The INSIDER daily digest

Women in the defense industry and the Huey helicopter are among the highlights in this Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest.

The CEO of General Dynamics talked about her upbringing as well as her company earlier today:

Novakovic: 'The way wars have been won . . . is boots on the ground'

In a rare public conversation, General Dynamics chief executive Phebe Novakovic on Wednesday predicted that defense spending will increase because of continued dangers around the world.

The Air Force could have more leeway in replacing its ageing Huey helos:

House pushes back Huey fielding time, calls for contract by 2018

The House has granted the Air Force more leeway to field a replacement for its aging fleet of Huey helicopters, following adoption of an amendment to its defense authorization bill that would satisfy open competition advocates.

Looks like the Aegis BMD system can now track targets inside the Earth's atmosphere:

Aegis BMD notches a first: tracking ballistic missile target within Earth's atmosphere

The newest version of the Navy's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System demonstrated for the first time the ability to detect and track a medium-range ballistic missile target flying within the Earth's atmosphere during a test over the Pacific Ocean, the Missile Defense Agency said in a statement.

DARPA wants to be able to do hypersonic technology testing within the next four years:

DARPA aims to complete hypersonic demonstrations by 2020

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency could demonstrate technologies by 2020 that would enable the future launch of hypersonic vehicles, according to the agency's Tactical Boost Glide program manager.

Keep an eye out for a revamped Army readiness model:

Army readying 'revolutionary' changes to readiness model

The Army is in the midst of revamping its approach to measuring readiness, and a formal plan to that end could be submitted to Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley as soon as this month, according to the director of operations, readiness and mobilization in the service's G-3/5/7 directorate.

The Navy wants to finish installing its new tactical afloat network by 2020:

Navy aiming to accelerate installations of new tactical afloat network

The Navy is trying to complete the installations of its new tactical afloat network on ships and submarines by as soon as 2020, according to a service official.