Pentagon Wants More New Weapons from the Military-Industrial Complex

April 23, 2022 (EIRNS)—The Defense Department posted a broad request for information from industry on the federal contracting (System for Award Management) website, reported Defense News. The Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI) on behalf of the new undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions and Sustainment Bill LaPlante is seeking input “from across industry” about air defense, anti-armor, anti-personnel, coastal defense, counter battery, unmanned aerial systems, and communications equipment, such as secure radios and satellite internet gear. To that end, the DOD asks that responding companies describe their weapon, product or system in 100 words or less, and—in the case of munitions—check off “appropriate target type(s),” such as area, fixed, airborne/missile, maritime, mine, moving, hard or soft. The RFI says information received will be used to develop requirements for an actual solicitation at a later date.

The White House announced on April 21 that retired Army Lt. Gen. Terry Wolff has been appointed as the coordinator of military aid to Ukraine. “The NSC recently brought on Terry Wolff to help coordinate the security assistance the U.S. and our partners are providing to Ukraine, which they are using every day to defend their country,” a National Security Council spokesperson said.