The INSIDER daily digest -- Sept. 26, 2016

The F-22A Raptor, Virginia Payload Module and space programs are among the highlights in this Monday INSIDER Daily Digest.

Work on improving weaknesses in the Air Force's F-22A Raptor fighter continues:

Air Force nears midpoint in project to shore up F-22A structures that proved weak in testing

The Air Force is nearing the halfway point in its project to shore up structural weaknesses in the F-22A identified during fatigue testing, a retrofit program that requires reinforcing key parts of the stealth aircraft such as the wing's leading edge and engine bay in order to ensure the marquee combat aircraft delivers the planned service life of 8,000 flight hours.

The Navy could design and build the Virginia Payload Module below its cost projections:

Navy on track to beat VPM cost targets, set to forge first tube prototype in October

The Navy is on track to beat cost targets set by Pentagon brass in 2013 to design and build the Virginia Payload Module -- the centerpiece of a project to stretch the length of the service's premier attack submarines by more than 80 feet and insert new tubes with the capacity to launch cruise missiles and more.

Some of the Air Force's satellites are having a rough go of it:

Air Force confirms connection between MUOS-5 anomaly and SBIRS parts concerns

The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center has confirmed that its concerns about potential "parts issues" on the third geosynchronous Space-Based Infrared System satellite are linked with the July anomaly experienced on a Mobile User Objective System satellite.

The Navy gave out a couple contracts for its unmanned tanker program:

Navy awards two contracts for unmanned tanker risk reduction before entering EMD phase

The Navy recently awarded two cost-plus fixed-fee contracts for unmanned tanker risk-reduction activities to support concept refinement and requirements generation before entering into the engineering and manufacturing development phase.

The Army is looking at an optional manning possibility for its Future Vertical Lift aircraft:

Army S&T effort incorporates open architecture, optional manning

The Army is working to tackle a potential requirement for optional manning of the aircraft in the Future Vertical Lift family of systems, as the Defense Department eyes a materiel development decision for the first platform next month.

The timing of the Defense Department's review of the Ford-class aircraft carrier program doesn't have a fan in Navy Secretary Ray Mabus:

Mabus 'hopeful' Pentagon review will not delay CVN-78 delivery

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is "hopeful" the Pentagon's review of the Ford-class aircraft carrier program will not delay lead ship delivery and acknowledges the timing of the review is "terrible" because the carrier program is in the midst of testing.