Alan Raetz

📰 #NEWS: Raytheon has delivered the first AN/TPY-2 radar to the Missile Defense Agency with a complete Gallium Nitride (GaN) populated array. This advanced radar enhances the ability to detect, track, and discriminate ballistic missiles across multiple phases of flight—strengthening defense of the U.S. homeland and allied nations. "This is the most advanced version of AN/TPY-2 that Raytheon has built, leveraging years of investment and innovation to produce superior capability at a lower cost to the U.S. armed forces," said Sam Deneke, president of Air and Space Defense Systems at Raytheon Details: https://rtxcorp.co/43o4qX6

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A major step forward in secure communications. 📡 Collins Aerospace’s small form factor SCISR (Secure Common Data-Link Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) Software Defined Radio has successfully passed NSA Type-1 secure verification testing, reinforcing our commitment to trusted, secure voice and data transmission for critical missions. With support for BLOS (Beyond Line-of-Sight) and dynamic mesh communications, SCISR provides enhanced versatility and improved targeting, ensuring seamless connectivity across any environment and setting a new standard for resilience. See how SCISR delivers: https://rtxcorp.co/3JxVcRU

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Matt Brown, executive technology director for Air & Space Defense Systems at Raytheon, an RTX business, spoke on the panel “Delivering Training Capabilities for Space Superiority.” The discussion addressed the U.S. Space Force’s need for advanced training solutions—from physical test ranges to synthetic environments—to prepare for operations in a congested and contested domain. Raytheon delivers end-to-end expertise and high-fidelity training capabilities to ensure mission readiness in space.

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📰 NEWS: Raytheon successfully completed 10 subsystem demonstrations for the US Army's Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) program, each critical to ensuring alignment with the Army's requirements. Notable tests involved NGSRI’s seeker, flight rocket motor, command launch assembly and warhead. "We are confident in our ability to rapidly deliver the Army an affordable, low-risk, highly producible NGSRI solution." - Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon Details: https://rtxcorp.co/4k14nbp

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Lockheed, Northrop, and Peraton Land $244M Contract to Build Next-Gen Space Relay Network Lockheed, Northrop, and Peraton won a $244M contract to build a new ground station for next-gen military infrared satellites. https://lnkd.in/ee77kRTq

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Abel Avellan is taking on SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Project Kuiper in the battle to provide broadband satellite internet directly to your smartphone. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eCcKwkVw

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Despite having the best tech, humans will always be more important than hardware. SOF Truth #1 The SOF Week 2025 Fireside Chat on "AI - Innovation and Integration in National Security" with moderator Catherine Herridge delved into SOCOM's industry push since last year's SOF Week. Tech leader Akash Jain delved into how AI needs to become a cultural shift with our people.

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Hear from #NAWCAD's test pilots and UAS operators on how our Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO FOUR (UX-24) test team is bringing #USMarineCorps aviation advanced ISR and connectivity with MQ-9 Reaper's newest upgrade.

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At what point during civil certification projects is a flying prototype needed? Are flying aircraft actually "needed" in order to establish requirements for certification? Several firms' press releases claim exactly that as they tout their prototype's being approved to fly (i.e., experimental airworthiness certificate). Some clarity here appears necessary. One of my favorite of the 7 Habits is "begin with the end in mind". So I've prepared this graphic to show -- in reverse order (top-down) -- some of the major steps leading to fielding a new aircraft that's used in airline-style operations. Notice that an experimental CofA (permission to fly prototype) is at the far lower left in this diagram (i.e., very, very early in the process). While it is possible that data from a prototype could be used in establishing means of compliance, that does not come from a few success-oriented demonstrations. Instead, they come from organized test programs (with FAA participation) which comprehensively cover off-nominal concerns in addition to nominal performance. A good example of reports from this type of research can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gXBh5xkk Even if a flying prototype is involved with a research project, the result would need to inform means of compliance issue paper(s). Issue papers can take years to conclude. Adding the flying research time only adds to the elapsed time prior to having an accepted certification plan. Afterward, another couple years may be required to conduct the certification project. Conclusion? Having a flying prototype doesn't facilitate the certain end of a certification project until the applicant and the FAA have agreed on what needs to be accomplished WITH that prototype. For that, an accepted certification plan is necessary. Monitoring news for cert plan acceptance by the FAA is far more relevant to tracking schedule progress than is a prototype's first flight. As a flight tester, this pains me to admit. But it's true.

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MTSI announces that DISA/DITCO selected the company for a $416M IDIQ contract under the SBIR Phase III program, which includes a $37M task order supporting AFGSC’s Technology Integration efforts. MTSI advances strategic deterrence by delivering cutting-edge sensor and weapon system technologies for the Air Force and the broader DoD community. “MTSI is excited to work with AFGSC and future partners to strengthen U.S. global deterrence through the development of cutting-edge weapon systems and technologies,” said Vance Drenkhahn, MTSI Executive Vice President, Defense Services Division. Read the full announcement on the MTSI website: https://loom.ly/DU4_grc #EmployeeOwned #ESOP #USAF #AFGSC #TechnologyIntegration #Engineering

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Skunk Works® and XTEND Expand Joint All Domain Command and Control for Advanced Mission Execution Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® and XTEND collaborated to integrate the XTEND Operating System (XOS) into Skunk Works’ MDCX™ autonomy platform, allow simultaneous Command and Control (C2) of multiple classes of UAS, creating improved situational awareness for lower-level mission execution in joint all-domain C2 (JADC2) scenarios. With the planned integration of XTEND’s XOS into Lockheed Martin’s MC-MDCX, a single operator can conduct both missions. The integration demonstration proved a reduction in total manpower for complex mission executions, removing the need for mission handoffs to lower-tiered operators, and improving situational awareness across the mission space. Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/es9ZcqD6

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Defense innovation rarely fails in engineering; it often fails in authorization. RMF expectations, impact levels, inheritance, continuous monitoring, and evidence requirements stop more transitions than technical limitations ever do. RAPIDFORT, supported by partners such as Carahsoft and SpaceWERX, is offering complimentary enrollment in “From Prototype to ATO,” a 10-week executive cohort taught by Henry Sienkiewicz 金凱旋 (former DISA CIO/DAA). Learn how to interpret RMF, apply reciprocity, streamline validation, and articulate readiness to government stakeholders. 👉 Register: https://lnkd.in/gVDSNtZT #dod #ATO #RMFCompliance #DefenseStartups

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The U.S. Space Force has awarded a $259 million contract to SciTec, Inc. to further develop a ground system for military missile-warning satellites. This contract is part of the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) program, which aims to create a government-owned ground system for missile detection and satellite command and control. SciTec will integrate FORGE with other satellite systems to enhance missile-warning capabilities for both current and future satellites. SciTec has previously secured other FORGE-related contracts, including a $272 million deal in 2022 for data processing supporting both the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) and Next-Gen OPIR systems. The FORGE system will support satellites in multiple orbits for continuous missile launch monitoring. The initiative is part of broader efforts to modernize U.S. satellite defense infrastructure, including investments in ground relay stations for the Next-Gen OPIR satellite network. Northrop Grumman was also awarded a contract for new relay stations in the U.S. and the U.K. to further support missile launch detection and communication with naval forces. https://lnkd.in/eieDrQmU #SpaceForce #SciTec #MissileWarning #SatelliteDefense #FORGE #NextGenOPIR #SBIRS #MilitaryInnovation #DefenseContracts #NorthropGrumman #Aerospace #DefenseIndustry #TechInnovation

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