Inside the Army highlights

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

1. As Army Futures Command's new Futures and Concepts Center prepares to craft over the next year the follow-up to its recent "multidomain operations 1.5" concept, the center's director says the Army hopes to "pull the other services in" to solve the "multidomain command-and-control problem."

Full story: AFC's concepts shop seeking more joint service involvement

2. The Army will acquire two Iron Dome batteries to provide ground forces an interim capability by 2020 against unmanned air vehicles, mortars, rockets, artillery and cruise missiles as well as explore full adoption of the Israeli-developed system for the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept program and incorporation with the Integrated Battle Command System by 2023.

Full story: Army picks Israel's Iron Dome for interim CMD, eyes long-term adoption

3. The Army has set plans to integrate a high-energy laser weapon into its short-range air and missile defense arsenal by 2027, making room for a directed-energy capability alongside guided-missile interceptors in the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 system.

Full story: Army eyes laser weapon for short-range air and missile defense by 2027

4. Leonardo DRS announced last week they and Israeli partner Rafael have received a $79.6 million award to deliver additional Trophy active protection systems to the Army and Marine Corps for Abrams tanks.

Full story: Army places additional $80M order for Trophy APSs