Inside the Pentagon highlights

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

1. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Congress this week he wants to boost defense spending by as much as 5 percent between fiscal years 2019 and 2023, though partisan politics may block his path.

Full story: Mattis telegraphs pursuit of 5 percent budget growth beginning in fiscal year 2019

2. The Pentagon's director of operational test and evaluation will begin analyzing directed-energy weapon systems next year, budget documents show.

Full story: Pentagon's top weapons tester to begin analyzing directed-energy systems

3. The Pentagon's top acquisition official has commissioned a strategic counter-autonomy assessment, directing an influential Defense Department advisory panel to consider projected autonomous threats in both the physical and information domain, identify U.S. weaknesses and recommend potential investments in new capabilities, force strategy and deterrence policy.

Full story: DOD calls on DSB for new strategic counter-autonomy assessment

4. President Trump granted Defense Secretary Jim Mattis the authority to increase troop levels in Afghanistan this week, as the administration prepares a new strategy for the conflict there that has embroiled the United States for nearly 16 years.

Full story: Mattis given authority over Afghanistan troop increases ahead of new strategy