The INSIDER daily digest -- May 7, 2024

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's effort to transition Air National Guard space missions into the Space Force, the Army delaying a full-rate production contract for anti-armor missile launch units and more.

A new Air Force report to Congress lays out the three options for space missions within the Air National Guard -- maintaining them within the Air National Guard, transferring them to the Space Force or creating a Space National Guard:

Air Force report explains space mission transition proposal; Guard, governors remain opposed

The Defense Department sent a report to Congress and U.S. governors detailing why it wants to transition Air National Guard space missions into the Space Force, while governors and the National Guard Association of the United States continue to push against the proposal.

Document: Air Force report on consolidation/transfer of National Guard space functions to USSF

A new agreement between Lockheed Martin and Maxar Intelligence will "streamline the procurement and delivery of Maxar's geospatial products for the F-35 Full Mission Simulator flight simulation and training system," according to Maxar:

Lockheed, Maxar enter contract to expand F-35 simulator

Lockheed Martin and Maxar Intelligence on Monday entered a contract to better integrate several of Maxar's 2D and 3D products into a digital cockpit intended to replicate the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to a company announcement.

According to the 2023 Director of Operational Test and Evaluation report, the Army intended to award a full-rate production contract for the lighter variant of the Javelin's launch unit in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 after getting results from an unreleased Follow-on Operational Test & Evaluation report:

Army delays full-rate production contract for Javelin launch units

The Army is delaying a full-rate production contract for anti-armor missile launch units by at least three months, according to a service spokesperson.

A new Government Accountability Office report provides eight recommendations drawn from commercial shipbuilders' best practices, including that the Navy "ensure that shipbuilding programs complete functional design for new ships before awarding detail design and construction contracts":

Navy agrees to adopt some commercial ship design best practices but stops short of full GAO recommendation

The Navy has resolved to complete more functional design work on new shipbuilding programs prior to milestone B, but the commitment falls short of a new recommendation from government auditors, which encourages the sea service to complete a ship's functional design before awarding a detail design and construction contract.

Last week, the White House released a statement marking notable actions taken in the 180 days following Biden’s executive order focusing on the safe and responsible use and development of artificial intelligence:

DOD launched pilot program to spot AI vulnerabilities after Biden's E.O.

The Defense Department is moving to comply with President Biden's recent executive order on artificial intelligence, establishing a pilot program to spot malicious cyber activity in IT systems.