Report: Military Failed to Address Issues with V-22 Osprey

A US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey helicopter with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit prepares to land aboard the USS Iwo Jima during onload operations while underway in the Atlantic Ocean. (US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emily Hazelbaker)

Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff.

A US Navy report says that the military failed for years to address a growing series of issues with the V-22 Osprey aircraft, reports AP News. VADM John Dougherty, commander of NAVAIR, said the service is “committed to improving the V-22’s performance and safeguarding the warfighters who rely on this platform.” He offered no details on any actions taken for years of failing to address the tiltrotor aircraft’s risks. (Watch a video message from Dougherty here.) Additional oversight and information sharing among the services would improve safety efforts, according to the Government Accountability Office report.

There have been 12 major Osprey mishaps in the past four years, reports Military Times on MSN.

Northrop Grumman recently unveiled its next-generation autonomous fighter, called “Project Talon.” It’s meant to serve as a “loyal wingman” to piloted fighter aircraft as a teammate in combat missions. Pilotless fighter jets could transform aerial warfare, reports Fox Business. These jets cost a fraction of piloted aircraft. Typical piloted fighter jets can cost anywhere from $75 million to $150 million. The Talon comes in at a fraction of that cost, projected to be in the $15 million to $20 million range.

Pilots interviewed by Task & Purpose say morale has been waning in the wake of the US Army announcement that the service plans to cut nearly 6,500 active-duty aviation positions, which includes pilots, other aircrew, and some ground crew. The service is taking steps to shift to uncrewed aircraft, like drones.

The US Air Force’s first Boeing-made T-7 Red Hawk trainer has arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas, reports Air Force Times. It is the Air Force’s first new jet trainer in decades, and the first designed to teach new pilots how to fly fifth-generation jets such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The Pentagon has announced the launch of GenAI.mil, a military-focused AI platform powered by Google’s Gemini for Government, reports Fox Business. The platform will be available to all civilians, contractors, and military personnel and is designed to give US military personnel direct access to AI tools.

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that blocks states from enforcing their own regulations for artificial intelligence, reports CNN. The order aims to create a federal framework for AI.

The US Navy and Palantir have partnered for a $448 million investment to accelerate artificial intelligence and autonomy technologies to develop what officials described as the complex, data heavy environment of shipbuilding, reports Military.com. The Navy says the initiative is designed to deliver cost savings over time through improved schedules, reduced delays, and increased production efficiency. The investment is specifically for implementing the Shipbuilding Operating System platform using Palantir’s commercial software.

The US Army is standing up a new Western Hemisphere Command at Fort Bragg, NC, reports Army Times. The move consolidates three major commands — US Army North, US Army South, and Army Forces Command — under a single headquarters as part of the restructuring.

ADM Alvin Holsey has retired as commander of US Southern Command, reports AP News on MSN. Holsey retired one year into a posting that typically lasts three to four years. Air Force LT GEN Evan Pettus now leads the command.

The US Coast Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security executed a seizure warrant for a Venezuelan oil tanker on Wednesday with support from the US Defense Department, reports The Wall Street Journal on MSN. This marks a major escalation in the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against Venezuelan leader, Nicolás Maduro. The Venezuelan government called the seizure blatant theft and an international act of piracy, reports BBC.

House Republicans say they are finished their investigation into the “double-tap” boat strikes that took place in September, reports Politico. But the Senate Armed Services Committee still wants to see the video of the military operation — in which two survivors of a missile strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat were killed in a follow-up attack.

The final version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act passed last week by the US House includes allowing the military to resume flying in Washington, DC, airspace near National Airport. Families of those killed in the January midair collision between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet that killed 67 people are raising alarms about restoring the procedures that may have been factors in the crash, reports The Washington Post.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy voiced concerns about the provision in the defense policy bill, warning that it would undermine aviation safety improvements made after the Jan. 29 deadly mid-air collision, reports NPR.

The Navy Midshipmen won 17-16 in a nail-biter football game that went down to the last few minutes, reports Navy Times. Saturday’s game was the 126th time the Army-Navy contest has taken place.

Another militarized zone has been added to the southern US border to support border security operations, reports Navy Times. The Department of Interior will transfer jurisdiction along most of California’s border with Mexico to the US Navy. The newly designated militarized zone extends nearly from the Arizona state line to the Otay Mountain Wilderness.

