Inside the Pentagon highlights

Here's some must-reads from Inside the Pentagon:

1. The annual end-of-year luncheon hosted Tuesday by the Aerospace Industrial Association, the largest defense contractor advocacy group in Washington, morphed from what is typically a holiday social event to a support group for those dealing with what the head of the organization said promises to be a complex -- and sometimes bewildering -- relationship with President-elect Donald Trump.

Full story: Defense contractors off balance after Trump targets Boeing on social media

2. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work recently briefed President-elect Donald Trump's transition team and carefully laid out the foundations of the Third Offset Strategy, as well as the looming budget challenges that stand to derail envisioned investments needed to maintain U.S. military superiority.

Full story: Work makes case to Trump's team on Third Offset; warns of budget challenges

3. The fiscal year 2017 defense authorization bill approves a pilot program to accelerate the foreign military sales process and House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) says he plans to continue focusing on ways to more quickly sell weapon systems to U.S. allies.

Full story: Thornberry to continue targeting FMS process for acceleration