The Hatch Report (Issue #17)
Industry Opportunities
1) Montana Army National Guard (MTARNG) RFI for Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) Deal with Montana State University Student-Athletes
Athletes, aka “civil leaders," will participate in specific MTARNG events, social media campaigns, promotional videos, and “A Day in the Guard” activities.
Part of a growing trend in DoD recruiting.
2) Army SBIR Phase 1 Seeks AI Solution for Software Integration
Exploring how AI and LLMs can help create a unified system that standardizes data across all tactical systems, regardless of source or format.
Key Objectives:
Automate integration between different military software systems
Reduce redundant and outdated systems
Bridge gaps between DoD and partner systems
Enable unified data flow across all platforms
Allow AI-supported predictive data positioning
Topic opens on 29 January.
3) PEO C3N RFI for Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2)
Seeking feedback/comments on the:
Base IDIQ PWS
Prototype SOO
RFI Questions
Background:
Goal: To create an integrated data layer across all echelons, supporting data extensibility for mission command applications and data visualization.
Initial Focus: Development will prioritize the Corps or Division level.
Modernization: NGC2 will align with other Army and joint modernization efforts and help the Army decide which older systems to retire.
Official Program: In September 2024, NGC2 became a Program of Record under the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP).
Requirements for Awardees: Proposals must include plans for managing GFE/GFI, integration configuration control, and a strategy for continuous improvement.
Teaming: The Army supports industry partnerships, with a single team lead responsible for RFP submissions and solution delivery.
Testing: The Army plans to test a prototype of NGC2 during Project Convergence Capstone 6 in Fiscal Year 2026.
Submission Deadline: 23 January
4) NSWC-PHD RFI for OTA Consortium Management Firm
The selected consortium management firm will be responsible for:
Recruiting both traditional and non-traditional defense contractors as consortium members
Supporting the full OTA procurement process
Helping identify requirements through industry days
Assisting with solicitations and executing OTA agreements
Handling unclassified aspects of both classified and unclassified projects
The OTA will cover 29 Surface Weapon System lifecycle technology areas, including:
Cyber Security/Warfare/Defense
Machine Learning and AI
Autonomous Systems
Digital Engineering
Advanced Manufacturing
Missile Defense
Command and Control
Virtual/Augmented Reality
Key Dates
Questions due: 22 January
Capability statements due: 31 January
5) Hybridizing Biology and Robotics through Integration for Deployable Systems (HyBRIDS) Webinar
Solicitation Question
How can synthetic and biological components be integrated to create biohybrid platforms that outperform traditional robotic systems?
Key Dates: The virtual webinar will be held on Tuesday, February 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET, with a virtual check-in beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET.
6) RFI for Software as a Service 3.0
Background
The AFNWC Systems Directorate develops, procures, and sustains software applications essential to the nuclear deterrence mission.
The IT Division (NIXPA) aims to transition legacy software to an evaluable architecture compatible with AFNWC cloud environments.
AFNWC seeks to leverage cloud advantages, including Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
Plans include adopting continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines to accelerate software updates for weapons system design reviews and business intelligence.
Submission Deadline: 14 February
7) Army Seeks Advanced Drone Systems for High-Altitude Intelligence Aircraft
Army's Fixed Wing Project Office seeking info about launch-capable drone systems ("Launched Effects" or LE) that can be deployed from Bombardier G6500 aircraft during intelligence and surveillance missions. This capability is planned for demonstration in FY26.
Key Requirements:
Must operate from aircraft flying above 41,000 feet at speeds over 400 knots
Must function in extreme cold (-65°F)
Weight limits:
1,800 pounds for inboard wing stations
600 pounds for outboard wing stations
Must launch during normal cruise flight without special maneuvers
Compatible with standard aircraft power (10kVA per station)
Submission Deadline: 7 February, with capability statements limited to 20 pages plus a one-page summary.
8) ACC APG S3CoE DoD U.S. Cybersecurity Strategies for DoD Acquisitions Symposium
Overview
Goal is to allow industry and government partners to discuss cybersecurity strategies for DoD acquisitions. Mr. Khoi Nguyen, Command Acquisition Executive and Director of the Cyber Acquisition and Technology Directorate at U.S. Cyber Command, will be the guest panelist.
Key Dates & Details
Questions Due: 23 January 2025
RSVP Deadline: 5 February 2025
Event Date: 12 February 2025 (9:00–10:30 a.m. ET)
Platform: Microsoft Teams (link and instructions provided on 6 February 2025)
9) AFGSC Updated Sources Sought for a Global Surveillance Strike Concept of Operations
Focus: Refining the Air Force Global Strike Command Global Surveillance Strike (AFGSC GSS) Concept of Operations.
