Inside the Navy highlights

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

1. The Navy is aiming to zero out a fund used for sealift and auxiliary ships, a move the service first tried and failed to make two years ago, but may now have a better chance of getting approved after congressional appropriators prohibited using the account to award new contracts in the latest annual spending bill.

Full story: Navy again proposes disestablishing National Defense Sealift Fund

2. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller says he is willing to pare down infantry brigades and other operational forces in order to fill cyber, electronic warfare and information warfare specialties within the service.

Full story: Neller: Marines could cut operational forces to man cyber, IW roles

3. The F-35 joint program office will kick off its Block 4 modernization program six to 12 months late because the program's requirements are not validated.

Full story: F-35 modernization program delayed by six to 12 months