Kevin Mickey

ICYMI: Earlier this month, CSPS published its annual FY 2025 Defense Space Budget Brief. Robert (Sam) Wilson breaks down the FY 2025 budget submission, which reflects the United States Department of Defense's continued emphasis on the transition to a new model for defense space operations. In coming years, the Space Force will likely take additional steps toward a more distributed and proliferated approach for defense space capabilities. 🔗 Read the full brief here: https://lnkd.in/eQRkCBgK #SpacePolicy #NatSecSpace #SpaceForce

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The Air Force may restructure the Sentinel ICBM program's procurement strategy, potentially opening ground infrastructure elements to wider competition to address cost overruns and enhance efficiency. Opportunities for CRG Clients: 1. Competitive Bidding Strategies -       Advice: Develop proposals highlighting specialized capabilities in ground infrastructure projects, focusing on cost reduction and innovative solutions. -       CRG’s Expertise: CRG's experienced proposal management team can assist in crafting compelling bids that showcase your company's unique strengths and cost-saving measures, ensuring your proposals stand out in the competitive landscape.   2. Scalable Infrastructure Solutions -       Advice: Propose modular and scalable infrastructure solutions that can be implemented in phases, allowing for flexibility and adaptation to changing requirements. -       CRG’s Expertise: CRG can guide your team in designing modular solutions and developing detailed implementation plans, leveraging our technical expertise to ensure your approach meets the Air Force's needs for adaptability and efficiency.   3. Advanced Project Management Techniques -       Advice: Emphasize the use of advanced project management and agile methodologies to ensure timely and on-budget delivery of infrastructure components. -       CRG’s Expertise: CRG offers comprehensive project management services, including the integration of agile methodologies. Our experts can help streamline your project execution processes, ensuring milestones are met and budgets are adhered to, thus enhancing your project's credibility and reliability.   4. Innovative Technology Integration -       Advice: Integrate cutting-edge technologies such as AI-driven predictive maintenance and smart construction techniques to enhance the infrastructure's reliability and performance. -       CRG’s Expertise: With our deep knowledge of advanced technologies, CRG can assist in identifying and implementing the latest AI and smart construction tools. We provide ongoing support to optimize your infrastructure's performance and ensure its sustainability, aligning with the Air Force’s future-focused requirements.   CRG has a proven track record of facilitating client wins and helping manage billions in TCV on defense and government contracts worldwide. Leveraging our expertise can help you navigate the complexities of defense procurement, ensuring your innovative solutions meet stringent military requirements and maximize market opportunities. Visit http://crgroupinc.com or reach out at [email protected].   #CRG #ICBM #ICBMInfrastructure #USAF #AIIntegration #USAirForce #AgileMethodologies #NorthropGrumman #LockheedMartin #GovCon #DefenseAcquisition #StrategicDeterrence #DoD #NationalSecurity #Boeing #Raytheon #GeneralDynamics #L3Harris #Honeywell #BAE #Leidos #SAIC #BoozAllenHamilton #GeneralElectric #Textron #ElbitSystems #BallAerospace #UnitedLaunchAlliance #EDGE

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Fully agree with Pete Modigliani and Matt MacGregor in their analysis of winners and losers in the House Appropriations Committee's FY25 Defense Appropriations Bill. Pay raises for service members are great, but prioritizing aircraft (many which are already delayed) over missiles is a poor signal to industry. "Yet at a time when our aircraft, ships, and munitions inventories are at historic lows, while the CCP churn out massive quantities of new systems, this is the worst time to cut procurement budgets. This does not enable production at scale. This does not incentivize new entrants into the industrial base to compete for production contracts." "Aircraft are undoubtedly important assets but at a time when munitions are acknowledged as being in critically short supply, the cuts to those accounts are not encouraging." https://lnkd.in/exu7Y337 #defenseindustry #defensebudget

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#yorkshire and the #humber innovators with interests in Open Systems Architectures might find this newly-launched Defence and Security Accelerator competition to be relevant. Find out more by registering for the launch webinar on Thurs 14th November. #funding #fundingopportunity

