The Pentagon is giving away money, AUKUS eyes opportunities for expansion, and tech gets a new career field in the military
Defense and dual-use texhnologies
Good morning,
The DoD is getting into the debt business, providing direct loans to companies building critical capabilities. China may be able to respond more quickly within Asia than the United States, which is unsurprising as they’re closer. Chinese students sneakily visited a military base in Michigan; when questioned, they lied and tried to cover the visit up. And the High North is increasingly being contested as the newest front in global competition.
Let’s go!
News Headlines:
China surpasses U.S. military's ability to respond quickly to Asian conflict: Think Tank (S&S)
AUKUS eyes opportunities for expansion -- on a 'project-by-project' basis (DS)
Petulant Russia refuses to sign replacement nuclear control treaty (RT)
Russia intentionally poisons Ukrainian river (TG)
S. Korea unveils 'monster missile' at revived annual military parades (RT)
Venture firm CRV will return to investors $275M of its $500M Select fund citing overvaluation of mature startups (TC)
Finance firms worries about global economy rose to a five-year high (RT)
Arctic allies to form security group to counter Russia, China (BBG)
Defense & Dual-Use Technologies
DoD's Office of Strategic Capital approved to provide direct loans to defense tech startups (DN)
House leaders urge White House to share more tech with Australia, UK (DN)
NATO takes the plunge into VC (RS)
Defense contractors are NOT ready for CMMC 2.0 cybersecurity requirements rollout next year (BD)
SOCOM is creating a new job field focused on latest battlefield tech and helping other operators employ it (S&S)
American tech firm Base Molecular Resonance Technologies (BMRT) has introduced an innovative solution for detecting and neutralizing sniper and bomb threats (TDP)
Small-drone defense is next in Pentagon's Replicator buying push (DN)
Five Chinese nationals charged with covering up midnight visit to Michigan military site (AP)
Zephr builds cellular network in Ukraine to counter GPS-jamming (DO)
Marines tap mobile 5G for deeper battlefield awareness (USNI)
Palmer Luckey tried to crush aeronautics startup Salient Motion, but Anduril-backer a16z invested (TC)
EU opens defense innovation hub in Kyiv to boost industry outreach (DN)
Ukraine needs international investors to maintain defense tech momentum (AC)
Global tensions feed VC interest in European defense startups (FBS)
Army awards big contract for Coyote interceptors amid growing demand for counter-drone weapons (DS)
Lithuania to deliver thousands of FPV drones to its army, Ukraine (DN)
AUKUS shares results of inaugural Electronic Warfare challenge (DS)
Air Force awards Lockheed $3.2B multiyear missile contract (DN)
Northrop wins a contract for active electronically scanned array radars (YF)
Raytheon scores $192M contract for extended range airborne electronic attack pod (DS)
Pentagon contracts for $96M in Oura smart rings, services (DS)
White House approved $567M in defense support for Taiwan (RT)
Deal Flow:
PE firm OceanSound Partners closes $1.49B Fund II for GovTech investments (BW)
VELA, a Bordeaux, France-based builder of wind-powered maritime transport, raised $44.7M co-led by Credit Mutuel Impact, 11th Hour Racing, and Bpifrance
Kagwerks, a company developing tactical communications tools for military use, has been acquired by Codan (GCW)
Boeing is weighing an over $10B equity raise (BBG)
Opportunities
DTRA has released a BAA for fundamental research in chemical and biological technologies to support defense against WMDs (SAM)
The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking small-satellite, electrospray thrusters (DIU)
DIU is also seeking long-range, one-way drones (DIU)
The Army's PEO-Command, Control, and Communications-Tactical (C3T) is seeking information from industry as it shapes its next-gen command and control platform (SAM)
Editor's Picks:
Michael Dahm and P.W. Singer explain what we've all gotten wrong about China's 'sunken nuclear submarine' and what lessons we actually should be taking about their military modernization
The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School has released a compelling teaser trailer for Irregular Warfare
AP provides a short overview of each of the Hezbollah commanders killed over the last week
Hiring in DefenseTech (brought to you by Defense Tech Jobs)
US Air Force - Chief Technology Officer
The United States Air Force's Office of the Chief Information Officer is hiring a CTO to organize research, development, and adoption of technical standards tohat promote the insertion of new technologies in an effective manner.
Lighter Side:
Keep Building,
BOF