Inside the Army highlights

Some must-reads from this week's edition of Inside the Army:

1. The Army has received congressional approval for the final disposition of AH-64 Apaches from the Army National Guard, which will retain four of its eight attack reconnaissance battalions.

Full story: Army National Guard to retain four Apache battalions across five states

2. As Congress eyes yet another stopgap continuing resolution, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) says the Pentagon may need "flexibility" on the deadline for obligating fiscal year 2018 funds, especially for operations and maintenance.

Full story: Thornberry seeks spending flexibility for DOD amid budget stalemate

3. The Army has elected to enter full-rate production for the Transportable Tactical Command Communications system, an inflatable satellite apparatus designed to provide network connectivity to units in austere environments.

Full story: Army issues full-rate production decision for T2C2

4. The U.S. government will not replace Boeing as the prime integrator for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system after a review chartered by the Missile Defense Agency found the new acquisition strategy presents an "unacceptable level of risk" for the agency, which is accelerating several projects to react to North Korea's advancing nuclear missile program.

Full story: MDA abandons plans to take over GMD prime integrator role