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During a three-week effort, Future Vertical Cross Functional Team (FVLCFT) partnered with U.S. Army DEVCOM C5ISR Center, U.S. Army DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center and the U.S. Army Redstone Test Center (RTC) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida to advance Launched Effects (LE) behaviors and characteristics for the #warfighter. FVL completed Phase 3 of the advanced networking waveform characterization during the experimentation. The team collected data on multiple radios and waveforms during multi-ship flights at extended operational ranges against both contested and uncontested environments. Data gathered will be used to inform future aviation modernization; and to validate, modeling and simulation efforts. The intent was to learn about the trade space of long-range air to air; and air to ground communications. The emphasis is increased range and endurance for future LEs combined with a low probability of detection, and a low probability of jamming from perceived threats. LE surrogates successfully demonstrated teaming behaviors, characteristics, and attributes against both contested and uncontested conditions as they negotiated the test area. The Eglin experimentation is a key component of the #FVLCFT efforts to help the US Army “transform in contact,” accelerating the delivery of technology, and capabilities into the hands of our warfighters. #DeliverArmy2030 #TransformInContact Army Futures Command I PEO Aviation I U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence I U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command

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🚀 Exciting Concept Alert! Gibbs & Cox, a Leidos company, is revolutionizing naval defense with its Mobile Defense/Depot Platform (MODEP) Concept, unveiled at Sea Air Space 2024. Addressing the U.S. Navy’s capacity challenges in the Western Pacific, MODEP transforms surplus oil rigs into heavily armed mobile missile defense and resupply bases. Dave Zook, Solutions Architect & Combat Systems Department Manager at Gibbs & Cox, emphasized the urgency of solving capacity issues and keeping ships in forward stations. MODEP, a large floating island base, boasts a 12-month independent operation capability and offers stability even in waves up to 60 feet tall. It features 6-20 MW of extra mission power, a maintenance and repair shop, a 2.3 million gallon fuel capacity, and an initial payload capacity of 8000 metric tons. The concept supports air defense or strike missions at a capacity five times that of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, with up to 512 vertical launch system cells or 100 large missile launchers. This includes support for larger missiles like hypersonics, meeting the Navy’s DDG(X) program requirements. Moreover, MODEP facilitates the sustainment of surface combatants and nuclear submarines through Afloat Forward Staging Base configuration, offering stable options for VLS reloading at sea, depot repair capability, and expanded mission potential. What's more, Gibbs & Cox estimates that conversion from civilian to military use could be achieved within approximately 24 months, utilizing existing offshore oil and gas technology. With 4-6 commercial platforms in the United States ripe for conversion, this concept promises a cost-effective and timely solution to critical naval defense challenges. Are you intrigued by this innovative approach to naval defense? Let's discuss how MODEP could shape the future of maritime security! #NavalDefense #Innovation #MODEP #SeaAirSpace2024

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Performance Defense CEO, Tim Bigelow, and President, Darren C., had some great engagements at #AFA's Air, Space, and Cyber Conference last week and look forward to seeing everyone again next year! While there were several talking points throughout the week surrounding the current state of aviation and space technologies, this panel discussion was a highlight. Read more on how the Air Force plans to embrace cyber as a weapon of war in this recap article: https://hubs.ly/Q02QDy4W0

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Air Traffic Management Magazine recently covered our update on the Air Force Research Laboratory detect-and-avoid (DAA) project. The article highlights our progress in integrating advanced radar systems to enhance the safety and operational capabilities of long-endurance autonomous drones. It is crucial for the safe integration of UAS into both military and commercial airspace. Kraettli Lawrence Epperson, Vigilant Aerospace CEO, said, "This project gives Vigilant the insight and expertise necessary to integrate our dual-use product into multiple aircraft systems and ground control stations, improving the availability of this critical safety system not only to multiple users across the military, but also helps to prepare us to meet the anticipated demand from the civilian Advanced Air Mobility industry for this technology,” Read their full article to learn more about these advancements. https://lnkd.in/gf7unYim #UnmannedVehicles #Autonomy #UAS #drones ##AAM

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Enhanced air base defense requires long-endurance aircraft that can detect incoming threats. #MQ9 can fly more than 24hrs and has proven itself effective in detecting air-to-air threats. Read The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies’ recent report: https://ow.ly/ebbX50SBnqs

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Enhanced air base defense requires long-endurance aircraft that can detect incoming threats. #MQ9 can fly more than 24hrs and has proven itself effective in detecting air-to-air threats. Read The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies’ recent report: https://ow.ly/ebbX50SBnqs