Duration: Five-year effort.
Objectives:
Refine future basing requirements.
Evolve the Concept of Employment (CONEMP).
Support high-level briefings and leadership engagements at DoD and partner locations.
Submission Deadline: 17 February
10) Army NGB Sources Sought for Joint All Domain Air/Ground Systems (JADAGS) Subject Matter Experts (SME) and Training
The Michigan Army National Guard's Northern Strike Planning Group (NSPG) is seeking contractor support for:
SMEs to help develop tactical scenarios and training
Deploying Mobile Training Teams (MTTs) to train units across all 54 states/territories
Supporting setup and configuration of digital communication systems
Assisting during Northern Strike exercises with integration and training
Note: One 12-month base period plus three 12-month option periods
Northern Strike Background
Northern Strike is a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) accredited, and National Guard Bureau (NGB) managed joint Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX) that occurs twice per year (quarters 2 and 4). It provides training opportunities for all military services to:
Conduct joint fires operations
Practice sustainment of deployed forces
Execute intra-theater airlift
Operate in a joint, multinational environment
The exercise takes place primarily at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center in Michigan and follows a 365-day Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC) planning process. It's designed to be scalable to meet various unit training requirements and focuses on integrating air and ground forces in a peer/near-peer training environment.
Submission Deadline: 27 January
11) Army SBIR Phase 1 Seeks Autonomous Robotic Bridge System for Future River Crossings
The Army is developing autonomous floating bridge technology for combat operations in 2040 and beyond. This new system will use drone swarm capabilities to control multiple unmanned watercraft that can operate independently or join together to form larger floating bridges.
Key Features:
Unmanned operation removes combat engineers from dangerous bridging missions
Autonomous craft can work alone or connect to transport various military vehicles
Reduces logistics by combining cargo and propulsion capabilities into one platform
Enables unpredictable river crossing patterns to increase survivability
Must operate in challenging conditions like turbulent or murky waters
The topic opens on 29 January.
12) DARPA RFI for Techniques and Tools for Vulnerability Assessment of AI-enabled Systems
Focus: Develop techniques and tools for vulnerability assessment of AI-enabled systems.
Key Considerations:
Adversarial Access Threat Models:
White box
Grey box
Black box
Hidden box
System-Wide Vulnerabilities: Consider vulnerabilities across the entire AI-enabled system development and deployment pipeline, not just the AI model itself.
Platform-Specific Quirks: Account for operational factors like environmental conditions, multi-modal sensor ingest, and the specific purpose of the AI system.
Submission Deadline: 28 February
13) DARPA Proposers Day for Reclaiming Bus-based Systems During Compromise (Red-C)
Overview
Red-C will enable on-system recovery from active cyber-attacks on bus-based systems by turning bus components into forensic sensors with introspection and peer component monitoring.
Planning Details
Event Format: Hybrid Proposers Day
Event Date & Time: January 28, 2025, at 8:30 AM)
Physical Location:
4121 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22203
Eligible Attendees: Potential proposers only (not open to the public)
Registration Website: https://creative.spa.com/darpa/i2o/red-c/pd/
Registration Deadline: January 23, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET
Non-U.S. Registration Forms Deadline: January 23, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET
14) DEVCOM C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) Call for White Papers
Objectives:
Rapidly integrate new capabilities into existing C5ISR systems.
Reduce lifecycle costs.
Approach:
Consolidate diverse functions within a single chassis.
Enable multiple radio frequency systems to share resources using established standards.
Address potential conflicts arising from simultaneous transmissions at similar frequencies and power levels.
Potential Funding & Contract Information:
Anticipated Awards: 1-3 contracts.
Period of Performance (PoP): At least 24 months.
Award Range: $500K - $20M (totaling up to $40M).
Option Years: Dependent on funding availability.
Submission Requirements:
Follow BAA W56KGU-23-R-RTID guidelines.
Maximum of 10 pages (excluding ROM and Cover Page).
Submission Deadline: 15 February.
15) AFRL RFP for Space Systems and Hardware Integration for Novel Experiments (SSHINE)
Focus: Advance AFRL's space technology and experimentation objectives through three key task orders:
RVEP (Research, Validation, and Experimentation Platforms)
RVEN (Research, Validation, and Experimentation Networks)
RVEX (Research, Validation, and Experimentation eXperiments)
Submission Deadline: 3 March
Industry Activity
16) Army to award Vigor Works a 5-year IDIQ for Maneuver Support Vessel – Light (MSV-L) Support Services
The Army initially awarded Vigor the contract to build its new-generation landing craft in fall 2017. This initial contract encompassed one prototype vessel, four vessels under low-rate production, and an option for up to 32 additional vessels over ten years.
