Inside the Navy highlights

Some must-reads from this week's issue of Inside the Navy:

1. To achieve its desired 355-ship fleet, the Navy will require in future years an annual shipbuilding budget of $28.9 billion, nearly $5 billion more than the service received in fiscal year 2019 and one-third more than the service has estimated, according to a new analysis published last week by the Congressional Budget Office.

Full story: CBO: Navy's shipbuilding plan requires $28.9 billion per year going forward

2. The Navy expects to award fabrication contracts in early 2019 for phase two of a new unmanned undersea vehicle program, according to an officer overseeing the effort.

Full story: XLUUV prototype contracts to be awarded in early 2019

3. The Marine Corps plans to use an other transaction agreement for the Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle prototype to speed the acquisition process, according to a senior service official.

Full story: Marine Corps will use OTA for Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle prototype

4. The Navy's top acquisition official said last week the service is looking at ways to shift and save funding for its upcoming budget request, citing the recently canceled Assault Amphibious Vehicle survivability upgrade program as an example.

Full story: Navy acquisition chief says service looking at budget trade-offs