Inside the Pentagon highlights

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

1. Army Secretary Mark Esper has directed the service to accelerate the Next Generation Combat Vehicle program, establishing a two-pronged project to immediately launch a major competition to replace the Bradley fleet with NGCV optionally manned fighting vehicles, while also establishing an NGCV robotic combat vehicle project to mature technologies for future platforms.

Full story: Army accelerates NGCV, planning draft RFP for October

2. The coordinator of an influential Pentagon advisory panel says contractors who file bid protests against Defense Department acquisitions are slowing down efforts to modernize DOD's IT infrastructure.

Full story: Director of influential advisory board says bid protests are hindering DOD innovation

3. The Chinese military is "likely training" for strikes against the United States and its allies, according to a new "special topic" section in the Pentagon's annual report on China's military capabilities.

Full story: Pentagon: China is 'likely training' for strikes against U.S. targets

4. SAPA Transmission, the U.S. subsidiary of a Spanish defense contractor, is moving forward with support from the state of Michigan to establish a bona fide industrial operation there, advancing plans for a domestic manufacturing beachhead to challenge the Pentagon's two long-standing combat vehicle transmission suppliers.

Full story: Spanish firm establishes U.S. industrial operation in Michigan