QUICK HITS
IARPA launches new acquisition marketplace: Vendors can pitch their solutions to the I.C. through short videos and receive agency feedback.
You don’t need 100 teaming partners. You need 10 solid partnerships.
Digital identity overhaul: NIST releases implementation guide for its updated SP 800-63-4 framework.
Classified program threats: Why defending against yesterday's tactics leaves you exposed today.
PRESENTED BY DELTEK
AI Adoption Is Nearly Universal in GovCon, but Governance is Not.
No longer an emerging capability, Artificial Intelligence is already embedded in how work gets done across the Govcon industry. AI itself is not a differentiator anymore — but how it’s governed is!
According to Deltek’s 2026 GovCon Clarity Report, 90% of contractors are using AI in some capacity — yet only 5% say their AI is fully developed, and just 25% report established or advanced governance models. This lag in governance maturity widens the gap between operational acceleration and audit defensibility and has become a source of risk, not just inefficiency.
Find out more about the impact of AI on the GovCon Industry by reading the 2026 Clarity Report today!
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
GAO: Army and Navy's $50B hypersonic program lacks a unified strategy.
The Army and Navy are planning to invest more than $50 billion in the Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile program, but GAO says the two services are largely making investment decisions independently, creating inefficiencies and delays. Lockheed Martin is currently producing only six to seven missiles per year against a target of 12. The Navy is already two years behind on modernizing its Zumwalt-class destroyers to host the weapon, with flight testing pushed to 2027.
Iran conflict shows “return to U.S. spectrum dominance.”
A senior USSF general said the recent conflict with Iran demonstrated the military's ability to achieve "spectrum dominance" by integrating space, cyber, electronic warfare, and traditional military capabilities in a coordinated campaign. The operation highlighted how space-based intelligence, communications, and positioning systems have become essential to modern warfare and future joint operations.
DARPA and the USSF fly AI-controlled F-16, paving the way for autonomous air combat.
DARPA and the USAF have successfully flown a modified F-16 under AI control, marking the first in-air tests of the VENOM Autonomy Kit on an operational fighter aircraft. The milestone advances the military's ability to rapidly develop and test autonomous air combat systems that could eventually enable human pilots to command teams of AI-powered uncrewed aircraft.
ICYMI:
MDA RFI: MDA Advisory & Professional Support Services.
Boeing expects additional cost hit on Air Force One to make 2028 delivery.
DIU seeking “near-term” power-beaming satellite demo.
USAF wants ground launcher for drones and missiles.
Defense Contract Awards
ASRC Federal Facilities & Logistics won a $1.5B DLA Industrial Product-Support contract.
Hanwha Philly Shipyard and TOTE Services were selected to build new MDA missile range instrumentation vessels.
7 companies were awarded modifications for National Security Space Launch Ph3 Lane One that will increase the ceiling by $11.4B.
RTX, SciTec Innovations, and WildStar were awarded USSF OTAs in the amount of $107M for ground-based radar digitization.
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Defense Job Openings
FUNNY
INTEL COMMUNITY
DHS’s updated AI inventory raises more questions than it answers.
DHS has updated its AI inventory to document risk management practices for more than 50 high-impact AI systems, but the revisions come months after the OMB deadline and leave experts questioning why several systems were reclassified, downgraded, or quietly removed. Critics say the inventory improves transparency but lacks consistent explanations for changes, making it difficult to assess how the department is managing AI risks.
SpaceX launches 21 communications satellites for the SDA.
SpaceX’s successful launch for the SDA expands the military's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture—a low-Earth orbit mesh network designed to provide secure, resilient communications for U.S. and allied forces. The launch resumed SDA's delayed Tranche 1 deployment following months of software and hardware fixes to earlier satellites and moves the agency closer to its planned 126-satellite constellation.
ICYMI:
USSOCOM RFI: Drone Common Launch Tube (CLT).
WHS RFI: Strategic Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMSEPP).
Event: Cyber Power in the Age of AI. Panelists from the W.H., CISA, FBI, DOD will speak August 4.
The legal blueprint behind the W.H.’s counterterrorism strategy.
TRG secured a $39M FBI Records Management Services contract.
GET SEEN
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CIVILIAN
GSA to take its Emerging Tech Showcase governmentwide.
GSA is expanding its Emerging Technology Showcase from an internal event to a governmentwide forum, where federal leaders, practitioners, and industry experts will share proven approaches for using AI, automation, and other technologies to improve government operations. The July 30 event will also highlight GSA's Eliminate, Optimize, Automate playbook and Million Hour Challenge.
Space Commerce official says TraCSS work continues despite budget uncertainty.
The DOC's Office of Space Commerce says development of its Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) is continuing, with 62 pilot users and more than 11,000 satellites already participating. Officials are also exploring long-term funding and operating models—including contractor-owned, data-as-a-service, and fee-based approaches—to keep the satellite collision-avoidance system moving forward.
Next step towards dismantling the Department of Education begins.
The House advanced bills that would permanently transfer many Dept of Ed responsibilities to agencies including Labor, Treasury, State, HHS, and Interior as part of an effort to shrink the department. While the legislation faces uncertain prospects in the Senate, it would formalize many of the administration's existing interagency agreements and reshape how several federal education programs are managed.
ICYMI:
CMS RFI: Intelligent Coding Assistance Tool.
TREAS RFI: Identity and Access Management Software.
DOL eyes AI curriculum akin to China’s teachings.
GSA is eyeing OneGov savings beyond software and tech.
OPM launches GPPA Navigator for federal HR specialists.
Civilian Contracts Awards
Follow Civilian Leaders
Top IRS lawyer to resign post.
Former VA strategy chief tapped as Acting Deputy CIO at HUD.
Civilian Job Openings
M&A CORNER
Hyundai Motor Group to own Boston Dynamics entirely with SoftBank stake buy.
Hyundai Motor is set to make Boston Dynamics a wholly owned subsidiary. The automotive giant announced Thursday it will acquire SoftBank's ~10% stake to help integrate advanced robotics throughout its business.
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
[Watch] The Iran war exposed America's hypersonic missile problem. Russia and China are racing to build 5,000 hypersonic missiles by 2035. SOURCE↗︎
FCC says yes to space mirror. Is it time to say, “goodbye darkness, and hello light?” New space mirror can illuminate Earth after dark. SOURCE↗︎
Pay to see? Trump Media to charge Wall Street firms for real-time access to Truth Social top posts starting August 1. SOURCE↗︎
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