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SME Response: Transformative Opportunities from NOAA's TraCSS Initiative - NOAA’s TraCSS contract with Slingshot Aerospace marks a pivotal step in space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic management (STM). This milestone paves the way for advanced data services, innovative solutions, and next-gen SSA capabilities. CRG identifies key opportunities for clients to engage in indirect, complementary, and future-facing initiatives aligned with federal space priorities. CRG’s SME-Driven Opportunities, Strategic Advice & Differentiators -- Opp – SSA Data Analytics & Fusion Services: With TraCSS advancing global space traffic coordination, demand for enhanced data analytics and fusion services will surge. · Advice: Develop AI-driven analytics tools for precise collision prediction, orbital maneuvers, and conjunction assessments. Integrate multi-source data for superior decision-making. · Differentiator: CRG positions clients to align with NOAA’s expanding SSA needs, ensuring competitive success in data analytics contracts. Opp – Securing Space Traffic Systems: The integration of digital SSA platforms introduces critical cybersecurity challenges. · Advice: Build zero-trust frameworks and AI-powered anomaly detection to secure SSA platforms and communication links. · Differentiator: CRG connects clients with leading cyber-SMEs to deliver solutions compliant with evolving federal standards. Opp – Modular AI Communication Solutions: Scaling bidirectional communication for global operators demands AI-driven tools. · Advice: Develop modular systems to prioritize real-time collision alerts and enhance cross-operator coordination with AI support. · Differentiator: CRG enables clients to deliver adaptive, scalable solutions aligned with NOAA’s operational goals. Opp – Space Debris Mitigation: The growing satellite population necessitates advanced debris mitigation tools for long-term space sustainability. · Advice: Create scalable debris tracking/removal solutions integrated with SSA systems for proactive debris risk management. · Differentiator: CRG’s expertise in securing sustainability-focused contracts empowers clients to lead in debris mitigation. Opp – Training & Simulation Solutions: Global operators require dynamic training platforms to align with TraCSS functionality. · Advice: Build immersive VR/AR simulation systems to train operators in real-time collision avoidance and SSA protocols. · Differentiator: CRG’s partnerships with simulation leaders ensure clients deliver innovative, NOAA-aligned training tools. CRG’s deep expertise in multi-domain operations and global networks empowers clients to seize emerging SSA opportunities. Contact CRG to win and manage contracts driving the next wave of space innovation. 📩 [email protected] | 🌐 crgroupinc.com #CRG #SSA #STM #SpaceTech #SatelliteOps #NOAA #TraCSS #AI #ML #Cybersecurity #FederalContracts #SpaceSafety #Space #Satellites #GovCon

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USAF: Opportunities w/ CRG's Advice on Key Differentiators: This contract, centered on the development of a sophisticated virtual environment for distributed training operations, emphasizes the strategic importance of cutting-edge simulation technologies in preparing USAF for the complexities of modern combat scenarios. Companies aiming to excel in this domain should focus on the following areas to differentiate themselves and secure similar high-value work: 1. Advanced Simulation Technologies: Investing in the development of immersive and highly realistic virtual training environments is crucial. These environments must support large-scale exercises and diverse training scenarios, enabling realistic and effective training experiences. Emphasize the creation of highly detailed and adaptable simulation frameworks that can integrate with existing systems. 2. Interoperability Standards: Establishing and adhering to robust interoperability standards is essential to ensure seamless data sharing and collaborative training across different platforms and security levels. Developing common data formats and communication protocols will enhance training efficiency and enable joint operations. 3. Security Solutions for Training Platforms: Providing secure training platforms that enable personnel from different security levels to train together without compromising data integrity or operational security is paramount. Solutions must include advanced encryption, access control, and real-time monitoring to safeguard sensitive information during joint and coalition training operations. 4. Scalable and Flexible Solutions: Developing scalable training solutions that can adapt to the evolving needs of the Air Force and other military branches is a key differentiator. Flexibility in deployment, customization options, and modular design will ensure that training systems remain relevant and effective in dynamic operational environments. 5. Integration with Emerging Technologies: Leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and augmented reality can enhance the realism and effectiveness of training simulations. Integrating these technologies into training platforms will provide more accurate scenario modeling, real-time feedback, and adaptive training experiences. Tap into CRG's expertise in navigating the complexities of pre- and post-award phases. Our expertise in capture/BD, B&P, pricing, and strategic planning ensures that your organization is well-positioned to win and manage high-value work. Visit crgroupinc.com or reach out to us at [email protected] to learn more about how CRG can empower your organization. #IL - #VA - #DC - #Dubai, #UAE. #DefenseContracting #AirForceTraining #SimulationTechnology #USAF #DoD #DistributedTraining #CombatTraining #MilitaryInnovation #Interoperability #DefenseTechnology #MilitaryTraining #Innovation #NorthropGrumman #USAirForce #DefenseIndustry #StrategicPlanning #DIB

