The Hatch Report (Issue #8)
Top Stories
1) AUSA 2024 Panel Recordings Posted to the U.S. Army Professional Forum YouTube channel
The Warrior’s Corner on Human-Machine Integrated Formations provided helpful updates on the RCV program. Initially, RCVs will support Overwatch—where robots are strategically positioned to cover infantry movements. The next role for RCVs is Suppression, which includes direct fire capabilities and multi-domain suppression activities, such as electronic attacks and deploying loitering munitions to neutralize enemy actions.
A primary challenge is ensuring these systems are reliable and sustainable in highly degraded combat environments. This will require extensive soldier feedback during operational testing, thorough tech de-risking, and the development of TTPs. The full capability isn’t expected until 2028.
A critical aspect of this program is the bifurcation of software/subsystem development and actual platform development. The Army aims to create a base platform—a “universal skateboard”—that can be easily upgraded and integrated with new subsystems and software updates.
One of the key challenges is increasing the resilience of these platforms against small-arms fire.
2) Army ISR Task Force to get a more permanent home under Army G-2 and a new name
The tentative plan aims to keep focus on Army intelligence as a core warfighting function but “institutionalize” the task force’s lessons learned. This transition will see a greater emphasis on programming, resourcing, policy, governance, guidance, and congressional engagements. ISR-TF will continue to partner with AFC’s new all-domain sensing CFT to shape intel-specific requirements.
3) Army to pilot secure, cloud environment for small businesses in the defense industrial base
N-CODE will combine commercial cloud technology with enhanced security features to provide a secure environment for small businesses to process, store, and communicate sensitive data. In the coming months, N-CODE will be available for small businesses that have or are part of DoD contracts. During this initial phase, the Army intends to provide low—to no-cost participation options. More info can be found - HERE.
4) Fearing China's hypersonic weapons, US Navy seeks to arm ships with Patriot missiles
Further testing in the development roadmap will include launching the PAC-3 MSE from a ship and validating its communication with the Aegis system’s SPY-1 radar. In May, a PAC-3 interceptor was tested virtually on an Aegis ship using a Mk. 70 vertical launcher, though it has yet to be deployed on naval vessels. The PAC-3, weighing 300 kg and 9 cm smaller in diameter than the 1,500 kg SM-6, is similarly priced at around $4 million per missile.
5) Biden-Harris Administration Announces $900 Million to Build and Deploy Next-generation Nuclear Technologies
DOE anticipates offering funding in two tiers:
Tier 1: First Mover Team Support, managed by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), will provide up to $800M for milestone-based awards to support up to two first mover teams of utility, reactor vendor, constructor, and end-users/off-takers committed to deploying a first plant while facilitating a multi-reactor, Gen III+ SMR orderbook and the opportunity to work with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to incorporate safeguards and security by design into the projects.
Tier 2: Fast Follower Deployment Support, managed by the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), will provide up to $100M to spur additional Gen III+ SMR deployments by addressing key gaps that have hindered the domestic nuclear industry in areas such as design, licensing, supplier development, and site preparation.
Applications are due on January 17, 2025, at 5 pm ET.
Industry Activity
6) Nammo
Their newly opened production facility in Perry, Florida, is set to produce over 33,000 M119A2 red bag propelling charges monthly, supporting the Army’s goal of reaching 100,000 complete 155mm artillery rounds—or "shots"—per month by FY 2026. Each shot includes a fuze, primer, projectile, and propelling charge.
This facility is part of a broader $4.8 billion Army investment to modernize munitions production and secure the defense supply chain, which has already boosted monthly production capacity from 14,000 to 40,000 rounds. The Perry plant features advanced semi-automated technology and leverages expertise from Nammo’s Norwegian operations.
7) Teledyne FLIR
Won a $25M 5-year contract (worth up to $91M) to provide its Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance Systems under the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program, Phase II. In 2018, the U.S. Army began acquiring Black Hornet 3 systems for the original SBS program. Since then, they have placed orders totaling more than $215M.
