The Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory has established a pair of new research organizations dedicated to developing safe nuclear and clean energy technologies.

The Nuclear Technologies and National Security directorate will focus on safe nuclear energy systems that can support decarbonization, Argonne said Tuesday.

Argonne Associate Laboratory Director Kirsten Laurin-Kovitz will lead the NTNS directorate, which will also work on improving the resiliency of critical infrastructure to both natural and manmade hazards.

The second organization, known as the Advanced Energy Technologies directorate, will address decarbonization challenges that impact generating, storing and distributing energy.

Under the leadership of Associate Laboratory Director Suresh Sunderrajan, the AET directorate will also tackle decarbonization projects applicable to buildings, transportation systems and energy material production. DOE’s new Undersecretary for Infrastructure Office will work with AET to pursue decarbonization goals.

The U.S. Navy seeks market information on software code scanning options that support the quantitative software architecture analysis of the F-35 aircraft’s Autonomic Logistics Information System.

The Navy said Tuesday in a SAM.gov notice it wants to eventually award a contract for a QSAA tool that can analyze defense-related software to inform cost estimates, schedules and feasibility.

ALIS centralizes and distributes maintenance and health information of F-35 aircraft across the globe. The system combines operations, logistics, supply chain, customer support, technical data, training and maintenance functions related to the F-35.

The future contractor would also provide related expertise and training services to help users utilize the tool and interpret results.

Naval Air Systems Command will use the gathered input to inform how it will procure the needed QSAA tool. Interested parties may send responses through April 12.

The U.S. Army has fielded an upgrade to existing software forward observers use to send precision fire support messages across the battlefield to artillery battalions.

The Precision Fires-Dismounted Block 2 software delivers new features such as compatibility with the Army Android Tactical Assault Kit maneuver application and the current Samsung Galaxy S20 military phone, reduced device resource utilization, and soldier-informed modular updates the Army said Tuesday.

Block 2, operating on Nett Warrior End User Devices of forward observers and fire support teams, brings legacy PF-D software in line with the service branch’s Mobile Handheld Computing Environment.

“The Block 2 upgrade is ensuring those warfighters have the right information at the point of need to enable mission success for fire support teams,” explained Lt. Col. Jason Carney, product manager for fire support command and control.

The Army first provided Block 2 and relevant equipment training to the 2nd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina as part of Capability Set 21, with other units to receive the upgrade based on the service branch’s Integrated Tactical Network fielding schedule.

Meanwhile, officials plan to add more capabilities to PF-D such as positioning information sharing over a new secret-and-below network in the upcoming Capability Set 23.

The U.S. Army and the Missile Defense Agency recently tested the integrated capabilities Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and an advanced Patriot interceptor variant at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The tests saw the first live fire use of a software build that allowed THAAD to launch and control two Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhanced interceptors toward a target, MDA said Tuesday.

By launching through the weapon system, Army officials could send PAC-3 MSE to a trajectory with longer fly-out times to cover and protect a larger area from missile threats. 

“The integration of the PAC-3 MSE interceptor into the THAAD weapon system provides the combatant commands and soldiers on the ground the capability to use the right missile for the right threat at the right time,” explained Vice Adm. Jon Hill, director of MDA.

Both THAAD and PAC-3 MSE interceptors are built by defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

The Department of Defense has submitted to Congress its 2022 National Defense Strategy outlining ways how DOD will advance and protect U.S. citizens and other national interests while defending democratic values. 

DOD on Monday released a fact sheet on the classified NDS document and listed its four defense priorities, including defending the country against multidomain threats posed by China, deterring aggression and strategic attacks and establishing a resilient Joint Force and defense ecosystem.

According to the fact sheet, the Pentagon considers China as its “most consequential strategic competitor” and will work with NATO allies and partners to strengthen deterrence against “acute threats” posed by Russia.

The department also cited persistent threats from Iran, North Korea and violent extremist organizations and the need to adapt to climate change, pandemic and other transboundary threats.

The Pentagon also sent to the legislative branch its Missile Defense Review and Nuclear Defense Review, which were incorporated into the NDS.

The 2022 NPR reflects the U.S. commitment to reestablishing the country’s arms control leadership and reducing the role of nuclear weapons while maintaining an effective and safe nuclear deterrence, according to a separate fact sheet. 

The 2022 MDR recognizes missile defense and its contributions to a “resilient defense posture” that seeks to reassure allies, provide military options to prevent risks of escalation and reduce confidence of adversaries in use of missiles.

DOD said the release of unclassified versions of NDS and Nuclear Posture and Missile Defense Reviews is “forthcoming.”