The INSIDER daily digest -- May 2, 2024

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Navy shipbuilding, a nascent Russian anti-satellite capability and more.

A legislative proposal submitted by the Navy to Congress would allow up to six voyage repair ship availabilities of about 15 to 30 days in an international shipyard -- opening the door for emergent voyage repairs during peacetime and in times of conflict:

Lawmakers, Navy officials go back and forth on resolving shipbuilding issues

Capacity for ship repairs and construction continues to be a top issue for the Navy and Marine Corps, service officials told lawmakers today on Capitol Hill. Outsourcing ship repairs to foreign countries is a potential solution, the officials added, one already raised last month by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro.

Assistant Defense Secretary for Space Policy John Plumb testified before the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee this week:

Plumb: Russia developing satellite with a nuclear weapon

Russia is developing a satellite to carry a nuclear weapon on-orbit that could wipe out satellites for a year or more, a top Defense Department official confirmed today at a congressional hearing.

The top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee wants to make sure that if the Defense Department gets to spend more than the congressionally mandated budget cap, so should non-defense spending:

Top Senate appropriator insists on 'parity' if defense spending caps are to be broken

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) said today that any effort to increase defense spending in fiscal year 2025 above the cap set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act must also be matched by a boost in non-defense funds.

Keep an eye out this summer for a counter-small uncrewed aircraft system demonstration:

SAIC will be among industry participants in summer CUAS demonstration

DENVER -- SAIC will be among the industry participants in a demonstration to be conducted by the Pentagon's Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System Office (JCO) this summer, according to a company employee.

The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington this week, appealed to defense contractors to develop "alternative" positioning, navigation and timing for the U.S. military:

Grady says electronic warfare has become a dominant feature of Ukraine conflict

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady said today that electronic warfare, though it didn't play a major role in earlier phases of Ukraine's conflict with Russia, has now become a "defining feature of that battlespace."

Originally scheduled for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, the Army delayed the critical design review on a certain missile program to the following fiscal year, according to the Army’s FY-25 budget request:

Army delays design reviews and flight tests for extended range GMLRS

The Army has delayed a critical design review and qualification flight tests for the Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket system by about eight months, according to a service spokesperson.

William Streilein, chief technology officer for the chief digital artificial intelligence office, said at Adobe’s 2024 Government Forum today that some areas of the department, like intelligence analysis, are already prepared and ready to adopt generative AI into their processes:

DOD tech official says intel analysis and back-office functions are ready to adopt generative AI

A senior Pentagon technology official said today that Task Force Lima has found intelligence analysis and back-office functions are the two largest application areas within the Defense Department for generative artificial intelligence, noting DOD is prepared to accept the role of AI as a "teammate."

The State Department has issued a proposed rule that would exempt the British and Australians from certain export control regulations:

State moves to ease weapons export regulations in support of AUKUS

The State Department is proposing to exempt the U.K. and Australia from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to better bolster the trilateral AUKUS agreement and "foster defense trade and cooperation between and among the United States and two of its closest allies."