8) L3Harris and Palantir
Announce strategic partnership. Currently encompasses multiple initiatives, including Army programs like TITAN and Unified Network, leveraging Palantir’s AI platform internally at L3Harris for enterprise-wide digital transformation, and advancements in sensor/radio technology. Recently integrated L3Harris’ WESCAM MX-20 EO/IR system with Palantir’s Sensor Inference Platform (SIP), which provided edge-AI for improved automatic target identification during a live fly test.
9) CACI
Has been awarded a five-year task order valued at up to $805M to provide engineering support and technology to the U.S. Navy’s NavalX Office under the DoD IAC MAC vehicle. Under this task order, CACI will identify, develop, test, and transition modern digital tools for the Navy. *Potential subcontracting opportunity*
10) Northrop Grumman
The Army’s Integrated Fires Mission Command (IFMC) Project Office, under PEO Missiles and Space, has issued a $4.6M J&A to integrate Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into NATO's Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) architecture for homeland defense. This acquisition supports DoD efforts to strengthen national military forces, specifically the Air Force Control and Reporting Centers (CRC), in conducting maritime and border security operations. The J&A cites the high cost of acquiring the technical data packages for the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) system and the Air and Missile Defense Workstation (AMDWS) as part of the rationale for this approach.
11) Salesforce
Launched Government Cloud Premium, a new SaaS/PaaS offering certified for Top-Secret use cases. Built on a Zero-Trust Architecture, the platform offers a dedicated environment for no-code, low-code, and pro-code application development, workflow automation, and an extensible API-first architecture for easily integrating government systems and tools. This allows agencies to incorporate other data and systems – including proprietary AI applications. Importantly, users can more easily port data from an unclassified network to a classified network when authorized.
Thoughts
It would be valuable to understand how many Salesforce instances currently exist across DoD and to categorize these users by primary use cases, such as industry engagement tracking. My assumption is that most Salesforce instances are siloed, with limited data sharing between them. I wonder if there might be opportunities to identify and aggregate mutually beneficial data across these instances to generate more actionable insights for the broader DoD enterprise. A pilot focused on industry engagement tracking could be especially impactful.
A nascent user story could be…. “As a PM, I want to quickly query a company and view its recent DoD engagements—including those outside my organization/Service, along with any key insights from those interactions, to support my due diligence efforts.”
12) Oracle and Yurts
Yurts embeds GenAI Chat and Search Assistants into mission-critical systems, modernizing legacy applications across IL-2 to IL-6 environments. Together, Oracle and Yurts will provide support and deployment services, allowing defense and intelligence agencies to integrate Yurts' advanced AI capabilities into their existing operations.
13) Beacon AI
A Silicon Valley-based aviation intelligence startup has raised $15M in Series A funding led by Costanoa Ventures, with additional support from Scout Ventures, Sam Altman, and JetBlue Ventures. This brings its total funding to $20M. Beacon is focused primarily on aircraft represented in the commercial market and their defense twins. The adaptable platform presents a 'dual-use' opportunity by being able to serve both markets on similar aircraft. The new funding will help Beacon grow its team, fulfill current DoD and commercial commitments, and accelerate the rollout of its flagship products: Murdock, an AI-powered pilot assistant, and Lighthouse, a data platform and flight management system.
14) Raytheon
The Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) is a Middle-Tier Acquisition (MTA) rapid prototyping effort aimed at addressing a critical capability gap in short-to-medium range air defense within the Indo-Pacific theater. Designed to counter enemy cruise missiles and other manned and unmanned aerial threats, MRIC combines the (redacted) missile, launcher, and mini-battle Management and Control (mBMC) systems with the USMC Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) and Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S) for seamless detection, tracking, identification, and engagement of threats.
Rafael manufactures MRIC’s core components, including the missile, launcher, and mBMC, and has developed the software baseline for the mBMC. Under an agreement, Rafael has exclusively licensed Raytheon Missiles & Defense (RMD) to supply these components and has granted RMD access to the technical data necessary to integrate these elements with the MRIC system. The government, however, lacks access or rights to this technical data, precluding competitive acquisition options. Developing an alternative system with different intercept missiles, launchers, and mBMC would incur prohibitive costs due to duplicated work and resources.
