The Insider

The Navy is requesting industry input on a potential long-range, tactical unmanned aircraft system that would be used by an international partner for maritime domain awareness as well as search and rescue operations.

The system would need to be able to operate in static rain environments of up to one inch per hour, conduct wide-area surveillance, identify and track objects, provide real-time full motion video and distinguish between vessel types, according to Tuesday’s request for information.

The Navy is seeking a small UAS with a minimum endurance of 48 hours, an electric powered motor, modular and open architecture, technology readiness level of eight or higher, multiple modular payload capability and an ability to operate in various weather and environmental conditions.

Those responding to the RFI must answer several questions, like describing how their system navigates, what the production lead-time would be and the current maximum production output.

Responses to the RFI are due May 20.

Oshkosh Corp. today announced that Keith Allman, an Oshkosh director since 2015, has been appointed as the company's independent chair of the board.

Allman’s appointment was effective at the company’s annual meeting of shareholders. He succeeds Steve Newlin who has served as chair since 2020 and is leaving the Oshkosh Board after reaching the mandatory retirement age, according to a company statement.

Allman has been president and chief executive officer of Masco Corp. since 2014. He recently announced his retirement, effective July 7, following 27 years with the company. Prior to Masco, Allman held leadership positions in engineering, manufacturing and quality management for General Motors.

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on how the Army plans to use money originally earmarked for the now-canceled humvee program and more.

While the Army looks compliant with the recommended boosts in a draft document obtained by Inside Defense that details how the Pentagon plans to spend its FY-25 continuing resolution funds, the service doesn't plan to use any of it:

With humvee nixed, Army to ask Congress to reprogram funds

The Army won't spend extra dollars Congress added to the humvee program in spending guidance for fiscal year 2025 after the service last week announced it was cancelling the vehicle, according to a senior official.

According to a late-April draft of the Defense Department’s plan to implement congressional appropriations guidance for executing the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution spending law, the Hypervelocity Gun Weapon System is now being formally aligned with near-term air defense goals under the Golden Dome umbrella:

Pentagon eyes Hypervelocity Gun Weapon System for Golden Dome point defense

The Pentagon is positioning a high-tech artillery round originally engineered for offense as a cornerstone of its Golden Dome initiative, adapting a novel cannon technology for point defense as part of a sprawling new architecture aimed at shielding U.S. airbases, cities and critical infrastructure from missile and drone attacks.

In a recent memo, Katie Arrington, performing the duties of the DOD chief information officer, established the Software Fast Track (SWFT) Initiative for the Defense Department:

DOD launches new 90-day 'sprint' to streamline software procurement

The Defense Department has begun a 90-day "sprint" to develop a new framework and implementation plan for accelerating the acquisition of software, according to a new memo from a senior Pentagon official.

Document: DOD memo on accelerating secure software

Stratolaunch’s Talon-A2 vehicle, a rocket-powered autonomous aircraft designed for repeated high-speed flights, recently underwent a pair of successful hypersonic tests:

Pentagon announces return to reusable hypersonic flight testing -- after milestone flights

In a delayed but notable disclosure, the Pentagon on Monday confirmed that Stratolaunch has successfully conducted the first reusable hypersonic flight tests by a U.S. vehicle in more than five decades -- milestone demonstrations that occurred in December 2024 and March 2025 but remained unacknowledged by the Defense Department until now.

News on the Air Force's next-generation airborne warning and control aircraft:

E-7 Wedgetail getting nearly $400M plus-up in FY-25

The Air Force plans to funnel about $400 million more into the E-7A Wedgetail program in fiscal year 2025, according to a draft budget document obtained by Inside Defense, following along with Congress' previously stated intentions.

The Army is asking industry for a counter uncrewed aerial systems solution that can be used across every formation at the unit level, according to a sources-sought notice issued Monday.

These systems would provide platoon, company, battalion and brigade level defense, and would be capable of detecting and defeating group 1 and 2 UAS, according to the notice.

The unit common system, as the Army refers to it, must be able to detect and track multiple UAS threats simultaneously, using either “active, passive, or a combination of active and passive sensors to achieve threshold and objective values.”

The defeat capability of the system can be either kinetic or non-kinetic, according to the notice. The Army prefers that kinetic solutions be modified systems that are currently used by the Army, and that non-kinetic solutions reduce “soldier burden” in defeating UAS, while not emitting a signature.

The notice also states the unit common system must have the ability to be integrated on multiple “tactical and support ground vehicles using a common mounting approach,” with the initial focus being on light and medium tactical vehicles across multiple formations.

Last week, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George announced the Army planned to cut several ground vehicle programs, such as the humvee and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle as part of a larger Army transformation initiative.

The transformation initiative came at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who issued a memo to the Army on April 30, stating the Army must prioritize capabilities such as long-range precision fires, air and missile defense, cyber, electronic warfare and counter-space capabilities. The defense secretary included a provision in the directive for the Army to improve counter UAS “mobility and affordability,” while integrating those capabilities into maneuver platoons by 2026, and maneuver companies by 2027.

The Army plans to hold an industry day May 20, and interested vendors are asked to provide submissions that can “support a rapid demonstration, within a one-month notice.” The Army plans to ask vendors to demonstrate their capabilities starting in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026.

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Defense Department's fiscal year 2026 defense budget request, a major Army restructuring effort, plus missile defense and a lot more.

We start off with coverage of the Pentagon's FY-26 defense budget request:

OMB chief defends Pentagon budget request amid GOP allegations of no-growth ‘gimmicks’

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought defended the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 request for defense spending, which senior Senate Republicans say is built around a “gimmick” that amounts to a flat topline that does not keep pace with inflation.

