{"id":52893,"date":"2022-04-22T20:26:20","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T20:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/04\/22\/calling-all-weapons-makers-pentagon-seeks-new-ideas-to-arm-ukraine\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:52:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:52:29","slug":"calling-all-weapons-makers-pentagon-seeks-new-ideas-to-arm-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/2022\/04\/22\/calling-all-weapons-makers-pentagon-seeks-new-ideas-to-arm-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Calling all weapons makers: Pentagon seeks new ideas to arm Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 In its effort to quickly arm Ukraine against Russia, the Pentagon has announced the equivalent of an open casting call for companies to offer weapons and commercial systems that can be rushed to the fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense Department on Friday posted a broad request for information from industry on the federal contracting website sam.gov<\/a>. The move is part of a stepped-up dialogue between the Pentagon and industry, and a sign of the challenge<\/a> of boosting arms production in response to the ongoing conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RFI, on behalf of the new undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, Bill LaPlante, is seeking input \u201cfrom across industry\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To that end, the DoD asks that responding companies describe their weapon, product or system in 100 words or less, and \u2015 in the case of munitions \u2015 check off \u201cappropriate target type(s),\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RFIs are a standard tool used ahead of contracting actions, but it\u2019s one the Pentagon relies on in both routine situations and emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe department routinely requests input from industry and commercial partners to conduct market research, learn more about their capabilities, and to shape future requirements,\u201d DoD spokesperson Jessica Maxwell said in an email. \u201cThe Department issued similar requests to industry in the earlier stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cutoff for submissions is May 6, and the DoD is evaluating proposals on a rolling basis. \u201cThe department is interested in learning about and discussing novel solutions, including from non-traditional weapons makers,\u201d Maxwell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t