Shifting MRIC’s design to integrate with other existing systems, such as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) or Enduring Shield (i.e., Army’s IFPC), would demand extensive RDT&E. For instance, NASAMS carries (redacted) missiles, necessitating additional launchers to support MRIC’s CONOPS. Similarly, the Enduring Shield launcher carries only (redacted) missiles, also requiring more launchers. Increased launcher and missile requirements would drive the need for additional mBMC units and possibly more fire control systems. Current estimates for missile procurement alone are approximately (redacted) for NASAMS AIM-120 and (redacted) for Enduring Shield AIM-9X, excluding further equipment and integration costs.
Thoughts
It may be insightful to compare the requirements for the USMC’s MRIC and the US Army's IFPC to better understand how each program reached its respective conclusions. From the perspective of an outside observer, both programs appear very similar. I'd be particularly interested in the specific threats and CONOPs that necessitated two separate programs rather than a joint (potentially less expensive) solution. Did the JROC have anything to say about this? Given our current resource-constrained environment, increasing compatibility between US Army and Marine Corps missile defense systems to the greatest extent possible would be advantageous.
15) Phase Four
A leading provider of next-generation electric propulsion (EP) solutions for satellites announced the planned commercialization of its monopropellant multimode capability. Using its Maxwell Block III, Phase Four meets electric propulsion performance for a variety of mission profiles, using either ASCENT or hydrazine chemical propellants. Phase Four anticipates taking orders for these systems in the first half of next year.
16) Anthro Energy
Received a $24.9 million grant from DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) to establish the first large-scale, U.S.-owned and operated advanced electrolyte production facility. Will use this grant to transform an existing manufacturing site into a state-of-the-art 25 GWh production facility in Louisville, Kentucky, dedicated to producing 12,000 metric tons of advanced electrolyte each year. This high-performance electrolyte will significantly enhance the safety, lifespan, and performance of modern lithium-ion battery (LIB) cells.
17) Dun & Bradstreet
Announced the availability of ChatD&B, the company’s Gen AI assistant that produces instantaneous business insights on companies and professional contacts. ChatD&B surfaces knowledge across the company’s data blocks, delivering actionable insights to its users ranging from prospecting to company due diligence.
18) Lux Labs
Lux Capital has launched Lux Labs, an initiative dedicated to transforming visionary concepts into groundbreaking ventures. By harnessing its team's collective experience, Lux Labs aims to advance human wellness, enhance capabilities across various domains—land, sea, space, and cyberspace—and pioneer new frontiers in techbio and AI. This formalized approach, based on Lux’s successful model, supports innovators by securing intellectual property rights, establishing/incorporating startups, providing capital, building valuable networks, recruiting, and more.
19) HawkEye 360
HawkEye 360 announced that its Cluster 9 satellites have reached Full Operational Capability (FOC), significantly enhancing the company’s data collection and global monitoring. Positioned in a mid-inclination orbit, Cluster 9 provides expanded coverage over high-demand regions with upgraded payloads that will activate incrementally throughout 2025, increasing data capacity, bandwidth, and multi-band signal capture. These advancements boost HawkEye 360's ability to detect, characterize, and geolocate RF signals. Cluster 10, expected to be fully operational by early November, will further increase revisit frequency to key regions and follow a similar development path, gradually enhancing data collection volume and depth.
20) Renk
The German propulsion firm announced plans to establish a subsidiary in La Spezia, Italy, shortly after defense giants Rheinmetall and Leonardo revealed they would produce tanks (MBTs) and infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the Italian Army in the city. Italy’s ground combat vehicle modernization program is projected to cost around $25 billion, encompassing over 1,000 new IFVs and 132 MBTs. By comparison, the U.S. Army’s XM30 program alone is estimated at $45B.
21) Hydronalix Inc
Awarded a $42M IDIQ contract for assets and technical support services of specialized technology supporting the Littoral Explosive Ordnance Neutralization program of record, a component of Force Design 2030, which aims to improve integrated warfighting capabilities using unmanned vehicles. No funds will be obligated at the time of award /this contract was awarded as a sole-source acquisition.
22) Boeing
Sold its subsidiary, Digital Receiver Technology (DRT), to France’s Thales. Boeing acquired Germantown, Md.-based DRT in 2008, when the aerospace giant sought to expand its presence in the intelligence sector. DRT makes wireless equipment used by intelligence services.
