The INSIDER daily digest – March 27, 2017

By Marjorie Censer / March 27, 2017 at 4:05 PM

Today's daily digest includes news from a morning breakfast with Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, chief of U.S. Africa Command, as well as the latest from a ground robotics conference.

He told reporters that Camp Lemonnier, located in the Horn of Africa, is a “significantly important base vis-a-vis its geography”:

Waldhauser: AFRICOM has 'significant' concerns about Chinese base in Djibouti

U.S. Africa Command has “very significant operational concerns” about the Chinese opening up a military base several miles from the U.S. military's Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, according to the command's chief.

We also have news on the Army after a reporter attended the National Defense Industrial Association's Ground Robotics Capabilities conference last week:

Army to use Autonomous Ground Resupply program for Leader Follower

As the Army works to improve its autonomous capabilities, the service intends to base development of the Leader Follower system capability on the Autonomous Ground Resupply program, according to Bryan McVeigh, project manager for force projection.

Robotic 'rodeo' considered for Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport

After discussion among Army leaders, the service might hold a competition for Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport prototypes to inform future program decisions, according to Bryan McVeigh, project manager for force projection.

Additionally, the director of the Army Rapid Capabilities Office chatted with an Inside the Army reporter:

RCO director: 'Velocity is dictated by funding'

Army leaders will have the requisite information to make a fielding decision on electronic warfare capability for Europe by the end of 2017, according to the director of the Army Rapid Capabilities Office.

We'll wrap up today's INSIDER with Navy news:

Navy, Marines looking for alternative ways to send forces ashore

The Navy and Marine Corps are gearing up for an advanced naval technology exercise next month in California to look at various ways to get combat troops ashore, according to officials.

Lockheed: F-35, Aegis combat system link will be tested at sea in 2018

The Navy will continue experimenting with its nascent distributed battle network by pairing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with the Aegis combat system at sea in the summer of 2018, according to a Lockheed Martin official.

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