Inside the Navy highlights

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

1. The Navy has released its long-awaited request for information for the guided missile frigate replacement program, which is the follow-on to the controversial Littoral Combat Ship program.

Full Story: Navy releases guided missile frigate replacement RFI

2. Richard Spencer, who was recently cleared by the Senate Armed Services Committee to be the next Navy secretary, is open to studying small aircraft carriers to outfit the future fleet, but has not determined the best strategy to fund the service's top acquisition priority: the multibillion-dollar Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.

Full Story: SECNAV nominee is open to studying small carriers, unsure how to fund boomers

3. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved nearly an additional $8 billion increase for Navy and Marine Corps unfunded requirements in the panel's mark of the fiscal year 2018 defense policy bill.

Full Story: Senate panel approves nearly $8B increase of FY-18 funding for the Navy