The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has announced it will deorbit two Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) experimental missile warning satellites in the coming years and will focus on the development of next-generation Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) satellites to counter hypersonic missile threats, C4ISRNET reportedThursday.

“The combination of high speed, maneuverability and relatively low altitude of some of the emerging advanced missile threats makes them challenging targets for our current missile defense systems,” MDA stated in a January statement.

“HBTSS is needed, since we cannot populate the Earth and the oceans with terrestrial radars to meet this need. The ‘birth-to-death’ tracking that HBTSS can provide when integrated with terrestrial sensors will make it possible to maintain custody of missile threats from launch through intercept regardless of location.”

The experimental STSS has advanced the concept of space-based missile warning by demonstrating the ability to intercept a ballistic missile using orbital sensor data. However, depleted fuel reserves, outdated control systems and the launch of a new, ambitious missile warning satellite constellation on the horizon convinced the agency to end the STSS program.

The MDA has already awarded two contracts for the HBTSS prototypes, with L3Harris receiving $133 million and Northrop Grumman securing $155 million in support of the initiative. The new systems will work in conjunction with SDA’s tracking layer, a proliferated constellation of infrared sensors in low Earth orbit that can track hypersonic and ballistic threats.

The tracking layer will pass custody of missiles from satellite to satellite via a planned on-orbit mesh network as the missile fly. Custody will eventually be given to the HBTSS satellites, which have more advanced sensors that can provide targeting data to interceptors. HBTSS prototypes are expected to launch in 2023.

Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., have introduced two bills that call for the implementation of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence’s (NSCAI) recommendations to bolster AI-related research and development, talent recruitment and transparency efforts in the government.

The Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus co-founders said Wednesday the first bill, Artificial Intelligence Capabilities and Transparency Act, would create a chief digital recruiting officer position at the departments of the Defense, Energy and within the intelligence community.

The AICT Act would also establish a $50 million DOD fund for pilot initiatives meant to leverage the technology in military operations and direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop an accreditation program for system assessors.

The second bill, Artificial Intelligence for the Military Act, seeks to take heed of the NSCAI recommendations related to the military workforce, specifically on expanding AI training of junior officers and DOD leaders.

Congress established NSCAI as part of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act to recommend strategies to drive government adoption of the technology.

If you’re interested in emerging technology, then check out GovCon Wire’s AI: Innovation in National Security Forum coming up on June 3rd. Click here to learn more.

The Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC) has allowed an anonymous company to move forward in the Department of Defense's contractor cybersecurity standards certification process, FedScoop reported.

The first company to gain the approval of DIBCAC will now await the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Accreditation Body's (CMMC-AB) decision on whether it will be granted the Certified Third Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) status that will allow the company to conduct official audits to determine how mature a defense contractor's cybersecurity.

If approved as C3PAO, the company will be able to assess its customer's cybersecurity maturity compliance with the CMMC requirements.

"The certification process is multi-tiered and [Defense Contract Management Agency’s] role is to verify and validate the ability of a C3PAO to protect the data that will be entrusted to them,” said Matthew Montgomery, spokesperson for the DCMA, where DIBCAC falls under.

The center has yet to approve its initial assessments of other organizations looking to achieve C3PAO under CMMC.

If you're interested in the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification then check out the Potomac Officers Club's 2021 CMMC Forum coming up on June 16. Click here to learn more.

The Air Combat Command (ACC) has formed a task force that will create a new model to prepare U.S. airmen for strategic missions in highly contested environments, organize aviation units for high-end operations and train forces in the "agile" combat processes.

ACC said Thursday that its Campaign Plan working group will primarily focus on developing a two-year force generation cycle that will consist of four six-month readiness phases.

Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of ACC, noted the plan falls under the U.S. Air Force's “Accelerate Change or Lose” strategy to better understand competitors. The plan centers on organizing, training and equipping expeditionary air combat forces and deploy-in-place airmen.

“Peer competition, crisis and combat does not provide us with ‘months’ to assess and study requirements, execute the RFF (request for forces) process, work sourcing, schedule deployments and eventually become a cohesive team,” Kelly added.

DataRobot announced on Thursday its DataRobot’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Health Incubator, a new initiative that encourages entrepreneurs, companies, institutions, colleges and universities and non-profits to develop and deploy novel solutions for the health and healthcare market. 

The AI for Health Incubator will provide pro-bono access to the DataRobot platform and hands-on support from its customer success teams. Interested organizations can apply now through June 11.

“When it comes to thinking about healthcare, it’s safe to say 2020 changed the name of the game. We’re at a critical moment in time for the industry and believe we have an opportunity to democratize healthcare in a transparent and trustworthy way truly," said Sally Embrey, VP of DataRobot’s Public Health and Health Technologies.

“We’re pleased to build on the important work we’ve done in the healthcare sector and collaborate with the next generation of innovators in the industry to solve big problems, particularly ones that have a direct impact on patient populations and long-term health outcomes,” added Embrey. 

DataRobot partners with highly sophisticated healthcare organizations to transform billions of data points into insights and predictions used to save lives. The company works on many diverse cases, including reducing patient readmissions, ICU resource and staffing utilization, improving medication adherence, predicting opioid abuse and forecasting disease propensity.

“The future of healthcare is rooted in the ability to bring human and machine intelligence together to make better, faster, and more efficient decisions we can trust,” stated Dr. Zain Khalpey, chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and chief medical artificial intelligence Officer, director of Heart & Vascular Institute at Northwest Medical Center.

“DataRobot is accelerating critical research in this industry to help physicians and medical professionals better leverage AI. The impact on human lives if we get this right will be immeasurable. I’m excited to work with DataRobot because together, we’re able to make augmented medical decision-making — a new formula which will be the future of healthcare driven by AI,” Khalpey added.

The incubator's application period is open and nominations will be accepted through June 11. 

Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) is working on an integrated simulation system that would unify multiple training systems. NSWC Dahlgren Division wants to shift away from using two different combat simulators across five systems to having just one platform covering various naval capabilities, Naval Sea Systems Command said Wednesday.

“The goal is to share a common core, and then you take the pieces that need to go with it on your ship," said Amy Settle, head of NSWCDD's combat system simulation branch.

The Navy's existing combat simulators were provided by multiple makers; some from the industry, others from within the military. Each simulator reflects different learning curves and capabilities. To address this issue, NSWCDD works to develop the Combat System Simulator Stimulator (CS3).

“The idea is to use the same simulation throughout system development, test and evaluation, certification, and sustainment of the program and training all the Sailors,” said Howard Kohl, combat system simulations chief engineer.

Kohl said CS3 would allow for years of combat system support via a single simulation.