THR’s Take
The sugested 32-vessel fleet inadequately addresses both logistics demands and probable attrition in a China conflict scenario. MSV-Ls, inherently slow and vulnerable, would require protection from Navy surface combatants during critical resupply missions within the First Island Chain. However, the limited capacity of these surface combatants makes consistent protection unlikely. Recognizing this vulnerability, the Army could consider two potential solutions:
Enhanced Self-Defense Capabilities: Equipping MSV-Ls with robust self-defense systems could improve survivability but would incur substantial costs, both financially and in terms of size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints.
Escort Vessels: Alternatively, the Army could procure smaller, autonomous surface vessels to act as escorts for MSV-Ls. This approach, mirroring the Army's concept of human-integrated formations with robotic ground vehicles, would leverage autonomous escorts equipped with counter-UAS systems, air and missile defense systems, and multi-spectral obscurants to shield MSV-Ls during high-risk resupply operations.
However, none of these options are feasible without a significant funding increase or substantial cuts to other programs.
It is also important to consider the Navy's Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program. While larger and more resource-intensive than the MSV-L, both platforms are designed to support similar intra-theater missions of transporting forces and supplies. Recent cost overruns and schedule delays forced the Navy to cancel the LSM program and shift toward less expensive, commercially available designs.
This raises a critical question: Are both the MSV-L and LSM programs absolutely essential? In a resource-constrained environment, consolidating efforts around a single platform could enhance efficiency, streamline production, and free up resources for autonomous escort vessels—improving overall survivability.
As an outside observer, I believe the most advantageous approach is to prioritize a medium landing ship (LSM) program built on a cost-effective commercial design. However, this would impose a significant human capital burden on the Army, as it would need to recruit and train larger crews to operate the vessels. That said, it’s also possible that the smaller MSV-L would reduce an adversary’s detection/ hit probability.
17) USAF’s 48th Rescue Squadron Selects Skydio X10D
The complete package includes:
2 Skydio X10D All Environment drones
2 MOLLE pouches for the drones
2 Controller MOLLE pouches
1 Instructor package
1 In-person training session
These specific drones were selected because they're the only approved systems that offer:
Full autonomous flight in zero visibility conditions
Advanced thermal imaging
AI-powered capabilities
Minimal radio interference
Integration with existing military communication systems
The contract will be awarded as a firm-fixed-price agreement. The drones will be used for training and real-world personnel recovery missions.
18) ND Defense awarded Phase II Mod to its Medium Tactical Truck (MTT) OTA
ND Defense LLC, located in Madison Heights, Michigan, has been awarded a $17,218,309 modification (P00005) to the existing MTT OTA agreement. This modification funds Phase II (Build) of the program, which focuses on constructing an MTT prototype vehicle.
Phase I (Design): Completed in September 2024, cost the government $6,935,948.
Phase II (Build): Adds $17,218,309, bringing the total Phase I and II agreement value to $24,154,257.
Completion Timeline: Phase II is expected to end in May 2026, and prototype testing in Phase III will continue into early fiscal 2027.
Funding Details:
$7,070,600 obligated at the time of award using fiscal 2025 Marine Corps research and development funds.
An additional $10,147,709 will be obligated in fiscal 2026 to fully fund Phase II.
THR’s Take.
The Army's Common Tactical Truck (CTT) Program and the Marine Corps' MTT appear very similar. This raises the question of why two separate programs are necessary when they seem to serve the same mission.
19) Shield AI Starts Training with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, Establishes Local Presence in Ukraine
Shield AI has begun training Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) to use its V-BAT aircraft.
The company has opened an office in Kyiv with engineers and technical experts to support the program.
20) LeoLabs Leads the Future of Orbital Intelligence with more than $50M in 2024 Contracts and Expanding Space Security Capabilities
LeoLabs provides military, government, and commercial operators with tools to detect, track, and mitigate space threats.
Key Highlights of LeoLabs' 2024 Growth:
Record Revenue Growth: Achieved a 140% increase in year-over-year revenue and secured over $50M in contracts.
New Capabilities: Completed an advanced radar system in Arizona, tracking 10,000 space objects, with another cutting-edge radar debuting in 2025.
Space Traffic Management (STM): Collaborated with NOAA to validate that commercial solutions can fulfill 84% of U.S. STM needs.
