The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
August 21, 2024
Fall Meeting 2024 – Keynote #3 Dr. Radha Plumb
Mark your calendars and register now! The 12th annual NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting is taking place at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel in St. Louis, MO, from October 7-10, 2024. We’re diving into this year’s theme,“Accelerating Decision Advantage Across Defense Transportation & Logistics,” focusing on outpacing adversaries in a competitive transportation and logistics landscape. […READ MORE…]
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Pentagon Submits New Proposed Rule to Implement CMMC 2.0
The Pentagon submitted a new proposed rule detailing how it plans to enforce its cybersecurity standards related to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) under the long-awaited Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 (CMMC 2.0).
The proposed rule published to the Federal Register specifically amends the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement — requirements and regulations that are meant to guarantee the safekeeping of CUI — so that the CMMC 2.0 requirements are implemented in all vendor contracts with the DoD that handle CUI. […READ MORE…]
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is announcing $291 million from the Inflation Reduction Act for projects that will help achieve the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from aviation by 2050 as part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to enhancing the safety, sustainability and efficiency of our national air transportation system—and reaching our mid-century target of net-zero emissions,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. […READ MORE…]
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the Saving Lives with Connectivity: A Plan to Accelerate V2X Deployment. This plan will guide the implementation of vehicle-to-everything technologies across the nation and support USDOT’s commitment to pursue a comprehensive approach to reduce the number of roadway fatalities to zero. […READ MORE…]
Defense Firms Lining Up for US Army’s ‘IVAS Next’ Competition
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Several defense and technology firms are lining up for a new US Army program to develop an improved version of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS).After multiple failed attempts to build efficient mixed-reality goggles, the service will launch a new initiative called “IVAS Next” with focus on improving the issues with previous IVAS iterations. The army is considering opening a recompete contract that would replace Microsoft as the prime contractor on the program. […READ MORE…]
Please join NDTA in welcoming our newest upgraded member. US Marine Management is now a member of the Chairman’s Circle.
Editor’s Picks
After China, US Unveils Rifle-Toting Robot Dogs
The US Army showcased its ground-breaking quadruped unmanned ground vehicle (Q-UGV) armed with an assault rifle during Operation Hard Kill at Fort Drum, New York. The demonstration was held nearly three months after China showed off its own version of a weapon-carrying robot dog at the onset of its joint military exercise with Cambodia.
The Army Is Set to Expand Basic Training, Fueled by New Recruiting Momentum
The Army is set to expand the number of new recruits it can send to basic training starting in October. Fort Sill in Oklahoma and Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri will get two additional basic training units each that can train an additional 4,000 new recruits each year combined. Army officials are confident they will hit their goal of 55,000 new recruits this year.
Better Mobility ‘Key’ to Army Operations in the Extremes of the High North: Official
The looming challenges posed by China and Russia in the Arctic have been raising questions about whether the US Army’s ground fleet can operate in an extreme environment with difficult terrain, rapidly changing weather patterns and temperatures reaching minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit. To operate up there, Army officials said the service needs to up its mobility game.
General Dynamics Electric Boat Launches Attack Boat Idaho
General Dynamics Electric Boat launched the latest attack submarine last week, Naval Sea Systems Command announced. The future USS Idaho (SSN-799) was launched from the Connecticut shipyard into the Thames River on Aug. 6. The attack boat will now be pier side for final outfitting ahead of delivery to the Navy. The submarine will be the 26th Virginia-class fast attack submarine to deliver to the fleet.
Massive New Navy Ship Leaves San Diego Bay for its First Sea Trials
The USNS Robert E. Simanek, a 784-ft. expeditionary sea base, left the General Dynamics-NASSCO shipyard in San Diego Bay on Aug. 14 for its first sea trial. The Simanek is the fifth ESB that NASSCO has built for the Navy, which intends to use the vessels to help deploy troops and equipment in areas of the world where the U.S. doesn’t have easy access to land bases and seaports.
Pentagon Awards $32.9 Million Contract for More Upgrades at Philippine Fighter Base
The Defense Department has announced additional improvements at a Philippine fighter base as part of an effort to deter China by rebuilding airfields across the Pacific. The $32.9 million contract was awarded to Acciona CMS Philippines LLC calls for a new parking apron, shoulder and taxiway at the Cesar Basa Air Base in mid-2026, the Pentagon announced.
Exercise Agile Flag Creates Mission Ready Airmen
The 9th Reconnaissance Wing participated in exercise Agile Flag 24-3 throughout Southern California from July 31 to Aug. 11. This year’s iteration included the Command and Control force elements from the 23rd wing, and the 9th RW. Exercise Agile Flag plays a critical role in Air Combat Command’s transformation as the command evolves to provide relevant, combat credible forces through the Air Force Generation cycle.
Soldiers Work with Marines as the Corps Ramps Up its Air Defenses
For the first time, Marines with Marine Air Support Squadron 3, Marine Air Control Group 38, out of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Camp Pendleton, CA, hosted the Army’s air defense artillery fire control officer course. The three-week course, which ran in July, focused on those fire control officers’ role within the Army’s MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system.
Port of Virginia Completes Rail Yard Expansion
Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation on-dock double-stack service to the Midwest will benefit from the newly expanded central rail yard at the Port of Virginia. The expanded yard is fully operational, lifting annual rail capacity to 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs.
“Modernizing and expanding the capability at NIT’s (Norfolk International Terminals) central rail yard gives us additional rail capacity ahead of the completion of the first phase of expansion at NIT’s North Berth (in 2025),” said Stephen A. Edwards, chief executive and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.
Air Force, Boeing Ink $2.5 Billion Deal for First E-7s
The Air Force has ordered its first E-7A Wedgetail battle management and command and control aircraft, announcing a deal with Boeing worth $2.56 billion for two platforms. The service says the deal is for “operationally representative prototype E-7A weapons systems” which Boeing plans to deliver in fiscal 2028.
Enterprise Fleet Management Provides Support for First U.S. All-Electric Police Fleet
The South Pasadena (CA) Police Department recently became the nation’s first law enforcement agency to completely replace its gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles, with the help of Enterprise Fleet Management (EFM). The police department rolled out a fleet of 20 Tesla electric vehicles, reflecting the city’s dedication to sustainability and innovation. The cars were upfitted for patrol and administrative police use through Unplugged Performance’s UP.FIT division.
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