Joe Giandomenico’s Post

The Army recently acknowledged hiccups regarding the deployment of one of its first digital engineering based development programs, the XM30. Digital engineering, the process of digitally designing military equipment before building physical prototypes, is a key element of the Army's modernization of its capability development strategy designed to more efficiently prototype in the digital world before developing physical prototypes. However, the Army is still learning on the fly as it rolls out its "Digital Engineering Strategy". While the XM30 project has experienced delays, this should be a learning experience from which the Army can refine its go-forward strategy. #Army #OMFV #XM30 #DigitalEngineering Craig Belanger Anirudh Suneel Ben Osterholtz Robyn Pirie

The Army is moving forward with yet another MOSA platform, announcing the approval of the characteristics it is looking for in its Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS). FTUAS, designed to replace the Shadow UAS, will be designed using MOSA principles to allow for maximum flexibility. In the words of Lt. Gen. Karl Gingrich, Army G-8, “The goodness about FTUAS is going to be the plug-and-play things…that you can put on it. The ability to put on a network extension, the ability to put a, potentially in the future, lethal payload. EO-IR sensors, EW, etc.”. MOSA is here to stay and the defense industry must incorporate MOSA development and collaborative design principles to meet the DOD's future requirements. #Defense #UAS #Drones #Army #DOD #MOSA BCE Consulting (BCE) Craig Belanger Anirudh Suneel Ben Osterholtz Robyn Pirie

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall placed a strong vote of confidence in the USAF’s development of AI-piloted fighters last week as he spent an hour airborne in an AI-piloted F-16 with rave reviews, showing just how far the USAF has come. However, his comments after landing show where the USAF will be going next as Kendall stated that he had seen enough in flight to trust AI with the ability to decide whether or not to launch weapons in war. For Kendall’s vision to become reality, the USAF will need to take a close look at the DOTMLPF-P landscape and invest to mature key elements in order to cede control of effects to AI-pilots. Craig Belanger Anirudh Suneel Ben Osterholtz Robyn Pirie #AI #Defense #USAF https://lnkd.in/ei4ufT9g

While the DOD and the defense industry are still waiting to see material progress against the objectives of the first Replicator initiative, Capt. Alex Campbell, director of the Defense Innovation Unit’s naval portfolio, recently announced a Replicator 2.0 initiative focused on software. This second initiative, dubbed "tranche two", will focus on the rapid development and scaled production of critical software required to link the sensors and drones fielded out of Replicator Tranche One. While DIU's commitment to moving quickly is admirable, it will be critical for DIU to deliver results in order to maintain industry interest and commitment. In the near term, industry will be closely watching whether DIU can follow through on its rhetoric and deliver results for Tranche One before committing to Tranche Two. #Defense #DIU #Replicator #DOD Craig Belanger Anirudh Suneel Ben Osterholtz Robyn Pirie

I encourage anyone interested in the role of the US ARMY within INDOPACOM to give a listen to the “Landpower in the Pacific” episode of the Modern War Institute podcast with General Charles Flynn, commanding General of US Army Pacific. General Flynn articulately shares his vision of the US Army Pacific, clearly outlining the role of the Army in a theater dominated by the worlds largest ocean. In the words of General Flynn, “contrary to popular believe, INDOPACOM is often referred to as an air and maritime theater, but it is actually a joint theater with joint and multinational challenges that will only be solved by joint and multi-national solutions…US Army Pacific provides foundational capabilities at scale and at echelon that no other service provides.” Craig Belanger Anirudh Suneel Ben Osterholtz Robyn Pirie #Defense #Aerospaceanddefense #Army #INDOPACOM