21) Skyryse / Army CRADA to Make Helicopters Easier to Fly and Optionally Piloted
Skyryse's SkyOS is a universal operating system designed to dramatically simplify piloting.
Dr. Mark Groden, CEO of Skyryse, says this CRADA represents a “unique opportunity to make flying simple and safe enough that any serviceperson can fly any aircraft.”
Skyryse raised over $300 million from investors, including:
Fidelity Management & Research Company
Monashee Investment Management
Positive Sum
ArrowMark Partners
Venrock
Eclipse Ventures
Cantos
Stanford University
Bill Ford, Executive Chair of Ford Motor Company
22) HevenDrones Partners with SMARTSHOOTER for Drone Defense
HevenDrones makes hydrogen-powered drones, while SMARTSHOOTER creates targeting systems that improve shooting accuracy.
The companies are adding SMARTSHOOTER's targeting system (called SMASH Dragon) to HevenDrones' H100 and Urban drone platforms. SMASH Dragon is a robotic weapon system that can:
Lock onto moving or still targets
Work day or night
Automatically adjust for better accuracy
Remove human error from targeting
23) Nukkleus Aims to Capitalize on $8.7B Israel Defense Deal
Israel's MoD signs major contract with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems under new $8.7B U.S. defense package.
Key Points:
$5.2 billion will go toward improving air defense systems and developing new technology
Five weeks ago, Nukkleus announced its proposed acquisition of a 51% stake in Star 26 Capital Inc., which owns Rimon—an exclusive provider of certain components for Iron Dome systems sold globally.
The deal must still receive shareholder approval
Background Note: In February 2024, R2S (a Raytheon-Rafael joint venture) broke ground on a new manufacturing facility in East Camden, Arkansas. The facility will produce Tamir missiles for the Iron Dome Weapon System and its variant, the SkyHunter missile, for use by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. allies.
24) Czech Defense Giant CSG Expands U.S. Ammunition Business
Czechoslovak Group (CSG) is a conglomerate that includes MSM, its defense subsidiary
CSG recently established MSM USA, based out of St. Petersburg, Florida
MSM USA will focus on medium and large-caliber ammunition for the U.S. Armed Forces
Leadership:
Jason Gaines will lead MSM USA as CEO
Gaines brings 20+ years of experience from General Dynamics - Ordnance and Tactical Systems
Currently chairs NDIA Industrial Committee of Ammunition Producers (ICAP)
Background Note: CSG recently acquired The Kinetic Group, which includes major U.S. ammunition brands: Federal, Remington, Speer, CCI, and Fiocchi of America
25) U.S. Space Force Awards Govini's Ark IL 5 Authority to Operate
DoD's Impact Levels categorize and define the sensitivity of data and associated security requirements, with an IL5 being the highest level for CUI.
Ark, Govini's flagship product, is a suite of AI-powered applications designed to streamline and enhance Defense Acquisition. By integrating government and commercial data, Ark addresses challenges in Supply Chains, Science and Technology, Production, Sustainability, and Modernization.
26) Raft Launches Latest Version of Raft Data Platform to Solve the Department of Defense's Critical Data Challenges
The Raft Data Platform ([R]DP) is a robust, edge-ready, scalable platform purpose-built for DoD to solve challenges in handling disparate, large-scale data from the edge to the enterprise. Key features include:
COP & UI Agnostic: You can use any COP or UI or leverage [R]DP's user-friendly interface.
AI-Ready: Native ML Ops layer to seamlessly integrate and deploy machine learning models to drive faster decision-making.
Native Cross-Domain Solution: This solution integrates with object—and messaging-based diodes, transferring data in real-time across and between enclaves.
Security & Compliance: Access to fine-grained security controls at all levels for data protection and compliance across DoD environments.
Real-time Data Processing: Process and analyze data under 200ms, enabling immediate situational awareness and F2T2EA.
Modular Design: With 45 microservices, purchase only the features needed for flexibility and cost-efficiency.
Data Integration and Transformation: Handle structured and unstructured data from diverse sources with seamless integration and rapid data transformation with over several billion transformations per day.
27) Voyager Technologies Ushers in a New Era of Innovation and Leadership in Defense and Space
Voyager has restructured its operations into three focused business segments:
Defense & National Security: Specializing in defense systems, spectrum dominance, communication systems, guidance and navigation systems, and national security space.
Space Solutions: Delivering innovative space and science systems, including the Bishop Airlock, advanced exploration systems, space science, and mission management.
Starlab Space Stations: Developing next-generation commercial space infrastructure to ensure the continued human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
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