The INSIDER daily digest

AWACS, Huey helos and the FY-17 defense policy bill are among the highlights in this Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest.

A new Air Force report recommends speeding up an AWACS upgrade effort:

New air superiority plan calls for work on AWACS follow-on to commence in 2018

A new Air Force report calls for an AWACS follow-on capability to begin in 2018, citing concern that the current E-3 Sentry fleet -- the venerable airborne early warning system that began service in 1977 and is currently receiving a $2.6 billion upgrade -- will not remain viable against projected threats in 2030.

Document: Air Force's air superiority 2030 flight plan

The nation's ICBM force might need more security:

Joint Staff evaluating interim capability for Huey ICBM mission

While Congress debates the acquisition strategy for the UH-1N Huey helicopter replacement, the Joint Staff is evaluating a request from U.S. Strategic Command for more forces to help maintain security at intercontinental ballistic missile sites.

Looks like Sen. McCain's OCO amendment isn't going anywhere:

Effort to increase defense spending voted down by Senate

An amendment spearheaded by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) to increase the Defense Department's overseas contingency operations budget by $18 billion in the fiscal year 2017 defense policy bill was voted down by the full Senate today, along with an amendment offered by Democrats to increase domestic spending by the same level.

Document: Senate democrats' domestic spending amendment

Keep an eye out later this month for a DARPA proposers' day on a particularly interesting computer program:

DARPA eyes proposers' day for Dispersed Computing program

The Pentagon's advanced research arm intends to hold a proposers' day later this month for a computing program that seeks "revolutionary techniques that will demonstrate the value of in-network programmability" in advance of a planned broad agency announcement, according to a recent notice on Federal Business Opportunities.

Document: DARPA dispersed computing proposers day announcement

A proposed DOD rule on counterfeit parts has been met with industry support:

Industry supports proposed DOD rule that helps recoup counterfeit costs

The defense industry supports a proposed Defense Department rule that would provide contractors with more safe harbors for cost reimbursement if they discover counterfeit parts in their supply chains, but industry advocates still have concerns about execution of the new policy.

Document: DOD's proposed counterfeit electronic parts cost reimbursement rule

The GOP unveiled a new national security agenda:

Acquisition reform key to GOP's new national security agenda

The Republican Party is set to roll out a new national security agenda today and specifically lists acquisition reform as a key priority.

Document: GOP's national security plan