Inside the Army highlights

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

1. The House Armed Services Committee last week passed a defense policy bill calling on U.S. Northern Command to think about where next to deploy the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor after a mishap near Baltimore last year.

Full Story: House bill sets stage for antimissile blimp to be pumped up elsewhere

2. ATLANTA -- The Army is working to balance readiness and modernization at "one of the most challenging times in history," while the service aims to provide soldiers with the most reliable and effective equipment, according to the principal civilian deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology.

Full Story: Army scrambling to balance modernization, readiness

3. The Government Accountability Office is expected to issue a ruling by May 26 about Palantir's concerns over the Army's plans to develop the service's next version of the Distributed Common Ground System.

Full Story: Ruling due this month on Palantir's protest over Army's intelligence software

4. The Army is making strides in rebuilding readiness, but currently only one-third of the service is prepared to engage in full-spectrum conflict, according to the director of operations, readiness and mobilization in the Army's G-3/5/7 office.

Full Story: Army makes readiness gains, but still falls short