Inside the Pentagon highlights

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

1. The House's fiscal year 2018 omnibus appropriations bill will propose new flexibility for the Defense Department in how it spends operations and maintenance funds, according to a congressional staffer close to the matter.

Full story: Omnibus spending bill to grant Pentagon funding flexibility

2. The Pentagon is working on an artificial intelligence strategy aimed at aligning various efforts across the Defense Department and outpacing China.

Full story: Pentagon working on artificial intelligence strategy

3. The Pentagon is embarking on an era of new investments in key developmental technologies, including directed energy, to ensure continued military superiority over China and Russia, according to Mike Griffin, the under secretary of defense for research and development.

Full story: Griffin telegraphs new investments in directed energy