23) MAVRIK
Recently announced as a portfolio company off Outlander VC / $1.4M in pre-seed funding. Focused on the manned eVTOL industry.
Government Opportunities
24) C-sUAS Low Collateral Effects Interceptor (LCEI)
USAF C-sUAS Branch RFI // Responses due by 25 NOV
An LCEI should be an autonomous aircraft with hard kill systems effective against Groups 1 and 2 sUAS aircraft. All interceptor systems must be integrated into air vehicles that meet government airworthiness standards. The air vehicle should be based on or derived from U.S.-made components and electronics, with sufficient flight hours and reliability data to demonstrate proven performance. Some interesting questions from the RFI include:
Yes or no, does the LCEI have interchangeable effectors (please explain)
Yes or no, can the LCEI be equipped with multiple effectors simultaneously? (please explain)
Yes or no, does the LCEI’s effector/s have a range of 9.3 km (5 NM) from launch-point? (please explain)
Yes or no, can the LCEI engage multiple separated targets in one launch? (please explain)
Yes or no, has the LCEI proven it has the capability to defeat at least 10 single sUAS in a 5 minute engagement? (please explain)
Yes or no, can the LCEI de-flight all consumer grade, consumer hobbyist grade, commercial grade, and military grade sUAS with a probability of defeat rate of 90%? (please explain)
25) Vehicle Management Data Analysis and Tools
USAF Solicitation // Responses due by 25 NOV
The USAF centrally manages its vehicle fleet enterprise through the 441st Vehicle Support Chain Operations Squadron (VSCOS), which supports 387 units across 257 locations. The 441 VSCOS relies on various systems for fleet management and requires data analysis tools to enhance this process. A key objective is to provide enterprise-level support for analyzing, cleansing, and maintaining Air Force vehicle management data and updating stand-alone database tools
26) AI-Driven Solutions for Combat Feeding Division
DEVCOM-SC RFI // Responses due by 22 Nov
Seeking AI and ML tools to revolutionize combat ration development. These tools should analyze data on taste, shelf life, nutrient content, processing methods, packaging, ingredients, and consumer preferences to create better-tasting, longer-lasting, and more nutritious rations. AI-powered systems will predict which parts of rations soldiers will likely discard, leading to less waste and improved performance. Additionally, these tools will streamline the development process by analyzing historical data and providing insights to optimize future ration designs.
27) Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM)
Naval Air Systems Command Sources Sought // Responses due 5 NOV
Conducting market research to identify responsible sources with the capability, experience, and facilities to rapidly develop, mature, integrate, prototype, test, qualify, and initially field Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM) units—formerly the Long Range Attack Missile (LRAM) system—for the USMC. This research aims to update the list of qualified sources based on the latest USMC requirements.
The USMC’s PASM effort is purportedly transforming an unspecified USAF missile into a weapon that will allow its AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to strike moving targets on land and at sea 150 nautical miles away.
28) SOCOM SOF Readiness Support
Sources Sought // Responses due by 23 NOV
This RFI seeks commercial secure messaging solutions capable of supporting USSOCOM’s 85,000+ user Enterprise worldwide. USSOCOM is researching secure messaging solutions that support unclassified peer-to-peer and group communications. Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper. Submissions cannot exceed ten pages.
29) University Partnership Models
ARL RFI // Responses due by 24 OCT
ARL seeks innovative ideas to strengthen partnerships with universities by collaboratively developing strategies that leverage university resources—such as personnel, facilities, and infrastructure—to address critical Army science and technology gaps. Specific areas of interest include: enabling collaboration across a broad spectrum of sensitivity levels, from public release to classified; and establishing a panel of cleared academic experts from diverse fields to advise on emerging technologies that support future Army capabilities.
30) JCO Demo 6 Red Team and Targets
JCO RFQ // Responses due by1 NOV
This is a RFQ for support target procurement, preparation, storage, piloting, and management for ongoing and future JCO/RCCTO events. PoP 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. Location: Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) or other CONUS-based test range (TBD) to conduct RCMA operations. The contract type will be Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and award will be based on the lowest price technically acceptable quote. I
31) 2024 Joint Capability and Technology Engagement (JCTE)
OSD R&E RFI // Responses due by 14 NOV
The goal of the JCTE is to create partnerships between Special Operations Forces (SOF) and industry under the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) construct to both inform industry internal investments and accelerate SOF’s technical advantage. The hyperlink lays out step-by-step instructions for how to participate.