Draft spending plan would boost SLCM-N, honor Congress's intent for FY-25 Navy R&D adjustments

The Pentagon plans to add $150 million to its nuclear-armed sea-launched missile (SLCM-N) program in fiscal year 2025 and make several other adjustments to Navy research and development efforts in accordance with non-binding recommendations from congressional appropriators.

As ‘skinny’ topline numbers roll in, Wicker decries budgetary sleight of hand

President Trump plans to request $961 billion for the Pentagon in fiscal year 2026 and $1 trillion for total national defense spending, which is being touted as a 13% increase, but a senior GOP senator says there is budget gimmickry at work.

News on a major Army restructuring:

Hegseth directs major Army restructuring; JLTV, Gray Eagle, humvee, AH-64D canceled

In one of the first major shakeups of the Army under the second Trump administration, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is directing the service to make significant changes to its force structure and divest from a series of programs deemed “outdated, redundant and inefficient.”

Army axes M10 Booker, a prime example of poor acquisition practice, Driscoll says

The Army’s new civilian leader today announced a move to cancel the M10 Booker program, laying into the service’s mismanagement of an overpriced and ineffective tank.

TiC brigades informing Army restructuring, commander says

The Army announced yesterday it is swapping out its Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, a decision that was largely driven by troop recommendations in the first rendition of “Transforming in Contact.”

Some missile defense news from a recent congressional hearing:

Army top missile defense general unsettled by NGI delay in face of advancing NK threats

The Army’s top missile defense commander voiced concern over a newly disclosed delay to the Pentagon’s Next Generation Interceptor, warning that the three-year slip leaves the U.S. homeland exposed to advancing North Korean missile threats longer than previously anticipated.

Army will shore up its air and missile defense force structure with 39% increase by 2030

The Army’s air and missile defense force structure is planned to increase by 39% over the next five years, according to Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, the commanding general of Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

HTBSS will transition into new Discriminating Space Sensor, prototype on orbit by 2029

The Pentagon is moving to expand its space-based sensor architecture for missile defense with a new effort to develop the Discriminating Space Sensor (DSS), a next-generation satellite system intended to improve the ability to identify and track incoming warheads amid growing concerns over advanced ballistic and hypersonic missile threats.

Document: House hearing on missile defense

Some uncrewed aerial systems news:

DIU overhauling drone vetting program, director tells House panel

The Defense Innovation Unit’s program to pre-approve dual-use drones for military use is set to undergo a complete revamp over the next few weeks in light of a growing ecosystem, Doug Beck, DIU director, told a panel of House lawmakers during a hearing on small uncrewed aerial systems and counter-sUAS capabilities Thursday.

JCO director says drone threat more dangerous than IEDs were

Maj. Gen. David Stewart, the director of the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office within the Pentagon, told Congress this week that the small UAS threat has now outpaced the danger that improvised explosive devices once posed to U.S. servicemembers abroad.

Air Force begins CCA ground testing

The Air Force began ground testing for its first two Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the service announced this morning, noting a major step for the program to integrate autonomous platforms into the future force.

The Senate Armed Services Committee recently considered several presidential nominations:

Air Force under secretary nominee defends past political comments

President Trump’s pick for Air Force under secretary committed during his nomination hearing today to leaving politics out of his decisions if confirmed, even as he responded to persistent questions from Senate Democrats about previous inflammatory, rightwing social media posts.

Document: Senate hearing on Lohmeier, Overbaugh, Zimmerman nominations

Some shipbuilding coverage:

Navy, Marine Corps settle on new LSM acquisition plan; Bollinger to build ‘block 1’ ship

The Navy and Marine Corps have coalesced around a new procurement approach for the Landing Ship Medium, with the services tapping Louisiana shipbuilder Bollinger to construct a single vessel based on an existing ship design before deciding how to proceed with the program.

HII focuses on shipbuilding investments amid Virginia contract modifications

Recent investments, or “tailwinds,” in shipbuilding are positive, and require HII’s participation, according to CEO Chris Kastner.

Last but by no means least, some news on the multibillion-dollar Joint Strike Fighter program:

Air Force looks to expand F-35 foreign pilot training at Ebbing ANG Base

The pilot training center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, AR could soon host another 12 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters from foreign partners, increasing operations there and requiring a supplemental environmental impact statement, according to an April 24 Federal Register notice.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby to begin working on the next National Defense Strategy to be completed no later than Aug. 31, according to a new memo.

“The NDS is the single most important document to ensure the department is operating in accordance with the president's and my intent,” Hegseth wrote. “This is a time of great danger, but we will meet it. DOD will deliver on the president's charge to achieve Peace Through Strength. There is no time to lose.”

Colby, the under secretary of defense for policy, will lead the NDS process, while the “drafting team” will be led by his office with a deputy from the Joint Staff.

“In addition, each of the Services will provide a strategist at the O-6/GS-15 level to the NDS drafting team,” Hegseth wrote. “All DoD Components should be maximally responsive to the NDS drafting team throughout the process.”

Colby’s nomination for USD-P ran into early resistance with some Republicans who cited concerns with his views that the United States should consider lesser roles in Europe and the Middle East in order to properly pivot to the Indo-Pacific region to compete with China.

Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairman Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voted against Colby’s confirmation but three Democrats -- Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) -- supported him.

During his March 4 nomination hearing, Colby said he wants to deliver a “realistic strategy of prioritization focused on China” while working with allies in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

“We don’t have a military that's capable of fighting four adversaries,” he said. "Because the threat is so acute and so realistic, and because of the very real possibility of multifront war, we must have a realistic plan. I feel a special obligation that, if confirmed, I must deliver a strategy that actually deals with that.”