GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (9/12–15)
This week's Weekly Debrief covers the Navy's need for electromagnetic capabilities, AI defense start up, Firefly's Space Force launch, satellites and climate change, and False Claims Act issues regarding double billing and cyber.
Defense
"A US Navy surface warfare center is seeking industry and government agencies to participate in a July 2024 exercise focused on demonstrating early-stage unmanned systems’ capabilities to fight on the electromagnetic battlefield."
"European AI defense developer Helsing announced Thursday that it raised 209 million Euros—around $223 million worth—in Series B funding led by venture capital firm General Catalyst. Swedish airplane and car manufacturer Saab joined as a strategic investor, as well."
Space
"Firefly Aerospace just set a new responsive-launch record. The company's Alpha rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Thursday (Sept. 14) at 10:28 p.m. EDT (7:28 p.m. local California time; 0228 GMT on Sept. 15), kicking off a mission for the U.S. Space Force called Victus Nox."
"The growing need to tackle climate change presents a transformational growth opportunity for the Earth observation industry, executives from an international mix of companies in this market said Sept. 15."
False Claims
"Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (Navmar), headquartered in Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $4.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly double billing and shifting certain labor and material costs under a series of contracts with the Department of the Navy (Navy) to manufacture, design and test emerging intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technologies."
"The United States government is bringing legal action against Penn State University under the False Claims Act, saying the university lied or misled about its adherence to government cybersecurity protocols when contracting with the federal government."
. . .