Delays and labor overruns for US Navy destroyers are a persistent trend that hurts fleet readiness, according to a CBO analysis, reports Stars and Stripes. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers will spend nine years, or up to 27% of their planned 35-year or 40-year service lives, in overhauls and other maintenance, the Congressional Budget Office estimated in the December report on Navy ship maintenance.

CAPT Gilbert Clark, the former commandant of the US Naval Academy dismissed from his post last month, was seen dancing and drinking alcohol while in uniform with young adults at an Annapolis bar, reports The Baltimore Sun on MSN. It is not clear whether the public carousing was related to his dismissal. The academy had announced it had lost confidence in the commandant.

David Wolfe was sworn in as chief master sergeant of the Air Force during an assumption of responsibility ceremony last week at Joint Base Andrews, reports Air Force Times.

Orice Williams Brown is set to replace Gene Dodaro on Dec. 30 as the acting head of the Government Accountability Office, reports Politico. Dodaro is ending his 15-year term as GAO chief. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is supposed to put together a list of candidates for the White House to consider nominating for Senate confirmation to the role. The acting head can be included on the list.

CAPT Mark Zematis, commanding officer at NAS Pax River, spoke at a St. Mary’s County Planning Commission public hearing Dec. 8 on Bradleybrooke, a 200-plus planned development in Lexington Park, reports Southern Maryland News. Zematis said the proposed development would encroach on the base. The discussion was pushed to January to allow time for the Navy to share its concerns over the proposed development. “This perceived threat is based solely upon the proposed residential land of parcel 618, which abuts ‘Accident Potential Zone II’ and lies within the 65 to 70 decibel day/night average sound noise level contour,” Zematis said.

LT Jeremiah Ellis is the new Resident Officer in Charge of Construction at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, reports dvidshub.net. Ellis bringing experience in military construction to the position. After attending the Virginia Military Institute and initially working as a civilian with Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Ellis found his calling in military construction and pursued a commission in the Civil Engineer Corps.

Members of the military will see a 4.2% bump, on average, in their monthly Basic Allowance for Housing as of Jan. 1, reports Navy Times. The average increase for 2026 is lower than the 2025 average of 5.4%. Actual amounts can vary widely by military housing areas.

Contracts:

Technology Security Associates Inc., California, Maryland, is awarded $82,323,063 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide a full range of platform security for the Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Air Warfare Centers, and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers, to include administrative and acquisition security support; physical, personnel, and information security management; industrial, communications, and operations security, support security manager with the management of security classifications guides, program protection plan and incident response; as well as provide international programs security support to include technology transfer policy, foreign disclosure, export control, foreign visits, foreign partner security assessments, and end use monitoring. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (86%); St. Inigoes, Maryland (2%); Orlando, Florida (2%); Jacksonville, Florida (2%); Washington, D.C. (2%); Lakehurst, New Jersey (2%); and various locations within the continental US (4%) and is expected to be complete by December 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competed, and three offers were received. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0042126D0007).

Obsidian Global LLC, Washington, DC, is being awarded $70,909,090 for a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract in support of Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) to provide support for the management, support and operation of NAVIFOR’s N4 Directorate Programs. This contract includes a five-year ordering period with a six-month option period pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-8 which, if exercised, will bring the total estimated value of the contract to $78,000,000. Work will be performed only in response to awarded task orders at U.S. government facilities in locations specified in the awarded tasks orders and is anticipated to occur in Suffolk, Virginia (50%); Norfolk, Virginia (15%); Wahiawa, Hawaii (10%); San Diego, California (10%); Panama City, Florida (10%); and various territory sites below one percent (5%) to support Fleet customers, both afloat and ashore, throughout the world. The base ordering period for the contract is expected to be completed by December 2030 and if the option is exercised by June 2031. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the contract’s minimum guarantee amount of $10,000 will be obligated at the time of award. These funds were preserved and are available for obligation in accordance with 31 US Code 1558. Individual task orders will be subsequently funded with appropriate fiscal year operations and maintenance (Navy) funds at the time of their issuance. This contract was competitively procured through the System for Award Management (sam.gov) as a total small business set-aside requirement with 11 offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command, Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk Fleet Directorate, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00189-26-D-0001).

Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Marlborough, Massachusetts, was awarded a $19,981,684 firm-fixed-price modification under previously awarded order (N00024-25-F-5362) for additional AEGIS solid state switch assembly mod kits with on-board assembly spares for Navy guided-missile destroyers. Work will be performed in Andover, Massachusetts (56%); Chesapeake, Virginia (28%); Marlborough, Massachusetts (15%); and Burlington, Massachusetts (1%), and is expected to be completed by September 2029. Fiscal 2026 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $19,981,684 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Dec. 9, 2025)

Kearney & Company PC, Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded a fixed-price and labor-hour contract option modification (P00012) dated Nov. 5, 2025, and executed subject to availability of funding due to the government shutdown, for financial statement audit of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works, and the financial statements for the agencies owning the funds sub allotted to USACE military programs for fiscal 2026. The contract has a 12-month base period with four individual one-year option periods with a maximum value of $49,238,991. Work will be performed in Washington, DC, and other locations inside and outside of the US, with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2026. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition for which two quotes were received. Fiscal 2026 Army Corps of Engineer civil works revolving funds in the amount of $9,617,351 are being obligated via Modification P00013. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Contract Services Directorate, Columbus, Ohio is the contracting activity (HQ0423-23-F-0016).

Science Applications International Corp., Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a $26,253,706 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract in support of Air Force modeling simulation sustainment support. The Air Force modeling and simulation services support (AFMS3) contract provides comprehensive support to the Department of the Air Force, other Department of Defense entities, and external partner agencies within the joint modeling and simulation community. AFMS3 enables the seamless integration of cross-functional modeling and simulation environments that enhance Warfighter performance and decision-making. Work will be predominantly performed in Orlando, Florida, and if all options are exercised, work is expected to be completed by June 30, 2026. This award is the result of a sole source contract action. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,562,595 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force District of Washington Contracting Directorate, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity (FA7014-26-F-0003).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland, has been awarded a $17,374,467 modification (P00104) to a previously awarded contract (FA8615-17-C-6047) for continued Active Electronically Scanned Array interim contractor support radar repair and return. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $1,743,926,769 from $1,726,552,302. Work will be performed in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is expected to be completed Dec. 11, 2028. Fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $507,609; fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $10,458,000; and fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $74,155, for a total of $11,039,764, are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

Analex, doing business as Arcfield, Chantilly, Virginia, is being awarded a $25,236,680 cost-plus-fixed fee contract (N0003026C2000) for the program support services of the Navy’s Strategic Weapons Systems Reentry Subsystem. The contract has options in the amount of $71,095,921. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado (68%); Washington, DC (22%); Albuquerque, New Mexico (3%); and various locations less than 1% (7% total). Work is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2028. Fiscal 2026 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,072,622; fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,530,000; fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance, (Navy) in the amount of $2,445,880; fiscal 2025 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $565,071; and fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,018,411, are being obligated on this award. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,018,411 and fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance in the amount of $2,445,880 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is being awarded on a sole source basis under 10 US Code 3204(a)(1) and was previously synopsized on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) online portal. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.

JRC Integrated Systems LLC, Washington, DC, is being awarded a $10,708,589 cost-plus-fixed-fee term contract (including option years) (N0003026C3031) for Trident II D5 Strategic Weapon System programs and Dreadnought programs. Tasks to be performed include operator and operational knowledge and expertise for the development, maintenance and review of arrangements, design disclosures, test procedures and program plans; conduct of special projects and analysis involving strategies for the program, construction and test facilities, and for shipyard execution, and life-cycle support concepts; government furnished information, material, equipment (GFI/M/E) and commitments management; root cause analysis and corrective action implementation; and documenting and tracking technical comments, decisions and recommendations. This contract also benefits a foreign military sale to the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Washington, DC (70%); Groton, Connecticut (15%); and Cape Canaveral, Florida (15%). Work is expected to be completed on Dec. 20, 2030. Fiscal 2023 Ship Conversion, Navy funds in the amount of $1,747,166 will be obligated on this award and no funds will expire at the end of this fiscal year. This contract was awarded as a sole source acquisition with the authority of 10 US Code 3204(a)(1) and was previously synopsized on the System for Award management (SAM.gov) online portal. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.

Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia, was awarded a $9,434,758 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-22-C-2105) to exercise options for planning and design yard activities for standard navy valves installed in commissioned nuclear-powered submarines, submersibles, and aircraft carriers. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) in the amount of $2,500,000 will be obligated at time of award and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.