32) Collective Judgment Formation-Collaborative Research Alliance
DEVCOM ARL RFI // Responses due by 6 DEC
The Collective Judgment Formation (CJF) Collaborative Research Alliance (CRA) program is focused on basic research to create and expand theoretical and scientific understanding of human-agent interactions in AI-supported team decision-making. The representative domain for the program is intelligence activities. Work within this program will require the problem space to be addressed from multiple disciplinary perspectives, working in concert to discover novel knowledge and to advance our scientific foundations of (a) humans working with each other and with novel forms of software agents and (b) teams of intelligence analysts responding to novel methods that create verbose structured and unstructured content. Through this CRA, ARL seeks to partner with performers to advance the scientific state-of-the-art in human-agent systems for intelligence activities.
33) 2024 Finance Modernization RFI
INSCOM RFWP // Responses due by 18 NOV
Seeking a web-based or cloud-enabled budgeting, planning, and vouchering system that can operate on classified networks and complies with Army auditability standards. This solution must manage financial ledgers, create and realign budget plans, track real-time financial data, and include functionalities to create, approve, reject, and print vouchers as PDFs. It should monitor training requirements per Army regulations to ensure users have the necessary authorizations and training for specific actions. Additionally, the system must offer transaction tracking for users' accounts, including accountability for cash, debit cards, vouchers, and cash collections, with timely reporting capabilities. Role-based and organizational authorization controls are also required. The application should feature an automated workflow that generates accountability forms (DD1081, DD281), stores documents, supports dynamic form filling, and produces an audit trail, with all capabilities accessible on SIPR networks.
34) Switchable Reactives and Energetics (SeREne)
DARPA RFI // Responses due by 2 DEC
SeREne seeks to develop energetic materials that can be switched (Phase 1), and tuned continuously (Phase 2), between a safe state with high insensitivity and a detonable state with high performance. Classes of energetics of interest to the SeREne program include solid explosives and propellants as well as hypergolic liquid mixtures. Methods of interest include, but are not limited to, spin crossover, geometric control, phase change in energetic materials (e.g., crystal polymorphism, glass transition), and isomerization, among others. In addition, SeREne seeks technologies and ideas that can introduce reversible switchability or tunability at the materials level with a very small energy input. These ideas can include nonchemical approaches as well as non-adiabatic chemical reactivity.
Events
35) Advancing Joint Experimentation to Solve Operational Problems
Taking place today between 1pm and 3pm EST. The United States military is navigating an increasingly complex battlespace, requiring rapid integration of joint forces and innovative cross-domain operational concepts. To meet this need, the Department of Defense has initiated the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) to enhance joint experimentation and capability development across traditional service boundaries. This initiative aims to bridge service-specific priorities with integrated joint solutions, including technology-driven operational concepts and systems-of-systems to address critical operational challenges. Co-hosted by the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technology Institute and Hudson’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, this symposium will explore the future of joint experimentation for advancing new technology-enabled operational capabilities.
36) DARPA Quantum Sensing of Neutrinos (QuSeN) Proposers Day
Virtual on 12 NOV from 11 am to 5 pm. The QuSeN program aims to develop neutrino detectors with greatly increased performance for detecting neutrinos from sources such as nuclear reactors and nuclear materials.
37) ACC-APG CONOPS Pricing Cost Accounting System Workshop
Will be hosted on MS Teams on November 14, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM EST. Registration will not be accepted after Thursday, October 31st. Whether you are a current Department of Defense (DoD) contractor or a business seeking new opportunities with the government, we welcome you to discover the simple and straightforward path to getting an approved cost accounting system. Our team, including representatives from the Defense Contracting Audit Agency (DCAA) and the Defense Contracting Management Agency (DCMA), will be on hand to walk you through the “myths” surrounding cost accounting systems and the actual process you will follow, with the Points of Contact (POCs) you should know. Our goal is to make sure you are fully prepared to compete, win and perform on efforts in our critical mission portfolio here at ACC-APG, and elsewhere within DoD.
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