as the graduates navigate difficult challenges and shape the future of the nation. “Ladies and gentlemen, we don’t get to choose our times,” Austin said. “But we do get to shape our times. And in a democracy, that is especially relevant and a special responsibility for every citizen and for every member of this graduating class.” While in South Carolina, Austin will further emphasize the value of service during a visit to the Future Soldier Preparatory Course at Fort Jackson. The course is designed to help potential Army recruits overcome academic and fitness barriers to enlistment. More than 20,000 future soldiers have graduated from the course, adding to Army efforts to fill its ranks with high quality soldiers without sacrificing standards. Austin will also visit with troops stationed at Fort Jackson and underscore his commitment to take care of those who have chosen to serve.

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Ukraine Fact Sheet – May 10

Ukraine Fact Sheet – May 10 May 10, 2024 A fact sheet listing the latest U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. VIEW PUBLICATION

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Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine

View Online IMMEDIATE RELEASE Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine May 10, 2024 Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs. This announcement is the Biden Administration’s fifty-seventh tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. This Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package has an estimated value of $400 million and includes capabilities to support Ukraine’s most urgent battlefield requirements, including air defense, artillery rounds, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons. The capabilities in this announcement include: Additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems; Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); Stinger anti-aircraft missiles; Equipment to integrate Western launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine’s systems; Additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems(HIMARS) and ammunition; 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds; Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles; M113 Armored Personnel Carriers; Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles; Trailers to transport heavy equipment; Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; Precision aerial munitions; High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs); Small arms and additional rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades; Demolitions munitions and equipment for obstacle clearing; Coastal and riverine patrol boats; Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment; and Spare parts, training munitions, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment. The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners to ensure Ukraine’s brave defenders receive the critical capabilities needed to fight Russian aggression.

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DOD Featured Photos

Patriotic Hands Sailors fold an American flag during an interment ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the … Photo Details > Buddy Squat Army Chief Warrant Officer 1 Jake Denison conducts buddy squats during a Marine Corps Martial Arts P… Photo Details > View All Photos

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