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Looking for weekend plans?! The first opportunity for #industry input on Tranche 3 of the #PWSA is here! SDA released a draft request for proposals for the Tranche 3 (T3) Integration effort of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. This draft RFP seeks input regarding systems engineering and integration activities to support the T3 program, which will extend the PWSA through the acquisition and integration of the next generation of hundreds of space vehicles and associated ground segment. SDA requests responses by Noon ET on Nov. 25, 2024. Submissions should include responses to select questions and a technical description of a notional PWSA Tranche 3 program integration solution. For more details and instructions on how to request the full draft RFP package, check out SAM.gov here: https://lnkd.in/efdaAccW #SemperCitius #Defense #Satellites #Industry

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Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Selects Umbra for Phase II of the Distributed Radar Image Formation Technology (DRIFT) Program Read More: https://ow.ly/PVzZ50RuqeQ #darpa #umbra #radar #imaging #satellite #technology #selection #security #drift #algorithms #innovation #processing #imagery #government

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Partnering with PEO Aviation’s project offices, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center conducts government-executed Crew Station Working Groups to assess the avionics requirements through human-factors engineering, utilizing early #Soldier evaluations. The key mission of the DEVCOM AvMC Aviation Crew Stations Branch is conducting CSWGs comprising Army and industry partner stakeholders, all with a vested interest in ensuring that Army aviators have the best solution at their fingertips. “We support the end user,” said Jena Salvetti, lead human factors engineer for the Crew Stations branch. “We evaluate prototype interfaces, with users-in-the-loop, while addressing human factors principles, aviation mission tasks, and sub-system conventions to ensure that final designs are intuitive. The CSWG process was designed to ensure aviators have a say in their interfaces rather than pushing an interface to the field and saying, ‘You’ll figure it out.’ One of the things we hear from the field is that systems are not being used because they’re too hard to use. The CSWG was created to mitigate this issue.” #Partnership | #WeAreAvMC

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Opportunities for Industry w/ CRG's Advisory on Key Differentiators: The current hesitancy in committing to the NGAD program opens up significant opportunities for industry to demonstrate their capabilities in emerging technologies and cost-effective solutions. CRG advises clients to focus on the following high-level differentiators to secure work in this evolving landscape: 1. Innovative Cost Management: --Technical Approach: Develop advanced financial modeling and cost-reduction strategies to offer more budget-friendly solutions for defense projects. Emphasize modular designs and scalable systems that can adapt to evolving requirements without substantial cost overruns. --Operational Methods: Implement agile project management and continuous improvement processes to enhance efficiency and reduce delays, thereby building trust with the Department of Defense (DoD). 2. Advanced Technology Integration: --Technical Approach: Invest in R&D for next-generation technologies, such as AI-driven systems, autonomous platforms, and advanced materials. Ensure these innovations can be seamlessly integrated into existing defense ecosystems to enhance operational capabilities. --Operational Methods: Collaborate with tech startups and research institutions to stay at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring the delivery of cutting-edge solutions that meet the DoD's stringent requirements. 3. Enhanced Supplier Network Resilience: --Technical Approach: Strengthen supply chain resilience by diversifying suppliers and incorporating robust risk management frameworks. Focus on localizing critical supply chains to reduce dependence on foreign sources and mitigate geopolitical risks. --Operational Methods: Develop strategic partnerships and alliances to create a more resilient and responsive supply network, capable of withstanding disruptions and ensuring continuous delivery of essential components. CRG’s Expertise & Client Support: Leverage CRG’s expertise in defense technology, cost management, and supply chain optimization to navigate the complexities of modern defense contracting. Our proven strategies in winning and managing defense projects ensure that clients can effectively meet the DoD’s needs while staying ahead of technological and operational challenges. #CRG #DefenseInnovation #AirForce #NGAD #DefenseContracting #DoD #MilitaryTech #SupplyChainResilience #CostManagement #DIB #USAF #AdvancedTechnology #CRGExpertise #Aerospace #NextGenAircraft #RandD #TechIntegration #BudgetEfficiency #AircraftDesign #Engineering #USMIL #Aviation #AircraftEngineering

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As General Atomics, Anduril Wingmen Drones Clear USAF Critical Design Review, Let's Look at how Modern Wars are Informing the CCA Program Air Force Materiel Command’s Col. Timothy M. Helfrich broke down what might constitute the Increment 1 and Increment 2 of the CCAs, describing how the service is changing the procurement of the unmanned assets to meet costs and schedule while adapting to emerging technologies and threats. Story: https://lnkd.in/dsxTfrnq

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