Inside the Navy highlights

Some must-reads from the year-end issue of Inside the Navy:

1. The Air Force is delaying a key acquisition milestone for Raytheon's $4.5 billion Small Diameter Bomb II program, pushing the target date for initial fielding of the new weapon on both naval variants of the Joint Strike Fighter due to a schedule slip stemming from the F-35 joint program office's effort to formalize the Block 4 package of capabilities for the new stealth fighter.

Full story: Air Force reports delay in SDB II program, result of F-35 program delays

2. The Littoral Combat Ship Coronado (LCS-4) will begin testing its mine countermeasures mission package this spring, while waiting to enter maintenance in May or June, according to a Navy official.

Full story: Coronado will begin testing MCM mission package, following maintenance delay

3. A new cost estimate on F-35 concurrency reveals a 24 percent drop or a reduction of $400 million over an 11-month period.

Full story: F-35 concurrency cost drops by 24 percent over 11 months

4. The Office of Naval Research is embarking on a science and technology effort focused on a fifth-generation Light Armored Vehicle replacement for the Marine Corps and intends to hold an industry day next month.

Full story: ONR embarks on Light Armored Vehicle replacement project

Happy Holidays! The next Inside the Navy highlights will be posted Jan. 8, 2018.